A pile of books lay scattered across the hotel room floor. One by one they began to disappear as Harry carefully packed them away. For the past week he'd been working on his syllabus for the coming year. At first he was afraid he wouldn't be able to plan out a whole year's worth of classes for 7 different age groups but once he began working he found it to be incredibly easy. McGonagall had helped a lot too, sending him the last seven years worth of syllabi from the various Defense professors. Most of them had been worthless in Harry's opinion but he supposed Defense wasn't emphasized as much after Voldemort was defeated and no new Dark Lord had popped up since. Come to think of it, Defense hadn't been emphasized when Voldemort was around.

He growled somewhat angrily as he packed away the last of his things. Wizards can be such weaklings, always expecting the Ministry to protect them, depending on a mere boy to save them from the most powerful evil wizard who'd ever existed. Harry snorted derisively, just wait until they see what's become of their savior.

"You stupid snake," Harry hissed loudly to the empty room, "Where've you got to?" A loud hiss came from the direction of the bathroom and Harry chuckled to himself when he found the large green snake stuck in the bathtub. "Serves you right. I should leave you in there." The hissing became irate. "Yeah, yeah, c'mon then."

Carefully he lifted the snake out of the tub and carried it to the crate sitting in one corner of the bedroom. The snake wriggled unhappily in the man's arms but it did not try and get away. It knew that it had to be in the crate or it would be left behind.

"Don't worry," Harry hissed calmly, "Once we get to Hogwarts you can roam around my room and maybe…just maybe certain parts of the castle. If you're good."

After one last look around the hotel room, Harry Potter, the last Parselmouth in existence, grabbed up his things and disapparated to the gates of Hogwarts. In two weeks he would officially begin teaching.

dSz

To say Draco Malfoy was perturbed would be an understatement. As the time of Harry's arrival came closer his anxiety level rose to new heights. He'd ruined three fairly easy potions, spilled pumpkin juice on his favorite robes and now, to make matters worse, he'd misplaced his favorite potions text.

"Are you sure you haven't seen it?" He questioned the portrait guarding the door to his rooms.

The painting was of a young, silver haired wizard stirring a mysterious potion in a gigantic cauldron. The picture showed up on both sides of the door so it could easily inform him of who was requesting access. Usually the portrait was very helpful when he'd misplaced something. It wasn't being so helpful today though.

"You're in a poor mood lately," the portrait commented blandly.

"I don't need your opinion, I need that book," Draco sneered as he dug through his desk for the hundredth time.

"Hmpf! If you're going to be like that then forget it. I'm not helping you."

"Prat."

"Git."

Draco huffed angrily. He stepped in front of the portrait, wand raised. "You better help me or I'll have to get a new portrait. One that hasn't been cut in two with a well placed curse."

"There's someone at the door," was the portraits reply. Draco was caught off guard.

"What?"

"I'll let him in then," the portrait continued, grinning slyly.

"Wait just a second…Severus? What brings you down here?" The headmaster held out a book and Draco sighed in relief. "I've been looking for that everywhere."

"I apologize," Severus replied, "I should have informed you when I borrowed it. Do you mind if I come in?"

"Of course not. Would you like a cuppa?"

Severus looked pained for a moment. "Yes, please," he ground out.

Draco gave him a confused look before calling for a house elf. They sat before the cold fireplace sipping their tea in silence. Draco could tell that something was really bothering the older man. He seemed almost…jumpy and Severus Snape does not get jumpy for just any little thing.

"I'm sorry for bothering you," Severus stated, rising suddenly. "I should go."

"Wait!" Draco exclaimed, "Sit down and finish your tea at least."

Severus slowly sat down but did not reach for his cup. "I am having second thoughts about having Potter here. It's not due to lack of faith in his abilities or even our past relationship."

"Then what is it?" Draco asked, now very concerned.

"Guilt," he replied hesitantly.

"Did he say something to you to make you this upset? I can't believe you can't handle a Gryffindor. You're not losing your touch are you?"

"I'll never forgive you."

"Severus," Draco called out, seeing the far away look in the man's eyes.

"What?"

"What did he say to you?" Draco questioned

"You killed him. I don't care if it was for the greater good. I don't care if it was all part of the plan. You killed him and I'll never forgive you."

"I have never forgiven myself. Does that make you feel somewhat better?"

"No. But I'll never forgive him either, does that make you feel better?"

"No."

"Talk to me Severus," Draco urged, breaking Severus from his memories.

"He didn't say anything that isn't true. I did kill Dumbledore."

"But it was all part of the plan," Draco stammered, "He knows that. Professor Dumbledore was dying anyway."

"It does not matter. Potter will never forgive me. I don't blame him. I have not forgiven myself."

"But it wasn't your fault," Draco scoffed, "When did you turn so…so Gryffindor?"

Severus stared into the empty fireplace. "I don't know but I still miss him. I like to think we were friends, in some way."

"Of course you were…in a way. You did what he asked of you Severus, that's what friends do."

"Are you sure?" Severus questioned. "Friends should take care of each other and save each other, shouldn't they?"

Pulling out his wand, Draco levitated a bottle of firewhiskey from his liquor cabinet. Two tumblers followed a second later. He handed Severus a glass and the man took it gratefully.

"You're getting confused Severus," Draco chuckled. "Those are Gryffindors that you're talking about."

Severus chuckled into his glass before knocking back the contents. He handed the glass to Draco. The young man filled it happily and then refilled his own.

"To Slytherin!" Draco exclaimed.

"To Slytherin!" Severus answered.

After three hours had passed the two wizards had toasted every house, every teacher, a few of the past headmasters, four loves lost and two or three house elves. To say they were thoroughly snockered would be an understatement. At least I'm not anxious anymore, Draco thought to himself as he poured another drink. Doing anything was getting harder as the night when on and half the firewhiskey ended up on the table instead of the glass.

"Woops," he mumbled.

"I'll take care of that," Severus slurred drunkenly. "Evalasco!" he shouted, pointing at the mess with his wand. With a pop one of the table legs disappeared and the whole thing toppled to the floor.

"That's it," Draco stated, "I'm taking your wand. You are too drunk to be doing magic."

"What are you? My mother?"

"I'm much prettier then your mother. Much more charming as well."

Severus poked Draco angrily. "You take that back. My mother was beautiful. She wasn't a harpy like yours."

"I'll drink to that!" Draco exclaimed. Both men tipped their glasses and neither noticed as the whiskey burned down their throat.

"Wait," Severus said, slowly pushing himself up to stand. His legs were shaky and he wobbled slightly but after a moment he was able to stabilize himself by putting a hand on the mantle above the fireplace. "Wait…wait…wait. I've got another toast."

Draco quickly filled two more glasses and slowly got up off his chair. "Who are we toasting to now? O, I know, Sirius Black, may he bury bones happily in heaven forevermore."

"No, no, no. This one's for Potter…Harry, you know, Harry Potter."

"Okay, let's here it," Draco urged, smiling like a madman.

"To Harry Potter," Severus began as solemnly as he could, "He killed the dark lord and all he got for it was a cane and a bloody eye patch. That's destiny for you."

"I always thought he had quite a nice arse for an idiotic Gryffindor," Draco added causing Severus to let out a loud burst of laughter.

"I'll drink to that!" The older man stated. "To Harry Potter's arse!"

dSz

Minerva McGonagall was not a happy woman. The Headmaster was missing. She'd checked his rooms, checked his office, checked everywhere she could think of and found nothing. Not even a hint as to where he might have gone. Normally she would only be annoyed by his absence but Harry would be coming on the train this morning and it would look awful if the Headmaster did not come down to meet him at the gates.

"Severus," she grumbled under her breath. Suddenly an idea came to her and she wondered why she hadn't thought of it before. "Winky!" she called out and the little house elf appeared with a faint pop. "Find me Severus," she commanded before Winky could ask what the deputy headmistress needed.

Winky nodded and then popped away. A few minutes later the house elf returned, looking perplexed. "He is being with Mr. Malfoy but he is looking very sickly."

Minerva sent the house elf away and quickly made her way down to the dungeons. An expression of concern mixed with confusion set upon her features. Why would Severus go to Draco if he were sick? Why not the Hospital Wing?

She got her answer once Draco came to the door. The poor man looked as if he was on his deathbed. "I'm assuming by the mess," she said, gliding past Draco, "this is a self-inflicted illness."

"I've got a potion down in my stores that will help but I need to go down there myself. The cabinet won't open for anyone else. Can you watch Severus while I'm gone?"

"O, I'd be happy to," Minerva answered slyly.

The portrait closed with a bang and there was a small groan from the other side of the couch. Minerva made her way around the room. She gasped when she finally laid eyes on Severus. Forget deathbed, the man looked like he'd been dead for a week or more. He squinted at her as she took in his appearance.

"What were you thinking Severus? You're lucky you're Headmaster because if you were still a Professor here…" She let the threat hang.

"It was a slight lapse in judgment. I assure you it will not happen again."

"Of course not," she stated, "Unless, sometime in the near future, we hire another Professor with whom you share bad history." Severus merely snorted in reply. "I was thinking about hiring Mr. Longbottom should Draco ever decide to leave. I've been told his potion making ability has really improved since he graduated."

Severus pushed himself off the couch and began stumbling around the room. "Where did Draco put the last of that firewhiskey," he grumbled causing Minerva to laugh. It was going to be a long year.