Heart of Glass

Author's Note:

When I decided to write this I wanted to see how quickly I could whip something out.  I indeed got this done very quickly, wrote the whole thing in a matter of a few hours.  However I found it to be a bit too thin and I had some of the most horrific spelling and grammar mistakes.  So I am going back through at a proper speed and cleaning this up, I will add a note to each chapter when I complete it and make a note that the story is finished on the title.

As this is my very first attempt at writing a fan fiction and the first writing attempt at all in over 8 years I would LOVE critiques and comments of any sort!

Thanks.

There were two faces to the Hogwarts School. The bustling, lively, and youthful face it wore when classes were in session and students filled the castle in winter. The other face the school currently wore was the soft, quiet, contemplative face when the students were gone.  Those who remained were left to rest and prepare for the next year.

Severus Snape, a professor and resident potions master was taking the time to do some unhindered research within the school library's restricted section. He had moved one of the small tables from the student area to the entry of the section. He waved his wand almost haphazardly at the books calling ancient dusty volumes off the shelves and onto the table. The old dusty volumes flew down like fat ducks and landed with white puffs on the makeshift desk.

Severus glanced at the pile he had formed and suddenly whipped his wand down, ceasing the parade of books. His face wore a soft scowl as he worked over the information he had uncovered in his mind. He bore that scowl a lot over the last few years. When Voldemort had been defeated he had allowed himself the relief of thinking the danger was finely over. Only to have Dumbledore pull him quietly aside the next day to tell him he had reason to believe Voldemort would return.

Snape frowned deeper; working under the guise of one of Voldemort's followers had been dangerous, nerve-wracking business. His wits and skills had kept him free from detection and alive but it had been more and more difficult to maintain the charade. He had done it all without complaint. For Dumbledore, for the school, and for his students, he risked his own life. He dearly loved to teach, as much to have a chance to mold young minds as to demonstrate his unique talents to an audience.

Not the most liked student at Hogwarts when he had attended, Snape had developed a great fondness and respect for his teachers. It had seemed only natural to pursue the career himself. Today however he was not preparing lessons for the next year, although he did make a mental note of a particularly difficult potion to try out on his secret star Hermione. Long graceful fingers waved at a quill, it stirred into a lively dance, jotting down the notes on the potion.  He then made additional notes for things to try as variations and a list of ingredients to get from the potions shop.  Though he could not show favor to a Gryffindor, lest he raise suspicions, he delighted in Hermione's skill at learning even his best techniques. Few came along who paid such close attention to his teachings.  He also delighted in watching her creativity at fixing the horrible mistakes of Neville, since he could then turn about and dash a few points off Gryffindor.

He turned back to his task at hand, letting the quill softly settle by his parchments.  He hadn't let anyone on to his plan or actions.  Not even Dumbledore knew this research was to find anything Dumbledore and the others could use against Voldemort. He wanted something to protect his beloved school, to keep the students and staff safe from harm. Deep down he wanted something to guard him from his most dangerous job as Dumbledore's agent.  Perhaps even to find something that would keep that insufferable Potter out of trouble.  He knew that when the school was first built the area around it had been overrun with dangerous beasts and such. The founders must have had some secret guards in place. A spell or charm or potion, something that helped them tame the area and keep the school safe. He had already found entries in one of the Hogwarts Histories, which gave him hope, and he was now trying to figure out how to unlock the secret.

Three books he had found in the days before had vague references to a "Guardian Glass". It was apparently some type of artifact that one of the founders had used to help secure the school. As he dug further he learned that the item had been hidden. What had not become clear yet was how it was used, why they stopped, and where it was. Forlorn piles of books began to form around Snape like tiny pillars. He stopped long enough to fetch tea from the kitchen to fend off the dust now and then. Otherwise he barely left his place in the abandoned library the whole day.  The quiet and cool of the great room was soothing to him.  As a stack wobbled beside him he would wag his wand in a scolding way and back to their places the books would fly.
Night stole the light from the empty room; Snape lit a few candles with a word and leaned back in his chair. He rubbed his tired eyes and stretched his neck. He rose with a soft groan and paced thrice around the table.  Fine lines of gray dust streaked his soft black robes.  His boots made a quiet heartbeat on the carpeted floor.  There was only one book left in the trail. Some sort of journal hidden in the stacks and it belonged to one of the founders. He waved his wand in the same bobbing dance as before and replaced the last of the book, saving aside the diary.  He used a few quiet words to guide the furniture back to its proper position; he rolled the scrolls and quill into a neat bundle that he tucked into an inner pocket of his robes.  The soft fabric whispered as he readjusted the garment onto his shoulders.  When the room was safely back to order he tucked the journal of Salazar Slytherin under his arm.

Snape left the library, whispering the candles dark behind him and making his way quietly to his room. A few of the school's specters watched him past like a fellow shade.  Mrs. Norris came around a corner and directly under one of his boots before she realized he was there.  He sneered at the cat as it yowled in shock and smirked slightly when she ran full tilt to find her master.  Alone in the castle, it was the only time he could relax, no one to sneak up behind him.  A familiar voice spoke his name from the other side of the great hall. Snape stiffened for a moment and mentally thanked his loose robes for hiding his jerk of surprise. His body still shook slightly; he rarely let himself be caught off guard these days so his familiar scowl touched his face as Dumbledore came into view.

"Finding new ways to make Neville miserable next semester?" Dumbledore was wearing the sly grin he reserved for a select few. Snape lightly tossed his head to clear the hair from his eyes. He kept his chuckle in check but he couldn't help the smirk that pulled at his lips. "I really don't have to expend any effort to make Neville miserable he manages to do that all on his own." He refrained from pointing out to the headmaster that he had a new path to Neville's undoing in his cloak.  Dumbledore clucked and lightly clasped Severus' shoulder and they both started towards the path out of the great hall. "I really shouldn't tease the boy but he does seem to have the worst time of life now and then." Severus only nodded, keeping his long stride in check to match the headmaster's.

"I was past the library twice today Severus, you seemed to be working awfully hard." Dumbledore felt his friend's shoulder tense slightly under his hand. Dumbledore carefully kept his gaze on the crown molding and said more gently, "I'm sure whatever you are doing is with the best of intentions, but it won't help any of us if you make yourself ill." Severus had a word of protest on his lips but Dumbledore continued. "My friend, you should at least attempt to sleep. Perhaps I could locate a draught that would help?" Severus shook his head. "Thank you Albus, I'm going to try an old book, I hear from some of the students they work wonders." He lifted the journal just enough for Albus to get a glimpse and then let it slip back into the folds of his robes.  A light sneer, one Albus recognized as Severus' peculiar humor, curled the corners of his thin mouth.

Albus laughed and gave him a friendly pat. "That they do, that they do. Right then, it's off to the covers myself." Albus parted from Severus' path as they passed the great stairs. Snape entered the hall that lead to the dungeons with a nod of his head. Dumbledore frowned after Snape slightly as he disappeared from view. "You push yourself to hard Severus, we are all in this together." Albus left the great hall and made his own way to his sleeping chamber.  As Severus left the headmaster's view he felt his body release the shiver of fear he had been holding.  He hated being startled and worse, it forced him to admit he had let his guard down; something he could not afford to do.