"The Phoenix and the Raven"

a post-final battle fanfic by Seventia Snape

Chapter Two, "Negotiation"

A few weeks later, Severus stood in the sitting room, perusing the girl's bookshelves. There was some good material here, including a few tomes that he'd never seen before, and a few papers on some new potions that he realized were the girl's own work. A scholar, he thought with surprise, so it's not all just looks. She actually knows what she's doing. He read the papers, and knew right away that this was a very talented potioneer, and he felt regret that he'd never met her while she was a student, or taught her. He'd been so busy with headmaster duties and with keeping up his Death Eater facade that he'd never met any of the new students from that year. Minerva had done all of that.

He would've been immensely joyful to teach such an adept student. He'd always longed to have a student that he could give all of his knowledge to, and search for new knowledge with, but he'd never found a student that actually loved potions as much as he did, and his status as a death eater held him back. It was dangerous to have any attachments, and he knew that anyone he became close to would either be forced into service with Voldemort, or killed brutally. But Voldemort was gone now, and he found an unfamiliar tug of hope at his heart. Perhaps if the little spitfire was willing, they could work together, exchange knowledge. He frowned a little at the bookshelf, realizing that there were several volumes missing that she could truly benefit from, volumes that were hard to find. But he knew where he could probably find some of them if he could find a way to earn himself a living again.

He took one of the newer tomes from off the shelf, titled Potions for the Healing of the Mind , and read for a few hours. It was an extremely well-written book authored by a witch named Tanis Ashworth. The photo on the flyleaf was indistinct, a witch bent over a patient. Time flew by rather quickly, and all of a sudden a silvery hippogriff patronus clomped into the room, saying, "Coming back now. Don't be startled."

"I don't know how you thought sending in a bloody hippogriff was going to keep me from being startled, woman," he growled at her when she arrived, laden with a few bags, which he was now strong enough to help with, "that thing is huge. How do you manage a Patronus of that size?"

"Oh, just a really meaningful memory. I'll tell you about it someday perhaps. Anyways, I thought you might like a bit more variety in your clothing. They've been storing these in case you ever woke up. The rest of your things are in your vault at Gringott's."

The knowledge that he still had all of his possesions was a surprise and a relief to Severus. Siobheann went on to explain that she'd campaigned for that, and the vault had been kept a secret from everyone. He felt a surge of gratefulness, and suddenly found himself blurting out, "Miss Dewar, I was reading some of your excellent papers this morning. I have never found another potions master as adept as myself, and had given up the hope of that a long time ago. However, your work has definitely proven your skill. I was wondering...if you would do me the honor of allowing me to work with you...sometimes...if that wouldn't be abhorrent to yourself." He was irritated to find that his hands were shaking yet again, and he chalked that up to the fact that he was still in a weakened state, and continued haltingly, "You may have noticed that I possess a fairly large library, when my quarters were being cleaned out, and I thought perhaps when I am able, I would go fetch a few of them and bring them here so that you could benefit from them. Your library has some gaps in it."

The large eyes lit up and a small smile crept onto her lips. "You truly mean it? I have a confession for you. I had a very selfish motive in reviving you. I wanted to learn from an able potions master...and there are none as able as yourself. I was hoping to suggest that we work together, and that I could engage myself in a sort of second apprenticeship...I can't give up my position, you know, even if you are more qualified. I need to make my living somehow." A look of fear was in her eyes again, and she looked up into his eyes, begging for understanding.

"Of course, Miss Dewar. I would never dream of taking the position away from you. I only want to work with you. As for myself being more qualified, time is the only thing I've had more of, and you are obviously well suited to the position. I'd rather research than teach a bunch of first years anyhow. I have enough saved in my vault to live from, and can make my way through research. But if we were to pool our knowledge, we could do many things that other potioneers have only dreamed of." He left his tantalizing statement at that, watching her small face light up with understanding, relief, and excitement.

"You have grown strong enough now for me to introduce you to the world again. I had been dreading today, for I had resolved to let you go your own way even if it meant never learning from you. But now I see that everything will work out well enough. You are welcome to stay here in your room if you like, or seek quarters elsewhere. I use the private lab one room over for my own research. No reason why we shouldn't share that. I expanded it when I moved in."

Suddenly something dawned on Severus. "You moved into my old quarters, didn't you, wench?"

She nodded warily, then said, "Well, they are right next to the labs, and I didn't think you'd be needing them in any hurry."

"YOU TOOK OVER MY OLD QUARTERS AND PUT GRYFFINDOR SHIT ON THE WALLS?!?"

"Calm down, you great booby! I am willing to compromise with you about the walls, and anyways, they're my quarters now, so you can take it or leave it."

"I'm not rooming with you. You'll drive me insane."

"Have your way then. But go make yourself presentable. McGonagall and Neville are on the way."

"What in the bloody blazes in Neville coming here for?" He suddenly felt defensive and irritated, especially seeing the girls eyes glaze over again.

"He's one of the professors and he's one of my best friends, so pipe down."

"That witless wonder teaches?"

"Don't call him witless, he's brilliant! Best herbology master Hogwarts has ever seen!" She defended her hero with blazing eyes and flushed cheeks, irritating Severus even further.

"Whatever, you silly girl. I'm off to make myself presentable, as you say." And as he stalked away to the bathing quarters, he found himself wishing that there was some way to keep her from making a fool of herself over such a gutless specimen like Longbottom.


About half an hour later, Severus found himself seated in one of the comfortable leather chairs, waiting for the headmistress to arrive. Neville had already arrived, with Luna Lovegood of all people. Luna had introduced herself as the new Divination teacher, much to his surprise and amusement. She was almost as daft as her predecessor, if not more.

Siobheann was in the kitchen, preparing tea, and he found himself feeling at odds with these two former students, neither of them his favorites, staring akwardly at him. Neville was definitely more a man than he'd been before, but Snape found himself continuing to dislike him without knowing exactly why. Part of that might've been from the fact that he and Luna were so obviously together, despite sitting a discreet way away from one another and arriving five minutes apart to the button. They were a little to precise with their caution, and anyways, any fool could see when they looked at one another that there was something there. I suppose birds of a feather truly do flock together, he smirked wryly as he thought of the silly muggle saying, but then another thought arrested him. Merlin's beard, Siobheann doesn't know that they're together!

The ridiculous girl had turned to syrup the moment that Neville had arrived, fussing over him lovingly and bossing him around a little bit. Luna hadn't noticed, and neither, thankfully, had Neville. But the poor girl was going to make a fool of herself one of these days if she didn't realize very soon that Neville wasn't interested. If the sodding boy had noticed that that glorius woman was in love with him, he would've been on his knees for her by now! But the fool was drooling after a vacuous little blonde. Siobheann hadn't noticed this yet and was sure to be hurt when she found out. It would ruin her work until she got over it. Something would have to be done about this, but what? No apprentice of his should be allowed to be so foolish!

Finally, a plan came to him, just as the headmistress entered the room.

"Well, laddie, I'm glad to see that you've made a full recovery, and I can't say how glad I am to see you back with the living."

That was the only concession to emotion that the headmistress made, and then busied herself with catching up. Severus already knew all of the news, but let her enjoy the re-telling of certain events. Finally, she concluded by saying, "Severus, all of the teaching positions are already filled, otherwise I would beg you to return. Please do stay nearby. Perhaps you can do some work with Siobheann here, there is enough potions work to go around even this long after the war, and..."

"Minerva, I've already made arrangements." He watched her face droop a little, and feeling remorse for the effect that news had on her, he continued quickly, "but I am not leaving Hogwarts. I intend to do some new research, as I've always wanted to, and Miss Dewar has so generously allowed that we could work together sometimes. I will not need a salary, and I intend to remain in these quarters, so there's no need to find new quarters for me anywhere." At the mention of Siobheann, he had reached over with one of his strong hands and given her a little squeeze on the shoulder, startling everyone in the room. Siobheann's eyes had gone from syrupy to dissapointingly wary in three seconds flat at his touch. This plan of his was going to be alot of work.

"Well laddie, it wouldn't be any trouble to clear another dungeon for you, but I'm sure you know best. I will make the announcement on Monday of your return. The world needs to know, then you can move about freely once the fuss has died down. Until then, you and Miss Dewar will have to be very cautious when you're away from the castle. The wizarding world will be wary of you both, even with all the proof we have of your innocence" This final statement was accompanied by a meaningful look at his left wrist.

"Now, I think we shall leave you two to plan your working schedule and any other arrangements necessary. I've taken the liberty of having your things brought back here from Gringotts. They were most pleased with the vanishing cabinet that I had moved into your vault after I purchased it from Borgin and Burke's."

Severus was impressed with her accomplishment, and the mental image of the headmistress shopping at Borgin and Burke's, which would amuse him for days. "As you wish, headmistress."

"Hogwarts is your home, Severus. It always will be." And with that, she swept out of Siobheann's, no, their quarters, Neville and Luna trailing behind, desperately working at not gazing at eachother. Severus fought back a wave of nausea as he closed the door.

"So you've decided to stay after all? I thought you couldn't wait to be rid of me."

"Why would I ever want that? I find the conversation stimulating, and I doubt you are finished torturing me yet," he found himself crooning, "I am comfortable here, and we may as well get to know one another a little better."

At that statement, he slowly crossed the room and reached out and touched her face, watching with amusement as the girl's innocent eyes widened and a flush came into her cheeks. Her lips opened subconsciously in shock as his hand moved down her arm and then took firm hold of her hand, which was now completely covered by his. She found that she couldn't look away as his other hand joined her free hand and he drew her closer to him, while rubbing his thumb gently on the palm of her hand. He gazed into her eyes, making his obsidian eyes soften, making her eyes grow even wider.

"I'm not about to give up my quarters simply because you're lived in them for three years, wench." And with that statement, he released her and stalked back to his room, with a twinkle in his eyes, knowing that she stood there dumbly, all thoughts of Neville Longbottom gone from her mind for the present time.