Roads Not Taken

Ch4 Light, Dark, and Shades of Grey

By the second week of classes Defense Against the Dark Arts had quickly become a favorite class for most of the first years. The main reason was the professor, Eduard Fortune. He was one of the younger faculty members. He was no-nonsense during his lessons, but he treated all of the students with respect, not belittling them if they didn't catch on immediately. Gryffindor had this class with Slytherin.

Severus kept his own council in classes, not wanting to draw attention to himself. Sirius and James were usually the center of attention, whether good or bad. Severus tried to just blend in.
Professor Fortune paired them off today to practise some basic spells, and Severus partnered with Remus. The two boys got on well, both were quiet and didn't like to draw attention to themselves. Both were wary, but they were slowly developing a solid friendship.

The Professor walked among the students, watching and assessing their level of skill. Part way through the class another Professor came to the classroom door and asked Professor Fortune if he might have a word with him in the hallway. Professor Fortune swept the roomful of students with a stern glance. "Wands down until I am back." He said firmly, and stepped into the hallway.
A sudden commotion drew everyone's attention to the back of the room where James and Sirius paired near several Slytherin pairs. Lily and her partner were caught between, and hexes were suddenly flying. With a furious face a Slytherin raised his wand and began to cast, when it seemed his hand hit a solid but invisible wall. His arm stopped in mid-air and then slowly lowered to his side, and he didn't seem able to raise it. He took a step backward, and then another, seeming to be fighting the movement. Sirius, always one to take advantage, raised his wand, when he, also seemed unable to control his wand arm or his legs. All the students were staring in horror at the strange sight, and only Remus noticed that Severus was surreptitiously making wand movements and muttering words under his breath. Only Remus and Professor Fortune, that is. Coming back into the classroom at the noise the Professor quickly realized what was happening. Seeing that the hexing was stopped he scanned the room and his gaze settled on Severus for a long moment before he turned to the two guilty boys, who had control of all their body parts again .

"Enough of that! I told you wands down!" Fixing both Sirius and the furious Slytherin with a frown, he said "Twenty house points each from Gryffindor and Slytherin, and you two gentlemen will be in my office this evening, seven o'clock sharp, for a detention."
Both boys murmured, "Yes, Sir."
"The rest of you will learn from this, and not follow their lead," he said sternly as he glared around the room. "Class is dismissed."
The students began to exit the classroom,glancing uneasily at each other and the Professor. None of them understood what had happened.
"Mr. Snape," Severus jumped as Professor Fortune's soft voice came from right behind him. "If I might have a word..."
"Yes, Sir." All the other students left, Remus with a worried glance at Severus as he passed.

Professor Fortune studied Severus for several moments. Finally he said, "I'm not sure if I should be teaching you, learning from you, or defending against you. That was serious dark magic, boy. That spell is uncomfortably close to an imperious curse. It's a wonder we didn't have aurors coming to see what was happening."
Severus studied the teacher, deciding what tack to take. Finally he said "But I didn't use it for a dark purpose."
"THAT is the only reason we're talking here instead of in the Headmaster's office. Where did you learn to do that?"
Severus frowned. "From a book," he said finally.
"In what library?"
Reluctantly Severus answered, "My Grandfather's."
Professor Fortune raised an eyebrow. "That must be quite a library."

Severus tried not to fidget under the Professor's gaze. Finally he couldn't stand the silence any longer.
"What are you going to do?" he asked.
Professor Fortune rubbed his hands over his face and sighed. "I'll make you a deal. You show me what you know, and promise NOT to scare the first years like that again, and we will keep this quiet between you and me...and the Headmaster."
Severus started at that, and his face turned paler even than usual.
"People get nervous around the kind of magic you did today, around people who can do that kind of magic. I have to talk to the Headmaster about this, and he may have some questions for you himself. He's a wise wizard, Mr. Snape. You can trust him to know what is best."
Severus was skeptical, but kept his silence. The Professor seemed to read his expression with ease, however.
"You haven't had a lot of reason to trust adults, I take it. Albus may change your mind."

Professor Dumbledore studied Severus, who tried to sit quietly and not fidget. It was much harder to stay still under the Headmaster's gaze than it had been with Professor Fortune. Finally the Headmaster spoke gently."Professor Fortune told me what happened in class today. An impressive display."
"I wasn't trying to impress, I didn't really think. I just didn't want anyone to get hurt."
"And that spell came unbidden to mind. You've practised spells like that often?"
"Yes,Sir." Severus said cautiously.
The Headmaster sighed. "I knew your Grandfather. He was very enamored of the dark arts. Thankfully, he was not really very good at them. You, on the other hand, seem to be very good indeed. You learned that from just reading it in a book in your Grandfather's library and practising on your own?"
"Yes, Sir."

"Mr. Snape, talent such as yours belongs here at Hogwarts, but magic such as that must be controlled and cannot be used in classes here. Too many people equate using a dark spell with BEING dark. Can you exercise control, and remember that an 11 year old wizard is not expected to know such spells?" As Severus started to speak the Headmaster raised his hand, palm towards Severus, stopping his reply. "Consider your answer carefully, Mr. Snape."
Severus thought it through. Most of the magic he had come to Hogwarts knowing would probably be considered dark. Hiding his knowledge might mean not taking action the way he had in class. But there were other spells he could learn to use instead that weren't dark. There was a whole library here to learn from.
With the feeling that the Headmaster had followed his train of thought rather easily came a certain relief. Maybe he COULD trust this wizard sitting before him.
"Yes, Sir. I can learn other ways to deal with things."
The headmaster smiled and Severus felt an unaccustomed warmth.
"I have no doubt of that, Mr. Snape."

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Thanks so much for the reviews. I'm new at writing, and I appreciate the support.
Anon: I don't think Sev and Peter will be friends- I see Peter as too sneaky.
Yamaelle: Not quite sure if there will be 5 marauders, or only 3. The characters seem to have minds of their own, sometimes.