Chapter Text
Hogwarts Castle - Potions Classroom Snape's POV
Sitting in my lab, I pinched my nose as if that would somehow delay the insufferable brats arriving in less than month’s time. They always made a mess of my classroom and most never respect potions as the noble discipline it is. As I was mulling over the best way to intimidate the first years, a knock drew my attention. Before I could get up or respond, Minerva walked in the barren lab, a grim look bearing her features.
“Dreading the arrival of Quirrell's replacement or the new lot of students you’ll have to address come September first Minie?'' I jabbed light-heartedly, before realising that this must be more serious.
Minerva had immediately begun placing more wards on the door. Feeling the magic of the elder witch I realised there were also heavy duty neutral silencing spells, but only the ones Light Magic couldn’t dismantle. This did not bode well, as Minerva never used those spells unless it was important.
“Severus I know we were meant to have a cuppa and do our usual chess match later this evening but I swear the day I’m able to take over as Headmistress will be the day the Wizarding World actually sees change.” She began, voice clearly exhausted and strained, all while silently transfiguring one of the stools to be a much more comfortable chair.
It was very rare to see the usually collected professor like this, but right now reminded me of why she was a lion. Her emotions showed her to be disgusted, upset, essentially at her wits end, and the only reason I could think of was the old cot of a headmaster. But surely it was something else.
“Care to elaborate? And good thing I’ve grown to store some whiskey in my classroom.” I commented, summoning the amber liquid and pouring us both two fingers worth. Seeing Minerva down it in one shot, I visibly winced. In all the years I’ve taught at Hogwarts, not once have I seen the Scotswoman treat whiskey with such disrespect.
“Severus, if you were to raise concern with me about a student’s address, you know I’d flag it with the ministry? Well, you also know that something must be wrong if even Hagrid picked up that a kid isn’t being treated the best?” Minerva asked, waiting for my nods at each applicable moment, before continuing. If even Hagrid thought something was up, this could not be good. The man, while good at his jobs, was incredibly dense when it comes to mistreatment of students.
“Apparently Albus doesn’t. Apparently Albus thinks Hagrid and I are just paranoid !” She exclaimed loudly, making me wonder where this was going. “I told Albus, warned him a dozen times the day of and since. And yet today after Hagrid got back, he said I was quite right.” I stopped her here by putting a hand up.
“Minerva, what are you talking about? I understand your frustrations, but please just cut to the chase.” I asked delicately, but also with the clear point that I wanted facts. I didn’t want to have lioness beat me to death after all.
“Albus sent Hagrid to escort Harry Potter to Diagon. Okay fine, whatever Albus. Not like I haven't taken countless students before but we’ll let that slide. Now imagine Hagrid coming up to me, looking defeated and crying that I was right?” She was getting quite worked up and boisterous now, and I was now grateful Minerva at least used the brains she had to cast some decent privacy wards.
“Imagine my surprise,” she continued, fumbling with her whiskey glass now staring at it as if breaking it would fix everything. “Imagine my surprise to find Hagrid agreeing with me about Harry staying at the Dursleys. That they were unfit caregivers for Harry. That Hagrid had even gone to Dumbledore the second he got back and asked if there wasn’t anyone else to take the boy? Only to have Albus ramble about his bloody Blood wards-” I held my hand up again, seeing as she was about to go on a rant. I had heard enough and was ready to sock the headmaster in the mouth.
“You’re telling me he wasn’t kidding when he said Harry would be at the Dursleys'? You’re telling me that buffoon actually let a magical child live there? Let alone the supposed saviour of our world?” I asked, not really wanting to believe it and honestly - fuck Albus. After everything both Minie and I had warned the man about- although how could he be so surprised? The only reason the man wasn’t a Slytherin is because, while cunning, there are times like this where he falls not just short of the stick, but misses the mark by the size of the Hogwarts lake.
Minerva only nodded, and I downed the rest of the fire whiskey I had poured myself. “So, he actually let Harry stay there. What was wrong with his address? Did you flag it?” I asked, pouring us both more and also silently sending a request to my house elf for tea and biscuits.
I decided to start there, I’d have to question Hagrid later on about what he saw that made even him admit that Harry wasn’t in the best care.
“Thank you Severus, and of course I flagged it with ministry the second I saw his letter.” She pulled a few envelopes out, showing them all to me and I was shocked that a couple seemed normal. “Hagrid said Harry mentioned ever since the second letter had basically been flooded into the house, the Dursleys basically began running from them.” She scoffed, and as I read the last one I honestly sympathised with Minerva. I looked back at the first one and could see her concerns. The first was addressed to a Mr. H Potter with the bedroom being a cupboard under the stairs. The last stated The Floor for the bedroom section.
I went back to pinching my nose, letting the letters fall to my desk. This was not good - at all. How Albus didn’t seem concerned already was beyond me. Mind I didn’t like the boy’s dad, but Albus was surely lying now about the boy being pampered.
“Minerva, what do you propose? We can’t do much until he gets here, but I assume you have a plan of some kind?” I asked gently, my house-elf Anatos popping in now with the requested tea and biscuits.
“Keep an eye on him. I’m not as skilled as you are at picking up subtle cues to a child being mistreated. I’ll try to get Poppy to do a check over him when she can, I’m hoping for just this once this is me being paranoid. We’ll reconvene before Christmas and come up with a further plan from there. Who knows what may need to be done for him.” Minerva stated, a sad look on her face. I came around to rest on the front of my desk.
My sleeves were rolled so I knew Minerva would see my mark pulsing. “We also have to consider what is going to happen with all those trials Albus is having us prepare. My mark pulses more with each day so I expect that we will also be seeing the Dark Lord this year. And here I was hoping for a peaceful year!” I joked as lightly as I could. Minerva just sipped the tea Anatos had provided with a grimace on her face.
“I wish we didn’t have to wait until school started to help.” Minerva muttered and I couldn’t agree more. It sucks having laws stating you can’t help a kid until they are legally in your care. It didn’t help that a student’s Head of House was solely responsible for seeking help from a student, since we acted as Pseudo-parents during their time on Hogwarts ground.
“I know Minerva, trust me I do too. I’ll update you if anything else comes up. I’m on platform duty this year.” I reminded her, feeling her magic calm a little. Platform duty was something we started after it was discovered a few students had essentially been dumped over the years. It was rare that anything came up, but it kept all of us a little bit calmer knowing someone would be able to help the kids. She left my classroom with a small smile and a promise to come down after dinner to my quarters for our weekly chess match. That woman truly cares and will make a fine Headmistress - she’ll outlive the old man after all and probably the rest of us.
I double checked all my needed curricular notes, and satisfied, I left to go to the kitchens. I never could be bother to show my face in the great hall during the summer. Always seemed rather pointless when staff had perfectly good quarters and a staff room to use. Distracted as I headed towards the kitchens, I almost collided with someone.
That someone was with the Headmaster and I was quite taken aback. They looked suspiciously like an old friend of mine from my youth. But that can’t be right, that friend disappeared years ago.
“Severus, my boy - are you listening?” Albus asked as I shook my head, recoiling myself from my thoughts.
“Sorry Albus, I was distracted in getting to the kitchens.”
“That’s quite alright my boy. Thomas, this is Severus Snape, our resident Potions professor and Brewer.” I waved when I was introduced waiting for Albus to give me information on this ‘Thomas’ character. It was surprising to me when he outstretched his hand.
“Thomas Landy Slytherin, taking over the Defence Position on behalf of Professor Quirrell. Most people call me Tom. You must be the Head of Slytherin House as well?” He announced, with a sweet smile that very much proved his last name. I shook his hand and found myself speaking before I was even aware of it.
“I wasn’t aware someone eligible had found or claimed anything from the Slytherin lines? And yes, I am the Head of Slytherin.” I questioned, letting go of his hand finally and not at all surprised by the etiquette this young man was showing. He looked the part of Lord Slytherin, with his black hair perfectly arranged, hands manicured perfectly.
“I had better get going, I’ll be sure to owl later to discuss the house.” The man finished and I hadn’t heard a word of what was said prior. Nodding, I let them continue the tour, knowing tomorrow the man would make a case for why he’d be the better replacement.
Why Albus never bothered asking me to Defence The Dark Arts is beyond me. There are potion masters just as skilled as I. I can’t complain however, since he did give me a job after the war and everything.
Before I knew it was already being told Anatos was handling my dinner by the head kitchen elf and sent back to my quarters. I was heavily distracted by the new Professor, and this didn’t happen normally. He was incredibly handsome however, looking strikingly like my lost friend. He said he’d owl later to ‘discuss the house’. Whatever that may mean. And my mark has began to pulse more since the encounter. I hadn't had the proper chance to look at his face or body but his voiced sounded smooth like honey, and his hands were rough in the way you expected a trained duellist's to be. I sighed to myself, pinching the bridge of my nose for the third time today.
People normally don't captivate my attention like this but for some reason this new Professor has let to leave my mind. What are you going to do about this Severus?
Soon I heard Minerva knock and decided to just use my Occlumency skills to block out any thoughts of the new Professor. I have yet to beat Minerva at Wizard’s Chess and it’s certainly not going to happen while I’m distracted by a captivating smile.
Merlin hopes Minerva doesn’t catch on - she will tease me until the students arrive.