Severus's small cottage was dark. He fished into his pocket for the keys. He had a special charm on the door, so only these keys could open it.

He had been home from the hospital for awhile. Severus had no job. No responsibilities. No anything. He was just drifting and in a way he was enjoying it.

There was a scratching on the roof then something dark and blurry leaped over his head and landed behind him.

A cat? A familiar cat. It transformed into the severe former Transfiguration professor that was now the Headmaster of Hogwarts. The same with that had within the last year, well, kind of kicked his butt. This was not happening.

"Minerva?" he asked. She just nodded. "Are you crazy? You practically gave me a heart attack. Which is not exactly what I need right now."

Minerva let out a sigh as she adjusted her glasses. "My apologies, Severus." Hmm. She sounded less than sincere. That old bat scared him on purpose.

"Can I help you?" he drawled.

"Slughorn quit," she said matter-of-factly.

"Okay."

Severus wasn't sure what Minerva expected him to say.

"He was the Potion's professor."

Great. Stating the obvious. It was like being back at St. Mungo's with the Healer of Perpetual and Almost Instantly Irritating Joy.

"You know the last time I saw you, you were trying to attack me," Severus said as he slipped the key into the lock and opened his door.

"I thought you were trying to kill Harry."

"Well, I wasn't."

"I know that now."

"So what do you say? Will you come back to Hogwarts?"

Back to annoying students, whining parents, and now, working for Minerva, of all things. But, in a way, Hogwarts was home. More home than this old place anyway.

"Let me think about it," he said. "I'd invite you in, but I'm all out of Fancy Feast."

Minerva pursed her lips. "Just send me an owl with your answer."

The next afternoon, Severus still hadn't decided what he was going to do about Minerva's offer. Although, the only thing he had to eat in the house were packets of sweetener and canned tuna. Those feasts in the Great Hall were looking pretty good.

Severus took a walk down the path that led from his house into the muggle town. He figured he'd pick up a few things to eat before he died of starvation instead of a horcrux snake attack.

He walked into the small store that was just at the edge of the street. It was filled with other Sunday afternoon shoppers. Severus was looking down at his basket that was filled with frozen waffles and cereal when he turned the corner and crashed into someone.

It was -

"Potter?"

Potter's green eyes widened under his glasses. "Snape?"

"What are you doing here?" He had never seen Potter around here before, but then again he'd moved since living with his aunt and uncle. He had to have.

Potter leaned in close. Severus couldn't help but notice that he smelled like parchment and sage."Buying toilet paper," whispered Potter. Severus bit his lip to hold in a smile.

"Did you just whisper toilet paper? Hey everybody! Harry Potter is buying toilet paper," Severus shouted, enjoying the red blushing on Potter's cheek. "See. This is a muggle store. Nobody cares if the chosen one is, Merlin forbid, buying toilet paper."

Potter covered his face with his hand, then looked up at Severus, his brows drawn together."I'm not the chosen one anymore. I'm just a guy with a rather unfortunate looking scar."

Without thinking, Severus reached out and brushed Potter's hair away from his eyes. They both stiffened at the touch, but Severus didn't pull away immediately. He lingered, feeling Potter's soft hair against his callous fingers. "Well, your moppy hair covers it well."

"Thanks." Potter smiled. "I heard you were coming back to Hogwarts."

"That's not definite."

"I might be."

"To finish your seventh year?"

"No. To, uh, teach actually."

Severus's eyes widened.

"You? Teach? What? How to awkwardly buy household products."

Potter's eyes narrowed, a ghost of a smile on his lips. "Will you let that go?"

"No."

"Fine. And Defense Against the Dark Arts." Potter grabbed a box of cookies of the shelf as they walked through the store, subconsciously together.

"McGonagall has finally lost it."

"Hey, I defeated Voldemort," he whispered again. They didn't need to share the secrets of the magical world with everyone.

"I helped."

"Okay. You can be a guest lecturer."

"How generous of you," said Severus. They were walking toward the check out stands. "So you're really going to do it?"

"I don't know. You?"

"I don't know."

Potter stood in line and Severus lined up behind him. Potter was still clutching his toilet paper like if he held it tight enough no one would know what he was holding.

"Can you hurry it up? This man has toilet paper he needs to buy," shouted Severus.

Harry turned around and glared. "Shut up."

Maybe Hogwarts wouldn't be so bad after all. Severus couldn't pass up more opportunities to pick on Harry Potter.

Thanks for reading and reviewing. I'm having fun with this so I hope you are too.