Authors note: Sorry it took a few days to get this up, but its here now, and guess what? We get to hear from our favorite potions master Severus Snape! Just being his usual contrary snarky self. =) Please enjoy and review!
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Sev Snape: …Snarky?
Author: Yea, you are. Deal.
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When the train had come to a stop and the children had departed V walked slowly down the corridor to where Metus awaited her, "Nothing?" she questioned the dementor; it shook is cloaked head in a nonverbal negative and they departed. It must have been around six o'clock and darkness was falling fast across the surrounding forest. "The others have been sent to their posts?" The dementor nodded in response and motioning for her to follow with a wave of its skeleton hand, the two made their way from the train into the night, setting off down the road leading up to the castle. Hogwarts indeed was a sight to behold; it rose majestically over the treetops, a timeless elegant edifice of stone. The road wound through the outer edges of the Forbidden Forest and soon lead the odd pair, vampire and dementor, to a large wrought iron gate, at the gate stood a man with long thin hair an uninviting grimace and a cat in his arms, as they approached however his expression changed and settled on more of a frown; the cat hissed.
"Welcome to Hogwarts" he growled backing away as he hastily unlocked the gate allowing them to enter the grounds. V placed herself between Metus and the caretaker as they entered, it may not have made him feel any better but it was an effort. The man quickly retreated leaving she and Metus to make their way towards the Black Lake. The rain that had been falling at a drizzle suddenly picked up and fell from the dark sky in torrents. Two other dementors hovered in proximity to the water and turned when they felt the approaching presence of V and Metus who took their post among them in silence.
At the shore of the lake V stood alone with her arms folded across her chest, watching the black waves lapping at the thin sandy strip of beach on which she was standing, her black boots dotted with crystals of sand. Hugging her sodden cloak tighter to her she shook lightly, V was soaked through but didn't matter much to her, as raindrops clung to her long black eyelashes she lifted her pail face and turned her gaze heavenward starring up into the vast expanse of dark clouds covering the night sky. However gloomy the night was she couldn't help but revel in the joy of her freedom, every white deadly flash of lightening was beautiful to her, however short lived it may be. The thought of returning to Azkaban terrified her and as she blinked away the rain drops falling heavily on her face she resolved never to return to the prison, no matter the cost.
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Inside, the students now clad in their school robes were tracking their muddy wet feet all down the corridor as they made their way to the Great Hall; Argus Filch resented every last one of them. Though unbeknownst to them a heated discussion was taking place at the head table. Though perhaps it was more of a group effort to persuade Severus Snape…
"I don't see what there is to discuss" the potions master stated simply refusing to make eye contact with Minerva McGonagall who stood at her place with her arms folded resolutely, glaring sharply over her spectacles in his direction.
"For Merlin's sake Severus!" A small man spat angrily as he climbed atop his chair to be better heard, "She was a member of my house! And it is my responsibility to see to it that she is cared for and treated with respect at this school!" The tinny wizard stood in his chair on top of a thick charms level six book with his hands on his hips.
"How touching Professor Flitwick, it's nice to see that so many professors at this school save a special place in their hearts for convicts" Snape drawled as he looked not to the small irate wizard but to Remus Lupin who stood alone wearing a neutral expression with his hands shoved deep in his pockets.
"I agree," Professor Binns spoke up as he floated over to his coworkers joining in on the argument. "The ministry would in no way condone the presence of a year old vampire inside the castle among the students. Its ludicrous if you ask me, an accident waiting to happen, a lawsuit. Imagine the possibilities… risks outweigh benefits by a significant margin."
Snape shot Remus a smug look. He Werewolf frowned a bit but said nothing.
Minerva had absolutely had enough she rounded the table as she spoke. "To hell with the Ministry Binns! Damn it! One of your former students" she paused casting her gaze over the other professors as well, "one of our former students is standing out there beside the lake at this very moment alone and surrounded by dementors." The woman stood pointing her finger angrily in the direction of the Black Lake, she shook her head and pursed her lips in furry. "That young woman needs our help!"
"It seems to me Minerva that perhaps you are taking the matter more… personally than professor Binns and myself?" Snape casually questioned of the older woman who stood fuming in front of where he was seated calmly.
"I beg your pardon?" Her lips were so thin now that she didn't look to have lips at all, "You of all people present in this room Severus Snape…" she began turning her angry finger from the window sharply to point it at Snape in accusation. But it was at that moment; much to Snape's relief that Albus Dumbledore chose to walked through the small door of the staff entrance headed straight up to the head table, and walked directly over to where Minerva stood still pointing at Snape. He looked from one to the other quickly; Snape's scowl deepened and McGonagall lowered her finger quickly.
"Professors," Dumbledore greeted them, "I see that the students are arriving," he nodded in the direction of the large wooden double doors which were slowly opening to emit many teens. Minerva sighed as she walked back around the table to take her seat and Snape relaxed a bit into his chair. However, Dumbledore wasn't finished. "Minerva, would you mind walking with Tonks to collect Ms. Holland?" He nodded to the lavender haired witch who stood silently in the doorway of the staff entrance, her eyes red from crying. The old man smiled with the characteristic twinkle dancing across his powder blue eyes. McGonagall stopped abruptly with her hand on the back of her chair and met her friend's gaze before smiling graciously and whispering her thanks before hurrying off to join Tonks.
Snape exhaled through his teeth and rested his head in his hand, elbow propped on the table. This was impossible, how could this be happening to him? Regaining his composure as quickly as he had momentarily lost it, he sat up running his fingers back through his greasy black hair as he did so, scowling out at the students who were filling their respective house tables chattering loudly. Snape shifted his black eyes and looked down the table to Dumbledore who sat happily at his place smiling out at the students merrily. The old man inclined his head slightly feeling Severus's eyes on him and gave the potions master a knowing wink before rising to address the students.
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Tonks and McGonagall rushed through the hallways and out the large doors into the stormy September night, quickly pulling the hoods of their cloaks up to shield their faces from the driving rain. As the lake came into view the two witches spied the dark figure of a woman standing quietly on the shore, her head turned towards the sky, the harsh wind whipping her black robes around her violently. Tonks shuddered as she felt the awful sensation of being stripped of every shred of all the love and joy present in her life as she purposefully approached the place where the dementors floated silently at their post. She instead fixed her eyes on her friend, summoning her courage and focusing hard on thoughts of Christmas with the Weasley family, warm boison berry tarts, and the rush of summer wind through her hair as she flew free on her broomstick. 'Happy thoughts, happy thoughts,' she reminded herself as they came to the drenched woman at the shore.
From her post though V had lost herself in dreams of a future free from the cold walls of prison she had become aware of the human presence approaching. As they neared her she reluctantly lowered her eyes from the sky and turned her face to the newcomers. She was pleasantly surprised to see her friend from the train walking towards her accompanied by an older strangely familiar looking witch, the two of them wrapped tightly in warm cloaks. V shifted her feet in the sand and smiled over at them, her joy entirely unaffected by the dementors. The older woman pressed a hand to her mouth as she caught sight of V's face and reached out with the other to touch the material of the vampire's cloak, V's eyes widened, her smile fell and she mechanically jerked away from the touch without thinking. The woman withdrew her hand quickly.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," the older witch whispered now backing away slightly giving V plenty of room, "Oh, dear, I know…" she looked at V now with eyes full of compassion and concern. V looked the woman over intently, deeply confused by her reaction, sorry that she had again been so rude, she searching the woman's kind face for answers, but nothing came to her. This woman was having a similar reaction to the one Tonks had had on the train… V instead looked back to Tonks, her scarlet eyes asking all the questions she couldn't seem to verbalize.
"See, she doesn't remember at all," Tonks said putting a hand on the older woman's arm that was still looking sadly to V, the woman shook her head before carefully extending a shaky hand for V to take. The vampire studied it for a moment, infinitely confused by Tonks words and further befuddled by the woman's strange behavior. Nevertheless, striving to remember her manners she took the offered hand and shook it gently.
"Minerva McGonagall…" the woman said softly looking deep into V's red eyes as if she were searching for something inside them, perhaps a trace of recognition… But V's system was on overload, the stormy night, her new found freedom, the meeting of Tonks and Remus, so much seemed to be happening at once, she didn't even reply just shook the woman's hand mutely and stared as if in a trance. The surroundings became a blur and she ceased to feel the wind or the rain, or hear the lapping of the waves at her feet, she was shutting down, it was all a bit too much in one day after she had spent so long alone. She saw Tonks's mouth move as she spoke but didn't hear the words coming out, "come" was all V had been able to discern and when she didn't move but continued to remain standing and starring blankly at the two women before her Tonks carefully reached out her hand and placed it on the vampires shoulder letting it rest there for a moment afraid the contact would elicit a possibly aggressive reaction, however when V didn't retaliate at the touch of her new friends hand Tonks took hold of the vampires cloak and pulled her along as she turned back towards the castle.
"What?" V asked still looking dazed as she was gently dragged away from the lake and up towards the castle, "what?" The world was soft and quiet to V; her mind had stopped processing her surroundings several minutes ago. She shifted her eyes to her shoulder and noticed the witches hand firmly grasping her cloak but felt to weak to fight it, she resolved thoughtlessly to allow herself to be lead up the path.
A women's voice came to her, thick with a Scottish accent…
'…Welcome to Transfiguration first years, and welcome to Hogwarts, My name is Professor McGonagall and today as our first lesson, we will be attempting to transfigure water into pumpkin juice…please turn to page 11…' The room was large and bright, a classroom, complete with chalkboards and rows of long thin wooden tables for desks. There she sat in her black school robes, sitting up straight paying full attention, long brown hair in a pretty ponytail… Transfigurations: Level One waiting on the desk in front of her already open…
"She seems to be going into shock. Tonks…?" Minerva turned a worried expression to her auror companion but Tonks just shook her head and continued to lead/drag the vampire towards the castle. She knew that the sooner they could get her inside, out of the rain, out of her soaking clothes and dry, then to Dumbledore the better. Tonks knew that was all they could do for her right now, get her inside and help meet basic needs; Dumbledore would deal with the rest. So against the howl and push of the wind they trudged on.
'…It's a relatively simple spell, but it may take a few go-rounds to get it just right.' Professor McGonagall spoke from her place at the front of the room smiling out at them, her hair tied up on top of her head in a neat bun. 'We will count to three, and then cast our spells. Observe.' The professor withdrew her wand from within the fold of her robes and pointing it at a crystal goblet of water she proceeded. 'One, two, three, Feriverto…' The water swirled about a bit as it changed to a deep orange color and thickened, the professor held up the goblet for all to see. 'This one simple spell can be used for a variety of simple transfigurations… It's quite useful for day-to-day alterations. Now, you try, all you need to do is concentrate on pumpkin juice and recite the incantation, off you go, and remember, one, two, three, taps then Feriverto…'
Tonks and McGonagall each grasp one of V's arms as they entered the castle, the large wooden doors closed behind them and locked themselves as they stood in the entrance hall drying their shoes and discarding their sodden outerwear. V had not come back to herself and stood quietly in a daze, her soaking black attire dripping and making large puddles around her boots on the stone floor, her red eyes stared blankly into the distance, glazed over.
…The professor slowly made her way around the room observing the progress of the first years. '…As I said, it make take you a few tries to get it right, but just keep at it.' She paused as she came to eleven-year-old Emily Holland who sat flipping through chapter two of the transfigurations text. On her desk in front of her sat a perfectly good glass of pumpkin juice. 'Oh, very good!' The witch exclaimed, claiming little Emily Holland's attention. 'Very nice work Miss. Holland, is it? Yes, yes, what lovely pumpkin juice, five point to Ravenclaw!' Professor McGonagall smiled warmly down at her student and continued towards another table…
"Holland?" V whispered blinking furiously, "Holland…" she tried the sound out again, the two witches stopped dead and turned to look at the vampire standing in the entrance hall her red eyes now wide with recognition, holding her white hands in front of her she looked down to them, her wide eyes taking in every detail of her skin, slowly she rubbed her pale wet hands together tracing the lines on her palms with her index finger. "Emily Holland…" she whispered and looked up to meet the eyes of her former transfigurations professor and her old friend Nymphadora Tonks, but their images blurred and grayed before her eyes, the last thing she saw was the two of them rushing towards her as the room grew dark.
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Thank you all for reading; I know it took a while to get this chapter up… I haven't had very many reviews and it makes me sad, but I'm going to keep at it… Please let me know what you think! Review!
