Severus stormed around the cottage's small kitchen, slamming cupboards and muttering under his breath.
"...crazy old man...what does he expect of me...I can only take so much..."
It was Sunday evening, Jizania had dropped by to collect Vladimir and Nicolina Saturday late and Severus had spent Sunday doing what he hated most, playing the part of the devoted servant of Lord Voldemort.
As a young man, Severus Snape had joined the ranks of the Dark Lord, without a doubt the biggest mistake of his life. Sixteen years ago, he found a way out and joined a group of witches and wizards led by Albus Dumbledore who fought against the Dark Lord, the Order of the Phoenix. But although he was a member of the Order, Severus could not denounce Lord Voldemort openly, that would mean death. Instead, Severus was used as a spy for the Order, reporting the plans of the Death Eaters. It felt good to be working against the Dark Lord, but it was very difficult and Severus was certain there were a few Order members who did not trust him.
During Sunday's meeting with Lord Voldemort, Severus had been instructed to try and gain the confidence of Albus Dumbledore and perhaps learn some of his secrets. Severus was in Dumbledore's confidence, but the Dark Lord didn't know this. To protect his secret, Severus told Voldemort that Dumbledore did not place much trust in his Potions Master.
There had also been a meeting for the Order. Order of the Phoenix meetings were held in the family home of Sirius Black, an Order member who had been killed earlier in the summer by a Death Eater named Bellatrix Lestrange. Severus had always hated Black and did not enjoy being inside the man's house, not because it reflected Black himself, but rather because the dreary house was much like the one Severus had grown up in.
The meeting wasn't very long, Minerva and Dumbledore expressed their hopes of better cooperation form the Ministry now that Amelia Bones was in charge, a few members who held sentry duty reported that their charge, Harry Potter, was quite safe, and the meeting was over. Not wanting to hang around and chat, Severus began to leave, but Dumbledore held him back to talk privately. The Headmaster then requested that Severus resume tutoring Harry Potter in Occulmancy. Severus had reluctantly agreed to the lessons the year before, those lessons had ended abruptly when Potter became far too nosy. Severus had no intention of consenting to more lessons. But the Headmaster had a way of making Severus feel guilty and so he had agreed to think it over.
Severus grew weary of slamming cupboards; he sank into a kitchen chair and rested his forehead on the cool surface of the table. Of course he would say yes, Dumbledore knew he would, why did he even give him a choice? Severus hated Potter, extra lessons would be torture, the boy was just so stubborn! If Severus hadn't known how essential it was to keep the Dark Lord out of Harry Potter's mind, he would have honestly considered telling the Headmaster, 'no'.
His one consolation was that Potter was in his sixth year and would no longer have to take potions, unless... Severus jumped from his chair and rushed into his office. He began searching through his papers for the list of students eligible to take his N.E.W.T. level potions class. He found the envelope and ripped it open. His eyes flew down the page; he groaned and threw the list down onto the desk. Harry Potter had made the list. Dumbledore would insist he let the boy in, he wanted to be an auror after all.
Severus climbed the stairs to his bedroom and flung himself onto the bed, fully clothed. The day had been a complete nightmare and in two days time he would be heading back to Hogwarts where he would have to face Dumbledore and agree to the lessons.
Monday saw Severus storming about the cottage again as he packed for Hogwarts. Further inspection of the list showed that Hermione Granger had made the list as had six Ravenclaws and a surprising two Hufflepuffs. To Severus' horror and disgust, not a single Slytherin had achieved an 'Outstanding' O.W.L. in Potions. Severus was Head of Slytherin House and had always managed to get a few of them to understand the complexities of potion making, but not this year. He could just imagine what Minerva McGonagall, the Gryffindor lioness, would say when she learned that two of her Gryffindors had made the class while his own Slytherins had failed.
Despite his anger and slight mortification, Severus was quite ready to return to Hogwarts. Severus finished his packing early and decided that, although he wasn't expected at Hogwarts until Tuesday, he would go ahead and leave. Severus apparated into Hogsmead, his trunks transfigured into a single briefcase, and walked up the dirt road to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Severus left his untransfigured trunks in the Entrance Hall for the house elves to deliver to his rooms and decided he might as well get his meeting with Dumbledore over with. He headed towards the Headmasters office and realized as he stood before the stone gargoyles that guarded the entrance, he did not know the password. Since Dumbledore usually chose sweets for his password, Severus began running down a mental list of candies and saying each aloud.
"...sugar quills...sherbet lemons...pumpkin pasties...peppermint toads...ginger newts-"
The gargoyles sprung aside, which surprised him; Dumbledore didn't care much for ginger newts. Severus stepped through the open doorway and onto the revolving staircase, which continued to revolve even after he stepped onto the landing outside the office door. It was only after Severus rapped on the door with the Griffin knocker that he realized there was someone already in the office conversing with the Headmaster. At his knock, however, the voices stopped and Severus heard Dumbledore call out,
"Come in."
Severus opened the door and stepped inside. Albus Dumbledore, his long silver beard pooling onto the desk in front of him, smiled in greeting. Across the desk from the Headmaster sat Minerva, sipping a cup of tea.
"Hello Headmaster, Minerva," said Severus, inclining his head to them both.
"Hello, Severus," said Minerva, smiling over the rim of her teacup. "I suppose you've seen the O.W.L. results and have come back early to argue with Albus over your class list?"
Severus scowled at her. "Very funny, Minerva."
She placed her cup on the desk, stood and crossed to the door. "I'll see you both later," she said as she left the office.
Dumbledore watched Severus over the rim of his glasses.
"Have a seat," he said; indicating the chair Minerva had just vacated.
"No, that's all right, this really won't take long."
Dumbledore said nothing, but leaned back in his chair and waited for the young professor to continue.
"I have decided to continue with Potter's Occulmancy lessons," said Severus shortly. "And, I will not dispute his acceptance into my N.E.W.T.s potion class even though I had no say in who was selected."
The Headmaster's eyes began to twinkle. Severus bit back the urge to take back his agreement, he could always fail Potter if classes became too unbearable, he wouldn't waste his breath trying to argue with Dumbledore.
"That's all then," said Severus and he turned to leave.
"Just a moment, Severus," said Dumbledore. Severus paused, one hand on the handle of the door. "Minerva and I were just discussing the issue of your nephew, Vladimir. We feel it's best that neither you nor Minerva make known your relationship to the boy."
"Of course not," said Severus calmly. "He would be ostracized if the students knew he was my nephew."
"Actually," said Dumbledore, his eyes no longer twinkling, "we were more concerned about what Voldemort might think."
Severus flinched at the name and left the office quickly, his stomach twisted with horrible new thoughts.
-
Well, there's the update, tell me what you think!