Anima\'s Reunion

A/N: Most of you will frown because I'm posting a new story, what can I say? Inspiration is a bitch. So I do hope you enjoy this little piece of mine, if everything goes well I might even make this into an arch. I dunno.

Enjoy.

Anima's Reunion.

By Ran Mouri.

Severus Snape had never believed in the afterlife, not when his mother whispered wizarding legends in his ears at night about the second coming of Merlin himself, nor when his muggle neighbors ranted about heaven or hell.

He often wondered where he would be when he died, but the mental images of his corpse being devoured by worms and other creatures stopped his youthful musings.

When he started going to school he learned about other views, other types or after-death beliefs.

Some of his classmates believed they would reincarnate once more and live their lives according to the wishes and regrets they held the moment of their deaths, others thought their bodies and magic would turn into fairy dust and they would feed the origin of magic itself, sort of recycling their magic for future generations, others thought they were fertilizing the earth into a magically potent ground, almost sacred.

Young Severus Snape thought it was all crap, and never paid much attention to any of those stupid mumbo-jumbos, he had a lot to learn and a road of success to pave for himself.

That is, until he caught the eye of the Marauders, and suddenly became a celebrity himself.

How could he not, he was the Slytherin skilled enough to sneak up to Sirius Black and James Potter and prank them. Not that he managed often, stupid Lupin always seemed to know he was coming.

Of course other Slytherins tended to ignore him, should the Marauders’ rage befall them, or worshiped him and followed him around adoringly, which was mostly the case of the first years. Sometimes the Headboy, Malfoy, send owls at him to warn him about upcoming attacks and invited him to his private rooms to coach him in Aritmancy and Charms. The blond boy had seen the potential Severus had, he said, and wanted to exploit it in hopes he was creating a competent future ally.

Severus just nodded and continued to study, according to Malfoy; he had about two hours before another attack from Potter and his groupies.

Then Black had gone and tried to kill him with his werewolf pet.

Malfoy had already graduated and no other Slytherin dared to give him a hand, or so he thought. As he lay in his bed, deep in agony and hoping beyond hope the werewolf had not bitten him, he felt a light hand take his own and another hand, most likely belonging to the same individual caressed his hair. He had to admit that he had first hoped it was Lily, by his side, but dismissed the idea immediately as a male voice whispered a thousand apologies to him.

“I’m so sorry, I didn’t want this to happen, I’m sorry, Severus, please forgive me, please say everything is going to be ok,” the boy, because that voice could not belong to a man, pleaded between sobs.

Slowly, overcome by curiosity, he opened his eyes and found himself staring face to face to none other than his would-be murderer’s little brother, Regulus Black.

The boy, unlike his brother, had expressive grey eyes and short black hair that sometimes framed his face childishly, he was a little doll, Sirius’ little doll at that.

“I’m really sorry, Severus,” he whimpered as he saw the other boy was awake. “This is all my fault and I… I didn’t mean to! I swear I didn’t!”

“What are you talking about, Black,” Severus snapped, his eyes narrowed against the light.

“Brother was teasing me, I swear I never meant to cause this, but I told him I’d rather spend time with you in a snake pitch than go to Gryffindor with him, I hate his friends, they are horrible to us and… I’m really sorry!”

Severus kept silent for a moment.

“Your brother tried to kill me because he was jealous of me?” he asked in disbelief. “You told your brother you’d rather spend time with me… out of spite?” He could remember the boy now; he was one of the many younger groupies he had developed over the years. Most of which thought it was a thrill sport to hang around Severus Snape and therefore openly defy the Marauders without actually putting themselves in the line of fire.

Severus hated them with passion.

“… I didn’t mean to, I was truthful when I said I like you better than brother’s friends. I’ve always looked up to you, and I almost got you killed and… I’m so sorry, Severus,” Regulus continued to sob; his pale face was turning pink in color and blotched with the strength of his sorrow.

Severus sighed after a few moments and put a hand over the boy’s head, caressing his hair tenderly.

“I’m alive,” he whispered. “I’m not a werewolf, am I?”

Regulus shook his head.

“Then it’s ok, I guess…”

He was suddenly embraced by an over eager black haired boy.

“Thank you, Severus! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!” Snape just shook his head and let him be embraced, for some reason the whole ordeal made him think the younger Black was the one who got most of the damage in his stead.

“Go to your room, Regulus,” he said after he let the boy cry some more on his robes. “You’ll be caught outside of curfew and your mother will get mad.”

Regulus instantly shook his head.

“I’ll be ok,” he said determinately. “I swore that if you survived I would protect you from all harm, and my duty starts now, I’ll keep watch in case brother and his minions decide they want to kill you, specially the Lupin monster, he’s been trying to reach you for weeks!”
Severus’ cheeks flushed lightly at the thought.

Lupin?

Part of him wanted to see him, wanted to hope that… just maybe…

Then his mind remembered the claws, the jaws ready to strike, the merciless golden eyes.

He sighed.

Whatever dreams or wished he and Lupin might have stared into together were over now.

Just as his dreams with Lily were.

Suddenly a dreadful thought crossed his head as he turned to glare at the younger boy…

“You don’t really pretend to stay by my side until I graduate, do you?” he asked softly.

Regulus blinked his huge eyes in confusion.

“Of course I will, I might even have to drop out of Hogwarts should the Marauders keep bothering you, just to make sure,” the boy frowned. “Snape, I’m a Black, and as such my word is important. I will keep it whether you want me around or not.”
Severus sighed and buried his head in his pillow.

True to his word, Regulus spent all his time with Severus, always following, always smiling, always standing up to the mocking crowd to protect his so-called best friend.

Snape had never told him they were friends, the rumor mile at school and Regulus’ own active imagination had taken care of that.

By the time Severus felt confident enough to stand on his own, however, he realized he had grown accustomed to Regulus’ presence, and that he didn’t want to separate from his now only remaining friend.

He wasn’t in love with the younger boy, he knew as much, just as Regulus would never even think anything romantic towards him. He knew his little companion was in love, of course, but the identity of the impossible love that had his heart captive remained a secret for all times.

The one secret the younger boy had never shared with his best friend.

Yes, slowly, ever so gently, Regulus became Severus’ support and confident giving back the strength Severus thought his father and his tormentors had taken from him.

And what had Severus done for his friend?

He had introduced him to a great idea; the one Lucius himself had given him upon his graduation.

He had turned Regulus to Voldemort.

He had made him into a Death Eater.

He had gotten his only friend killed under the most tortuous of tasks.

And what had he done, the ridiculous monster he was?

He had told Black.

And had ended up in Saint Mungos because of it.

He never really imagined Sirius Black cared for his brother.

Oh, he would find out much later on just how deep the feelings Sirius had for Regulus were.

Lily showed up at his hospital room, her eyes were light, her face radiant.

She was heavily pregnant.

“I came to check on you,” she said gently as she sat by his bed.

“The healers are re-growing my hand and leg, your little mutt didn’t have to be so violent,” he snapped softly.

“He’s in pain,” she sighed. “I never thought Regulus’ death would hit him that hard, the way he talked about him made us all think that they hated each other.”

“Blood calls them to each other, now Black is the last of his family, must be tough.”

“Yes,” Lily agreed, a hand on her swollen belly. Severus stared at her for a moment, a minute that stretched to eternity.

She was too far away from him now. She had become this unreachable goddess and had forgotten about him, lowly human.

“I have to go now, James must be waiting for me,” she said lightly, her smile back in place.

Severus didn’t ask for her to stay, didn’t follow her form with his eyes as she left the room.

He had finally understood that they were no longer the friends he remembered.

She had worried about Black, now that his despised Death Eater brother was dead. But, as much as it pained him to admit it, she had never asked how he was coping with the murdering of his best and only friend.

Neither had Lupin, when he showed up to offer his yearly apologies.

Neither had Dumbledore when he was contacted regarding Slughorn’s retirement.

Ironically enough, the only person to ever ask about his feelings was the one he never thought would care.

“You know,” Lucius Malfoy asked as he sat by his bedside. His eyes set on the window. “Ancient Pure Blooded Houses believe that their families have a limited amount of souls within their midst’s. So, when one member dies, he or she will most likely reincarnate into his or her family again.”

Severus had turned his face away; staring solemnly at the ridiculous card Lily had sent him to congratulate him on his new position as Hogwarts’ Potions Master.

“What if…” he whispered shyly, the blond man always made him feel like an adolescent. “What if the individual’s family has all died, what happens then?”

Lucius turned to him then, and closed the room’s door with his wand.

“Then he or she would reincarnate into the family of his or hers closest relative. Which reminds me…” the older wizard dug into his pocket for a second before pulling a cigar from it.

Severus stared in silence.

“You have to be kidding me,” he hissed, his eyes wide.

Lucius shook his head, his eyes bright.

“Narcissa just told me this morning. We think it happened around last weekend,” he explained as he lit the cigar and placed it onto Snape’s mouth. “Of course you’ll be my boy’s godfather, won’t you?”

“How do you know it’s a boy?” Severus managed to ask without chocking.

Lucius stared at him for a moment.

“If it’s a girl I’ll just give her a sex-change potion, you know how to brew one of those, don’t you?” He answered simply. “Girls are second born; boys are heirs and first borns all the time.”

Severus wanted to comment that it explained many things about the blond man, if the custom was to change the sex of the babies should they be born in incorrect order, but he decided against it as Lucius continued to rant about his baby boy.

“Why me, though,” Severus inquired after he got used to the taste of the smoke. “Why not some of your other friends?”
Lucius smiled ruefully.

“You are going to Hogwarts, aren’t you?” he asked back. Severus nodded. “Bellatrix will be my boy’s godmother, I just wanted to cover all my bases to ensure his survival, you know… just in case.”

Severus almost chocked this time, but managed to keep his cool. Lucius Malfoy had just told him he knew he was a spy, but he also told him that he wanted him to be, just so he could protect his son should the Dark Lord die.

“Intelligent Snake,” Severus surmised, shaking his head.

“And just think about it, you get to choose my baby boy’s second name!” Lucius beamed, ignoring his companion’s comment. “Just do it fast, before Bellatrix can, so my son won’t end up being called Draconis Voldemort.”

Severus sighed and nodded.

“Draconis Arcturus sounds powerful and intelligent,” he commented after a pause. Secretly he thought Draconis Regulus was better, but he knew of the animosity of his blond friend for his best friend, so he kept quiet.

Lucius grinned. Had Severus known it would be the last time he would see the man express happiness so openly, he would have snapped a holopicture.

“Draconis Arcturus Abraxas Malfoy,” Lucius simpered. “I like it. Thanks, old friend.”

“Yeah,” Severus smirked, tired by the potions numbing his senses. “You are welcome.”

The years from then on were cruel to Severus Snape, people around him kept dying, kept being shunned and suffered, and he became morose and embittered.

Even when Lucius called him on to see his newborn godson he refused the invitation. He would not mingle and care again.

Losing everything he loved could mark a person even worse than a morsmodre.

By the time his so-called godson arrived to school he had almost forgotten about him. He could have been more observant, he could have paid more attention, but the same train that brought Draconis to Hogwarts had brought Harry Potter, Lily’s boy.

His priorities, much to his godson’s disgrace, were set then.

Severus ignored Poppy’s complains to the exorbitant amount of Dreamless Sleep Potion the young Malfoy heir stole from the infirmary during first year.

He ignored Hagrid’s comments about how the boy terminantly refused to go near the lake during class, his stance so proud he even dared to shrug his shoulders and leave the forest when the giant commented he could fail the assignment should he not approach the mermaid sitting by the shore.

In the end Lucius Malfoy had moved his influences around so Severus never had to pay attention to the boy.

He would not care again.

It was during the boy’s and Potter’s third year that he realized his mistake.

Lupin, damned werewolf and bane of his existence, had rushed into the Potion’s Lab, his eyes frantic.

“Severus!” he yelled. “I need your help, one of your students had an unexpected accident and… you must come.”

Severus growled and called out for the Bloody Baron to look after the fifth year hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws he had at his charge until he went back.

“This better be good, Lupin,” he snapped as he walked towards the infirmary.

“I would think so, Severus, I have never seen something like this.”

“Ah! Severus, thanks Merlin!”Whimpered Madame Pomfrey as she opened the door for him. “We’ve been trying to calm the boy down, but nothing works, he keeps calling out for you or his family and… well… “

Snape raised an eyebrow, already annoyed by his co-workers’ incomplete answers. With a growl, he pushed the curtain aside, his wand raised just in case.

His wand fell to the floor as he gapped at the sight that greeted him.

Draconis Malfoy was sitting in his bed, his wand raised towards his hair.

“Why won’t it come off? Stupid Gryffindors, it must be their idea of a prank,” he muttered frantically as he repeated ‘finite incantatum’ over and over.

The color of his hair, however, remained its usual silvery-blond.

“This must have been that ridiculous rat, he’ll see when I get him, trying to imply something, I bet… “He kept muttering, his eyes wide.

“Dear,” Madame Pomfrey whispered gently. “Severus is here to see you.”

Draco’s eyes lit up as he jumped from his bed. It seemed like all the tension from his body was leaving him at the sole idea that Severus Snape was there with him.

“Thanks Merlin, I was wondering what took him so-“the boy stopped, his eyes wide as he stared into the face of the aged professor. “Sev?” he asked hesitantly.

“Mister Malfoy,” Snape answered, his eyes tracing every feature of the boy’s face. He had not really looked at him, ever. His blond hair and high cheekbones had made him assume he would be a copy of his father.

When he was instead Regulus’ image.

“Why is everyone calling me Malfoy?” Draco snapped, his silver eyes alit. “Sev, what on earth happened to you! Why are you so tall and so old… Why are we back in the castle. What is happening here!”

As one, Madame Pomfrey and Severus Snape turned to glare at Professor Lupin, their eyes murderous now that the boy had given them a few, if confusing, answers.

Remus sighed.

“We were practicing some spells, but one caught Mr. Malfoy, he caught on fire,” he explained. “Miss Parkinson grabbed her book and threw a water summoning spell on him, though on her distress she… misspoke.”

“Define misspoke, Lupin,” Snape growled menacingly.

“She…” Lupin took a step back. “She meant Manifesta Aquata…. But she… she said…”

Snape’s eyes widened.

“Can’t be…”

Remus nodded.

“He started convulsing and coughing seconds after the spell hit him, then he saw me and started to scream, wouldn’t calm down until we brought him here, then he said he would only talk to you or his family.”

Madame Pomfrey stared at the boy.

“Then he’s under…”

Severus nodded, his eyes sad.

“Manifesta Anima,” finished Remus. “The person we are staring at now, must be ’s past life.”

“I’ll go talk to the Headmaster,” Poppy said suddenly. “Manifesta Anima is a forbidden spell, we don’t want to get Miss Parkinson in trouble just because of a mistake.” Remus nodded and walked out with her, both sent discreet looks over their shoulders as Severus neared the bed once more.

“…. I thought you had gone to the great beyond,” he muttered, his eyes softening as the blond boy finally gave up on trying to figure out which cosmetic hex he had on his head and decided to just cover it with a well applied glamour, his hair was now pitch black.

“I swore I would take care of you, silly. No golden gates and choirs of angels for me yet,” Draco grinned as he approached the older man and wrapped his arms around him. “Stupid Severus, I’m sorry.”

Severus felt a tear slid down his cheek, he hadn’t really cried in years, not since Lily’s death. Slowly he raised his calloused hands and wrapped his arms around the boy’s small waist.

“Idiotic Regulus,” he whimpered as he hid his face on the boy’s shoulder.

He knew that the spell would last only two days, at most. Even less if Albus decided Regulus was dangerous.

But… even if he had three minutes, or only one.

His friend was in his arms again.

And Draconis Malfoy, his godson, had gained a new importance in his life, way over Harry Potter’s.

Way over his own life’s.

He would protect Regulus, Draco…

He would be the one to save him now.

To Be Continued.