Skulking about the third-floor corridors, where one should find neither hide nor hair of any students, of course this was where I would find the miscreants I needed. It's like they were allergic to authority, fancying themselves the arbiters of the school all by themselves.
Irritatingly a few faces raced by in my mind.
Infuriating, the lot of them.
I ignored the blue butterflies posted at the edges of the corridor, the charm I had prepared would make them ignorant to my presence. A simple enough thing. Children, in their boundless youth were so easily impressed by their own abilities, heedless of the boundless worlds that existed out there, beyond the thin veil erected by this school. Far beyond the reaches of the Forbidden forest, the Black lake and Hogsmeade. Hogwarts was merely the surface.
I brushed against the cobbled walls. It was stipulated once that magicians are only as good as their preparations. As a potions master, that was doubly true. Information was king. Both on your allies and your enemies, I just needed to find out which they would be.
I clung to the brick wall like a shadow. Sneaking closer and closer to the two figures in the distance. The door to the abandoned classroom left with a slight crack in the seam. Shining lilac and matted brunette appearing in the small crack. I placed my wand against the wall, listening to the vibrations, waiting for voices to begin emitting.
I verified voices, hums and giggles. Nothing concrete, though. After a moment the boy stood and approached the abandoned blackboard, taking a piece of chalk and jotting a few notes, the noticeable shriek of nails against it reverberating through my skull, as if he was digging in my brain itself. I distanced myself from the wand, the sensation scrambling my thoughts for a brief moment.
With a renewed eagerness I pressed my ear to the wand again, prepared to hear what they might be hiding.
"I can teach you to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses..." That sounds familiar.
"No, no. Ayanokouji-kun it's more like this..." Her voice turned nasally as if she pinched her nostrils shut. "I can teach you to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses... brew fame and bottle glory. Try again."
"I see..." His voice followed a pitch lower, through the chink in the door I could see the two of them holding their noses and waving their cloaks around the room. "Even put a stopper in death itself. Like that?" He asked.
"Better. You aren't giving the cloak waving enough energy, though. You have to make it look like there's a window open at all times. Like this!" She bundled up the back of the cloak and threw it sideways, the dark fabric spreading along the floor like a shadow.
"I see. He really put a lot of effort into that little speech, didn't he?" It was hard to place whether the boy was being genuine or not, his tone nor his face betrayed any thoughts on the matter.
"I'm sure he practiced day and night to perfect it, such dedication is truly admirable." I wasn't in the room with them, nor could I see their faces. But I could tell... these kids are laughing at me. At me?!
I removed my ear from the wand again.
Little brats! Are they stupid? Coming to a dangerous area just to tell jokes and have a laugh? At my expense?! I should set that monstrous dog on them just to see the look on their faces...
Don't get ahead of yourself, Severus. If I need answers, there are far better and more effective ways to go about it. Veritaserum and other concoctions. Influence as a teacher etc. Threatening their livelihoods should be the last resort. Even if it would be the most enjoyable...
I slightly loosened the grip on my wand.
Legilimens and Occlumency. Tricky skills, those that required quite a bit of setup, or at least a bit of dexterity compared to other disciplines. It was a staple in any auror's arsenal. Naturally, I made myself accustomed to such practices in preparation for the worst-case scenario. Necessary for interrogation and defence against such drastic measures...
Damnit all, Albus. You should blame yourself for this, your silence is the only reason I have to go this far.
Creeping forward, body blending into the shadows cast by the lonely corridors, I came closer and closer to the door. Wand stuck to the wall, the sounds transmitting from the vibrations all the way to my body. A skill that took quite some time to master, especially without holding the wand to ear. The vibrations entered through the wand, reverberated through the body and was understood tacitly. The amount of times this saved my life alone during the death eater days was innumerable. The only real issue was the distance it required, pretty close to targets. The spell also became less useful if charms were used to dampen the actual sound, or kinetic energy travelling through the surroundings. Thankfully masking charms were more often used than those lesser fundamental spells. I suppose that was beside the point whilst going against children, no matter how talented they may be.
My eyes strained in the dark focusing on the small opening left by the door, waiting for the moment his face was in my direction. I rushed forward grabbing the wooden door with a single hand, pushing the abandoned classroom's door open, my free hand at chest height and slowly moving towards my face to brush my hair aside.
"And what do you think you two are up to?"
I needed to gather his attention, misdirection in other words. My hand would slowly gather that gaze and focus it onto my own eyes, allowing the connection between our consciousness's to be established. An integral step for the use of legilimens...
The eyes were the window to the soul. The soul contained all of the information of an individual, this was why ghosts, and the like still possessed a personality and the ability to remain cognizant despite the lack of a brain and other organs. Both soul and matter were important for what we called life.
The boy's eyes immediately locked in on my own, not a hint of any fear or reluctance. He looked straight at me as if... looking at a peer. Unobtrusive, like gliding through a clear sky. Thoughts and memories filtered through the air carried on a gentle breeze. This was unlike anything I had ever seen...
A bit of murkiness, cloudiness or even just a general sense of cluttered-ness was natural. This was unprecedented. This wasn't a person's memory. It was fabricated, some sort of strange amalgamate between human and facility.
If you asked a person what they had for breakfast exactly three weeks ago, chances are they couldn't answer with clarity. Perhaps even a week and that's the case. But looking at his mind, I'm sure I could ask for the exact contents of his breakfast every day for the last year, and he could recite them with near perfect accuracy. In fact, I could probably find the memories myself. That was just how clear this picture was.
Not only that...
There's absolutely no resistance.
If mind reading was like skydiving then this mind had no wind resistance, no friction, not even a terminal velocity. Only gravity and how fast one wanted to progress changed how you proceeded.
More and more thoughts revealed themselves to me, an unbearable amount of information in a short amount of time.
I am unimpeded. Why?
A young child even of this age should notice what I'm doing, even if they don't know the exact way to counter it... there should be some sign. Is it intentional?
I continued skimming through memories, the edges of those events skirting by through the clear air, until the giant blue orb beneath me started to rumble. It stretched further than the ocean itself, as if the earth itself had turned blue. The waves cascaded, gestating... pulsing with a brilliant blue light. The smooth pearlescent waves of what I thought was an insurmountably vast ocean rippled...
Something was coming...
A ridiculously huge crater rolled across the surface of the 'water' but none of it was displaced. I was mistaken... Instead, I'm being watched.
A giant pupil rolled across the expanse like a chasm straight to the underworld. The pupil was impossibly wide, much too large to even call an eye. Yet I could sense it, that's exactly what it was.
And it was looking right at me.
"Begone."
A vast and incomprehensible voice echoed through the link between our minds. I couldn't even discern the language nor the gender or tone. It was just the sense that I couldn't and shouldn't dig any further...
Abruptly my consciousness was spat out of that all-consuming void.
"Sakayanagi, is it possible to read minds with magic?" I barely registered the words coming out of their mouths.
What was that?
A cold sweat had enveloped my body, my heart stammering from the sudden shutting down of the mental connection. How many had ever rebuffed me so effortlessly? How many were even capable of trying?
I did everything I could to slow my laboured breaths and quickened heartbeat, I couldn't show weakness here. He isn't even phased? My eyes tracked the boy's small movements, paying little attention to me.
"Indeed, it is. Though it is a tricky skill to pick up. Even harder when the person has an excessively stubborn will."
"Rather intrusive, don't you think, Professor Snape? I'd say it even hinges on worthy of retribution."
What was that? There was no resistance at all, and then suddenly... It was like I was thrown into the void. Like my soul had been torn from the veil and cast aside. It took me moments to even realise my full consciousness had come back to the natural resting place.
My mind retrieved snippets of the skimmed memories. Robes and clinical equipment filled them, the machinations of muggles. Despicable contraptions and the small, angled faces of Japanese children. Heavy breaths. Sterile coats worn by adults similar, but different from us wizards. But more than anything. A white so pure and unblemished it looked like the entire place existed inside a cloud.
"...Answer my questions. Who are you, really?" I didn't know why... but I was wary. It felt like even asking required walking on eggshells.
"Did that look not tell you enough?" He replied, his eyes not leaving my own despite what just happened. If he didn't know that much... Dumbledore specifically kept it hidden. Treat him like family, huh? I suppose he isn't treating the boy any differently...
"It was too short, unless he's particularly skilled he won't have seen much. Those same memories should've been conjured up in your mind as well." And this one seems to be more knowledgeable than I would've liked. I should've assumed as much from the Director's daughter, still I wasn't left with much choice.
"So he can't see things without me knowing he has?"
"Sort of, it depends how skilled he really is. As an example the memories would be like taking a file from a filing cabinet, if your mind is a mess and the files are strewn about the place it would be hard to notice them missing or someone else rifling through them. However, for a person like you, Ayanokouji-kun... It goes without saying, that isn't the case." It was an apt example, almost makes me believe she had the opportunity to test it before... I suppose being related to powerful people has those advantages, it would be negligent on her Father's part to not instil these lessons. The differences between our countries' legislations is another reason for that discrepancy.
"Short end of the stick then, huh?" He replied.
"That's what it would appear to be." She stated with a rather satisfied look on her face.
I needed to grab the advantage again. "I asked you a question boy, and it'd do you well to comply with it."
"I won't be so easily intimidated professor. We hold all the cards here. You would do better to notice that."
"Don't be absurd. I'll begin deducting points soon enough, so start talking..."
"Deducting points for personal motivations. Disregard of students autonomy and privacy. Unsolicited mind reading. Aggressive behaviour. Abuse of power. Perhaps I should continue? Even without our unique positions in this school, I can't help but think that any professor would be in trouble. It's quite an extensive record of misdemeanours." The boy explained coolly.
"The importance of these questions can be rectified when they have answers, as it goes, you're both exceptionally suspicious students. As a guardian of the students and Hogwarts itself, I'll lend myself into that service even at the possibility of pushing those boundaries. You shouldn't even be present on this floor, explain yourselves."
"Headmaster Dumbledore himself has overseen my attendance as has the Director for Sakayanagi. I'd say that's reason enough to stop this." It doesn't give reason to your other actions, brat. Stop dodging.
"As trustworthy as the headmaster and Director may be... you two have had some dealings that are inexcusable. Their word is not gospel. Explain yourselves. I will not ask a third time."
"Explain what?"
"Do not test me, boy. That stunt in the classroom, defeating the troll and finally that contraption in your hand. You're poking your insufferable little noses where they don't belong."
"This is my possession. Verify it with Dumbledore yourself if you'd like, or you can look in my ledger."
"The ownership of said item is not my concern, it is the very purpose of the device's usage that concerns me. You're eavesdropping on conversations that don't pertain to you. Give it to me." I extended my outstretched hand, constraining the tremors that had existed just moments before.
"Is that not what you are doing right now? Just because you are a teacher doesn't make you impervious to the same criticisms." The Director's daughter replied with a sly smile.
"I could say the same for you. It's a miracle that pet of yours is allowed on campus. You're almost as bad as him. Nepotism running its course, I see." I turned my nose up at the both of them.
"..." She went silent for a measure, amusement gathering in her eyes.
Hmph, children. "What, cat got your tongue young Gryffindor?" I spurred her on prepared for whatever new information she might provide.
"I just find it remarkably amusing. If nepotism is running rampant, wouldn't you say a certain Slytherin and your constant praise of him comes to mind?"
It's necessary. "Wipe that smirk off your face, you'll be attending a detention with me. Both of you."
"You whisper of favouritism but forget to admit your blatant targeting of certain students. Isn't that just another reason for your obvious predatory behaviour?" She giggled mischievously, tapping her cane at the end of her sentence.
"Predatory?! You insolent little-"
"Skulking in shadows awaiting Ayanokouji-kun would be one example. Of course, your threatening attitude and constant demerits on the house points is another. Not to mention the mind reading you admittedly tried moments ago."
"My aim is to protect the students of this academy. And I only divulge students of points when necessary. Do better. Be better. And it would not happen."
"Is Ayanokouji-kun that much of a threat to you, that you have to ensure he has no points in the future? Not a single class has gone by without you deducting points from Ayanokouji-kun in particular."
"...What are you blathering on about, girl?"
"Isn't it obvious? After this month our points will take a dive thanks to the deductions over the course of the month."
I sighed all too easily. "We teachers already explained that house points aren't correlated to that metric-" The so-called upper echelons of this new academic year, were so easily misled. So assured of their own intelligence that they couldn't listen to their teachers.
"So there's a hidden metric that runs in tandem, easy enough to understand, isn't it? Either class, year or perhaps there are even individual tallies. Judging by your constant targeting of Ayanokouji-kun as well as the great and oh-so-important boy-who-lived, I'd wager the latter." She smirked easily, resting herself on the desk as if at recess. Placing the cane delicately across her lap.
"How- No... what-" Even though that's the case, how?
"Do not treat us as fools, Professor Snape. Your behaviour made it simple enough to create that hypothesis. Now, judging by the fact that you're monitoring us and even went so far as to practice legilimens on Ayanokouji-kun, I'd say it isn't of your own accord."
"..." If Albus wouldn't give me answers, my only option was to get some myself. No matter the means. But should mere children really be able to figure that out so rapidly? I heard a faint chuckle in my periphery, immediately my eyes rose to meet hers once more.
Something is wrong here. Wrong with the both of them. This was by my design, why did it feel like I had wandered into a spider's web all the same?
"Completing tasks without knowing the reason... What was that about his word not being gospel?" She smirked at me, an infuriating, nail-biting expression that immediately made me want to suspend her, reasons be damned.
"Were you listening, or was it her...?" I could feel the colour draining from my face. Like a weight was chain-wrapped around my heart and shoved off the edge of a cliff, my body was losing feeling.
How much did they know? Was Dumbledore giving them information he wouldn't provide me? Did he put them up to this?
Questions raced by like brooms at a relay.
A single voice cut through the noise. "Stop playing with him, Sakayanagi."
"Ah, but it was just so fun. I needed some excitement for this play date to become more memorable."
"Is me being here not enough for that?" He asked, almost rhetorically.
"Oh, you really don't understand the heart of a woman at all... That's okay, I like that part of you as well, Ayanokouji-kun."
He sighed once, before turning back to me. "Professor Snape. I'm guessing my adoptive father put you up to this. Just as he tried to pen me into the Gryffindor house upon my arrival."
He even knew that? I assumed he was just being an uppity brat, gallivanting around the castle as if it was his own home because of his ties to Albus...
"Huh? You never told me! We could've been in the same house!" The little she-devil erupted in mock anger. At least I thought it was...
"Doesn't this work better? This way we can actually have that battle you wanted. Are all girls this confusing, or just you?" Battle?
"You should've still told me. Even if we didn't actually end up in the same house!" She pouted. Turning from him in a huff.
"I'll remember for next time, I guess...?" What seemed to be genuine confusion flashed over his otherwise plain features. His gaze refocused on me. "Setting that aside for now. I would like to know the full extent of Dumbledore's instructions for you."
"...Are you dense? What makes you think I'll tell you a single thing? Why would you even want to know? You two are just students. Capable as you may be, you are children, mere first years. You do not understand the danger you put yourselves in. Nor the harm it could bring to others."
"Wow. That may be the most teacher-like thing you've said all day, Professor Snape." The girl clapped a few times sarcastically. Much to my chagrin.
"I'm warning you girl. You might have connections, but those threads will quickly tear if you decide to use them to play around so frivolously."
"I shall take that advice to heart." She said whilst performing a gracious curtesy. A smug grin adorning her small features as her face rose once more. This kid was still playing with me. Me! A seasoned professor and academic! Kids, I truly do find them to be such insufferable little gits. She might be one of the worst.
"Students really do forget their place."
"And what place is that?" She asked, resting her chin on a single hand propped up on her knee. Kicking one of her legs back and forth as if this were some sort of playground.
"You are far less frightening than you believe you are." I turned from her to the young boy.
"I would hope I'm not frightening at all, especially not to one who's been vying for the post of Defence against the dark arts for so long." He replied, the words easily escaping from his mouth.
Not like it was a secret... "If you're trying to annoy me... it is working."
He continued. "Not at all. You're a seasoned wizard and clearly devoted to protecting this place. If anything I have a sense of admiration for you. You even bear such a scar for that protective nature." Frustration flashed through my mind.
"How did you do it?"
"Do what?"
"It wasn't magic. But the way the robe caught was unnatural. What purpose did you have?"
"I still don't know what you're talking about."
"Tell me or I'll simply have you give me your memory as testament." I don't know what that presence might do in retaliation though...
"That's fine. Perhaps I should throw in the memories where you've threatened us, as well? No doubt Headmaster Dumbledore or perhaps Professor McGonnagall would find them interesting? Or perhaps one of my house leaders? I don't mind if you pick, I can't imagine any of them would take to your abuse of power kindly."
Why does he seem... oblivious to it? Latent magical power? Is that why Dumbledore is so invested in this boy?
"Do you really think I will stay my hand from such a paltry defence?"
"You tell me." He steeled his eyes, the words directed at me like a sharpened dagger.
"..." I allowed the silence to drift for a moment, my mind attempting to conjure up how they possibly did it without my knowledge. Even without proof, I was assured that one or both of these little miscreants was responsible.
Almost as if tracking my thoughts, he continued. "If it wasn't magic. That only leaves physicality."
"..."
"If I could throw a nail with pinpoint precision, with that much force, without a single suspicion. Well, I believe that would no longer make me such an unthreatening presence. Don't you agree?"
"Fufufufu." The infuriating little chuckles spread through the desolate room.
"...Well, I'm only following your train of thought, Professor Snape. But I can certainly understand why you might feel apprehensive in my presence. Dangerous in the classroom and outside it. Add in the fact that I managed to fend off the same creature that gave you that scar with no injuries of my own. I'd begin to feel self-conscious as well."
"Are you satisfied with those flukes attributed to your name? Children with titles are always attracted to their own hubris." Like swine bathing in their own filth.
"Apparently, it was that much of a big deal it caught your attention. A student fully capable of taking on a grown mountain troll with physical force alone." His eyes narrowed the tiniest fraction focusing on my own.
"Are you... threatening me?" The gall of this child! These children!
"Just reminding you who I am. Who we are. That's all."
"..."
"..."
"..." I allowed the silence to drift for a time, yet they never made an effort to speak further. Seemingly accepting the tense miasma spreading over us.
"...What is it you want?"
"That quickly?" He said, in feign shock.
I'd rather not waste more time than necessary. Besides...
"I can tell when I'm at a disadvantage." Children are always so pleased with themselves, it's important to make them feel as if they gained the high ground. My only risk was them tattling to too many teachers. Even Dumbledore's assurance wouldn't prevent me from feeling the aftershocks of huge media backlash. "Besides, I got the information I came for. So, get on with it... The less time I have to spend here with you insufferable little brats, the better."
"Am I close to earning no allowance next month?"
"...Yes." And there isn't much you can do about it.
"I see. Continue doing as you are." Little brat, I was going to anyway... You think I'd rather have Dumbledore as an enemy than you? Think again.
"What happened to ladies first, Ayanokouji-kun? You aren't very good at this whole chivalry thing, you know?"
"Feels like more of a statement than a question..." He deadpanned at her... Well, if he ever had any emotion to begin with.
"Ahem, my turn! How pitifully weak are you if that three-headed mutt actually managed to harm you?" She asked in a jovial tone. It took me a second to register that she was taunting me directly.
"...I am losing my patie-"
"Ah, my most sincere apologies. I meant could we have the contents of the other defences in place against the threat of he-who-must-not-be-named?" She chirped casually.
Then a bombshell dropped out of nowhere.
"...What-?"
"What's at the bottom of the school?" She asked nonplussed.
Then a reasonable question, one that I wouldn't answer.
"...That's none of your busine-"
"Does the dark lord or his lacky already understand the weakness of that overgrown mutt? Is it Professor Quirrell? How are you planning to confront him?"
Followed by a barrage of questions.
"I-"
And of course I was cut off again.
"Shouldn't your top priority be protecting the boy-who-lived and the other students rather than deducting points for selfish reasons like a no-good child? Does it feel good to abuse your power like that? Hypothetically, of course."
"..." I couldn't prevent the glare I accosted her with even if I wanted to. That's just how irritating this particular snobbish little girl was. Clearly, she just wanted to infuriate me.
"Sorry, I believe I might've interrupted you." A fake apology came from her mouth moments later.
"..." Between our scathing stares, the boy appeared unbothered. Instead, walking up to the blackboard and erasing the notes they had jotted down previously. Most of which I had now realised were apparently tied to their impressions of me...
Idiots.
The boy cleared his throat before referring to the girl. "Generally people don't like it when you ask them questions you already know the answer to, Sakayanagi. Apparently, it makes others feel like you're making a mockery of them." That explanation didn't make me feel any better.
"Oh, my apologies. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive a childish outburst from little old me that doesn't know any better, Professor." The apology only served to incense me further.
"Forget your worthless apologies. Do they know all of this as well?" If those three brats were deliberately putting themselves into harm's way, then that made protecting them much more difficult.
"Who could say? Even listening to conversations won't tell me everything I want to know. However, the more freedom they are given the greater the chance that they uncover more of the truth."
"What game are you playing, who's side are you on? Both of you."
"So long as my interests align with Hogwarts, then we aren't enemies." He answered, vaguely. Annoyingly, it was in character for the Dumbledore family.
"And those are?"
"To experience youth as it was meant to be experienced. Nothing more, nothing less."
"..." That white realm. A place antonymous with the idea of freedom and youth. It wasn't a school or home, it was more like a facility. The one time I had visited St. Mungo's psychiatric centre was the closest thing I could think of. Sterile. And inhumane. "So, this is all just self-defence? Is that right?"
He didn't answer, simply looking me in the eye. Not a single twitch or tremor that could betray the statement.
Seeing it was useless to pry further, I turned to the bigger nuisance. "As much as I'd prefer you didn't open that mouth again... what is it you want?"
"The same thing as Ayanokouji-kun. So long as you don't harm or disrupt his peace, then I can accept that." She said simply. Almost an air of grace around her. It was as if the narcissistic brat from mere moments prior had disappeared.
"Really?" That question bizarrely enough came from the very boy in question.
"Of course. You're my friend and rival. The very first and only one I need. Everything else in and out of this school is irrelevant." She said resolutely.
Those words brought me back for a moment, the same sentiment I wanted to convey all those years ago.
...
I really do hate kids.
Both now.
And back then.
---
Word count: 4841
Snape's POV because thought it was interesting, also set up some more world-building and magical stuff. It was also somewhat important to get some insight into Snape early on because even though he is an interesting character in canon he has some glaring flaws. I don't mean this in a good, flawed character way. I mean the fact that this guy basically became the equivalent of a magic nazi because he got cucked and bullied. Like sucks bro, but I don't think it constitutes getting rid of all half-magicians and enslaving muggles.
In canon we're literally told the only reason he defects is because Lily was going to die. Meaning this is the only reason he is no longer a death eater, otherwise he was totally on board with their agenda. Lily's death is the quintessential reason he becomes a double-agent. I mean if you think about it his anger isn't even directed in the right place. The majority of who bullied him relentlessly was pure-magic blooded students. The main instigators seemingly James and Sirius. Yes, Lily no longer associated with him but that was because he used the magical wizard slur at her. Hard M. (Was gonna use the last letter but no Diddy.)
You could argue he was just angry at the world and wanted to lash out, so he didn't care who he was affecting, but it seems like a strange way to harbour the affections he had for Lily considering she would eventually be a target of Voldemort' regime in the first place. Of course, that could still be coming from a place of resentment. But it just doesn't really link up with Snape who seems like a passionate, in terms of Lily, but otherwise logical character.
Clearly, he holds plenty resentment and lacks compassion for many people, his students included in the earlier novels, though this changes somewhat. Or at least he isn't completely apathetic towards them. But I believe he does have other motivations for acting against Voldemort. Mentoring and protecting Draco. As well as protecting students during the last year when he's the acting headmaster is another reason, as Dumbledore was no longer around to enforce these ideas. Snape himself was choosing these things. Not sure the exact direction I'm going to take him for the future, but I have some ideas.
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Hopefully you enjoyed the chapter, let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
Until next time.