Disclosure: JK Rowling created and rightfully owns Harry Potter. I simply aim to give you a few happy minutes waiting in between classes, as we imagine our favorite book characters living on past Deathly Hallows.
October 1998
Sunday, 4 October 1998
Dear Hermione,
Again, it is already past midnight. You have a habit of keeping me up late on Sundays. You are correct, Hermione, you are far from blind. I am shocked, embarrassed, humbled and somehow grateful that you were at my trial. You have the whole picture of who I was, and you have the whole picture of who I am.
I will not try to fix you; you are in no way broken. I will not ignore you. And the war definitely wasn't your fault. However, I think it's time to change the subject, for both of our sakes. You can call me your "temporarily changes the subject" friend.
I imagine hearing quite a bit about this Potions project, so it better be interesting.
Exploded cauldron count is up to eight. My hormonal Sixth Years got upgraded from dunderheads to complete dumb arses. I knew I should have assigned lab partners in that class. Maybe I'm the dumb arse. Two pairs of Sixth Years exploded their cauldrons because they were too busy flirting to read the damn recipe. We were making the base of the Strengthening Solution. Instead of a teaspoon of powdered griffin claw, two pairs threw in a whole damn claw. They made this last year. I was just reviewing! A whole claw! Thankfully, the base has no strengthening properties or I would have had an entire class of very strong dumb arses to contend with. Let's see how flirtatious they are with each other when they are disemboweling newts.
By the way, a very short Second Year Hufflepuff got my Jabberwocky Poem bogus points. Two points for a good conclusion sentence on an essay. I almost felt bad for being so stingy, but he was really happy, so all's well that ends well. Who do you want to win the House Cup this year? Because, by Merlin, I can make it happen. I'm not Head of House. I've got nothing better to do but surreptitiously fix the House standings. I must keep my skills of duplicity sharp, right? Never know when they'll be needed.
Your friend,
Severus
Wednesday, 7 October 1998
Dear Severus,
What do you mean you aren't Head of House?
You are an excellent subject changer. Well done! Your story was so funny. I only wish the stupidest thing I did as a Sixth Year because of hormones was exploding a cauldron. But, oh no, I went to a Christmas party with Cormac McLaggen to make Ron jealous. That was a great move. A classic, I'd say. I think I'll go blow up a cauldron to cheer myself up now.
I have been, in my spare time (ha!), thinking about the Fifth Years that hate you. We'll have to get them sorted out before they become angry and hormonal Sixth Years. I have a thought, but I could be wrong. Isn't Dennis Creevey a Fifth Year? His brother, Colin, died at the Battle of Hogwarts. I have heard through the grapevine that quite a few students are upset that there has been no memorial set up at Hogwarts to honor the students that died. How hard could it be to install a plaque or something? Look in to that in your spare time (ha!).
For my Potions project, I initially looked into improving Pepper-Up Potion, but within a day, I easily discovered that the potion does not actually have to steam as it does. You Potions Masters are mischievous bastards. But your secret is safe with me, unless you annoy me.
I am now considering a topical potion to leach magical signatures from hexes out of skin, so that it can heal properly by normal means. George Weasley, Bill Weasley, so many war veterans could use the opportunity to heal physically. I, in particular, would like to get rid of a scar. It was courtesy of Dolohov from my little Fifth Year field trip to the Ministry. So, I guess that would make me vain in a considerate kind of way. How's that for interesting? Because making my letters to you more interesting is my secondary goal, of course.
Your friend,
Hermione
Sunday, 11 October 1998
Dear Hermione,
We mischievous Potions Bastards teaching at Hogwarts (I'm thinking of officially changing my title, by the way), do not get paid well. Let's call it a job perk when I see dunderheads walking through the corridors with steaming ears. Madame Pomfrey enjoys it, as well. We laugh at steaming ears, and at Second Years who turn themselves into overgrown cats. Fond, fond memories.
Your vanity potion has merits. How do you intend to make sure it doesn't leach a person's own inherent magic? You are delving into some very deep, elemental theories of magic. Interesting in a scary kind of way.
I am no longer Head of Slytherin. I'm no longer Headmaster, either, in case you missed that little change. The new DADA professor, Professor Hudson, is now Head of Slytherin. He's a good man. He used to be an Auror. He is older than dirt, but still quite strong magically. He is a good father figure to the Slytherins, who are a somewhat ragtag, lost group this year. The Board of Governors felt like it would be prudent to make large, sweeping changes. I can't blame them, but I do miss it. I don't, however, miss being Headmaster. There is nothing interesting about paperwork and talking to the Ministry and the Board of Governors. I don't have that temperament. Apparently, you can't actually use the term "dunderheads" when dealing with the Ministry. They frown upon that. Maybe when Professor Hudson retires, or expires, I can regain Head of House. Until then, I will be equally nasty to everyone.
On a funnier note, Second Year Hufflepuff Shorty who got my Jabberwocky bogus points has all of a sudden become smart. Two measly points for an essay conclusion, and all of a sudden, he's Nicholas Flamel. Who knew that points could be used to encourage students? That information might be in my Professor's handbook, but I'm not sure where it is.
Your friend,
Severus
Wednesday, 14 October 1998
Dear Severus,
I'm not sure what surprises me more: that you even know there's a Professor's handbook, or that you called a Hufflepuff "smart".
Laugh as much as you want over my whisker incident, but I'm still extremely proud of brewing Polyjuice Potion, correctly, over a toilet, with a ghost continually bitching in my ear, in my Second Year. My favorite First Year better be awarded some points for that one, Professor.
I'm glad you find my Potions project interesting. There's no reason to be scared, I will make sure it is theoretically sound before I test it on you! Just kidding, I have a list as long as my arm of rude Pureblood U. students and faculty who need to be lab rats. What arses. My Potions Professor is at the top of that list, by the way. His response to my initial project dossier was, "as if you could achieve that." He's actually bitchier than Moaning Myrtle, come to think of it.
How is your Fifth Years project coming, or have they simply hexed you and gotten it out of their system?
Also, and feel free to be my "change the subject" friend once again after I say this, I can imagine October is a tough month for you. I hope you are well.
Your friend,
Hermione
Sunday, 18 October 1998
Dear Hermione,
Aren't you clever, addressing the outside of my last letter to "Potions Bastard"? Tangle Headed Gryffindor First Year lost five points for being late to class. She was early, by the way. When I realized my dreadful mistake, I awarded her five points. Second Year Toilet Polyjuice duly awarded.
I did ask Filius and Pomona if they had noticed the poor, misunderstood, temperamental Fifth Years, and they agreed that they are nasty hooligans. It's not just me they dislike, so your original theory is still on the table.
October will never be easy for me. Neither will June, nor a host of other months. I have enough bad memories to cover every calendar square, to be honest. But I am well, Hermione. I am hoping to feel less pain with each passing year. I fulfilled my debt to Lily and to Albus. I cannot do any more.
Your friend,
Severus
Wednesday, 21 October 1998
Dear Severus,
Too true, dear friend. You cannot do any more. You cannot save any more lives than you have already saved, mine included.
Change the subject, Severus. I think I'm just a little down because I've been thinking about you and Harry. I am missing all of my friends.
Your friend,
Hermione
Sunday, 25 October 1998
Dear Hermione,
Subject is official changed. You can thank me later.
My golden opportunity with my Fifth Years came around on Friday afternoon. Double Potions, Gryffindor and Slytherin. I've been waiting patiently for one of my hooligans to lose their temper in Potions and earn a detention with me. So, I might have sped it along a little bit by assigning a harder than usual potion, and I might have given them too little time to do it. Exploded Cauldron count is officially at 11. And everything spewed forth at the same time. I had my shield charm up before the first cauldron even hissed in warning or the first wand was raised in anger. The Fifth Year boys were so enraged, they made Harry Potter look like The Boy Who Admired Snape His Whole Life. Feel free to pass that along to Potter. Anyway, after the dust settled, Gryffindor and Slytherin each lost 100 House points. Turns out, it's frowned upon to hex a Professor. I found my Professor's handbook. It was enlightening. I turned most of the detentions over to Hagrid. They'll have a lovely time scooping pulp out of his giant pumpkins for the Feast. Without magic. Should only take a few days. But, I made Dennis Creevey serve his detention with yours truly. I calmly told him that he could either talk to me in a civilized manner regarding the bee in his bonnet, or he could prepare the frog brains for my Third Years.
You were right. "Truth will out," as they say. Dennis was very plain about how much this group of students lost last year. Quite a few siblings of this group died, and I'm not sure how we missed that fact. They are very resentful of how the younger casualties were not honored with more than a passing mention in the Daily Prophet. I called Minerva in to sit down and listen to Dennis. We agreed that Hogwarts was amiss, as was the Ministry, in not recognizing those students. We will start the process of rectifying this wrong.
You said it best, Hermione. We all have scars.
Your friend,
Severus
After Severus sent the letter on his way to Hermione, he considered the part of the story he left out. He did indeed ask Minerva to come down and talk to Dennis. Time was of the essence, so obviously it made the most sense to send a message by way of Patronus. If he had only stopped for one moment to consider what he was doing, he would have tried that in private. Why had it not occurred to him that it might have changed? So much had changed. But as soon as the word, "Patronum" had left his mouth, he realized, too late, that he was probably in for a shock. He was able to school his features blank in front of Dennis and he was even able to answer Minerva's question about if his Patronus had indeed changed when she arrived, confused. He hadn't tried it again, since Friday's fiasco. He should have known, simply because of the memory he used to conjure the Patronus. Instead of his stock memory, the first happy memory that came to mind was of September 1st of this year, giving Miss Rosings those first bogus points and thinking of how Hermione would think it was funny. And not only was it the first happy memory to come to his mind, it was strong enough to conjure a good Patronus. He twirled his wand between his fingers. It felt as though he were at a funeral, almost. He was at a crossroads, of sorts. To acknowledge his new Patronus meant he would need to let go of his old one. But really, it was already gone and it was not coming back. There was nothing to be done for it, then. "Expecto Patronum!" The falcon circled the room once before alighting on the arm of his wingback chair. With a flick of his wrist, he released his Patronus. Phineas arched his eyebrows when he heard Severus mutter, "Shit," to no one in particular as he left his sitting room to go to bed.
Wednesday, 28 October 1998
Dear Severus,
Well done! Ten bogus points for your excellent detective work. I think the Slytherins should receive the fruit of your labor. But it has to be a Third Year, in honor of the year I personally hexed you. If only I'd known that was frowned upon…
By the way, I would have made it twenty, but you were an arse to my First Year.
I did pass along your witty remark to Harry. He so loves it when he's referred to as The Boy Who does such and such. I believe his response was along the lines of "still a bastard, I see." So, your new title as "Potions Bastard" seems to be catching on quite nicely.
It makes me happy to hear that your Fifth Years might get some resolution, and that maybe they'll stop wanting to hex you. Of course, if they hex you, then maybe you'll volunteer to let me test my vanity potion. I am learning some absolutely amazing things about how magic is ingrained into every cell of our bodies.
Tell me about your Seventh Years. And are you researching anything right now? I always forget to ask that.
Your friend,
Hermione
Author's Note: This chapter was a little short; November will make up for it with a nice, long chapter. The winds of change are stirring, and Severus and Hermione will need to have a talk… in person.
