Here is the next chapter earlier than expected. This is a few years after the last chapter ended. I have one more following Severus's life until Hermione is back. Please leave a review and I will post the next chapter probably on Sunday. Enjoy!
Severus woke up with a start from a nightmare he just had in his bed at Spinner's End. It's been three years since he joined the Dark Lord and two years since he graduated from Hogwarts. Ever since he joined the ranks his life went from bad to worse. He thought he found a group that understood him, but again he was being used for his talents. He wasn't that far in Lord Voldemort's good graces as he would like to be and the people he made friends with didn't talk to him except for Lucius. He realized very quickly that he hated what he had done and what he had been doing. He didn't want to kill people. He didn't even believe in blood superiority. He was stuck with a group that he now detested, but he himself found it a safe haven. No one judged him in the group he was in, but if he could turn back time to the day he went to the mansion he would have turned away. He would have gone back to Hogwarts. To make matters even worse for himself, he was having recurring nightmares of all the killings he had done to prove his worth. His nightmares used to consist of Hermione being disappointed in him. She would appear in his dreams angry at him. She would spat at him how much of a fool he was and how much of a coward he is for joining the Dark Lord. The deeper he got into the dark arts and the Dark Lords good graces his dreams stopped revolving around her. She was now just a faint memory to him. He was too focused on what he had to do now that her existence was no longer important to him. He was hurt by her not even attempting to try to contact him by letter over the last two years. His feelings for her quickly diminished and he didn't care about her any longer. Well, he pretended not to care anymore, but he knew deep down he would always care for the one who had his heart.
This morning his nightmare was about Lily and James's death that happen just a few days ago. He tried to stop it. He really did, but it all failed in the end. He tried to approach the greatest wizard he thought imaginable, Professor Dumbledore. He promised he would keep them safe and he traded his loyalty to him for it. Even after begging him on bended knee they both ended up dying leaving behind a son that was left to fend for himself. He no longer wanted to support Lord Voldemort after her death. Even before then he didn't want to be a part of it. He realized he was a childish young teen who was in pain that made a terrible decision that ruined his life. He knew he truly didn't support the cause from the beginning, but now that Lily was dead he no longer felt any attachment to it anymore. Now that the Dark Lord is gone he felt lost and had nowhere to go. He's been living in this rotten house since he graduated Hogwarts. The house was hollow and had no warmth in it whatsoever. He hadn't found a job to do and he needed answers. He got out of bed and dressed himself in the dark clothing he was so used to wearing every day. His face was always etched into a dark grimace. He couldn't remember the last time he showed a smile at anyone or being happy. He grabbed his wand and walked over to the floo he put inside his house since he received it after his father and mother died not too long ago. His mother died by the hands of his father and his father died by the hands of him once he found out he killed her. He grabbed a handful of floo powder and walked into his floo network. He dropped the floo powder and said strongly, "Dumbledore's office at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." He appeared in Dumbledore's floo in Dumbledore's office. He saw him waiting for him at his desk. His eyes had that annoying twinkle in them again and he was staring at him eagerly. His eagerness and look upon his face made him angry. He approached him in anger and spat at him, "You swore you would keep her safe." Even if he didn't love Lily anymore it still felt like a stab in the heart that she died. He felt betrayed. He trusted Dumbledore to do as he asked, but in the end it wasn't enough.
"Lily and James kept their trust in the wrong person. I did everything in my power Severus, but unfortunately…"
He was interrupted when Severus boomed at him, "Within your power? How dare you? You didn't even care about them did you?"
Dumbledore glared at him and towered over him, "Like you did? You sure didn't give a damn about James and their son Harry. You didn't even care for Lily's life after joining the Death Eaters. You are lucky I am keeping you alive Severus Snape and not sending you to Azkaban for your crimes. I will choose my next words carefully if I were you."
Severus remembered who he was talking to. He could have ended up killing him or sending him away when he came to him. He said in defeat, "What do you want from me old man?"
"You need to help me protect the boy from the Dark Lord," Dumbledore said calmly.
"The Dark Lord is gone now," he said exasperated.
"The Dark Lord will return and he needs someone to protect him. He has Lily's eyes Severus. Please you have to help me. You owe this to me and to Lily. Dare I say you owe this to Hermione."
Severus's eyes flashed in anger. "How dare you mention that name in front of me?"
"How dare you join the Dark Lord and follow your friends when you in fact know that Hermione was muggle born and was attacked by said friends. You owe this to her to show her that you are in fact a good man like she thought you were. Unless of course you want to go back and continue to be the dark man you portray. I know you aren't really like this Severus. Hermione saw through it and so did I. Don't do this to yourself. Harry needs someone to protect him and the Dark Lord will return and try to kill him," Dumbledore said patiently. He was using Severus's emotions for his own benefit.
Severus knew he had no real choice. He did owe this to Dumbledore and to Lily. He supposed he also owed this to Hermione. "What do you want me to do sir?" He gave in to Dumbledore's argument and waited to hear his response.
Dumbledore stroked his chin in thought. "You are a master at Potion making. I need a Professor to teach potions here at Hogwarts. If you do this for me I will consider your debt paid and you can live up to your promise of protecting Harry once he starts school in 10 years."
Severus grimaced. He really didn't want to do this. He hated children, but at least he would get paid for a job and not have to live in his crappy house for most of the year. "Alright old man I will keep up my end of the debt. I will take on the job as your new Potion's Professor." He took out his hand for Dumbledore to shake.
"Keep in mind Severus when the Dark Lord does come back you will be acting as a spy for me. You owe your life to me. Under those 2 stipulations you sure you want to accept the job?"
"Well I have no choice do I? It's either yes I'll do it or I end up in Azkaban. I'll play as your spy and be your Potion's Professor. Now shake my hand," Severus said angrily.
Dumbledore shook his hand and said with fake politeness, "Congratulations on your job Severus Snape. I look forward to seeing how it pans out for you." He dropped his hand and said, "Your rooms will be down in the dungeons near the Potion's classroom. You should remember back when you were in school. Since you are our newest Potion's Professor and a Slytherin you will also have the role of the Head of House for Slytherin's. Enjoy your stay here at Hogwarts. School will resume in a few days I will use this time to prepare myself."
A few days later Severus Snape was sitting in his desk chair preparing himself for his first ever lesson. He was wearing black wizard robes and schooled his features to be mean. If he was going to be a Professor the rest of his life, well until the Dark Lord reappeared again, he was going to be a good one at that. He wasn't going to let the students push him around even if he was only 22 years old. He looked over his notes for the day and took a deep breath when he saw the first years start to come inside the classroom. He stood up from his chair and schooled his features into a dark scowl. Once everyone took their seats he pointed his wand at the door and the door slammed shut. He pointed his wand at the windows and he let them all slam shut one by one. He had to make an entrance. He turned towards the students and said, "I am your new Potion's teacher Professor Snape. I am not here to be your friend. I am here to teach you how to bottle fame and brew glory." He went on to state his famous first year speech that he practiced for hours. He watched as the first years all looked at him with wonder. Some looked at him in fright and some looked at him eagerly. Once he finished his speech he jabbed his wand at the black board. "These are the instructions for the day. We are making a simple healing potion. Get your ingredients out, turn your books to page 114 and you may begin." He continued to teach the same way every single day. His students were challenged by him and some even came to like him even if he was a prat to them and had a hatred for the Gryffindor students. All his Slytherin students had respect for him and everyone outside that house didn't dare defy him or cross him. He didn't make any friends with the other Professors teaching. Every now and then Professor McGonagall would try to talk to him, but he ignored her. Sure he had a sense of respect for her, but he didn't need her friendship or her comments about how mean he was to his students. He was strict and didn't take subpar work. Life was cruel so why shouldn't he be?