CHAPTER 37
Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to JKR. All situations are mine. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
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Chapter 37 ~ A Bit of History
Albus, Severus and Professor Binns sat in the Headmaster’s office, the Potions Master’s nose wrinkled because of all the ectoplasm the aged ghost was leaking all over the armchair he rested in. Binns had on occasion filled in for his Potions class, and had on every occasion left something behind in the Professor’s swivel chair that had to be meticulously cleaned.
When his Slytherins informed Severus that Bara had called a snake to him in parseltongue in the common room, the wizard wasted no time informing Albus that his charge had quite a special talent. They immediately wondered how this could be, and summoned Professor Binns in the hope that his historical knowledge would help solve at least part of the riddle. Now the old ghost regaled them with information.
“At the time the four founders decided to build Hogwarts, there were no stone buildings in Britain with the exception of churches and quite possibly Westminster Abbey. So there were no castles. Salazar Slytherin and Godric Gryffindor traveled to India to study the structure of their stone temples. It’s said that they were forced to leave the country early on account of Salazar’s gift for seducing chaste young Indian beauties, something the people of that land apparently frowned on greatly since virginity was necessary for a good marriage. Most likely he left offspring behind. Bara is probably one of his illegitimate descendents several times removed,” the ghost said in his hollow voice.
“A descendent of Salazar Slytherin,” Albus intoned, looking at Severus.
“That would set him squarely in Slytherin house when it comes time for his sorting,” Severus said.
Albus looked disturbed. He had hoped Bara would be a Gryffindor.
“But other than the gift of being a parselmouth, Severus…he doesn’t show any Slytherin qualities,” the Headmaster said, hoping the Potions Master would see things as he did.
Severus quirked his lip.
“Albus…maybe now Bara doesn’t demonstrate Slytherin qualities, but he was quite cunning and resourceful when on his own in India. Most likely he did quite a few Slytherinish acts to survive, self-preservation being one of our most valued concerns. Here at Hogwarts he is provided with what he needs. Most likely if he wasn’t, he would ‘find’ ways to acquire them himself without discovery,” the wizard said.
Albus considered this. Although Bara visited all the houses, he had a marked preference for Slytherin house. But they didn’t know just how much wizarding blood the boy contained. The gift of speaking parseltongue definitely ruled out his being a muggle-born. The only other known parselmouth was Harry, and his powers had been transferred to him by Voldemort when still a child. Voldemort was a descendent of Salazar Slytherin as well.
Shit, it appeared Bara was a distant relative of the defunct Dark Lord. Quite a few eyes would be on the boy if this got out.
“But…Slytherin House only accepts Purebloods,” Albus said to the Potions Master hopefully.
“True in most cases, Headmaster…but there are exceptions…myself being one of them,” the dark wizard replied.
This was true. Severus was a half-blood but still placed in Slytherin. The Potions Master was so self-contained as a student, none of his housemates ever knew. Since he was placed in Slytherin…it was assumed that his parents had been purebloods. Both had died when he was in his third year, his mother at his father’s hand, and his father at his own hand when he realized what he’d done.
His half-blood status is what made the wizard work so hard to excel as a student. Severus realized early on it wasn’t lineage but power and skill that mattered. If he had enough, others would be forced to accept him, though it didn’t work out that way. As brilliant as he was, the wizard was still ostracized and set upon by the Marauders. But it was this lust for power that led him to Tom Riddle. The rest was history.
“Bara will have to be carefully groomed. If he is a descendent of Salazar and the others find out, he will be treated differently… with much reverence. It could ruin the boy. I wish we could know for certain if he is of Salazar’s bloodline,” Albus said.
Professor Binns cleared his throat. Both Albus and Severus looked at him rather startled. They had both forgotten the ghost was here.
“There is a way to find out,” the ghost said, “The Wall of Generations. A magical device created by Salazar Slytherin about the same time he created the Chamber of Secrets. It magically divines bloodlines connected to the four founders, which Salazar considered the best and purest bloodlines of all. Godric Gryffindor had it sealed off and all references to the wall removed from the history books when Salazar left Hogwarts. It is located in the lower subdungeons. If Bara has any of Salazar’s blood in him, the wall will identify it. There is only one problem however…” the ghost said.
“And what is that, Professor?” the Headmaster asked.
“If the person tested isn’t descended from the four founders, he or she is instantly killed for their audacity in being tested in the first place. The words “Truth or Death” are etched into the wall as a warning. Which is why Godric sealed it off,” the wizard explained.
“Why didn’t he destroy it?” Severus asked the ghost, “Surely such an evil device would be better destroyed then sealed in.”
“He couldn’t. Salazar was a Slytherin through and through. The wall is intimately and magically linked with the very foundation of Hogwarts castle. If it were destroyed, the entire castle would crumble and be destroyed with it. No one could figure out a way to break the link, Salazar’s signature was so strong…so the wall was left standing,” Professor Binns said.
Well, that made sense.
Severus’ black eyes rested on Albus.
“I don’t believe you want to know Bara’s bloodline that badly, Headmaster. If we are in error, and use the Wall, it would cost the boy his life. I think in this case, we should accept the possibility he is a descendent of Salazar based on the wizard’s travels to India and the history Professor Binns has given us. It is the most reasonable explanation after all,” the Potions Master said silkily.
“You are right, of course Severus,” the Headmaster said rather glumly. He could already see Bara moving away from his influence. Not that Slytherins were bad, mind you, but they just weren’t Gryffindors. Most wizards of questionable reputation came out of Slytherin.
Albus looked at Severus.
But then again, some were quite exemplary. Strong, loyal and courageous in their own selfish way. Bara seemed to have a generous heart however. Maybe Salazar’s talent was a latent ability that came to the fore, and the other darker aspects of the wizard remained deeply buried or hopefully were not passed along at all. On a better note, human behavior was not just based on genetics. Upbringing and experience had much to do with how a child turned out. Maybe Bara might not be sorted into Slytherin after all if Albus really worked with him.
Severus could see Albus already plotting to keep Bara out of Slytherin house. The Potions Master didn’t feel any particular way about this…it made sense since Albus was a Gryffindor after all…and Bara was for all intents and purposes…his son. What father didn’t want his son to follow in his footsteps?
Still, Severus would keep an eye on Bara, watch his development and interactions with others carefully. If he saw any blatant Slytherin tendencies that had the potential to be troublesome, he would step in and advise the boy. He had already done it once and the boy listened to him, ridding himself of the translation charm. He was learning English quickly and no doubt believed that Severus knew what he was talking about. It shouldn’t be hard to influence him.
Besides, Bara had been sneaking into his first year potions class and sitting way in the back, watching his every move. Severus ran him out quite a few times, but it didn’t keep the little wizard from sneaking back. Maybe he would just let him sit in from now on. See what the boy was about.
Maybe he’d learn something.
Severus took his leave of Albus and Professor Binns and headed for the dungeons. He wondered how Hermione was doing. He hadn’t seen her since their last wild engagement, though he thought about her every night before he retired, usually getting an erection in the process. Their last night together had all but hooked the wizard by his big nose, and he was completely taken by the little witch.
The Potions Master especially remembered how she had pinned him in an awkward position halfway out of the bed. Severus had been fucking her from behind, holding on to her waist tightly and putting it to the lusty witch as best he could, when Hermione suddenly rose up on her knees and fell backwards full weight, catching the wizard by surprise and throwing him off-balance. He twisted his body and fell sideways, his upper body lying off the side of the bed.
He was pushing himself up on one arm when Hermione quickly rolled him to his back with surprising strength and mounted him. Severus was in such an odd position, with the small of his back resting right on the edge of the mattress he could neither reach her nor pull himself up. Hermione jerking his body the way she was doing as she panted, riding him insanely, didn’t help matters. By the time she let him up to change positions, both of his shoulders were bruised and he had a small lump on the back of his head. He had definitely been witchhandled.
And he had loved it. He wasn’t about to let Hermione go now…patronage or no patronage. It wasn’t about love however…it was about convenience and the best sexual partner he had ever had. After Hermione, he’d never be satisfied with another witch lying under him, taking and not giving much more than a wet hole to stick his cock in. Hermione gave everything she was during sex.
There was just one issue that bothered him slightly. Well, more than slightly actually. Severus didn’t mind taking Hermione the way she wanted, but there were times he would like to go slow and easy, take his time and not be such an animal. He had seen more than his share of brutality in his life, and at first fucking the witch in this manner was exciting…it still was really, but there were other aspects of sex just as pleasurable. A slow, leisurely slide into a warm, wet sleeve…the intimate caress of it. The easy flex of two bodies in perfect, flowing rhythm. An orgasm eased from the body with competence and skill, not torn from it violently.
For Hermione Granger…that would be her ultimate surrender…not the collapse under a violent pounding, but acceptance of a gentler sexual union. But the witch was so determined to be pounded every single time.
Severus didn’t know that what he wanted was to make love to Hermione Granger, and have her respond to him in a more, well, normal fashion. He understood her masochism, but it didn’t have to always rule her sexuality. Actually, it was quite unfair that he always had to meet her darker needs, the witch assuming he met his own in the process. Certainly he came…he experienced very intense orgasms with the young witch, but he felt there should be more now.
What it was, was that Severus had never experienced much tenderness in his life, and as he became more attached to Hermione, he wanted something more than the wild ride with the witch. Kissing during sex had become more regular between them now, as had caressing. But then the act always became rough and hard. His challenge was to have the witch respond to him another way. If he could do that…he’d know he had her.
Eli was right. Severus did need a mate. A witch he could relate to and could give him those things that had always escaped him. Care. Tenderness. Even love. Things he never believed he could have. But with Hermione in his life in such an intimate fashion, the wizard was beginning to get glimpses, at least subconsciously of how it could be. The things the witch said to him. The soft, sated look in her eyes after sex when she looked up at him. He was already sampling happiness to a certain degree. When he woke up the next morning after Hermione’s sexual takeover…he was achy, but as close to being genuinely happy as he had ever been.
Now how was he going to make Hermione Granger change her spots for him? It was a puzzle…but he had time.
He sat down at his desk in his study and took out his security mirror.
“Focus: Hermione Granger,” he said.
Yes, there she was…her hair an absolute mess, her eyes bleary as she wrote line after line of something in her journal. She was immersed in her work now, and looked horrible…which meant she was accomplishing something. He’d give her another week before he showed up. Maybe he would show her the prize. The basilisk heart.
Suddenly the floo turned green and Albus called him.
“Severus, there are a slew of reporters at the door demanding an interview with you. It appears Mr. Potter’s recovery is now public knowledge,” the Headmaster said.
Severus leaned back in the chair and drummed his pale fingers on the top of the desk.
“Would you be so kind as to relay a statement to them for me, Headmaster?” the Potions Master asked silkily.
“Why yes, Severus. What would you like me to tell them?” Albus replied.
“Tell them I will grant only one interview, and to the highest bidder,” the wizard said, smirking slightly. “and that my time is quite valuable.”
Albus chuckled. That was his Potions Master.
“And they are asking about the whereabouts of Hermione,” the old wizard said.
“I will relay that reporters wish to speak with her when I see her next,” Severus replied, “Tell them if she is interested in granting an interview, she will contact them.”
“I see. Very well, Severus. I will field them for you,” the Headmaster replied.
“Thank you Headmaster,” Severus said as the floo returned to red flames.
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Bara was walking through the main hall when he saw a small movement along the side of the wall. He was a sharp-eyed little boy. He circled around and crept up to the wall, then his hand flashed out, grabbing something very small.
He turned his fist over, opened his palm and looked at the beetle he’d caught.
“You will make a fine meal for Precious,” the boy said happily, running down the dungeon corridor toward Slytherin house, Rita Skeeter clutched firmly in his hand.
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A/N: lol. Poor Rita. Interesting about the Wall in the sub-dungeons. I was doing a little research and at the time Hogwarts was supposed to be built, there were yet no castles in either Scotland or Britain in actual history. So I thought that Salazar going to India to study stonework made sense. Being a Slytherin…tagging the ladies seemed quite likely too. Lol. Awww for Severus. He’s falling…falling…falling. Please review.