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Severus made no noise as he made his way down to the dungeon. His robes didn't even make a sound as he swished around the corners. He needed to speak to his Slytherin students.
"Is there anyone in their dormitories?" Severus asked. He didn't need to raise his voice; his students weren't making any noise.
While the sixth year prefects went up to check, Severus surveyed his students. Most were either lounging on the floor, or sitting, staring into nothingness.
"No one is in the boy's dormitories." The male prefect said, coming down the stairs. Two young girls followed the female prefect, and once the entire house was in the common room, Severus started to speak.
"I believe some of you are disappointed about the House Cup."
"Well, duh." A fifth year with more nerve than brains said, "We get it, Gryffindor's are great, but did Dumbledore have to humiliate us by giving them so many points in front of the entire bloody school?"
"Well, it seems that you have found out what I've known for years." Severus said, making a mental note to put the fifth year in detention next year. "Professor Dumbledore is human."
His students didn't say anything, most just looked at him. Those who weren't looking at him were looking at their forearms. Severus flinched as he realized it was the same forearm that bore his Dark Mark.
"I saw something though." Severus said, "Something that made me very proud to be your head of house."
"You saw us loosing and you were proud?" A second year asked.
"No, I saw my Slytherin's making the best out of the situation they were handed. They did not complain. They held their heads up high and refused to let the rest of the school know they were disappointed."
"What did you think we would do?" The same fifth year asked, "Complain and get detention?" He gave Severus an incredulous look. "What do you take us for Professor, Idiots?"
"No, I know you're not idiots. You wouldn't be in Slytherin if you were." Severus said, "But when I saw that no one in my house tried to hex anyone or begin a riot." Severus took a deep breath, "I was immensely proud of this house, of you, my students. You were true to yourselves and true to Slytherin tonight and I've never been more proud to be your head of house."
"But…" A second year girl started, Severus kept talking.
"A piece of advice to all of you; if you are true to yourself you will find that you learn lessons you never thought you'd learn."
"Professor," a seventh year said, getting up, "Great speech and all, but" the older student let out a breath of frustration. "I think we could all live with loosing, in fact I think we can even look over the fact that we were humiliated in front of the entire school if Dumbledore hadn't made that comment at the beginning of his speech."
"Well done Slytherin." A sixth year mimicked the headmaster in his powerful voice. "As if that tiny little compliment is going to soften the blow that we're going to be humiliated in front of the whole school!"
"If you are true to Slytherin and true to yourselves then no "tiny little compliment' should ever disappoint you."
The students were looking at each other now. Even the sixth and seventh years who had been staring at their forearms looked up. "Well done Slytherin" Severus breathed. Some seventh years looked at him in surprise. While it wasn't new that he was handing out praise, it was surprising that he was doing it with such fervor.
"Well Done."
Severus slammed his way into the staff room where the teachers were having a late night staff meeting.
"Severus, where were you? We had to start the meeting without your presence." Albus said.
Severus glared at the older wizard as he sat as far away from the headmaster as he could, "Damage control."