So here it is a brand new re written chapter! enjoy dont forget to comment! :D


Severus was preparing for the welcome back feast for the new and returning students, being in the middle of clipping his cuff links in his bathroom, when a tapping on the window near his desk alerted him, peeking out to see an owl hooting outside. Maneuvering his way around his room to let the animal in, unlatching the window, the bird swooped around the room before landing gracefully on his desk. The owl was an almond brown color with white specs thrown in; it hooted at him and started to nip at his hand when he reached for the letter that was wrapped around the owl's leg.

Severus growled, "Alright. Let me see what I have."

Rummaging through his desk draw finding a small bag that held crackers, sacrificing one of the crackers to grab the letter from the owl's lifted leg. Untying and snatching the letter, Severus looked at the scrawl that was on the front, it was Albus', "What does that man want now." He grumbled as he grabbed a hold of his letter slicer, slicing open the envelope, pulling out its contents and reading:

Dear Severus,

Sadly, I regret to inform you, that you must take over Filius rounds on the grounds tonight. I understand that it is last minute but he has come down with the flu, and does not feel that he could walk the grounds as the students are arriving.

Albus Dumbledore

Severus growled in an irritated manner, since he returned from visiting Lily's all he has been doing is errands for the old codger.

"Fuck you." Severus crumbled up and threw the paper in the wastebasket, undoing his top three buttons of his frock coat. Running his right hand through his hair and down his face, noticing that the scar from the past summer was not as vibrant pink as it has been for the past few weeks, it was starting to melt away into the other scars. 'Since returning Albus has not wanted me to leave his bloody fucking side. What does he think I'm doing?' Mentally scoffing, 'I'm sure it has something to do with the argument we got into before I left, probably thinking that I went to say something to Harry. Probably should have.'

Checking the time on his grandfather clock, knowing that he had about fifteen minutes to get down to the gates of the school, rolling his eyes, "Of course bloody old fool waits until the last minute to inform me of anything. That way it is the 'professor's' duty to do."

Severus verified that his wand was safely tucked in his sleeve before he stalked out of his quarters, and made a beeline for the grounds.


Pushing a rogue string of hair out of her face, Hermione gathered all of her things from her parent's car going through her mental checklist for the umpteenth time.

"Alright, book bag, check. Snack money, check. "Taking a moment to see her dad pulling her trunk out of the trunk of the car, "And Trunk, check." Her hair up in a bun with straggly pieces falling around her.

"Hey Hermione have you seen your mum?" Looking around the crowd of people that started to flood the train station.

"Well I know she said something about getting a trolley for my trunk…" Trailing off, seeing her mum coming back with a trolley, and what looked like a bag full of muggle snacks and magazines?

Dad looked up from the trunk that was setting on the asphalt up to his wife, "I'm here I got the trolley…and some extras." Her mum spoke cheerily, as her husband gave her an exasperated look, "What? There was a line for the trolleys." She winked down at Hermione who giggled; she heard her dad chuckle while he bent over to load the trunk on the trolley.

"Alright you two let's get you, "Hermione's dad wrapped his arm around her shoulder, "back on that train for a new school year." Her father pushed the trolley, while her and her mother talked asking various questions about what she was most excited to learn this year.

Pushing their way through the immense amount of people, making their way to the platform. Hermione had been reading over the summer about disillusionment spells, which she believes that Platform 9 ¾ is under. She had been curious since attending last year and finally had time during the summer to read and learn about it.

As they arrived at the platform, having a habit of looking around to make sure no one is actually paying attention to them, Hermione's father let her have control of the trolley. Checking the ticking clock than hung from the side of the stonewall in between platforms nine and ten it was nearing ten fifteen in the morning. "Good."

Taking a deep calming breath, Hermione started to jog towards the wall, closing her eyes, because the thought of running at a wall, even if it was magical, still made her feel uneasy. Feeling the magic envelop her as she went through the wall, first hearing the train whistle and the chatter of excited students, when she opened her eyes her parents were standing next to her.

Letting out a collective breath, a smile lit up her face, pushing her trolley over to the collection of other trunks, triple checking to make sure that her book bag was on her hip. Hermione took a deep breath once again, and looked up at her parents with a small sad smile, "I guess this is my stop."

Feeling her heart clench in her chest, always having mixed feelings about leaving her parents, sadness because she did not want to leave them, but on the other hand, she was elated about going back to school. Holding back any tears she might have, Hermione hugged both her parents around the waist, trying not to acknowledge her mum's silent tears, or her father's misty eyes. "I will be back before you know it. Love you both, and remember weekly letters." Hermione mumbled, as she felt her throat constricting with the urge to cry.

Turning from her parents, walking with her head held high even with the frog in her throat and the silent tears streaking down her face, climbing aboard the train, feeling her book bag hitting the back of her legs as she took each stair. 'Odd haven't seen the boys yet or even Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, knowing those two they are probably running late…' The thought distracted her for a split second as more students were clambering onto the train.

Hermione headed down the left corridor checking each of the rooms, 'Huh I wonder where those boys are.' Continuing her trek down the corridor, she was nearing the end of the first car moving down to the next cart to attempt to find an empty room and hopefully see her parents one more time before the train departed from the station.

Hermione was slipping down the corridor trying and hoping to find the boys sitting in a compartment, but no luck, however, she did find a compartment filled with the Weasley twins. Sliding the door open, "Hey Hermione" She heard the two voices in unison bombard her when they saw her.

"Hey you two, When did you get here? Have you seen Harry and Ron? I've been looking all over for them."

They looked at each other with a quizzical look, than back at Hermione, "Last time we saw them was on the platform…but the muggle platform we went before them…"

Slouching her shoulders slightly, "Oh okay, well if you see them will you let them know I'm looking for them." They nodded, "Will do."

They then went back to conversing with some of the other kids in their year. It had taken her some time to get use to the two of them saying the same thing at the same time, or finishing the others sentence, it was odd at first but she eventually got used to it. Shutting the door, Hermione slipped further down the corridor, finally finding an empty compartment at the end of the corridor of the second compartment.

Settling into the empty cab, slipping off her bag and placing it next to her when she snuggled up in her seat next to the window. Assuming that her parents had already left, she grabbed ahold of her book bag to grab her new potions book and some of the muggle snacks that her mum slipped into her bag when she was not looking. Listening to the train blow the last call whistle to leave the station, searching outside her window for any signs of her parents, nothing, feeling her heart constrict, she did see a few red heads in the crowd and within a few minutes the train lurched forward onwards to Hogwarts.

"Well at least I know they have got to be here somewhere." Hermione stated to know one but the empty air around her, shrugging her shoulders, 'They will find me.' Hermione opened her book and continued her reading.

Hearing rain pelt against the train window, catching her attention, 'Must have just started raining.' Snuggling up closer to her book on the bench and munching on a bag of muggle crisps. Hermione waited for the woman with the cart to come around so she could buy some chocolate frogs, sugar quills and a box of Bertie botts every flavor beans she had been craving some of the sweets. Because when she went to go pick up the boys Christmas presents before the start of term, they were sold out of some of the specific sweets she wanted so she decided to wait until she was back on the train, knowing that they were the ones that probably bought the stock from the store she visited.

Always enjoying the sound of the pitter-patter of the rain against the window and on the train as they hurtled themselves towards the school. Delving into another chapter of her potions book, it did not take long to become engrossed once again, barely hearing the sliding glass door open and a cheery voice speak "'Ello dearie would you like anything from the cart?"

Hermione pulled her eyes up from the book and smiled at the woman "Yes please." She spoke as she dug around in her book bag for her coin purse, repeating her order to the woman, she handed her the designated amount of galleons, sickles, and Knuts.

"Thank you!" She exclaimed as the rain started to lessen on the windows and sunshine broke through the clouds filling the cart with rays of light warming up the area, sprawling back onto the couch with her new sweets. Hermione tucked her crisps away in her bag for later, starting to suck on one of the sugar quills while being sucked back into her book. Curling back into her position next to the window, devouring her new snacks, she once again lost track of time.

Hermione never noticed that the sun was setting under the mountains, her nose stuck in her new book, and they were nearing Hogwarts by the second. When another knock interrupted her, huffing loudly, snapping her book shut Percy peeked his head in, "Hermione you best be getting changed we are almost to the castle." Smiling a little flustered with being interrupted and with herself for being so flustered.

"Okay thank you Percy." He left Hermione to herself, stashing her book back in her bag, grabbing her school clothes, and closing the curtain so she could change into her uniform. Hermione looked out the window, watching as the castle came into view from the train window; feeling elation grow inside of her. "Home." Was all she could say as she quickly changed into her robes, gathering her muggle clothes and snacks back into her book bag when a knock on the window of the sliding glass door grabbed her attention.

Drawing the curtains back, she saw two worried looking twins looking at her, waving them in, they slid the door open "Hey 'Mione did the boys ever show up?"

Tilting her head slightly to the side, "No I wasn't able to find them but I found this compartment and I didn't want to lose it... I went the opposite way, but they never showed up. Do you think they missed the train?"

The twins again looked at each other and back at her, "Yes. We saw mum, dad and Ginny but never saw them." The twins took turns finishing the sentence.

When Hermione interjected, "Maybe your parents contacted the headmaster and they are waiting at the school for us?" Hermione wanted to sound confident in that answer but she had an inkling that those boys were up to something mischievous.

All three of them sat down in the compartment while they waited for the train to arrive in Hogsmeade so they could ride the carriages up to the school, within minutes, which felt like an eternity, of that conversation the train lurched to a halt, the whistle blew, and the prefects were starting to yell orders at the younger students. "Let's go single file line."

Hermione dared not exit the compartment just yet when the hustle and bustle resulted into pushing and shoving, hearing the various noises that filled the train as the whistle blew for a second time to announce our arrival at Hogsmeade. Slinging her book bag over her shoulder, her thoughts went immediately to the two boys that were supposed to have join her in the car, 'Where are those two? I hope they are okay…' Hermione's thoughts drifted off as one of the older students shoved her back into her cab, "Know it all." Rolling her eyes, 'Good another year of this.' Hunching her book bag over her shoulder, and exiting the compartment with Fred and George being used as personal bodyguards.

"Oi don't shove." One of them growled, as they pushed up against another fourth year, the small group sauntered out of the train, she could hear Hagrid yell "First years over 'ere!"

Hermione left her small group of friends and went up to the half giant, "Hey Hagrid have you seen Harry or Ron?"

He looked down at her with a worried expression, "No I er haven't. They should be on the train. Maybe they are up at the school already."

Hermione nodded, "Thank you Hagrid! Maybe this weekend we can all have tea before classes begin?" Hermione suggested and Hagrid nodded, "Of course I gotta keep my eye on you three." He chuckled as he started to lead the group of first years off towards the boats like a mum duck and her ducklings.

Rejoining the group of students, attempting to climb aboard a carriage full of students from her year, she started to hoist herself up when she felt a boot on her hand and a hand shoving her off the back of the carriage "No Know it all's allowed." The group sniggered as the carriage took off, huffing she climbed into the next carriage before anyone could say anything and they had to deal with it, but luckily Ginny and the twins joined her and they were off up to the castle.

"Just gotta ignore them 'mione!" Fred patted her on the shoulder, "I'm used to it but thank you!" Hermione gave Fred a genuine smile, "Anyways Ginny are you excited to be at Hogwarts with your brothers?"

Ginny looked like a deer caught in headlights, nodding quickly "Yes." She spoke in a high-pitched tone.

George took over "Ginny has a tendency of being nervous you should've seen her when she met Harry for the first time! It was the morning that we took Harry from that horrible muggle family and brought him home to our house. Mum was making breakfast; dad had just come home from work and since we pulled an all-nighter us men sat down at the table to eat, while mum yelled at us, than Ginny came scrambling down the stairs asking about her jumper. When she saw Harry, he said hello and she was mental, stopped dead in her tracks, than turned and ran full sprint back upstairs!"

Ginny looked horrified her blush nearly as red as her hair, "George!" Ginny squealed, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders as he chuckled.

Hermione spoke up "Don't worry about it Ginny." She patted the first years hand; the carriage came to a halt realizing that they were already at the gates, her stomach growled hungrily, 'Soon enough.' She convinced herself trying not to rub her stomach.

Waiting for the gates to open she bounced back and forth between her feet to keep herself occupied. An echo of a screech startled everyone, when she heard his voice, she went rigid in place she heard those around her complaining about Snape. All she could mentally focus on was her heart beating wildly in her chest, 'Breath or you're going to pass out.' Taking a couple of steps closer to the gates, 'Hold it together and don't be obvious. I would never live it down if anyone found out that I have a crush on Professor Snape.' Hermione continued her inner monologue as other students in front of her were being checked in, when it was finally her turn. "Granger." He nodded, feeling her heart flutter in her throat she gulped and nodded back "Evening Professor." Hermione could feel her palms being sweaty and her breathing had turned slightly ragged. Scurrying away from the scene that only took place in her head; nothing was out of the ordinary, having taken long strides up the hill towards the school she was slightly out of breath. 'Maybe I should start jogging or something. I should not be this out of breath this easily.' Hermione mentally noted to take twenty minutes a day to jog around the school that was not climbing stairs or finding classes.


Jogging down to the gates of the school, arriving to see the students clustered around the gates meandering about waiting for someone to check them in so they can attend the feast. Rolling his eyes, Severus tapped the gates of Hogwarts and they swung open, creaking loudly, 'I really need to speak with Filch about greasing those hinges.' Severus noted as he stood next to the large amount of suitcases with a list of names to check off who was there, who was late and who was not in attendance. "Line up! I will check you off and you will go directly to the great hall!" Severus barked as the students fell into line to Severus' right, checking off names as they moved up out of his way and up to the school.

As he neared the end of the list all but two students were accounted for, "Damn it Harry." Severus muttered as he looked out past the Hogwarts gate to hopefully see them running down the dirt path, he checked his watch and he had waited an additional fifteen minutes for them. 'Well it would not be the Dursley's keeping him from the school since he was with the Weasley's, maybe Arthur or Molly have contacted Albus.' Severus pondered as he watched the elves take the luggage up to the school. Glancing back down at his watch, taking note that Albus would be in the middle of his start of term speech, "Well fuck me I can't send a patronus or Albus will throw a fit." Severus hissed angrily, as he snapped his watch shut, and stuffing it back into his frock coat.

Growling, Severus took a deep breath, starting towards the grounds where he would begin his rounds, 'I'll finish up here than talk with Albus maybe he has heard of something.' Stalking the grounds looking for prey, the students who were not too bright to sneak out of the castle to wander the grounds to the forbidden forest before the school feast. Catching movement in the shadows, rustling of the bush, made his survival instincts kick in and he slipped his wand out of his sleeve, lighting up the area, it was only an animal that scurried from the bush; soon his mind was lost in all of his thoughts, when a rumbling noise came closer.

Looking up into the sky, which was clear, the stars were shining bright against the darkness, when a shadow crossed across the moonlight, the shadow looked like a muggle car, which flew into his view, and it was falling quickly flying directly towards the school about to crash into it.

"That better fucking not be." Severus growled, seeing the flash of the car and the color, knowing already who owned the Ford Angela, he could feel his anger flare up again, knowing there was nothing he can do or say to Harry or Weasley.

Sprinting towards the Whomping Willow, a flashback from his childhood back at the school clouded his memory. Remembering how he would sit near the tree with his book enjoying the weather during the warmer months, until his seventh year when James and his posse infiltrated his safe haven and bullied him, taking over the spot with Lily on his arm. 'Damn it not now.' Severus' mind pushed back all of the images as the sound of a deafening crash snapped him fully out of his random reverie, as he focused back onto the enormous tree there was a bright blue muggle car stuck in between the limbs of the tree. While some of the other limbs started to bash the vehicle into a pulp, Severus stood several meters away watching as the car fell from limb to limb as the boys that were inside were panicking and attempting to turn the motor over. It was like watching the muggle game football, the car just being bounced back and forth between limbs. Eventually the vehicle crashed into the ground it choked for a split second and finally turned over, Severus watched as the car drove them into the courtyard and the willow was still trying to attack them, following the car tracks into the courtyard.

Arriving on the scene, seeing that the two boys were sprawled out on the ground and their things looked as if they had been ejected from the car.

Listening intently to their conversation as he stalked over to them, "Do you think we missed the feast? I'm starving." The red headed boy complained, while his son wondered aloud "I wonder why we could not get on the platform…"

Severus had snuck up on the boys, furiousness coursing through him, he leaned over the two boys "Potter. Weasley. Follow. Me. Now."

Severus hissed through gritted teeth, it was all he could get out of his mouth, while he balled his hands into fists, he could feel his fingernails digging into his palms. Hearing them whisper about him behind his back, "I thought he would have been sacked by now. I mean no one likes him. " Severus did not dare look back he knew what his son and everyone else of the school thought of him, and since the talk with Albus before his vacation was finally sinking in and the letter he found over the summer, he had to stop himself from thinking about what could have been. He was bitter, angry, and nothing mattered anymore. He was once again numb to the world.

However, as they walked up to the school and the kids in tow finally fell silent he could feel their anxiety radiating off of them, a smirk grew on his face, 'Good you two should be scared as hell of what I have to say. Your sorry asses could wind up out of Hogwarts.'

Several minutes and many stairs later, they arrived at his office. Opening the door, Severus jerked his head towards his office for the two of them to get inside; watching as the young boys scurried inside, slamming the door shut behind him, which made them jump nearly out of their skin. Waving his hand two additional chairs popped up in front of his desk, pulling out his pocket watch from his frock coat, '7:30pm. Good they should be eating.' Severus assessed, pulling out his wand and with a flick, he sent his patronus to the great hall to retrieve McGonagall and the head master.

Rounding on the boys, they were still standing, rolling his eyes "Sit. Down." Severus hissed as he stalked over to his desk, slipping his wand back into his sleeve, noticing that an exclusive edition of the daily prophet was sitting on his desk the headlines were 'Flying Ford Angela spotted in London.' Grabbing a hold of the paper, he turned to the boys, showing them the headline.

"Do you have any idea how serious this is?" He took a moment to pause, looking, as they dared not make eye contact with him, looking down at their hands, "You have risked the exposure of our world." Stressing the seriousness of what they have done gripping his desk until his knuckles turned white from the lack of blood. "Not to mention the damage you've done to a tree that has been on these grounds since before you were born." He emphasized each of the words, when the red head spoke up.

"Honestly professor I think it did more damage to us…" The boy trailed off when he saw the fire in Severus' eyes.

"Silence. If it were up to me, I would send the both of you home. Tonight." Severus stressed how important their screw up was, he knew that Arthur would be hassled with the ministry and could lose his job over this incident.

"Well, luckily Severus it is not up to you to decide." McGonagall sneered as she cut into the conversation he was having with the children.

Watching a mysterious glint in the headmaster's eye. "I do believe Severus since these boys are under Minerva's care that she should decide their punishment." Severus whipped his head towards the other two professors, when his well-worn mask slipped into its proper place as he watched as their head of house punished Harry and Weasley.

"You will have detention every day for the next month and letters to your families about this incident." Severus felt his heart drop for a split second; he wished for a moment that he was the one to receive those letters but he knew that would never happen. However how much he wanted to be there for Harry, he was not allowed to, by Albus' orders, if he dared cross the old fool, he would be spending the rest of his days in Azkaban, and he would not put it past the headmaster to pull that off.

"Severus why don't we leave Minerva and her cubs to their conversation. I bet with your rounds you are famished." The old codger waved him over, rolling his eyes, 'Even with doing rounds he still wants his dog to show his face.' Mentally scoffing he followed the headmaster out of the room.

"Albus there is a roaming muggle car on the grounds." Albus stopped in the corridor outside his office and was bouncing softly from foot to foot; Severus leaned up against the cobblestone wall in the main corridor.

"Severus I know you want to punish Harry since he is your child, but..." Severus cut him off with a raised hand and a solemn expression across his face.

"Don't." Looking up at the man, emotionless, lowering his hand to just ball into a fist. "You told me I was to have no relationship with him. Fine. I am doing my bloody fucking job. I do not want to hear about it Albus. None of it. If I cannot be fully part of his life, I do not want to hear about any of it. You fucking knew from the fucking beginning, lied to me, and once again did not inform me until I was bringing myself to tell him." Severus snarled with malice and betrayal in his voice.

"Severus…" Severus put his hand up once again.

"No Albus. I don't want to hear any of your bullshit reasoning or excuses. I'm done listening." Nodding towards his office, "Minerva is coming we shall continue this discussion later Albus." Stepping from the wall with a tone of finality in his voice, looking down the corridor where Minerva would come from ignoring the sad glint in the headmaster's eye. Mentally scoffing at the old fool 'You act like you have remorse for me, so I can attempt to trust you, but I remember what you told me old man…I chose this life. I have to live with the consequences.'

Minerva rounded the corner, "I cannot believe those boys! Always making an entrance, well they will stay in your office to eat some dinner Severus if you do not mind and they will immediately go up to their rooms when they are finished." Minerva spoke in a matter of fact tone, when she wrapped her arm in Albus', "Will you join us for dinner Severus? If I'm correct you were taking over for Filius?"

Looking over at Albus, Severus answered curtly, "I have rounds to finish." He turned on his heel and left the couple standing there, his robes billowing behind him as he stalked out of the dungeons.

Minerva and Albus followed Severus' trail, "Is everything all right with him? He has been sourer than ever these past few weeks."

Minerva brought up her concerns with him, Albus patted Minerva's hand, "Do not fret Minnie he will be fine."

Severus was patrolling the fourth floor, 'What was he thinking? Flying a muggle car across London, where he was seen by muggles, and now I'm sure Arthur is going to get hell for this one.' Furiousness coursed through him when he found the two boys, however he needed to distance himself from Harry even further, 'I can't be worried about him, and it's not my job. My job is to protect the fucking wizarding society instead of my own damn son.' Chiming echoed throughout the school, indicating that it was midnight, 'Finally rounds are over, did not get to scare any kids though. Still first day.' Severus mused as he made his way down the stairs briskly towards the dungeons. Eventually opening the door to his private rooms where Severus started to undress himself unbuttoning his frock coat laying it on the back of the couch, than started to work on his button down, slipping off his shoes as he entered his room.

Exhaustion was hitting him since he had been up since four in the morning, he slid into his bed lying in only in his silk boxers, accioing the bottle of firewhiskey as it reached his hand he uncorked the bottle, "Welcome back Harry." He toasted the air than took a heavy swig of the amber liquid, enjoying the sensation of the burning down his throat.

Recorking it, 'Just a quick swig before bed.' noting that he had lost weight and toned up since he had returned to the school, lying on his back listening to the lake water creatures that were outside his bedroom window, realization hit him that classes would start after the weekend. 'Another year of hell.'


Arriving in the school, Filch was in the entrance hall making sure the kids did not stray and roam the castle but went directly to the great hall. Going to sit in the middle of the table on the far left side, she always felt more comfortable on this side with the wall against her back and a bonus she able to see better, or more or less to see him better, while eating. Watching as other students were filing in and sitting themselves down at their designated houses, she still did not see Harry nor Ron, but the other Weasleys finally appeared and sat around her.

Letting her eyes wonder over the hall to see that Draco and his cronies were making fun of someone, while others were reading, doing homework, or chatting with their friends catching up over what they did during the summer. Trying to resist but failing, she took a chance to look up at the head table to see most of the other professors and the new DADA professor sitting and chatting in between themselves, except one who was AWOL.

When everyone sat down and was comfortable, Hermione chanced a glance over to Snape's chair again, he was still missing. 'Maybe he is doing rounds this year.' Hoping to be able to see him at least once before the start of term on Monday, arriving on Friday this year gave them the weekend to adjust their sleep schedules. Rummaging around in her bag to grab ahold of her book once more for a bit of light reading before the ceremony she could actually hear Professor Lockhart's voice from the Gryffindor table. 'Honestly that man is infuriating, have to pretend to fawn all over him or everyone teases me…yeah that man doesn't have a brain it's probably lost under that heap of hair of his.' Trailing off as she read the first sentence and once again being lost in her book.

Feeling a poke in her ribs, Hermione was about to contest when she realized that the first years were being marched through the great hall, looking at the splendor of the hall. Snapping her book shut, placing the item in her lap, looking up at the head table again to see that the bar stool that she sat upon last year, with the crazy talking hat was set upon it, as it stood in front of the head table. Her heart clenched slightly when she saw that he was not sitting up there, but the headmaster was sitting up in his seat while Professor McGonagall was walking up to the barstool with the first years in tow lost in thought but was quickly brought back as she heard the first of the names being called.

As the headmaster finished his speech, sitting back down in his seat and waving his hands for the feast to begin, food spread across the tables within a blink of an eye. Hearing her stomach rumble on sight of the food, stacking the delicious delicacies upon her plate, when a blue wisp from the corner of her eye made her look up from the book, she had grabbed from her lap, so she could read while she ate. 'What was that?' Hermione pondered when someone waved their hand in front of her face.

"Hey 'mione we don't even start classes till Monday. Why are you reading?" Ignoring the comment because they knew why, no one except the two boys talked with her but even then sometimes Ron had a tendency of talking over her, and it was super frustrating so she sat with her book and read.

Glancing up every so often to check his seat, but when she looked up Professor McGonagall and the headmaster were missing, 'I hope everything is okay…I wonder if this is about Harry and Ron…' Hermione pondered as she went back to reading and eating some of the dessert that popped up in front of her, she chose some tapioca pudding to crave her sweet tooth.

Feeling another elbow in her side made her glance up, with a bite on her tongue when she heard the headmaster speak for the last time that evening, "Welcome back to existing students and Welcome to those that are just joining us! I do hope you all have a good weekend before classes start on Monday. Now all go and have a great night's sleep!"

Hermione snapped her book shut, 'No sign of the boys, I hope they are okay.' She worried as they gathered their belongings, and went to huddle around the prefects, until they were all ready to shuffle out of the great hall and up the staircases up to the seventh floor. When the group finally arrived on the seventh floor, Hermione saw two shadows near a bookcase lingering about, leaving the pack of cubs to head over to the two boys.

"Where have you two been? Do you know how worried we were?" Putting her hands on her hips with her head tilted.

"Ahhh Hermione we've got loads to tell you!" Ron blabbered out as he wrapped his arm around her neck and the other around Harry's.

"Let us get in the common room before curfew." Harry stated bluntly, as they were the last Gryffindor's to enter the portrait hole.

As they entered the common room, they both started gushing about their trip to Hogwarts. Within minutes, the cogs in her mind were reeling about how the boys spent the remainder of their summer, the trip to Hogwarts, and the run in with Snape. Starting to feel slightly overwhelmed and a little left out of the adventure, she yawned and whispered out, "Alright you two, we will continue your misadventures tomorrow but I am off to bed." They all hugged and went their separate ways, climbing the stairs; Hermione could feel her eyes growing even heavier as she got closer to her four-poster bed.

Dropping her bag down next to her bed, going to her trunk to pull out her pajamas, she quickly undressed and changed before the other girls decided to come up for bed. Putting her clothes away, digging through her bag again for her book, she snuggled up in her bed drawing the curtains around her bed to enjoy the quietness. Having read through half the book already, Hermione could hear high pitched chatter and footsteps coming up, closing her book, knowing that she would never be able to concentrate with the gaggle of girls that were coming to get ready for bed.

Snuggling up deeper under her blankets, closing her eyes Hermione lay tucked in her four-poster bed, listening, as the other girls were getting ready to bed. They were chatting catching up about what they did over the summers, who turned cute over the summer, and that new bumbling professor, never interjecting into any of their conversations because to her they only ever gossiped. In addition, they gave her weird looks whenever she explained her summers of helping out in her family's dentist office to earn some extra money, or spending the afternoon in a bookstore. Eventually, the other girls in her dorm had snuffed out the candles and the room was enveloped into pitch-blackness, only the moonlight shined into the room. Hermione tried to curve her thoughts about a certain brooding professor but could not help herself going through Ron and Harry's story repeatedly in her head feeling slightly jealous that they were able to sit in his office, but remember him saying her last name until she fell asleep.


Dawn arrived excessively early for Severus, rolling over burying his face into his pillows, he debated whether to go running this morning or not, knowing that staying in his schedule was better for him needing to get back into preparing for nights where he virtually did not get any sleep. Attempting to remember what his longest streak of staying awake was, 'Nearly three days, had to have the headmaster take over my classes. That was a disaster.' Severus thought as he pushed himself from his comfortable position in his bed, and throwing his legs over the side of the bed. Stumbling his way over to his dresser, finding and slipping on some jogging sweats, doing his morning stretches before jogging down to the forbidden forest and back up to the seventh floor. Than he would make his way back, down to the dungeons for his shower and head to breakfast.

Sweat was dripping down from his brow by the time he walked across the great hall, 'Not a soul in sight. Good. It should be rounding six in the morning I still have a couple hours before the first few faces start to show. Time is getting faster though, may need to start doing extra workouts on my way down the stairs.' Entering his rooms once again, the frigidness of the dungeons licked the sweat that dripped down him making him shiver and the hairs on the back of his neck stick up. Stripping down from his sweaty clothes in his bathroom, turning the shower onto scalding, stepping into the tub enjoying the feel of the heat on his legs, than down his back while, he washed his hair. Thoughts swirled around like the water in the drain, when a thought pushed its way forward into his mind one that he was not able to dwell on last night. 'The feeling of the dark lord's magic became stronger last night; something entered the school but the wards did not pick anything up so it has a powerful concealing charm placed on it.'

Exiting the tub, his hair was dripping water down his face and back, Severus wrapped a towel around his waist and took his time getting dressed, feeling the soreness set into some of his muscles. Dressing in quietness, until the decrepit grandfather clock that sat in the corner of the room chimed seven in the morning disturbing his peace, alerting him that he had an hour before breakfast, sighing tiredly, he buttoned his white silk button up than slipped on his frock coat. 'No outer robes today. Albus can kiss my ass.' Severus humored himself, as he left his rooms cuffing his frock coat around his wrists.

Burning, that's all he could feel in his calves as he arrived at the doors to the great hall for breakfast, as he pushed open the doors, not a soul could be seen even the ghosts were not floating around. "Early as usual." Severus murmured in a grumpy tone, as he sauntered over to his chair up at the main table. Pulling his seat out, sitting down Naelby popped up next to him.

"Good morning Master Snape. Would you like your morning coffee? Breakfast will be ready shortly."

Severus had set his elbow on the table to support his chin, looking over at the elf with a bored expression upon his face, "Yes, thank you Naelby."

Severus pulled out one of the books he always carried around with him, lost in his reading for around half an hour with his cup of coffee that Naelby brought him. Never accepting anything unless it was from Naelby, his job was not to trust anyone, again not everyone fully trusted him or Naelby either, and old habits die-hard even a decade later, but that is what has kept him alive for all these years, and that is what matters.

Professors started to stumble into the great hall holding their heads, while students started showing up, chattering loudly as they started to fill their seats. While some of the professors hesitated near him, eyeing one of the professors that were lingering behind him but not saying anything.

"What?" They did not realize that Severus could see them.

"Well Severus could I well I could I ask a favor from you?" Severus rolled his eyes, "Spit it out I haven't got all day." He nearly barked at them.

"Sorry um do you have any extra pepper up potion?" Snapping his book shut, turning towards the person in question.

"Why don't you ask poppy?" Severus questioned with his head cocked to one side and an eyebrow raised.

"Well…" They trailed off when they made eye contact with him and noticed a fire blazing in his eyes they took a step backwards at seeing his mask.

"Well, What?" Severus snapped in agitation, they bounced from one foot to the other and refused to make eye contact with him. 'Oh for fucks sake' He mentally groaned.

"Well….Poppy says she is out of pepper up potion."

Severus blinked a couple of times taking in the information, straightening himself while gritting his teeth, "What do you mean she is out?"

They turned quckly and scurried away muttering something about being sorry. 'I made three months' worth of that potion just a couple of weeks ago. Which means that most of the professors would have to have been partying and drinking heavily, they were taking them elsewhere, or they were fucking hoarding them. Fan-fucking-tastic.' Severus mentally scoffed, as he listened to the students talking about classes, quidditch and what they did over the summer holidays while the professors were talking about whom they laid over the summer, where they traveled, what they were reading, and other topics that made Severus inwardly cringe.

As breakfast has officially started, Severus waited to talk with Poppy and Albus. Watching as the owls swooped into the great hall, finding their owners and delivering the morning mail, as well as the cats that meowed and wondered the school.

Severus awaited for the mail in anticipation and hope of receiving Harry's letter from Minerva, but he knew the truth, he was never going to get anything from anyone. His responsibility was to Albus and the dark lord. He chose this life. However, knowing the 'new' information was still going to be hard to distance himself from Harry, considering he had been dreaming about the day to tell Harry for eleven years, but he had to do it for both of their sakes.

Watching as the youngest Weasley boy received a howler; he was never particularly fond of those letters always having received one from his father at the beginning of each year or for anything related to the magical world, always quite ironic.

When another of the Gryffindor cubs yelled out "Weasley's got a howler!" When most of the students from his house started to laugh hysterically, observing as the young boy's hand shook as he touched it and the letter sprang to life and the piece of paper started to yell through the hall, the unmistakable voice of Molly Weasley echoing through the great hall.

"RONALD WEASLEY, HOW DARE YOU STEAL THAT CAR, YOUR FATHER IS FACING AN INQUIRY AT WORK AND IT'S ENTIRELY YOUR FAULT. IF YOU PUT ANOTHER TOE OUT OF LINE, WE WILL BRING YOU STRAIGHT HOME!" Everyone was staring in horror, especially those that were muggle born never having experienced receiving one of those horrid pieces of mail, when the letter turned toward the youngest and the last Weasley, it spoke in a softer tone "Oh and Ginny dear, Congratulations, your father and I are so proud that you made it into Gryffindor." Than the destructive piece of mail started shredding itself into tiny pieces, the small group of friends looked upon the mail than at each other in fear and horror; a smirk crossed his lips for a moment, 'Hopefully Molly deterred them from any mischief for a while.' Severus hoped as he heard the new DADA professor, who sadly plopped himself down right next to him, immediately bombarding him with questions.

Slipping his book back into his pocket, knowing that any chance of reading would be cut short due to the people around him. Turning to the man in question, Severus took in the new professors' appearance; bleach blond hair, topaz blue eyes, a fake smile and an annoying, pompous voice. 'Good another professor that will only last a year.' While he missed the feast last night, apparently the female staff were swooning all over him, 'Thank Merlin they have fresh meat.' The women were whispering in hushed whispers, and in an obvious way pointing at the man, but he knew that and he seemed to occasionally smile or wink their way. 'Oh good lets encourage them to be more flirtatious. I bet his ego is as big as his hair.' Severus mused to himself as he heard the pop of breakfast arriving, as he dished up his plate the new professor focused his attention back on him again.

"Your Professor Snape are you not?" Severus was crushing up his over easy eggs, when he grunted out his answer to Lockhart's question.

"Yes."

Lockhart was quick on the trigger, "Ahhh ever talkative as ever, I heard you did not talk much." Raising a raven eyebrow at the man who obviously wanted to introduce himself, however, he wanted to beat around the bush and ask another question.

"You do teach Potions, correct?" If Severus rolled his eyes, any harder they would have popped out of his head and rolled down off the table and down out of the great hall.

"Yes." Severus always enjoyed watching, as people got frustrated with him when he did not go into detail and only gave one-worded responses, and with Lockhart, it worked. Severus was growing quite bored with the inane conversation that Lockhart was getting at, which was nonexistent because he was only asking him questions that pertained to him.

"I do not beat around the bush I know who you are Lockhart." Severus spoke curtly, as he started to eat his breakfast.

"Well I am Professor Gilderoy Lockhart, first class, and I am the new Defense against the dark arts professor." He announced aloud for more than just him and Severus to hear. 'I just explained to him that I knew who he was…Pompous ass for one.' Severus continued to eat as he looked up and over noticing that the headmaster had yet to arrive, but Poppy had.

Ignoring the mumbling idiot that was still talking about himself, he stood abruptly from his chair and strode over to wear Poppy had sat down next to Sprout, and Pince. Only from time to time did Trewlaney ever leave her part of the castle. As Severus approached all of the women they were gossiping, when one of them took notice to him approaching and shoved the others arm to hush them up.

"Ahhh good morning Severus, how may we help you?" Pince purred looking him up and down, smirking he knew the effect he had on these women.
"Yes well I've come to talk with Poppy." Severus leaned over next to Poppy's ear, gripping the back of her chair and the other laying on the table next to hers, whispering quietly only for her to hear in a husky tone, "The three month supply of Pepper Up Potion I gave to you the other day, how much do you have left?"

Spluttering on her coffee slightly, "I gave a couple of them to all the professors last night for the welcoming back feast…you know how we get Severus…" She trailed off, feeling his breathing close to her ear.
"Hmmm well it seems that all of the three month supply is gone." He heard her gulp.
"I did give a couple extra to Lockhart this morning...but we still had at least two in half months' worth." He turned quickly on his heel, feeling eyes boring into his back, and the hushed whispers of the women start up again. When Severus made eye contact with the headmaster.

A glint in the old man eyes, which always made him suspicious, he never fully trusted him at all, and he believed that Albus never truly trusted him as well. Not even after all these years. Not breaking his stride or his eye contact with the headmaster, he decided to tell Albus of what was happening.

Severus leaned over hissing just loud enough for only him to hear "Albus we need to speak about the potion supply in the Hospital Wing."

The old man waved him off, "Not now Severus. Let me enjoy my breakfast and we can talk afterwards."

Scoffing in the man's ear, "Fine."

Severus went back to his seat, listening to the pompous ass still talking to the women that had conjugated around him. 'I wish Dumbledore gave me the DADA position seriously, what's with getting these frauds that have no idea what they are doing. Even though giving an ex death eater the job to teach your children to defend themselves seems a bit of a stretch, no matter what he could teach them. At least he would be able to teach them.' Severus' thoughts dripped with sarcasm and malice as he pushed his plate away, getting some fresh toast spreading some marmalade over it, than ignoring the bumbling idiot that turned his attention back to him when Lockhart noticed that he reappeared.

The last thing Severus heard was the new DADA professor yelled behind him as he stalked out of the great hall, "Alright we will talk later Severus!"

Severus would need to go out into the forbidden forest later in the afternoon to gather some supplies for the stock, if he needed to restock the pepper up potion. Heading down to his personal quarters munching on his toast, Severus was lost in thought 'Who would have taken three months of pepper up potion? Even if most of the professors drank every night, the storage would still have plenty. Unless professors are day drinking? Curious will have to keep my eye on some of the professors that are known to drink. What about Lockhart? He took a couple more this morning…What could he need so many for?' Entering his rooms, he pulled his knapsack that was for gathering potions out from his personal potions cabinet and threw the bag onto his desk, which scattered papers everywhere.

"Time to fix another person's mistake."


The first couple of months of school passed without any major incidents and quite slowly, it was finally the ending of October.

Severus was sitting in his office while he graded essays of fifth years, when he heard a knock on his door.

"Enter." He barked, taking a quick glance up he saw his godson Draco strut through the door, making sure to shut it behind him, he knew his rules.

"Hello Godfather. How are you today?" Severus rolled his eyes there was only one reason why Draco would be down here.

"What do you need Draco?" Severus looked up from his papers, eyeing the boy with a raised eyebrow, the small boy that held an arrogant tone about him spoke proudly.

"Well Godfather I have been chosen to be the Slytherin's new seeker." A smirk formed on the boys lips.

"Congratulations Draco." He stated bluntly, while waiting for what his godson really wanted.

"Well I was wondering if I could have a special permission slip to practice on the quidditch pitch for later today, Gryffindor has it booked and we need to practice a couple of new moves…" Draco trailed off with the last sentiments, Severus mentally groaned he had a dilemma but pushed forward through the emotions and encouraged Draco, his actual godson that he was allowed to take care of.

"Alright Draco, would you like a cup of tea? While I write out the form." He asked the small boy, who nodded, with a wave of his hand a cup of tea appeared in front of Draco.

Handing the slip of parchment over to his godson, "This will get you onto the pitch. Have a great day Draco, fly safe."

Severus murmured as Draco snatched the parchment from his godfather's hand and sprinted off yelling behind him "Thank you!"

Elation radiating off the boy, Severus could feel the happiness radiating from the boy, he could feel a sense of fatherly pride while he leaned back in his chair, ignoring the other various emotions that were swirling around him, he looked up to see that it was nearly two in the afternoon and that tomorrow evening was the Halloween feast. 'It was already the end of October, Old Hollow's Eve.' Severus thought as he felt the frigid wind that ghosted the dungeons, listening to the rain that made itself more prominent around the grounds, making the dungeons even draftier, and Severus enjoyed every minute of it.


Hermione's transfiguration class had ended; she decided to do some studying on the lawn while the fall air roamed the grounds and before the air turned too rigid for them to leave the castle.

Setting herself down on the stone bench outside, grabbing a hold of the transfiguration book to start working on her homework since she had a free period next, when someone called out to her, "Hey Hermione, are you busy? Could I ask you a couple questions about our charms homework?"

Smiling externally but internally sighing in frustration, "Yeah sure." The second year Ravenclaw sat down next to her with their parchments clutched in their hands; they tried to smooth them out over their books.

"Sorry I've been in frantic mode for the past couple of hours, because I didn't write down what we were supposed to do for homework…" The Ravenclaw trailed off, as Hermione dug around through her bag to find her personal syllabus that she has created to keep up with the curriculum for the semester. Pulling out her parchment that was neatly tucked into her charms book, she lowered her finger down on the page and scrolled down to the date.

"Ahh here it is. Let me see, we are supposed to research a spell of your choosing, and to write an essay about the wand movements, how long the spell is supposed to last, and if there are any recorded ways to make the spell stronger and or last longer." The Ravenclaw who was named Brittney was writing furiously on her sheet of parchment.

"Thank you sooo much Hermione, you saved me. See you later." Brittney shoved everything in her bag and was off; Hermione went back to her book she was reading.

After about twenty minutes of studying Hermione heard Harry's voice, looking up to see that the Gryffindor team and the Slytherin team were at a standoff…again.

"What is going on?" Hermione piped up as she was stalking over to the two groups, Malfoy was boasting over their new brooms, rolling her eyes, she decided to interject into the conversation.

"At least nobody on the Gryffindor team had to buy their way in; they got in on pure talent." Feeling a bit smug, she smirked seeing Draco's face sneer.

"Nobody asked for your opinion you filthy little mudblood." Hermione took a step back, when Ron stepped in the first time he had ever stood up for her. She blushed slightly seeing him being chivalrous for once.

"You'll pay for that one Malfoy." Ron pointed his wand towards the bleach blond boy and yelled out "Eat Slugs!" With a flash of light, Ron was pulsated back towards the ground, running over to him, he was bent over "I think I may vomit…" and he did lots and lots of slugs, while the Slytherin team laughed.

Harry helped pick up Ron "Let's take him to Hagrid's he will know what to do…" Hermione grabbed ahold of Ron's other arm, "Good Idea." and they basically dragged him all the way down to Hagrid's leaving a trail of slugs along the way.

Arriving at Hagrid's hut, he was outside with some hedge clippers.

"'Ello Hagrid." Ron than belched up a couple more slugs that slipped down his shirt onto the grass.

"We have a bit of a problem Hagrid…" Hermione trailed off, and he ushered the three kids inside, offering them a few of his snack cakes and tea.

"Yes well sadly were just going to have to wait for it to stop I'm afraid." Handing Ron an enormous bucket.

"So who was Ron trying to curse anyways?" Hagrid tilted his head to the side curious about the weasleys behavior.

In between vomits, Ron groaned out, "Malfoy. He called Hermione a mudblood."

Hermione had gotten up from where she had sat down when they arrived, to look out the window, with her arms folded across her chest.

Harry than asked a very naïve question, "What's a mudblood?"

Hermione turned on her heel with growing agitation, "It mean's dirty blood. A witch or wizard that is not from a pureblood family. You usually don't hear it civilized conversation." She could feel tears welling up in her eyes, she always hated that she teared up or cried about something so simple, an insult from a stupid ferret.

Hagrid waved her over to give her a bear hug, than to take a hold of her hands, "Don't you think fer one minute 'Mione pureblood or not you are the brightest witch of your age and you will do great things."


Halloween arrived within a blink of an eye; Hermione was already starting to set out her study schedule for midterms. Having been in the Halloween spirit she was ready to chow down at the feast that evening after classes, it was bonus that it was a Friday night. Another reason to be elated was that during her classes they would be Halloween themed, she had double potions that morning, not thinking that Snape would be celebrating, a free period, charms, and transfiguration than to attend Nick's deathday part and hopefully the feast. She was looking forward to transfiguration because they would all be transfiguring objects into silly hats to wear during the feast that evening.

Sitting down at breakfast, Ron was already stuffing his face full of eggs and bacon. Harry was pushing his food around again, "Alright Harry, Ron I will meet you outside the Great Hall at seven pm sharp to attend Nearly Headless Nicks Deathday party."

Harry sighed, "Right I forgot." He ran his fingers through his jet-black hair.

"A promise is a promise Harry." Hermione lectured him; he raised his hands up in surrender.
"I know I'll be here…do we take anything to a deathday party?" All three of them shrugged, "Well I guess we will find out."

Hermione enjoyed her classes, in potions professor Snape did not acknowledge that it was even Halloween. Professor Flitwick had us charm paper bats and bouncing pumpkins to bounce around the halls throughout the day, and the class she had been looking forward to the most after potions. Transfiguration. Where she transfigured a teacup into a Russian ushanka that was in Gryffindor colors.

"Very good Ms. Granger." Professor McGonagall praised, Hermione than wore that hat throughout the day until it was time for dinner, having dropped off her bag in her room before she met up with the boys. Leaving the common room, as she was on her way down to the great hall climbing down the stairs, when a group of older students came up behind her and pushed past her.

Stealing her hat, "Awww stupid second years and that stupid tradition of making Halloween hats…"

When the older student burned the hat into small-burnt crisps, "Hey!" Hermione snapped, "That was mine!"

The older group of students mocked her, laughed and turned on their heels to leave, huffing loudly, "Stupid brats." Hermione murmured under her breath as she waited a few minutes until she knew that they would not be in her path, skulking down the stairs when she ran into Ron.

"Hey 'Mione have you seen Harry yet?" Ron asked her with enthusiasm.

"No I haven't, I just dropped my bag off, maybe we can go check to see if he snuck down to the feast early or we can see if we can find him wondering the halls? " Hermione trailed off as Ron was already on his way towards the great hall. 'Cool thanks for waiting for me…' Hermione's internal grumpiness started to show, she really needed to eat.

After she caught up with Ron, he was already on his way out of the great hall with a couple of sweets in his hands, "Yeah he's not in there."

With a mouthful of sweets, he choked out "Where to now?"

Stealing one of his cookies that he was holding on to, "Up to the DADA floor. Harry said he's helping Lockhart after his classes."

The boy nodded his head "Alright lead the way."

As they were hiking up the stairs, going through some of the secret entrances that littered the halls, to reach the sixth floor, but alas Harry was nowhere to be found and Lockhart said that Harry had already left.

"Alright maybe Harry is down at the great hall then waiting for us. " They trekked back down the stairs to find Harry down at the great hall.

"Where have you two been? Let's get this done and over with so we don't miss too much of the feast." Harry complained as he was in a grouchy mood as well.

All three of them headed down towards the dungeons, the stairs were lined with candles, but they gave a creepy vibe considering they were black tapers that had blue flames erupting from them. As they went deeper into the dungeons, it became chillier as they neared the room that was designated for the deathday party the chill crept through their bones and made the hairs on the back of their necks stand straight up.

Turning a corner, they saw Nearly Headless Nick floating around the doorway that held black and purple velvet drapes around the doorframe.

"Ahhh Welcome Welcome Harry, Hermione, Ronald." Nick swept off his hand and bowed low, "I'm pleased you were able to come."

As they entered the dungeon, Hermione was taken aback about how elegant the deathday party was, there were hundreds of pearly white ghosts floating across the room, a chatter filled the empty spaces that the music could not. Having already tuned out the music, she heard Harry suggest they take a walk around. Folding her arms closer to her, 'Never realized that with this many ghosts it could get this cold.' Taking in all of the sights of the ghosts and trying to figure out how they died, she spotted a ghost that she was apprehensive to meet.

"Turn back, let's go somewhere else" Hermione whispered in a hurried tone, the two boys turned to look at her than at the ghost she was staring at.

"Why? I mean there are loads of ghosts here…" Ron bumbled out, rolling her eyes, she continued, "No over there is Moaning Myrtle." The boys shrugged, "She haunts one of the girls bathrooms, we haven't been able to get in there all year because she keeps throwing fits and flooding the bathroom." Explaining to them the situation, but Ron being Ron found the one place they had food in this part of the dungeon.

However, as they approached the food, they immediately regretted the decision. All of the food either was burnt to a crisp, growing mold, or had live maggots living in it.

The group of kids watched as a ghost hovered through the food table, when Harry couldn't help but ask "Are you able to taste it if you walk through it?"

The phantom looked at them with a sad expression upon his face; "Sadly no" Was all he said before he floated off to join another group of spirits.

"They probably let the food rot so that it has a stronger aroma, so that maybe they could taste it." Hermione spoke in a matter of fact tone. When they saw an entity that wasn't pearlescent that was all colorful, with a dreadful groan all three of them went "Peeves."

"Oy you three were just talking about Myrtle!" He bellowed loudly, Hermione's eyes went wide like a deer caught in headlights.

"No no peeves of her." Hermione was nearly waving her hands in front of him in pure panic mode.

"Ohhh MYRTLE!" Peeves screamed over the music, as the moping ghost known as myrtle hovered over to them with a sulky expression.

"What? Did you call for me?" Myrtle spoke sullenly, her hair masking part of her face as she kept her head bent down.
"How are you today Myrtle?" Hermione asked before Peeves could spit something conniving out of his mouth. "It's nice to see you out of the bathroom."

Myrtle started to wail, Hermione rolled her eyes when Peeves decided to pipe into the conversation. "Miss Granger and these two boys were just talking about you Myrtle."
Than the wailing got louder, "All you are doing is making fun of me…" Silver tears glistened down Myrtle's cheeks, as she moaned and wailed away past the other ghosts and through a wall.

Listening to Peeves cackle away, Ron blurted out "That could have gone better." When luckily Nearly Headless Nick came swooping in towards them, "Are you all having a good time?" He questioned as he was looking around at the turnout.
"Oh yes!" They all bumbled out, when he was going to start to explain who was all there at his party there was a sound of a horn being played. The music stopped when headless horsemen riding on ghosts horses came galloping through the wall, Nick was attempting to straighten his clothes in hope to look nicer for the men that just rode in.

"Here we go." Nick took a deep breath at least for a ghost. The main headless horseman who was blowing the horn, was carrying his head under his arm, 'I bet that is super uncomfortable or maybe really odd to deal with the first hundred years...' Hermione's thoughts had trailed to a different path when the horseman named Sir Patrick came and greeted Nick and acted quite 'surprised' when he saw us 'livies' at the party.

Nick coughed to grab everyone's attention, it was silent, "First and foremost I would like to thank everyone for coming to my Deathday celebration!" However, no one was paying attention with Sir Patrick decided to take his head off and started passing it back and forth between the other ghosts, than they started to play catch and at one point his head went straight past Nick's, and Nick sighed and gave up on his speech.

"Poor Nick." Hermione muttered, when Ron muttered back "Poor Nick? Poor us. I can't take much more of this." Harry agreed, "Yeah lets go." The three of them all started to back away from the food table and scoot themselves against the wall to not be noticed, feeling the chill of the ghosts to the bone. Exiting the room, they all took a collective breath.

"It was bloody freezing in there!" Ron whined, Harry nodded, and Hermione ran her hands up and down her arms trying to get warm.

"Maybe we can catch the ending of the feast and grab some pudding." Ron spoke hopeful as he lead the way up the dungeon steps. When they were nearing the top of the stairs Harry stopped dead in his tracks, his hand clutching the cobblestone wall.

"Harry?" Hermione asked in a worried tone.

He turned his head quickly towards his two friends; he was looking around the area, closing his eyes and listening intently. "Don't you hear it?"

Hermione quirked an eyebrow, "Hear what Harry?"

Harry scrunched up his face, "Hold on…its that voice again…shut it for a minute." Ron and Hermione froze in place listening for what Harry heard, but Hermione heard nothing but the chatter of voices echoing through the halls from the great hall.

"Its getting louder, I think it says its going to kill!" Harry emphasized as he started to bolt up the stairs, straining to hear what was going on but could not hear anything Harry was sprinting up the grand staircase to the second floor.

"Did you say kill Harry?" Ron asked as he wiped the sweat from his brow, Hermione was breathing heavily, the both of them held bewildered faces when Harry was convinced he was hearing something, following their best friend down a deserted corridor.

Ron spoke again "Harry I didn't hear anything…" Trailing off as Hermione gasped there was something hanging from a torch down the corridor.

"What…What is that?" Hermione stuttered out, her anxiety spiked before all three of them all started dashed down the corridor.

All of a sudden, Harry skidded to a halt, as did they, the horrifying scene in front of them made Hermione clench her wand and wish that they were not alone.

"Is…Is that blood?" Hermione finally found her voice, she watched from behind the two boys; Harry was inching closer to the scene in question.

"Its filch's cat. Its Ms. Norris." Not even realizing that chatter and footsteps were about to grace and flood the corridor they were standing in.

When Draco's voice was the one to break the silence, "The enemy of the heir beware?" Turning to look directly at Hermione, "You will be next mudblood."

When Filch arrived at the scene "Make way, make way!"


Having just finished the Halloween feast, Severus was leaving the great hall having snuck out some of his favorite chocolate cake because the headmaster only lets the elves make it a couple times a year, Christmas, New Years and of course his Birthday, to force Severus to leave his dungeons.

Starting his rounds, he was climbing the stairs to start at the seventh floor and work his way down, when he heard a commotion around the corner. Raising an eyebrow, he went to see what the chatter was about, turning the corner of the corridor to see a large crowd of students gathered around in a circle in the middle of the hallway, raising an eyebrow sighing irritated, he vanished his cake and as a professor, he needed to know what the bloody hell was happening. Rolling his eyes as the students were just gossiping, pointing, when he barked "Move."

The children parted like the red sea for a path to see what the rest of them were gawking at, passing the students until he set eyes on the wall, and the other professors started to arrive. Reading what was written on the wall, "The Chamber of Secrets has been opened, Enemies of the heir beware." Glancing over he saw that annoying cat of Filches hanging by the tail on one of the torches. Switching his gaze over to filch who had a murderous look in his eyes and was staring at Harry and his friends.

Albus had finally approached the scene "Alright to bed all of you, except for you three…" he spoke softly while pointing to Granger, Weasley, and Potter. Severus moved back to prop himself on the wall facing the message, the other professors were standing to the right near Albus and were gawking, watching to make sure all the students started to scatter back to their common rooms and not hang around to gossip about what they had just witnessed.

The air was tense with apprehension about how Filch might react with only the professors around. Filch stalked over to Harry grabbing him by the collar, a fierce rage ran through Severus, but he pushed it farther back down into him, knowing that he could do nothing even if he wanted to.

"What have you done to my cat? You murdered her." Harry tried to sputter out a response of that he did not do anything and nowhere near the scene, but it just came out as jumbled up sounds.

Albus sauntered over to the hanging cat, observing the small creature when he spoke softly to calm the agitated man "Calm down Argus, it looks like Mrs. Norris has only been petrified and I'm sure Ms. Sprout could make an antidote."

Severus pushed himself off against the wall and spoke in a matter of fact tone before any of the other professors could speak.

"Albus do you think that they were just simply in the wrong place at the wrong time?" He made a suggestive gesture, raising his arms up and shrugging.

"However, I do not recall seeing Potter at dinner." He stared piercingly at the three children, when Lockhart piped up behind one of the other professors, "Yes well that was my fault Severus; Harry was helping me answer my fan mail…" Lockhart cleared his throat and stepped back as he saw Severus whip his head around at his voice, and if glares could kill…

Severus was standing in the middle of the gap, with the professors on one side the children and Filch on the other side, and Albus was near Ms. Norris. Rolling his eyes away from the infuriating staff, when he heard Albus pipe up "Innocent until proven guilty, Severus." Smirking, 'Of course you would say that to me Albus.' Severus scoffed mentally when he heard Ms. Granger break the silence of the children.

"Well we were on our way to the feast when Harry said…" Severus was staring at them, watching, she had made eye contact with Harry, than she went quiet, 'Ahh they are hiding something…but what?'

"Yes, Ms. Granger." Severus tried to coax the information out of her but Harry finally found his voice, "When I said I wasn't hungry, we were heading back to the common room when we found Ms. Norris."

Severus gathered his thoughts quickly about their stories, his vision glided gracefully over to the headmaster.

"Well best be off to bed you three." Albus spoke gently to the young cubs, when Filch piped in growling, "My cat has been petrified and I wanna see some punishment!" His voice echoed through the hall.

"Mr. Filch I assure you that with the mandrakes coming of age soon, Severus can brew up a potion that will help Mrs. Norris. She will be better soon enough." The man nodded turned on his heel, sneered at the children and left the corridor.

When the pompous ass for one blurted out, "I will make it. I must have done it a thousand times before."

Severus spoke from his spot, "Excuse me. I do believe I am the Potions Master of this school Gilderoy." His voice was icy and sharp like an ice sickle dipped in malice.

Severus watched as the children were dismissed with "Good Night Professors."

As soon as the last three of the students left the corridor, all of the teachers started to blurt out gossip about what just happened.

"Is that blood? Who would do this?" At the last question a couple of the other professors were glaring daggers at him.

Severus moved to lean up against the wall across from the message on the wall again, reading it, studying the handwriting, when Pomona came up to him.

"Severus could I help you with making the potion?" Severus quickly nodded, knowing that there would be a need for a good amount of this potion. 'I have never seen this handwriting before…why does the writing look like a first years?' Noticing that Pomana was still standing directly next to him with a Cheshire cat grin on her face, rolling his eyes he heard the headmaster call to him.

"Severus if you could follow me to my office, we need to have a discussion." Shooing the rest of the professors back to their own personal quarters, Severus was keeping his eyes on the other professors as they all started to gossip behind his back. Albus waved at Severus to join him, taking an additional mental photo of the scene that lay before him, he followed the headmaster up to his office.

Severus left the headmasters office a quarter past three in the morning he was exhausted, and would have to be up in just a few hours to teach first years potions in the morning. Deciding to skip out of his workout this morning, he would opt for getting a couple hours of sleep before setting up for classes, 'I wonder if I could convince a seventh year N.E.W.T. student to do it.' Severus pondered about it as he was briskly going down the main stairs back to the dungeons, 'No. They would probably be devoured alive or blown up by the first years.' He smirked at the thought of one of the N.E.W.T students trying to keep control of the dunderheads without creating havoc while he slept.


Hermione was scanning the titles of the books in the Library looking for 'Hogwarts: A History' however there were no copies available and there was a two week waiting period for said book. Being lost in the books, she was caught by surprise when she heard Harry's voice from behind her, "What are you looking for Hermione?"

Huffing slightly, "All the copies of Hogwarts : A History have been checked out and I forgot my copy at home, no room in the trunk…could have packed in my book bag though…"Hermione trailed off as she was now lost in thought.

"Why do you want it?"

Turning on her heel, "Honestly Harry it's the only book that we know of that could contain any information about the chamber of secrets." Hermione could see Ron slowly approaching.

"What information?" Harry was just as curious as Hermione to figure out what is happening around the school, Hermione bit her lip, "Well that's just it, I don't remember and I can't seem to find any more information anywhere else."

The bell rung indicating their next class, Ron whined once again that day "Please Hermione can I see your essay?!"

Rolling her eyes as she slouched her book bag over her shoulder, "Let's get to class."

She and Ron argued all the way up to the classroom; Harry was silent for the duration of the trip.

Feeling Ron's hand wrap around her wrist, "Please Hermione I only need two more inches!"

Yanking her arm away, keeping eye contact with Ronald as she took her essay and put it in the turned in pile.

"No Ron. I have turned it in already. One of these days you will learn to do your own homework." Setting down in her seat, Ron in tow behind her grumbling all the way to his seat, the professor floated into the room through the blackboard, and started the class, which was about the International Wizard Convention of 1289, and Hermione would have been thoroughly engrossed into the subject if other things were not on her mind.

Raising her hand, "Um yes Ms…"

Hermione replied, "Granger, sir. I have a question; do you know anything about the Chamber of secrets?" The classroom was in complete silence before she finished the sentence than murmuring and every eye was now on the professor.

The professor sighed, "Its just a story, a myth to keep the first years in line…" He tried to explain, but Hermione was quick with a retort, "But sir, aren't stories or myths based on facts…"

Professor Binns was silent for a few moments, "Alright, let me see….The Chamber of Secrets…. During the years of the four founders, those that created this school, they worked together for a few years before they started to divide amongst themselves and it was mostly the other houses against Slytherin. Slytherin wanted to be more selective of who they allowed into the school, believing that magical learning should be kept within in pureblood families. Eventually Slytherin left the school." Taking a moment of thought wrinkling his forehead, "The story goes that Salazar Slytherin built a hidden chamber in the castle, which the other founders had no idea about. According to legend, Slytherin sealed the chamber until their true heir was to arrive at the school. Only the heir would be able to open the chamber and unleash the horror within to purge the school of those that were not pureblood."

All the students was hanging onto every word that the professor had spoken, "However, the story is completely absurd. The school has been searched multiple various times throughout the years and naturally nothing has been found."

Hermione's cogs in her head were working overtime, her hand shot up in the air, "Sir, when you say 'the horror within' what do you mean?"

Professor Binns sighed, "Its believed to be a sort of monster, which only the heir of Slytherin can control. However, like I said earlier there is no chamber or monster. The school has been searched many times and nothing has been found. So do not fret any of you, I'm sure a student found out about the legend and played a prank to scare the younger students for Halloween."

"But sir, what if only this year the true heir has returned?" A boy spitted out, while others agreed with him.
"Hogwash, Dumbledore has searched the school himself." The professor defended, when another student interjected "Well Dumbledore is a Gryffindor so naturally…"

"Naturally we are getting back to real history. " Once again, the students had fallen back into their stupors as the professor continued to drone on about the subject at hand.


The days were slowly passing and it was already the second week of November, Severus was keeping in contact with Draco to hear any rumors or gossip about who the heir of Slytherin was. Apparently one morning Severus received a letter from Draco asking to have lunch since he had something to tell him and it was important.

Arranging the brunch right before the first quidditch match of the season, Severus was mentally preparing himself before Draco arrived, taking a quick shot of whiskey when a knock on his door made him cork the bottle and slip it under his desk.

"Enter." The small blond boy looked fidgety.

"Sit Draco." Severus waved his hand as the door shut behind him.

"Are you excited for the game today?" Trying to manage small talk but he was never good at it.

"Yes I am, but godfather father wrote to me last night and he said that he had no idea who the heir of Slytherin was. " Draco gushed out, hoping that would clear his father's name.

"Alright calm down Draco. Do you have time for a cup of tea?" Severus wanted to comfort the boy.

A sad smile, "Sorry godfather, we will have to arrange another tea time they are expecting me in a few minutes. I just wanted to come by really quickly and update you."

"Alright Draco, Thank you and have a good game I'll be rooting for you." Severus gave the small child the encouragement he needed.

The first quidditch match of the year was beginning in less than an hour. They would have one more game before the term ends for the year, and it was usually in the beginning of December right before the Christmas holidays. Bundling up, the air seemed to be getting more of a wintery mix for the middle of November, the air smelled of snow that was quickly approaching. Wrapping his scarf around his neck tighter as the wind whipped his hair around his face, as he stalked outside with the rest of the students littering the grounds to arrive on time to watch the game.

Arriving at the Quidditch Pitch, Severus climbed up through the quidditch pitch box finding an empty spot where no one could bother him, and he could watch and enjoy the game in peace. Sadly, without his knowledge he chose the wrong box, which held the most egotistical, narcissus man in the wizarding world, Gildory Lockhart.

Severus got a glimpse of his bleach blond hair turned on his heel to leave, but the man had turned "Ahhh Severus join me!" The man patted the seat next to him, when Severus noticed that the man in question was dressed in fuchsia colored robes, "I wanted to ask you some questions about your work and some of the articles you have posted."

Rolling his eyes, Severus mentally kicked himself 'Should have checked the bloody fucking box.' Severus was still moving to leave when a movement from his peripheral made him turn on his heel, 'Oh for fucks sake.'

The headmaster was blocking his exit, "Ahhh Severus my boy glad that we get to sit in the same box." When Severus could hear a girly squeal behind him, 'Oh it got better.'

"Albus please come join Severus and I as we discuss some of his articles that he has published over the years!" Lockhart spoke excitedly; the old man that stood in front of Severus raised an eyebrow, chuckled "I see you made a friend Severus."

Growling, Severus sidestepped around Albus to the exit, "No."

The old man blocked him, "Come join us Severus we can talk about the game as well." He smiled an overly sweet smile for those around them, Severus knew the truth behind that smile, it was his 'I've got you where I want you'.

Severus held the headmasters gaze, the old fool was watching to see if he would take the man's invitation, he knew he had to or Albus would give him yet another lecture about being "Anti-Social". Agreeing reluctantly, Severus slipped into his mask, turning on his heel, sauntering over to the man who would not stop asking him questions, and sat next to Lockhart. Listening to the man's questions that did not make any sense what so ever, tempted to be blunt about his questions and where to shove them, but that would also cause him yet another lecture so he decided to keep quiet and let the man talk his ear off until the game started.

Resting his hands on his legs, until each of the teams walked out on to the fields gripping their brooms, always anxious when Harry flew, and knowing he probably should not be. 'That boy definitely has Lily's ability to fly. I was only ever comfortable flying when I was taught by the dark lord. Granted that doesn't mean I wasn't good at it.' Severus thought as he watched each of the players mount their brooms, as he watched as Harry pushed himself off the ground and was hovering in the air, wearing the goggles that he gave him around his neck in case it decided to rain.

A proud feeling erupted in Severus' chest, ignoring the man that was babbling next to him, as he continued to ask him questions specifically about his work and some of the potion and spells he created.

Severus kept his eyes on the field when he snapped, "Why do you want to know?"

The man stopped babbling, glanced over at Severus as if he was highly offended, stuttering out "Well I was just curious…Its not every day you get to talk to a published master on these subjects."

Scoffing, Severus heard rumors in the dark alleys of knockturn alley in diagon alley about this man in question. Lockhart just came out of nowhere with all of these incredible magical discoveries and theories he says he's created, discovered, or completed but there hasn't been any proof whatsoever that he even knows how to preform magic, he always either does basic magic or has someone else do it for him and it was usually a woman.

Albus piped up, "Curiosity may have killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back, Severus."

Rolling his eyes, "I know that Albus I was the one that told you that muggle saying." They all focused on the field once more when Hooch blew the whistle, and the balls were released into the air and the game officially had begun.

Ironically, it was Harry and his godson Draco face to face on the quidditch pitch, his arm was twisted to let Draco onto the team this year since his father bribed the entire team with new brooms, and since Draco was, well his godson if he said no it would all around end badly.

In addition, he had to admit Draco had learned from last year after Harry made Gryffindor seeker his first year, that he was not the best flyer and this past summer he practiced every chance he could get. Severus kept his eye on Draco and Harry, even though he was trying to keep focus on his own team, the two of them were zipping in between the posts of the stadium, spinning, and dodging a rogue bludger that was focusing itself specifically on Harry.

Severus turned his head slightly to look at the man next to him, 'Curious who jinxed the bludger. I doubt it was Lockhart he is just a bubbling idiot who takes credit for other wizard's works.' When out of his peripheral he noticed that Harry dove straight past Draco, they were elbowing each other, than they were out of sight, 'What the hell are you two doing?' Severus pondered anxiously, a few minutes later; Draco popped out from underneath the stadium and was soaring across the field, not on his broomstick, where he landed on his ass near the sand that held the goal posts, with the breath knocked out of him.

Harry swerved up from the under the arena, almost losing control of his broom with the rogue bludger still in tow behind him, the other bludger was on the other side of the pitch, internally growling, 'The game better be set as a rematch.'

Intensely keeping his gaze on Harry, since his seeker was out for the count, that Harry was nearly about to catch the small ball, when the bludger came out of from behind one of the stands and hit Harry directly in the arm. Harry grunted out in pain while he continued on through using his other arm, Severus smirked but not wanting to give any facial expressions away to Albus nor Lockhart, 'He got that from me.'

Watching as the snitch was flying closer to the ground as Harry had grabbed for it, spun over still clutching onto his broom, than fell from his broom landing in the sand near the hoops, where Draco had landed a bit earlier. When Harry landed the bludger still kept on trying to attack him, bouncing up and attempting to land on him. Lockhart had left right as Harry had landed muttering, "Oh that dear boy I must help him…" Severus turned from the retreating back of Lockhart to Albus back to the growing students on the field when Ms. Granger blew up the bludger in midair 'Merlin Harry is going to be in a world of pain if that moron touches him.'

Severus stood abruptly, leaving the stand, hearing the old man behind him, "Severus my boy…"

Ignoring his second master and taking the stairs briskly, he saw some of the crowd that had formed around Harry on the field break into an argument, keeping his eye on Lockhart as he awkwardly ran over to Harry, Severus took long strides to match the pace of the other professor who was running.

When Severus neared the enormous lot of people, the smaller group that had split away from the main cacophony were Slytherin's and Gryffindor's that were barking at each other, blocking his way to Harry. Hearing the Slytherin's protest about the incident with the bludger since his Slytherin's were being accused by the Gryffindor's of enchanting the bludger.

"No one on the team had done it!" One of his snakes hissed, while the red headed twins roared back.

"Rubbish! You are all a bunch of cheats!" They spoke in unison; the pandemonium was giving him a migraine.

"Enough." Severus snapped vehemently, the Weasley twins went silent immediately and dropped the issue, as they turned to leave he heard them mumbling about cheating Slytherin's and how they get away with everything.

Lockhart had pushed the students aside, "I'm coming Harry, I'll be able to fix your arm for you." He spoke in a loud panic, Lockhart added to his headache.

Protests erupted about Lockhart fixing Harry's arm and that he should be taken to the hospital wing, Lockhart on the other hand ignored all of the complaints.

"Posh. I am the most qualified professor here." He spoke not knowing that Severus was in his vicinity and casted the spell anyways, 'I could report him for that…' Severus smirked knowing that he would be showing genuine concern, but Albus would think that he was after Lockhart's job...Again. Severus was not able to hear what was going on when screams erupted from around him, pushing past some of the other students who were in the way; he came upon a scene that made him want to throat punch the pompous defense against the dark arts professor. Harry was sitting on the ground; his arm was wiggling like a worm, when Lockhart spoke up "Well at least there is not any pain anymore Harry."

When Hagrid, who was kneeling behind Harry, snapped at the ignorant man, "There's no bones left!"

Severus took control of the situation exceedingly instantaneously before Lockhart screwed anything else up; stepping in between the crowd of children that were nearly in sheer panic of what was happening and the even smaller group that was around Harry.

"Potter. Hospital Wing. Now before you break anything else." Severus sneered in his direction, his exasperation lashed out at Harry and his group of friends, Hagrid had picked up Harry setting him on his feet and his friends accompanied him to the hospital wing. Severus looked as Harry marched away with his friends in tow, feeling himself hardened to the feelings that his heart wished it could feel. 'It is better to push him away for now. Until the time is right.'

Severus stood there in the middle of the pitch observing Harry vanish from the stadium, looking up into that stand that he was just occupying, taking note that the old fool was still lingering about taking note of the entire situation. 'Well here is another fucking show for you Albus.' Severus turned quickly on his heel towards Lockhart, they were standing face to face, he seemed to be shaking, and Severus felt his hands turn into fists, his fingernails digging into his palm. All he knew was that he wanted to knock the shit out of Lockhart, 'This stupid, narcissist dumbass bastard.' Feeling his old death eater motives coming into play, he started to imagine ways to 'entertain' the dark lord. He was after all a sadistic man with a dangerous past.

Severus strode straight past Lockhart, who was muttering, "I do wonder how the spell had gone wrong?"

Severus' felt every muscle in his body tense, when he stopped dead in his tracks just a few feet away from Lockhart, "Everything alright Severus?" The man questioned him.

Severus rolled his neck, than turned back towards the insufferable wizard stalking up to him, mere inches from his face Severus hissed, "I know how you have come into your fame Lockhart. Do not count on it for long."

It was a slight bluff, but he did not need to know that. Severus held a malicious smirk on his lips, watching as the information sunk in to Lockhart's brain, he tried to chuckle it off but noticing the blaze in Severus' eyes, Lockhart went quiet.

Whispering softly, not being able to hold Severus' gaze "I have no idea what you are talking about Severus, but I do believe it is time for us to return to the school."

Refusing to give into his agitation and anger; he turned on his heel once more eyed the stand that his master was in, noting that there was a worried expression on his face, Severus started his journey back up to the school for a celebratory drink before the feast.


Hermione had sprinted down to the field from her box, seeing that the bludger was still trying to attack Harry. Standing in the middle of the field pointing her wand at the bludger while it was in midair, and bellowed "Finite Incantatem."

The medium sized ball shattered into a bunch of little pieces covering Harry in dust while he clutched his arm. When she started running over to Harry, they all slid to a stop around him, "Harry are you alright?"

When a voice broke through the crowd, "Out of my way, I can help the dear boy." Hermione rolled her eyes, 'Oh good this moron. Just what we need. Where is a competent professor at?' Hermione mused to herself as she watched Lockhart turn Harry's arm into jelly.

Hermione was about to tell Lockhart off, when her voice caught in her throat, hearing another's voice, "Potter. Hospital Wing. Now!"

Hagrid helped Harry from his sitting position and they all followed the half giant who was carrying Harry up to the castle to the hospital wing. Hermione could not help herself, looking back as they were nearing the stadium entrance, she saw that Snape was about to walk away from Lockhart when he turned and was inches away from Lockharts face. A smug thought entered her mind, 'I hope he kicks his ass.'

Hermione followed Harry up to the Hospital Wing, where Madam Pomfrey had been taking care of Draco, and when she saw Harry had a slight conniption. Hearing Malfoy moan constantly, she growled at the boy "Stop making such a fuss Draco you can leave."

She brought over a bottle of skele-gro. "You're in for a rough night potter." Fussying about him, pouring some of the lime green liquid into a glass, handing the glass over to Harry's good arm. "Regrowing bones is a nasty business."

Hermione grew worried, "You will be able to wont you?" Her curiosity peaked at the moment as Harry drank the liquid and spat it out.

"Of course I can and what did you think Potter? Pumpkin Juice?" Madam Pomfrey than shooed the rest of us, the entire quidditch team followed Harry up to the hospital wing, away for Harry to eat and get his rest.

"Night Harry." Everyone called out to him as they tracked dirt out of the Hospital wing, Hermione was now lost in her thoughts. 'We have to figure out who was jinxing everything Harry touched? Was it the Heir of Slytherin? I wonder….' Hermione than got a brilliant idea about a potion she heard about in one of her potions classes. 'I'll wait and tell the boys when we are all back in the common room.' Hermione contemplated.


Entering his rooms, Severus went straight for the half-empty bottle of firewhiskey that was hidden away under his desk, granted he had not touched the bottle in months. Conjuring a tumbler, pouring just a bit of the amber liquid into the glass, raising his glass to the blazing fire in the fireplace, "Congratulations Harry. I may not cheer you on, I may be pushing you away, but I promise you I am here for you."

Downing the drink within a gulp, always enjoying the burn that the drink caused as it caressed his throat, feeling the agitation still flowing through his veins, he knew the exact person to take it out on. Slipping his bottle back into his desk, barging out of his personal rooms, and slamming his door shut behind him, he took the stairs out of the dungeons two at a time.

Reaching his destination in mere minutes, nearly yelling the password at the griffon statue that was sitting in an alcove that held Albus' office, Severus climbed the stairs bursting through the headmaster's office, agitation was boiling his blood. The urge to bark at the old coot was strong for keeping this naive idiot around this long, however all Severus could really do at the moment was pace in front of the older man, Dumbledore just watched as he paced, "Severus what is it my boy? You are going to run a path in my flooring." Albus tried to joke, Severus stopped mid stride staring directly at the wall in front of him.

"Why is he here Albus? You can't see that he's inept to do anything around here?" Gritting his teeth, "He puts these kids' lives at risk every day that he is even performing magic." Severus turned to face the man, he was staring at him with twinkling eyes, feeling like hours before Albus replied, probably waiting for him to calm down and not to resume his pacing.

When the headmaster was about to say something a painting interjected, "Albus, a student has been petrified. Third Floor." The two men looked at each other, than Severus dashed out of the room, questions completely forgotten, not bothering to shut the door, taking the stairs hastily, since they were one floor below the attack, he took a short cut that was hiding behind a tapestry. Climbing the stairs in the passageway, Severus kept quiet and his mind on the task, slipping his wand out of his pocket, 'This is dark magic something that the dark lord would use. I haven't seen petrification in some years, and all of a sudden at Hogwarts…Something is happening.' Knowing that this was probably part of the prophecy, Severus took the steps slowly and stealthily hearing only the click of his dress shoes against the cobblestone, a flashback from the start of term flashed itself in the front of his mind.

Rounds. He was on his rounds when he was nearing the fifth floor when a gut feeling that is all it took to know that something horrendous was forming at the school. Having looked down at his wrist feeling it itch and burn, 'What the hell? The dark mark has not been an issue in over ten years…' He had thought as he unbuttoned his cuffs trying to ignore the feeling, but as he pushed his sleeve of his frock coat and button down up his forearm, he watched as his dark mark was slithering over his pale skin. 'What the fuck?' As he kept his eye on the moving tattoo, he bee lined down to the headmaster's office to explain what was going on, but as he went down another floor the moving ceased. Ending his rounds, he went back down to his office to experiment, using a couple of old artifacts that he held onto over the years that he kept hidden away in his vault. Attempting to see if it would slither around again, the only thing after hours of research was it would only wiggle when he inched closer to any type of dark magic artifact that the dark lord specifically charmed himself, never noticing that the dark mark did that, however, he has not been around dark magic in years. Luckily, he tested his theory before showing Albus, because once again Albus assumed that he was after the DADA position.

"Severus, honestly, what are you after?" Severus stared at the man with his mask in face but felt incredulous.

"Albus, are you fucking kidding me?" He ran his fingers through his hair, pinching the bridge of his nose, "I come to you with actual proof that something is happening in Hogwarts, let me show you before you dismiss another one of my theories."

Severus growled as he unbuttoned his cuff once more, striding over to the old man who refused to listen to reason, and revealed his wrist, the dark mark was not moving. "Now. Accio!" Severus hissed, when the small artifact came whizzing into his hand, at first the headmaster was distracted by the item he was holding on to.

"Severus you informed me that I had collected all of the ancient dark magic artifacts from your home."

A smug smirk graced Severus' lips, "Yes well it was not in MY home as I recall. However, Albus this is not the time for that, look down." Stating in a matter of fact tone, he felt the old man's fingers trace his forearm, "Severus…"

The old man dragged his attention away from his forearm and up to his face, "I'm sorry for doubting you…what does this mean? It is not time yet for the dark lord he is not to return for a couple more years…"

Severus nodded as he recuffed his button down and frock coat, "Yes. I do believe one of Tom's Horcruxes have made it into the school, this will be a start to weaken him before he even arrives."

Feeling the dark magic cocooning him, the sensation grew stronger as he neared the third floor corridor. Severus prayed to Merlin that it was not Harry, his friends or Draco and hoping that the student had not died from the petrification, but only stunned. Pushing against the tapestry, peeking around the corner of the material, keeping his footsteps light as not to create too much noise. Listening intently, using his training that he learned to escape the dark lord, however, there was nothing but the sound of the wind howling through the castle corridor, with the creepy sensation of someone or something besides himself lurking in the shadows. Seeing that the torches were burnt out, 'That means they have been gone for the past five minutes. At least.' Severus thought as he flicked his wand, the torches relit and were flickering rogue shadows against the corridor walls, blinking so that his vision could get acclimated to the light, glancing around he had a devastating scene on his hands.

Severus took a deep breath before checking on the boy, he wanted to finish checking the corridor in case something or someone was hiding and waiting to attack when his guard was down. There were two other corridors on this part of the floor, Severus took a moment and made a pushing movement with his wand to light the torches down the first corridor. There was nothing. Gritting his teeth, he stalked over to the other corridor did the same wand movements, and once again there was nothing. 'Nothing, absolutely nothing in these corridors.' Severus pondered as he looked down at the small Gryffindor first year he was carrying a muggle camera, taking notice that there was a trail of spiders. Kneeling down next to the small child, he placed his middle and ring finger on the boy's neck to check for a pulse, 'Thank Merlin, he's breathing. He's only been petrified. ' Severus sighed mentally, feeling a weight lifted off his shoulders. Waving his wand, he sent his patronus to Minerva to let her know to get to the hospital wing, when he was about to do the same to the headmaster he appeared in the corridor behind the tapestry he had come down.

"My boy, you are sure quick on your feet. I do see that you have found a new secret passage…" Albus looked down at the small boy, with a grim expression, he was about to ask but Severus beat him to the punch.

"He is alive. I told Minerva to meet us at the hospital wing." Standing straight, with a swish and a flick, the boy was levitating to hip height and he was to be moved to the Hospital wing.

Severus knew that in the morning he needed to talk to Poppy and Pomona about how ripe the mandrakes were. Knowing that Dumbledore would address the situation tomorrow with the rest of the staff and maybe the students, hoping that this would not lead to a mass panic of the entirety of the school, but they would all probably jump ship when the winter holidays come about.

Reaching the wing, Minerva was standing just outside bouncing from one foot to the other in her emerald green nightgown, her hair in a bun with a scowl on her face.

"What happened?" Her tone was frantic.

"Calm down, he's okay; he wasn't killed only petrified." A sigh left the mama lioness as if she had been holding it in all this time. Minerva opened the door, while Severus kept walking with the small child, Poppy was checking on each of the other students who were taking refuge in the wing.

Poppy finally took notice to the group of professors carrying the kid and she gasped quietly, "What happened?" She questioned as she directed Severus over to an empty bed to lay the little cub on, hovering the small first year over to an empty bed, a figure from the corner of the room caught his eye.

'Ahh so that's where Harry was tonight, I wondered why he wasn't at dinner.' Severus knew that it was going to be hard to distance himself from his son because of how desperately he knew how much the both of them would benefit from the relationship; however, it would also hurt the boy. 'No more. Distance. Self-Control.'

"Severus." Blinking several times, looking at the small group who had assembled near the boy. Severus explained to them what he found when he arrived at the scene, having checked the corridors around them but found no one or anything. Severus noted that Minerva was still bouncing from one foot to another, the headmaster had a look of deep concerned look plastered on himself, and Severus kept himself quiet going over all of things that could do this, a handful of things could have done this but he will have to do research.

Glancing down seeing that the small boy was clutching the muggle camera, as did Albus when he whispered curiously, "Maybe we can see if he got a picture of his attacker." Severus glanced at each one of them and nodded, his wand still clutched in his hand. When Albus attempted to pry the muggle item open, the film inside burst into flames and the entire camera was in fumes. Sighing deeply, Dumbledore looked at each one of the professors than the students that inhabited the hospital wing.

"If we don't catch who or what is doing this, it looks like we may have to close the school." The silence that fell not only on the professors in that room but through the entire castle at that moment it was too much to bare.

"What does that mean Albus?"

The old man stared down at the boy, "I will send the children back to their houses, if Hogwarts is no longer safe." Severus turned and left the small group fidgeting at their own personal extent, losing himself in his mind, 'It is the dark lord…but how? One of his horcruxes most likely, but who has it? Maybe a chat with Draco would be in order.' Wandering the halls his mind had made up where he was going to go and have a chat with a certain egotistical professor.

Entering the DADA classroom, and seeing that Lockhart had a full mural of himself setting next to his desk, rolling his eyes he stalked towards the man's private quarters, pounding as hard as he could on the old oak door, it finally opened with a small squeak.

The man peeked around the door, "What can I do for you Severus?" A huff and a push inside his room, Severus was going to either bust a gut laughing or be highly worried that his students were subjected to this man. Everywhere there was a spot filled with either one of his accomplishments or a picture of himself, glancing at the man himself he was going to double over in laughter, he was wearing hair curlers. Bright pink hair curlers. Biting the inside of his lip instinctively, Severus dared to look down to see that the man was in a sleeping gown that matched his hair curlers, Severus had to bite his lip harder, tasting a bit of copper and remembering why he was actually in this bumbling idiots rooms, blinking hard at Lockhart.

"What do you know about the petrification's that have been going on in the school recently?"

Lockhart raised an eyebrow, and spoke in just above a whisper. "I have no idea what you are talking about Severus. I do however; know how to make the mandrake potion that will help those poor souls in the infirmary stronger."

Severus was slightly flabbergasted at the audacity of the man standing in front of him, 'Why did I even come here, this man is a waste of valuable time.' He thought to himself before asking another question.

"Yes as do I. Than do you know anything about what's been attacking the people of this school?" Severus' first thought was that Lockhart might have brought something in that could have been the dark lords, seeing as how much of a liar he is. The man had shrugged, when his eyes popped open wildly apparently remembering something.

"Now Severus, I do have a proposition to ask you." Severus quirked an eyebrow at the daft man.

"Yes?" Urging him to continue so he could leave and return to his study to work and have a smoke.

"Would you care to help me start a dueling club for after November?" Severus quirked and eyebrow 'No one ever wanted his help without gaining something in return.'

"Why do you need my help? Why not ask one of the professors that are dropping at your feet?" He questioned Lockhart, still not being able to take his eyes off his pink hair curlers.

"Well Severus I do admit that I have asked other professors for help, however, they all told me to talk to you. That you have…um….dabbled in the dark arts. It would be a perfect show of light vs darkness." Lockhart quipped as Severus debated about taking him up on this offer. A dark thought came into his mind 'I could blow this man to pieces and it would perfect to take the man down a few notches considering he wants to show off in front of the students instead of actually teaching them.' However, the man in front of him was avoiding all of his questions, which to him raised all sorts of red flags.

As Severus was mentally debating on what to do, Lockhart looked at the man with an eyebrow raised, than at the clock that was ticking behind his desk. "Well do look at the time Severus, if you need some time to think about it just let me know in the morning or whenever. I mean we will have November to plan for it."

"Fine." Severus murmured this was the first time in years that he actually volunteered himself to do anything with the school. As he turned quickly on his heel, he left the man in his pajamas with one of his hair curlers uncurling itself, Severus had an ulterior motive for why he 'volunteered', 'Hopefully this will deter Albus, and maybe more than two birds will be killed with one stone.' Severus pondered as he exited Lockhart's personal rooms and went into the DADA classroom, double checking that he was alone he uncuffed his frock coat, and slipped his sleeve up his arm to take a quick glance at his forearm to see if maybe the dark mark was wiggling actively. It was not. 'Damn it! That means Lockhart is just another wizard trying to get rich quickly and be a face.' Severus growled mentally, shoving his sleeve back down his arm, he left the DADA classroom and briskly headed back down to the dungeons to write to Draco. 'Next up the Slytherins.'

Plopping himself down into his seat at his desk, running his hands down his face groaning loudly, "What in the bloody hell did I just get myself into?"

Murmuring aloud to no one but the howling wind that was an invisible friend coming to comfort him. 'Well the main thing is that Lockhart is just a fraud of his work that is just about it. Now the next step.' Spinning himself around to face his desk, he pulled out a fresh piece of parchment, and a fresh cigarette, lightening it up and letting it sit on the edge of his mouth as he gripped a hold of his quill and dipped it into the ink well nearby he wrote in his spidery scrawl

Dear Draco,


Severus was sitting at his desk sipping his morning coffee while reading one his many books from his library, when there was a tapping at his window, 'Hopefully that is Draco with his reply to have lunch and chat this afternoon…I have to get to the bottom of this and quickly before someone else is attacked.' Snapping the book shut, glancing to see the owl was pecking at his window continuously to get into the warmth of the room, 'Ahh good it is Draco.'

Unlatching the window the creature soared through the room settling himself down in front of the roaring fire that was blazing. Severus had bought some new owl treats since the last time, preferring to not be bitten by every owl that he summoned or that called. Pulling out a small treat, striding over to the small bird who was picking at one of his wings, Severus offered the small piece of food, the owl hooted at him, and nipped the food. While it was distracted by eating, Severus untied the letter from around its leg, heading back over to his desk to grab his letter opener, he slid the opener into the edge of the envelope, and with a long smooth cut he was able to get the letter out.

Reading it briskly,

Dear Godfather,

I would love to accompany you for lunch and catch up with you! I will be there after my Transfiguration class at Noon!

Your Godson,

Draco Malfoy

"Excellent." Severus drawled as he refolded the letter slipping it back into its envelope and tucking the papers into his desk drawer where he was keeping his journals. 'Draco must have some kind of idea what is going on, and if he does than that means one: another death eater slipped something into their kids trunks or they stole it to show it off or; Two: Lucius convinced Draco to smuggle something of the dark lord's into the school…' Severus' mind trailed off as he went over his checklist of what he needed to do before lunch.

Checking the time on his pocket watch only ten minutes left of his third year class; it was a decent day only two near explosions, and one actual explosion. Rubbing his temples as he listened to the time tick by, than pinching the bridge of his nose, when the first person came up to deposit their potion, the clinking of the tube distracted him from the ticking of the clock, peeking one of his eyes open he saw the back of the robes of a hufflepuff scurrying away. Luckily, it was his third year hufflepuff and Ravenclaw class, which was usually quiet. Trying to distract himself from the noises that echoed throughout his classroom, he started to grade second year essays, which most of them held appalling grammar, horrendous spelling, and dreadful information; 'None of them read the chapters I actually assign.'

When there was, only a few minutes left he barked loudly, "Class Dismissed." The students quickly bottled their potions, as they turned them in not completely sure if they were actually finished.

"Three foot essay about the pros and cons of this potion and an instance for each." Severus growled as they were all packing up to leave, watching as some of them bundled up their belongings and darted out of the room. A smirk formed on his lips as the last of them were running out of the room, the last one slammed the door shut behind them, 'Finally a break from these dunderheads.' Within a few minutes of the last of the kids leaving, Severus heard a knock on the door.

"Enter Mr. Malfoy." Knowing that he had to keep civility until the door was closed.

"Shut the door." When he heard the door bang closed, Severus waved his hand toward the door, in case they had anyone outside listening in or a visitor decided to show up.

"Sit down Draco." Severus sighed loudly rubbing his temples once more, listening to a scrapping against the cobblestone, than a plop of his bag on the ground.

"Naelby." Severus drawled as he finished grading the essay he was working on, putting it in the pile of graded papers, the small elf popped into the room on his left.

"Are you ready Master Snape?"

Severus nodded "Yes Naelby."

Again the small creature was gone with a pop, turning his full attention to Draco, interlocking his fingers leaning back into his chair and laying his hands in his lap, "How are you settling in Draco? We have not had a lunch together since before the term started. I do blame myself for that."

The small boy piqued up when he was spoken to in any type of affectionate way, "It is okay godfather I have been busy with school work and not to mention quidditch practice. I'm still upset about what I did on the pitch during my first game." He groaned putting his face in his hands.

Severus chuckled as his inner fatherly instincts popped into play, "It is okay Draco it was your first competitive game, and you now know what to work on and up to."

Naelby popped back into the room with a tray filled with sandwiches and tea, "Here you go Master Snape I also brought you a cup of coffee." He nodded towards the elf as he picked up the kettle that clinked against the glass to pour Draco a cup of tea with a sugar and some cream, handing the cup over to his godson.

A simple thank you, "What subject are you enjoying so far this year Draco?" Severus asked with genuine curiosity, as he sipped his coffee.

"Well I've been fascinated with Charms this year, I'm dreading to even walk near the DADA classes, Lockhart is a moron and just throws us in situations where we should already know the material…one of these days someone is going to end up in the infirmary."

Severus listened to Draco speak as he ate a sandwich and sipped on his cooling coffee, "I understand Draco. There is something about him that I do not trust, if you do not feel comfortable with any of his lessons feel free to report to me or the headmaster yourself."

Draco nodded than turned the tables, his godson tilted his head and asked before sipping on his tea, "How are you godfather?"

Severus smirked, "I am fine Draco. Teaching dunderheads and doing my usual workouts… Oh I have been meaning to ask if you know if your father will be hosting his famous gala this year?"

The expression that once graced Draco turned quickly to another, "Oh yes he has to cancel because of a meeting at the ministry. Which means I get to stay here for the holidays…" He trailed off as if he wanted to ask a question, his hands fidgeting in his lap.

"Draco you know you can ask me anything, what is it?" The small boy took a deep breath, stopped fidgeting, closed his eyes and held his head up.

"Godfather could we spend Christmas together?" Draco opened his eyes, holding his gaze Severus held back a genuine smile by biting his lip.

"I shall talk to the headmaster to see if it would be alright." Severus paused but for a mere moment, to add "But Draco if it is alright with the headmaster why not spend Christmas Eve and morning with me?" Severus suggested, watching as the boys eyes lit up like fireworks lighting up the night sky.

When he saw the smile cover his godson's face, it was rare to see a genuine smile grace Draco's features, it made Severus' heart jump for a second. "Yes that would be fantastic thank you godfather!"

Severus than frowned down at his cup of coffee, "Draco there is a serious matter that I would like to discuss with you before you head to your next class…" He looked up staring directly at Draco while he ate a sandwich.

"Yes?"

Setting his cup down, "Draco something is happening in the school, I don't want you out by yourself even during the day. " Putting his hand up, just as Draco was about to argue, "Do not argue Draco. As long as you are with others, you will be fine. I know you saw that petrification of Filch's cat; there was a student that experienced the same fate recently, and I need to know if anyone has been talking or gossiping about anything in the common room? Draco. I do believe this has something to do with the dark lord…" Severus tried to convey the seriousness of the situation in a vagueness that Draco would understand but not question.

"I haven't heard of anything but I'm not sure about the older students…godfather is it true? Will he really come back?" Severus' mask slipped into place to hide his despair and the grim reminder that his days were limited.

"Draco…" The boy knew he could be honest with him.

"I'm sorry I was waiting for father outside his office, but he was speaking to someone and I overheard and well he spoke something about a prophecy and how it was nearing….I hate admitting this…but I am scared godfather. Father has told me stories from the past; he had me hide several of his personal affects."

Severus sighed, starting to massage his temples once more 'Great job Lucius!' Mentally degrading the man before continuing, "Draco…Do not fret that is years away, for now enjoy your time at Hogwarts. Learn new spells, enjoy quidditch, and do not worry about anything. Live today." Severus was not just trying to convince Draco, but also himself of the pending future.

A small sad smile was holding onto him, "Yes alright I will try and put that information somewhere else for the time being."

Severus gave the boy a smirk, "Good now Draco I do have one more question before we continue our lunch. Did your father give you any of the dark lord's effects to bring and hide in the school?" Severus leaned forward slightly, setting his now empty coffee cup on the tray.

Waiting for the answer, "Not that I am aware of godfather. I personally packed my own trunk… but I will check when I get back to my rooms." Severus nodded, 'Draco seems to be completely honest. Granted he would never lie to me, but you never know.'

"Let us continue our lunch I have an afternoon class of fourth years that I am dreading." The pair continued their conversation of happier thoughts, even if the elephant in the room was the dark lord looming in the shadows.

Severus flicked open his pocket watch to check the time, "Sadly Draco it is time for us to end our lunch, take a few sandwiches with you." Standing from his chair, he strode over to the door unwarding it, stopping with his hand gripping the handle, "Draco if you hear anything…"

His godson cut him off "I will tell you immediately even if I think it's just gossip or a rumor." He smiled, giving his godfather a hug around the waist, "Thank you for the lunch, we should do it again soon. "

Severus nodded, "Yes. I will send you an owl."

Watching as Draco left his classroom and started up the staircase, when the boy was out of sight he snapped the door shut. Many more questions were probing his mind, 'What the hell is Lucius doing? Speaking with someone about the dark lord…not to mention that he had some of the dark lord's things from the past. Dammit Lucius! Where is he hiding them? His vault? Probably. House? Not likely but not out of the question. I do wonder what artifacts of the dark lords that Lucius possess…' Not realizing that he had been pacing his office, when another more dreadful thought popped into his head "What if the item is from Lucius? "

Before class started, Severus sat himself at his desk with a blank piece of parchment, charming it so that if anyone looked at it, it would be an ingredients list, but it was really a list of 'former' death eaters, ones that he currently knew still pledged allegiance to the dark lord, and their children.

"This is a start."