Chapter 89 - My SI Stash #89 - Half-Blood Emperor by Dio Black (Pre Harry Potter) (2/2)

I reaffirm just how grateful I am that I was reborn as Severus with the gift of foresight.

We arrived at King's Cross station relatively early and mum escorts me through the disguised portal to platform 9 and 3/4. I silently vow that my future glorious wizards tower will have a similar entrance because that is an impressive bit of ward work and illusion magic.

Mum and I walk a little ways into the sparsely populated platform before she bids me good bye and tells me she'll see me when schools out. We'd talked before in the week leading up to this and we (mostly her and dad though I'm not complaining) decided it would be less of a strain on the family for me to spend Christmas's at school. That's right, that's Christmas's plural. At least my family is planning ahead despite that was my goal going into that discussion.

Sadly she doesn't even say she loves me as she walks away, and suddenly the way Snape acts in the books makes a lot of sense.

Thankfully, I am at least a well-adjusted megalomaniac.

I made my way onto the train with a quickly, and silently, cast feather light charm on my trunk to easily get it up the steps and found my way to the nearest empty compartment. A simple task considering how early we had arrived.

Shutting the door and closing the blinds I change into my Hogwarts uniform. It may be school clothes but they are the nicest and best fitting things I have.

Any purebloods I see before halfway through the trip would probably peg me instantly as not one of them based on my not showing off the latest acromantula silk robes, but I'm not concerned. They would figure that out anyway when I introduce myself as Snape instead of my mother's maiden name of Prince.

But either way, if Tom Riddle can climb over the broken and defeated bodies of his peers to rule Slytherin house then I can as well.

And I know that's where I'm going to end up. If nothing else than by virtue of any other house being all too easy to subjugate. I'd almost feel bad for how easy it would be to take over then.

I'm also largely unconcerned with the sorting hat poking around inside my head. Either it will be fooled with my false mind I've put up as a beginner and untrained attempt at an Occlumency defense, it will have to keep my secrets which makes sense because I don't think the founders would want to violate children's privacy. Or It will tell the headmaster everything, and Dumbledore will be forced to believe that the hat has finally cracked, or that the enchantments are starting to break down after all these centuries.

What a_d_u_l_t would take the ramblings of a hat that says a first year has plans to become rich and famous, live like a king, and bed a harem of women? At worst if anyone believed it they would simply think it more likely I have an over active imagination. Besides, with the exception of making a horcrux, nothing I intend to do is actually illegal so far. Just incredibly immoral.

I sit down and go over my potions notes that I've come up with in the different ways ingredients can be prepared and how or if that will change their properties to pass the time.

Before I know it we are already moving and the door suddenly opens to reveal Lily Evans.

”Severus I've been looking all over for you!” She says as her face lights up in a smile and she rushes to give me a hug. It's actually rather nice considering I don't get any of those at home, but it will still be awhile before we're old enough for me to really appreciate it.

”I had faith you'd find me eventually.” I tease back.

She playfully slaps my arm while giggling. ”You prat, come on let's go make friends!” The tiny redheaded spitfire says.

I put on my best exaggerated face of disgust. ”Friends?” I test the word on my tongue. ”Is that anything like minions?” I question.

She gives a pleasant tinkling laughter at what she thought was a joke, brushing away a few tears before she gets her bearing and gabbing my hand to drag me along. ”No silly I mean like me. But I'm glad you're finally starting to lighten up.”

Leaving our compartment we stroll along down the hall, popping into random compartments that appear to have other first years to say hi and introduce ourselves.

We continue in this fashion and I do my best to put up with these understandably imm_a_t_u_r_e and overenthusiastic children until we come upon two children in particular that I knew I would have to see eventually.

Sirius Black and James Potter. Sirius has chin length wavy hair and steel blue eyes while James has short, messy black hair that truly does look like he just rolled out of bed and brown eyes framed by glasses.

Both are already dressed in their Hogwarts robes but probably the most surprising thing is that they are currently in a heated glaring match.

Lily looks between the both of them a few times before letting out a huff of frustration that neither of them seemed to notice before she finally loses her patience. ”Are you two serious right now?”

And without missing a beat the one I know to be James Potter speaks up. ”No, he is.” He gestures to the other occupant in the compartment.

Sirius has the picture perfect expression of gobsmacked, before he snorts and tries to stifle his own laughter. He holds up an admirable three seconds before cracking into nearly hysterical laughter.

Lily's expression of confusion is adorable when she looks at me and asks, ”What's wrong with them Severus?”

I shrug my shoulders and reply, ”I dunno. Maybe the stress got to them.” Before we both turn and leave the two future Marauders to bond. I may have laughed at the spontaneous joke but I'm sure I'll be sick of them before the year is out.

We spend the rest of the journey talking about all the things that we look forward to discovering at Hogwarts as we enjoy a few wizarding treats we got from the trolley on our way back.

The boat trip across the lake was more interesting than I thought it would be. I incorrectly assumed that a stunning view would be the only thing I would see. Instead I'm rather surprised to find that instead of a half giant named Hagrid being the gamekeeper that would lead us across, it's someone else by the name of Ogg.

It makes sense I suppose. On an intellectual level I knew that Hagrid wasn't always the gamekeeper but I'd thought he would have had the post by now. Oh well, I'm sure he'll turn up at some point in the near future. Perhaps he's an assistant and will take over in the next few years.

The other was the two girls who sat with Lily and I for the boat ride. We had only met Amelia Bones briefly on our whirlwind tour of the train, but we must have missed the other one.

Narcissa Black. Youngest of the Black daughters which I knew, but for some reason I thought she was supposed to be slightly older than us.

I give myself a quick mental note that some things may be slightly different from what I knew. The canon story was already out the window because of the things I will do after all, so I suppose things like this won't make much of difference. But I will need to be vigilant and keep an eye out so I don't get blindsided with a situation I can't handle.

Amelia and Lily hit it right off and are chatting away. I already look the part of the brooding silent type so thankfully my contributions can be minimal.

Narcissa however takes an instant disliking to all of us and I can't say I'm the least bit surprised. She tactfully makes her opinion on everyone sharing the boat with her clear that she would rather not associate with people like us. At least she has the good grace to not throw the word mudblood around like some of her peers no doubt will in the future.

Once we're all safely off the boats and introduced to Professor McGonagall who looks surprisingly younger than I expected. Perhaps mid-thirties if I had to guess at a glance. It was at that point that it really clicked that it will be another twenty years before the events of the first book takes place. She has average looks, with her black hair done up in a sever bun, stern features accentuated by her pursed lips, and dressed in tartan robes.

She proceeds to tell us things I'm sure I'm not the only one to already know. About how we are to be sorted into one of four houses, how we can earn points for our house, and how are house will be like are family.

And I really hope that because the war is still in the early stages of people going missing and the Ministry being unaware of the reason, that my future fellow Slytherin's will treat me with some respect. I'd so hate to have to use my own house mates as guinea pigs for practicing memory charms.

All of us first years are led into the great hall where we are told to wait for our names to be called, and in short order the Sorting Hat is singing away a song about happiness, friendship, and I'm pretty sure it mentioned ponies in there somewhere. I couldn't be bothered to pay attention.

The sorting goes smoothly as expected and my guesses are reasonably correct for the most part. Narcissa Black is sorted into Slytherin. Sirius Black immediately upsets the status quo by getting sorted into Gryffindor with a smile on his face. Amelia Bones gets into Hufflepuff where she sits beside her older brother Edgar whom she told us all about on the boat ride.

Lily takes a little longer than most, clearly having a debate with the hat extolling the virtues of Gryffindor house and why she should go there before it eventually concedes and sends her to the clapping table of lions.

I keep my features carefully blank but inside I'm positively crowing in delight. The hat does have to ultimately put a student in the house of their choice. I know Lily would have been much happier in Ravenclaw with her studious nature, or even Hufflepuff with her friendly personality. I hope she hadn't been drinking the Dumbledore Kool aid when I wasn't looking but it seems as though that might be the case.

The rest of what would become the Marauders ended up in the house of the Lions with the only notable part being Peter Pettigrew's sorting.

The small, slightly pudgy mouse of a boy clearly wasn't debating where he wanted to go. The hat just didn't seem to think he had any outstanding traits that would make a house an obvious choice. From what Severus knew of him he would end up a lazy traitor, no d_e_s_i_r_e whatsoever to learn, about as un-cunning as can be, and a total coward to boot. The hat must have hoped that putting him in the house of the brave would help him develop a spine.

'Poor hat' I thought. There's only so much it can do. Thinking of Pettigrew though reminds me of the one impressive accomplishment he'll achieve and I make a mental note to look up becoming an Animagus.

It's finally my turn and I can see Lily waving excitedly at me from the Gryffindor table. I was sure I told her at some point that I was a safe bet for Slytherin or Ravenclaw, when I belatedly remember that friends are supposed to show each other support so I give her a tight smile and a small nod of acknowledgement that causes her face to light up.

I have to shake my head internally at how impressionable children are as I sit down and the hat is placed on my head where it falls down far enough to block my vision of the students and tables of the great hall.

”Oh no.” I hear a gruff voice filled with despair echo inside of my head.

”Ah so the false mind didn't fool you for a moment did it?” I mentally respond back.

”Yes, yes and you don't need to be so loud with your thoughts, I can hear you quite well thank you. But what?... How?... I don't even know where to begin with you!” It huffs in frustration.

I spend a moment thinking about it, ”How about you start with whatever intrigues you most? Or start with what you might know of my situation?” I ask.

”Well I can already tell you I've never heard nor seen anyone in your particular situation. And I can go ahead and put all your worries at ease. I can't tell anyone anything, it's all completely confidential. In fact it's been so long since I've had a conversation with the headmaster I'm pretty sure he thinks I'm not actually an intelligent artefact, just a tool to put children in houses so he doesn't have to take the time and interview all of them himself.” The hat says before devolving into a fit of invectives towards Dumbledore that I'm sure he's barrowing from my mind to be more creative.

It eventually subsides before he continues, ”Well I can tell you I think you're on the right track with the things you want to accomplish and your ambitions. If what you know of the future is really true and comes to pass it's not like you can very well make things worse after all.”

”Ah thank you for that.” I respond, unsure how to take that but pressing forward. ”Do you have any advice for me that could be helpful or if I'm missing something obvious?”

”Well I have a few id- hold on.” He breaks off mentally before I can suddenly hear his voice outside my head and out loud.

”Can I help you Minerva?” The hat asks in a scathing tone. I'm surprised, I guess it's been longer than I thought if McGonagall was about to take the hat off wondering if something was wrong. It's only now that I can hear the low murmur of the crowd expressing confusion and speculating on what's taking so long.

I can her how startled she must have been because it sounds like she jumped a little at being preempted.

”I-I was just wondering what's taking so long, or if something was… wrong?” She trails off weakly, not have expected to defend her actions to a talking hat.

”Everything is fine! Better than fine actually, I'm having an actual conversation with an interesting individual for the first time in years.” Said the hat.

”Be that as it may you are supposed to sort the students. There are still more to go and we are all getting hungry.” And I can practically see the disapproving frown on her face as if she's scolding any other misbehaving student, instead of a thousand year old sentient artefact.

”Well excuse me then!” And I can feel him coming back to resume our mental conversation. ”Right then, let's make this quick. Keep up with Occlumency, Albus won't bother with any young student unless they are an heir or they stand out academically so be sure you don't do anything major until you can catch a subtle probe. He likely won't push it after that.

Also since I can tell you won't be swayed from your goals, you should focus on rituals then. Many of them will suit your purposes and there's a surprising amount that has been lost to time but not to Hogwarts and even Riddle doesn't know all of them. Good luck becoming the king of the snakes in- SLYTHERIN!” The hat finishes the last word out loud for the hall to hear.

There is a surprising amount of applause coming from the hall, the Slytherin table included. At first I'm sure it's because they are happy to get on with the sorting ceremony and being that much closer to the feast, but I notice more than a few curious eyes from my new house table sizing me up.

No doubt wondering what's so special about the new firstie.

I end up sitting next to Narcissa of all people and completely ignore the heated glare she levels my way. She's far too polite to say whatever is on her mind, no doubt derogatory and insulting. But I'm having entirely too much fun ignoring her and tweaking her nose about it.

Taking my time to carefully dish up my plate after the last student gets sorted and the food appears, my thoughts turned to the hat's suggestions. It's nice to know that I won't have to worry about anyone stopping me before I've snowballed my momentum, so long as I can keep just under the radar for long enough.

And rituals? Having initially discounted them and put them on the shelf for later consideration because from what I recall of the books, Voldemort had used so many that he wasn't even recognizable as Tom Riddle anymore.

I had no d_e_s_i_r_e to disfigure myself, in fact quite the opposite. One of my early goals is to find some kind of potion to permanently increase how attractive I am to people. Not only to make me irresistible to the opposite s_e_x, but to boost my natural charisma and charm. Everything in life will be a lot easier if everyone I come across thinks of me as their best friend after all.

But the hat raised a valid point when one really thinks about it.

One of the darkest rituals I know about is the creation of a horcrux. But Tom made one when he was still a student in Hogwarts and managed to complete his last few years just fine with no one the wiser. He even made Head Boy from what I recall.

He still had plenty of charisma by all accounts, and if that's the case then it must have been something else he had done after Hogwarts. Something he must have held off doing until after he was turned down for the position of Defense Professor.

Either way there's plenty of time to research everything I need to know. What empowering rituals will stack with others for a c_u_mulative effect. What requirements do I need to fulfill. Any potential side effects.

I should probably see about acquiring a time turner at this rate. There clearly aren't enough hours in the day. Maybe there will be information on making my own?

The feast was delicious and I enjoyed my shepherd's pie, green beans, and boiled potatoes. I had to pass on the pumpkin juice as it tastes like actual pumpkin. I honestly don't know what I was expecting. What I do know is that, while I normally don't have a problem with pumpkin pie, I do have a problem with drinking it.

Luckily there are other options at the table such as milk, tea, and water. I take an unhealthy delight in being the picture perfect of pureblood politeness when I ask Narcissa to pass me the pitcher of water, minding all my p's and q's. And she has to acquiesce because of her upbringing.

I'm not sure but I think I hear her teeth grinding. She seems to be in physical pain to have to be polite to what she sees as a lowly halfblood. Though now that I think about it I'm not sure anyone's blood status came up in conversation on the boat ride. Perhaps she just made an assumption because none of us where in her circle of friends.

After the feast Headmaster Dumbledore stands to give us a few announcements. Introducing this year's new Defense Professor who has no idea they won't be here next year. Apparently everyone still thinks it's just a coincidence and not a curse on the position.

Dumbledore continues on to tell us a list of banned items can be found on the office door to Argus Filch, as if any of us would actually bother. And he wraps it up with a final warning not to go into the Forbidden Forest.

After having us sing the school song us first years are instructed to wait for our prefects to show us to our common room. The reason we are the last to leave is made obvious as not only the Gryffindor table, but the Hufflepuff as well, stampede in a mad dash to get to their respective dorms from the word go.

After the initial rush of half the students, Ravenclaw table and our own calmly and collectedly make our way out at a leisurely pace.

Going steadily further down in the dungeons the prefects point out landmarks to us along the way such as suits of armor and paintings. The reasoning becomes clear as we stop in front of a perfectly blank stone wall with no distinguishing features.

Turning around the male fifth year student addresses us. ”This wall behind me is the hidden entrance to our common room. Try to remember where it is, don't tell anyone outside of our house where the entrance is. And make sure you check the posting board every day before leaving to make sure you have the latest password. We change it every week, but sometimes randomly as well. If you forget the password your stuck out here until either someone else comes along, or someone leaves.”

The woman who had been silent so far finally speaks up in a severe tone. ”If you happen to be locked out after curfew you'll have to suck it up and get professor Slughorn, our head of house. His office is behind the portrait of the witch playing a harp that we passed on the way here.” She says, pointing in the general direction before continuing.

”If that happens you'll likely be punished with detention, but that's better than getting caught by other prefects or, Merlin forbid, the caretaker.” She shudders in disgust and I can't help wonder if it's because of his unwashed appearance, caustic demeanor, or just because he's a squib.

They turn around and give the password, pureblood, and shepherded all of us first years inside after the stones moved apart, much like the entrance to Diagon Alley.

Once inside I can't help but let out a small smile at how impressive it really is. There are huge, green tinted windows that show the room we are in is submerged at looks directly into the depths of the black lake.

I'm not the only one dazzled by the display as there are gasps of ooh's and ahh's from almost all of us first years.

There is a smug knowing look from the prefects as the woman speaks up again. ”That's right, our common room has the best view in the castle. Occasionally you might even see the giant squid swim by, or other more… interesting creatures.” She finishes off.

”The girls dorms are to your left and the boys dorms are to your right. Boys aren't allowed in the girls dorms and they are heavily warded to prevent entry. No matter how far you manage to get in there is a load alarm that will sound off because of the attempt so don't try it.

All of you have your own individual room for privacy, you'll know yours by the plaque with your name on it, and a communal bathroom for your year to share. The rooms are sparsely furnished with just a bed and a desk. Your meant to learn how to use magic here and the proof will be in how elaborate and decorated you can make your room.” The male prefect took up explaining for us.

The woman begins talking again. ”The two of us will meet you here in the common room promptly at seven in the morning to escort you to breakfast and your first classes of the day. We expect you to be up, presentable, and ready by then. We have our reputation of this noble house to uphold after all. Good night.” She finishes in a clear dismissal for us to go to bed.

I silently make my way with the other first year boys and find my room without issue. And it is just as advertised of being medium size, a simple bed, and a desk pushed up against the wall with a standard wooden chair and no window. The only light source being a ceiling lamp that can turn off or on by voice command.

Checking to make sure my trunk at the foot of the bed has been untampered with, not that there was much to bother with in their at the moment besides the standard set of school supplies.

I pull out a fresh set of the Hogwarts uniform and lay it out on top of my trunk for tomorrow. Pulling off my clothes and folding them neatly and setting them on the desk I wonder what the protocol is for the house elves to clean them.

With that thought I slip into bed thinking about how one might go about obtaining a house elf. Dead useful they are, but something I won't worry about it until I go home for the summer.

I can't wait for classes tomorrow. Or more accurately to go exploring for certain things after classes are over.

A/N: I want to personally thank you all for taking the time to read my first attempt at writing fan fiction. I've been a long time reader and I felt it was finally time for me to try my hand at writing. A few more things I would like to say is that this is inspired by various other self-insert stories that I'd read and enjoyed. I'll admit, I'm not actually a fan of Snape. In fact I would sooner read a bashing fic than one that has Severus in a father/mentor/love interest role. And that's why I went with making him a self insert OC. Also I don't think I've ever seen one where Snape is in the main character role and will have a harem of women.

Any way, I'm writing this story because like many others in my position, I've read so much that it seems like there are no more stories that I'm interested in reading that I haven't already. Also I am now far more aware of what a plot bunny that won't leave you alone feels like. I have a new respect for all writers now, especially when it comes to writing a scene or section you just aren't interested in, but have to include to advance the plot.

Once again, thank all, from the bottom of my heart for making it this far and I hope to see you again for the next chapter. Any reviews/favorites/follows are appreciated.