Alright, here is the reboot of Chapter 2.
Arcanus
Hermione walked into the staff room looking harassed. She sat down at the table with a weary sigh before looking around at the room's other occupants. Harry, Draco and Caroline were drinking tea and looking a bit discomposed as well. Professor Snape was sitting at the table with her, reading the Daily Prophet. He acknowledged her presence with a tiny stiff nod.
Perhaps Azkaban had changed him more than she'd thought. Professor Snape had always seemed to prefer solitude, but there he was, sitting calmly among his co-workers. He wasn't being particularly social, but his willingness to tolerate the presence of his former students, especially Harry, was an improvement. He could have easily retreated to his office between classes.
"Rough day Hermione?" Caroline asked, pulling Hermione from her thoughts.
Hermione nodded. "I'm so glad that I have only one more class today," she admitted. "Some of these students are just ridiculous. One second year hufflepuff was actually holding his book upside down and I'm not so sure that he was joking."
Snape snorted in amusement, drawing the attention of the other teachers. "You must be referring to Christopher Nalley," he said, turning a page in the Prophet without looking up. "I am greatly anticipating the day that he fails his potions OWL so I will no longer be forced to put up with the little twit."
Hermione groaned and rubbed her temples tiredly. "I just didn't expect all of them to be so... inattentive," she said. "It was the first day of class and they never even attempted to focus on the lesson."
"A bit like having a class full of Potters and Weasleys," Snape commented with a smirk, his eyes meeting hers for a brief moment over the top of his newspaper.
"A bit, yeah," Hermione admitted, a grin tugging at the corners of her mouth.
"Hermione!" Harry protested while Draco chuckled.
"Honestly Harry," Hermione said shaking her head. "During history of magic, you and Ron never even tried to pay attention."
"Well, you've got me there," Harry agreed with a grin. Caroline shook her head.
"How was your day?" Hermione asked Caroline curiously.
"Better than Harry's," Caroline responded with an impish grin.
At Hermione's questioning look, Harry sighed. "It was a fiasco," he muttered. "The pointing and whispering started as soon as I walked into the classroom."
"Maybe they were talking about how ridiculous your hair looks," Draco suggested, nonchalantly taking a sip of tea. Caroline giggled.
Harry ignored him. "There were many requests for autographs," he said, looking unsettled. "And, one of the seventh years made a pass at me."
"All in a day's work, eh Potter?" Draco said with a smirk. "Tell me, was it a female student?"
"It's not funny," Harry growled. "I'll be supervising detentions every night for the rest of the year."
"Nonsense Potter," said Professor McGonagall, stepping into the staff room. "As the new head of Gryffindor house, you need to whip them into shape. As they say, 'Show them who's boss'."
"I will," Harry said with a disgruntled sigh. He glanced at his watch and saw that he still had a bit of free time before he had to be back in his classroom. "Is everything alright Professor McGonagall?" he asked.
"Oh yes. And please, call me Minerva. We're all adults here," the headmistress said. "I was actually looking for Severus." When Snape met her eyes she said "Some of your Slytherins were stirring up trouble in the common room. Will you see to them before your next class? I have a lot to do at the moment."
"Of course Minerva," Snape responded, rising from his chair. He nodded shortly to the others and then followed Minerva out into the hall.
Hermione watched Snape leave with a thoughtful expression. She turned her gaze to Harry when he said "I thought that Snape would be in his office or lab between classes."
"He spends more time among people these days," Draco said, glancing briefly at the chair that Snape had vacated. "He's still not very friendly, but he's less keen to spend his time alone."
"I imagine being locked up in Azkaban would mess with your head a bit," Harry commented.
"That's so sad," Caroline said while Hermione nodded in agreement.
"My father thinks that Snape just needs a good shag," Draco said with a smirk. At Caroline's frown of distaste, he quickly added "I personally think he needs to find himself a girlfriend. He's been alone for too long and a companion would be good for him."
"Well, he must be lonely if he's willing to be in the staff room with us," Harry said.
"Speak for yourself," Draco retorted. "He likes me and he doesn't know Caroline. It's you two he can't stand," he added, gesturing at Harry and Hermione.
"I don't know about that," Caroline said pensively. "He nearly laughed at Hermione's comment about Christopher Nalley and he gave his opinion without being prompted at all. Really, I think the poor man just needs friends."
"Are you volunteering for the job?" Draco asked her with raised eyebrows and a little smirk.
"Yes," Caroline replied. "And I think ya'll should too."
"Ya'll?" Harry muttered, but the others ignored him.
"I'm not sure Professor Snape would be very receptive to that," Hermione said doubtfully.
"But, it can't hurt to try," Caroline persisted. "We've got nothing to lose for being nice to him. He may surprise us all."
Hermione frowned in thought as she rose from her chair to meet with her next class. The concept of being friends with Severus Snape was an odd one indeed. However, he had been polite and had spoken to them in a civil manner. An attempt to be more friendly with the Potions Master would surely be harmless. If she gained nothing else, she could at least feel good in the knowledge that she was doing what she could to be kind to a lonely man.
Draco managed to convince Snape to go to the Hogshead for a few drinks to celebrate the end of the first week of the term. They sat at a table and discussed classes and the recent vampire trouble. Hearing a familiar voice, Snape and Draco looked around to see that Harry, Hermione and Caroline had just entered the pub. Harry was telling some story in a rather animated fashion while Hermione rolled her eyes and Caroline laughed.
"Ah, here come your new friends," Snape said with a sneer. He watched as they stopped at the bar to order drinks.
"You know, they aren't so bad," Draco mused. "Granger is still neurotic and works too much, and Potter is... well, Potter. But, they are quite funny at times and can hold a decent, intelligent conversation."
"And Freeman?" Snape asked with a smirk. "What is between yourself and Professor Freeman?"
"Nothing yet," Draco replied. "But, I intend to change that. She's just starting to relax a bit. She's so shy, but I think she's warming up to me now."
"Minerva will have your head on a platter if you go about making 'conquests' at Hogwarts," Snape warned the younger man.
"I'm not," Draco retorted, scowling. "It's only Caroline." He paused and then asked "What about you?"
"What?" Snape asked in a bored tone.
"Any thoughts on settling down?" Draco asked. Snape snorted, making Draco roll his eyes. "I think you ought to find yourself a girlfriend, or a lover. Why not? You're not spying anymore. The war ended ten years ago. You could start a family."
"Right," Snape drawled sarcastically. "There are women beating down my door and I need only to select one from the masses."
Draco released a long suffering sigh. "I'm just telling you to be open to the possibility," he said in exasperation. "Don't close yourself off. The perfect woman may be right under your nose."
"I will keep that in mind," Snape replied with a sneer.
Draco rolled his eyes but then smiled as Caroline, Harry and Hermione approached. Snape stiffened a bit, but said nothing. "Hi Draco. Hello Professor Snape," Caroline said with a bashful smile. "Having a nice evening?"
"Delightful," Snape drawled.
"Not bad," Draco said lightly, glancing at Snape and shaking his head with a sigh. "Have a seat." He gestured to the table and looked at the three newcomers expectantly.
Caroline dropped into the empty cheer next to Draco and then looked at Harry and Hermione. They hesitated for a moment, glancing uncertainly at Snape, and then sat down. Hermione had taken the chair next to Professor Snape and Harry sat between her and Caroline.
"How was your week Professor Snape?" Hermione asked, turning to face him. She spotted Caroline's nod of approval, but carefully kept her focus on Snape.
"It could have been worse," he said dryly and, to his surprise, Hermione grinned.
"Indeed," she agreed. "I'm sure next week will be much better. The students will be back in their routine," she added, though her tone suggested that she was trying to convince herself as much as him.
Snape eyed her doubtfully. "Many of the students are like that year round," he told her with a smirk.
Hermione groaned and rubbed her temples. "Oh god, they are, aren't they?" she muttered.
Harry nudged Hermione's drink a little closer to her while Snape said "Welcome to the joys of teaching."
Caroline laughed and shook her head. "Oh, don't be like that," she chuckled. "We'll get used to it. Teaching is obviously something that we all wanted to do, and it'll be worth it."
"Oh yes, I'm sure that all of this will pay off at any time now," Snape quipped, taking a sip of his firewhiskey.
Caroline and Hermione laughed at his comment, making him look up in mild surprise. Even Harry was hiding a smile behind his tumbler of firewhiskey. It was odd to be sitting with a group like this making polite conversation. He had expected to sit quietly while the others chatted.
Draco smirked at Snape's slightly bewildered expression. Deciding to keep the conversation moving, Draco said "I believe the ladies need more drinks." He inclined his head toward Hermione and Caroline's nearly empty bottles of butterbeer. "We gentlemen," he motioned between himself and Snape "and Potter," he indicated Harry, "will take turns buying you drinks," he told the girls.
Harry made a rude hand gesture toward Draco, earning a smack on the back of the head from Hermione. Snape rolled his eyes and rose from his chair, indicating that he would get the first round. He gave Draco and Harry a look that clearly said "You can get your own damn drinks."
He returned to the table carrying two bottles of butterbeer. Stopping at Caroline's chair he said "Professor Freeman," presenting her with one of the bottles.
"Thank you," she said politely, accepting the bottle. "But, will you please call me Caroline?"
"As you wish Caroline," he said smoothly. Returning to his own chair he passed Hermione the second bottle.
"Thank you," Hermione said quietly.
"You are welcome," Snape replied. After a moment, he added "I assume that you do not object to your proper title."
Hermione glanced at Caroline and then back at Snape. "Of course not," she responded. "But, I think I would prefer for you to call me Hermione. All of the students call me Professor Granger, but there's no need for my colleagues to do the same."
Snape gave a small nod, not really knowing how else to respond. Harry looked mildly impressed. It was a small step, but progress was progress, especially when it came to Snape.
Snape eyed his companions thoughtfully. Potter seemed less like his father than Snape had assumed and had matured a great deal since his school days. Hermione had always been more mature, but she also seemed to have outgrown her tendency to show-off. She had also tamed that wild hair of hers. In fact, she had grown into a very attractive woman; Not that Snape cared anything about that.
"How are things going with the preparations for training?" Caroline asked curiously, drawing him out of his thoughts.
Snape immediately tensed and he glanced around. He reached into his pocket to grab his wand but noticed that Harry had already had his wand in hand. Harry cast a few quick spells to insure that their discussion would be private, and then nodded for Snape to continue.
"It is tedious," Snape said finally. "We have a meeting tomorrow evening once the students are in bed. Nearly all of Dumbledore's Army has been recalled for training, but many are hesitant to join us. "
"Why?" Hermione asked in surprise.
"They seemed to think it was a little strange for Dumbledore's Army to reform without Potter being the one to summon them," Snape explained. "Minerva has not announced that I will be training them."
Hermione winced. "That could be a problem," she muttered. Snape had been harsh, and often cruel, in the years leading up to the final battle. He'd been despised above any other teachers. It wouldn't help matters that many people still didn't trust Snape, even though the charges against him had been dismissed.
"Have you discussed solutions?" Hermione asked
Snape sighed irritably, but it was not really directed at Hermione. "Minerva thought our plan may be accepted more easily if Potter once again leads the way. She wishes for us to work as a team to train everyone. Apparently his methods were effective while you were in school."
Hermione nodded but Harry said "I had a lot of help. Hermione was always looking for new spells for us to work on. I would have run out of ideas very quickly if it hadn't been for her." He smiled at Hermione and then took another sip of his drink.
"We'll probably need all the help we can get," Caroline muttered.
Snape nodded in agreement. "We will cover as many areas as possible," he assured her.
"When do we start?" Hermione asked.
"Tomorrow," Snape said.
"So soon?" Draco asked in surprise.
"We have no time to lose," Snape said heavily. "The longer we wait, the more innocent people will suffer. They are recruiting very quickly." He sighed. "It is difficult to get new information as well. Lucius can only provide us with so much."
They all sat in silence, considering their situation. After a moment, Caroline smiled slyly. "I may have a solution," she said quietly. The others leaned in, focused intently on her next words. Caroline looked around briefly and then leaned toward her companions. "Arcanus," she whispered.
Realization dawned on Draco's face, while the others looked perplexed. "It's a nightclub," he explained impatiently. "The Freeman's own it along with one of their American friends. There are wards in place that prevent you from using magic within the establishment. It attracts all sorts of people. The Freeman's sing there quite often."
"And?" Snape prompted in an irritated tone.
"It's a good place to gather information," Caroline said with a smirk. "We've managed to create a sort of safe haven for many strange characters. Of course, when alcohol is involved, they get too comfortable and the secrets come tumbling out. It can be quite handy."
"Have the vampires entered the establishment?" Snape asked.
"I believe so," she said with a little nod. "The wards allow minor charms to pass through that conceal identity, but my sister's and I can sense when someone is not what they seem."
"Brilliant!" Harry said, grinning broadly. "Will we go there?"
Hermione frowned thoughtfully. A nightclub didn't sound like an appropriate place for reconnaissance. She caught Snape's and his expression told her that he was of the same opinion. "It sounds like an amazing place, but we wouldn't want to draw attention to ourselves," Hermione said uncertainly.
"Oh it's fine," Caroline said, waving her hand dismissively. "Arcanus is a neutral zone. It wouldn't be strange for you to be there and the wards prevent anyone from hexing you. Plus, you'd have protection from us."
Snape frowned at that. He couldn't imagine what kind of protection Caroline thought she and her sisters could provide within wards that prevented the use of magic. He rather thought that Sam looked as if she could handle herself in a fight but Caroline and Jenna didn't give off the impression of being particularly useful in an altercation.
"Will you sing for us?" Draco asked, grinning.
"Only if you're good," Caroline said primly, swallowing the last of her butterbeer.
Draco rolled his eyes. "Well, that's no fun," he muttered.
Harry laughed. "Shut up and buy the ladies another drink," he said, shooing Draco toward the bar with a smirk.