Chapter 51: Platform Nine and Three Quarters
{A/N: The Tale of Young Phaeron begins...}
My Thanks To All My Readers And Reviewers...Enjoy-S.S.
Platform Nine and Three Quarters, Train station, Muggle/Wizarding World...
TEN YEARS LATER...
Everything had been so loud and there had been far too many crowds as an eleven year old Phaeron Snape stood next to his mother wheeling his cart with all his required supplies for his first year at Hogwarts. His mother had told him all about the school, as had his god-brother, godfather and godmother. He had been older than his god brother's child by one year and would attend before him. Lucius Malfoy had explained all there was to know about Slytherin house and Hermione did her best to explain Gryffindor house. She had no doubt that her son would end up in either as she was a Gryffindor and his father the former Head of Slytherin. The witch would have been proud of her son either way but she knew in her heart he would be his father's son and end up wearing green and silver by lunch time.
Phaeron looked about with a scowl on his pale face as he continued to make his way toward the platform. He knew all about the Hogwarts Express and about Headmaster Dumbledore. His mother and godfather told him all there was to know about the twinkling blue eyes of the older wizard. Hermione Granger-Snape had come into her own as an adult witch. Draped in ebony robes and wearing her formerly notoriously bushy hair into a tight bun on the top of her head. Her amber eyes seemed hard and her manner stern when dealing with most in her path as she moved about as if no one outside her family and circle of friends mattered.
"Come along Phaeron." she said in a stern manner.
The sulking young wizard made his way toward the train area pushing his cart in front of him as he did.
His obsidian eyes took in the sight of the surrounding future students of Hogwarts. He had worn a suit complete with a black tie with shiny dress shoes and a silver chain with a snake medallion. His raven hair had been unkempt and growing as he followed his mother. His long pale fingers gripped the cart as if it were worth it's weight in gold as his continued to look from person to person.
He could see a strange looking boy flashy in his steps as he raced toward the same spot as he. The green eyes of a strange man with messy brown hair and well defined specticals made him pause. The man was of average build and huddled closely with a ginger haired woman, standing with what appeared to a nine year old, a small boy with dark hair pale skin and green eyes like the father, the other a beautiful little girl with lively red hair akin to fire, and amber eyes she couldn't have been no more than two years old from the looks of things.
"Come along Phaeron." said his mother, her voice heavy with contempt.
Phaeron did as his mother asked and they made it to their selective spot before the train arrived.
The older witch looked down at her son, amber meeting obsidian as she let a small trace of a smile grace her grin features just so. It had been a rare treat to see his mother smile, even for a fraction of a second. It seemed odd that she told him his father had been the grumpy sort when she felt like recalling tales of him. Most of the time he wasn't permitted to discuss him.
It did not escape the young wizard's notice that his mother had displayed down right hatred for the strange man with green eyes and his red headed wife. He had not known why this was but knew better than to inquire anything about the subject. His mother was nasty with the hexes when she got upset.
He returned her trace of a smile with one of his own.
The Potters' vantage point...
Harry James Potter found it difficult to be happy as his eldest son, James Sirius Potter awaited the Hogwarts express. He had been watching as the witch he once knew as Hermione Granger, his former best friend strolled passed him draped in the color of mourning, her eyes like amber beams of ice and her expression as grim as the day he last saw her.
She had not been alone.
Accompanied by a boy small for even the age of eleven as he made his way down the platform with his required equipment for Hogwarts. He had looked so much like his father it was uncanny. From his unkempt raven hair down to his awkward yet graceful movements as he followed after Hermione. He seemed curious as his obsidian eyes fell on Harry and Harry's green eyes fell on him despite appearing to be in deep conversation with Ginny.
"She still hates me." said the green eyed wizard. "I felt it the moment the chill set in."
Ginny sighed. It was tragic that their school world friendship had ended on such a sour note. Still, there was nothing anyone could do about it. Hermione distanced herself from anything having to do with Harry Potter, even Ginny herself when she confessed to be engaged to the boy wonder.
The Malfoys had rallied around her in the wake of Snape's death and she has been known to keep company with them on occasion.
"She looks...well." replied Ginny.
Harry nodded absently as he looked back at the boy.
"He looks exactly like him..." he said growing unnerved at the sight of the boy who's obsidian eyes fixed on him. "Y-You think he knows...?"
Ginny sighed squeezing her husband's trembling hand briefly before turning her attention to their baby daughter.
"Hermione most likely hasn't told him." she said softly. "In any case it would mean actually having to mention you at all which I doubt she'll want to do after all this time."
Harry sighed.
"I can't wait to get to Hogwarts!" shouted James as he zipped through the platform pleased as punch about his upcoming adventure to the prestigious Magical school.
He had been quite the charming young wizard, with a good deal of friends even in Primary school. He had been all smiles when his Hogwarts letter arrived. For weeks he had been telling his parents and uncle Ron all about how he was going to be the next great Gryffindor in the family. Ron had told him all sorts of stories about his father and grandfather's experiences at Hogwarts.
One drunken night Ron even told him about the crude Slytherin Professor known as Snape who had made their lives miserable as he stalked about the halls. He had even gone so far as to mention The infamous Marauders and how they had made it their mission to put Snape in his place when he had gone to school with them. In the drunken ramblings Ron had been fueled by bitterness over Snape and Hermione's marriage but that had never been disclosed to young James Potter II.
"Hey." said Harry getting his daydreaming son's attention. "Get ready or you'll miss the train."
James smirked as he looked at his hero father. He was determined to make the senior Potter proud of him and he knew just how to do it.
"Sorry dad guess I got a little carried away?" he said with a smile.
Harry Potter smiled back at his son.
"Say good by to your mother, brother and sister James." said Harry ruffling his elder son's hair affectionately.
James hurried over to his mother, kissed her on the cheek as she bent down just enough for him to do so. Waved to his baby sister and narrowed his eyes at his younger brother, Albus Severus Potter who had only been nine so he wasn't allowed to attend Hogwarts.
"See you later weirdo." quipped James. "I'm off to become the next great Gryffindor like mom and dad."
Albus Severus rolled his green eyes at him.
"So." he said annoyed by James yet again. "At least I don't have to look at you."
James struck his younger brother on the sly right under a chatting Harry and Ginny's nose like always.
"When your turn comes they'll put you in Slytherin like all the other bad wizards and witches." taunted James.
"I'd rather be in Slytherin house than anywhere with you..." said Albus Severus irate. "Stupid jerk!"
"Albus Severus Potter!?" said Ginny shocked at her youngest son's behavior.
The younger Potter boy rolled his eyes.
Harry turned his attention to James. He had known all too well of the sibling rivalry that befell his children. He had done his best to be a fair and compassionate father, like his father-in-law Arthur Weasley had been to his children.
The Snapes' vantage point...
Hermione Granger-Snape looked at her son Phaeron checking him once more.
"Do you have everything on the list?" she asked.
"Yes, Mother." said Phaeron not taking his eyes off the green eyed wizard that seemed to earn his mother's contempt some how.
Hermione placed her hand on her son's face.
His obsidian eyes met her amber one's once more.
"Stay away from all things Potter." she spat with barely concealed rage.
Phaeron eyed his mother curiously. She seemed to hold the entire Potter family in contempt. Whatever happened between them was clearly detrimental for her to harbor such obvious hate, then again she had not expected him to be able to read her so well.
"I will." he promised.
Hermione sighed relaxing her facade of stone for merely a moment and stroking his cheek.
"You look so much like your father." she said softly.
Phaeron knew to take this as a compliment. On occasion she would have her moments where she appeared to be someone else entirely. It was clear the loss of her husband twisted her in some way.
"Be mindful of Draco's rules." said Hermione reverting back to her stern persona once more. "He may be your god-brother, Mr. Snape but he most likely will end up being your Head of House as well and he cannot afford to show favoritism."
"Yes, Mother." replied Phaeron already knowing this.
Still, he humored her. She would be living alone while he attended Hogwarts. It was no secret that his war hero father was dead or that she never even expressed the slightest interest in anyone new. Not that he wanted it in any way. He was fine with it being just the two of them living in her Flat in muggle London.
"Remember you promised to take me to Cokeworth once the holidays get here." said Phaeron.
"I'll remember." replied Hermione.
Phaeron treated her to a rare and rather innocent smile.
The train arrived and all the future students hustled on board with all their belongings. James had gotten a good seat in a car with two other boys who had been rather cheerful and in awe of the son of the great Harry Potter, hero of the wizarding world and slayer of the dark lord.
Phaeron sat alone in one of the last cars on the train. He had not minded the solitude. It seemed rather comforting as he took out his favorite book and began to read. His mother had made sure that he was well verse in Shakespeare, a secret favorite author of both his parents.
On board The Hogwarts Express...
Phaeron Snape had enjoyed the ride thus far as the train zipped passed rivers and mountains on the way toward their destination. He sighed after completing his last six pages in the muggle story of Hamlet. When his stomach began to rumble he thought wearily that he had not packed anything to eat nor had he bought anything on the train. His stomach rumbled again and he found himself fishing in his pockets.
Much to his delight, his mother had managed to slip a toffee nut bar into his pocket under a small stasis spell. He smiled as he pulled it out. It seemed that his mother had thought of everything. The young raven haired wizard happily canceled the spell, opened the wrapper and took a bite of his favorite candy bar. He could never explain why he loved them so much. His mother often smiled when he ransacked the kitchen just to have one.
He didn't think it odd that he preferred this over many of the sugary snacks on board The Hogwarts Express. Hogwarts had been a place of wonder and suspicion. He knew his father had been Headmaster of the prestigious school and that his mother had been reluctant to let him enter the wizarding world she had come to scorn so deeply. His godfather and god-brother convinced her that it would be good for him to learn what it meant to be the son of Severus Snape.
Phaeron sighed as he looked out the window of the lonely train car. It was silent and empty, just the way he liked it.