Chapter One
"Look...at...me..." Hermione Granger bit her bottom lip as she watched the Headmaster of Hogwarts finally loose consciousness. Ron went back to the tunnel, but Harry watched as Hermione shoved both a bezoar and Blood Replenishing potion into the man's mouth. She then poured an entire bottle of essence of dittany into the wounds on his neck. Hermione then used muggle methods to check vitals and breathing a sigh of relief as Snape's condition finally stabilized. It would be over five hours before the trio would finally be able to return to the Shrieking Shack. By then, Severus Snape was gone.
Nearly ten years had passed since that fateful night, and the whereabouts of Severus Snape remained a mystery. Only one person knew his location and Minerva McGonagall wasn't one to break a promise. The witch was irritated at her friends' stubbornness, but Severus refused to budge. He had informed her that he had no intention of ever returning after finally finding the peace and contentment he had sought for nearly thirty years. Minerva shook her head to clear it and walked toward the staff lounge. She smiled at the familiar figure waiting there for her to arrive.
"Professor Granger, welcome back to Hogwarts." Hermione, who had been dubbed Mia at University, and had gone by the nickname ever since, smiled at the older woman before embracing her.
"Thank you, Headmistress. It's an honor to be back."
"Minerva, dear. We are colleagues' now." she corrected. "It's time for the meeting to start." Mia nodded and followed the older witch into a crowded room.
"Good afternoon, everyone. I'd like to introduce Professor Mia Granger, our new Potions Mistress. Mia, I believe you know everyone here except for..." Minerva caught the attention of a tall, sandy haired wizard and beckoned him over. "Professor Mia Granger, I'd like you to meet Professor Russ King. Russ has been the Defense against the Dark Arts Professor for five years now."
"A pleasure to meet you, Mia." The man's voice was a rich baritone that seemed vaguely familiar, although Mia had trouble placing it. The two conversed for a few moments before Minerva began ushering everyone to the Great Hall.
At dinner, Russ observed the young woman with hooded eyes. Mia Granger was very picky about her food, foregoing the rich dishes offered for baked chicken and roasted vegetables. Russ knew who she was, of course. Hermione "Mia" Granger, Order of Merlin, Second Class, and a hero of the Great War. A letter popped next to her plate, causing her to grin happily as she opened it. "Letter from someone special?" He asked. In response, she handed him a photograph. The subject was a black haired, green eyed boy of about eight years of age.
"My godson," Mia smiled. "Albus Severus Potter, who prefers to be called Sev. He is very proud of being named after Severus Snape, although I expect the latter to faint if he were to ever find out." Minerva shot a quick glance at Mia.
"Mia, Severus Snape died during the final battle." Mia frowned and shook her head.
"No, he didn't. That year, I made it a habit to carry several bezoars, and an assortment of healing potions at all times. Harry played along to ensure that Riddle didn't try to return and finish the job, but Snape was alive when we left the shack that night."
"Why haven't you said anything before now?"
"Harry and I both felt that after all the sacrifices, including over twenty years of his life, he was entitled to do what he damn well pleased. However, I will warn the both of you not to insult Severus Snape in the presence of either Harry or Ginny Potter. The consequences won't be pretty."
"Why is that?" Mia paused as she considered the thirty-something year old's question.
"When he was fifteen, Harry learned that the father that he had idolized most of his life was a selfish, spoiled, arrogant bully. At nearly eighteen, he finally learned of his mother's best friend, someone who had watched over and protected him for seven years without a whisper of a thank you. I think that one of the happiest days of Harry's life was when he found portraits of his parents inside their vault at Gringotts and was able to tell his mother the truth about Severus Snape. As far as Ginny, she is of the opinion that had it not been for Snape's intervention, she would either be dead or in the spell damage ward of St. Mungo's, courtesy of Amycus and Alecto Carrow." Mia then took a sip of her wine, quietly observing the pensive look on the face of Russ King.
It wasn't much later when everyone began filing out of the Great Hall in order to get some rest before classes began the next day. Russ was still thinking of that evening's revelations when he entered his rooms, locking the doors behind him. Russ was still deep in his own thoughts as he entered his bathroom and walked over to the sink. Lifting a washcloth, he methodically began to wash his face and neck, slowly revealing a large bite-shaped scar on his neck.
Mia walked into her own chambers with an odd sense of foreboding. Perhaps it was a combination of the wine, the peculiar conversation topic at dinner with a healthy dose of paranoia, but Mia swore that she could almost feel Snape's presence. Shaking her head, she gave the portrait guarding her rooms her new password-asphodel- and picked up a case from her dresser after changing out of her robes and into a tank top and pajama bottoms.
Several years ago a charm had been developed that channeled magic through muggle devices, allowing them to work in magical environments. Most of Britain's half-bloods and muggle-borns had been thrilled with the new development and Mia was no exception. A laptop computer, IPOD, television and DVD player adorned her quarters, and she was in the mood to watch a good movie.
Mia began thumbing through her movie collection when she suddenly gasped. She had her movies grouped by genre, and was looking through her Kevin Smith flicks when her eyes fell onto a copy of Dogma. All of the pieces finally clicked into place. Somehow that man had done something to de-age himself at least twelve years or so. Mia was tempted to confront the other professor, but decided that discretion was the better part of valor. After watching the movie, a decidedly more cheerful Mia slid into her bed and fell asleep.
The next morning, Mia dressed quickly in a dark green frock coat; waistcoat and skirt, white blouse and black dragon hide boots. She had learned in a matter of days at the beginning of her apprenticeship that the wardrobe of the only Potions Master she'd known before then, her fellow apprentices and her current Master, were a matter of function rather than fashion. After charming her wavy chestnut hair into a tight plait, Mia headed toward the Great Hall.
Russ watched as she plopped into her chair and poured herself a cup of coffee. Mia quickly downed it before pouring another and drinking it almost as quickly.
"Not a morning person, are we?" Her only response was an icy glare as she
continued drinking. Neville Longbottom, Hogwarts Herbology professor and Gryffindor head of House, cleared his throat and leaned towards Russ.
"Word of warning, mate. If you want your bollocks to remain intact, don't try talking to Mia until she's had at least three cups of coffee."
"Fuck you, Nev," was the decidedly surly response from the witch, causing Neville to grin cheerfully.
"Sorry, Mia. You know I adore you, but my wife would kill me." Mia shook her head before turning to her breakfast. Feeling better, she apologized to her old friend for her attitude. Neville waved it off and the discussion turned to classes and teaching methods. When asked about hers, Mia grinned.
"Hey, Nev, do you remember our first class?"
"Before or after I melted my cauldron?"
"Before. The wand waving speech."
"You plan to channel the bat, Mia? That should be interesting." Mia chuckled before standing and going to her office.
Russ had listened to the conversation with a combination of curiosity and trepidation. Since he had a free period, he decided to slip down to the Potion's classroom to observe. Russ disillusioned himself and slipped inside, hiding in a corner that gave him the best vantage. Moments later the doors flew open with a bang and Mia strode in.
"There will be little foolish wand-waving in this class..." Mia spoke softly as she quoted the speech verbatim that she herself had heard in that very classroom eighteen years ago. "I can teach you to bottle fame, brew glory, and even put a stopper into death. That is, if you are not as big of a bunch of dunderheads as my potions master had to teach. Mr. Lupin!" Harry's godson looked up, his hair a bright shade of turquoise blue, and gulped. "What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"
"The Draught of Living Death, Professor." Mia nodded.
"Mr. Davies, where might I find a bezoar?"
"The stomach of a goat, Professor."
"Miss Anderson, what is the difference between Monkshood and Wolfsbane?"
"They are the same plant, Professor."
"Well, I'm glad to see that you completed your reading assignment. Mr. Lupin, Mr. Davies, and Miss Anderson, five points each." Mia lectured for about ten minutes before allowing the children to attempt a fairly simple potion. She walked around the class, correcting procedure and technique. As Mia made her way towards the back of the class, she detected another presence. Sniffing slightly, she inwardly smirked as she recognized the stranger's cologne. As soon as class was dismissed and the room empty, Mia locked the doors and smiled before facing the spot where her visitor was standing.
"Do my teaching methods meet with your approval, Professor King? Or should I say Professor Snape?"
Russ allowed his disillusionment charm to fall as he looked at his colleague with an expression of shock that soon turned to resignation.
"When did you figure it out?"
"Last night. I won't tell anyone. I will ask that you tell Harry and Ginny though. Guilt and regret have eaten away at those two over the past decade and I think this will help everyone find some closure. Besides," Mia added with an impish grin, "if it helps any, Harry grew his hair out and no longer looks like his father." Russ smiled slightly and nodded.
"I'll speak to them whenever you can arrange it."
"Excellent. I usually have dinner with them on Sunday, and Ginny is constantly harping on me about my love life...or lack thereof. I'll send an owl telling them that I am bringing a friend."
"Well, I have class in five minutes, so I will see you at lunch." He left with a smile and Mia stood there marveling at the differences. It wasn't surprising that no one had noticed. Russ King was charming, witty, friendly and kind. Severus
Snape had been a cruel, hateful, bitter, sarcastic bastard. Mia couldn't see herself even being cordial with Snape. However, she thought, a smile curving her lips, she enjoyed being friends with Russ. Mia knew that if she were to be honest with herself, she was very attracted to Russ and wouldn't mind becoming more than friends. Shaking her head, Mia schooled her expression into one of neutrality as she went out to greet her next class.
The rest of the week passed quickly and in no time at all it was Sunday. Mia waited in the foyer, smiling when she spotted him. Russ was dressed in black jeans, a white shirt and blue cloak. The pair walked out of the gates and apparated with a crack onto the front steps of a fairly large house. Mia reached for the knocker and rapped it against the door.
A/N I already know that I am going to get some flack since Severus is so OOC. However, the man finally let go of his demons and has been able to relax some in the decade following the war. This Severus is what I think our favorite Potions Master would have been like had he been not trapped between to manipulative old coots.