Chapter 104: A Storm Brewing On The Horizon
{A/N: Here's Another Update...}
My Thanks To All My Readers And Reviewers...Enjoy-S.S
The Corridors,Hogwarts Castle, Wizarding World...
Draco Malfoy had spent the past few hours trying to get Phaeron out of bed after his latest escapades with Ursula Black. The young raven haired Slytherin had looked as if he had seen better days, with his lengthy hair lank and covering his face shielding the world from the unusually harsh glare in his obsidian. His form much more lean in the past and the otherwise ghastly expression that etched it's way across his face. Phaeron had taken to sitting alone for much of the time hardly ever speaking to his friends and paying more attention to Potions work than his other classes. He had expressed his lack of Divination class as clearly as his own father had many years ago earning himself detention for making a fool out of Sybil Trelawney on a reoccurring basis. He blatantly ignored Filch and his curfew calls, even Draco himself found Phaeron a bit hard to manage despite their close nature. Rumors filled the school that the junior Snape had been sporting a fancy new tattoo as well.
James Potter II had taken it upon himself to prove to the school and to his father that he would at least uphold the Potter family honor. His first order of business of course had been to expose the son of Severus Snape's evil activities. Starting with whatever he was doing pertaining to his new tattoo.
The elder Potter boy had been waiting rather patiently in the corridors when Phaeron came briskly up the way, his attention seemed to be elsewhere and it was looking like just the thing to catch the Slytherin unawares.
"Vinculum!" shouted James Potter II.
Phaeron had been stunned as he found himself ensnared with tight ropes seemingly digging into his very flesh.
"AHHHH!" he shouted enraged as the pain radiated through out his body.
"Hold him still boys!" shouted James Potter II as he glared rather murderously at Phaeron.
Without warning, Cameron and Kyle came and tried their best to physically hold him still. James Potter II grabbed Phaeron's left forearm and gasped in shock as he caught sight of the highly visible dark mark amid the usual pale flesh.
"I KNEW IT!" shouted James II. "HE'S A DEATH EATER!"
Phaeron simply growled and unleashed a wand-less spell in the wake of his fury. Flames seemed to lap all around his bound body scaring away Cameron, Kyle, and James Potter II.
"Get him!" shouted James as Phaeron managed to free himself and disappear into a cloud of black smoke.
The Grounds, Hogwarts castle, Scotland...
Lily Luna Potter had been making her way toward the chaos knowing all too well who had been the cause. She had just come from the library when she caught sight of Phaeron and her older brother James having a hexing war. She drew her wand and quickly made her way toward the fray. James II glared at her as murderously as he had Phaeron, who found himself on the receiving end of a powerful hex via James II.
"Stop it Jim!" said Lily Luna with her wand trained on James II.
"He's a death eater Lil." said James II. "He's got the tattoo and everything."
Lily Luna shook her head.
"Jim your losing your mind." she said. "Phaeron is not a death eater tattoo or no...Voldemort is gone and he's not coming back Dad saw to that."
James II rolled his eyes.
"Look Lil I've made allowances for you because you were my little sister but siding with this scumbag is..." he started in warning.
"The only scumbag I see is you Jim." said Lily Luna defensively. "Phaeron was minding his own business and you attacked him."
"I-I do not need your...assistance...Potter." spat Phaeron bitterly.
"Shut it jerk." replied Lily Luna turning her attention briefly to Phaeron then back to her brother. "If you still want your places on the Quidditch field I suggest you get lost...all three of you."
James II glared rather murderously at the both of them.
"Just because you seem to have my sister fooled about you doesn't mean this is over Snape." he said in warning.
"You're time is coming Potter." spat Phaeron enraged. "And the next time we meet your sister won't be there to save you."
Lily Luna shook her head there didn't seem to be any end in sight for this petty rivalry.
Phaeron got to his feet and dusted off his attire.
He glared rather intensely at Lily Luna then growled at her interference.
"Stay away from me." he said bitterly. "Potter."
He took his leave of her without another word. The red head witch sighed in frustration.
"You don't have to always be such a brooding jerk." she called after him.
Later...
Phaeron sat in The Great Hall, his face bruised from the scuffle with Potter and his cronies. He caught the concerned unsettling blue gaze of Albus Dumbledore, The Headmaster watched the boy noting the changes in him as well. He had not been as dark in nature as his father when he first arrived but now there was clearly something eating away at him.
"Concerns Albus?" asked Professor McGonagall noting the Headmaster's interest in the Snape boy.
"Some." admitted Dumbledore softly. "But we shall see if they will become a problem."
Professor McGonagall arched an eyebrow at this.
"Should I be worried as well?" she asked watching Phaeron as well.
"It's likely not to be anything more than personal ploys." replied Dumbledore with a pleasant smile. "Nothing to concern yourself with Minerva."
Minerva McGonagall narrowed her eyes at the Headmaster. She had not been so sure that whatever was brewing between Phaeron and James Potter II had been merely nothing.
"Something tells me you are being foolish." she said looking back between the hostile boys. "Very foolish."
Dumbledore simply chuckled and waved her off as he returned to his meal. Something strange was indeed going on with Phaeron Snape. He was sure of it. The question was did he feel the need to inform the boy's parents. He had heard that Hermione had been heavily pregnant and Severus had wished all calls pertaining to Phaeron from the school be directed toward him but he did not believe Severus would be sufficient help when it came to dealing with the boy...after all...Hermione had managed the boy for eleven years. He did not see why she couldn't do so now.
The Slytherin Residence...
Snape had been taking another dose of his strange potion and quickly washed his face. Hermione had been resting comfortably from their research venture this afternoon and he didn't want her disturbed. The floo call had been for her but Snape was having none of it as he answered much to the apparent dismay of his former employer.
"What do you want Albus?" asked Snape annoyed.
"I've been hoping to speak to the Mrs. actually." said Dumbledore in a pleasant tone.
"I'll bet." replied Snape folding his arms across his chest. "You have my attention old man...so tell me...what manner of crisis begs my attention this time?"
Dumbledore smiled at him. It was actually good to see the snarky young wizard settled down and among the living. Despite their apparent differences.
"It concerns your son...Phaeron." said the older wizard.
"Obviously." said Snape in reply. "I have no other children attending Hogwarts."
"One could never be too sure." replied Dumbledore with an unsettling twinkle in his blue eyes.
Snape rolled his eyes.
"State your business and sod off old man." he snapped at the end of his patience for the old fool's folly.
"Your son seems to be undergoing a few changes since last you visited." said Dumbledore.
Snape's expression flashed a hint of concern before indifference once again took over.
"Anything else?" he asked.
"Not at the moment." said Dumbledore. "But I will keep you posted."
"Ensure that he leaves the grounds with no one." instructed Snape. "Not even a trip to Hogsmeade."
"Will do." replied Dumbledore. "And rather you believe it or not Severus...it is good to see you."
Snape rolled his eyes and Dumbledore took his leave of him.
The Potions Master sat down on the sofa with his mind heavy with thoughts of what could be happening to his son. He had not enough evidence to suspect much but he believed that Bellatrix had been behind the shift in his son's persona. He had not known what she had been planning but he hoped that whatever it was Dumbledore would take measures to draw her out into the open so that he could be rid of the deranged witch once and for all.
With a sigh, Snape made his way into the bedroom just as a sleeping Hermione opened her eyes noting his apparent absence.
"Severus?" she said in a sleepy tone.
"It's alright." said Snape slipping into bed with her.
"Where did you go?" she asked.
"I was taking another dose of the potion Master Phaeron gave me." he replied.
Fear suddenly filed across Hermione's pale face.
"D-Did it help?" she asked looking him over as if she were intending to find a bruise.
"I'm fine." replied Snape trying to reassure her with a smile. "Just get some rest."
"Was that the floo I heard?" she asked.
"A floo call only." replied Snape gently stroking her pregnant belly. "Phaeron and Potter have gotten into a minor scuffle it seems...no need for you to get overly concerned."
Hermione wanted to argue that anything happening between her son and a Potter was not in the least minor but she didn't want to upset him. She had noted he had gotten pretty weak this afternoon while they had been researching various routes to a cure for him. It had been the reason he needed the potion Master Phaeron brewed for him.
"Dumbledore has agreed to keep us posted should anything else happen." said Snape. "Other than that the boy appears to be a normal moody teenager."
"Go figure." said Hermione with a sigh. "But his father was anything but a normal moody teenager so that still gives me cause for worry."
Snape shook his head.
"You need to stay relaxed." he said stern. "Once the baby gets here you can worry all you want Gryffindor."
"I'll hold you to that Slytherin." she said.
The couple sat rather peacefully just enjoying each other's company before they would have to get up and start dinner and get Sidney ready for school the next day.
Snape had hoped Dumbledore would be able to look after Phaeron at least until Hermione had the baby and then he could turn all his attentions toward hunting her down and putting an end to her reign of terror against his family. Hermione had been under a good deal of stress knowing what was to possibly become of him should the curse run it's course. She didn't need to know what Bellatrix might be working on when it came to Phaeron at least for the time being.
He would tell her eventually...after she had the baby and the dangers of pregnancy had passed. Then he knew she could handle it...then she wouldn't hesitate to hex Bellatrix into oblivion. For now all he needed was to ensure that she remained calm.