Chapter 56: A Long Awaited Encounter...
{A/N: Good things come to those who wait...whom ever this guest is that asked me about Ursula, what a keen mind you have, it's a pity I cannot respond to you directly...-S.S.}
My Thanks To All My Readers And Reviewers...Enjoy-S.S.
The Grounds,Hogwarts, Wizarding World...
Phaeron Snape found himself alone with Ziare doing some last minute studying for transfigurations class. The raven haired Slytherin had not been particularly lonely as he made his way toward the library. He had found solitude to be comforting unlike when most people his age associated it with a sense of fear and panic for not belonging to a specific group. Phaeron had not gotten far before his path was blocked by none other than Ursula Black. She smirked at him as she stood with her arms folded across her chest covering her Hogwarts robes.
"You know to be the son of a hero you sure don't do much." she said bluntly.
The raven haired wizard shrugged.
"I wasn't aware that I was suppose to out side of studying and representing Slytherin house." he replied. "If you want bravado Potter's a better candidate then I."
Ursula wrinkled her nose at the mention of Potter.
"Oh please." she said annoyed. "As if I would be caught dead hanging out with the likes of Potter." she replied. "Despite your less than cheerful nature I find your company tolerable, Snape."
Phaeron shook his head.
"You are strange, Miss Black." he said. "I you don't seem the type to associate with half-bloods like me."
Ursula arched an eyebrow at him.
"Type?" she asked. "Associate, what the hell are you some kind of human dictionary or something?"
"I will not pretend to be limited in my vocabulary because you seem to have no concept of it." replied Phaeron in a bored tone.
Ursula smirked.
"You really are just like your father." she said.
"So people keep telling me." replied Phaeron. "I've never met him but everyone else seems to know more about him than I."
Ursula let out a bored sigh.
"You are pathetic half-blood." she said with a grin.
It was Phaeron's turn to arch an eyebrow in confusion.
Ursula simply laughed at his confused state.
"This is Hogwarts Snape, why not just go and talk to the man himself?" she asked. "He's only in the Headmaster's office, all you have to do is guilt the old buzzard Dumbledork into letting you see him."
Phaeron had not liked Dumbledore by any means, his mother constantly warning him to be weary of the old man had been enough of a red flag when it came to the pleasant wizard's appearance, but he couldn't help but bristle at Ursula's disrespect of him.
"I do not wish to bother the Headmaster with trivial concerns." said the raven haired wizard.
Ursula let out an amused snort. She really had been the strangest girl, Phaeron had ever met.
"Don't be such a baby Snape." she said. "Your father is right in that office and you haven't seen him a day in your life."
Phaeron wrestled with the idea of venturing into the Headmaster's office. He had wanted to see his father but dreaded being anywhere near the old wizard whom his mother disliked a great deal. The curious notion to see for himself what kind of man Severus Snape had been got the better of him. Had his father been around he would have enlightened him of just where he had gotten it.
"Where's the office?" asked Phaeron.
Ursula smiled a wicked little smile.
"Not to worry little Snape." she said amused. "I'll take you."
Against his better judgement, Phaeron followed Ursula to The Headmaster's office. Though he felt a good deal of trepidation, he couldn't help but feel excited about the prospect of meeting his war-hero father for the first time. His mother hand no pictures of him and neither had The Malfoys. All he had known of Severus Snape came in the form of word of mouth.
The Headmaster's Office, Hogwarts...
Phaeron watched as Ursula went through all the pomp and circumstance that came with entering the office right down to the ridiculous password based on some muggle candy product. The raven haired wizard rolled his eyes as they entered the room. It had been surprisingly empty well with the exception of the portraits that hung along the walls. His mother had told him that they were of the previous Headmasters that presided over Hogwarts. He understood why his father had been here, it was the only place in the wizarding world with a portrait of him and only because it was a mandatory part of being Headmaster of Hogwarts.
"He looks so much like him." whispered one of Portraits to another.
"Snape's a father who would have thunk it?" asked Phineas Black smirking over at the only other Slytherin to preside over Hogwarts.
Phaeron looked around until he came to the portrait that looked the most like him.
Obsidian met obsidian as Severus Snape's portrait stared into the eyes of his only living son.
Ursula smirked and took her leave, feeling the boy would benefit from the time alone with his deceased father. The other portraits made themselves scarce in a bid to give the newly reunited father and son time.
"I was wondering how long it would be before your mother's innate curiosity got the better of you." said The raven haired Headmaster.
Phaeron looked back at his father no knowing in the least what to say to the man.
"I had hoped to spare you the indignity of being named Severus, but your mother had other ideas." said Snape looking over his son.
"S-She missed you." said the boy at last finding his voice.
Despite being the son of this great war hero and intelligent in his own right, the boy felt quite small in his presence.
"Stop that." said Snape seeing into his son so easily. "There is no need to feel inferior compared to me...you are already a much better man than I."
Phaeron arched an eyebrow at this earning a slight chuckle from his father.
It was quite surreal getting to see him for himself. Severus Snape had indeed been a pale complected man, with lengthy raven hair, and soulful obsidian eyes just as his mother had told him. He knew the man was well verse reading the seemingly unreadable, a trait he himself had picked-up and was tutored by his godfather on how to control it on occasion.
Snape noted the boy had looked far better than he had at the age of eleven, possibly from the Malfoy induced upbringing and Hermione being an overprotective mother. It was pleasing to know the boy had not suffered the same fate he had as a child possibly due to his own existence being what it was.
"I would assume you came to do more than stare at me." said Snape annoyed by the boy's lack of composure.
It seemed he had gotten quite a bit from his mother. Aside from the curiosity and less than offensive looking nose.
"I-I don't know exactly what to say." said Phaeron shoving his hands in his pockets. "It's not like I know you."
Snape let traces of a smirk file across his pale face.
"Indeed." he replied. "It seems you have inherited my brand of temper."
Phaeron again arched an eyebrow this was the first time he had ever met his father and already he deemed the man strange.
"What did you come here for boy?" asked Snape glaring at the raven haired younger wizard.
"I don't know." replied Phaeron. "I wanted to see you for myself I guess...see if you lived up to all the hype."
"Hype?" asked Snape with his own eyebrow arched. "I assure you hype is the last thing that would ever be associated with me."
Phaeron had not understood why his father seemed so evasive. His godfather and mother told him his father had been less than thrilled about much of anything but he had been looking forward to meeting him, even if it was through a portrait.
Snape wasn't sure how much Phaeron really knew about him or his past as a death eater and decided to forgo mention of it for now. It was their first encounter after all, he had not wanted to alienate the boy not when he needed to keep him safe.
"I am told that a Potter walks these halls." said Snape changing the subject.
Phaeron did not miss the contempt in his tone as he mentioned the name Potter. The young raven haired wizard had known his father attended Hogwarts with a James Potter and later taught potions to the wizarding world's hero Harry Potter, as he attended classes with his mother. What he could not understand was why his mother, a Hogwarts student would end up married to her Potions Professor. Or why they both seemed to have the same amount of contempt for the Potter family. He figured this was as good a place as any for answers.
"Yes." replied Phaeron. "James Sirius Potter to be exact."
Snape's face contorted in out right rage. Harry Potter had the nerve to name his self important son after the man who had stolen the only good thing in his life and lead her down a path that lead to her destruction, that mangy mutt Sirius had nearly killed him when they were children and tormented him every day since they met...a sadist never more clearly defined in the guise of a Gryffindor.
"STAY AWAY FROM HIM." ordered Snape barely containing his fury. "If he challenges you then give him what-for but stay clear of Potter and everything to do with him."
Phaeron had not understood why his father suddenly became enraged.
"Potter is not to be trusted nor is he to be underestimated." said Snape fuming. "I learned that the hard way."
"Why?" asked Phaeron. "Potter's no match for me...I easily put him down on the train and here with ease."
Snape shook his head. This was dangerous territory. If his son ended up knowing what had happened it could alter him in a way that he could never repair. The Potions Master was determined to keep his son from following his footsteps down the same dark path. Knowing his father was murdered by a Potter would no doubt make the boy seek revenge.
"Do as I have instructed Phaeron." said Snape not letting up in the least. "You are my son and as such you will do well to mind yourself here...follow the rules set in place for you, you can even have access to my old lab but you are not to involve yourself in anything Potter related...do I make myself clear?"
Phaeron had not known what was so bad about Potter, but his father seemed to be genuinely upset about James picking on him as of late.
"Yes, father." replied the raven haired boy. "I'll stay away from Potter."
Snape looked at him for the longest time.
"Good." he said eyeing the boy suspiciously.
He had enough experience to know that children often said one thing and did other.
"Is it true that you were my mother's Potions Professor?" asked Phaeron suddenly thinking up a question.
Snape calmed some unsure how he was going to approach the answer for this one. He had been less than thrilled about the forced union but he had not wanted his son to get the wrong idea.
"Before I answer this question, you are aware that your mother and I were husband and wife at the time of your conception?" he asked.
"Yes." replied Phaeron.
"And you are aware that the Ministry of Magic was corrupt during the time of our marriage?" asked Snape.
"Yes." replied the boy again.
Snape sighed.
"Yes, I was in fact your mother's Potions Professor at the time of our marriage." he said. "No I was not thrilled at the idea of it, and it was solely for her protection."
"Protection from what?" asked Phaeron.
Snape rolled his eyes. Of course the boy would inherit his mother's capacity to ask incessant questions. It seemed the temper and looks were as far as his genes had gotten.
"The Dark Lord had a group of followers that were...particularly interested in your mother." said Snape careful not to give the boy more information than necessary. "I had to marry her to keep her out of their hands."
Phaeron seemed to understand. At least his father wasn't some kind of sicko that preyed on school girls. He relaxed some after having one of his fears exercised.
"D-Did you love her?" asked the boy.
Snape sighed.
"The insufferable know it all whom made my life a living hell?" he asked. "Why not...from the moment she set my cloak on fire I was utterly smitten."
Phaeron noted the sarcasm and smirked his father was indeed a snarky individual, it brought a bit of comfort to the younger wizard to know they were quite similar in this respect, though he had not missed the last bit.
"Mom set your cloak on fire?" he asked in disbelief.
"Don't look so surprised, you've got more than enough mischief in your genes." replied Snape.
"Yes..your father Severus was quite the mischievous young lad in his day." said a voice from behind Phaeron. "A reputation that he earned right here in these very halls."
Snape narrowed his eyes. Phaeron turned around to see Headmaster Albus Dumbledore standing behind him after having just entered the door. Phaeron's reflexes had been quicker than The former Head of Slytherin thought as the boy subconsciously grabbed his wand in preparation for attack.
Impressive.
It seemed Hermione had been all too adept at teaching their son his father's ways. He half expected the boy to come out spouting o
"Pardon my intrusion." said Dumbledore in a pleasant tone. "I simply could not resist seeing the two of you together."
Phaeron and Snape both looked at the old wizard in annoyance.
"Get to class." said Snape not taking his eyes off Dumbledore. "And stay clear of Potter."
"I will father." said Phaeron. "And it was good talking to you."
Snape waved him off dismissively.
Phaeron had not taken offense, his mother hand told him exactly how the older wizard would behave and he wasn't in the least disappointed.
"Good day to you, Mister Snape." said Dumbledore still with a pleasant smile.
"And you Headmaster." replied Phaeron more out of forced politeness than good will.
He still had not liked the old coot.
Once Phaeron had been out of the room Dumbledore turned his attention to Severus Snape's portrait.
"That's quite the boy you have." he said making conversation.
Snape simply turned and walked until his frame stood empty. Dumbledore sighed. Apparently Snape was still giving him the silent treatment after all these years. In truth he could not really blame the lad, he had lost so much in so little time and now his only son was attending the very school he died to protect.
"I wish you could be here my boy." said Dumbledore sadly. "I would have given anything for it to be so."
The Headmaster turned his attention to a stack of parchments that had been on his desk. Phaeron Snape was proving to be quite the resourceful and mistrusting young wizard his father had been. He had hoped the boy would manage to stay out of trouble but given that he was the son of Hermione Jean Granger and Severus Sebastian Snape, trouble would not be that far behind him.
The Corridors, Hogwarts, Wizarding World...
Phaeron made it out into the corridor when he was suddenly set upon by the ever cackling Ursula Black. Her dark eyes gleamed and she seemed to get a kick out of invading his personal space.
"Too you long enough Snape." she said with a smile. "So...how'd it go?"
"As well as can be expected." replied Phaeron. "I do sort of act like him, and obviously I inherited his looks."
Ursula smirked.
"That you did, little Snape." she said ruffling his lengthy raven hair. "Come on I'm starving and I'll be there's a snack or two in the Weasley Vender."
"Isn't the Weasley Vender capable of all sorts of hi-jinx?" asked Phaeron. "You'd get more than a snack if you use that machine."
Ursula sighed. Clearly, this boy had no real concept of what fun was. In that instant she resolved herself to teach him. After all it was the least she could do for a boy who had lost his father.
"That's what makes it so fun." she replied grabbing the raven haired wizard's hand.
Before Phaeron could protest, he found himself being pulled toward the machine. He guessed spending time with the deranged young witch wouldn't be so bad. She had after all made it possible for him to see his father. But the hand holding was a little unnerving.