Prologue- The Road not taken
"I made my choices and you made yours." Where the words that Lilly Evans said to one Severus Snape after an unfortunate incident at the laker and shut the door to the Gryffindor room. In one universe this was where Snape snapped and became a fully commited Death Eater in order to be someboyd, hopefully enough to win her back in his own twisted way. In this one this broke Snape, before he knew what was happening his feet took one step in front of the other.
Righ, left, right left, untill across magical means he somehow recovered enough for this shattered mind ro recover from the shock of loosing the one good thing in his miserable life.
And like any other boy with seemingly no hope and no future he found himself hearing a strange noise.
THUMP THUMP THUMP.
Severus recovered enought to look up and saw that it was a group of children his age in a city that he did not recognize. They where playing on a muggle concrete sport court a game that...what was it called? Hanball?
The ball was dunked trough a metal hoop by one of the youths with a more darker complection and immediatly the ball bounced near Severus who was watching the game from the sideline.
"Hey white boy you wanna play?" A youth that was even taller than Severus said.
"I...I don't know the rules." Severus said, still not recovering from the shock.
"You ain't an american, ain't ya?" Another one said with a thick accent that Severus recalled was native to the southern parts of America. He must be in some american city.
"British."
"Ain't no wonder you don't know how to ball. We'll teach ya and now we cane have a full 3v3 game." The oldest of the boys said, a tallk one with long arms and a charming smile that Severus could not help but feel a bit at ease with.
Severus joined these muggles in their game and he was hoorendous at it. He was abble to phisically keep up with them, the years of dodging the Marauders had made him into a very athletic young man, but he was could not shoot or dunk as one would call in this game called...baseball was it?
Seeing as his other two teammates had no such limitations Severus decided to focus on pasing the ball to them. They seem to apreciate that and so like many other youths who had a miserable life Severus forgot himself in a game of basketball on the streets of Boston.
"Damn, you decent for rookie and a white boy, next time you are on my team." Another youth with dark skin said and Severus did feel somethign stiring inside of him, perhaps he would return tommorow.
And so he did.
Troughout his remainign year and summer Severus Snape, the aspiring blood supermacist who wishe to conquer the muggles secretly travelled to the city of Boston in order to play a muggle game with muggles.
And that was the divergent point
Xxxxxxxxxx Ten year's latter xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
This was Severu's first class as an Assistant Teacher in Potions for Professor Slughorn, he had been so nervous that he declined participating in the welcoming feast in order to prepare for his fist class. And he would be there!
"You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making… I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses. . . I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death — if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach." Severus Snape said as he thundered inside the classroom to properly established his authority over the first years. When two giggling mouths made him stop and turn to the source.
"Is there something amusing you wish to share with the class?" Severus Snape said and glared at the two. The muggle born witch Ganger and him…HIS son.
"N, nothing sir. It's just that you called us dunderheads. Just like you called Hakeem during your rookie year!"
Severus paused at the hero worship that….HIS son had in his eyes towards him, he was caught of guard by the enthusiasm to his cruel words.
"Last I recalled you….Mr Potter was it?"
The boy nodded with great enthusiasm.
"From my recollection Hakeem is taller, of darker completion and far more restrained than you as such I fail to see any logical reason why you would associate my words to you with the ones towards him, as such ten points deducted." Snape said with an authoritarian tone.
But that only made the two dunderheads half squeal in delight.
"Each! And if any one of you says another dumb word the deductions shall double! I know that not saying something imbecilic is beyond your capacity but try and at least pretend you have a functioning brain inside your skulls!" Severus said with vitriol and he could see how Potter and Granger bit their lips to try and stifle their delight.
After the class was over Severus exited the class.
"Blimey what's wrong with you two! The greasy git just insulted you both and took points!" Ronald Weasley said towards the two kids he befriended on the train to Hogwarts.
"Cause that's Severus 'Shake and Bake' Snape plays for the Boston Celtics!" Harry said with enthusiasm.
"He's some kind of athlete in the muggle world?" Ronald asked in curiosity.
"Some kind of athlete? 5 NBA championships, 7 allstar games, constant offers from other teams to jump ship, he is one of the key players along with Larry Bird! He's Snape from Bird and Snape! The terror twins!" Harry said with enthusiasm to a confused Ronald.
"They would have won their 6th ring if not for that new Bulls team. That line up with Jordan and Pippen is no joke!" Malfoy, the blonde toeragg from the train said jumping into the conversation.
It was the first decent thing that he said to the trio so Harry and Hermione gave a tentative nod of the head which Malfoy returned.
"But why where you guys laughing when he made fun of you?" Ronald asked.
"Cause he and Bird are one of the biggest trash talkers in the league! It's a thing of beauty!" Malfoy jumped in and much to Ronald's shock Harry and Hermione giggled at that.
"Is everyone in my year mental?" Ron asked.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Room of Requirement. Form of Basketball court xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Of all the meat headed oafs who watch my shameful career as a glorified dog running after catching and passing the ball, why did two of them had to be in my first class and one of them had to be…HIS." Snape said as he hung his head in shame as he went through stretches and drills for tonight's game.
As a young man who had nothing, he threw away his wizardly dignity and became a show pony for the muggles and their barbaric sport, the only reason he did so was for the money, but soon his honourless existence would come to an end. He had one more year in his contract and this time he would not renew it.
Come the end of the season he would finally start his dream career as a potions master far away from his shame.
Severus after he finished his war up apparated himself to side alley in Boston and walked towards the Celtic stadium down the block, thankfully his disguise prevented the meat heads called fans and managed to enter the dress room.
"Hey boss. Slip me some love brotha'!" Larry greeted him and Severus went trough the motion of nodding and giving the big oaf a complicated combination of fist bumps and slaps that finished with a hug.
Severus felt a bit guilty after that. Larry had been a good friend these horrendous ten years that he had been earning his bread this shameful way.
"Coach is starting you tonight." Larry said and smiled as Snape scoffed at that.
It amused Larry that Snape was probably the only player in the team who wanted to be benched or kept in the practice squad.
"I distinctly remember telling him to start my backups tonight." Severus said in annoyance. His entire career he tried to avoid playing since he was not in the mood to entertain a lifetime to pains and aches from chronic over exertion in this nonsense.
"Sorry bro. But he's back with the Pistons, coach Red insisted that you start so we can get past the Worm." Larry said with sympathy and amusement as Snape cursed under his breath as he was once more forced to play. This ironically had contributed to the Celtics success in the recruitment department since one of their top players kept insisting that new blood be given game time making it very popular for rookies to go to make a name for themselves with game time.
Severus suited up and they went on the court and moved into position to start the game.
"Well, well, well my favorite white boy, I almost missed looking at your ugly mug."
"The Circus is down the street go there if you wish to be a clown no 10."
"You must be blind cause it ain't no clown before you, lucky me facing of against a blind fool."
"If you wish to not be mistaken for a clown then stop doing your hair as one no 10."
"I love playing against you Snape, it's so much fun when I score against you green gremlins."
"You play for fun? I supposed that explains your abysmal track record, I cannot understand playing for fun for I only play to win no 10."
"The name's Rodman, remember it!"
"Why should I remember the name of a loser?" Snape said as the buzzer sounded as the Celtics had the ball, immediately Reggie the small forward caught the ball and passed it to Snape who led the team's offense. Snape charged forward right into Rodman who living up to his name moved to block with incredible speed and skill. Severus stepped back, jumped and shot the ball.
From the corner of his eyes, he could see a grin on Rodman's face as he moved in a way that it was impossible for Snape to hit a 3-pointer basket. Rodman made it very, very hard to do so against him.
But Snape was not shooting for the basket. He had used one of the most potent shooting techniques to not shoot but to pass to Larry who with his superhuman talent got the 3 points.
Now it was the Pistons turn and they made their way as Snape from his point guard position used another one of his unorthodox techniques and namely instead of jumping to intercept the ball he punched it into the crowd blocking the play.
"I play to win Rodman, try it sometimes, you might just actually be a basketball player for once you buffoon."
"Shit, that was cold, but what can you expect from a reptile."
"Venom."
Severus replied and Rodman grinned, he loved playing against Snape and guarding him, it brought out the best in him.
That was how the match continued with Snape punching the ball away and constantly passing to his teammates so they could score. He only bagged 3 baskets during the game, most of the times he just used himself as bait in order to free his teammates and pass to them so they could score.
Snape knew his place, he was no star player, but he could pass better than any so called 'star players' on the opposing team in the Eastern Conference.
And whenever Snape did so for some inexplicable reason, he could hear the Celtics buffoons in the bleachers cheer.
"Stupid muggles, getting excited over a flying ball." Severus thought to himself as he continued to play as the point guard for the Boston Celtics against The Pistons with a returned Rodman, but it would not be forever.
Soon he would be free of this stupidity and be able to be a proper potions master. It would be difficult, especially with Potter in his class, but what could possibly happen this first year at Hogwarts?