Second Year Can Be A Challenge
Atlas Snape, a Slytherin second year who wandered into the Shrieking Shack because it was a new moon tonight, the night that he dreaded each month, as he became a monster in his eyes, during his vampire transformations.
At the moment, he was being monitored by Remus Lupin, his godfather who was analyzing his transformations as the redhead’s father, Professor Severus Snape attempted to cure him with various potions while. The most recent one, called the Draught of Moonstone was calming the monster he became on full moons a little but only seemed to last an hour or so after when moon the moon had risen. An old friend of Atlas’ deceased mother, Remus, the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher for next year’s school year was helping him because he is kind and a werewolf, as well as being the godfather of the young half vampire. Remus had been named his godfather by his mother in the letter his mother had written to Severus. His other godfather was none other than Sirius Black, despite his father claiming that Lucius Malfoy was. Technically, the young Potions protégé had three godfathers and one godmother, as his two godfathers were in a serious relationship, and his other godfather was married to his godmother, Narcissa Malfoy. This was during his second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He was a curious and determined wizard, who already showed signs of being brilliant at Potions, Defence and Astronomy.
Tonight was the new moon, the night that our young half vampire would be transforming into his full vampire form, something he loathed doing with a passion. Atlas didn’t want to be a monster. All he wanted was to succeed through his years at Hogwarts, be the best Potions brewer Hogwarts has ever seen since his father and somehow find a way to get Draco Malfoy, his best friend, to see his true feelings for him and have them reciprocated, even though it was wishful thinking, since he knew the blond was straight.
What Atlas didn’t know was that tonight, his godfather’s lover, Sirius would be there, pardoned from the Azkaban sentence he had been enduring for the past ten years when his boyfriend had managed to track down the true traitor, get him sentenced and make himself a free man once more.
Atlas wandered into the Shrieking Shack and saw his godfather and his bonded mate, was there with him. Walking calmly over to greet him, since he hadn’t seen him since last year when he’d been released from Azkaban due to evidence being found to support his innocence.
Remus had been ecstatic that his bonded mate was safe and no longer in Azkaban. Dumbledore had let them live in Hogwarts as Remus would be returning next year as the Defence Against the Dark Arts professor.
Atlas, who had been given a full scale history on his father’s childhood with the Mauraders, hadn’t forgiven the two of them straight away, and had actually gotten them to apologise to his dad for their misgivings to him in their youth. This was after Sirius’ outburst when he realised that his enemy’s son was also Lily’s son, and in his anger had been distraught, until the werewolf he was bonded to had explained that he was considered part of their pack and a cub as well, so wouldn’t be harmed. He had gotten more on board with the notion since, especially since it meant he had another godson besides Harry.
Sirius hugged him gently and chuckled to himself, “If it isn’t my favourite red haired godson. My tiny, little, baby godson who looks exactly like his mum.”
He answered with a smile. “I’m your only red haired godson you old dog and I’m not that short. I’m just vertically challenged is all, and Papa said I’m due for a growth spurt soon, maybe in a year or two.” Atlas answered in an affectionately teasing way while defiantly explaining that he wasn’t short.
“I know well that you are, cub.” Sirius answered with a grin.
Atlas asked proudly, proud of who he is, “Even if I’m the son of your worst enemy and an old friend?”
“Yeah, even if you’re Snape’s son. Still my favourite red haired godson.” Sirius answered, ruffling the dark red hair of his godson.
“And you’re my favourite dogfather. Oops, sorry Padfoot, I meant godfather.” Atlas teased him affectionately, pretending to have slipped up when in actuality, he hadn’t slipped up at all.
Remus and Sirius had told both the young Snape and Potter to call them ‘Uncle Padfoot and Moony’ since they had been old enough to talk. “Sure you did, you little snake.” Sirius answered sarcastically in a good way.
In that moment, Atlas turned to Remus, and smiled telling him that he really needed to go and see if his best mate, who he liked as more than a friend, was alright as he cared for him greatly, “Uncle Moony, I’ll come back later and check up on you for the new moon arrangements, if that’s okay? I’m off to find my best friend for now. Merlin knows what he’s gotten up to now. Have to keep a close eye on that one.”
Remus sighed and softly spoke to the young half vampire, “Atlas, be careful with Malfoy. You never know what you could catch off of the likes of him.”
Atlas looked at him with shock on his face and in his green eyes, “But, Uncle Moony, I can’t catch something off of someone unless I have physical contact with them, can I?” He asked innocently with a smile.
Remus rolled his eyes and smiled at him, “Sorry, but I was under the impression that you and young Mr Malfoy are much more than friends, Atlas.” the werewolf asked, his tone full to the brim with enough innuendo to make his partner proud. Sadly, the two couldn’t marry as the Wizarding World was stupidly stuck in backwards times, as wizards were not permitted to marry other wizards quite yet.
Sirius smirked and hugged his lover close, he whispered to him just loud enough for Atlas to hear, “Oh my darling Moony, just when I think you’re getting soft, your gorgeous little Maurader self comes back to me.”
Remus answered him lovingly, “I could never leave you, my dear Padfoot.”
Sirius smiled and hugged him close, “Come over here and give us a kiss! It’s been ages, my Mooniepie.”
Remus was slightly annoyed at the inner five-year-old he loved, “Don’t call me ‘Mooniepie’ and I kissed you this morning.” He told him in a matter of fact tone.
“Whatever you say, Remy.” Sirius answered, kissing Remus harshly on the lips. The sandy blond haired wizard was the alpha of their small pack, and since the long haired wizard was his bonded mate, he often teased his sweet but commanding lover into kissing him.
Atlas smiled at them, hoping to be like that with a boyfriend he might potentially have someday. He wandered off to find Draco.
It turned out that he had been waiting for the redhead to return to the Common Room for a quick chat.
Atlas smiled at him on sight, blinking when he saw Pansy walk away from Draco with a sappy look on her face.
The blond felt awful for what he was doing, but he knew he couldn't change his fate, so it was best to try and live with the fact that he had been resigned to a fate of being with a witch. He buried his feelings for the redhead, smiling at him a bit, "Hey Atlas, how was the moon?" he quietly asked.
The redhead smiled softly in returnm "It was fine, ran pretty smoothly and we're making progress with potions, but nothing is sticking as a cure yet." He added curiously, "Why does Parkinson look so smug?" he tilted his head.
Draco looked at the shorter wizard with concern in his grey eyes, patting the other boy's shoulder, "I hope that your father finds a cure soon, Atlas. You don't deserve to suffer." he let his voice grow softer, not seeing Blaise enter the Slytherin Common Room from their dormitory. He added with a smirk, forcing the smugness in his tone, "Oh, that? Father asked me to begin my courting rituals with Miss Parkinson, so I thought the sooner the better would be wonderful for us all."
Atlas was touched by his ability to care, considering he sometimes played the icy Pureblood prince role, having to do so for the prestige of the Malfoy family's reputation, but it comforted him that his best friend still cared. He was about to agree, but then he heard his second point and took a step back, whispering, "What?"
Blaise stepped forward as he spoke, with dissaproval in his voice, "Draco has made the foolish decision to be a good little boy for Daddy, and is keeping to his preordained schedule of making as many future Malfoys a possiblity as possible." he sternly told the redhead. Being the son of the infamous man-killing witch known as the Black Widow was quite a perk sometimes, even if it meant he couldn't intimidate Draco.
Atlas took a deep breath, reigning in his emotions as he spoke in a small voice to the blond, "Draco, I thought you were better than that. I though that-"
A blond eye arched, "That I would disregard my father's discipline and just do what I want." He knew he had to be as hurtful as possible, so he added with a scoff, looking as snooty as possible, "We can't all go running around with Gryffindors and have our father pat us on the head afterward." he sneered.
Green eyes narrowed as the shorter wizard spoke sharply in low, silky voice that mimicked his father scarily, "You know, Draco, you used to have a spine. You used to think for yourself, I suppose you've forgone that, as Blaise has just suggested." He turned to Blaise and smiled a bit, deciding to be petty, and not speak in English, so that the blond wouldn't understand, "Grazie per la spiegazione, Blaise. Buonanotte, e ti parlerò a colazione, ma probabilmente non lui." After saying that, he turned and left.
Blaise called after him, thinking him wise to not let his feelings get to him and cloud his judgement, "Nessun problema, e sono contento che tu non stia lasciando che i tuoi sentimenti ti accechino. Ci vediamo a colazione, amico mio."
With that, Atlas walked back to his rooms that he had with his father, annoyed at the blond and furious at the fact that he had left it too late, and now the blond would never know how he felt about him.
In his anger and annoyance, he didn't see George Weasley, one of his duo of best friends, the Weasley twins, looking worriedly at his fellow redhead from a clearing not that far away from a passage near the Slytherin Common Room entrance.