/Eleven years,/ Severus thought as he massaged his temples. /Has it really been eleven years?/
Where had all the time gone? It seemed like just yesterday he'd lost her... no, he wouldn't think about her today if he could help it. It was going to take every ounce of strength he had in order to get through today as it was...
/Her son is coming,/ he thought irritatedly, /worse yet, /his/ son... What did I do to deserve this torture?/
/Well let's see: you are single-handedly responsible for the death of the woman you love, you nearly got this boy killed as well, and let's face it you're not exactly the friendliest bloke on the face of the planet,/ Severus's mind argued back.
/Piss off,/ he thought as he rose unceremoniously from his desk.
He hated these damn ceremonies. Why so much pomp and circumstance over the start of another school year? Severus had witnessed more than his fair share in the course of his lifetime, and this one was going to be more gruesome and tortuous than ever. He'd done everything he could think of in order to avoid it, but alas, attendance was required of all Hogwarts staff. Grudgingly, he headed for his office door, making his way to the dining hall.
/Maybe if I'm lucky, this will be over quickly,/ he thought as he strode down the halls, his robes billowing out behind him like a demented bat.
/Good luck with that./