Chapter 2

Severus was trying to keep a blank expression, but it was so hard when he just wanted to throttle the man that sat in front of him.

"So you´re telling me, that this friend of yours would be interested in the position as the DADA teacher?" Those annoyingly twinkling blue eyes, watched the snarky potions professor closely.

"Yes, Keenan contacted me a few weeks ago wondering if the position still was open and if I could speak with you."

"Well I would wish to speak with him but I´m afraid I´m a bit busy until September 1 but I´ll take your word on it." Severus almost jumped of joy, the old coot must be more desperate than he lets on or else he would not accept Tom as a teacher without meeting him.

"I´ll tell him that now I have to leave, can´t leave the potions simmering alone for such a long time." Excusing himself Severus flooed to Spinner´s end from where he left for Slytherin Manor, to tell Tom the news.

Flooing to the manor, letting himself in, Severus headed for Tom´s private study, a place that had become the new 'drawing room' because everyone always seemed to end up there. Deaf ears received Tom´s whining that they did not respect his privacy, and so he had given up and just let them stay. Walking in through the doors, Severus found the room almost deserted, except for Lucius and Tom who was sitting on the sofa, well Tom was on top of Lucius kissing him, hissing softly in parseltounge. Clearing his throat, Severus closed the door behind him.

"My lord?" Sighing Tom pulled away from his lover, straightening his clothes. A small glare fixed on his spy.

"What is it Severus?"

"The teachers position, Dumbledore accepted you, by the way you´ll go by the name of Keenan McCartney." While Severus spoke, Lucius sat up watching his lover and friend.

"He must be very desperate if he gave you the position without even meeting you." Lucius sounded thoughtful, leaning back into the sofa. This would make things a lot easier, hopefully.

***

It was September 1 and for the first time in all the years Harry woken up in the morning ready to leave as he had put some clothes on. With the Weasleys, there had always been something that needed to be done; it was with one word, chaos. Now he could calmly put some clothes on, go down to breakfast and have a nice and silent morning with no panicking or hassle.

"Good morning," sitting down in a chair beside Hermione, Harry sipped on a cup of coffee. Tom was sitting at the end of the table two seats from Harry, with Lucius beside him, the two men engrossed in a conversation. Bella was harassing Rabastan who looked more asleep than awake and Rodolphus was prying his wife off his brother. Severus was quietly eating while Narcissa tried to force-feed him, telling him he ate too little.

"I give up! Should it not be the women who eat less than the men?" Narcissa gave them a stern glance, especially Tom, Lucius, Severus and Harry who she not long after he and Hermione arrived, put him in the same section as the three other males, telling him he ate too little. How he ever could survive on that little she had no idea. It was quite hilarious if you were not a victim of hers, especially Bella liked to tease them about it. After her stay in Azkaban, she had started to appreciate food more as did the Lestrange brothers.

"Remember stick to the plan and pray that we will not get caught."

"Oh please it´ll go well, I´m more worried about my cigarettes ending," said Harry, looking at his fingernails. Tom was glaring holes at Harry, easy for the brat to say that, he was not the current dark lord who everyone wanted dead except for his followers. Taking a deep breath, Tom stepped through the floo, Severus not far from him. They would floo to the three broomsticks where from they would walk up to Hogwarts while Harry and Hermione took the train. Dragging their big trunks with them, Harry and Hermione braced themselves on a hellish ride o the castle; god knows how much of a prat Ron would be. Before they had the time to board, the train Harry spotted Susan.

"Oy, Suse," spinning around the blond Hufflepuff girls face broke into a huge grin, hurrying up to Harry, giving him a hug turning to Hermione and giving the girl a hug.

"Harry, Hermione haven´t seen you too in a while, you missed Hanna´s party."

"Oh damn, was it fun? Would have loved to be there but didn´t have the time." What Harry said was true, they had been very busy locating where Tom lived. Susan pulled out two cards, before she left dragging her trunk onto the train.

"It´s so nice of her to invite us, again," said Hermione, smiling softly.

"I know Hermione but Suse has the best parties ever, come on I want to find a decent compartment." With that, the two teens boarded the train.

Severus and Tom walked up to the castle; somehow, Tom had a nostalgic feeling. Hogwarts had been the first place he had ever called home and here he was, the resident dark lord, playing teacher in defense against the dark arts, it was hilarious.
Tom had a small smirk on his face, trying to look pleasant. The teachers' lounge was not far from the great hall, and so getting lost would not be an option. Stepping into the room, all sounds died out, while staring at the potions master and the new face none of them had seen before.

"Ah, welcome back Severus, and you must be Keenan McCartney it is nice to finally meet you," Tom wanted to gag when Dumbledore addressed him. Forcing the good smile to stay on his lips, Tom took Dumbledores hand and shook it.

"Yes it is, I have heard a lot of stories about Hogwarts and I look forward to start teaching," at that Dumbledore chuckled a little, his annoying eyes twinkling more than ever.

"Very good, well let me introduce you to out other teachers, all of you this is Kennan he will be out new DADA teacher, this is Minerva she is the head of Gryffindor, Flitwick the head of Ravenclaw, Pomona head of Hufflepuff…" Thus, it went on for half an hour, Tom´s head was spinning in the end. Thank god, he had a good memory or else it would be a bit embarrassing forgetting everyone's names.
All the teaches headed down to the great hall, taking their seats, just as the doors opened and in welled the older student´s chatting, laughing and joking with each other. Everything sure looked different from the teachers table, than from the house tables. Tom did not really listen to the sorting not to Dumbledore´s speech, his eyes watching over the students.

"Welcome back and welcome new students, I hope you had a pleasant summer and are full of energy, to face another year here at Hogwarts. We have a new DADA professor, again, let us welcome Kennan McCartney." Standing up, Tom did a curt nod with his head, many looking in awe at the handsome man. There was no mistake that this man was a pureblood. Harry could not stop from grinning; Tom really knew how to get people's attention. Glancing at Hermione, he could clearly see that she was thinking the same thing.

Closing his eyes Harry put a hand on his stomach, he had eaten absolutely too much. Student´s were leaving the great hall, the new fifth year prefects showing the new first years to the common rooms. Harry did not move, he had promised Hermione he would wait for her. Hermione and Draco were the new heads and so Dumbledore wished to speak with them. The two of them would get their own rooms but it would take a few days, as there had been some complications with the rooms. What the problem was no one except for Dumbledore seemed to know.

"Argh, god if could have gotten away with then I would´ve killed the man!" Hermione was angry. Draco had separated from the two Gryffindors outside the great hall, while Hermione and Harry left for the tower.

"I know the feeling but we´ll get him," said Harry. Everything would change if they only could get Dumbledore out of the picture and maybe some more influential light wizards. Harry grinned at the thought, a soft but cold laugh escaping his lips.
Everything would change.

Ha! second chapter done, is it still readable? REVIEWS PLEASE!