An: And we have reached the end once again. I hope you all enjoyed these two. I am amazed at the number who have followed me through this side trip. I honestly expected maybe three or six people to come in here. So, thank you all for your trust in my writing and taking this chance on a OC. This one ends in a familiar place, but I hope you like the additions. ^-^

'Till Later

Ree

And once again, Very Small Prophet has helped me were kind enough to point out that someone had cursed our Headmaster. He was maintaining the same facial expression. Since it was one that is expected in Slytherins, it escaped my notice. He is now hex free ^-^ Thanks!

Chapter 3: Brown meets Black

Eric Grayland found his way to the stairwell leading to the Headmaster's office. It had taken him a bit as he had never been there before. Staring at the gargoyle guard, he wondered if he was ready to met Snape again. It was eight years ago since he last step a foot in this school. Eight years since he had seen the man that he considered his mentor, and in those last years, more like his father than his real guardian.

Taking a deep breath, he said the password and watched as the statue moved aside. The ride up the stairwell was too fast. He cautiously entered the Headmaster's office, his eyes flickering about taking in everything he could. Finally, his eyes collided with another pair.

Black eyes held the brown eyes for a moment. Both searching to see what the other had to say.

Eric felt his worry melt and a smile slipped onto his face. The black eyes held a warm welcome and the normally blank face held just a hint of welcome in it. Everything was normal. Actually better than normal, Snape was welcoming him in public, not just in his private lab.

Severus watched as Grayland slipped through his office door, very much like he had done all those years ago. He waited until their eyes met before he let enough of his feelings show through that the brown eyes could see them. Searching those brown eyes for his own reassurance, he saw the uncertainty and then he watched as it melted away, leaving happiness in its place. "Welcome back, Mr. Grayland. Thank you for applying for the Potions positions." He gestured to McGonagall. "I'm sure you remember Professor McGonagall."

"Yes, I do. It it a pleasure to see you again, Professor." Eric moved towards where they were standing as he spoke.

Severus gestured to the chairs that were near the fireplace. "Please have a seat. Would you care for some tea?"

"Yes, thank you Headmaster Snape." Eric settled into one of the cushy seats nearest to the fireplace. He watched as Professor McGonagall settled into the other one, leaving the most uncomfortable seat for the Headmaster. He thought about moving to offer it to the Headmaster, but realized that it might insult the man.

Severus settled into his normal seat after serving the tea. "You have just received your mastery, why do you wish to step into a professorial position instead of a laboratory?" It wasn't that it matter, he was really just curious why Grayland would want to entomb himself back at Hogwarts when there were several research facilities asking for him.

Eric searched the black eyes to see if there was any condemnation, instead he met with honest curiosity. "I thought that the school would be a good place to garner ideas to research. If anyone can come up with a problem that needs to be solved, it will be a group of students." He held the black eyes a bit longer, trying to convey his other reason. 'I wanted to see you again. I wanted to see if you had changed much since the end of the war.'

Minerva lips twisted into a small grin at his answer. "So they will. But do you have the expertise to handle what they can create?"

Eric shifted his gaze to her, he had almost forgot that the Deputy was there. "It is my specialty. I specialize in emergency potions."

Minerva glanced over at Severus. There were so many questions still to ask, but with one look at his face, she knew that they had their newest Potions Master. The rest of the interview was going to be a mere formality.

Severus caught Minerva's glance. Giving her a look he knew she would interpret easily, he glanced back at his boy. 'I can see him specializing in emergency potions. And working with students will definitely help him hone those skills.'

Brown eyes met black ones and Eric could feel the pride coming from them without having to hunt. Smiling, he leaned back and sipped his tea. The other two in the room did the same.

The rest of the interview passed easily amidst grins, laughter, and smirks.

セヴェルス サナペ

During the next two weeks, Severus made sure that Grayland had all that he required to get ready to teach. He sent his new teacher a copy of his previous lessons plans and answered any questions that came up. He also arranged for Grayland to meet up with Minerva to pick his classroom, office and personal lab. On that day, Severus had lurked in the background as the newest teacher roamed the halls. Part of him hoped that Grayland wouldn't pick his old classroom. He was happy when the room that was eventually chosen was not as far into the dungeon. Severus took a moment to manipulated the energy lines that were crossing the room, emptying the classroom of the detrimental energy imbalances. He suppressed the sigh when he discovered that Grayland didn't notice the changes, just like everyone else.

It was the next week that Grayland was introduced to the staff during the annual staff meeting. Severus had to refrain from smiling at the content look on Hooch's face. 'I know she has a bet with Sinistra that I am going to make this as short and as painless as possible. Sinistra thinks that I am going to be long winded, and try to mimic Albus. Who should I let win?' He let the question roll about his mind as his staff settled into their customary seats.

Smirking, he caught Minerva's eye before standing beside the Headmaster's chair. He noticed Parker tense up when he rested his hand on the back of the chair. 'He is going to be a problem this year. I wonder how Grayland is going to react to him?' Tightening his grip on the back of the seat, he let his smirk fade. "I never thought I would have the privilege of introducing a new Potions Professor, but it has fallen on my shoulders to do so." He gestured to the quiet figure standing in the doorway.

Eric swept into the room, his brown robes billowing out behind him. It had taken him until his first year out of Hogwarts to succeed in making them do so. Brown eyes met the black ones briefly before sweeping over the teachers sitting at the long table.

Severus caught the nervousness in the depths of the Grayland's eyes. Looking back at the others, he continued his introductions. "Professor Eric Grayland has agreed to come and teach Potions this year. He is a fully qualified Potions Master, and shall be a welcomed addition to our staff." He turned slightly to the younger Potions Master. "Professor Grayland take a seat and you may met everyone once our staff meeting is complete." He watched as Grayland took the nearest empty chair. He let his eyes rest on him for a bit longer before continuing the meeting.

Severus decided to let Hooch win the bet, so before long they were meandering about catching up on the summer's events. Leaning against the wall near the fireplace, he watched as Grayland moved about the room talking to the other teachers. He noted that he stopped to talk to the older teachers first. 'They have not clue who he is. Not that I can fault them for that. He never did try to make a strong impression. If it wasn't for our meeting before he even came here, I doubt that I would remember him.'

Looking about he spotted Poppy sitting on one of the arm chairs. He glared lightly at her as she convinced Grayland to stop by the infirmary for a quick baseline check up. Severus knew she wanted to start her medical file just in case something happened, not in the classroom, but in the new professor's personal lab. She had tried to do it with him.

He kept the frown off his face when Grayland stood talking to the Defense teacher. A smile was the next thing he was fighting. He never thought he would see someone literally wipe their hand after shaking hands. 'I wonder what Parker said. It couldn't have been positive, and I would almost bet it had to do with me.' As the conversation continued, he could tell that Grayland was not happy. The set of his shoulders gave him away.

Severus almost headed over to where his Defense professor was talking to the Potions professor when he saw Grayland worrying the pebble. 'He only does that when he is upset about something. What did Parker say?' The frown that slid onto Grayland's face convinced him not to interfere. The boy was upset but still in control. It was only when he spun around and walked away from Parker did Severus realize he had been holding his breath. Glancing at Parker, he glared at the man before it faded and his eyes brightened with amusement. 'He was trying to get Grayland to believe that I am bad.'

Severus wondered what Parker told Grayland. He knew that whatever it was, it wouldn't work. Grayland had a history of defending those to whom he was loyal to, and that boy hadn't backed away from his belief in Severus since the morning he decided to trust him. He was just as bad as Potter when it came to defending their friends. The Hufflepuff just did it with less dramatics than the Gryffindor. He watched as the new Potions Master talked with Celeste Heaven before finding his way over to him.

"Headmaster Snape." Brown eyes met black eyes. Eric could see the amusement that was still hiding deep in the black eyes.

"Professor Grayland." Severus smirked down at the newest member of the staff. "Are you all settled in?"

"Yes, sir. I'll have my lesson plans on your desk in the morning, unless you want to see them tonight?" The answer was given with a grin. Eric knew Snape required work to be turned in at the time he had declared it due. Not late, not early, but on time. So, the Headmaster's answer was not a surprise.

"I asked for them in the morning, Professor Grayland, so I will expect them then." Severus narrowed his eyes slightly. He knew that Grayland would not seriously offer to turn in anything early. Severus had finally trained that out of him during his third year. As he studied his newest professor, Severus tried to figure out if there was a hidden meaning behind the jest, or if it was just that, a jest.

"Of course." Eric nodded slightly. "I thank you for letting me look over your previous lesson plans. Have you ever thought of using that report format you came up with when you report new potions? It makes understanding what you are talking about easy."

'Ah, just an opening into a question.' Severus shook his head. He knew that the older members of the Potions community would not appreciate anything that looked new. Unless it was a new ingredient or potion. "The other Potions Masters wouldn't accept it."

Eric smiled. "The old ones, no... but the new ones might just. How about I introduce it to them and see what they think?" He already had shown it to two of his friends and they were planning on using it to help them organize their thoughts before they wrote their papers. He could easily think of three more who would like it, too.

"Do what you will, Grayland." His tone said that the Hufflepuff always did.

"I will." Eric glanced over at Parker. "What is his problem with you, sir?"

Severus glanced to see where Grayland was looking. "He didn't like how I corrected him. He made a mistake because he didn't listen to me."

Eric winced. That had to have been a harsh lesson, especially for someone who had no clue what they were getting into. At least as a student, the upper years warned you to listen to and not to mess with Snape. They sometime got a bit graphic on what happened when you didn't, but at least you knew what you were getting into. "That explains it. I'll watch out for him for you."

Severus raised an eyebrow. "I can look out after myself. You just concentrate on teaching your classes." Merlin knew that the first year was always the worst year. Grayland was going to have enough to deal with without taking on a battle that was not his to fight. 'But then again, he always was a Gryffindor hiding as a Hufflepuff.'

The brown eyes focused on him with a too innocent look in them. "Of course, sir."

Severus held in a sigh. Grayland was also a Hufflepuff through and through. Seven years of training made him that way. He was just like the badger that represented that house. You can insult a Hufflepuff and have no repercussions, but you do not attack one that they thought as their own. Then they would fight you tooth and nail. And he knew just what the boy had thought about him during school, and he also knew that it hadn't changed. When Sprout retired, Severus knew exactly who to make the next head. He just had to get the man not to tear up the Defense professor until he had a chance to hire a new one. "I refuse to pull you out of a mess of your own making. You are now an adult and I know you learned that lesson years ago."

"Yes, sir. I'll pull myself out of my own messes and I can not make them in front of the students." Smirking, the new Potions Master turned on his heel, his brown robes snapping about his legs reminiscent of the Headmaster's, and headed off to see what he could do before the students arrived.

Severus watched him walk away. This school year went from boring to interesting in a blink of an eye and a short conversation. 'And here I thought I was going to have it easy without the Weasley twins or Potter to worry about.' Sighing lightly, he went to go warn Minerva.