Disclaimer: All wizards, Muggles, magical creatures, magical places, and everything else out of the Harry Potter series was created and is owned by J.K. Rowling. I claim no ownership of any of the series' content, and I am making no profit in the writing of this fan fiction. Flinky the House Elf is my only original creation.
Hello again! Thank you for making your way through these edited chapters. I hope you're enjoying them so far.
As stated previously, I've reread the first eight chapters of this story and rewritten a lot of it to match up better with canon. (However, this is still AU since several characters are still alive.) This chapter has grown a bit from the original, so as with the new Chapters 7 and 8 (which were split from one chapter into two), I've separated this into two shorter chapters.
If you haven't already done so, you'll need to go back to the beginning of this story. I think you'll like this updated version of And Thou Shalt Be First. As always, any reviews are appreciated.
saiyanwizard
Chapter 9: Hero or Hazard
A tall stack of unread mail teetered dangerously atop Albus' desk as a gentle summer's breeze floated into his office. The pile of post was comprised of various missives from the Ministry of Magic as the wizarding government continued to deal with the aftereffects of the war. Several letters were from a few concerned parents worrying about the coming school term that was roughly three weeks away. While the headmaster understood that each new school year occasionally brought anxiety to his charges' guardians—especially those who were sending a child to Hogwarts for the first time—this year had brought a greater number of fears and worries regarding the condition of the school and its staff after the war. Minerva usually took care of these types of matters as Deputy Headmistress, but the sheer amount of mail that she had received recently made him hesitant to delegate these letters to her. After all, she also had to prepare student schedules and classroom agendas. With a sigh, the headmaster shut the window with a small flick of his wand.
Even after going through two-thirds of his mail, the unopened pile was still three feet high. The headmaster removed his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose. "I think I need a break," he said to no one in particular.
"I think you're right," said an amused Minerva from the doorway. "You look worn out."
"The mail will not answer itself," he said, sitting back and replacing his half-moon spectacles. "At least I have made somewhat of a dent in the post."
"Have you?" asked the Transfigurations professor. "These towers of parchment and envelopes are still quite tall."
"I have, in fact. This one," he pointed to the three-foot stack on his left, "is the mail. That one," he indicated the much larger stack on his right," consists of staff memos and lesson plans that are awaiting my approval." He scratched the back of his neck. "I was trying to keep up, but that emergency Wizengamot meeting over the weekend ruined my plans."
A bright red phoenix trilled softly from its perch. "No comments from you, Fawkes," he added.
"Not to worry, Albus. You have the better part of the next two weeks to go through it all," said Minerva cheerfully. "And here's some more," she continued, balancing a heap of parchments next to the other lesson plans.
"You wound me, my dear," sighed the headmaster with a dramatic hand over his heart. "And here I thought I would have a bit more time to visit with Severus." He picked up the top parchment from Minerva's stack, which listed the new prefects and Head Boy and Girl for next term. "I suppose it might be good that I have been busy. He has had the past two days to himself."
"Two days?" asked the Transfigurations professor, raising her eyebrows. "I'm quite surprised you have not broken down the door to his cabin."
The headmaster chuckled. "I am trying to resist the urge, Minerva. Besides, Severus sent his lesson plans up yesterday, so I am assuming he is doing all right." He pointed to the very top of the tall stack to his right.
"Oh? Did you get a chance to look over them yet?" she asked, identifying the Potions Master's narrow scrawl and picking up the parchments without knocking over the rest of the stack.
"No, but I am sure they are as impeccable as ever," Albus mused.
"Hmm. Perhaps you could go through them and then return them in-person?" suggested the Transfigurations professor as she shuffled through the lesson plan for third years. "It would give you an excuse to check up on Severus."
"I don't know," replied the headmaster wearily as he rested his head in his right hand. "He might not want company right now. And I still have all this." He gestured to his desk.
"As I mentioned earlier, you have two weeks to plow through it all," she reminded him as she replaced the lesson plan.
"It grows by the day, Minerva—" the headmaster began.
"Surely these aren't all from the Ministry?" she asked, tapping at the pile of mail.
"Well…no," he admitted sheepishly. "There are some letters from parents in the mix."
"Oh Albus, you know I can answer those," she said gently as she began sorting through the stack, pulling all the non-urgent envelopes out.
"I assumed you had quite enough on your plate already with the start of term approaching," he said, stretching in his seat.
"I did," agreed the Transfigurations professor, "but unlike you, I had a weekend free from distractions to get everything for the beginning of term sorted out." As she pulled out the last parchment, the headmaster happily noted that the pile had shrunk to half its original size. "Let me take care of these," she said. "May I borrow your quill?"
"Certainly," replied Albus, chuckling as he pushed his quill, inkpot, and several clean rolls of parchment across the desk. "What would I do without you, my dear?"
"You would possibly be buried alive under a mountain of mail," said Minerva, waving the quill toward the teetering piles. "If one falls over, everything is going down."
"I do not remember it ever being this bad," sighed the headmaster, "but then again, when was the last time we had to rebuild nearly the entire school after a battle?" Gazing at the stack of lesson plans, Albus picked up the one at the top. He began leafing through the curriculum for Potions, smiling to himself as he took note of how seamlessly each syllabus flowed from one year to the next. Fifteen years as Potions Master had really allowed Severus to grasp the intricacies of teaching his subject. It was no wonder so many of his N.E.W.T. students went on to pursue careers in brewing and research.
"How does it look?" asked the Transfigurations professor as she continued to write responses.
"It looks good. Very good," commented Albus, adjusting his spectacles. "But I expect nothing less from Severus, of course."
"And it seems that Remus accepted the Defense position without much fuss," she added, spotting lesson plans for Defense Against the Dark Arts.
The headmaster smiled. "Yes, I daresay he was quite happy to have the opportunity. Considering how young his son is, I think he was hoping to have Nymphadora stay on leave from the Auror department for a little while longer. Teaching also allows him to be home on weekends."
"Or Tonks and the baby could come visit Remus here," mused Minerva as she sealed another response.
"Of course," replied Albus with a chuckle. "I am sure Teddy would love to meet his Aunt Minerva."
The Transfigurations professor looked up from her letter with a grin. "Was I that obvious?"
"Not at all, my dear." The headmaster sighed as he reshuffled the Potions curriculum. "As I suspected, perfect as usual. It looks like this semester will be a smooth one. I am fortunate to have such a capable staff this year."
"Indeed," said Minerva. "Flinky?"
"Yes, Professor Minerva?" came the soft voice of the house-elf from somewhere around her right elbow.
The Transfigurations professor looked down and saw Flinky standing next to the chair she was occupying. "Would you be so kind as to deliver this," she said, handing over a note to the house-elf, "and bring back his reply if he is so inclined to give one now?"
"Of course, Professor Minerva," replied Flinky, taking the parchment and disappearing with a tiny pop.
"What was that?" asked Albus, tilting his head in confusion as he reached for the next lesson plan.
"I thought I would ask Severus if now would be a good time for you to visit him," answered the Transfigurations professor, "seeing as you've just finished going through his immaculate lesson plan."
The headmaster laughed. "Really, Minerva?"
"He can always decline," she said as her quill scratched across parchment.
Albus smiled at the witch fondly. "Thank you," he said kindly.
She smirked playfully at him. "You're welcome."
They continued working for a little while longer, the headmaster going through the pile of lesson plans and the Transfigurations professor scribbling out replies. Each managed to make decent headway in their tasks when they heard a pop indicating Flinky's return. "Here you are, Professor Minerva," said the house-elf as she held out the same piece of parchment that she had delivered.
"Thank you, Flinky," said the Transfigurations professor kindly. Flinky curtseyed before disappearing again.
Unfolding the note and turning it over, Minerva read the reply out loud. "Minerva, Albus is welcome to visit. I appreciate the advanced notice. Severus." She looked up. "Well, that answers that question."
The headmaster smiled. "Would you care to accompany me?" he asked as he pushed up from his desk.
"I'll walk with you until the Entrance Hall," said the Transfigurations professor, also rising to her feet. "I'm meeting with Filius this afternoon to go over class schedules for our O.W.L. students. Once I'm done with that, I'll finish these up," she waved the stack of envelopes she had extracted from Albus' pile," and send them off."
"Perhaps you might join us for dinner, then?" asked the headmaster as he opened his office door and then stepped aside, allowing Minerva to exit first.
"You're planning to stay that long?" she asked as they both stepped onto the magically descending staircase. "Even with all that paperwork on your desk?"
"Weren't you just telling me that I would have the better part of two weeks to get it all done?" said Albus with a twinkle in his eye.
Minerva laughed. "So I was. I didn't think my words would be used against me so quickly, especially since I took a few of those letters off your hands."
"I suppose I should stop talking," he said jovially as the pair stepped out into the hallway. "I would not want you to change your mind."
Albus and Minerva made their way down the quiet hall to the nearest descending staircase, content to share a moment of silence that would become seldom at the start of the new term. Without crowds of bustling students to slow them down, they soon found themselves in the Entrance Hall. "I believe this is where we part ways, my dear," sighed the headmaster. "Are you sure I cannot change your mind?"
The Transfigurations professor smiled at him. "You can expect me for dinner."
"Wonderful," said Albus, stopping at the foot of the staircase that would take Minerva toward Filius' office. "I bid you farewell," he said with a slight bow. The Transfigurations professor half-curtseyed with a smirk before heading off to the Charms department.
The headmaster fondly watched his deputy as she walked away for a moment before turning on his heel and exiting the castle. He enjoyed the gentle summer breeze as it caused the ends of his robes to flutter. In no time at all, Albus found himself standing in front of the Potions Master's cabin door. "Severus?" he called, rapping his knuckles against the wood.
"It's open," came a slightly raspy reply.
The headmaster pushed open the door, noting that the cabin was dimly lit as usual. Albus slowly blinked to allow his eyes to adjust. With the curtains drawn and fire lit, the room should have been sweltering, but it felt to him like the summer breeze had followed him inside. Thank Merlin for Cooling Charms, thought Albus happily.
The Potions Master was filling two mugs at the stove. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?" he asked softly, his voice still hoarse and his tone a little grumpy.
The headmaster had to fight to keep his facial expression pleasantly neutral. The other wizard looked just as tired as he had two days earlier, perhaps even more so. The purple shadows under his eyes were still there, and a slight droop in his shoulders was evident. "I have just finished reviewing your lesson plans for this year," Albus began, procuring said documents from his robes as he sat at the table, "and have determined that they are up to your usual standards of perfection. Minerva agrees."
The corners of the younger wizard's mouth turned upwards for a second before resettling into a rather disgruntled facial expression. "Thank you," he said quietly, joining the other wizard at the table and accepting the parchments, "but I'm sure that is not the only reason you have come."
The headmaster chuckled and swirled the contents of his mug. "Alas, I have been discovered. I simply wanted a break from the inundation of mail and paperwork that characterizes the weeks before the start of term. Minerva suggested I visit before I am unable to resist breaking down your door."
"I was wondering how you managed to stay away for an entire two days," said Severus with a smirk. "I thought you might have forgotten the way here."
"It seems that the Ministry of Magic is even more out of sorts than it usually is," said Albus after taking a sip of his tea. "I cannot remember the last time my desk was covered in so much paperwork."
"Tell them to bugger off," deadpanned the younger wizard. "I should think you have enough on your plate running this school without doing other people's jobs for them."
"That is a bit difficult when you are Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot," replied the headmaster conversationally. "And Kingsley has been doing an excellent job now that he has officially been named Minister of Magic. He has been instrumental in helping us to reconstruct the castle."
"I suppose I have missed most of the rebuilding?" muttered Severus from behind his mug.
"I daresay you were rather preoccupied with your own recovery," said Albus kindly. "Some of the towers are still being worked on, but all of the areas that are frequented by students have been repaired and re-warded."
"And the dungeons?" inquired the younger wizard softly.
"There was very little damage to them as most of the fighting took place on the ground floor," replied the headmaster. "However, since both the Slytherin and Hufflepuff common rooms are underground, we have reinsured the structural integrity of both the dungeons and the basement. You are more than welcome to inspect them for yourself before term starts."
Severus' only response was the nod of his head as he tried to conceal a yawn behind his hand.
"Tired?" asked Albus gently.
"Mmm," replied the younger wizard with a deep exhale. "I…have not been sleeping very well." He stared at his mug, intentionally avoiding eye contact with the headmaster.
The older wizard leaned back in his chair. "Is that so?"
"I'm tired enough," the Potions Master began, "and I retire at a reasonable hour now."
Albus waited for Severus to continue, but the younger wizard seemed very hesitant. "But?"
At that, Severus shifted his scowl onto the headmaster. "But staying asleep seems to be an issue," he ground out reluctantly before averting his gaze.
"Nightmares?" asked the older wizard, eyeing the other carefully.
The Potions Master sighed and brought his left hand up to his temple, his elbow resting on the table. He could not bring himself to verbally confirm what the headmaster already knew.
"I know you have quite the aversion to assistance from anyone," Albus began slowly, leaning forward, "but if it gets to be too much for you, I could guard your sleep like before. I will, of course, leave the decision up to you, but please consider it. Do not feel as if you have to bear this on your own."
Unmoving, Severus weighed each option in his mind. On one hand, he absolutely hated reliance on anything or anyone besides himself. He valued his independence and privacy—more so now than ever—and his initial reaction was to immediately turn the headmaster's offer down. On the other hand, he recognized that he could not let this problem get out of control. The insomnia that had regularly plagued him during his tenure as headmaster made his already precarious role as a double agent exponentially more difficult. Even with the aid of several different potions, it was a wonder he hadn't collapsed from exhaustion. He could not allow that to happen again, especially with the new school term soon approaching. And he certainly knew that Albus was more than capable of helping him. He almost growled in frustration. I'm thirty-eight years old, for Merlin's sake!
In the end, independence and privacy won. "It is manageable for now," he murmured, pushing up from the table to look at the older wizard. "However, I shall keep your offer in mind."
The headmaster was too grateful that Severus had not downright rejected the idea to argue. "Thank you, my boy," he said cheerfully.
Just then, there was a sharp rapping on the cabin's window. The younger wizard's head snapped toward the offensive noise. Albus was much more calm in his reaction, casually turning his head. The older wizard stood and made his way to the window. Peeking through the curtains, he could see a brown-feathered wing accompanied by talons. "It's just the mail," said the headmaster.
Severus' eyes narrowed suspiciously. "I'm not expecting anything."
Nevertheless, Albus opened the window, expecting the tawny owl to swoop in as soon as it was allowed entry. He was a tad surprised when the owl merely stuck out its leg for the headmaster to untie its burden, which seemed to be a copy of The Daily Prophet. As soon as Albus took the paper, the owl turned and sprung into flight toward the Owlrey. Looking back at the Prophet, he noticed an attached note written in Minerva's elegant script. Page 4. Not overly-concerning, but something to be aware of. Minerva.
The headmaster opened the paper as he headed back to his seat at the table. "I don't have a subscription," said the younger wizard with continued suspicion.
"Minerva's just sent this over," replied Albus as he flipped to the fourth page. At the bottom half of the page was a photo of a vaguely familiar scene. The headmaster recognized it as being from the day that Severus was released from St. Mungo's. Several Healers were shielding a door from the onslaught of a group of reporters. Quite suddenly, Albus saw himself emerge from the doorway, a weary and recovering Severus following closely behind him. The reporters broke into a frenzy at their appearance, pushing up against the blockade of Healers. Quills waved in the air and cameras flashed as the pair of them made a beeline for a staff exit that would quickly take them to a nearby Apparition point.
Tearing his eyes away from the photo, the headmaster began to read the article that accompanied it.
Severus Snape: Hero or Hazard?
By Sylvester Martinus, Lead Correspondent
Amidst the epic conclusion of possibly the greatest wizarding war of our time, many truths previously unknown to the public began to surface. Perhaps the most salacious of these is the role of Severus Snape, former Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, as spy for the Light. Originally thought to be You-Know-Who's right-hand wizard, it was revealed that this seemingly Dark wizard was actually working under the direction of Albus Dumbledore himself and was instrumental in bringing this latest war to an end.
Mr. Snape has been residing at Hogwarts since being discharged from St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, and inside sources confirm that Mr. Snape will be returning to the teaching staff as Potions Master. However, as rumors of his reign at the school continue to surface, parent concerns are on the rise. "Hogwarts was turned upside down when Snape was headmaster," said one mother of two students set to return to the school on September 1st. "It seems like a poor choice to reinstate him to the staff after all that he did."
Amidst the mounting complaints are a few advocates for Mr. Snape. "Considering what we know now, I think the low levels of damage that occurred over the last year speak to Professor Snape's ability to protect our children in even the most dire circumstances," remarked the father of one Hogwarts student. "I should think he'd be an asset to the school as it continues to rebuild."
Mr. Snape has a reputation for being a highly strict professor—some would say downright mean and despised by much of the student population—so many have questioned Albus Dumbledore's decision to reinstate him. As the start of the new Hogwarts term draws nearer, parents are continuing to ask the same question: Should such a dangerous man be allowed to teach our children?
"It's about me, isn't it?" asked Severus. The silence was getting to him. He had the sudden urge to begin pacing but remained in his seat, clenching his fists.
"Yes, but as Minerva's note says, it is not overly-concerning," answered Albus over the top of the newspaper.
The younger wizard narrowed his eyes. "But it is not good?"
The headmaster sighed. "Perhaps you should read it and decide for yourself," he replied, folding the paper in half and offering it across the table.
Severus glowered at the Prophet—perhaps hoping that he could incinerate it through sheer will alone—before reluctantly pulling it out of Albus' hand. As he unfurled it, the headmaster kept a close eye on the Potions Master's countenance. Slowly but surely, the frown on the younger wizard's face deepened as he made his way through the article.
"I suppose I should be grateful that this is the best Martinus can come up with," muttered Severus as he lowered the newspaper and pushed it back to the headmaster. "I notice they did not use my mug shot. The Prophet has gone soft."
Albus gave the younger wizard a knowing look. "You are not a criminal, Severus," he said patiently. He reclaimed the newspaper and folded it closed, taking a moment to skim through the headlines on the front page.
"Most people would disagree with you," said the younger wizard, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms over his chest. "You'll be receiving parent complaints soon, now that this garbage is out."
"Oh, I can assure you that many people disagree with me," said Albus cheerfully, "but, if I may say, they are usually unwise to do so." The headmaster flipped the paper over to reveal the bottom half of the front page and waved his wand at the stove to wordlessly summon the kettle. "More tea?" he asked as refilled his own mug.
Severus raised an eyebrow. "Are you offering me my own tea in my own house?"
"I can call a house-elf to bring us more if you would prefer," said Albus pleasantly.
"So that said house-elf can bring you something sweet, or so that you can feed me again?" replied the younger wizard with a smirk. He pushed his mug forward and accepted the refill of tea.
"I think I can wait until dinner," said the headmaster as the now-empty kettle soared back to the stove.
"To feed me?" snarked Severus.
"To eat something sweet, but I would not object to you eating since you seem to be volunteering." Albus grinned from behind his mug of tea.
The younger wizard opened his mouth to protest but then closed it rather quickly. While he did not want to be coddled, he also was not keen on being alone at the moment either. It seemed that the headmaster could sense this, for he returned to the front page of the Prophet with no further comment. Now accompanied by an unusually quiet yet calmingly present Albus, Severus decided that his time would be better spent reading rather than glowering at the kitchen table. He summoned a book from atop his bedside table, which floated open to the page he had last left off on. If he noticed the warm glance the headmaster afforded him, he gave no indication.
It was not until finishing a rather lengthy article on a newly-proposed law by the International Confederation of Wizards—he had been present for the hearings as a member of the Confederation but had yet to hear how officials at the Ministry of Magic saw the additional regulations—that Albus decided to put down the newspaper. He froze mid-stretch as he saw Severus' head bob forward, his eyelids becoming heavier with each blink. As inconspicuously as he could, the headmaster reached across the table, simultaneously casting a non-verbal Sleeping Charm and gently prying the book from the younger wizard's hands. He marked the page before closing the tome and sending it back to the bedside table from which it came. Careful eyes continued to watch as Albus sent their two mugs to the kitchen sink, but the only movement from across the table was the slow, steady rise and fall of Severus' chest.
Fairly confident that the younger wizard would not easily rouse, the headmaster levitated him over to the bed. Severus quietly hummed in confusion as his head was placed upon a pillow. "Sleep, my boy," murmured Albus as he pulled the duvet over the younger wizard and brushed a few wayward strands of black hair from the weary face. Severus complied without a fuss; the pulls of slumber were far too enticing for his tired mind and body to resist.
Straightening his stance, the headmaster decided to wake the younger wizard in a few hours before dinner rolled around. As he turned away, he pulled a book on advanced human Transfiguration he had recently been reading from the sleeve of his robes and repositioned himself in front of the fireplace. He casually flipped to the third chapter and began to engross himself in one of his areas of expertise, the sounds of flickering flames and relaxed breathing bringing comfort to the otherwise silent cabin.