Author's note: I've wanted to write something about Snape for a while - he was my favourite character in the books - and I kept thinking about how lonely it must have been to have an entire community turned against you while you were actually trying to do something good. So here's a piece showing Snape's thoughts as his time as Headmaster begins. Please review!
Warning for future chapters, as of May 13, 2016: This turned into a dark multi-chapter, and there is some swearing, non-graphic corporal punishment, non-graphic torture, and an allusion to rape later on. (The latter two are courtesy of Voldemort... after all, he is, to quote Chapter 4, a "sadistic, dictatorial maniac.")
Warnings for this chapter: None
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
The Sorting Scream
Severus Snape banged his way into the Headmaster's office, surrounded by the characteristic billowing of his robes, and collapsed ungracefully in the chair behind the desk. He was possessed by an urge to throw something, but instead settled for pinching the bridge of his nose and clenching his other hand into a fist.
"Severus, my boy, what has you so vexed today?"
The new Headmaster turned to scowl fiercely at the portrait of his predecessor.
"If you hadn't noticed," he snarled, "the Dark Lord has control of the school. The Carrows are roaming the halls, all the muggleborns have had to go into hiding, some of the lessons to be taught here are downright reprehensible; need I continue?"
The portrait regarded him gravely.
The past couple of weeks had been nightmarish. The nightmare began with the death of Charity Burbage at Malfoy Manor: The Dark Lord had mocked the Muggle Studies professor and thoroughly humiliated her, while a group of Death Eaters observed the spectacle. She had begged Severus save her, and he had maintained his blank expression, projecting an apathetic disposition. The Dark Lord had then murdered Burbage and fed her corpse to Nagini, the image of which would likely be burned into Severus's mind forever—it wasn't every day that one witnessed a colleague being devoured by a giant snake.
Following the meeting, the Dark Lord had privately given Severus instructions on how Hogwarts was to be run. Educational Decree Number Twenty-Four would be reinstated, forbidding the children from meeting in groups. Parents and professors would be kept as tightly in check as the students, primarily through fear-mongering and manipulation, but also through physical means if need be. Alecto and Amycus Carrow would teach Muggle Studies and Dark Arts respectively. In addition to being teachers and Deputies, the twins would be in charge of punishment; a disused classroom in the dungeons was to be repurposed for school discipline. In this case, "discipline" was the polite word for "torture."
The whole evening had left Severus with his skin crawling, and that didn't happen very often.
"Hogwarts this year will be nothing like you've ever seen before," Severus warned, mentally shaking away the memories.
Dumbledore reminded him, "You promised to protect the students."
"I know what I promised," Severus snapped in response, "and protect them I shall. But I must say that given the situation, it will be a nearly-impossible task."
"I don't believe that the situation is any worse than we anticipated, and the students will be safer with you than with, say, dear Bellatrix Lestrange."
Severus supressed a wince. The thought of the Dark Lord's right hand woman running Hogwarts was repulsive. She would most likely render a third of the student body insane and leave another third dead if given just one week as Headmistress. Severus would be far from kind—he did have a crazed and power-hungry dark wizard to cater to, and kindness did not tend to be part of his nature in the first place—but he would be kinder than some.
Selfishly, Severus thought about how much strain the year would put on himself. The tightrope between light and dark was difficult to walk if one's loyalties were ambiguous; trying to actually do something good while maintaining the illusion of being an avid Death Eater made it even trickier. And not that Severus usually had the time to dwell on the feeling, but it was also a very lonely job. Only he knew what he was really trying to accomplish. Everybody else despised him from here to perpetuity. Encounters with staff members who were previously something akin to friends—primarily Minerva, Poppy, Filius, and Aurora—had made that fact clear enough. His colleagues were civilized, but barely; they made no secret of their feelings. Not counting the painted impression of Albus, Severus was well and truly alone.
He pulled himself out of his brooding and stood. "The next wave of incompetent dunderheads will be arriving shortly," he sneered, albeit half-heartedly. "I must go."
Dumbledore gave an exaggerated yawn and stretched his arms above his head. "Enjoy the feast."
"I doubt I will."
Severus was the recipient of many baleful glares when he entered the room, all of which he ignored as he took his place at the head table. The seats on either side of him were reserved for the Carrows—Amycus on the right and Alecto on the left—but those two were currently absent, as they were preoccupied with preparing to terrorize the incoming first years. Minerva's place was beside Amycus, with Pomona on her other side, and Filius sat between Alecto and Slughorn. Slughorn was the only Head of House who didn't completely radiate disgust upon seeing Severus.
The tension increased tenfold when students began streaming through the doors of the Great Hall. Most were clearly apprehensive, although that was no surprise. The room was filled with shadows that hadn't been there before, the ceiling an ominous grey colour. Some of the emptier tables made apparent just how many had not returned, and much to the discomfort of the other Houses, Slytherin obviously reigned supreme: All the decorations were green and silver. Heads turned when the large doors opened again to admit the Carrows, Alecto carrying the stool with the Sorting Hat, who were followed by a line of eleven-year-olds. The children were wide-eyed. Evidently, the twins had sufficiently terrified them. It was turning out to be a very unwelcoming Welcoming Feast.
The one constant through this whole event was the Hat. Sitting on the three-legged stool, it looked as ragged as it had at Severus's own Sorting, the beginning of his descent into the dark—or perhaps, he mused cynically, that began with his birth. In any case, the Sorting Ceremony was the only thing left untainted by the Dark Lord's hold on the school. So Severus thought, anyway.
On the contrary, it seemed that the Hat had chosen to forego its customary Sorting Song this year. Instead, when it opened its mouth, it let out a piercing shriek. The sound was like a roomful of people being Crucioed. Everyone immediately slammed their hands over their ears.
After a brief moment of shock, Severus rose to his feet and bellowed, "Silencio!"
The Hall fell silent. Eyes turned towards the head table.
"Begin the Sorting," he commanded harshly before sitting down again.
The Headmaster paid minimal attention to the actual Ceremony. The Hat's scream, he felt, was an accurate representation of how the year would unfold. The thought prompted a tingle of fear, which he quickly pushed behind his Occlumency shields. Now was not the time to show emotion. Such a time did not exist.
The first day back at Hogwarts usually caused excited chatter among the students, whose discussions of the summer holidays brought the volume in the Hall to a dull roar; tonight, however, dinner was eaten in near silence. Those who did talk spoke in hushed tones, and conversations were punctuated with nervous pauses. Words were being very carefully considered.
When stomachs were filled, and the leftovers and place settings vanished, Severus stood. This small motion was enough to capture focus. When he began his speech, his voice was low and quiet; he could ensnare the attention of several hundred people as efficiently as he could a small classroom.
"The Dark Lord has a solid grasp on the Ministry, and we are entering a new era here at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. If you are wise, you will be on your best behaviour. Some much-needed changes are being implemented, and believe me, anyone foolish enough to do so much as consider opposing them will end up very, very unhappy. In fact, the slightest hint of rebellion may lead to certain people... disappearing." He let the threat hang in the air for a moment. When he resumed, he had to raise his voice to carry over the distressed murmurs.
"Some areas of the curriculum have been modified: Muggle Studies, taught by Professor Alecto Carrow, is now mandatory for all students. Timetables have been updated accordingly. Professor Amycus Carrow will be teaching Dark Arts"—he emphasized the title, drawing awareness to how there was no longer any defence involved—"and classes will be practicals only. Additionally, the Carrows are in charge of punishment; all rule-breakers will be referred to them, and if you do not wish to regret being born, you will keep out of trouble."
Some of the other professors were practically shaking with anger by this point, and even the seventh years looked terrified. The only students left unintimidated were the Slytherins, who looked rather smug.
Still there was more: "I will make it very clear right now that disrespect will not be tolerated. All incoming and outgoing mail will be opened and searched, and there are to be no other forms of communication. Students returning home for the holidays will be monitored. Furthermore, student organizations are prohibited. This includes Quidditch teams and unauthorized study groups. Professors hold total authority; there will be no negotiations here."
He took a deep breath. "Finally, anybody who knows of Harry Potter's activities or whereabouts will report to me immediately. This is of the utmost importance. The punishment for withholding such information will be severe, as will be the punishment for planting false information."
Feelings of oppression hung heavy in the air as silence fell again. Nobody moved. Severus turned a searching look on each House table in turn, lingering on Gryffindor. Hopefully, all the students would heed his warning and keep their heads down—he wanted to sentence as few children as possible to a detention with the Carrows—but if any students were to give him trouble, it would be Potter's brash, nearsighted friends.
Finishing his scan, he waved his wand and opened the doors to the Great Hall. The clang resounded through the stillness.
"Follow your Heads of House. You are dismissed."
It was nearly two o'clock in the morning when Severus entered the Headmaster's private chambers and collapsed into bed fully-clothed and exhausted.
He did not sleep well.
