Title: Back to Black

Author: OverusedBarcode

Fandom: Harry Potter

Spoilers: ALL BOOKS, INCLUDING BOOK SIX!

Pairing(s): Surprise pairing!

Category: Romance/Humor

Disclaimer: I own none of the characters except Alex, his family, and his pet.

Warning(s): SLASH No likely no readie!

Summary: Alex was suspended from Ambrose Academy in America for having an affair with his History of Magic teacher. He's been suspended and removed from two other schools for similar occurrences. His parents have finally decided to contact the one person they believe can help. Albus Dumbledore. Misunderstood and depressed, Alex, the American goth transfer student, is enrolled at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for his remaining two years of school. Will he be suspended again for doing naughty things? And how will Hogwarts react to having someone so...different...among them?

Chapter Three---Don We Now Our Gay Apparel

With only two days left before he started his new school, Alex finally decided to look around Hogsmade. Once he'd flooed there from the fireplace in the Leakey Cauldron, Alex then headed to the nearest sweets shop. He'd been denied his passion for far, far too long.

As soon as he stepped into the shop he realized that sweets in Britain would be different than sweets in America. Some things he couldn't wait to try, like the sugar quills and toffees. Other things made him cringe just reading the names...ice mice and cockroach clusters were among those few.

Searching for his one true love was difficult in a shop that size, and with that much variety. He finally gave up and headed to the counter to ask for assistance.

"Excuse me Ma'am, but could you help me?"

The woman had a warm smile and a friendly face. "Of course my dear boy! What is it you're looking for? I'm guessing it's an American sweet, then?"

Feeling quite comfortable talking to this woman, Alex smiled toothily and shook his head.

"Well then, I believe I'll have to special order it for you then!" She sounded amused, not at all put-out as he'd assumed she would be. "You'll have to tell me the name of the sweet young man, or I won't be able to help you after all."

Blushing at his own absentmindedness, Alex managed to spit out, "They're called Blow-Pops, but I think they're muggle candies. I was hoping your shop might carry them. If you can't get them it's fine."

She outright laughed now. "We do carry some form of them, but I'm not sure you'd be inclined towards them. Why don't you have a free sample then? To see if you like them." She scurried over behind the counter and disappeared below for a few moments. When she popped back into view she was holding some "suckers".

"Now," she explained, "these red ones are Blood Pops, the orange are Sugar Pops and the Black are Ever-Changing Lollies. Those last ones last about a week, if you don't let them go to waste. Now I, myself, am partial to the Sugar Pops, but the Ever-Changers are quite popular as well."

Alex looked at the choices carefully. "What about the Blood Pops? Aren't they terribly popular as well?" He had a sneaking suspicion that they were for those with...acquired tastes.

"Well, those usually go pretty quickly, but the ones who usually buy them are vampires, or other creatures as such. They're not bad. It's just that the taste of blood isn't candy, and that's what children want when they came into a sweets shop like Honeydukes."

Alex thought silently for a moment, and then reached over and picked up a Blood Pop. As a child, and into his teens, Alex had had an affinity for blood. Not that he had any vampire lineage, or that he was bloodthirsty, but when one of his friends got hurt...Alex would be their napkin until further action could be taken.

It wasn't his own blood he had craved most of the time, it was the blood of others, and it was only about twice a month. Slipping the lolly out of it's wrapping and into his mouth, Alex was hit with an overwhelming flavor. The taste wound its way over his tongue and warmed his entire body from the inside-out. With a loud moan bubbling up in his throat, Alex reached into his bag and pulled out two galleons and laid them on the counter.

"I would like two galleons worth please. I think I've found my new favorite."

With a shake of her head, the lady got him what he'd asked for and watched Alex walk out of the shop. "Strange boy."

With a new blood pop firmly in place, Alex headed to his next stop. The Apothecary's Shop wasn't too far away, and it was his most favorite place to be. Potions brewing, like flying, had come naturally to him. He loved to fly, but brewing potions was his passion...second only to the blood pop he was quickly devouring.

His first sight when he walked into the shop, aside from ingredients that is, was that of a gorgeous man looking at glass cauldrons in the far corner. Strong in stature and build, the man was a dark beauty with translucent skin. Not flawless that is, but the skin of a man who had spent many hours in his laboratory perfecting his latest infatuation. Sunless and stained at the fingertips from ingredients. Large strong hands played lovingly over the glass cauldron. Wanting, but at war with the cost perhaps?

Stepping up to the potions maker, Alex caught a whiff of mint and sage, and aconite. So, he was brewing a Wolfsbane potion, how inspired. Feeling an urge to speak to this man, Alex spoke with interest in his voice.

"So, for whom are you brewing the Wolfsbane potion Sir? And if you will not tell me, then allow me the privilege of knowing your name instead." Trembling with anticipation, Alex dreaded what might be the man's reply.

"Seeing as how the first question was only a ploy to pique my interest and make me tell you my name, I shall answer you only with this, I am far too busy with my work for some addlebrained child to interfere. If you had wanted my name then you should have asked me outright instead of prattling on like a fool. Good day." He turned away and headed to the door when he heard Alex reply.

"I see that you're wit has been sharpened today. I like a man who'll keep me in my place. Your name good Sir?"

After a moments hesitation he heard a steady, "Severus Snape, Potions Master. And you are?"

"Alexander Black. Pleased to meet you." Alex stepped up to the man whose eyes had clouded at his name and grasped his potions stained hand in his own. With little flourish he bowed down and kissed his hand only to have it ripped from his grasp. The man's already pale face had gotten ashen, before he could ask the problem the man was out the door and gone.

Still puzzling over his conversation with Severus Snape, Alex went back to his room at the Leakey Cauldron.

After a while, Alex decided he needed to get his mind off of everything. He headed to his closet and grabbed one of his club outfits. He hadn't had a chance to check out the night life since he'd been here, and there was no way Alex Black was going to pass up an opportunity like that.

Looking into the mirror Alex decided that he was a delicious piece of eye candy. With flawless porcelain skin he looked the perfect picture of beauty. His naturally black hair had been spiked and streaked with bright blue to bring out his eyes. Eyes were lined with Smokey silver and lips were painted with shimmery cherry gloss. He had on a simple black muscle shirt and tight black pants with bondage straps. Combat boots he'd had since he was fourteen completed the outfit.

Adorned with his piercings and a D-ring collar Alex made his way out the door. After, of course, he ran back inside to grab his wallet, wand, and cell phone.

He had researched clubs in Britain on the internet before he had come over. Muggle clubs that is. Wizards clubs...of his style...were few. Very few. In fact, there had been only on had heard of. The Inferno was located in Knockturn Alley, and would be his last stop for the evening.

Headed for his first stop, The Misfit. Located on the punk side of Britain, both clubs were for the underground crowd. After walking a few blocks, he could see people lined up for a block and a half. Deciding to skip the whole thing, Alex turned and went for the next club.

The Cathedral was more for the goth scene, but he had decided to check it out. He hadn't gone to The Misfit because he didn't like to be crowded. At The Misfit there had been too many posers. The actual population of Undergounders was much smaller. There were too many Baby Goths hanging around.

When he walked up to the door of The Cathedral, Alex was impressed by the discrete nature of the club. It was nestled between two warehouses, and the only indication of what was inside was a hand painted sign that had the name of the club on it and the bouncer outside.

Making his decision, Alex walked up to the bouncer and smiled. With a speculative glance at him the bouncer who's nametag said Chris waved him inside. Sometimes it paid to look older than you were. With his 5'10" height and strong build, Alex was often mistaken for being eighteen.

The lights inside were dimmed to a soft glow punctuated with occasional strobes or dancing colored lights. The bar in the center of the room had more people around it than the dance floor.

There were maybe ten people on the dance floor compared to the thirty at the bar. After dancing for an hour, Alex was practically bouncing on his way to Knockturn Alley. While he was no supporter of the Dark Lord, Alex was pretty well versed in the Dark Arts. He had no qualms with the magic itself; it was the caster that held the power, not the spell.

Sliding into KA sent a shiver up his spine he hadn't been expecting. Finding the club hadn't been hard at all. It was the music that led him to it actually. Not that it was overly loud; it was just the only noise in the otherwise silent alley.

There was no bouncer outside, which didn't surprise him. There were, however spells on the doorway. What they were for Alex wasn't sure. After standing there debating about what to do, he was startled when there was a hand on his shoulder. Turning around, startled, he was surprised to see HIM there.

Severus Snape had willingly approached him after what had happened in the store. And he apparently went to the club because he was suggesting in a calm voice that they go in and have a seat so they could talk.

'About what,' Alex wondered, 'and why did he run off when he heard my name? Does everyone have it in for me because I'm a black? Is it Sirius or Bellatrix they're wary of when they see me?'

Nodding his head tightly Alex allowed himself to be led into the club by a strong grip on his arm. As if he were going to run away. 'And how did he know I would be here tonight? Was he waiting on me?'

He was led over to a shadowed corner on the other side of the club where there were few people. Unlike the other clubs, this one was neither mainstream or full of Baby Goths. Probably because these people were wizards and witches and had no idea of muggle culture that went with the scene. There were very few people under twenty in the club, and even fewer were dressed as he was. Most wore black wizards robes.

Nonetheless, the club was dimly lit and the dance floor was full. The music was haunting; a live band he had never heard was performing on stage. The bar was small, and had a scattering of people sitting around it, but most were seated in booths or dancing rhythmic to the haunting music.

Once they were seated Severus looked at him for a moment before speaking.

"Would you care for a drink?"

"I'd love one. I'll have a Shifter please."

Severus nodded and waved his wand. A moment later a house elf had arrived. Once he was given their order he disapparated and popped back with their drinks within a few seconds.

Sipping his Shifter, Alex glanced at Severus. He must not know he wasn't of age or he wouldn't have bought him the drink. With thoughts rolling he had to shake himself back to reality when Severus began to speak again.

"I apologize for this afternoon. I was startled by your name. Were you related to Sirius Black by any chance?" He could tell Severus was trying to be polite in his curiosity.

"Yes, but you've failed to mention my mother, whom I had no ties to either."

With a lifted eyebrow Severus inquired as to my mother's name silently.

"I assume she's married by now but I believe you'll know her by the name of Bellatrix."

His face betrayed nothing, but his eyes reflected the horror that was inside him.

"Ah, so you do know of her. Perhaps you can fill in the blanks for me then. My father was only able to tell me a bit, seeing as he's a muggle and we lived in America.

Severus looked into the eyes of this boy, who could be no more than seventeen, and began the tale that would surely wipe the smile off his beautiful face for awhile.

TBC...Please review!