Author's Note: This will be a longish story, as it is meant to cover up to Christmas in Harry's sixth year. Thanks to the gang on the boards for fixing all the silly mistakes. Yoda, merci for shooting down many ideas that should never have been thought up. A big thanks to Mom, who listened patiently through two versions of this story and who gave me the time to write it out.
Please don't sue, as I make no money from this story and no copyright infringement is intended.
Chapter 1: Oooh, Ahhh, that's how it always starts. Then comes the running and the screaming…..
Dearest Journal.
Well, back again after all that nonsense. I suppose I should be glad that Severus recommended me as sub for Potions and temp for his House's responsibility. That's probably the only way the students would accept me. He may not admit it, but the Slytherins do look up to him…even if the Gryffies hate him. Although I start to think that he actually enjoys his little games with them. And Longbottom was certainly a chance for him to extend his considerable resources.
Hogwarts is everything as I remember it, the laughing halls, Peeves, and even Albus is the same. But I can't help but think that I shouldn't be the one here. If Severus hadn't.... well, vanished into his shimmering brew, I would be back at the manor doing my own job of sorting the library the family seems to collect.
Rowena Snape sighed, closing the large black journal on her desk. The Welcoming Feast was over, the student body asleep and the teaching staff was doing any last second prep that was needed. She stood up, giving a once over the Potions lab. Everything was in perfect condition, set and ready for class. Severus was, in all things, a perfectionist when it came to do with anything with his potions. Except when it came to contingency plans, she thought.
"We will find him, Rowena," Albus Dumbledore's soft voice reached out, turning her from the window to look at him. "Your brother is a resourceful man. He is most likely curled up somewhere, brewing away, until such time as he can return to us." His eyes were solemn as she nodded.
"I'm sure you're right," she said, trying to force a smile. "Sevi always kept himself out of trouble. I'm sure--" she stopped, swallowing hard. "I'm sure he'll be fine," she finished, voice slightly rough.
Dumbledore walked across the large classroom and placed both hands on her shoulders. "You're not going to collapse every time Severus is mentioned are you? Because if you are, I'll have to hire Remus to teach Potions."
She giggled into his beard. "Remus would blow up the whole castle." She pulled away, straightening her robes. "I'll be fine."
Dumbledore looked skeptical.
"Shoo! I'll be fine." She looked at the door, then back at him, her face perfectly composed. The mask held as the Headmaster left. "I'll have to be."
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