Disclaimer: I do not own any of the people or places that belong to the wonderful world of Harry Potter, as they belong to J.K. Rowling. The OCs (Eva, and the Harrison family) are entirely my own.

Chapter 2: A Rose by Any Other Name

Four Years Later:

"Yes! Wonderful!" Headmaster Albus Dumbledore announced, as he stood before the old and new students of Hogwarts. The applause from the night's sorting began to die down and the last of the students took their seats.

"Welcome to another glorious year at Hogwarts!" Dumbledore smiled. "Before we become to befuddled with our feast, I like to remind you of a few rules. First, to the first years please take note that the dark forest is out of bounds to all students. Second, all students must be in their dormitories and in bed by ten in the evening. And finally, Mr. Filch has asked me to remind you that dueling is not permitted in the halls. And with that...tuck in!"

A moment later the food appeared before them; but while everyone else began to dig into their meals, a new face at the staff table half-hearted picked at his plate.

This was the last place Severus Snape truly wanted to be, but here he was all the same.

As a professor.

And Head of Slytherin House.

And a double agent to boot.

Severus frowned down at his plate, as the others around him chatted happily. Here the war didn't exist; here at Hogwarts life continued on.

But the physical war wasn't the only one Severus was fighting; a mental war raged inside his head. One filled with guilt and anger, towards himself and the one they called the Dark Lord. He was constantly worrying over Lily Evans'...no Potter's...safety.

Laughter from the Slytherin table interrupted his thoughts and caused his frown to deepen. Glancing up in the direction of the green and silver banner to find a small group of fifth years taunting another student. Severus watched as one of the larger boys ripped a book away from the hands of a small brown haired girl, causing the group to laugh louder.

The action made Severus' blood boil, having been on the receiving end of the taunting at that point of his life as well. He glanced about the staff table, quickly noting that none of the professors were even paying attention to the altercation.

It was the small sound of ripping paper that drew his eyes back to the Slytherins. There upon the floor at the feet of the small girl was her little tan paperback book...torn in half, straight down the spine. Her dark brown hair that had obscured her face, fell back as she lifted her eyes towards her classmates.

Severus' heart stopped instantly at the sight of them. Familiar soft emerald green orbs were filled with unshed tears, as she quickly dropped her gaze and made to pick up her fallen friend with care.

"Whatcha gonna do Harrison? Cry?" the brutish boy sneered, causing the others to laugh again. "Pathetic Mudblood."

Growling heavily, Severus started to rise in order to confront the boy, but Albus' voice stopped him only inches above his chair.

"The best of evenings to you all!" Dumbledore said, smiling broadly as the room quieted.

"Tonight, we are pleased to welcome a new member to the staff. Professor Snape!" Dumbledore stated, gesturing towards his black clad professor. "Professor Snape will be replacing Professor Slughorn as your new Potions Master, and he will be also filling in the role of Head of Slytherin House." At that, the Slytherin table broke out in applause; although most was from the younger students who did not remember him from his own days in Slytherin. The fifth years and older merely applauded politely, as their eyes scanned the new professor.

As Albus continued to draw on, Severus couldn't help but to glance back at the poor girl from his house, and wondered why those eyes looked so familiar.

"Severus, as I told you once before already, they are in hiding and safe," Albus said, as he watched his newest professor wring his pale hands.

"Are you quite sure?" Severus pleaded again, as he sat helplessly in the chair before the Headmaster's desk.

"Quite," Albus responded, before the two lapsed into a short silence. The portraits were unusually quiet tonight in the large circular room. Delicate silver instruments sat upon tiny spindly tables; they whirred and emitted small puffs of smoke throughout the room. Books were piled high on shelves and Fawkes slept soundless on his perch.

Severus had fled to the Headmaster's office shortly after attending to his Slytherin before curfew. Those green eyes were haunting him from a different face; making him worry about Lily even more. But there was another question burning at the back of his mind.

"Headmaster?" Severus murmured softly, causing the elder wizard to raise a brow in his direction. "What can you tell me about one of my students?"

"Which one, my boy?"

"Miss Harrison, fifth year."

"Ah, Miss Harrison," Albus sighed, before taking a seat behind his desk. "Eva Rose Harrison actually...she would have been a first year during your last. A bright young witch I must say; I am surprised she wasn't sorted into Ravenclaw.

"During the holidays, Miss Harrison resides on Branch Road in Burnley with her uncle, Damianus Harrison."

"Uncle?" Severus raised a brow towards his employer.

"Yes," Albus smiled sadly. "Her parents Thaddaeus and Cadi Harrison were killed in a suspected underground bombing incident in London, shortly after the New Year of 1978. Eva had just returned to school two days prior."

"A Death Eater raid," Severus whispered harshly; his dark eyes widening a bit.

"Exactly," the Headmaster nodded gravely. "Her uncle is all she has left. He works at the Cotton Mill in town."

"A Muggle?" the younger wizard frowned deeply.

"Yes," Albus stated, as he rested his arms on his desk and steepled his fingers. "Miss Harrison is a Muggleborn."

"A Slytherin Muggleborn!" Severus gasped.

"Do you not remember her from your own days here Severus?" Albus asked quietly. Severus leaned back in his chair; his mind searching his seventh year of school. After a moment he found her; the night of her sorting first. Dark brown hair and soft emerald eyes disappearing under the Sorting Hat; the sneers and shouts of protest as the young girl was sorted into his house.

'Mudblood,' Crouch had called her. The word echoed through his mind; the brutish boy from tonight had repeated the awful word to her. How many others had called her that in the years she had attended here? And how many more would still? Severus swallowed harshly at the thought of himself using that word towards another. Never again would that word slip past his lips.

"Severus," Albus muttered softly. "Miss Harrison is now under you protection, as is the rest of those in her house. I trust you will watch over them well."

"Of course Headmaster," Severus nodded slowly. "You have my word."

a/n: Well, finally! Sorry about the long wait, but life and work had been crazy. A shorter chapter, but it is mainly an introduction of Severus teaching career at Hogwarts.

A big thank you to victoria cullen33 and JJ Remembers for their wonderful reviews!

And thank you to all who have added this story to their favs and/or alerts!