The Other End

The Other End

Chapter 1: Enter, Alexander Snape

Just after seven o'clock on a Saturday morning at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the Entrance Hall was usually devoid of all people and quiet as a tomb. Something that was unusual at this school was for students to hear any professor raising their voice to anyone except, on occasion, a particularly troublesome student. That day was unusual on both counts, in that a professor, Professor Snape, was arguing furiously and loudly in the Entrance Hall with a teenaged boy who was most definitely not a student.

The boy had black hair which had been spiked up using hair gel. His face was thin and pale, and unfamiliar to the students who were watching. His muggle-style clothing seemed to mortally offend the professor with whom he was arguing. His pants and tee-shirt were jet black, and the shirt had written on it in jagged red and white lettering, "Make love, not potions."

Unnoticed by the two involved in the argument, half of the students in attendance at Hogwarts had gathered just outside the Entrance Hall to witness the historical and slightly comical event of a boy who looked no older than any of them giving their most hated professor a piece of his mind.

"If you'd wash out your greasy hair for once and pull it out of your ears, you'd have heard me the first time!" the boy was saying heatedly, "I didn't get the warning. There was no way that I could've -"

"If you'd taken the portkey with you, and used it, like I told you to, I would not have needed to -"

"If you'd just given me the damn note, I wouldn't have been in that situation in the first place, father," the boy spat venomously.

The silence that followed that statement was such that a pin could have been heard dropping.

A muscle twitched under Snape's eye. "Go to my rooms, Alexander, I will speak with you there."

The two stared at each other hostily for a moment before the boy nodded sharply, turned on his heel and pushed his way through the stunned crowd.

Professor Snape, suddenly aware of the audience that had gathered, swept the room with his most intimidating glare and exited the hall, robes billowing menacingly behind him.

Ron tapped Harry on the shoulder as they entered the Great Hall for lunch. Having gained his friend's attention, he pointed towards the staff table at the front of the hall.

"Who's the kid?" he queried.

"How should I know?" Harry strained to get a better view.

There, next to Professor Snape, sat the teenager they'd all seen arguing with him earlier. He had now exchanged his muggle clothing for plain, black robes, and he had washed the gel out of his hair and combed it back neatly. He now appeared to be deep in conversation with Professors Snape, McGonagall and Flitwick.

"Well, you do visit Dumbledore's office pretty frequently, so I figured you probably know more than anyone else is likely to," Ron said logically.

"Dumbledore never tells me anything," Harry replied bitterly as they sat down at the Gryffindor house table. "Well, rarely anyway."

"He's cute," Hermione commented suddenly, making the boys aware of her presence.

She blushed as they turned to stare at her.

"What?" Ron demanded.

"Well, he is," Hermione said defensively.

"Hermione, I think you're turning into a girl," Ron informed her.

Harry groaned, knowing all too clearly what the consequences of such a tactless comment from Ron would be.

"I've been a girl all my life, Ronald Weasely," Hermione retorted, "and if you're so thick that you've only just noticed it, maybe you shouldn't be in school. How you managed to pass your O.W.L's is beyond me!"

"I didn't mean -"

"I know what you meant," Hermione cut him off and glared at him, her arms folded across her chest.

"But I didn't -"

"Spare me your reply. Listening to it is sure to kill brain cells." With that, Hermione moved to the other end of the table to sit with Parvati and Lavender.

Meanwhile, at the staff table...

Professor McGonagall was in the middle of questioning Alexander Snape about his knowledge of transfiguration and was, so far, impressed with him. She already knew from past dealings with the boy that he possessed a keen intellect, but she'd had no idea of the sheer depth of his knowledge. She had just discovered that he was an animagus, though she was a little put out at his refusal to reveal his form to her.

"That would take all the fun out of it, professor," Alex explained.

"I could just look you up on the registry, Alex," McGonagall stated, "That is, assuming that you're registered?"

Alex made a show of looking affronted. "Of course I am, professor, but I'm kind of hoping that you won't look me up. Not even my father knows what my form is. I would prefer it to remain a secret."

"If you don't want me to, of course I won't look you up," McGonagall said sincerely, "but I don't understand why you would want to keep it a secret."

"Escapism, professor," Alex replied evenly, "works better when you can do it in secret."

Professor Flitwick joined in here. "Escape from what, exactly?"

Alex frowned and shoved some food around his plate for a moment before replying. "Reality, I guess. When I go out in my other form, I feel free. It's like nothing else really matters that much - problems don't seem so big anymore."

"I'd just use a cheering charm," Flitwick said flippantly.

"Cheering charms are more temporary though, because they don't alter your actual mood - just your perception of it for a limited amount of time, right professor?" Alex challenged.

"I really don't understand why you didn't come to Hogwarts, Alex," McGonagall sighed, "You would have excelled here."

Alex glanced at his father, who smirked slightly.

"As a matter of fact, my son will be attending classes here for a while," Snape informed McGonagall. "He will be joining the sixth years, starting this Monday."

"This is highly unusual, Severus," McGonagall commented. She was surprised that she, being the Deputy Headmistress, hadn't heard about a new student being enrolled. "Why is he starting halfway through sixth year?"

"Circumstances," Severus replied.

"What circumstances?" McGonagall prodded.

"Unusual ones," Alex said, saving his father from an awkward reply.

McGonagall frowned. "This hasn't anything to do with your -"

"No," Alex cut her off, "it's not that."

Severus gave his son a slightly reprimanding look. Alex blushed under his gaze.

"Not entirely, anyway," he muttered.

"Are you up to standards with all of your school work, Alex?" Flitwick asked, changing the subject none-too-subtly. "You're obviously quite advanced in charms and transfiguration, but what of your other subjects?"

"I think I'm okay with most things. Divination especially," Alex replied with a sarcastic grin directed towards his father.

Severus rolled his eyes.

Alex spent Saturday evening with his father in the staff common room. This earned Severus quite a few raised eyebrows and odd, slightly surprised looks from many of the other staff members. Severus was amused by this, but Alex was not.

"You know, dad, you wouldn't be getting so many weird looks if you actually came out here on your own once in a while," he said.

Severus glanced briefly around the room. He smirked as he noticed several teachers quickly look away from him and his son. "Why should I bother?"

"Because people think you're a reclusive, cynical, pessimistic, antisocial git," Alex replied flatly. "That's not a very good reputation."

"No, but it keeps them out of my potions labs," Severus said with a hint of amusement.

"You could just ask them to keep out."

"I could."

"Then why don't you?" Alex asked, exasperated.

"You're not about to lecture me with that inane muggle psychobabble, are you, Alexander?" Severus sighed.

Alex shrugged and grinned. "I suppose not. I just don't see why you have to be such an antisocial git, is all."

Severus snorted and promptly hid his face behind a book.

Alex rolled his eyes. He dug a book and a self-inking quill out of his bag and began reading, making notes in the margins and underlining sections as he went along. When he came to the end of a chapter, he looked over at his father. Noting the title of the book that Severus was reading, he snorted. "You're still reading that trash?"

Severus looked up, startled. "I happen to find it very amusing."

Alex made a grab for the book, but missed as Severus held it out of reach.

"I'll tell you what happens at the end if you don't hand it over," Alex threatened.

"Let me guess," Severus laughed, "they all die?"

"Now, there's a laugh I haven't heard in a long while," came the voice of Professor McGonagall from behind the couch that the two Snapes were sitting on.

"Hi professor!" Alex said, looking over his shoulder at her with a grin. "Would you mind giving me a hand with something?"

"Of course, Alex. What is it?" McGonagall asked.

"Would you grab that book off him?"

McGonagall barely suppressed a snort as she looked between father and son. Severus looked torn between great amusement and complete mortification, and was struggling to pull his face back to its usual, emotionless mask. Alex, on the other hand, was grinning widely.

"Somehow, I don't think that would be a wise decision on my part, Alex," McGonagall replied, recalling an incident from Severus' youth when she had forced him to part with a book. He had found the situation less-than-amusing, and had not been afraid to vocalise his opinion.

Alex yawned suddenly and Severus checked the time. He frowned at Alex. "It's past eight o'clock. You need to take your potions and go to bed."

The following evening, Ron, Harry and Hermione had just sat down for dinner at their house table when Professor Dumbledore rose from his chair and called for silence.

"Some of you latecomers may have noticed that there is a boy waiting outside the hall. He will be joining classes with the sixth years beginning tomorrow morning, thus he will be sorted shortly. I hope that you will welcome him into our midst as you would any other new student."

Dumbledore nodded to Professor McGonagall as he sat down. McGonagall went to stand next to the stool that she'd placed at the front of the hall earlier and cleared her throat.

"Alexander Snape."

"So, how does the Sorting work again, father?" Alex asked.

He was waiting outside the Great Hall with his father. All of the staff members that he'd spoken to had refused to tell him anything about the Sorting Ceremony, saying he'd appreciate the hat more if it took him by surprise.

Severus tried his hardest not to smirk, but failed miserably. "You'll find out soon enough."

As usual, Severus was right. Alex heard his name being called from inside the Great Hall. He took a deep breath and followed his father into the hall.

The pale boy who had been seen arguing with Professor Snape in the Entrance Hall the previous morning walked to the front of the Great Hall close behind his father. He seemed oblivious to the whispers and curious looks that he was receiving from the other students. He sat down on the stool and allowed Professor McGonagall to place the Sorting Hat on his head.

"Bet you anything he'll be in Slytherin," Ron whispered to Harry. "If he's related to Snape, there's nowhere else that he could go."

Harry frowned. "I wouldn't judge so quickly, Ron."

"Yes, Ron," Hermione agreed, "maybe he's nothing like Professor Snape. He could end up in Gryffindor for all you know."

"Let's hope not," Ron grumbled.

"The hat sure is taking its time," Harry commented, leaning back to get a better view of Snape's son.

"Surely it's not that hard just to put a kid in Slytherin!" Ron said impatiently. "I wish it would hurry up - I'm starving."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Don't you ever think of anything other than your stomach?"

Ron shook his head, grinning. "A guy's gotta eat, Hermy my girl."

"What did you just call -"

Hermione's sentence was cut short as the hat yelled out, "Gryffindor!"

The hall was silent. Eyes flicked between the hated potions master and his son, who was now calmly walking towards the Gryffindor table as though nothing strange had happened. The professor's face, as usual, betrayed no emotion. It was impossible to tell what he was thinking.

Alex sat in the only available space at the table: Between Dean and Harry. Dean immediately slung an arm over Alex's shoulder. Alex stiffened and turned to look at Dean, who was now grinning at him maniacally.

"So, Alex," Dean started, "I hear you're the son of our most hated professor."

Alex glared sharply and picked Dean's hand off his shoulder. "Professor Snape is my father," he replied stiffly. "What of it?"

Still grinning, Dean held up his hands in mock defeat. "Hey, take it easy there kid! I'm just trying to find out how like or unlike your dad you are."

"How much I take after my father is none of your concern, Dean," Alex said severely, turning back to the plate of food in front of him and picking up his fork.

"Yup. Definitely like the git," Seamus said from the other side of Dean.

"Leave him alone, guys," Harry said sharply.

Alex looked gratefully at Harry as Dean and Seamus turned their attentions away from him. "Thanks."

"Don't mention it," Harry told him. "I'm Harry by the way, and this is -"

"Ron and Hermione," Alex cut in, "I know."

Harry looked slightly taken aback. "How'd you know that?"

Alex shrugged.

"So, why'd you come here so late, and in the middle of the year, Alex?" Ron asked, not sensing Alex's reluctance to divulge much information. "Where have you been?"

"Somewhere that's not here," Alex answered evasively. "Is 'here' any good?"

Hermione set off into a list of reasons as to why Hogwarts was a good place to be, not noticing that Alex was hardly listening to her, preferring to pay attention to his dinner.

It was soon time to return to the dorms for the night. After saying goodnight to Hermione, Harry and Ron led Alex up to the sixth year dorm. When they got there, they found that the room had already been enlarged slightly so as to fit in a new four-poster bed. A trunk labelled "A.L. Snape" sat at the foot of the new bed.

"Those house-elves don't miss a thing," Ron commented. "Looks like that's your bed, Alex."

Alex nodded. "Goodnight then."

The other sixth year boys, Neville, Dean and Seamus came in just as Alex had pulled the curtains shut around his bed.

"Antisocial one, isn't he?" Ron muttered.

"Who wouldn't be, with Snape for a father?" Dean wondered.

Harry frowned at both of them. "It isn't fair to judge him like that. I mean, sure, in all likelihood he's just like Snape, but shouldn't we at least give him a chance?"

"Harry's right," Neville put in, "we don't even know him, and you're already trying to hate him."

Harry smiled briefly at Neville, thanking him for his support.

"Let's sleep on it," Seamus suggested, playing the peace-maker. "We'll have plenty of time to talk to him tomorrow."

At breakfast that morning, Harry made a point of sitting next to Alex and trying, unsuccessfully, to have a conversation with him. His lack of success was mainly due to the fact that Alex was very zoned out.

"Alex? Hello? Are you even listening to me?" Harry asked.

"Huh?" Alex said vaguely.

"There's your answer, mate," Ron laughed. "I dunno why you're bothering. He's obviously not a morning person."

Hermione frowned thoughtfully. "You're not a morning person either, Ron, but you still manage to hole a conversation at breakfast. Or an argument, whichever the case happens to be."

Ron shrugged.

"We have potions first," Hermione informed them. "You two had better hurry up and finish eating so we can get there on time. Snape's bound to pick on you, Harry, if you're late two days in a row."

Ron's ears pricked up at this. "Hey, you never told us why you were late, Harry."

"Yes I did," Harry said, "I was speaking with McGonagall, remember?"

"Yes, but why?" Ron pestered.

"I'll tell you later. Somewhere less noisy."

Hermione nodded her understanding. "The room of requirement?"

"Yeah."

Harry left Ron and Hermione to their own conversation after this and tried, once again, to converse with Alex.

"So, what school were you at before you came here?"

Alex looked at Harry. "School?"

"Yeah, school," Harry repeated. "Which school were you at before?"

Alex closed his eyes briefly in concentration. "Muggle school."

"You went to a muggle school?"

"Mmm."

"And now you're starting in your sixth year here?"

"Uh huh."

"Are you ok at magic?" Harry asked curiously. "Did you have a tutor or something?"

"Yeah, something like that." Alex replied thickly.

"Why didn't you just come to Hogwarts?"

"When?"

"Six years ago."

"What?"

"Why didn't you come to Hogwarts six years ago?" Harry repeated, starting to feel irritated.

Alex stared at him vaguely.

"Earth to Alex!"

"Huh?"

Harry threw his hands up in the air. "I give up! You're impossible." He turned to Ron and Hermione. "Are we going now, or what?"

His two friends jumped, startled, and Harry was surprised to see them blush and avoid eye contact with him. Ron cleared his throat and stood while Hermione busied herself looking through her book-bag for some anonymous item.

"What's going on?" Harry asked suspiciously.

Ron's ears went red. "Nothing."

"Right," Harry said disbelievingly, "we'd better get to potions. I don't fancy getting a detention with Snape for walking in five seconds late."

He tapped Alex on the shoulder to get his attention. "We're going to potions now. Are you coming?"

Alex nodded and stood, his book-bag over his shoulder. The four of them exited the Great Hall together and headed down to the dungeons together.