Asterion Snape
What a great start to the year, Dementors, Dementors, Dementors!, Stupid Train
Last year it was Dobby and his attempts to keep him away from Hogwarts, and then his suicidal attempt to get there in Ron's car. When will the day be when the universe leaves Harry Potter alone? Thanks to Merlin for Professor Lupin who was there by chance, if it weren't for him, who knows if he would still be alive right now
Harry was still deep in thought as the sorting ceremony took place. He wasn't paying attention this time. Not like the previous years, when he was very attentive to the new kids.
And he even played with Hermione to try to guess which house the boys will be in before the hat says so, but this time he's just tired, and doesn't want to pay attention to his surroundings. He only unconsciously hears unrecognizable names pronounced by Mcgonagall and the usual ones, Hufflepuff!, Ravenclaw!, Gryffindor! and Slytherin!, shouted by the Hat, impatiently waiting for the food so he can go to bed, moving his leg up and down
Apparently, he is not the only one stressed, because at the teachers and staff table, sitting between Minerva's empty chair and Remus Lupin is a very worried Severus Snape, who is paler than usual, fiddling with the hem of his tunic, trying to look as expressionless as possible.
Still, some may notice that he is nervous, which is unusual to say the least. Remus wants to ask if he is okay, but he still doesn't feel confident starting a conversation with the other man. Obviously, neither Harry nor Severus notice the nervousness of the other, they are too focused on whatever they are thinking at the moment
The bustle of the room does not help calm the Potter boy's thoughts, he feels like he is about to go crazy, or so he thinks until a particular name catches not only his attention, but that of absolutely the entire dining room.
"Asterion Snape!"
Everyone, absolutely the entire dining room falls into a dangerous dead silence. Ron's jaw drops to the table, Hermione freezes and looks around, trying to see the reactions of her classmates, Damn, even Draco Malfoy keeps his mouth shut and straightens his back to try to see the boy
Hundreds of eyes fall on the eleven-year-old boy who confidently walks onto the stage, perhaps a little uncomfortable with the attention, but without hesitation. His robes are new, recently purchased, his skin is as pale as Severus's, although it looks more soft, his hair short but absolutely dark, as black as possible is well combed
His gaze is judging, just like Snape's, yes, this is definitely the potions master's son. Immediately the bustle resumes, this time full of unpleasant speculation and gossip. No one had ever wondered if the Slytherin had a family, but certainly no one would have imagined the terrifying professor having a son. Does that mean Snape has a wife?
There was no way Severus would have a boy, or at least not one this cute, some girls whispered. Although one could easily say that he is the son of Severus, there were clear differences between the two, first, The hair of.....Asterion? Is that what they said his name was? His hair seemed quite healthy, well-groomed and had small curls even though most of it was straight, his nose was not prominent, and most importantly, his eyes, his eyes were a beautiful grayish blue.
Asterion Snape looked at his mother, who was still sitting at the staff table, Severus gave him a soft look of trust and the boy sat down on the bench.
— Ah, yes, ohh, it's been a long time since I've received someone like you — the hat began
—Someone like me? —The boy asked with a soft voice
—Your ancestors..... Most of them belonged to the house of snakes, right? — Questioned the Hat
Asterion didn't understand what he was talking about. He knew that his dad had been a Gryffindor (although that was almost all he knew about him), and his mom had been a Slytherin. Ancestors? Maybe his father's family were mostly Slytherins, or maybe his mom's magical family
— I don't know, — he responded in what was more of a whisper than an answer.
Oh, but Severus did know what the hat was talking about. The hat was referring to the Blacks, Asterion's paternal family, Snape didn't like to think about that, his blood ran cold at the thought that his son was a Black and a Prince at the same time, and not only that, but he was the rightful heir to both legacies, and if things got worse, he would soon be the last Black
— For someone with your lineage, I must say that you are quite a Dreamer —
—Thank you.....I guess—
—However, your ambition and your curiosity put me in a very difficult situation, Ravenclaw or Slytherin? —
— You have many qualities that could put you anywhere, you are dangerous, child, your convictions are strong, but still manipulable —
Hermione still couldn't believe that the boy who was there was Professor Snape's "offspring", yet, as surprised as she was, she quickly realized that she wasn't the most shocked. Professor R.J Lupin was paler than a fucking corpse, his gaze fixed on the boy as he had dropped the fork of food he had before the name was pronounced, he was undoubtedly the most shocked.
Remus felt that the universe was trying to torment him, that October night when he lost everything lived constantly in his memory, how his best friend, his brother from another mother, Sirius Black, had betrayed them, taking James and Peter from this world, leaving Lupin totally alone when he ended up in Azkaban
He had had to relive that night a few hours ago, when he faced the dementor and saved Harry, he relived the night when he saw James' face on the boy, along with those deep green eyes of his mother.
When he heard the boy's name he didn't give it much thought, Snape had moved on and had a kid, good for him.
However, when he raised his head to see the boy, he did not expect to see a small Sirius Black take the stage, he had features of Severus, but anyone who had seen Sirius when he was young could confuse them.
And when Asterion Snape looked at his mother for reassurance, Remus's heart sank as he saw those familiar blue eyes that he would recognize anywhere, and that he hadn't seen in at least eleven years.
—You come here with a very clear objective, right? You are dangerously ambitious, dangerously cheerful, dangerously brave. What do you think of Gryffindor? —
— No. — Asterion replied firmly
—Huh? — asked the hat
— Not Gryffindor — The boy repeated decisively
Severus was a little surprised. His son knew that his father had been a Gryffindor, he had told him that when they first talked about Hogwarts, and he had never said anything to him that would make him not want to be part of the Lions.
Although he would certainly prefer to have his son nearby, whether in Slytherin or Ravenclaw, he knew that he would be safe in Gryffindor, after all, to be in Gryffindor was to be with Mcgonagall, who took great care of Asterion when he was a baby.
— You are very clear about what you could be, aren't you? — It had been a simple suggestion, the hat knew that the little Snape's place was among snakes or crows
— It's not what I could be, but what I will be —
— That's all I needed to hear, SLYTHERIN! —
The room gave the usual applause, Ron realized that Malfoy was overjoyed when the boy was sorted into Slytherin, no one was surprised by the result, although for a second some thought it would have been very funny if the head of Slytherin's son would have been in Gryffindor
On the other hand, Albus Dumbledore saw the scene with a little concern, since he saw something that no one else could see
Many decades ago, when he was still a simple professor of transformations, and a little after the disaster of Grindelwald and the obsucurial, Hogwarts received the Young Orion Black, the legitimate heir of the noble house of Black.
The future father of Sirius and the grandfather of Asterion, perhaps it was the convenient combination of genes of Severus and Sirius, or perhaps the universe has a very strange sense of humor, but that child where some saw Severus Snape and others saw Sirius Black
Dumbledore only saw the living portrait of Orion Black. And if that were not enough, the scene of rejection towards the Lions was also familiar, in 1932, they received Orion Black, who became a Hatstall, the hat hesitated between putting the man between Slytherin and Gryffindor
Orion Black ordered the hat to be placed with the snakes, profoundly rejecting the lions. Six years later, in 1938, Eileen Prince arrived at Hogwarts. Again, rejecting the Lions, Albus wondered what Orion, Walburga and Eileen would think about his grandson
He had always thought that Asterion looked like his grandfather, the most noticeable difference was the little baby's relaxed expression after Minerva finished playing with him and the little one fell asleep.
It contrasted greatly with the scowl and look of disdain that always adorned Orion's countenance, but now that the boy was slowly growing up, it was clear that he would grow up to be a man as handsome as the late Mr. Black.
The boy was about to sit on the corner of the snake's table but was stopped by Draco's shout, who called him to come sit with him. Harry, Hermione and Ron watched in horror as Malfoy made room for him on his side and put his arm around him and then began to explain how a good Slytherin should behave.
***
—If that boy had any hope left of being good, under Malfoy's influence he is doomed, I feel sorry for him— Ron joked.
— Stop it, Ron, we don't even know him — Hermione scolded him.
— Are you kidding, Hermione? You heard the hat, The sorting hat called him dangerous, Dangerous! When have you seen something like this? — The redhead exclaimed in a mocking tone
— It is not the first time that the hat has called someone dangerous, I read in volume 2 of Hogwarts history once that the hat has called only 3 individuals "dangerous", Percival Rackham, Isidora Morganach and Cygnus Scamander, you should be proud Ronald, we witnessed something that will surely be recorded in the Hogwarts books —
— Oh yes, that reassures me a lot Hermione, a potentially dangerous child whose figure to follow is Draco Malfoy, what a good omen! —
— I don't think it's that bad — Harry intervened, — I mean, I've never heard those names, maybe the hat is exaggerating —
—No offense Harry, but you are a bit clueless in the history of the magical world, Percival Rackham was a headmaster of Hogwarts and I am not very sure about Isidora Morganach
But Cygnus Scamander is one of the most important figures in this world, he saved Hogwarts when he was in fifth year by facing a Goblin named Ranrok, he did many other things, and he was an important piece in beating Grindelwald, he was a kind of mentor to Dumbledore
They say that he died saving Ilvermony in its most important war, and he is the father of Theseus and Newt Scamander, in his time he was one of the strongest wizards —
— The last name sounds familiar — Ron said after Hermione finished her explanation, — Bill and Charlie had a friend with that last name. We even went to their wedding in the United States, it was the only pureblood wedding I've ever been to — Ron joked
— The Scamanders are not pureblood Ron — Hermione corrected — They were offered to be part of the Sacred Twenty-Eight, but Cygnus rejected it, many say that they are the greatest blood traitors in history —
— Not them, but the Bride's Family, Merula Snyde, were the personification of Pureblood, I'm surprised they even let them get married —
— And to all this, what makes them so special that the hat calls them dangerous — Harry was not paying attention to the history lesson that Hermione was giving them, but he was very curious about what made the boy so special
— I don't know, I haven't gotten to that part — Hermione answered
And speaking of the devil, Potter spotted the Snapes at the end of the hallway, plural, Severus and his son were talking about something, until the potions master gave his son a potion along with some pills that looked quite Muggle and then left him alone
Harry watched as the boy stared at a newspaper he had taken out of his coat. Curiosity invaded him, just as the sudden itch of his scar prompted him to approach Asterion
—Harry? — Ron called, — Go ahead without me, I'll catch up with you later — he said
Harry Potter approached Asterion Snape to start a conversation, he didn't even know why, or what they were going to talk about, but he stood next to him anyway.
— He's coming for you, right? — Asterion interrupted
— Pardon? —Harry asked, —
Sirius Black — The Little Snape said as he showed the cover of the newspaper he had been looking at
— That's what everyone says, why the question? — Harry questioned.
— You.....Do you think you can..... defend yourself if he catches you? — Asterion answered in a low voice, — He won't catch me, not at Hogwarts at least —
The boy frowned, he stared at him for a few seconds before looking away, it was clear that he didn't like eye contact, but Harry didn't notice.
— Don't trust that much in anyone, when they have you in their sights, they always catch you, they will hunt you until you can't sleep, and they will play with your mind until they make you cry, regardless of whether you are just a child —
Harry stared with an expression of terror and concern at Asterion, who didn't seem to notice the strangeness of what he had said until a few seconds later. Asterion and Harry made eye contact, blue eyes meeting green ones, Harry suddenly felt a huge itch on his scar and watched as the smaller boy scratched his neck.
— It seems that you have experience in being hunted — Harry spoke again to divert the topic of conversation
— Listen, ...Defense against the dark arts classes are necessary, but for people like us Harry, they are not enough, if you ever don't feel confident enough or if you ever want to become the hunter, you can come to look for me, and I, well, let's just say I know how to help you —
Harry was shocked by the proposal, it was something clearly forbidden, Snape's son was offering him to break the rules together? What a life, on the other hand, the boy had a totally serious look, he was not playing, so the boy taller only nodded and returned to his friends
For people like us, it's not enough
Little Snape's words echoed over and over again in his head, could he trust him? What possible things could a first year teach him? Why was Asterion looking at a photo of Sirius Black before Harry interrupted him? Was the itchy scar when they met eyes a coincidence? Or Hermione was right and if there was something strange with that child?
***
Remus Lupin thought he had had enough of the Castle for the first week, so he went for a walk outside the school.
He would not meet Asterion until the following year, since first years do not receive Defense Against the Dark Arts, although it was no longer morning, there was still sun, plus the full moon was far away, so he was enjoying his walk
That was until a soft singing interrupted his thoughts, it was the voice of a child, which was strange, there should be no students around here, it was the outskirts of the Castle and it was forbidden for students.
He hid behind a tree to try to see who it was, and to his surprise, he found the little Snape singing a song in French while pulling plants from the ground and catching leeches.
— Ah, si je pouvais vivre dans l'eau, le monde serait-il plus bean? —
Remus couldn't understand what he was singing, but he must have been concentrating. Had Snape given him permission to leave or did he simply leave the castle? Some Dugbogs approached the boy to attack him, the man was about to come to his defense, but the boy used Levioso and Diffindo to defeat them and tear out their tongues
— Nous pardonneras-tu, ô chère mère?— he continued singing as if nothing had happened
Remus decided that he had had enough and that the boy might get hurt if he let him run wild, so he went out behind the tree and approached the little boy.
— You shouldn't be here— Lupin spoke, making Asterion jump.
—Don't tell my mom! —It was the first thing that came out of his mouth
So Severus is his mother, Remus thought, another reason to add to his mental list of "Reasons why Sirius Black is Asterion Snape's father."
—What are you doing here? — Remus asked, — I'm collecting ingredients, to practice potions — he answered quickly, — Aren't you the potions master's son? I think you're the last person in this castle who could be missing ingredients — Lupin said in a friendly tone as he and the boy began to walk back to Hogwarts
—Won't Snape give it to you if you ask him? — Remus asked, — Yes, he always gives me what I need — the boy answered.
But if I ask him for the ingredients I need, he'll ask me why I want them, and he can't know that, Asterion thought
— Do you promise not to tell anyone? — said the boy, Remus was excited because the little boy was going to trust him with a secret
— I promise,— Lupin swore, winking, No matter how broken his soul was by Sirius's betrayal, seeing the small smile on that innocent face made him want to cry. Remembering his entire first year with the marauders, he wanted to protect the little one, hug him and help him and Snape
— It's just that, I need it to practice and I don't want to ask for it..., because Mom and I... We don't have much money — Remus's heart broke when he heard the poor boy saddened by having to tell Lupin that him and Snape were having a tough time financially
— Mom always says that everything is fine, to ask for what I need, but I'm not stupid, I realize, when things are not okay — It was a half-truth, that was the second reason why he didn't ask for things, the first was not to leave traces on his plan
Lupin stroked his head and wanted to give him a hug, but if the boy was like Snape, he knew he wouldn't appreciate the sudden contact. Besides, to Asterion, Lupin was just a stranger, just another teacher.
They arrived at the castle without much more to say, Remus swore once again that he wouldn't say anything, and the boy seemed to believe him.
— Asterion, there you are, Your mother is looking for you — Minerva's Voice sounded as soon as they entered the castle
The boy quickly went towards the dungeons where Severus was waiting for him, — Professor Mcgonagall — Lupin began, — What do you know about the boy? — He asked somewhat embarrassed.
— Oh Remus, I'm not really sure what I can tell you, I just want you to know, that I think it will be good for the boy to stick to you, he doesn't have many people to admire, just don't let your memories stop you from punishing him — Minerva laughed at the last part
—My memories? — Lupin questioned
— Remus, don't play dumb with me, we both know who those blue eyes belong to, but you must understand, that if you want to be part of the boy's life, that means being part of Severus life — Mcgonagall warned him
But Remus thought it was worth it, right?