Chapter 4: The Welcome
A/N: Hi, everyone! I'm currently trying to get a good and constant length for each chapter. On paper it looks a lot more than when it's typed, but I'm trying my best!
Please review!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything, except OC Athena Herrmann. All belongs to JK Rowling.
Kind regards,
Michelle.
Chapter 4: The Welcome
Soon, it was near 2 PM and Severus had no choice but to get ready for the event. He stood in his bathroom and applied some aftershave while he mentally argued with himself why this event was so important to the Headmaster. He'll just show up, get introduced to the woman and then after a short while when no one is noticing, he'll excuse himself to retire to his study to continue his act of brooding. As calculating as he usually is with everyone, he'll be the same with her.
He left his large ornate bathroom and approached the door to his office and left his quarters. While continuing his act of brooding, he began to climb the many stairs up to the ground floor. The things he did out of his own free will could be counted on one hand and this wasn't one of them.
His black cloak was billowing behind him from the circulating air entering from above like a vengeful and restless phantom, leaving the dungeons unusually cold. It gave the impression of a bat that ascended from its cave into the night.
He personally didn't think that Miss Herrmann would mean too much trouble like the earlier teachers, but he knew never to judge a book by its cover, especially if it depended on Dumbledore.
Once Severus was inside the Great Hall, he had to already endure a conversation with McGonagall regarding the upcoming Quidditch season. His mind began to drift away and reminded himself that this was a complete waste of his time. McGonagall's voice got distant in his ears. He still had potions to brew before the day is out, those potions being on Dumbledore's request, but also on Dumbledore's request, he had to meet the new teacher.
"Severus, are you listening? She was the best in her year in Transfiguration, Charms and Potions."
Severus turned back to McGonagall. Did my mind drift so long that you even changed subjects from Quidditch to Miss Herrmann's achievements? He mentally rolled his eyes. "Minerva, pray tell why you wish me to know every little detail about Miss Herrmann's life?",he saw her eyes narrowed slightly at him. The only thing besides the Dark Lord that frightened him.
Before McGonagall could scold him, Dumbledore approached them gleefully.
"Excited, Severus? I am convinced that the both of you would certainly build a relationship over the topic of Potions," Severus glared daggers at the older man. His black eyes pierced the Headmaster's blue ones at the audacity of a statement.
Dumbledore was literally a thorn in his side and on a mission, and enjoying it, to make his already tragic existence even more dismal. He just occasionally wanted to feed him a poison.
McGonagall found the whole idea exciting and the sight of tears of excitement in her eyes made him downright demented. "Do cheer up, Severus! And do be civilized with her," Dumbledore whispered. It's 13:48. She'll better arrive soon or I'm leaving.
Athena was finished with arranging her study and all of her books in alphabetical order when her eyes glimpsed the time on the Roman clock. Oh no. She barely had enough time to get ready and she wanted to look at her best for the occasion.
She nearly fell over her own feet in her fleeting attempt to get to her room and her wardrobe. She suddenly gasped at the idea of her former teachers seeing her again after all these years. What would they think of me? Would all of them be pleased to see me after so many years gone?
That is why she had to give the best first impression and at that, she pulled open her wardrobe a little too roughly and it toppled slightly against the wall.
She stood perplexed, staring and biting her lip in effort to choose the appropriate outfit for the occasion. She mentally kicked herself to get on with it and chose a black knee-length skirt along with a grey top, the sleeves reaching past her elbows and the neck high enough, ensuring to cover the scar below her left collarbone.
She switched her earrings for flower-shaped ones, touched up her makeup and hair and added vanilla and citrus scented perfume to both sides of her neck.
Once done, she eyed herself in the mirror. This'll have to do, although she did feel a bit sloppy while inspecting her attire. In her opinion, she looked so bland. Sighing at herself, she pulled on her black heeled sandals and dismissed herself from the mirror with a deep scowl.
It was just before 2 PM and her German promptness got agitated. If she'd hurry, she'll be arriving in the Hall just a few minutes late, deeply unsatisfactory for herself. How she managed to do all the touching up and dressing, hair and makeup in just a few minutes blew her mind, but she thanked her Auror training for that to be fast in everything. All done, just in time.
I really need new clothes and a revival in fashion taste.
Athena walked along the first floor corridor, appreciating the grand architecture all over again to avoid the nervous butterflies in her stomach. She was not far from a nervous breakdown by just thinking about everything to be honest. Even the echoing sound of her hurried footsteps made her somewhat self-conscious.
With no one but the staff back at the castle, the whole place looked deserted. This, however, gave her a boundless opportunity to explore the school like old times before the students would be arriving next week. A slight jolt of excitement went through her body, but got replaced far too soon with a slight nausea.
She was now walking across the Entrance Hall, approaching the doors of the Great Hall. Almost hesitant, she smoothed any wrinkles from her clothes, straightened her necklace and tamed any stray hair. Taking a deep breath, she pushed the doors open with a trembling hand and immediately a flood of insecurity bombarded her, worse than earlier.
How would they accept me? Am I dressed modestly enough? Would I really be more than satisfactory for the job as Dumbledore had said or would I fail?
This was her supposed new beginning, her Renaissance from the past with a clear conscience, a clean page where she can have a purpose and help others. Right at this moment, in this split second, everything felt like a mistake, almost as if she had botched up her fresh start already. Maybe it's just the nerves...hopefully. She wanted to leave and go and hide in her quarters, but the odds were not against her.
A group of around fifteen people, excluding a few ghosts were gathered at the High Table, some happily chattering with each other when Dumbledore announced Athena's arrival. The whole group turned in sync to stare at her slowly approaching form. Just then, she could feel the familiar sensation of the blood leaving her legs and head, leaving them heavy and a wave of dizziness engulfed her. Now is not the time to drop dead in front of the whole faculty!
Professor McGonagall gasped at the sight of her, which led Athena to wonder if it was good or bad. She was very unsteady on her feet at this point. A sheet of cold sweat enveloped her skin and just as she was sure she was about to faint, she heard the teachers squeal and shriek out of glee.
"My dear Athena! Welcome back to Hogwarts!", her former Transfiguration teacher and Head of Gryffindor approached and ushered her closer to the group where Dumbledore beamed at her.
"Look how beautiful she is!", Professor Flitwick squeaked in his high tone. "One of my NEWT students that is," Professor Sprout never changed much from so many years ago, Athena noticed after the Professor spoke up. Oh how I loved Herbology!
"You look exquisite, my dear! The last we heard from you was that you were a Master Healer at St. Mungo's!", Athena was so relieved at all the kindness and prominent welcome, it felt as if her limbs were revived with blood.
Severus stood next to Dumbledore and watched the elegantly dressed Athena Herrmann approach them slowly, unsteady on her feet, along with the sound of her sandals resounding off the walls in a slow uncertain frequency.
Frowning, he could not grasp why she looked so insecure, for she was utterly beautiful. He watched her walk and noticed how she looked to be almost lightheaded. Interesting.
McGonagall, along with the other teachers' sounds of delight sounded sickening. He chose to stay expressionless, unlike the other teachers who welcomed her.
As she came closer, he saw her long blonde hair shining in the sunlight, but what struck him like a ton of bricks was her startlingly intense, but also charmingly timid sapphire blue eyes. He realized that he stopped breathing for a few moments since he noticed her and composed himself, only to see Dumbledore looking knowingly at him.
She was breathtaking. Severus wanted to throw himself off the astronomy tower to think such of another woman just out of the blue, but yet, he couldn't deny the fact right in front of him. Even with her stunning beauty, like that of a Siren in Greek Mythology enchanting and entrancing him, he still held a firm grudge against her for getting the Defense post.
The one thing that concerned him the most was in what way she would be cursed in the coming year. Just not another werewolf, fraud or Death Eater in disguise...or worse, another Quirrell for Merlin's sake!
As usual, he'll keep an uncomfortable close watch on her.
He kept his distance, watching the group from a meter or so behind Dumbledore. Severus watched her greet each teacher with a gracious smile and laughed by himself upon the absurd view of McGonagall fussing around the woman.
All the teachers, especially Professor McGonagall cooed over her a lot, maybe a bit too much for her comfort. Even the ghosts were pleased to see her. Nearly Headless Nick's head fell off from excitement and had difficulty keeping it on afterwards. Athena had too chuckle out loud at that.
"It's good to see you again, Professor!", Athena just couldn't stop smiling and finished her conversation with McGonagall for now to approach Dumbledore.
"I trust that you are exuberant to see everyone again who taught you what you know?", he smiled kindly while unwrapping a lemon drop with a mischievous expression.
"I am truly humbled to be back. Thank you, Professor."
Athena then glanced over Dumbledore's shoulder to see an unfamiliar man. "Are your rooms to your satisfaction?", Dumbledore asked while noticing her constant glimpsing behind him.
"Yes, Headmaster," she replied. He nodded and turned slightly in the direction of the stranger. "Well, while we are so merrily gathered here, there is but one more person you still need to meet among the staff."
Severus noticed how she stole glimpses at him over Dumbledore's shoulder while she spoke to him, dissecting and studying him. He felt his annoyance growing again, for there was nothing to see or to look at in his opinion.
He stepped forward next to Dumbledore and felt the need to live up to his reputation at Hogwarts, the infamous most hated and feared teacher and Head of Slytherin by putting on his best scowl.
Athena watched the man standing next to Dumbledore. He was tall, well above 6 feet and slim with broad shoulders. He was dressed entirely in black, having nearly shoulder length black hair and very pale skin. His expression put her off immediately from what looked like to be a deep scowl. He looked generally unfriendly and unapproachable.
The bad impression she obtained from him made her choose to stay out of his way from day one, not out of fear, but to avoid drama and a bad character that could potentially ruin her time at Hogwarts.
She was struck upon seeing his eyes. They were black, like that of obsidian. Her stomach suddenly did somersaults and she had no idea why.
He had a broad, large hooked nose that enhanced his stark features exponentially and made him even more attractive. He looks like he belongs in a Gothic novel.
"Athena Herrmann, I wish to contentedly introduce Severus Snape, our Potions Master and Head of Slytherin."
You could cut the tension with a knife.
Severus didn't really want to exchange words and small talk with her, so he only nodded in greeting. Her last name sounded German. Quite exotic, but that isn't the point. He scolded himself. Her name supposed to resemble the Greek goddess of Wisdom and Courage, just as her Roman equivalent Minerva, was a superb choice of naming.
Athena already disliked him from his lack of good demeanor and tried her best to ignore the man's dark eyes drilling through her head and his look of contempt.
Severus noticed her face turning to slight contempt, probably just as he looked, but hers included disappointment. She hoped for a potential friend. Sincere apologies to her for not having that chance with me.
He found the fact that she was clearly already disliking him, satisfactory, meaning that she would stay out of his way if she could avoid it. Yet, it felt like when he made eye contact with her, that her piercing eyes could see his darkest secrets, almost reading him. Out of instinct, he tried to look slightly more intimidating and reminded himself that she couldn't.
"She was in Gryffindor, a year after you, Severus," Dumbledore's voice remained kind and soft, attempting to break the tension by making conversation, although for once, failing miserably. Severus, however, only raised an eyebrow at her.
Dumbledore knew how Severus felt about Gryffindors in general and seemed to be in his element about that fact. An extra point to my list of why I dislike her already. He couldn't remember meeting her at all in the six years they were together at school.
Athena glared at him for a few moments to hopefully show that she would not be intimidated and that she does not approve of his behavior. She was only here to teach and not start a civil war. What she found disturbingly strange was that all the other teachers were so warm and kind, where this teacher was not.
Severus found her defiant, but yet, harmonious look slightly unsettling, because that meant that she couldn't be easily broken down or intimidated. She wasn't just any other woman. He could see her stubbornness, a common Gryffindor trait, but she was also courageous and intelligent.
Athena then turned away from him to find better conversation with Madam Pomfrey and Professor Flitwick. She was baffled at his behavior towards her, clearly without reason, because they had never even met before and obviously hadn't done anything for or against him to treat her like this. The lack of respect from him made her quite downcast.
He'll just have to get used to her, that's all.
Severus felt that he had failed at his own game, because when she turned away from them, she looked unfazed at his attitude towards her. He clearly had to step up his game.
Along with her unearthly beauty and clearly strong personality from the fact that she could withstand him, he felt a kindred spirit. A woman who might have had a few hard blows from life. Although he'd rather die than admit it, he was intrigued by her even if he didn't like her, yet.