Chapter Five: The Lore Master:

Salem Massachusetts November 7, 1998

Severus Snape, now known as Stephen Stone looked in the mirror and liked what he saw. His black hair once so greasy and flat was now softer and though still straight it was no longer that greasy curtain of hair before. His teeth were straight and pearly white and he was mostly clean shaven but for a patch of hair on his chin. He was a bit near sighted now but instead of glasses he had opted for magical contacts in brown so his eyes no longer were the black they had been all his life. He had filled out slightly, he was still quite thin but he had muscle mass and was no longer sallow and pale but had a light tan. The faint scars on his back were gone due to a magical healer and where his dark mark had been he had a cross tattoo now. He was a new man six months after coming to America, and if he were allowed back in England was sure none would recognize him now. Not that he wanted to go back, he was happy here and becoming quite rich as well.

He finished washing his hands in the bathroom and dried them and drew on his black leather gloves. He was clad in a black leather motorcycle riding coat, dark denim jeans tucked into his heavy buckled dragonskin boots and his hair was tied back from his face. He walked out to see Melissa, clad much the same as he was, then again they had come here on his magical motorcycle, one that was made by the magical branch of the Indian motorcycle company, the only part of the company that survived, they no longer made muggle motorcycles at all, the only American company that did was Harley. He was at the Salem magical zoo today right next to Salem Magical Institute, which had it's own forest set aside like most magical schools and the Salem Magical zoo as well. There were magical animals of all kinds the world over. It was run by centaurs, creatures, or beings here who were treated as full citizens and were allowed full run of all magical America.

"Hmm, I was not aware there was a Stephen Stone exhibit today." Melissa said teasing him lightly, "you do look good."

"Thank you Melissa, you are a very beautiful woman yourself." Stephen said smiling at her, "I am lucky to have you want to go with me."

"Well you are handsome, brave and very smart, I could not do better." Melissa replied, "shall we go see the blue tigers now?"

"Of course."

Stephen knew that blue tigers were not known to muggles as anything but myth. They were real and were the same as any other tiger but they had blue gray fur along with black stripes and white under bellies. They could turn invisible and blend into the surrounding area and unfortunately like most large cats there were some that liked the taste of humans. Centaurs had the mass and ability to deal with them and Stephen did his best not to show discomfort as they walked by, clad in buckskin jackets and armed with AK-47s, or crossbows and swords. He remembered all too clear what had happened to him a few years prior when he went to rescue Umbridge from the forbidden forest and how the centaurs had damn near killed him there.

These were nicer and though still proud they were not hostile and actually talked to the other magical beings with ease. Then again they were treated like people not half breeds or sub-normal as it were. Than again it was good to learn about them, that they were not half-breed anything, they were centaurs, and always had been, they believed that they had come from a six legged ancestor and God had allowed them to evolve to their present form, that of a being with two arms, a human looking torso and horse looking body with four strong powerful legs. They were not half house half human at all and hated being called that.

They came on the blue tigers in their vast enclosure, there were lots of rocks, trees and a large heated pool they could lounge in. Melissa gave a gasp of surprise and delight as a mother tiger had two cubs, something that had not happened for over ten years here. A centaur was here seated with the proud mother while another centaur stood watch. Both were fillies and this kept the female tiger calm as one centaur, clearly a veterinarian gently picked up a cub and checked it over before giving it a few vaccines. It gave out a cute little squeak but the filly soothed him and handed him back to his mother and took the little female and did the same. She petted the large tiger and got up and backed out of the enclosure, even a centaur knew it was not wise to turn their back on a large cat no matter how good they got on with them. They moved on to head to the dragon exhibits and were about to go in when Stephen's past caught up to him.

"Godfather?" Came a very familiar voice.

"Draco?" Stephen said turning to face a very familiar teen boy.

"What are you doing here?" Draco asked.

"I think we better get somewhere private." Melissa said.

"I agree, we will have to talk." Stephen said.

They headed out to a pavilion and were glad that this zoo allowed privacy spells to be used for private conversations. Stephen and Melissa set up a few and Stephen got a good look at his godson. He looked a bit haggard and far more humble than ever before. His white blond hair was tousled and he was clad simply in black pants, a green sweater over a gray shirt and black leather coat and shoes. His eyes showed far more wisdom than they had in the past and he looked as shocked at seeing Stephen as Stephen was to see him. Melissa looked a bit worried but Stephen, as Severus Snape was officially dead, the records recorded it and the man before her was Stephen Stone fully. The Stone family had wanted an heir and had accepted Severus's plan years ago and had allowed Severus to take over their dead son's identity and now that is who he was.

"Se-Stephen." Draco said surprised at the way magic forced him to use the new name, "magic, but how can you still be my godfather if Severus is dead?"

"The magic of the god-parent bond." Severus replied. "What are you doing in America?"

"Oh well, part of my probation is to go to university, I am mastering in Lore and taking Technomancy as well. If I fail to become a Technomage and help bring England to the modern age than I will go to Azkaban."

"That sounds harsh, what of your father?"

"Oh, he is on life probation, they have him in the muggle world most weekends working at soup kitchens or shelters, mother has fingered any remaining death eaters gladly and she did kill Rabastan herself in the last battle and with what she did helping Harry Potter well she is well liked. She even helped the Weasleys rebuild their home." Draco said, "not sure how I feel about that."

"I heard Potter took his NEWTs and passed with no problem, even managed to pass potions well enough." Stephen said.

"Well that is not hard, your OWL standards were NEWT level as it was sir." Draco replied, "no wonder many had a hard time keeping up."

"Directions were on the board step, by bloody step and all those dunderheads had to do was follow them! Merlin I hated teaching teens and I will not go back to that! Though being head of house was pleasant enough the teaching never was."

"How, ah you saved my soul, but yours?" Draco asked.

"I never did use the killing curse, I gave him a cyanide capsule to use" Stephen replied.

He remembered how Dumbledore had spoke to him, had him set up the memories for Harry to find. It was a gamble but Dumbledore did not believe that Harry would die if the dark lord cast the killing curse at him. They had picked out the memories that Severus would show him together and put them together in a way that Harry would understand. Severus was suppose to hand them to him, but not in the way that he had, still it had worked. Though Harry had known for two bloody years before he was to die that he had to die, and went to that willingly (though he had not died as it was not his time). The vow was easy to keep, he had, in a way the satisfied said vow and "killed" Dumbledore as he did give him the cyanide capsule, and taught Dumbledore how to use it. He was dying a painful death and this was the only way to stop that pain. Still it hurt that he had to do that and had to help deceive Harry to walk to his "death" for him to win over the dark lord.

He had been hard on Harry but he felt he had to, the boy had a destiny to full-fill. Would he have been nicer if he knew what the boy went through? The brat, er boy had learned Occulumency even if he did not know it. He had been willing to do something about how he had been raised, he slept in a cupboard and he went to Dumbledore with those concerns. Yet the boy had invaded his pensive and well his anger and pride got to him and he did regret that now. The boy had looked shocked and betrayed when he hauled him back and he should not have thrown that jar at his head but he was so angry! Maybe if he had not been so angry could things have gone different? He would never know and really did not feel that Severus Snape deserved any rewards of any kind after what he had done. He came back to the present to see Draco looking at him a bit worried and Melissa had a hand on his arm.

"Sorry, just thinking." Stephen said, "I feel I botched things up."

"If not for you sir that last year at Hogwarts would have been hell." Draco replied, "you kept the Carrows from doing any major damage and it was smart of you to have me in charge of all discipline of younger years."

"Yes, it was, wasn't it?" Stephen said, "Merlin you put me to shame with how you got them to cry."

"That is horrible!" Melissa said.

"Not really, I just made them do lines and yelled at them, never anything more." Draco said, "it saved them from far worse."

"So Lucius is working in the muggle world." Stephen said a cold smile come over his face, "have you any pictures of that?"

"I do, one anyway, it's from a muggle paper, still not used to the fact those do not move, mental that."

He took out a very muggle looking wallet and took out a picture and handed it over to Severus. It was an unmoving picture of one Lucius Malfoy and Stephen grinned. This fool had caused a lot of problems and he was getting what he deserved. Oh he looked ridiculous in muggle clothes, everything was tailored perfectly but Lucius in jeans, a light blue shirt and Merlin a crisp white apron? He was clearly ladling out soup and Stephen hoped he was being watched closely so he did not put anything in that soup that did not belong there.

He looked much the same but a lot of the prideful air of the man was gone, it seemed he was actually speaking to the muggle woman running the place, maybe there was hope for him after all. He was useful to get Severus Snape ahead and he had trusted him enough to allow him to be godfather to his son. Then again he had not known Severus Snape was a death eater until he found out right after he showed up at the graveyard. Of course Lucius had forgave him as he had put that behind him until he could no longer.

"Well he is a good looking man." Melissa said, "eye candy really. Good to look at but nothing more."

"Well mother loves him as do I, but I had to save the whole family." Draco said, "I am not pleased that I had to join the dark lord or watch my family get slaughtered. Really to think I had to serve a half blooded bastard of a squib and a muggle man who was, well raped is the only word for that. Potter has been ever so nice to me, stood up for me and all, I will not let him down."

"We all owe him so much." Melissa said.

"The bloody git says it was not him, won't even take credit properly! I mean he did not even hex or deck me for all I put him through in school, even Longbottom did. Broke my nose and I deserved that. I was a right prat and bully, I am going to change and do better, be better I swear it. I don't plan on telling anyone you are alive either godfather."

"Good, it is good to see you again." Stephen said meaning it.

He spent the rest of the day with Draco and Melissa who found the young man charming. Draco was, he really was getting over being the bullying spoiled brat he had been for so long. If he could change than Stephen saw there was hope for the world, he wondered if he could keep up with Draco, he would be careful and would have to ask Melissa. She would know how to make that safe as he really did care about Draco even if everyone else in England could go hang for all he cared. Well not hang, but he certainly did not care what happened there, he had never been wanted nor accepted and was very happy here thank-you-very-much.

O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O

So I am trying to keep this somewhat canon, but filling in things my way. I think that probation was needed at the least for Lucius and having him work a soup kitchen in the muggle world with muggles would help sort him out. Draco having to learn and use that knowledge for building up magical England would not be out of line either. I could see him changing, going from a bullying racist git to a fine young man. After he saw what death eaters were really about he did not like any of it. No he will not be friends with Harry but he does respect him now.

Now I only get paid in reviews, and they make me happy too