Chapter Six--Visions of You
Title: Back to Black
Author: OverusedBarcode
Author's Note: Warnings and Disclaimers are on previous chapters along with the summary, etc. All information regarding most spells and potions that will be used throughout this story was derived from Harry Potter at Lexicon.
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!
Warnings: Slash, unbetaed (will accept offers)
Chapter Six--Visions of You
After the school year began, Dumbledore told him that he would have to move into the house he had been sorted into, but was most welcome to use the room he had been given earlier whenever he wanted. He just needed to inform either himself or his head of house when he would be spending the night in the moon room.
The only notable thing about his first class with Snape was that, in fact, nothing notable happened. His classes progressed quite easily once he had settled in. Even his more challenging classes had been compelling enough to hold his attention.
During the first week after his introduction to the school, he had been regarded with quite the array of emotions. From fear and respect (Slytherin), to fear and anger (everyone except the Slytherines). The only reason he hadn't been directly approached was because of two speeches.
The first, delivered by the headmaster during the beginning of school feast. He had introduced Alex and then gone on to say that he was there under special circumstances and would be adding to the rich diversity of the school, and furthering his already outstanding academic career. Dumbledore then made some cryptic comments about friends and allys, the coming war, and hard decisions. From what he had heard, it was quite similar to the previous year's speech.
The second speech came from his head of house during an impromptu meeting the second day of the school year. Alex had been sorted into Ravenclaw, much to the disbelief of many students, the teachers, he assumed, had been informed of his unique background. Or a condensed version of it.. Filius Flitwick as head of Ravenclaw was quite the sight to see.
When he was addressing his house, he conjured a small stand and levitated himself up onto it. It was funny to see for the first time, but from the way no one was laughing, Alex figured that it was a common occurence. He had been given the third degree by some of his house mates earlier that day and promptly told them to shove off. Unfortunetly, Flitwick had heard and promptly taken points and berated him for losing points for his house so early in the year. It wasn't a total loss though. The other students who had interrogated him had lost points also.
Flitwick's speech was more to the point than Dumbledore's had been. The crux of it being, aquire information by asking or doing research. Bullying was not the way of Ravenclaw. Overall, the speech did quell his housemates rabid curiosity. Though there was one boy who never failed to ask him at least two questions a day.
Terry Boot was attractive, by his standards, but a little too nosey. No matter how many times Alex ignored him or told him to push off, Boot would simply laugh and ask another question. Now they seemed to be at a truce. Alex answered Boot's lesser questions and Boot agreed to quit asking about his past.
On his way to the library, Alex was literally pulled into an empty classroom and held at wandpoint by noneother than the golden boy himself.
"I have some questions." Harry whispered. He was flanked by an angry looking redhead and a fuzzy girl who looked upset.
"Harry! Put that away! You told me we were going to politely talk to him, not abduct and torture!"
"Aww, come on Hermione, we're just--", the redhead pleaded with fuzz-um...Hermione, apparently, to no avail. She promptly pushed Potter out of the way and appologized.
"I'm so sorry, these two get carried away sometimes." She looked reprovingly at the two boys who only looked at him with wary distain.
Hermione continued, "We had a few questions we'd like to ask you. If you don't mind, of course. But you have to have realized that your name would cause a ruckus--"
Alex cut her off before she could continue. "I don't see how any of my personal business is any of yours."
The three looked at one another before Harry took a step foreward.
"I'm sure you already know, but we're against Voldemort. There's a war on and everyone is choosing sides. We were just trying to find out if you've picked yours. If you're with us, then we'll have to have some proof, but if you're with them, then we know where we stand."
Hermione continued. "And we're not stupid. We know if you wanted you could lie to us either way. That's why we want proof if you say you're on the side of the Light. So we know for sure."
There was a pause in conversation while Alex took them in and considered his options.
"You've all got guts, I will say that. If I had been on Voldemort's side, this would have been the perfect opprotunity to capture you. Alone, I'm guessing you didn't tell any teachers where you were going, and relatively unarmed. Huh. And you're supposed to be our fearless leader." Alex scoffed at them. "No, I'm not against you. But unless you improve your tactics and gain some war-time knowledge I'm not with you either. If you want proof of my loyalties, go speak with Dumbledore. Tell him what I said and try to step it up. As you said, there is a war on."
With that, Alex stepped out into the corridor and right into Snape, who didn't seem particularly thrilled to be stepped on. They righted themselves with appologies and both having turned toward the library, walked in together. Alex had a free period and had intended to do some research on family histories.
"So Severus, how are the atrocious students this year, hm? Any promising apprentices on the way?" Alex had been thinking about an apprenticeship for quite awhile, the only drawback being the task of finding a Master to take him on. He could think of no other Master than the one in front of him that he'd rather be studying under.
Severus barely blinked before answering in a curt negative and walking towards the back most section of the library. The most rare potions texts were located back there if he wasn't mistaken. Being intrigued by Snape's attitude and Ravenclaw by nature, he quickly followed him to the unoccupied back section.
"Now Severus, what could you possibly be looking for back here? Doing some research for class, or your personal stud--" Alex abruptly cut off his speech as he felt himself become lightheaded. He swayed on his feet and hit the ground fast. Snape's attention abruptly switched focus as he heard Alex's commentary cease. When he saw the boy fall his first instinct was to check bodily signs.
Everything seemed to be functioning, there seemed to be no potion residue or odd smell around his mouth to indicate poisioning. He was fine physically and breathing was regulated, as was heartbeat. He was simply unconsious. Alex's eyes were moving rapidly beind his eyelids and his whole body was tense. As quickly as he had fallen unconsious, he awakened. Startled and wide eyed, Alex was shakey and unstable in Snape's arms.
"What just happened Alexander? Do you have a medical condition I should know about? Have you taken anything in the last 24 hours?"
Weakly, Alex began to speak, as though he was unsure and afraid at the same time. "I...I think I...no, it couldn't have been."
"What Alexander? I cannot help you, you fool boy, if I do not know what is wro--"
"I think I...had a vision."
After his revalation, Snape stood and retreived the text he had come to the library for in the first place. The one that had had him so distracted. He then put a featherlight charm on Alex and led him to his private chambers slowly, so as to not upset Alex's shaky footing, or stomache.
Once they were both seated in Snape's front room, he turned back to Alex.
"Now Mr. Black, tell me about this vision."
There was a moment of stillness between them while Alex gathered his thoughts. He had never had a vision before, and didn't know why he would be having one now. The only seer in his family had only had a few visions in her time. And those had been minor at best. He liked Severus, true. He trusted him, but he also hadn't had a chance to speak with Dumbledore about Snape's position in the war. If what he suspected was correct, then Snape was deceiving Voldemort by being a double spy. He was almost sure of it. Either that or he was playing both sides in order to come out on top either way.
Making his decision, Alex took a deep breath and leaned foreward.
"I hate to even ask, but are we able to speak freely in here? What I have to tell you is not for curious ears." Alex was hit then by how cold he felt, was even shivering in the cool dungeon climate. He refused to alter the temperature and made a point to stop his trembling. What he had seen had shaken him.
Snape regarded him with something akin to curiosity before nodding his head once in the affermative. He took in the sight of Alex's tense form and conjured some hot tea. He busied himself making his own while Alex just held onto the heated cup with both hands and stared into the fire.
He began slowly, voice steady but low. "I've never had a vision before, but I'm sure that's what this was. I couldn't make it go away. It wasn't occlumency because I've been trained enough to know when images are being pushed into my head. This was different." He took a moment to sip his tea, letting the heat seep into him.
Severus only looked attentive, and maybe a little worried. Though he hid it well.
"I saw you," Alex paused and looked into Severus' eyes, "I saw who I believe was Voldemort, he was cloked partially, take a potion from you. I couldn't see it clearly and no name was mentioned. Not even what it was supposed to do. You looked defeated, worn, like you had been working on it for many weeks with little to no sleep or food."
Alex paused as he got a confused look on his face. He closed his eyes and began speaking again."I...I don't think what I saw was the future. I think I saw something that has already come to pass. You looked tired, but younger maybe? He-Voldemort, looked pleased. As though you had just handed him the key to winning the war."
He stopped and opened his eyes only to see that Severus wasn't sitting where he had been. He was standing prone in front of the fireplace, leaning one arm against the mantle. "Was that all? Was there more to your vision?"
Snape sounded every bit his years in that moment. Aged and defeated. It made Alex's heart beat faster. Maybe what he had seen meant something bad. It had certainly scared him.
"Yes, there is more. After that you left the room, I couldn't see what kind of house or where it might be located, a dark haired woman came into the room. She, well, she looked like my mother." Alex stopped abruptly as Severus turned to look at him. So if this had already happened, then Severus didn't know what had occured after he had left the room! He continued with more enthusiam. "She--she started talking about how no one would know, how it would all work out for the best if--if he fell out of the public eye for awhile. They continued the conversation but didn't say much of anything else about the potion."
Severus had began pacing around the room as Alex spoke, looking more and more worried. "Severus, what does this mean? What did I see? Has he already used the potion?"
Snape stopped pacing and looked at Alex as though he had forgotten he was in the room. "I have to speak with the headmaster. You, you should go back to your dorm and forget you ever--"
Alex cut him off before he could finish his rediculous statement. "If you think I can just forget this ever happened you don't have half the intelligence I thought you did Severus Snape! I just had a vision of the past that apparently means something to you and the headmaster, and has you worried enough that you--"
"Do not presume to know my mind Mr. Black!" Severus took a deep breath and seemed to deflate a little. "You would be better off not knowing, but I can see you will not be swayed so I will share with you what has happened. Let us go see Dumbledore together then, I don't want to repeat myself. He may well want to speak with you himself, to make sure nothing of import was left out."
They looked at one another for a moment longer before Snape stepped foreward and went through the floo. Alex quickly followed.
After they spoke to the headmaster, Alex was dismissed with the promise that if anything further were to be granted him in a vision that he would come foreward with it immediately.
For all the buildup, Alex thought, the actual description of what happened all those years ago was less worrisome than confusing. Severus had disclosed that shortly before the downfall of Voldemort by Harry Potter, he had been approached by the Dark Lord and told to make a new potion. With no recipe and only a vague description to go on, Severus had developed a unique potion form of the Imperius curse.
Alex pondered this on the way back to his dorm, not really paying attention to his surroundings. When he bumped into a hard surface and was knocked backwards, he looked up to see Draco Malfoy and two other boys flanking him with wands drawn. The second time today he had been held at wand-point.
Alex gracefully got to his feet and glanced cooly at Malfoy, who was looking at him with curiosity. He turned to the boys with wands out and spoke. "Crabbe, Goyle, you can put those away. I'm sure Mr. Black will not object to having a little chat with me privately, will you?" It was spoken as a command and with slight force. Alex decided to approach Malfoy as he had Potter earlier that day.
"Why no Mr. Malfoy, I would not object to having a private audience with you. It would be my pleasure." Well, maybe with a little more pure-blood bluster.
They walked a short distance to a wall where Malfoy walked back and forth in front of three times before a door appeared. He opened the door to allow Alex in first and spoke quietly to Crabbe and Goyle about guarding the door before coming inside himself. What he walked into was a lavish sitting room in dark greens and earth tones. He had read about the Room of Requirement in Hogwarts: A History, but he didn't think it actually existed. Malfoy must not think it was too important a piece of information if he was brining him here to simply talk.
Alex spoke first so as to gain some ground in the situation. "So, Malfoy, I'm guessing you're wondering about my name and place in this war? Am I right?"
Malfoy simply smiled as he took a seat across from Alex in the chair. "Yes, but I'm also wondering why a Black I've never heard of before suddenly shows up at Hogwarts and doesn't seek out the person of most authority in the school."
Alex tried hard not to laugh at Malfoy, considering himself the point of authority. Hah!
"Draco, let's cut to the chase, I'm not disclosing my position in the war because I don't know yours. I know how you'd like people to think you're for Voldemort, but you forget one think, love." Alex knew he was pushing his luck, revealing this much about what he knew of Malfoy family history, but he wanted to see if he could get a reaction out of him. To see what it would reveal.
"And what is it I've forgotten then?" He was smirking his pure-blood smug smirk. Alex was smiling outright now.
"I'm a Black family member Draco, and you're my cousin by blood. Tell me, how is your mother doing after her latest miscarriage then? Last I heard she had to see a healer because it was hitting her so hard emotionally."
All the air in the room seemed to be stifled, Malfoy's smirk frozen in place and fading quickly. He looked angry for a moment before regaining some composure.
"She's...It's not..." Malfoy looked unsure of himself for a moment before casting a series of charms on the room. The least of which was a silencing charm. "I'm not going to tell you I'm against Voldemort because I'm not. I'm just with my family, who currently is very involved with him. What I want doesn't matter. If you let slip to anyone what I've told you, I'll deny it and be believed over some bastard child who's claiming to be a Black!"
"Now Draco, you know that I am what I say. Otherwise how could I have known about your mother? Now that you've revealed a bit about yourself, I can say that I'm not likely to join Voldemort as I have no such family keeping me in such a position. I trust you will hold to yourself the same care with my admissions as you expect from me. Should you think betraying my confidence would gain you favor with Voldemort, I want you to know that I am not concealing my alliances, only biding my time until the most can be gained from revealing my true intentions. And I strongly caution, dear cousin, that you look for an alternative means of escaping this war."
Alex, in fact, only knew a few choice facts about the Malfoys, most of which had been told him by his father, who had done some research about Hogwarts and the situation here before sending him off. Mainly, Alex was flying on a whim, hoping it carried him far enough. He wanted to get as many people on his side as he could before he implemented his plan, of which was still in the making. He would be pitching his ideas to Dumbledore soon enough, and speak with him about his conversations with Snape, Potter and now Malfoy.
Draco regarded him silently before speaking once more, his composeure regained.
"Well then Alexander, I believe we have an understanding."
Once Alex got back to his rooms and began thinking about his day, he began mapping out what he knew.
1. Everyone wanted him to choose a side, or know what he had chosen. 2. He had had a vision for the first time involving his mother, Voldemort, Severus and an unidentified potion with Imperius tendencies.
Just as he was dozing off another thought hit him. Snape had been distracted when they met in the library. He was looking for a rare potions book! Did that have anything to do with his vision? Had Severus already known something was going to happen?
A knock on the dorm room door startled him out of his thoughts. He had forgotten he had closed it when he came in.
Alex sighed and walked over to the door and opened it to see Terry Boot holding what looked like homework and notes.
"You're here! Everyone's been wondering where you've been all day! Merlin Alex, you've missed almost all your classes today!"
Terry handed him the pile of books and papers with the confirmation that it was his missing work from that day. He hadn't even realized he had been out of class since his free period hours ago. And what had Severus' classes done without him there?
Terry looked at him oddly before asking him where he had been all day. "Well, I mean after you didn't show up in potions and then Snape didn't either, we all just assumed you had gotten into trouble. But then professor Flitwick had come in and said you both were detained and the headmaster had asked him to step in on his class. I'm guessing the other teachers helped, because no one's seen Snape at all today either."
"I...Snape and I had some business to attend to with Dumbeldore. About potions." Alex was floundering. He hadn't a clue what kind of excuse to give. Then it hit him! "I was trying to get them to agree to an internship next year. But we were interrupted when Dumbledore got a floo message saying he was needed somewhere. He was busy all day and we kept getting interrupted but we finally had our talk about the internship." Alex knew he was rambling but at least he had come up with something. He only realized something was wrong when Terry looked at him again oddly.
"I think that's the first time you've ever answered one of my questions directly!"
Oh. "Well, you wore me down Boot, what more can I say!"
Terry looked thoughtful for a moment before smiling at him, "Well it's about damn time! Now, how about you let me take you for a butterbeer on the next Hogsmeade outing hmm?"
Alex could only flounder a bit more. A date with Terry Boot? A date. With Terry Boot.
TBC, reviews are love.