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Coil of the Serpent	By : ladyofarundel Category: Harry Potter > General > General Views: 5326 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 1-Part I
- 2-Part II
- 3-Part III
- 4-Part IV
- 5-Part V
- 6-Part VI
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- 3
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Part II
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Severus Snape first met the enigmatic Tom Riddle at the end of the summer before his second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Mr. Riddle was a former associate and partner of his father, the honorable Judge Thaddeus Snape, and so when his old friend had at last returned home to England after years spent on the Continent, the generous Lord Snape had hosted a select celebration. The young master of the house was then a boy of eleven (and a half!) who had inherited the strong will of his father and the haunting beauty of his mother, not to mention the power of both. He was terribly excited for at long last, now that he was a Hogwarts boy, he had escaped the clutches of the gossipy women gathered in Mother’s drawing room had been allowed instead to join the older men as they adjourned to father’s study.

Severus lingered in the background politely entertaining Father’s guests while Father periodically allowed him to steal small sips of his brandy. He felt inexplicably drawn to one man in particular, a man with bright green eyes and wild ebony hair—which vaguely reminded him of James Potter from school but didn’t annoy him nearly as much. Mr. Riddle exuded an aura of power and wisdom matched perhaps only by Headmaster Dumbledore, and Severus couldn’t help but sit back and simply watch the guest of honor as he worked the room. He was so caught up in this mysterious stranger that he barely noticed his father’s approach, and most certainly missed the calculating twinkle in Father’s eye as he determined the object of his son’s attentions.

’Perhaps there’s a chance—’ Thaddeus murmured to himself and young Severus sharply looked up at his father, startled and blushing at being caught staring. Lord Snape inwardly scolded himself for speaking aloud and smiled to put his son at ease, motioning for him to follow him. Thaddeus crossed the room and pressed a hand on Mr. Riddle’s shoulder and proudly nodded to his child.

’Tom, I would like to present my son and heir, Severus Adieus Snape.’

Severus colored shyly, looking up at Father’s friend through wisps of the renowned Snape black hair.

’It is a pleasure to meet you, sir.’

Mr. Riddle smiled and extended his hand.

’Severus, I do believe the pleasure is all mine.’

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Mr. Riddle had seemed as intrigued by Severus as Severus had been by him. Mr. Riddle entertained him with tales of his many travels through Eastern Europe, describing the wilds of Romania, the special blend of magic practiced in the Baltics, the dark magic of Siberia. Master Snape the younger politely answered Mr. Riddle’s inquiries to his studies: how proud he was to be sorted into Slytherin, how intolerable it was to share classes with the Gryffindors, how excited he was to try out for a spot on the house quidditch team (Father had bought him the new Comet 220 for that very purpose!), how he thought he liked potions class the best and even Professor Bulywig, who was as Gryffindor as they came, had grudgingly admitted Severus was quite gifted in the field.

Mr. Riddle had picked up a number of volumes on potions in his travels, some of them quite advanced and certainly rare, and perhaps as the younger Master Snape progressed in his studies, would he someday be interested in viewing Mr. Riddle’s private collection?

Severus was most interested indeed, and Mr. Riddle laughed that perhaps Severus ought to have been sorted a Ravenclaw instead. Before the boy grew too indignant he chuckled and assured Severus he had been joking, tipping the boy’s chin with his finger and gravely made him promise never to be ashamed of his thirst for knowledge, that it was a great gift indeed and knowledge was the key to great power.

All too quickly it was time for the adults to be left alone. Severus was quite reluctant to bring one of the most exciting evenings of his short life to a close, and only could be consoled by Mr. Riddle’s assurance that he was certain they would see much of each other in the future.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Tom Riddle watched as the beautiful, innocent boy allow himself to be led off to bed by his mother, young Severus nearly bouncing as he excitedly told the lovely Adara of his evening, eyes bright and hands moving wildly. Adara smiled at Thaddeus and shepherded her son from the room as the boy acquiesced, but not before glancing over his shoulder at Tom with a shy smile that made Tom’s spine tingle just as the study doors swung closed. A smile tugged the corners of his lips and Tom’s gaze lingered a moment in the direction the boy had taken before he allowed himself to be drawn back into the conversation at hand.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The following day, an owl arrived from Mr. Riddle, sending heartfelt thanks to his dear friends Thaddeus and Adara for their gracious and warm welcome, congratulating them on raising such a brilliant and courteous young man as Severus, and asking Thaddeus if he would like to continue their conversation from the previous evening at a small gathering Mr. Riddle would be hostinga house warming of sorts—Friday next. A postscript had been added, wishing Severus the best of luck at quidditch try-outs next month. After much gentle prodding from Mother, Severus sent a brief thank you to Mr. Riddle. He sent the note with Nestor, his favorite owl.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Lord and Lady Snape sent their son an owl of congratulations to Slytherin’s new seeker (one of the youngest in over a century, although not quite the youngest) for his success. On the heels of Father’s prideful boasts Mother hinted that perhaps Mr. Riddle would be interested to hear the good news from Severus himself rather than his parents.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

They began to exchange letters.

Severus’s first notes were timid and brief; he was painfully afraid he was wasting the brilliant and popular Mr. Riddle’s time and hoped he wouldn’t write anything that sounded too stupid or immature for the likes of his father’s best friend. After all, why would an adult such as the great Mr. Riddle want to waste his time writing to a now twelve-year old boy?

But Mr. Riddle’s replies were always kind and flowing and never condescending and after a time Severus opened up in his letters and soon they shone of the bright, eager boy Mr. Riddle met in the private study of Snape Manor. Their letters increased in frequency, filled with stories of the latest pranks played by the dumb Gryffindors, suggestions of new pranks bound to surprise the so-called Marauders, caricatures of professors, Severus’s excited reports on new spells learned in class, and stories from Mr. Riddle’s days at Hogwarts—old Dumbledore allowed the oaf Hagrid to stay on as the groundskeeper? How appalling!

Around the transition from third to fourth year Severus’s letters once more became hesitant and the boy himself closed off. Mr. Riddle quickly became concerned and delicately coaxed the matter out of his young friend, assuring the boy he had his fullest confidence and that he would think no less of him. Shyly the boy began to send him questions about potions and spells he dared not ask his professors and frustrations over the limitations on the topics discussed in classes. At last Severus drew up the courage to ask subtly, still fearing the rejection and outrage of his closest confidant.

Did Mr. Riddle happen to know anything about the Dark Arts?

Mr. Riddle felt intensely honored the boy trusted him and had at last opened up to him, and told Severus so in his next letter. Yes, he happened to be quite knowledgeable in the Dark Arts, and would be happy to tutor Severus if he so wished. He furthermore assured the boy that his curiosity about the Dark Arts was nothing to be ashamed of—had he not told him long ago that knowledge was power?—and that in fact in learning the Dark Arts he would be continuing a proud Snape family tradition. He could practically read the crimson blush and excitement in the boy’s reply, ever the Ravenclaw in Slytherin snake skin.

This prompted a long letter from Father, heavily warded, congratulating him on his interest in true magic and detailing the lesser-known aspects of the Snape family history. Father assured his son he knew this must all be overwhelming for the boy and expected nothing from him, explaining that he and Mother had decided not to actively raise him by the Dark Arts until he was old enough to truly understand them. To embrace the Dark Arts was a life-changing decision and not one to be taken lightly, and he and Mother had wanted Severus to make the decision himself and not be forced into it. Only conscious acceptance, Father wrote, gave the Dark Arts true power. ‘Knowledge anll all are the true keys to power and the self, my son. Remember that always.’

Severus’s mind made up, Mr. Riddle began to send the boy works on the Dark Arts (under concealment, of course); some the boy realized he recognized from Father’s private library but others were deliciously foreign to him. He read them all furiously, sending his Father and Mr. Riddle long scrolls of comments and observations and questions, and he quickly excelled at his newest subject as did he in all his regular courses.

In the midterm report sent home to parents, Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor Wilkes commented on Severus’s increased interest and attention in class (and, of course, his standard top marks), adding that he looked forward to seeing Thaddeus and Tom that following Saturday night.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Mr. Riddle was a frequent visitor to Snape Manor, particularly whenever Severus returned home for school holidays, invariably setting aside to spend with his favorite protégé. Thaddeus had entrusted his son’s extracurricular education in his dear friend’s hand—after all, who was more qualified to teach his son than the rising Dark Lord? Not that Lord and Lady Snape, nor Mr. Riddle, felt it was quite time to share that sort of information with the boy.

Severus and Mr. Riddle spent summer holidays pouring over Dark texts, playing quidditch, or experimenting in the Snape potions lab. Long hours were devoted to simply wandering the grounds and talking, Severus picking out the tree he had fallen from when he was six and pointing to the scar from the rtingting broken arm and sharing other childhood adventures, Mr. Riddle teaching Severus the names of plants that they passed and their uses for both Light and Dark. On one such walk Mr. Riddle insisted that Severus call him Tom when they were alone, and Severus in return implored him to promise that they would always be the best of friends. Tom had smiled and ruffled the beautiful boy’s hair, promising him they would be together forever.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Early on in fifth year, after several rather awkward encounters in the girls’ dormitories of Slytherin (and Gryffindor), and one remarkably more pleasant experiment with Lucius, Severus at last admitted to himself that sexually he much preferred the male form.

Homosexuality was not the least bit unusual or considered untoward in the wizarding world, yet the Snape heir found himself reluctant to engage in any serious entanglements beyond quick snogs in the team locker room. As one of the princes of Slytherin and the heir of his mother’s charms he certainly had no shortage of offers from boys or girls alike, but Severus was never really interested. Instead of sneaking off to the Astronomy Tower Severus would wander off to the potions lab he had set up with Professor Bulywig’s permission (grudging, of course), preoccupied more with resolving the instability of his latest invention than returning the increasingly forward advances of that slag Sirius Black.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Mr. Riddle extended an invitation to the younger Master Snape to join him for the last week of Christmas break at Salazar’s Fen, his ancestral home on his mother’s side. Tom simultaneously wrote Thaddeus and Adara reporting on their son’s magical progress, suggesting that Severus had advanced enough for him to make good on his promise given years prior to show his favorite student his book collection. Severus had hurriedly asked Mother and Father for permission, breathless and with invitation still in hand. They had of course consented and Severus had raced off to owl Tom to accept. Severus was so excited that he completely missed the knowing smile shared between the Lord and Lady Snape at their son’s slip of the tongue when he begged to be allowed to visit Tom.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

That New Year’s Eve, Tom and Severus shared their first kiss, chaste and unhurried and sweet, over an Albanian treatise on renacius serum in the library of Salazar’s Fen.

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TBC
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Coil of the Serpent