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A Master's Servant	By : Sayan Category: Harry Potter > General > General Views: 3077 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
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
- 5
- 6
- 7
Chapter 6: In which Sirius Black gets a shock
On the first floor the master of the house was having a snack in company of his best friend who stayed overnight after the last evening. Both were caught up in their memories and ate silently.
"Why do you hate Riddle?"
Severus looked up. "Why do you ask? And hate. Hate is such a strong word. Do you hate vermin? Because it is disgusting and vile you step on it and press it into the ground till nobody remembers it ever existed."
"I saw your reaction yesterday when he complained in your hearing range about badly trained servants. I know you as a man who thinks rather strongly about certain things. Maybe I should have asked why he is suspicious about you."
"It is an old story and you had your own business to take care of when it happened, I think it was the time you wooed Narcissa Seymour and spent a year at her family manor in France. We both know that a low profile and a good sense for self-preservation were crucial in this time. Many people were very keen on forgetting about their past and acted as if nothing ever happened, but the most important thing was a clean record.
Lucius snorted and studied his long fingers. "I don't remember your atrocities, you don't remember mine."
"Oh yes, aren't we an upright and proud society? The Guerrilla fight between the conservative fraction who supported our dear mister Riddle and Dumbledore's pro-muggle group ended some years ago with the sudden and might I say mysterious death of the Potter family and the disappearance of Mr. Tom Riddle."
"But he came back."
"He did, from a extended Grande Tour to further his education. Not as magically strong as he was before and his methods had changed but he wanted to make his way high up in the ministry and thanks to eh- his persuasive techniques he got what he wished. Nobody wanted to think about what they now call 'the foolish and minor faults of youth'. It would be too embarrassing."
A short laugh from Lucius Malfoy. "Any scandals would be disastrous. Half of the heirs of old pure blood families were his supporters once and bringing up the old files... The ministry stocked up its budget with the humble help of its most famous families after his disappearance, everything on a good will basis, of course. Ha! I should know best."
"My family was old but never really wealthy. Add that he suspected me of being a traitor to his cause. But I was young and not into politics and I duped myself into believing that only skill was required for the job of the head researcher of the potions department. I applied."
"What? I never knew. You are the best potions master in Great Britain but I thought you were always content in teaching at Hogwarts and using your free time for research."
"Teaching little incompetents in the fine art that is potions as the dream career of my life? You must be kidding, it's a nightmare. Mr. Riddle was the shooting star and darling of the Ministry, his point of view was influential and many new rules, especially for the muggle restriction department were in the works, all under the cover of security for our community.
Dumbledore was still Headmaster of Hogwarts and he was the one who vouched for me during the trials and examinations of the Potter case. Everyone knew that dark magic had been at work and I was one of the suspects"
"What else could it have been? Everyone knew that James Potter was very near to Dumbledore and he had a strong voice in the ministry, supporting a more liberal approach to the muggle and mixed blood question. The murder of the couple plus their infant son provoked an uproar."
"Hm, indeed but let's go back to my little story. I applied. Fruitlessly and the reply was personally handed over by one Mr. Thomas Riddle with the reasoning that my integrity and background story, my behaviour and my past connections were questionable and therefore I was not suitable for a leading job in the Ministry."
"Goodness! Your family is one of the oldest pureblood families in the kingdom. How could this halfblood have the nerve to insult you like that?"
"My thoughts exactly. I was frozen with horror . I thought tha mus must have been a misunderstanding but before I could pull my wits together he disapparated. I went to his office but two burly manservants told me that he had ordered them to keep his threshold clean from suspects like me and to use curses if they had to. And a handful of high ministry employees were present, it must have been quite amusing for them."
The blonde was speechless.
"The payback for my indifference at the end of his first rise. I had to go underground for some time. Luckily there was another scandal and people forgot. I went to Germany and buried myself in my experiments and research. I invented the Wolfsbane potion and became a widely known potions master, a celebrity of sorts and an always welcome guest at every party. McGonagall offered me my current post."
Severus smiled softly but it wasn't a warm or pleasant smile. "I learned how to become a part of the polite circle, everything it takes is to be mysterious and interesting, to have a unique personality, my darkness lures them like light honey lures the flies. And I waited my time for revenge. The high society might have forgotten the insult but I haven't and neither has he. But I am a patient man. If not in every day life then in the grand scheme of things."
Severus went to his bookshelf and inspected the titles.
"After twelve or so years you cannot feel that strongly about it."
"Let's say that I am great supporter of justice. If you think that my vengeance is my most prominent drive I have to disappoint you. But I will not turn away an opportunity if it shows up."
"We both know that Riddle is very influential but he now plays according to the rules of society. Wouldn't there have been an opportunity already?"
Severus took one of the books out of the shelf, it was about divination and he sneered openly. He looked back at his friend who watched him with worry in his pale eyes. "Probably, but I want to be thorough." He replied with an excusing smile.
"And are you nearer to success now than you had been twelve years ago?"
The potions master stroked over the books binding. "Maybe, maybe not. But if I get my chance it will be like that." His eyes glowed and his knuckles turned white. The book went up in blue flames and moments later only ashes told of its existence.
Two pair of eyes linked.
"Merlin, sometimes I forget that under all your social polish there's still the old Satanas."
"I never forget and I know how to use the devil in me." Another mocking smile.
"Be cautious, Riddle isn't a man to underestimate. His influence has weakened but he is still very strong, only a really ugly scandal would tarnish his reputation."
Snape laughed, laughed like his friend had never heard him laugh, loud and hard and his eyes glittered.
"I count on it, I count on it my dear friend!"
The moment passed. He pulled out his handkerchief and cleaned his white fingers. "But for now let us forget about the past and the tools to settle old bills."
He rang the little bell that stood on the mantel of the fireplace.
A knock on the door. Harry entered and looked curiously at his still grinning master.

The apothecary was not one of Harry's favourite places, it was dark, gloomy and smelled awful. How someone could willingly work a whole day here when dead eyes in glasses, bones and other spooky thing surrounded them was beyond him. His master was very proud about the quality of his work and would always take his time in choosing his ingredients carefully and negotiating about the prize so it took ages until Harry was able to breathe clean air again.
And it was one of the less frequented shops in Diagon Alley, in Harry's eyes the only advantage. Wizards of every social class were shopping in this street and here the servant stuck out even more. The children and teenage wizards they were - not always kind. If it weren't for his dark and brooding master, they would tease him and play tricks on him because he couldn't defend himself.
But how he would love to go over to the Quidditch Quality Supply store! Snape only had one book on the wizard sport in his library but it had sounded really fascinating, a little bit like street soccer but played in the air on brooms.
The boy had tuned out his master and the shop assistant and looked longingly over the street and unfortunately missed the two quarrelling wizards who eed ted the apothecary.
"Damn! Goyle, I haven't looked once in the direction of your daugh- ouch!"
The door had crashed into Harry and back on the newcomers, parcels were knocked out of the taller man's hands: Harry was murmuring apologies and bent down to collect the items. Instead of helping the big and rather muscular man was beginning to shout at the boy.
Severus had turned around but after a quick look at the two men's faces he stood there expressionless instead of defending his servant.
"Insolent little bastard, can't you look what you are doing. If anything is damaged you will pay!" His arm rose threateningly but was caught at the wrist by the other man. He was tall too but slender and with long black hair and sparkling blue eyes, quite handsome but the wrinkles in his face made him older than his 36 years.
"That's typically you Goyle, always lashing out at weaker people. He's just a boy and he didn't mean it. See, he collected all your parcels and nothing seems to be damaged."
Goyle wasn't satisfied but the wand in the man's other hand convinced him to let it go. He grunted and snatched his utensils.
Harry smiled shyly at his rescuer. He was sure that his master wouldn't let this brute harm him but he was nonetheless thankful.
Sirius Black was looking into deep green eyes and gasped rather loudly attracting the attention of everyone in the shop. The mask in front of the young face shielded the expression behind so it was hard to guess anything. Black's fingers itched to touch the unruly black hair of the servant.
"Thank you sir. It was my own fault but- Sir? Are you feeling ill?" Why was this guy staring at him like that?
"N-no."
"Harry? I am finished so would you please cease standing there like a fool. Your servant Black, Goyle. " A nearly invisible nod with the head and Severus Snape swept out of the shop and Harry had to hurry keeping up. A short apologetic bow to the customers and the potions master and his servant were on their way home.
TBC
- 5
- 6
- 7
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A Master's Servant