The Return of the Marauders
As Professor Dumbledore gave his speech, welcoming the students to a new year, Professor Snape listened as attentively and respectfully as always, trying with all his might to not be affected by the presence of the man sitting next to him. He, Snape, was doing a beautiful job, his face blank and free of the hatred that was currently eating him; but then Dumbledore turned to his direction, that is, Remus's, exclaiming joyfully, "I am pleased to Welcome Professor R. J. Lupin, who's kindly accepted the post of Defense Against The Dark Arts Teacher. Good luck Professor!"
The hall erupted into thunderous applause, Remus stood up with a humble and thankful expression on his face; Snape saw no alternate, everyone could see him, the hatred and resentment on his face, he slowly and briefly offered Lupin one applause.
A few people murmured things, mostly about Remus's shabby appearance for a Hogwarts teacher—which lifted Snape's spirits somewhat. A few Slytherins commented scathingly, making Snape proud. But the Potter boy… he was suspecting, no, no: he had realized Snape's feelings…
They will get along just fine, I imagine, Snape thought, fighting the impulse to clench his teeth, looking at Harry Potter, the spitting image of that vomiting, cowardly, little son of a…
Dumbledore was speaking, I should listen, Snape tried but Potter was discussing Remus with his friends, the Gryffindors, unlike Snape's Slytherins, thought very highly of the new teacher. Of course they would. He has still take fake, repulsive, kind, and sweet face that deceits his true nature…
Pay attention to Dumbledore! Oh he could not allow the old Marauder take his focus. He shouldn't give him any importance. The Headmaster was warning the students about Dementors now. Snape had to fight his eyes to not turn to see Harry. The boy had fainted, he could not—though he tried—blame him.
What horrible sight did Potter see? What did the Dementors bring him? Could he have seen…what Snape also fears the most? That awful memory. That awful night she…
No. He thought about her every day of his life, but not at any moment. He couldn't afford such thing. He had to pick his moments to allow her memory to consume him. He'd break down if he even thought of her…
Coughing awkwardly, as if to hide his thoughts, Snape grabbed a glass of wine, brought it to his thin lips, hoping it would help calm him down, but—
Without thinking, without being able of holding back, Snape spitted out the drink, slurring a curse and making a mess. All of the teachers turned immediately to see him, while the entire crowd of students exploded with laughter.
Fucking hell! What was that? The most nauseating taste he had not had in years…
"Severus?" Dumbledore asked with concern. "Are you all right?"
"Quiet, all of you!" McGonagall shouted.
Potter! Snape's memory came back to bite him. He had done it! The bastard had not changed in thirteen years—fuck. What was he thinking? The man was dead! He couldn't have done it.
"Severus?" Dumbledore insisted on getting his attention. He was probably worried about the deadly and sickly look he must've had… Snape remembered: that potion would make the face go half white, half green.
A surge of mad fury attacked Snape, even bitterer than the drink he had just tasted. The Gryffindor table was still contorting with laughs, despite Minerva's constants Shut up's.
Potter! Snape thought, now looking at the kid with the lightning scar. But no, though he and Wesley were still roaring amused, while the Granger girl warned them to shut it, he couldn't have done it…
"I don't think it's poison, thank God," a soft voice said next to Snape. He turned his head, almost in slow-motion, to see Remus inspecting the glass Snape had dropped.
"You…" Snape muttered slowly, staring at Remus Lupin, his black eyes flashing all bottled years of rancor.
"Severus, you should go to the hospital wing," Professor Flitwick suggested.
"No…" Snape gasped, all of the sudden he remembered Potter's potion also made the tongue go dry. "I dow the countder curds!" he cried, his tongue now also very large. That's new…
"You know the counter curse?" Dumbledore asked, he looked less concerned and angrier now.
Snape nodded. He stood up, unwilling to take more of that humiliation, and made move to leave the hall.
None of the students, not even the first years or the Weasley twins dared laugh now. Not when Dumbledore's face looked so displeased.
Snape intended to make a graceful and dignified escape, but as he reached for the door, something came in the way. He couldn't have noticed in his hurry, the creature was so small and insignificant. Yet with the ability of making Snape lose all balance and fall harshly to the ground.
Again the students couldn't contain their amusement, even the Slytherin table was roaring loudly. The Malfoy boy was at first putting a hand on his mouth to prevent his laughter, in the end he threw his head back and tears almost sprung from his eyes.
Snape was livid.
He slowly stood up again, as he did, silence, of pure fear at him, invaded the hall.
He looked around at the floor, and saw what had made him stumble. It was a rat.
"Wingardium Leviosa," Snape said carefully and lifted the animal with his wand.
"Scabbers!" came the stupid voice of the youngest Weasley boy.
Snape turned a menacing and icy glare at the red-headed fool.
The Granger girl paled as if she was about to be punished. Potter shook his head and mouthed a Shut Up to his friend.
Snape walked to where the trio sat, feeling like he had to punish someone…
"Professor Snape," Remus Lupin actually had the nerve of talking to him!
"Dis 's ur anma?" Snape asked, his face close to Weasley.
"W—what?" the boy asked, stupidly.
Snape hit his head—not as hardly as he wished.
"Hey!" the Potter boy screamed, as angry as Snape felt. "It's not Ron's fault you can't watch your step!"
"Harry!" the Granger girl shrieked.
"Severus, please," the usually mellow voice of Dumbledore rang behind him. "Do not, you know I don't approve. What did the boy do, really? He shouldn't have let his pet on the loose, of course, but it does not account for such physical punishment!"
Snape merely nodded, his nostrils wide, and let the rat fall on Weasley's plate.
Dumbledore lifted the animal, dried him, and placed it in Ron's hands. "Better put him on a—safer place."
Weasley nodded, he stood up, seconds later Granger and Potter imitated him, and the trio fled from the scene.
Severus refused anyone's help. He refused to talk to anyone while his speech was so poor; and simply treated his ailment privately in his office.
When he was back to normal, he thought of the previous events, knowing that though they had James Potter written all over them, that was impossible. He wanted to blame Remus again but a part of him told him he was above such behavior—though the coward would certainly allow it.
But then he remembered, the thought reached and hit him like a wrecking ball; it was a thought every bit of scary as infuriating… Sirius Black has escaped Azkaban…
FOR THE RECORD: I do not find bullying amusing, but I always thought J. K. intended for the Marauders to be a Fred/George type pranksters. Of course things got later out of hand given James and Snape's rivalry. Don't worry, he'll get back at them.
Review please!