Harry Potter and the Return of the Dead
By Slytherin4ever
Warning: There will be sexual content between two males in later chapters.
Other: This story takes place after the war with the Dark Lord. Dumbledore and Snape are both alive. The Headmaster faked his own death to make Voldemort over confident and assisted Harry, Hermione, and Ron with finding the Horcruxes in their seventh year. During the final battle, Dumbledore revealed himself and Snape switched sides, showing his true loyalties. Voldemort sent Nagini after the professor for betraying him, but Neville Longbottom killed her before she had the chance to find him.
It was a cool day in Scotland. The leaves were turning bright colors of red, yellow, and light purple, reminding many at Hogwarts of the Headmaster's eccentric taste in clothing, especially when they happened to see him outdoors. The sky was over cast, and Professor Trelawney had predicted snow by nightfall. One Harry Potter, savior of the Wizarding world, glanced up at the sky and thought that she might actually be right. His gaze moved from the clouds to look at the students around him who were having a fun time chasing each other, laughing, talking, and otherwise enjoying their weekend.
He wished he could say the same, but he had a ton of papers to grade and it would probably take him most of the time to finish. At least Hermione and Ron would be coming by later tonight to spend some quality time with him. They hardly had the time to see each other any more since Harry quit his job as an Auror and went back to Hogwarts to teach charms after Professor Flitwick retired to live a quiet life writing books about the charms that he had invented.
Many people, mainly the press, speculated that Harry quit being an Auror because he was going through what the muggles called, 'a mid life crisis', even though he was only thirty-one years of age. They expected that he would go back to keeping them safe when he finally tired of the quiet life. No one except Dumbledore, and of course Hermione and the Weaselys' knew the real reason he became a teacher.
Harry hurried pass the students in the court yard and into the warmth of the castle.
He spied Professors' Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Snape walking together, talking in heated whispers. He was about to make a quick u-turn so he wouldn't have to face Snape when the Headmaster spotted him and called out in a cheerful voice. Harry hid a grimace and smiled warmly at the bearded man, and greeted his old Head of House, Minerva, affectionately. For Snape he gave a stiff nod, who sneered in reply.
The moment Harry had stepped foot in the school as a teacher, the dark man had made his displeasure known. They avoided each other at all costs and only spoke when they had to. It was a very strained relationship, but it was better than getting into fights or hexing each other.
"Harry, my boy!" Dumbledore exclaimed after the niceties were over. "Perhaps you would pop over to my office for tea after supper?" he waited expectantly.
"Of course Headmaster," Harry agreed politely, wondering what it was Dumbledore wanted. Usually when he asked someone to come for tea, he had something important he wished to talk about. So long as he didn't tell Harry that Voldemort was coming back, it couldn't be too dreadful. He almost chuckled at the thought but managed to maintain a blank face.
"Severus will be joining us as well," Dumbledore added as an after thought. The sudden jerk of the Potion Master's shoulders told Harry that the news came as a surprise. Snape glared at Harry with loathing before replying to their colleague.
"I thank you for the invitation Headmater; however, I have some potions that need brewing. They are important and must be delivered in a week."
Dumbledore waved away the words. "It won't be long, I promise you. You'll still have plenty of time to brew the potions later on tonight. After all, it is Harry's turn to patrol the halls so that will be one less job for you." Snape scowled, but didn't dare argue with the old man further. Whatever Dumbledor wanted, he usually got, and there was that insistent twinkle in his eyes again.
Suddenly Harry was very wary of what their discussion would be that night.
"I have some papers to grade so I will see you all in the Great Hall this evening." He was about to take his leave when he remembered something important. "Wait! Our meeting won't take long will it? Hermione and Ron are coming for a visit this evening."
"No, I imagine it won't take long." If it were possible, Dumbledore's eyes twinkled even more. "If I don't get to see Mr. and Mrs. Weasely before they leave, please say hello for me."
"I will," Harry promised. He brushed passed Snape and continued walking down the corridor until he came to his private rooms. He whispered the password, which was in parseltongue, and the door slid open easily.
After making himself a cup of tea, he sat beside the fireplace to grade the essays he had given out earlier to his students. He was heartened that most of them got a passing grade. Only one received a T and two were given P's. He would have to remember to leave them a note, asking if they needed any assistance.
The old muggle grandfather clock in the corner chimed that it was time for supper.
Harry put aside the essays and drew on his outer robe before confidently making his way to the Grand Hall. A few students smiled in his direction and murmered a greeting. He nodded politely to them. In spite of his best efforts to walk fast, he was still a few minutes late and the only seat available was next to the Potion Master. He cringed, already anticipating a fight, and sat down slowly; moving his chair farther away from the ill tempered man.
Thankfully, Snape merely glared at him before turning his attention to Dumbledore as he made an announcement that the ban on third years and up going to Hogsmeade during the weekends were lifted. A cheer rose up in the hall that was nearly deafening and the Headmaster went on to say other things, but Harry barely paid attention as he let his mind drift to other things. He was only aroused when he sensed Snape moving next to him and realized that everyone had started eating.
He ate in silence, only occasionally responding when someone asked him a question. Harry was glad that didn't happen too often as he had to lean forward to get a good look at the person and, consequently, came closer to the Potions Master; who stiffened, hardly daring to breath until Harry had safely moved away. There were times when the man really got on his nerves. Harry wanted to shout at him or ask what his problem was, but figured Snape would start insulting his father or Sirius. It was really all his fault that supper was such an awkward affair. He should have paid better attention to the time and set out earlier to ensure that he didn't get a seat next to the dreadful man.
Finally, the meal was over and Harry followed Dumbledore out of the hall, toward his office. Snape passed him and walked by the Headmaster's side, leaving Harry to trail behind them. Once they were all seated, the elderly wizard offered them tea and lemon drops.
Both declined.
Dumbledore then started to talk about trivial things such as the latest pranks done by the students. He had high hopes for the newest batch of Weasely's, especially Ron and Hermione's twins; Ronny and Fred. Harry fidgeted in his chair, wondering when the Headmaster would get to the point while Snape glared at the man.
It was the Potions Master who finally spoke first. "Headmaster, what is it you wished to talk to me and Potter about?"
The gleam left the old man's eyes, replacing itself with a seriousness that Harry had only witnessed a few times during the war with Voldemort. "Ah yes." Dumbledore hesitated for a moment and a feeling of dread stole over Harry. "I understand that there may be some animosity between you two, but you are both teachers and colleagues, so I expect you both to get along. This-this barely talking to each other is tolerable, but Professor McGonagall tells me she had to break up a fight between you two last week that nearly came to blows or at least some hexes started to fly as I understand it. You are an example to the children that attend this school and we must act accordingly."
Harry could feel himself deflating as he remembered that fight. He had lost control of himself. He had a vague memory of a class of Gryffindors and Slytherins hanging about. Any number of the hexes he had sent Snape's way could have hit one of them. It had been very irresponsible of him.
"I am sorry Headmaster," Harry apologized while Snape merely wore his poker face.
Dumbledore smiled, his eyes crinkling in amusement. "It's all right Harry. I expect this will never happen again," his gaze swept over to Snape to include him. The Potions Master inclined his head. "It would be nice if you two could-well, if not be friends, than at least be on friendly terms."
Both men stiffened at the thought.
Harry had forgiven Snape for everything he had done. Well, mostly. Especially when he found out that the whole Dumbledore-death-scene had been an elaborate ruse between them to fool Voldemort and secure Snape's position as a loyal Death Eater, but there was still the thing about his parents that neither of them had been able to let go. He knew the only way he could get out of the office and to his rooms to prepare for his guests was to agree.
"All right," he said while Snape gave away nothing in his expression. It wasn't until the Headmaster looked at him that he gave a curt nod.
He smiled fondly at them again. "Very well. You may go Harry. Severus, I have some other business to discuss with you."
After saying a polite goodbye, Harry hurried out of the office. He cast a Tempus spell to see how much time he had before Ron and Hermione came over. Seven minutes. That should be enough time to put the kettle on if he ran all the way back to his rooms.
"Severus," Dumbledore began and the Potions Master cut him off.
"No, Albus. I will not."
"Must you always be so stubborn?" there was no affection behind the words, instead it was filled with frustration and impatience.
"I am not being stubborn," Severus insisted. "I just do not see any bloody sense in making myself go through the pain of rejection."
"You do not know that he will reject you."
Severus stared at the Headmaster as if he had grown three heads. In Harry Potter's seventh year, or at least it would have been his seventh year if he hadn't spent it with Weasley and Granger hunting for Horcruxes, Severus had developed an attraction to the young man.
When he first discovered it he had been horrified. He still was horrified. How could he have an infatuation with the bloody Boy-Who-Lived? Harry Potter, offspring of James and Lily Potter. He had tried reminding himself that it was Lily he loved and had even managed to deceive himself for a time in believing that it was because of her, he found Potter so attractive. He was a clone of his father, yet he also looked like his mother.
When Potter had come back to Hogwarts after quitting his job as an Auror to take over as Charms professor, Severus had been furious. He didn't want the boy to be around to remind him of his unnatural attraction.
While being gay was acceptable in the Wizarding World, it was not something he had ever considered himself. He had always liked women or more importantly, only one woman. His feelings for Potter were confusing. He both loved and hated the boy. He had made the mistake of mentioning his attraction to Potter once to the Headmaster and since then, the old coot had been hounding him to make his feelings known.
Severus decided to give Dumbledore a safe answer to his statement. "May I remind you that Potter and the Weasely girl were together before the end of the war and planned to marry soon after? They would be married by now if Miss Weasely hadn't died in the final battle." The older man's eyes clouded as it often did when someone mentioned that last battle between the light and dark. Snape pressed on. "Clearly, Potter is not gay and nor am I."
The familiar twinkle was back and he contemplated mentioning the war again. "Of course not, Severus." Snape gritted his teeth. "Very well. If you insist on not pursuing these feelings-"
"I do," he interrupted and Dumbledore's eyes twinkled even more, if that were possible.
"Then, I see no reason why you can not at least be friends with the young man. He needs a friend like you."
"He has Mr. and Mrs. Weasely, he does not need me."
The old coot merely smiled again.
"Are we finished?" Severus asked dryly.
Dumbledore nodded. "You may go."
Severus stood and strode out of the office at a fast yet dignified pace. As soon as he was out of ear shot he snorted. Him and Potter friends? It was as laughable as them being together. He should never have told the meddlesome old man about his feelings. He wondered if it would be too much trouble to try and Obliviate him. Hmm, it was worth his time and thought to at least consider the possibility.
I do not like that Potter brat, he told himself firmly before marching to the dungeons where he could spend the rest of his evening brewing potions for the various people on his list.
A/N: I have this story all planned out and I suppose it can be considered an early chapter story for Halloween. Hope you all liked it. I'll post the next chapter as soon as I can.
