This is going to be a series of drabbley oneshots of events between Severus and Minerva, starting with Severus returning to Hogwarts as a professor right to the bitter end in Deathly Hallows. Some things will have my own little twist on them.
Please take time to review!
Disclaimer: I do not own anything in the Harry Potter universe.
A fine mist hung around Hogwarts castle the night that Severus Snape returned with a 'pop' as he apparated outside the school gates. It was dark, but the school shone like a beacon of hope, the illuminated windows shining through the gloom. Severus squinted through the bars of the the gates, letting go of the handle of his trunk as it bobbed in mid-air at his side, there was a figure making their way towards him, lantern swinging in their grasp. As they drew level with the gate, he was surprised to find the face of his former Transfiguration professor surveying him from the other side. He felt his chest tighten as he received a reproachful glare from the formidable woman. She had always been his favourite teacher at Hogwarts and to see such coldness in her gaze stung him greatly. He let his eyes drop from hers.
"Good evening Professor Snape." She said, by way of a greeting, but the tone wasn't exactly friendly. She hadn't forgiven him yet for taking the dark mark and he felt his heart sink.
"Good evening Professor." He managed, as she tapped the chains of the gate with her wand. He felt like a student again and focused his attention on watching the great chains snake away. He stepped back as the gates swung open, suddenly aware of the lack of space between the two of them.
"Where is Albus?" He ventured, he had been expecting him to meet him at the gates, not Professor McGonagall.
"Professor Dumbledore is a very busy man, he was called away urgently on business." She replied shortly, looking him over once, before turning to begin walking back up to the castle.
"Oh." Severus followed her briskly, his trunk, which was not very full, floated along behind them. He drew level with the Transfiguration mistress as she stomped along, avoiding looking in his direction.
"He'll be back for dinner though." She conceeded, shooting him a meaningful look. Minerva noted the hint of apprehension on his face. Did he expect me to welcome him back with open arms? she thought bitterly. Severus watched her as they trudged along, the glow from her lantern lit up her sharp features and he thought she looked tired. She caught him studying her.
"Do I have something on my face?" She asked harshly, feeling a twinge of guilt as he turned to gaze ahead once more, looking slightly embarrassed. It only lasted a fleeting moment though, before he fashioned his expression back into an unreadable mask.
"No." He sneered. "It's polite to look a person in the eye when they are speaking to you."
"I wasn't speaking." She retorted, somewhat childishly. Severus repressed an exasperated noise from escaping his throat.
"It's alright you know, you can say it ." He said silkily after another moment of silence. Professor McGonagall stopped walking abruptly and swivelled on her heel to face him.
"What?" She snapped, turning her searing gaze to meet his dark eyes, boring through her.
"That I was foolish, what I did was wrong, condemn my youthful ignorance and the acts that you see me as having been privy to." He said coldly, devoid of emotion.
"I..." She began, shocked by his forwardness. "You...what were you thinking?" She managed wearily. The wind whipped around them, making her shiver and as Severus's dark hair was blown off his face, she could see a haunted look in his eyes, laced deep with guilt and Minerva could feel some of her frostiness towards him thaw slightly.
"I was angry and disillusioned." He said regretfully, his face darkening. "But I realised the error of my ways before it was too late." He saw her searching his eyes, as if trying to catch him out.
"I didn't kill anyone, if that's what you're thinking." Drawing himself to his full height, he spun around quickly, robes billowing out behind him and commenced the journey again. Minerva jogged slightly to keep up with him, having been momentarily rooted to the spot.
They didn't speak again until they were inside the castle.
"Here are your quarters." Minerva said brusquely as they stood outside a portrait hole in the dungeons. "You'll have to discuss passwords and such with your portrait. There isn't much by way of furnishings left, Horace took a lot of things with him." She pressed her lips together tightly in disapproval, causing the corners of Severus's mouth to twitch.
"But I daresay you'll make it to your liking." She finished.
"Thank you professor." Snape nodded to her in a half bow as his trunk preceeded him into the room.
She surveyed him once more, this time noting how he didn't look much different from the skinny teenager she had taught not that long ago, except for those eyes. Eyes that had seen terrible things, that looked far older than they really should.
"I'll leave you to get settled in." She said in a rush and with that, she hurried back down the stone corridor. The young professor stood, watching her retreating figure in mild confusion. For some reason, he found himself wanting to call after her, but thought better of it.
After what seemed like an eternity, Severus finally took a deep breath and strode through the doors of the Great Hall. His apprehension at entering had been well deserved as he felt the atmosphere plummeting, he could literally feel the temperature change as he approached the long staff table, glancing up at the ceiling in which grey clouds swirled menacingly, matching the mood of the occupants no doubt.
He had thought he'd be frowned upon, feeling the eyes of his old teachers, turned colleagues boring into him as he moved through hall, his footsteps echoing eerily due to the lack of people as the students hadn't arrived yet. He had spent a long time pacing his new quarters mustering up the strength to come, he had almost chickened out and run back to his rooms on the way, but that was not Snape like and he would have disappointed Dumbledore if he had not shown up for his first meal at the school.
As he drew level at the table, he could see the various faces, mostly all displaying accusatory looks and glares. Curiously, Sybil Trelawny, still wearing those same enormous glasses he remembered from his time as a student, making her eyes appear bulbous, was looking quite anxious at his appearance in the hall. A sharp cough cut through the silence, making Sybil jump, and she was elbowed sharply by a female teacher who Severus did not recognise. As he continued, he found himself stopping at Minerva's seat, breath hitching in is throat as she softened her expression. He made to move on, but she grasped his wrist, forcing him to look at her once more.
"Give them…us some time Severus." she crooned. He felt his chest tighten again as she squeezed his hand slightly before releasing it. Nodding, he took a seat on the other side of Dumbledore, who was the only other person not looking at him disapprovingly. He stiffened slightly as he felt Albus pat him on the back in a fatherly gesture, but seeing that none of the rest of the staff were paying him anymore attention, he relaxed again.
As Dumbledore began addressing the rest of the staff about treating Severus with the right level of respect, he caught Minerva looking at him, but she quickly averted her gaze. He turned his attention to his goblet, hoping for some strong wine.