As the thestral-drawn carriage drew closer to the castle, Harry peered outside and looked up at his old home. From here Hogwarts looked exactly the same, with no sign of the colossal damage it had suffered 3 months ago. The castle stood, an imposing silhouette against the backdrop of the setting sun. Harry sighed, the tension in his shoulders easing somewhat at the sight of his old home. He'd been nervous about the return, anxious over how it would feel to be back in the place where friends had died, but, seeing that familiar profile, just as it ever had been, brought a comforting feeling to the Boy-Saviour.

He turned back into the carriage and saw Ron looking at him. "Alright mate?" His friend asked knowingly.

"Yeah, I'm alright." Harry gave him a small smile and Ron nodded back, neither needing to say any more.

The carriage was quiet, despite it being filled with 6 students. Ron sat opposite Harry, his arm wrapped around Hermione's shoulders. The wild-haired girl sat next to Ginny, who sat opposite Neville, exoctic plant in hand, and he in turn sat next to Luna who was reading an unpublished edition of The Quibbler.

"Nearly there." Hermione commented, looking out of the carriage herself.

"I'm happy for you, Harry." Luna said in her usual lackadaisical way, not even raising her head from The Quibbler she held.

Harry turned to her with a quizzical eyebrow raised. "You are?"

"This year is going to be very good for you." The girl said dreamily.

"Right." Harry said, looking at Ron who shrugged back. "What makes you say that?"

"The dandelions are all blowing in line with Mars' trajectory."

"Right..." Harry repeated with the same bewildered frown. He looked to the others who were smiling fondly at their unusual friend. "Ok then…"

Finally, Luna looked up from her magazine and soft blue eyes found bespectacled green. "Don't worry, Harry, you have already fulfilled your prophecy. This is another's destiny to follow. You can relax, your year will be peaceful."

Harry shrugged and smiled, willing to allow his peculiar friend her whimsy. "I'll take your word for it, Luna."

The carriage slowed and came to a stop outside the castle's ornate front doors. The six jumped down and followed their fellow returning students through the 10ft archway into the Entrance Hall. The general chatter that had accompanied the students getting out of the carriages abated as they entered, the students becoming more subdued as they saw the memorial stone, inserted into the floor when the hall was rebuilt.

The stone was large and magically engraved with gold lettering that wouldn't fade.

It read

To Be Always Remembered

This stone, here layeth, commemorates the

Battle of Hogwarts, 2nd May 1998.

May we never forget the suffering which follows intolerance,

nor the bravery that follows love.

Hogwarts: ambo animis atque educari.

Surrounding the message, an intricate golden pattern weaved its way across the stone floor like spellwork. If one looked closely at this pattern they would see that the golden lines were actually the minutely written names of every witch, wizard and magical creature that had lost their lives in the final battle. Every person, from both sides of the fight. Harry knew that both sides were represented in the stone because he himself had insisted on it. How can we move on? He had argued to Kingsley. How can we forgive and move forward, if we cannot recognise that both sides of the war suffered at the hands of that mad man? McGonagall had agreed and Kingsley had relented. The stone was commissioned with the name of every loss.

Harry felt Hermione squeeze his hand and felt comforted by the gesture, her subtle reassurance.

Gradually the student population thinned as the teenagers made their way into the Great Hall and soon only Harry, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Neville and Luna were left. Not that Harry noticed. His eyes hadn't left the memorial since he walked in and everything else had faded into the background.

"We'll go save you three some seats, alright?" Ginny offered, recognising that her brother and friends would need some extra time before they were ready to face the rest of the school.

"Thanks, Gin." Ron answered for the three of them gratefully.

His sister nodded and gave him an understanding smile before she, Neville and Luna left the Golden Trio to their thoughts.

They stood silently for a few more minutes. Harry, Hermione, Ron; all in a row.

"It's over now." Ron said quietly.

"Is it?" Harry asked, voice cracking. "It still hurts."

Hermione squeezed his hand tighter and rested her head on his shoulder. "I know, Harry. But you're safe now." Her voice was soft and Harry could hear the tears caught in her throat. "And you've got us, Harry."

"Yeah, mate." Ron reached his arm around Hermione and Harry felt Ron's hand on his other shoulder. "The three of us together, yeah? Always."

Harry nodded his head jerkily, filled with emotion that he couldn't define.

There was silence again, until, "I smell roast beef." Ron commented, sniffing the air.

Harry choked out a laugh and Hermione giggled, swatting her boyfriend playfully. "Do you ever think about anything but food?!"

"What? I'm hungry!" Ron defended.

Harry grinned. "Come on, let's go in before we're re-sorted with the First Years."

"Hey, that could be fun!" Ron joked. "See if we all end up in Gryffindor still." He pushed his way between Harry and Hermione and swung his arms around both their shoulders as they headed towards the Great Hall. "I'd still be in Gryffindor, of course. Lion through and through, me. But you two – " He tutted with his tongue against his teeth. "Well I'm just not sure you've got it in you. Gotta be brave, you see…"

His jesting continued all the way down the corridor, with his friends laughed heartily along, happy to finally be home.

"Good evening to you all." Headmistress McGonagall's voice rang clear throughout the Great Hall. "To the first years who have joined us this year: welcome to Hogwarts. And to everybody else: welcome back to the Hogwarts we know and love.

"Within these ancient walls, we live and learn. Hogwarts is both school and community. This is a place to make great achievements and even greater friendships. You have been placed into one of 4 noble houses. None of these houses is greater than the other 3, nor is any house worst. Each house is identified by specific traits and your sorting has determined which house will most help you to achieve. But, remember; your house does not define you. It is up to you to become the best person you can be, and friendships, and even love, will transcend the house barriers.

"Many of you were here last year, while others were unable to be. Hogwarts became a war zone, a military camp instead of a school. Your strength and resilience throughout that time made myself, and your other teachers, immensely proud of each and every one of you. Rest assured that this dark period in Hogwarts' history is over. You can learn in peace now. You are safe.

"This year is a fresh start for all. Old grudges will be forgotten and new friendships will flourish. It is a new beginning for Hogwarts, and with that, I have a new position to announce. Professor Snape will be resuming his role as teacher of Defence Against the Dark Arts and has now been appointed as the new Deputy Head. In addition to this, Professor Snape will also be the teacher responsible for our new 8th years, who have returned to finish their education. On that note, the 8th years will please remain behind after the feast to speak with Professor Snape and be shown their new quarters."

Severus closely observed the reactions of the pupils to the news that he was now Deputy Head. There was a respectable amount of applause though not rapturous. His Slytherins were unsurprisingly pleased, at least in the younger years. Slytherin house had remained fairly unscathed last year, having been favoured by the Carrows and generally wise enough to keep their heads down. Amongst the older Slytherins, the 6th and 7th years, the reaction was cooler, more reserved. Many had parents who, while not Death Eaters, had some dark tendency, to put it diplomatically. The reaction was similarly reserved across the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables; those who had experienced Snape's prejudice as a teacher and neglect of their welfare as the Headmaster, were understandably wary of his return to teaching especially when combined with the disciplinary role of deputy head. What surprised Severus was that a large portion of the applause was in fact originating from Gryffindor table. Not so much from the younger years, but the older years, apparently lead by Potter and Longbottom of all people, were clapping enthusiastically. It appeared Potter had been true to his word in telling all his friends what Snape had done for the war effort. Severus hoped his new found hero status didn't lead the pupils into a ridiculous notion that he would allow a lack of discipline in his classroom. Then again, he thought, he would have a great deal of fun assuring them that he was still as mean and horrid as he had ever been.

As Minerva moved on to the announcement of school rules, Severus took the opportunity to observe the boy-saviour and his groupies. Harry sat close to his friends and opposite Longbottom and the Weasley girl. The boy seemed well; no sign of the exhaustion and malnourishment he had exhibited after the battle, only that he was still unreasonably thin. He wondered how the boy was really doing; what he was thinking beneath those bright green eyes; how he was truly coping.

The feast drew to a close as staff and pupils alike scooped up the last of their favourite pudding. McGonagall instructed the prefects to lead their houses to their respective common rooms and reminded the 8th years to stay behind. Snape waited until the last of the houses had trickled from the hall, which took some time, before he stood and attracted the attention of the remaining students.

"Follow me." He said simply before descending from the staff table and leading the 12 young adults out into the corridor. They followed their professor obediently through the castle, which could still be a maze, even after their 7 years of adventures in it. They arrived at a tapestry which hung in the east wing. They were 3 floors above the dungeons but could access the corridor outside Snape's office and quarters via a direct staircase. Severus and Minerva had chosen the location specifically because it would give the older students some distance from the rest of the school whilst also allowing them to reach their Professor with relative ease should he be required. The tapestry depicted a young woman, who could be no more than 25, sitting cross-legged in a field of daisies. No one knew much about the history of the artwork and the girl herself was known simply as 'Emily' to the rest of the castle. She smiled sweetly as the Professor approached.

"Summum auxilium." Severus said clearly so the students heard the password to their new residence. The door on which the tapestry hung swung backwards and permitted the group entry to a cosy but spacious sitting room. A large fire crackled against one wall with a range of comfortable sofas and armchairs gathered around. On the opposite side of the room a grand oak table stood with 12 chairs.

"Please take a seat." Snape gestured to the array of comfy seating and hard-backed chairs. He waited for the students to take a seat, noting that only four students chose to sit round the table. The 'golden trio' sat on the far side of the table with their backs to the wall so they could see all of the room, and Draco took a chair from the side, sitting alone and looking wary.

"Listen carefully." Severus began seriously. "As 8th years you will be given a certain degree of freedom." He noted the pleased looks on the faces of Thomas and Finnegan and added pointedly. "However, there will still be high standards of behaviour expected of you, and if you take advantage of this freedom and break our trust, the repercussions will be severe." He narrowed his eyes at each of them. "This will be your common room, you may still return to each of your old house common rooms, but other year groups will not be permitted in here." He gestured to the corridor leading from the sitting room. "Down that corridor you will find your individual rooms, your names are on the doors. You are permitted to eat breakfast and lunch here but you will be expected in the Great Hall for dinner. Call on Nippy and the house-elves will attend you. Do not abuse the house-elves' willingness to please. You are still expected to clean up after yourselves."

"Finally, each of you will be attending a fortnightly meeting with myself to discuss your progress."

"'Discuss our progress?' What exactly does that mean, Sir?" Granger spoke up.

Severus sighed, he had rather hoped he would be able to stay vague about the purpose of their meetings at this point, but he should have known better with this group.

"You have all been through a lot in the last year. It is to be expected that you might face some problems in adjusting back into regular school life. The meetings are purely there so you can discuss with someone any issues you are having. You might talk about school work or your plans for the future, but you can also talk about the war and how it has affected you."

Severus could see from their faces that they weren't pleased.

"What if we don't want to talk?" Asked Weasley with little attempt at respect.

"None of you will be forced to talk about anything, but attendance at the meetings is mandatory."

"So you can check up on us." Finnegan grumbled.

"I thought you weren't going to be treating us like children." Argued Boot.

Severus sighed again. This wasn't going well.

"It's not about treating you like children, it's about making sure you have support as you come out of a very difficult time. Everyone who has been through this war needs support, whether they're 18 or 80."

Severus was somewhat startled by Potter's quiet voice. "So who's supporting you, Professor?"

Severus narrowed his eyes at the boy. "I am fine."

"Yeah? Well, me too." Potter replied bluntly before rising from his chair. "Excuse me." He left quietly via the corridor to find his room.

There was silence as Severus took a moment to rub his temples soothingly with one hand.

"That is all I have to say to you. Your class schedules are on the notice board and you will be informed of the time for your meetings with me later this week. Goodnight." Snape swooped from the room with his robes billowing and the tapestry door slammed shut behind him.

Back in his own quarters, Severus went straight to his liquor cabinet. He filled a crystal tumbler with a healthy measure of fire whiskey, took a long sip and sighed as the liquid warmed his body. "This is not going to be an easy year."