Chapter Five--Friends or Enemies
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. Also, Alex is a few months older than Harry, which means he will be joining Harry, Ron and Hermione in their final two years at Hogwarts (this year and the next).
Spoilers: ALL BOOKS! Though I have changed some things for myself, much of cannon will stay that way.
Thank you to my reviewers who have inspired yet another chapter. Sorry it took so long!
Chapter Five--Friends or Enemies
With him having to go to school the next day and having yet to make contact with Albus Dumbledore, Alex decided to go to Hogwarts a day early. This also gave him the added benifit of settling in before all the other students and gaining some familiarity with his new surroundings.
Once he was up and packed, Alex had one of the employees place a shrinking charm on his baggage so he could pocket it and he called on the Knight Bus. Alex arrived at Hogwarts with little fanfare, and it only took a little sweet talking to get Stan to unshrink his broom so he could fly the short distance to the front gates.
Hogwarts was quiet, assuming all the teachers were in their respective class rooms preparing for the onslaught of students that were to arrive the next day. Alex had no idea how to contact Albus Dumbledore, but he had a plan. He called for a house elf, knowing there would be several in the employ of the school, and hoping one would come to assist him.
With a loud pop that seemed to echo in the empty corridors, a small gangly house elf arrived wearing mismatched socks and a fraying scarf.
"Who are you? Students is not arriving until tomorrow and you is not a teacher." Alex was surprised to be spoken to this way by a house elf, but needs must.
"I will be a student come tomorrow, but I need to speak to Albus Dumbledore. Can you tell me where he is?"
With the mention of Dumbledore's name, the house elf grew calmer and seemed to release some of the hostility that was directed at Alex.
"Oh yes, Dobby will show you to Headmaster Dumbledore's office! Follow me!"
It seemed a bit misguided to Alex that the house elf should be so trusting at the mention of Dumbledore's name, but then, for all he knew there could be wards on the castle protecting it from people wishing to do harm to it's inhabitants. Alex quickly followed this Dobby all the way to the front of a statue of a gargoyle on the seventh floor. Dobby glanced at him with distrust and leaned in to whisper the password so Alex could not hear.
The statue jumped aside and revealed a well worn spiral staircase. Dobby turned to him and gestured for him to go up the stairs. He then disapparated with a loud pop that left Alex alone in the corridor. He stepped onto the first stair and was startled as the staircase began to move upwards of it's own accord. When he reached the top, he was faced with a beautifully polished oak door with a brass knocker in the shape of a griffin. As he raised his hand to knock, a voice from within called for him to come in.
Steeling himself for the conversation ahead, Alex pushed open the door and walked inside. The headmaster's office was circular and covered top to bottom with bric a brac, portraits of what he assumed were previous Hogwarts headmasters, and books. There were several windows with curtains drawn letting in sunlight, and a huge claw footed desk sat in the center of the room. Behind the desk in all his long bearded glory, was Albus Dumbledore. Next to him on a perch, was a luminous phoenix who was singing beautifully.
As the song quieted, Albus smiled at Alex and gestured that he should take a seat.
"How was your journey Alexander? And how has your stay been in Diagon Alley? Would you like a lemon drop?" Albus held out a bowl with the aformentioned candy and Alex popped one into his mouth. Dumbledore seemed the kind sort, though it was obvious he kept tabs on people of interest by the way he knew where Alex was staying. He also assumed that on his way up to the office, Dobby had popped in and informed the headmaster of his ascent to the office. Making his decision quickly based on what he knew of the man, Alex returned the smile.
"The journey did not take long, and my stay has been pleasant so far. Though a bit confusing regarding my name. I had hoped that we could speak about my situation and what is going on with Vol--"
Alex was cut off by Dumbledore before he could outline his concerns for the school year.
"Yes, yes my boy, all in due time. I wish to firstly welcome you to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry! Now, as a Black, I do have high expectations of you. From the letters your father sent, it seems you have an affinity for potions?"
Taken aback for the second time since he had arrived, Alex could only nod in the affermative.
"Good, good. You will do well in potions and herbology then. Now I have reviewed your previous school records and I doubt you will have any trouble adjusting to life here. In fact, I believe you may be ahead of your class in several subjects. Now, seeing as how we want you to get the best education we can offer, I have taken the liberty of speaking with our professors and coming up with a schedule I think we will all be happy with."
He fiddled with the papers on his desk and handed Alex what looked to be his school schedule. It looked pretty basic, other than some of the more advanced classes he had yet to take.
"Now, with you being so far ahead, we have placed you in some more advanced classes. If you have no problem in the classes, next year you will have a bit more free time on your schedule than most other sevent year students. This will allow you to pursue other areas of interest, should you so wish, such as taking an apprenticeship or studying to be an animagus. Those things will come in due course though, so let us discuss your current arrangement."
Alex was feeling a little overwhelmed with all the new information being thrown at him. He quickly reigned in his emotions and brougt up the reason he was here.
"That sounds wonderful headmaster, but I thought we would be discussing my previous expulsions."
Dumbledore's eyes were twinkling at him, and he didn't seem perturbed in the least.
"Hogwarts has no rules against student/teacher relationships, so long as the student is of the age of consent, and no complaints are made in leiu of favoritism, abuse, or other things of that nature. I am to understand that you are 16?"
"Yes, but--"
"Then we have no problems. I must caution you though, if you do decide that this will be your course of action, do not hesitate to go to any of the teachers here, or, indeed myself if you feel threatened in any way. Though I do not believe you will have need."
As he took in Alex's reaction, the headmaster slid some things over to him across the desk.
"I have provided you with a copy of Hogwarts: A History so that you may become better aquainted with the castle, and the other books you will need for your new classes. When you are done with Hogwarts, you may return it to the library at any time. In that book Alex, you will find many things which may benefit you during your stay here. Now, tomorrow during the welcoming feast you will be properly welcomed to the school and be informed of our current rules. I think you'll do well here my boy. Very well. Now I do believe you wished to speak about your name?" Alex could only nod as Dumbledore looked penseive for a moment.
"There are many who will be suspicious of you because of your name, but not all of them are enemies. I will leave it to you to decide, obviously, but do be warned. Not everyone has chosen a side on this war, so many will be looking to others for guidance. I hope you will be one to lead in the times ahead. I do have other things I wish to speak with you about, but I think that will be all for now. I'll have Dobby show you to your room, and you will have the freedom to roam the grounds until the welcoming feast tomorrow evening. Feel free to visit me at any time Alexander, I may just be an old man, but I like to think all of my years have been good for something."
With that, Dobby reappeared and Alex stood to shake hands with the headmaster as they left the office. Dobby led him to a corridor on the fourth floor that was next to the library. Once they reached a portrait of Ptolemy, the astronomer who had tried to make the earth the center of the universe and succeeded only in prematurely exploding some stars, Dobby stopped.
"The password is 'astronomically' but Dumbledore is saying that you can change it when you is wanting to."
"Thank you Dobby, goodnight." Dobby disapparated with another pop and Alex turned and spoke the password to the portrait, which swung open silently. He stepped into the room and admired the decor. The room was done in blues and blacks, reminicant of the night's sky, with stars and moons and such printed on the bed sheets. It was beautiful. He had one window directly opposite the door, which overlooked Hogwart's grounds.
With a heavy laden sigh, he placed the books Dumbledore had given him on the desk facing the wall to the right of him. He then removed his belongings from his pocket and they returned to their full size. Alex placed his trunk at the foot of the bed and sat up Felix's perch by the window with a thought that he should be returning within the next day or so.
Exhaustion crept over Alex with no preamble, everything the headmaster said flying through his head. He fell onto the bed and slept fitfully for a few hours, still pondering how he would be accepted at Hogwarts, and wondering if he would have enemies he didn't know about on his first day due to his name and position in the war.
When he woke for the second time that day, Alex picked up Hogwarts: A History and headed to the library in search of some interesting reading material that might help him in his adjustment to the new school. What he found instead was Severus Snape sitting at one of the many open desks reading a thick tome on what appeared to be advanced potions brewing tequniques.
Smiling to himself, Alex walked over and took a seat next to the man, who barely seemed to notice his presence.
"I see you've finally arrived Mr.Black. How are you finding Hogwarts so far?"
Alex softened his smile and spoke teasingly.
"Wonderful so far, though the view has certainly improved recently. And what are you doing here Severus? Shouldn't a potions master such as yourself be working on your latest brew to awe the wizarding world?"
Severus finally looked up at him from his book with a smirk firmly in place.
"Why, mister Black, it amuses me that you have not fully done your research. Having prepared for the swarm of idiots that will fill my classroom soon enough, I came here for some light reading before dinner. And to what do I owe the pleasure of your company tonight?"
Alex recovered from his shock quickly. How had he not known that Severus would be the potions professor here? He had let himself get complacent. He had already had a good idea of who the man was from what his father had told him, and what he had gleaned from his own research, but to overlook---Alex cut his thoughts off and decided to look ahead.
He was under the impression that Severus Snape was a Death Eater, but his position at Hogwarts and the hints dropped by the headmaster in his letters to Alex's father would indicate otherwise. Alex suspected that Severus was on the side of the Light, but protecting himself in either case. Possibly a spy? He resolved to speak with the headmaster about it first thing.
When he had had his discussion with Severus in the club, he hadn't told him anything that could not be discovered from Bellatrix herself, had she been so inclined. Alex assumed that if Severus was on Voldemort's side, he would have already told him of Alex's arrival. If not, Severus would have waited until he got the go ahead from Dumbledore, under the guise that none of the teachers knew until the first day of school. Interesting.
"While I did not, in fact, know that you taught potions here, it does make some sense. If Hogwarts is the best, then the students must be taught by the best." Alex smiled flirtatously, "And to answer your question Severus, I came here to familiarize myself with Hogwarts and to browse the literature." Alex leaned in closer to Severus and smelled only potions ingredients and a delightful scent that he could not identify.
Severus leaned back a fraction and regarded him cooly, though not unkindly. "I believe I will take my leave then, and allow you to aquaint yourself with the castle. I shall see you at dinner mister Black. Enjoy your reading."
Severus picked up his book and exited the library in a billow of robes, leaving his scent lingering behind. Alex decided that this encounter was not a toatal waste, his advances had not been rejected, and he had something to speak to Dumbledore about.
Yes, he decided, not a total waste. Alex read the book and skimmed through the library until dinner and then he made his way to the great hall for dinner.
TBC...Review!