Title: Back to Black

Author: OverusedBarcode

Author's Note: Warnings and Disclaimers are on previous chapters along with the summary, etc...and I know Bellatrix went to Azkaban in 1975 but for the purpose of my story she went to Azkaban in 1979. Also, in the summary it says he had an 'affair' with his teacher. This just means they had a relationship outside of school that some deemed 'improper'. Alex is a virgin and intends to stay that way for awhile yet.

Thank you to my reviewers who have inspired yet another chapter.

Optimouse and Googlie-Googlie-Loo you're wonderful!

Chapter Four--Prose and Poetry

Alex sat back in his seat and took another drink of his Shifter. He figured he'd be needing it soon. As Severus began the tale Alex pieced together what, he assumed, only he and his father knew.

Alex was told of his mother's arranged marriage into the Lestrange family directly after graduating from Hogwarts. Being pureblood meant having an arranged marriage and living according to your parents' plans.

Severus spoke of the Dark Lord and his followers coming up with a plan in the 1970s that could "turn the war around".

The Dark Lord sent Bellatrix on a mission in 1979 to finalize a deal with some high-ranking American wizards to help the Dark Lord in the upcoming war but when she returned she fell from His graces. Which meant that the deal had not been made...or that they had gotten caught by the American Aurors.

"Either way," Severus finished, "Bellatrix went to Azkaban and one year later, 'Saint Potter' was born." Severus finished with a sneer.

Alex sat for a few moments debating what he had heard. There wasn't much Severus had told him that he hadn't guessed himself. After all, what other business would Bellatrix Black have in America unless it was for Voldemort?

The question was, should he share his knowledge with Severus, or keep it to himself? Would it benefit him?

'Yes', Alex decided, 'I'll tell him my story. and maybe then he'll give me half a chance. I bet he doesn't know I'm to be a student at Hogwarts for the next two years. I wonder if it'll make a difference in how he'll treat me. If he'll refuse to speak to me again on the grounds that it's improper for a Professor and a student to have a non-academic relationship.' Alex giggled internally.

Looking into Severus' dark eyes he almost forgot what he was going to say. He didn't know what it was about this man that drew him in.

"When Volde-" at the look on Severus' face he quickly amended, realizing where they were at once, "the Dark Lord sent my mother to America she met my father. I was told that she didn't now he was a muggle because they discussed things in the Wizarding world in general and he knew what she was talking about.

"What she didn't know was that my father had a brother who was a wizard. That's how he was current with Wizarding news. They had an affair, as she was married at the time, and I was conceived. At two months she began experiencing morning sickness.

"After performing a memory charm on both my father and the woman she pulled off the street, she performed a dark spell to transfer the child to the muggle woman."

The dark spell, Biotransfiticus, because it drains the caster of all magic until the baby is born so the child can have access to the well of magic it would have had otherwise. Alex didn't explain that because he figured Severus was already privy to most Dark Magic.

"The woman suspected nothing, but my father had been around his brother all his life. Which means he'd been the butt of some of his jokes. Figuring out that he'd been under a memory charm wasn't the hard part. Remembering the memory was.

"By the eighth month of the pregnancy, my father had most of his memory back. He knew that the child, though technically being born from two muggle people, would be magical. He knew that Bellatrix had moved the child from herself to the muggle woman in front of him. What he didn't know was why.

"Through his brother and some investigation of his own, my father found out about Bellatrix and her Death Eater status. When I was born he and the woman 'separated' and he got custody with seldom visits from my 'mother'. When I was eleven he told me the story."

When Alex finished he looked once more into Severus' eyes and was once again pulled into his onyx eyes.

Sitting back, Severus deliberated on what he had heard from this young man. If he were to believe what he had heard, then he would assume that the reason the deal in America went bad was because Bellatrix was too ashamed of her lack of magic to meet with the wizard.

Then, when she got back to Britain that was the reason the Dark Lord was so angry with her. Had Voldemort known? Or had he simply been upset about the deal not being made?

'I wish I knew what was going on. What is he doing here in Britain, of all places? And why now?'

Abandoning these questions for one much less obvious he asks about Alex's intentions in Britain.

Alex smiles and ignores the question for one of his own.

"Why Severus, are you trying to get rid of me already?"

With a smirk Severus gestures to the door.

"Well, if we're done talking then would you care to accompany me to the dance floor?"

As tempted as he was, Severus decided Alex was far too young for his tastes.

"No thank you. I prefer my lovers to---"

Alex blushed and cut him off, "Why Severus, I had no idea we had gone that far. I do hope it was good for you."

Realizing what he had said Severus took in the blush that covered Alex's cheeks.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to imply that we were--"

Cut off yet again, Severus began to get annoyed.

"I've taken no offense. I couldn't take offense to that."

"Why is that pray tell?"

"Why, because I'm a virgin Severus."

Speechless for a few moments, Severus collected himself and his wayward thoughts to form a coherent sentence.

"I believe it is time for me to retire for the night."

With a smile and a nod Alex got up and kissed Severus' hand again. It was received better this time though. Severus simply looked him in the eyes and walked away.

Instead of leaving the club as he said he would, Severus simply melted into the shadows and watched the boy who had intrigued him for too long already.

Alex had left him and gone directly to the dance floor. His partners were all young and beautiful, like Alex.

Their dancing resembled foreplay more than anything. Bodies melded together, grinding on whomever was nearest. The lights were dim and they were glistening on the dance floor.

Almost all eyes were drawn to the spectacle they made. Alex was currently dancing between two wizards dressed in a similar manner as he was. Hands were touching Alex everywhere from shoulders to chest to hips to…

Alex's head was drawn back only to be captured by the wizard behind him. Mouths clashing, tongues wrestling for dominance which Alex seems to give freely after the initial struggle.

Severus pulls himself from the corner he had taken up residence in and walks out the door. With a snort he thinks to himself, 'Virgin my arse.'

Knowing that Severus was still watching him Alex had moved to the dance floor. He loved dancing at the clubs in America. Raves were his favorite, all the glow-sticks and strobe-lights everywhere was a beautiful sight to behold.

He had been having fun for about an hour when he felt Severus leave. He had gotten to him with his style of dancing. The making out with the wizard behind him had been a pleasant surprise.

He hadn't been involved with anyone since Bryant, who had broken his heart and then put it in blender to puree what was left.

While he was indeed a virgin, he had dated and done other things. He just didn't see the point of it if it wasn't forever. Cliché, he knew, but it was what he believed nonetheless.

With no reason to stay, Alex slowly made his way out the door and back to his room. With a glance to his Augurey to make sure he had food and drink, Alex crashed on his bed with his clothes still on.

The next morning he wrote his letter back home to his father.

Dear Father,

My stay in Britain has been wonderful. I have one day left before school begins. I still don't agree with your decision to send me to Hogwarts. There are plenty of schools left in America you could have sent me to. I miss my friends back home. They all promised to write me but that's not the same as seeing them in person. I've heard wonderful things about Hogwarts, it's supposed to be the best school in Britain. I wish to return home for winter holidays. I don't believe the Headmaster will allow visitors here, so I'll have to come home to see everyone. I'm doing my best here, I wish you and everyone else well.

Love,

Alexander

He finished and sent it away with his Augurey, Felix. As he was walking back over to his desk to do some reading, a colorful Passion Bird flew in and dropped a letter into his waiting hands. It then flew over to the food and water dish and helped itself.

Smiling to himself he opened the letter from Billy.

Alex,

How's it going in Britain without me there to entertain you? I miss you Cherry. Speaking of, you haven't given it up have you? Because you know it's mine Alex. There's nothing to do here without you. The old spots just don't have any appeal anymore. Come home.

My heart enclosed,

Billy

p.s. xoxoxoxoxo

He and Billy weren't together, but they'd been best friends their entire lives. They, at the tender age of thirteen, had promised themselves to each other. First kiss, first everything.

Unfortunately, Billy's first kiss had been stolen by a slut named Stephanie Morgan in fifth year. Alex had hexed her so that every time she kissed someone her mouth would fall clean off her face.

It took her awhile to work up the courage to go to the school nurse, Mrs. Adams. Stephanie never told the Mrs. Adams who had cursed her for fear of what would happen to her, but she did get it fixed. Four weeks later.

So to make up for it Alex had given Billy his first kiss to make him feel better. After all, it may not have been his first kiss, but it was the first time he had kissed Alex.

Billy called him cherry because he swears that when they French kissed for the first time Alex tasted like cherries. And, being a virgin with cherry intact, the nickname stuck.

Blushing at the thought of Billy inquiring about his Cherry, Alex scrawled a quick reply and headed over to his desk. Alex was currently reading a book about Augureys. Am I going to die, or get rained on? By Sebastian Swashbuckle was all about Augureys through the ages.

He had gotten his Augurey from his Father as a going away present. Felix was beautiful, and a wonderful companion.

Alex crawled into bed with his book and settled in for some light reading. He fell asleep with the book still open on his chest as the candle burned down to nothing.

TBC...Review please!

A.N: Also, if you don't know what an Augurey is...it's in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them on page 2.