Chapter 80: In The Depths Of Rivalry
{A/N: Here's Another Update...Took me a moment to get the concept of Phaeron's personality but I think I have it worked out...}
My Thanks To All My Readers And Reviewers...Enjoy-S.S
{"I got a sharp stick, I keep in my pocket...I speak volumes never utter a word...When you strike a match, a fire will happen...But the line between the smoke and the flames get blurred...Don't you see the writing on the wall (Don't you see the writing on the wall)...You're in way over your head...You're gonna drown in the things that you said...Time has come and gone for words...A thousands threats I've heard before...But words are cheap, but lies are big to take..."} No More Words, Jeff Hardy Theme WWE
The Great Hall, Hogwarts Castle, Scotland, Wizarding World...
All eyes fell upon Phaeron Snape as he entered the Great Hall. From the Staff table, Albus Dumbledore's unnerving blue eyes fixed on the young Snape as he made his way toward the Gryffindor table where James Sirius Potter had been laughing and joking with his friends. Minerva McGonagall made to get out of her seat to do something about the impending chaos that would come of Potter and Snape going at each other's respective throats. She had seen enough of the original rivalry and the blatant aftershocks during Harry Potter's time at Hogwarts. The other professors had not a word to say stunned at the intensity of the rage between the two students.
"Think you're real clever don't you Potter." said an enraged Phaeron as he glared at Harry Potter's eldest son.
"Actually, I do." replied James Sirius getting a laugh from his table of fellow Gryffindors. "Shouldn't you be at the other table with all the other little snakes?"
"Don't worry I will be joining my fellow Slytherins but I just had to come and congratulate you on finally becoming the Marauder you always wanted to be." said Phaeron rather sarcastically. "It's not every day someone immulate's Peter Pettigrew these days...but I guess that was your aim when you assaulted your own brother in a bid to win a Quidditch game."
"I haven't done anything to Albus." replied James Sirius trying to smirk his way out of the accusation. "And how dare you call me the S.O.B that got my grandparents killed!"
With the last line Potter was on his feet. His enraged brown eyes not leaving the enraged obsidian eyes of Phaeron Snape. Dumbledore continued to watch the exchange between the two boys. It was clear that the notorious bad blood between their respective relatives had not ended with the last war. If anything it only seemed to intensify with this new generation despite all of Dumbledore's efforts to counter-act it.
He saw Phaeron Snape as the more aggressive of the two, the child of magically and intellectually gifted Hermione Granger and aggressive intellectual Severus Snape was bound to be a force when he came through those doors. The child of Harry James Potter and Ginny Weasley was no different if not average despite the family fame from participation in the second wizarding war. It was painfully obvious James Sirius Potter harbored some jealousy when it came to Phaeron on more than one level.
Still, Dumbledore had chosen to punish Phaeron whenever the two got into it. It had been in a bid to get the young wizard to reign in his explosive temper. He had been so much like both his parents it was astounding. Hermione had a bit of an explosive temper when wronged and the instinct to hunt down those responsible for the wrong done to her without a second thought. The old Headmaster did not doubt Phaeron's protective nature when it came to his house mates and friends had come from his mother.
"Fuck you...death eater boy." said James angry. "We both know it's a matter of time before you prove to be worthy of Azkaban just like your murderer father."
"Enough!" growled Phaeron having had enough of Potter throwing his father's past in his face. "My father may have been a death eater but he's more of a hero than you or your poser "chosen one" father will ever be."
Not at all liking what was being said about his war hero father, James Sirius Potter hopped onto the Gryffindor table and drew his wand. A look of enraged determination filed across his face.
"How many muggles has Severus Snape killed?" taunted James Sirius. "Hundreds...Thousands...and for what so he could lick the boots of that despot while everyone else did all the real fighting against him?"
Phaeron jumped onto the table drawing his own wand.
"You're going to pay for what you did to Sev..." he said gritting his teeth.
He meant to do Potter in good this time and have him sent to the infirmary. No sooner had he raised his wand to call out his attack he found himself unable to control his body. Dumbledore smirked as he settled Minerva down as she attempted once more to put a stop to what was happening.
The entire Great Hall had fell into collective gasps when they found themselves looking up at the specter version of the notorious Severus Sebastian Snape. The Potions Master stood tall on top of the Gryffindor table. His pale face twisted in an all too familiar scowl as he turned his attention to the two would be duelists.
Snape had glared in Potter's direction making the young boy tremble in fear at the sight of the ghastly figure cloaked in ebony. His robes billowing as he rushed over toward his struggling son.
"F-Father!?" said Phaeron in confusion. "H-How!?"
"Never mind how." said Snape annoyed. "The point is you were about to do something notoriously stupid...and Potter related..."
Phaeron tried to explain his actions were to avenge a friend but Snape would hear none of it.
"You son of mine are to eat your meal in the common room for the remainder of the evening...there is to be no contact with a Potter of any kind and you are to get back to your studies...failure to adhere to my specific instructions will result in you being punished...indefinitely..." said the Potions Master.
The sound of Snape's deep baritone drawl even from the status of a specter had given everyone in the Great Hall chills. Some for the purpose of seeing a good showing and others had been in absolute fear of the legendary wizard.
"Do I make myself clear?" asked Snape speaking in his usual slow manner.
"Y-Yes father." replied Phaeron having all the rage knocked out of him.
Snape turned his attention to a trembling James Sirius Potter. He had not liked the boy upon first meeting him and the arrogance of James Potter I seemed to radiate off him right along with the vicious nature of Sirius Black. It seemed he had stopped his son just in time. He didn't doubt Potter had some type of nasty hex planned for him. He didn't want to take the chance of Harry Potter having taught his son the very spell that nearly ended his life almost sixteen years prior.
Losing his second born son was not an option.
"Well...well..." taunted Snape glaring rather murderously at the trembling teen. "Mister Potter is it?"
James Sirius gripped his wand tightly aiming it at the specter.
"The answer to your question of how many muggles met their end due to my spell work...countless." he said. "Especially if you include how many of the wizarding kind also increase that number...and I was a death eater...Mr. Weasley is right in telling you...but my son...that is a different matter...Should you bother him in any way or through my past in his face know that I will not hesitate to add to my body count even from beyond the grave..."
With that Snape disappeared leaving everyone relieved and fearful of the next appearance. For the remainder of the meal, the students had been silent as stars. Dumbledore smirked noting how much the silence reminded him of when young Severus was a Potions Professor and had successfully terrified the entire student body. Whenever he ate dinner in the great hall it always made the students fall silent. Minerva found herself smirking as well due to nostalgia. She had missed that snarky Slytherin rival of hers. Quidditch wasn't the same without their collective bets and house pride initiative. Thought Snape never played a game of Quiddtch a day in his life, it had been something of a surprise when his son took to the field.
The boy had showed natural talent not seen since Minerva herself took to the field. In all her years of teaching she had never rooted for a Slytherin in a match before, not even against the other two houses, but Phaeron Snape had been an exceptional case. She was almost sorry that he had not been sorted into Gryffindor House. Of course that would have had the former Head of Slytherin rolling over in his grave.
"See you on the field...Potter." spat Phaeron angrily as he climbed off the Gryffindor table.
"Of course...Snape." spat Potter not at all forgoing his rage either.
Phaeron walked out of the Great Hall hearing Potter collect himself enough to taunt him for having his "dead father" fight his battles for him. Of course the cocky little prat had no idea that Phaeron's father was alive and well, so disobeying him was not an option lest he find out about it and tan his hide better than any sun ever could. While some might have believed the age of 16 was an age to be defiant when it came to certain things, Severus Snape did not spare the rod by any means. He cared not if Phaeron had been 16 or 60, to disrespect him meant to invoke his wrath. To tell the truth Phaeron would much rather get the lash before he would have to duel his father magically.
Slytherin Common Room, Slytherin Dungeons, Hogwarts...
Ursula had been pacing the floor worried the Phaeron would let his temper get the better of him and earn himself a detention at the worst possible time. She had tried to keep her thoughts positive but they swung right back to "Phaeron is doing something stupid" status. The raven haired wizard in question walked into the common room everyone looked at him as if they had been holding their collective breaths. He held up his hands as a wiry smirk filed across his face.
"Not to worry everyone, father intervened before I could get myself a detention." he said sounding more than a little disappointed. "Potter was just about to eat his teeth in front of the whole school."
Ursula had been glad to hear Phaeron had his plans for detention foiled by his father no less.
"I knew I liked your father." she said pleased. "But how in the hell does a dead guy stop a fight between you and Potter?"
Phaeron simply shrugged.
"You know father, he always finds some way be it controlling my mind out right or making a magical projection of his specter form and scaring the daylights out of the entire Great Hall." he said as if it was just another day at Hogwarts.
Ursula rolled her eyes.
Ziare smirked.
"I think I might have liked your dad." he said. "Slytherin to the core."
"Indeed." replied Phaeron. "Wouldn't surprise me if he had a bet going on this game...according to Professor McGonagall that was one of his favorite pass times."
The other Slytherins laughed considering this to be a far fetched jest. Phaeron had actually been serious as he thought about his father and godfather possibly making bets on the latest game. Slytherin to the core had been definitely what the two of them were. In contrast his mother would have gone nuts if she had heard of him fighting Potter and forbid him from participating in the match altogether.
"Well the team stays intact for the remainder of the night." said Phaeron. "But don't count on Potter getting off so easy on the field."
"I wouldn't have expected anything less." said Ursula with a smirk.
Phaeron turned his attention to his books intending to actually make good on doing what his father had instructed him to do. The young Slytherin witch had other ideas when it came to congratulating him on keeping his legendary temper. She kissed him rather passionately despite the jeering in the background.
"I'd say you've earned that." she said pulling away leaving him dazed by her efforts. "See you after the match."
Phaeron tried to compose himself casually. Scorpius smirked and sat down on the leather sofa next to him.
"I believe we had some studying to do." he said resisting the urge to roll his gray eyes at Ursula as she took her leave.
Phaeron turned his attention to the stack of books on the coffee table before him.
"Right." he said resisting the urge to watch Ursula disappear out the heavy door into the girls dorm.
Ziare took a seat next to them and picked up a book of his own.
"Tell me you have something special planned for that cheating prat Potter." he said not wanting to believe Potter was going to get away with what he had done to Sev.
"Oh I have quite a few ideas." replied Phaeron with a mischievous smirk filed across his sallow pale face.
His expression of malice mirroring his father's just enough to give everyone out the table the chills. Potter was going to have one hell of a fight on his hands when they both stepped onto that Quidditch field. It had all been too perfect. What better way to send a message to all of Gryffindor house as well as The Headmaster. A grand stage to showcase his vengeful talents. He no longer gave a damn if they gave him detention after the fact...His point will have been made. Plus the added bonus of showing Potter up in front of the entire school and his visiting father.
Yes, the match was the prefect place to get his just revenge.