The Magician's Trick

A/N: This story is my answer to Canon. It will be almost completely up with where JKR left it in Deathly Hallows… *As long as you ignore the Epilogue.* (hint, hint.)

Oh, and thanks to my first reviewer for pointing out where I did a stupid on Mr Weasley's name... That's what I get for writing when I'm half asleep!

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~~ The Magician’s Trick ~~

~~1~~

Ginny opened the door to Potter’s Place, where she had lived happily with Harry, Ron, and Hermione since her graduation from Hogwarts. When all the wards and charms had finally been broken and Widow Black’s painting removed, they had remodeled and renamed it.

Her mum had thrown a fit when she announced that she was moving in with them, but had finally stopped her grousing when Arthur had quirked an eyebrow at her and reminded her of how spontaneous they had once been before all the children came.

“Besides,” he had added softly. “That house is definitely large enough for the four of them. With her and Harry engaged, it’s only a matter of time before they live together anyway.”

Ginevra Weasley was two courses shy of gaining her medi witch license. One of the new rules in the course was that she had to take a Muggle course in Nursing as well. Hermione had helped her become familiar enough with the Muggle world that she had been able to breeze through the classes fairly easily. She had also developed a taste for some of the Muggle worlds pastimes.

One such thing was reading the Muggle Newspaper. Although some of the immobile pictures were rather annoying, she rather enjoyed keeping up with their current events. She also enjoyed their movies.

Today, however, she was highly agitated. When Professor Snape had died, they all believed what Harry had seen. They had attended his funeral. Then the next week, the strange occurrence in the graveyard had baffled them all, but they had each let it go and moved on with their lives.

However, Hermione and Ginny had both believed that maybe an elaborate hoax had been pulled, and Snape had not truly died. After all, if the rumors had indeed been true, and his grave had been empty… Well? Where else would the body have been?

No one seemed inclined to search for Severus’ remains. Oh, of course there had been talk and the usual amount of speculation, but no one had ever pursued it. Harry and Ron had both become angry and demanded that the girls leave the poor wizard in peace when they had tried to talk them into investigating. Ginny sighed as she called out. “Ron? Harry?”

The answer came from the kitchen, “They’ve already left, Gin. Do you want some coffee?”

Breathing a sigh of relief, Ginny raced to the kitchen and threw the newspaper down on the table. “We were right, Hermione.” She pointed at the picture on the entertainment page. “He’s alive! He never really died!”

Hermione turned from the cabinet, setting the coffee pot aside and looked from her friend to the table. “Okay, Ginny. Calm down. Tell me what are you going on about?”

Ginny sank into the nearest chair and took a deep breath. “Do you remember the rumors that have been floating around at the Muggle College about the mysterious magician that does the most amazing tricks? They never seem to be able to get a picture of the man. He wears that Sheik getup all the time, right?”

Hermione rolled her eyes a little impatiently but nodded. “Yes. I remember. Why?”

Ginny handed Hermione the Muggle Newspaper with a sparkle in her eyes. “They finally got a picture of his face.” She shook her head a little. “I know the beard and moustache are something we’ve never seen him with, and he’s put on a few pounds… but… Well, look at his eyes!”

Hermione smiled and indulgently looked at the picture. She had meant to simply nod and say something along the lines of how Snape would never wear such clothing. But when her eyes focused on the picture, Hermione felt herself getting lost in the temperamental eyes that stared back from the non-magical page.

The tilt of his eyebrow reminded Hermione of all the times he would reluctantly call on her when the other students would not offer to answer as eagerly. The memory nearly took the air from her as she stared at the image of a man she’d believed dead for so long. As much as she wanted to keep her hopes buried, there was no way she could deny that which she saw before her.

Severus Snape was alive. He was making a name for himself in the Muggle world. Tears pooled in her eyes as she took notice for the first time of the name of the Muggle Magician. It was odd that no one from the Wizarding world realized who it was that dazzled the Muggle mind. There, below his picture, was the name of the wizard that helped Harry find the end to the Dark Lord’s terror.


Silvaris Secretkeeper Dazzles the Audience One More Time

Silvaris glared at the picture on the front of the London Times. He had tried again and again to keep the picture from reaching the press. He had let his guard down for just a few minutes and now… Well, perhaps no one would care. A few years had passed now. Maybe his worries were for naught.

It wasn’t as if anyone from his past had missed him. He should be free and clear to move on with his life. Even if that life had to be far away from the life he had always known. His few friends that knew the truth had scoffed at him. But, they had let it rest. All but one.

“And why couldn’t you return to the Wizarding World? You’re name was cleared after Potter shared the glorious news of your true allegiance. No one would slander your good name if you were to return.” Lucius sighed and rolled his eyes. “I daresay, your good name is in far better order than mine.”

Silvaris glared at his oldest friend. “You misunderstand, Lucius. I have no desire to return to that world. I miss nothing from it, besides perhaps an occasional point or two deducted from Gryffindor.” He studied his now meticulously manicured hands before gracefully setting the paper aside and turning to his morning tea.

Lucius wasn’t to be dissuaded that easily. “But Sev--”

“No!” Silvaris cut him off sharply. “That man is dead, Lucius. His life is at an end. Do not call me by that name because I will not answer to it.” When the blond wizard sat back abruptly with a defeated sigh, the dark haired man’s tone softened. “I have too many regrets tied to that name, Lucius. Silvaris is a new man, with a new destiny.” He smiled sadly. “A new chance at what I could never have had before.”

He paused and pointed to the picture in the newspaper. “This isn’t Severus. This man is darker complected, with longer hair and an easy smile on his face. This man is an enigma to the Muggle world and completely unknown to the wizarding one.”

Lucius scowled and pushed his untouched tea aside in disgust. “And what will happen when this enigma of the Muggle world does not age and die the way that the ret of them do? What of your glorious plan then?”

Smiling, Silvaris sipped his Earl Grey and chuckled lightly before answering, “Why, The Great Silvaris Secretkeeper will have disappeared from society long before that day comes. I only plan to continue this way for another ten years or so. Then, I shall slip away and retire someplace where there is no need for me to be anyone other than who I am, because everyone will have forgotten all about me.”

Lucius’ eyebrow raised slightly as he queried, “Really? How do you plan to manage that? Got a deserted island somewhere where the natives have never seen you?”

Silvaris lifted his cup in mock salute to his old friend. “Perhaps, my friend. Perhaps.”

Lucius looked from his companion to the paper before him. “Maybe I should have planned my disappearance along with you. If I had known that Narcissa would divorce me when it was all over, I would have.” His voice sounded hollow and Silvarus felt a moment of guilt for how easily he had been able to just build himself a new life, when his friend seemed helplessly chained to his own.

“Lucius, you are always welcome in my home. If you were to find your way clear to leave behind your riches and go into hiding for just a couple of years… You could rebuild yourself as well. I now believe that with determination, anything is possible.” He let his smile return, which made his face; which was complete with beard, breathtakingly handsome. “I learned that from Potter.”

Lucius drummed his fingers against the table in slow irritation. “Yes, well the next time I see him, I’ll be sure to tell him of your gratitude!”

~~~


A/N: If anyone is interested in seeing firsthand where I got my inspiration for Snape's new look, please feel free to subscribe to the latest issue of Playwitch...

Oh, but before you go, would you be kind enough to leave me and my muse a review?

http://www.playwitch.net/issue3/lord_orion_interw.htm