Title: A New Severus Snape

Rating: T (for now)

Pairing(s): Severus/Hermione (hopefully)

Warnings: Canon Divergence, Ron-bashing (but he totally deserves it)

Summary: During the Battle of Hogwarts, Voldemort casts a de-aging curse at Harry. His intention is to return Harry to his infancy, to the age when he survived the killing curse, and make that Avada Kedavra stick this time around. Snape gets in the way of the curse, though, which de-ages him seventeen years. Voldemort is eventually defeated, but Snape is stuck at age twenty. When Hermione and her friends come back to school in the fall to start their seventh year, they're surprised to find that Snape is still de-aged and still stuck at Hogwarts trying to find a cure.

Notes: For the "Too Many Cooks" challenge. HP Slash Luv and I are sharing a universe, alternating 100-800-word drabbles based on one-word prompts and each other's previous work. We aren't allowed to write anything that doesn't agree with the canon we've already established. We'll try to keep it up until we write ourselves into a corner.

To see HP Slash Luv's side of the story, start with her version of "A New Severus Snape" - www dot fanfiction dot net/s/9917683/1/

Severus Snape gaped. He knew it wasn't a flattering expression on his face, but there was no way to occlude his expression – not after seeing Voldemort just . . . deflate like that. He turned to look behind him, at The Boy Who Lived -

- who was gaping right back. As was Granger. They were both staring directly at him.

"What?"

Granger recovered first. "That spell he was aiming for Harry. And you blocked it."

Oh really? I didn't see. He suppressed his mental eye roll. "I did."

Her eyes flickered down over his form, then back up to his face. "It hit you."

Severus took mental stock. He didn't feel any different – he assumed the spell had bounced off his shield –

Potter finally regained his voice. "You're not old anymore!" He immediately blushed. "I mean, that must have been a de-aging spell – you look the same age I am."

Severus ran a hand over his face – and was surprised to find that it did, indeed, feel strange. His skin was smoother. His hair even felt different – same length, but different texture. Could it really . . .

His mind raced ahead, even as he sought to explain. "The Dark Lord said he had a 'surprise' for you, Mr. Potter – I wonder if this was it. A de-aging spell . . . it would solve . . ."

They both watched him with identical uncomprehending faces.

And then the explanation clicked into place. "He was trying to fix the mistake he made seventeen years ago, I assume. If he could revert your age to a infancy, the same age you were when you survived the killing curse, it would be . . . poetic justice, I suppose? Possibly also some magical repercussions."

Potter frowned. "But he hit you instead."

"Apparently."

Granger stepped forward, reached up to touch his face, but reconsidered when she saw his expression. "So you're -"

"Around twenty, I should say. For the time being." He fixed them both with his best glare. "Do not make the mistake of assuming anything by it, I warn you. Shall we go tell the rest of the Order the good news?"

"That you're young again?" Merlin, the Potter boy was an idiot.

Granger smacked her friend. "That Voldemort is dead, you twit."

"Oh. Yeah, let's."