8 Chapter 8: Family Black
"Oh, to think that Salem Witches' Institute would have a school that accepts men in their senior year, I had heard a lot about Salem College of Potions, but I didn't know about how it worked."
"Mmmmm this..., yes, maybe this is what I needed, yes..., the USA, the Dark Lord, and his followers the death eaters have no power there, it is the best option I have to get out of the influence of the inner circle of purebloods in Britain, sadly my knowledge of the magical world of America in almost nil, unless it serves what I know happened in the 1920's"
"Mmmm among the few things I know about America I can say that the magical community is made up of both mugglesborn and purebloods and half-bloods without any discrimination, something abhorred by most of the great pureblood houses in Britain, ha, even I didn't have very good thoughts about the magical community in the USA, I didn't share their ideas, but now it's not something that worries me, I'm not so closed-minded anymore and it's certainly the best way, for now, to keep me away from the war in Britain and the pressure of the death eaters, so Salem Potions College at the Salem Witch Institute here we go," Severus happily determined as he responded to the letter sent to him, sent a thank you and confirmed his presence in the program.
Having already decided what to do to start his new path in this world, Severus finished his breakfast and decided to leave the pub early to go to the Ministry of Magic where he would do the paperwork to obtain a legal transfer to the Salem Witch Institute, on his way out he greeted Rob and thanked him again for the extra portion at breakfast, the waiter greeted him back as usual, although he seemed visibly intrigued by the young wizard's thanks.
Certainly, Severus was still cold and dark when you saw him, but clear chances were beginning to show in his demeanor, such as just saying hello and thank you without needing to do so. With time it is to be expected that his personality and appearance will have much more drastic changes since he now has two souls and two personalities united in the same body.
The sun was low in the sky as Severus left the Pub.
"My last time at the Ministry of Magic was shortly after the death of my parents in the Christmas vacations of my fifth year, it was at that time that I decided to go through the paperwork for emancipation, I had no living relatives to stay with, known to me at least, and I also wished to control my own life as well, I had always been self-sufficient due to my parents lack care or concern, so it was nothing new to me in that regard" Severus remembered a bit nostalgically the day he learned of his beloved mother's death, she may have never shown much affection or concern for him, but she certainly took care of him from his abusive father and always took the brunt of his mistreatment to keep his father from focusing on him.
Severus hated his father and despised him, but for his mother, he felt great respect and appreciation, since he was a child he was very intelligent and talented in most things, he even showed exceptional aptitudes for magic and his mother supported and instructed him in magic despite the great fear she had of using it because it could anger her Muggle husband Tovias Snape, thus earning her verbal and even physical aggression on some occasions from him.
Severus made his way to the visitors' entrance at the Ministry of Magic. Then he entered a telephone booth and dialed.
After a while, a sweet female voice answered.
"Welcome to the Ministry of Magic. Please state your name and business."
"Severus Snape. I am here to request a transfer to the Salem Witches' Institute for a summer program abroad."
"Thank you, please take the badge and place it on the front of your robes."
A metal badge fell after the female voice spoke, "Mr. Snape, request for transfer to the Salem Witches Institute abroad to be confirmed with the Department of International Magical Cooperation."
After she said those words the cabin began to descend until it finally stopped and the doors opened.
"Visitor to the Ministry of Magic, you must submit to a search and present your wand for registration."
Severus sighed "What a nuisance, I had forgotten how annoying it was to enter as a visitor to the Ministry" He muttered under his breath as I stepped out of the booth.
Behind him, the doors slammed shut and the booth lifted disappearing quickly.
Because the Ministry is located underground, the normal order is reversed: the top floor is Level 1, while the Atrium on the main floor is listed as Level 8 (although both the Department of Mysteries and the Wizengamot hearing rooms are below it, on Levels 9 and 10, respectively).
The atrium itself was huge and much better ventilated than one would expect for a subway complex; magic certainly has its advantages.
Severus made his way to the security desk to register his wand and a quick check.
After a few moments, he was done. He made his way through some golden doors to the access elevators. Pausing for a moment, he noticed the directory to one side.
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Ministry of Magic!
Level Ten, Wizengamot Chambers.
Level Nine, Department of Mysteries
Level Eight, Ministry of Magic Atrium
Level Seven, Department of Magical Games and Sports
Level Six, Department of Magical Transportation
Level Five, Department of International Magical Cooperation
Level Four, Department of Magical Creature Control and Regulation
Level Three, Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes
Level Two, Department of Magical Law Enforcement
Level One, Minister of Magic and Support Personnel
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Severus entered the nearest elevator, which he found empty except for a few paper airplanes.
He got off at Level Five, but before he could advance to the office where he was to process and validate his request for a relocator, Severus found himself facing a group of people he wasn't looking to cross paths with and by an unconscious motor reflex found himself shaking the hand of the young wizard in front of him.
"Severus! What a nice surprise to see you at the Ministry, if I remember correctly you used to hate everything about it, but well you'll have your reasons" said the young wizard in front of him.
"Mind you, you came at just the right time to hear firsthand that my brother Sirius has been disinherited from the Black family and now as the new and sole heir to the family I will be spending this summer traveling all over Europe to familiarize myself with the various family businesses and properties."
All that information was in one breath, and he was still shaking her hand at the end.
Severus cursed his luck, on the plus side, this was one of the least troublesome people in his house he could possibly cross paths with at the moment, despite not being from his usual group of friends, he was still one of the Slytherins he had a good relationship with.
"Regulus, Mr. Black, Mrs. Black." Severus nodded his head in greeting to the family of three.
"Oh, interesting, so you are the talented young wizard that Malfoy so seeks to make part of our "organization". Mmmmm, a half-blood from what I hear" replied with some distaste in his voice as he pronounced the word half-blood Mr. Orion Black, father of Regulus and Sirius. This one looked at Severus very contemptuously.
"Come on dear, let's not forget what Malfoy said, he certainly has a lot to contribute to the cause, that yes, it is a great disappointment that a young wizard so promising to be part of our group is after a little mudblood, you should be more aware dear, great things await you next to 'who you know, don't contaminate them with those mudblood bastards" reassured and judged at the same time Mrs. Walburga Black. She too obviously felt very superior to a half-blood like Severus, but she was smart not to mention it or show it so indiscreetly for the sake of getting what she wanted.
Severus' anger was rising rapidly, it angered him to hear how they belittled his dear friend Lily, he could stand the pureblood's almost unconscious contempt for his person for being a half-blood, but the fact that they insult and denigrate Lily was about to push him to the limit of his patience and he hated himself too for the fact that he shared those crazy ideals, he didn't realize how illogical those thoughts were, he was blinded by the anger towards his father and by the power that the dark arts provided him with, whenever it crossed his mind to think logically about that subject by taking Lily as an example, he simply dismissed it and decided to think that Lily was just the exception to all mudbloods, that she was special and different from the other mudbloods he hated so much, but now that he was not only Severus Snape but also Benedict Clarke, Severus could understand how wrong he was, especially having lived in a world without magic being a simple muggle like Benedict Clarke.
Despite his anger, Severus was smart and knew it would do him no good to react negatively to his words, the Black family was very powerful and influential, but even so, he still couldn't believe how they dared to be so brazen in public and for worse in the Ministry of Magic, he knew the war was in a complicated moment, but here they were, two blood purists from one of the most important and recognized families in Britain talking almost freely about their obvious support for Voldemort's movement against the Muggles or mudbloods.
Clenching and clenching his hands tightly, Severus sought to calm himself and respond simply and as evasively as he could.
"Oh, I see Regulus, no doubt the bully you have for a brother deserved such an outcome, so I am not surprised, in fact, it is pleasant news to be able to learn of this firsthand. And Mr. and Mrs. Black, I will certainly take your words into consideration, now if you will excuse me, I have some paperwork I would like to finish with early if possible, I wish you a good vacation, I hope Regulus can get acquainted with everything quickly" Severus replied without much emotion, with his usual cold, dry, hard and dark personality he found it easy to hide his emotions from others.
Mr. and Mrs. Balck just nodded at Severus' words without giving the young wizard much thought and resumed their walk to the elevator.
"Severus, sorry about that man, you know what my parents are like and I also know how much you like Evans' mudblood, but we both know it's nothing but the truth, more after what happened to you this year with her and the idiots in Gryffindor, it's a clear indicator that you should stay away from her altogether."
Severus' shoulders slumped, but there was more intensity in his eyes than one might expect from him. "Don't worry Regulus. I know better than anyone what I'm doing."
Regulus chuckled "Not to worry...come on Severus, we all know you don't think things through when it comes to Lily Evans, but you must understand man that now is your best time to join along with the others to the cause. In fact," he leaned close to him and whispered, "my parents plan to have me officially join next year and I know that many other Slytherins in my year and yours will be doing the same, so you will probably be summoned as well, you just have to prove that you are loyal to the cause and that's it, Severus."
Regulus took his distance from Severus again, smiled confidently, and proceeded to speak normally. "Well, I hope you'll keep that in mind Severus. It's all the help I can give you."
Severus shook himself and replied dryly. "I understand and appreciate the information Regulus."
"Nothing to be thankful for man, we are housemates, after all, we Slytherin's always supported each other"
"I understand, now while I would like to continue this conversation, I have to..." Severus was cut off before he could continue the sentence.
"Yes, yes, continue with your paperwork, god, it wouldn't hurt to be a bit more social Severus, see you in September at the beginning of the year at Hogwarts, take care."
"See you." Severus replied without much emotion.
"And there's that cold, dry, hard, and dark personality again, you never change, well, good luck on your vacation."
Severus just nodded and headed to the office where he was due to do his paperwork to be allowed to get a transfer.
