UPDATED 7/30/16

He could sense eyes upon him as he paced the hallway. But whose? A spy for the Dark Lord? McGonagall in her cat form, prowling the castle looking for students out late? One of the Order, intent on finding out if he'd betray Dumbledore? Or the Potter brat, out for stroll in that invisibility cloak that he thought no one knew about?

It didn't really matter. Severus Snape wasn't doing anything devious. He was simply having a bout of insomnia and couldn't sleep. So he paced the immense hallways of Hogwarts until he was exhausted. Though he was the highest ranked Potions master of his generation (in fact, of several generations), he disliked taking them to fall asleep. Though he admittedly didn't mind taking a Dreamless Draught occasionally. After all, not many had the nightmares he did after spending years in the Dark Lord's service.

He glanced at his mark and scowled. How he hated the damned thing. A constant reminder of pain, humiliation, and loss. A constant reminder of her. His Lily. As if looking into her eyes in the face of her son every day wasn't reminder enough. Harry and his friends, who he often heard referred to as the Golden Trio, had gotten on his nerves earlier this evening jabbering about some plan they'd hatched that would most likely end up in danger and they'd overcome it. And be awarded more house points. Again. And his Slytherins were so close to winning this year.

His thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a Patronus of a Phoenix rushing at him. In Dumbledore's voice, he was asked to come to the Headmaster's study. He sighed, wondering what task he was to be set now. He trudged slowly towards the office, giving the gargoyle the password: Lemon Drops. The gargoyle suddenly moved and stairs leading up to the headmaster's study were revealed. He walked steadily up the steps and saw Dumbledore sitting at his desk, eyes glazed as if he was looking very far, far away. Severus wondered what captured Albus's mind so deeply.

Severus cleared his throat, startling Albus, who blinked rapidly. "Ahh, Severus, thank you for coming so quickly. I received an owl from the ministry, it seems we're getting a new student."

"Awfully strange, coming after start of term, isn't it?" Snape asked, taking a chair across from Albus.

"Seems that she's a eighteen, transfer student, 7th year, coming from the states. Her father's some kind of wizard ambassador who just got sent here. Her father wanted her put into the best school and pulled some strings at the Ministry and she was placed in Hogwart's. We'll have a special announcement at dinner tomorrow and she'll be Sorted. From what I've seen of her transcripts, she's brilliant, Severus, especially in Potions." Albus smiled at this.

Severus snorted. Brilliant, by American standards, was probably by no means brilliant here, he thought, though he didn't voice his opinion. "What's the girl's name, then?" he asked Dumbledore.

"Her name is Allyna Wilson. Severus, I asked you here because I wished to ask you to be the one to meet Miss Wilson at the train. I'm asking you to be her mentor. She will need you, Severus. I'm told her use of magic is very…different. You, of all people, remember what it's like being different and brilliant at Hogwarts, don't you? Being so very different from everyone else could result in a very grave misunderstanding between Miss Wilson and other students, students who are used to the more traditional forms of magic."

Severus nodded. He knew quite well how being different and using magic in an unusual way could result in the new student being stigmatized. "Very well, Headmaster. I will do my duty and prepare Miss Wilson for her duration at Hogwarts." With that he rose stiffly. Though he was only thirty-eight, he felt much older, his body having gone through much pain and damage in the last twenty-two years of service under the Dark Lord. "I have your permission to go, Headmaster?" he asked, his voice monotone, dead.

Albus sighed. He hated giving Severus these duties to contend with, but he knew in his heart that Severus Snape was the right man for this job. "Rest well, Severus." And with that, Severus strode from the study, down the stairs and out into the hallways once again.

Severus spent several minutes railing internally at how Albus had railroaded him into accepting this farce of a mentorship. This girl was probably a smart-ass, or a know-it-all like Hermione Granger. And she probably could barely brew a decent, simple headache relief potion without exploding a cauldron. Merlin, she was probably another Neville Longbottom, who had proven time and time again what a dunderhead he was when it came to potions.

Severus just sighed and wandered back to his quarters. He was going to need some sleep to put up with the hassle of playing nursemaid to Miss Allyna Wilson. Tomorrow was going to be one hell of a day.