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Severus laid in his bed, feeling the recent belt marks stretch across his skin. He held in a pained whimper knowing no one would help. His mother was too weak or in too much love to raise a hand in his defense. Too enriched with the dream of how things used to be, before magic had become known. His father wasn't even part of the equation, unless you considered the cause. Ever since he first showed signs of accidental magic, his father thought of him as a freak, an abomination. He blamed the loss of his job on Severus and his mother, and he turned towards drinking. Neither Severus nor his mother was spared from his wrath.

Recently even his mother had begun to fear him. Ever since he had showed her his shadows, of the way they followed his command. How they twisted among his finger, and how clung to him no matter where they went. How in some ways they were alive. For once he wished to be free from his family, to be free from their clutches. No more would he have to deal with his mother's fearful looks and his father's overwhelming hatred. It was something he wished, but knew could not be.

Perhaps, even if it was, just for one night, he could be free.

Not for the first time he had thought of such a thing, but it would be the first that he had decided to do something. So with quiet steps he left his house, his shadows hiding him from sight. Once outside he did not fight the shadows, as he allowed them to swallow him whole. The threads of darkness easily cocooning him within their embrace, as they allowed him entrance within its world. He followed it path, unsure of where it lead, but trusting it, in a way that he could not trust another person. It surprisingly spat him out within a grave yard of all things.

The cemetery was covered in rows and rows of tombstones, many that stood tall from the ground. Many worn from the elements, and some cracked from human's carelessness. The full moon shining high above shone its light upon the cemetery casting an eerie glow, which would have made anyone weary; at least to anyone who wasn't one Severus Snape. To Severus it felt like coming home after a long time, something he hadn't felt since his magic had appeared.

Following his shadows, Severus walked among the graves. Severus read many of the passing names as he walked, idly touching the tombstones as he went. Not once realizing that the tombstones he had touched seemed to glow with a strange light. From that very light, a sphere of color was formed. They hung around the grave for but a moment, before they followed Severus' wake.

Perhaps sensing something, Severus looked behind him many time, but each time there was nothing there. Eventually he gave up, after a few unsuccessful tries. Not knowing that his playful shadows kept hiding the many spheres of light from his sight.

Eventually he came towards a grave that seemed to be as old as the cemetery itself. The name was unreadable, but the indents were still there, no matter how worn. Knowing instinctively that this was why he was here. Severus touched the tombstone. Unlike the other times, the glow was far stronger. It seemed to light the area around it like a torch. The spheres of light seemed to gather around, waiting for the glow to change. Instead of a sphere of light, long translucent chains appeared from the ground. They encircled the tombstone, and they eventually lead to a figure that they were connected to that had appeared above the tombstone.

The figure was that of a man that was both tall and slim. His hair was as dark as Severus' own, but his eyes were a swirling gray. He wore clothes that Severus had only seen in history books, but the collar of his shirt was stained red from a gruesome wound that stretched across his neck. Around the edges his form seemed to fade into the night.

"Father."

Severus blinked in surprise, unsure of how to respond. He was far too young to have a child; he was but a child himself. He wasn't exactly sure what was going on. Everything he managed to read beneath his mother's nose, none had ever described a ghost being chained to a tombstone. Severus was pretty sure that this wasn't ordinary.

The ghost seeing Severus' surprise, he seemed to come to a conclusion. His eyes seemed to sharpen for a minute, before they returned to a passive state.

"Ah, you're far too young to be my father, though you look a lot like him. You must be a descendant. I wouldn't be surprised if you were. My father got around a fair bit throughout the years, though not as much as his siblings." Mused the ghost as he thought of all the women Zeus had laid with at one time or another, and Hera's rage that usually followed.

Severus shrugged, not really caring about a distant family that was more than likely dead. He was far more interested in the chains that seemed connected to the ghost. The ghost seeing that he didn't have Severus' attention, looked to see what did. He smiled sheepishly when he realized Severus was staring at the chains.

"The chains were my fault in a way, when I was alive; I messed with some rather dark magic. You see while I was born a wizard, I was able to miss most of my father's enemies, but in the process I made some of my own. Eventually they caught up to me." The ghost touched his bloody neck absently. "They used my death to power some rituals, which left me chained to this plane of existence. Due to my bloodline, I was able to get my revenge beyond the grave." He finished with a cruel smile, showing far too many teeth.

"Why exactly are you telling me this? Even if I'm a descendant, I'm under no obligation to help you with your own problems, unless of course their something it for me."

"Yeah I'm not too surprised; I would have said the same in your place. Would have been consider a Slytherin if I had gone to Hogwarts. Besides I don't really mind being here, the chains only keep me from moving on. Luckily I can still travel about. We ghosts have quite a few parties, and we can be total gossips. As for the reason why I'm telling you this, is because I'm bored and you interesting. We ghost usually end up talking about the living, and its time for me to pick one, for I can one up the others. I believe you will do just fine."

"Really," Said Severus, not quite believing what the ghost had said, but not having any proof to deny. He was hardly a ghost.

"Really, not just anyone can see me without performing a ritual at least. The real question should be why you are here, and awaken memories of the deceased. I at least live here." Replied the ghost, as he pointed a ghostly arm at the spheres of light that seemed to float about for no reason.

Severus blinked at that, as he finally noticed the spheres of light that had followed him without his knowledge. They floated around the two of them in a multitude of colors. His shadows seemed to be having fun, as each time they got too close, his shadows snatched them from the air. They played a game quick game of catch with them, adding more spheres with every passing moment.

"Memories?" Asked Severus, his interest once again peaked, and the ghost sighed, allowing the change of subject for now.

"More like imprints that were left behind, when its true soul moved on to the great beyond. These are some of the last records these souls. It is said that when a spirit is reborn, they are drawn to their last resting place, and their soul will end up remembering their past life. Though rather the current incarnation remembers, is another matter altogether. Sometimes it can happen, but it's pretty rare."

"So they are empty."

"In a way, if you were to touch one of them, you'd probably live their life in a second with all the emotions involved. It's best not to do so until you're older, and have a strong sense of self. It would be too overwhelming otherwise."

"Do they ever fade?"

The ghost shrugged. "Not really sure, I know that some become dormant over time, so there harder to bring forth, but disappear. I can't really say, though I don't think so. Now will you answer me why you are here? I may be a ghost, but a few of my abilities remain, and I will keep you here until you answer my question."

Severus became silent, not really wanting to speak of his reasons, but at the urging of his shadows, he begun to speak. "My shadows brought me here."

"Not really surprising. The family's abilities are strong in you, and I guess they brought you here to learn about them before they cause too much trouble."

"Aren't I'm too young to learn. I won't exactly start Hogwarts anytime soon."

"It doesn't matter, its best to learn them before you get surrounded by wizards. Our abilities have a habit of catching the attention of other wizards for good or ill. Dark wizard prize our abilities or they try using us in rituals like I was. Light wizards on the other hand want us dead. If I had known this, I probably would have lived a longer life. I don't know how much has changed, but better safe than sorry. Wizard traditions have a hard time dying out or changing for that matter. This was how I made my enemies, and I bet you are in the same boat I as once was. The bruises are a dead give away."

Severus looked down as he hugged his body. His thoughts on his mother who had turned her back on him when he had shown her his shadows, and even his father who had turned his back before his mother, when he first show accidental magic began to appear. He eventually looked up, not willing to show any weakness, ghost or no ghost.

"Do you swear to tell no one, dead or alive what, what I tell you?"

"I swear it not only my magic, but on the river Styx as well."

"Very well my mother did not take it well when I showed I could manipulate shadows, and my father was against magic at the start."

The ghost closed his eyes. "While the trait mainly belongs in the family, it is also the belief of wizards that it is a trait of a dark wizard. In a way it's similar to parseltongue. We have other abilities as well such as necromancy. It's best to keep such abilities to yourself, no matter what side of magic you follow. At least until you are able to protect yourself. I'll do the best to teach you, as you are family, and I promise by the name of my father that I will aid you in this endeavor to the best of my ability."

Severus seemed stunned, unsure of how to react to someone wanting to help him. It was a foreign concept to Severus. The ghost in front of him seemed to understand this and, he gave Severus a kind smile. One that was completely different from the earlier one.

"Since we will be spending quite a bit of together, I guess I'll introduce myself being the elder and all. I'm Asellus Segin Black, of the Ancient and Noble House of Black, at your service." said the ghost even as he dropped into an elegant bow, a mocking smile stretched across his face. He even swept an imaginary hat behind him.

"I'm Severus Snape." Replied Severus as he tried to copy Asellus' bow and failing.