Daddy Dearest - (No Update, Edit)

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to JKR. All situations are mine. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
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Chapter 2 ~ Entering Slytherin House

The Slytherin prefect led the first year students down a long, dismal corridor, lit by torches with no windows. He walked quickly.

"You're in the dungeons," Wanford Cuttleson informed the first years as they struggled to keep up. "Slytherin house itself is located under the lake."

The brown-eyed, brown-haired seventh-year wizard led the first years to the end of the corridor, which was a blank stone wall.

"Serpentsasia," he said, and the wall slid back, revealing a corridor. He looked back at the stunned faces. "Remember that word. It is our current password and will let you into Slytherin house. You will be informed of any changes."

He walked through the wall, followed closely by the first years. The corridor was ill-lit, and damp. They walked a short distance and came to a set of iron doors emblazoned with serpents. The handles themselves were entwined snakes. Wanford pulled the doors open and entered the Slytherin common room, which was low ceilinged and furnished with greenish lamps and green comfortable chairs. Assorted tables were scattered about for students to work or play games at. A large fireplace covered almost one full side of the room.

"It looks like a dungeon," one witch whispered, looking about the room wide-eyed. She had whitish-blonde hair, ice-blue eyes and a rather pointed chin.

"This is the common room. You will do your class work and spend your free time here when not otherwise engaged," Wanford said as the students looked about.

Mathias focused on the wizarding chess tables and wondered if there was anyone here worth playing. Uncle Ron claimed he was the best young player of wizard's chess that he had ever seen. When the red-haired wizard asked Mathias how he learned to play so well, the boy gave him a simple answer.

"It's mostly logic, Uncle Ron. Logic and courage," Mathias responded, his calm black eyes resting on the wizard. "Everyone on the board has their job to do. You just have to let them do it."

Mathias knew that Ronald Weasley really wasn't his uncle by blood, but he had known him since he was a child. Ron was the one who taught him chess and the rules of Quidditch, though it was Uncle Harry who taught him how to fly on a broom by the time he was seven years old.

His mother had been appalled. She didn't like flying and Mathias assumed she thought he wouldn't either. She claimed he was too young to fly, but he took to the sky like a hippogriff. He showed such skill and control that Hermione had to concede he was able to hold his own in the air, and said no more about it, much to both Mathias' and Ron's delight.

Hermione hadn't been much better as far as his education went in relation to his age. He was home-schooled by the witch, and she piled the knowledge on. Mathias' knowledge of spells and potions was phenomenal for a youth of eleven years of age. Unlike his mother when she was younger, the wizard felt no need to spout everything he knew just because someone asked. Mathias didn't like the idea of it. It was like showing off. He disliked show-offs.

Which was why he didn't get along with Harry's son, James…who he thought was an idiot, always mouthing off about how his father was going to be the savior of the Wizarding World when he killed the Dark Lord. The annoying, auburn-haired, green-eyed wizard had been sorted into Gryffindor house, and Mathias was glad. He didn't think he could take being in the same house with the arrogant git. Plus, James teased him because he didn't have a father. Harry talked to his son about this, but James still tormented Mathias whenever he got pissed with him.

Mathias father was dead. His mother didn't get the chance to marry him before he died. She never told the boy how he died. In fact, she would always change the subject whenever he brought it up. She wouldn't even tell him his father's name. Uncles Ron and Harry also were very tight-lipped about it, so Mathias deduced that there was some secret that he wasn't meant to know. It angered him that his mother was keeping the truth from him. One day he would find out the truth about his father, he was certain.

Wanford led the first years into the common room and ordered them to sit down and wait quietly while he went and informed the Head of House they were situated and ready for his address.

Most of the first years huddled together in tight clusters for comfort, wary of the unfamiliar surroundings they found themselves in. Portraits of rather severe looking wizards and witches scowled down on them, occasionally telling them to sit still when a student ventured out of a chair to wander.

Mathias settled in an armchair a distance from the others. New places didn't disturb him a bit. His mother had told him about the wonder that was Hogwarts since he could first understand words. But when he arrived, he felt she had overdone it a bit. Hermione particularly talked about how wonderful Gryffindor House was and how it was the best house at Hogwarts. He wondered how she'd take him being sorted into Slytherin. He listened to his uncles talk about how shady Slytherins were, how they only looked out for themselves and how they were Gryffindor's nemesis. He figured none of them would be happy about his placement. For some reason, that knowledge made the boy smirk.

Mathias didn't think anything was wrong with looking out for himself first. If a person didn't look out for himself, who would? Logically, it made sense to put oneself first. But the boy never told his mother this as she went on and on about Gryffindor traits of selflessness, loyalty and great courage. Mathias believed you could be selfish and still have loyalty and courage. Which was probably why the Sorting Hat put him in Slytherin.

Suddenly all the murmuring in the common room stopped as a tall wizard strode into the room, his rooms billowing about him majestically. He wasn't a very good-looking wizard. His hair was black and greasy looking, falling over his shoulders, while his nose was quite long and hooked. He had very sallow skin and piercing black eyes that looked as if he could see right inside a student's head. He didn't look like someone to be trifled with.

Professor Severus Snape scowled at all the students who blanched, with the exception of Mathias, who looked at the wizard with interest. He spoke with a rich, soft, almost hypnotic voice that immediately grabbed the attention of the listener

"I am your Head of House, Professor Severus Snape. I will be responsible for you your entire tenure at this school. If you have a problem, you come to me first…before reporting to any teacher or the Headmaster, particularly if the situation puts you in a bad light. It is my job to protect you. I also serve as Hogwarts' Potions Master, and I will be teaching you the basics of potions this year," the Professor said, his black eyes sweeping over the students as if trying to divine who would deservedly pass his class, though he always gave his Slytherins passing marks. He continued.

"You have been sorted into the House of Slytherin which was founded centuries ago by Salazar Slytherin. Our crest is a silver serpent on a green field, and our house colors are silver and green. Also our representative house animal is a serpent. We have a resident ghost, the Bloody Baron. I have no doubt you will all see him at some point tonight. He enjoys visiting our new students…"

Here the Potions Master smirked. There would be quite a few screams of terror and wetted beds in the dormitories tonight. Pissing one's self in horror at the sight of the Bloody Baron was one of the rites of passage in Slytherin house. The ghost really looked forward to spooking the first years each new term. He was quite good at it.

"As Slytherins there are certain traits you either have or will develop that are tantamount to success, those are resourcefulness, determination and a certain…disregard for the rules. However, if you are caught breaking rules, you will be punished accordingly. But only if you are caught. As Slytherins we practice a philosophy of exclusiveness. We do not mix or fraternize with students of other houses unless it is to best them in some endeavor. We stay among our own, unless there is some personal benefit or gain to doing otherwise."

Severus smirked as he thought of the kind of endeavors that warranted mixing, such as shagging witches or manipulating wizards from other houses. But these students were too young for that…such conquests were for later years. More than one Slytherin witch had made a wizard of an opposing house team throw a Quidditch match against Slytherin for a chance to fuck her. A chance that never materialized afterwards.

The Potions Master continued.

"We have a point system here at Hogwarts. House points are given or taken away to reward or punish students for their behavior. They are also won in Quidditch matches. These points accumulate over the course of the school year. At the end of the year a House Cup is awarded to the house with the most points. It is a great honor and one I covet. I expect you all to do your part to gain points for our house, as well as lose points for our rival houses," the Potions Master said, eyeing the students.

Mathias smiled broadly at this instruction. He would love to make James Potter lose some house points. Severus noticed the smile out of the corner of his eye, but continued.

"You will find giant hourglasses in the entrance hall that record the points of the houses. Our hourglass is filled with emeralds. Whenever a teacher or other authorized party speaks words awarding or deducting points, the hourglass is automatically updated to record the gain or loss. Normally, only staff is authorized to do this, but prefects can also take points from you, and are biased toward their own houses. Be wary of them. Slytherin house is always a target."

The Professor paused, allowing this to sink in, then continued, walking back and forth now, his eyes drifting over the first years as he did so.

"You are expected to keep your marks up. Failure in any class is not acceptable, and you will be punished for it. Pass any way you can, but try to learn something," the wizard purred at them.

The students looked at each other. Was the wizard telling them to cheat if they had to?

Severus scowled and they quickly turned their attention back to the pale wizard. He suddenly stopped pacing and gave them a dark, warning glare.

"And never, ever reveal anything that goes on in this house to anyone outside of it. What happens here, stays here. If anyone is caught in violation of this rule, it would be better if they had never come to Hogwarts. Your loyalty is to your house above all else. Remember that," Severus said severely, a dangerous glint in his eye.

The students all nodded, including Mathias, who was watching the wizard intently. There was something about him that appealed to the boy's darker nature.

"Your housemates will be your family within Hogwarts," the Potions Master continued, "You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free time in your house common room. You can study and play games in this area. First years share sleeping quarters. As you advance in grade there will be opportunities to have private rooms. If your parents are rich enough however, there are private rooms available to let as well. Slytherin house is the only house which offers this luxury. Those of you who would like to apply for one are to leave a written request in my office, which is located off the main entrance corridor to the left. I will take care of the rest."

A couple of the students looked very interested at this information. Mathias didn't even think about it. His mother could afford it, but she'd never do it, simply because she thought he was already too introverted. The young wizard couldn't make her understand that he liked being to himself. Most children he met were idiots and dunderheads. He would much rather read and work on his spells and potions in solitude. He was much like his mother in this way, though he didn't use books as an escape as she had. He learned because he chose to, not to fill some void in his life.

Mathias' love of solitude and learning was a part of his genetic makeup. His dislike of fools came straight from his father's side, and his love of learning from both of them. Mathias thought quite logically, and most children his age didn't. He had interests that they hadn't developed yet and was more mature than most, just as Hermione had been.

Severus looked at the students.

"You've all had a long day. Your trunks have been delivered to your rooms and your items put away. You will find a questionnaire on each of your beds that will provide me with personal information about your family background, people to contact in case of emergency and so forth. You will also be required to write a small essay on why you think Slytherin house will or will not benefit you. I expect these questionnaires on my desk by this time tomorrow night. Mr. Cuttleson! Miss Faraquay!" he called.

Both prefects immediately appeared on the landing of their respective dormitories.

"Escort the first years to their rooms," the wizard said, his eyes resting on Mathias for a moment, who looked steadily back at him, not cowed at all.

Both prefects descended the stairs.

"Witches, come with me," Abigail Faraquay directed imperiously.

"Wizards with me," Wanford directed.

The first years gathered around the prefects and followed them up the stairs. Mathias was the last boy to walk over to the prefect, his dark eyes resting on the pale wizard curiously as he passed him, not saying a word. Severus glared at him to no effect. The young wizard followed the rest of the students up the stairs and disappeared around the corner with a very slight billow of robes.

Severus stood there a moment, looking after his son. There was no doubt in his mind that Mathias was his progeny. His appearance and bearing was very much like his own though he had his mother's features. Well, thank the gods for that.

Damn it. The Potions Master almost wished he had carried out his plan to make Hermione lose the child. But that was too cruel, even for him. If she wanted to raise the little bastard, then let her. Now he was face to face with his mistake.

The wizard turned and headed for his rooms, wondering how much the boy knew. Well, that questionnaire he had quickly created would let him know just what the boy knew of his parentage. There were questions about both mother and father. Once he knew what the boy knew, he could work from there.

Severus rubbed his forehead as he left Slytherin house, slowly walking up the dungeon corridor. The son he never wanted, never contacted and never loved was sorted into Slytherin. Most likely he'd have to deal with him for the next seven years.

Gods, what a fucking mess.

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A/N: Interesting look into how Severus deals with first years, as well as a look at Mathias. Wonder what the young wizard will put on his questionnaire? Please review.