Hello readers! Before you read I would just like for you to all know that this is not my story! A user under the name 1les93 was looking for authors to write out their stories, and I offered to do so. Everything you read is based off of 1les93's own original ideas, the only thing I'm doing is making it come to life. So if you want to compliment anyone on the plot line got to 1les93. I hope you enjoy this chapter and if you do, please feed my writing addiction by leaving a review.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or this story. I just type stuff out.
It took less than a year to rebuild Hogwarts after the battle that nearly crumbled it all the way down to its very foundation, and if the events of that battle weren't completely scarred into his brain, Severus Snape would have had a hard time believing that it happened in the first place. The legendary castle looked exactly the way it had before the battle, and it seemed to stand taller and prouder than ever. It was his idea to come back to teach at the school- living in a world where Voldemort didn't exist and where he didn't have to play spy anymore was harder than he thought it would be. The nightmares, paranoia, and the memories were suffocating him, and he didn't know if it was possible to make it go away. Severus rubbed at the raised scars around his neck where Nagini struck him, it was a constant reminder that everything that happened to him was real, and he wasn't allowed to forget it.
Being out in public made things worse, as the world found out as his position as spy for the Order of the Phoenix they dubbed him a hero. Thankfully most of the attention remained fixed on the golden trio and the brave kids that made up Dumbledore's army, but people still approached him on the street and bombarded him with questions. They asked how he managed to keep his secrets from Voldemort for as long as he did, or why he reportedly treated Harry Potter poorly when he loved his mother, Lily Potter. They asked him what Voldemort made him do. It was too much.
Now looking up at the castle without a single witch, wizard, or news reporter in sight, Severus felt at peace. As he approached the castle, it's doors opened wide as if to welcome him, and he was greeted by the smiling face of headmaster McGonagall. She had her hands clasped together in front of her and her eyes shimmered with emotion, the last time Severus saw the woman he told her that he would never come back, and as he approached her he felt guilt bite at him
"Welcome back Severus." She said calmly, Severus nodded in response, unsure of what to say.
As she guided him through the halls of the castle she pointed out subtle differences made in the castle. The great hall was exactly the same except for the golden owl podium that headmaster Dumbledore used to speak from. That was now in the shape of a phoenix. The dungeons were completely changed, wide windows filtered in massive amounts of light, and the view of the black lake was extraordinary.
"I have to thank you for coming back Severus, many parents feel more comfortable with a hero amongst the staff. Also I was starting to think that we wouldn't have a potions professor to teach the students next month, so you saved me from worrying about that." She commented, her eyebrow quirked playfully at him when he rolled his eyes.
"Hero doesn't seem like the proper term." Severus grumbled. To him titles like spy and murderer seemed more suiting than "hero".
"Harry thinks that you're a hero."
"Mr. Potter is too young to see that he is greatly mistaken, he will see that when the world around him quiets down enough for him to think straight." Minerva fell quiet at that and pressed her lips in a thin line of disapproval, she halted in the middle of a corridor and tapped her fingers against a cherry wood door, a golden plaque above it read "Professor Snape".
"Your classroom hasn't changed much, we managed to salvage most of it and we added a few upgrades. The living quarters are still located in the downstairs portion of the classroom, we even added that private library you wanted." She paused and placed her hands on her hips, she squinted her eyes at the dark cherry wood door in front of her as if silently assessing her work. "Let me know if you need anything."
"Thank you, Minerva." The old witch nodded her head in acknowledgment and turned to leave. Severus sucked in a breath and pushed the door to his potions classroom open.
Familiar air hugged around Severus as he ventured into the room- everything from the way the desks were set up, to the stubborn layer of dust that coated every surface in the room, was exactly how he left it. Extra area for labs was added off to the far right of the room, and all the materials looked as if they had just been purchased hours ago. The room reacted to his mood and the candles on the walls grew dim with small green flames. A large chalkboard was situated at the front of the room and a walnut desk with a large leather chair was positioned next to it, Severus suspected that he would be grading a lot of potions material at that desk. The thought of being a hero to young students crossed his mind as he looked around the shinning new-old classroom, and the only thing he could think of was how much more effort he would have to put into making them scared of him. A grin found its way to his face, hero or not, he still had a scary teacher reputation to uphold. After one last glance around the room Severus retreated to the far back of the room and jogged down the staircase leading to his living quarters. He felt a slight brush of magic as he passed through wards designed to prevent curious students from entering without his permission.
His room included a small guest area, furnished with a couple of plush gray chairs, a small table, and a fireplace. Just beyond the guest area a small room was set up as a personal lab, though unlike the cabinets in the classroom, these were empty. The lab in his room was specifically meant for him to brew potions that were either dangerous, or required lethal ingredients. Severus preferred to supply said lethal ingredients himself for obvious reasons. A door at the rear end of the lab led to a spacious and empty library, one chair and a desk was seated in the middle of the room, they were cozily surrounded by the empty shelves and Severus imagined he would be spending quite a bit of time filling them. Finally he found his bedroom which was just off of the right side of his personal lab, it was rather plain with just a bed, side table, dresser, and closet, his bathroom was located at the far end of the room.
Severus felt the paranoia melt away as he thought ahead to the month of solitude he would be able to experience, and for the first time since Voldemort's death, he felt the freedom he had been chasing for what felt like a lifetime.
Severus is back in Hogwarts! Hermione will be making her appearance in the next chapter and to be clear, this story will not be a slow burn. Did you like this chapter? Leave a review and let me know why or why not. Thank you for reading!