A/N: All characters besides
Mallory and her father belong to JKR. Mally and her daddy belong to me. This is
the first time I got a story written down; so don't punish me too harshly! ;-)
Chapter 1: Welcome Back
Severus Snape's hands were sweating. He didn't like being nervous; but who wouldn't be nervous in his situation? Spying, in itself, was dangerous. Spying on the most murderous, psychotic, megalomaniac in the world was close to suicidal. Sure he had done it before, but that does not make it any easier. Especially since his name is now on Voldemort's Top Ten Most Wanted list. Probably right after Potter's.
He wiped his palms on his robes and looked at them. They weren't his hands, not technically. Both Snape and Dumbledore figured that the Dark Lord was probably well aware of his betrayal, so they sent him in undercover. Cornelius Tucker is a Voldemort devotee who was quickly apprehended by Auorors. With the Dark Lord's return, he was less than careful about his anti-Muggle actions. The Ministry saw him as the perfect one to use for Snape's assignment. As Tucker is in Azkaban, hair can be taken from him in order to brew Polyjuice potion. Thus, Snape had a perfect disguise.
He glanced around at the congregation. Each person wore a mask, but Snape could still pick out some "old friends": Lucius Malfoy, flanked by Crabbe and Goyle. Just like that insufferable child of his. Even his old classmate and fellow Sytherin, Avery, attended. Avery was always a coward. He befriended only those who he thought could protect him. He was just like James Potter's old crony, Peter Pettigrew. Speaking of which, Wormtail stood by his master at the head of the group. Unlike the others, he was unmasked and a silver hand gleamed beneath his robes.
These meetings have all taken place at a cemetery. Snape had
tried to describe the area in his reports, but they met only at night and it
was difficult to clearly view the surroundings. He glanced up at the night sky
and watched the stars twinkle against the black velvet. A white bird flew by.
It looked like it could have been a dove. Strange,
besides owls, birds don't go out and about at night, especially not doves.
He shook the thought out of his head and tried to concentrate on Voldemort's speech. If he didn't pay attention, he had nothing to report. The problem is that its difficult to listen to Voldemort's speeches and propaganda about how Muggles and Mudbloods were inferior to "Pureblood" wizards; and how they should all be destroyed or enslaved so that the "True" wizards can control the world.
Snape never truly believed in that outrageous assumption. He knew several Muggle born wizards and witches who could lick any of these so-called "pure" ones. He had his own reasons for joining the Death Eaters on his youth, but no cause great enough to make him stay.
He squeezed his eyes shut and stifled a yawn. The new school year is starting soon and these long nights doubled with those ever irritating students is going to make Professor Snape's year one living hell, and he intended to take others with him.
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Professor Minerva McGonagall smiled at the younger witch. The new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry had set her bags on the bed and was running her hand down the cold stone chamber wall.
"You must feel like you've returned home," McGonagall commented.
"Yes, Professor, its nice to be back." The young woman's voice was soft and carried a thick Irish accent.
"We're colleagues now dear," McGonagall said, "No need for such formality, call me Minerva." The Irishwoman nodded. "I say, I can't go about and call you Miss O'Kenly then, can I?"
"Mallory will be fine," Professor O'Kenly said.
McGonagall checked her watch. "I'll leave you so you start unpacking. If you still have time before lunch, feel free to wander about and get reacquainted with the castle." She handed O'Kenly some keys. "This one is for this room, here's the one for the classroom, and finally the one for your office. Feel free to arrange however you desire." And as a final note, "Just be sure to be in the Great Hall by noon."
O'Kenly watched McGonagall leave and blew out a stomach settling breath. She flopped on the bed and closed her eyes. It was strange to be back after all these years. She was an awkward school child and was very personal. She wasn't entirely comfortable with seeing her professors and having them as colleagues.
She turned and looked at her luggage. She didn't want to unpack. She looked at the skeleton keys in her hand. She fancied that she ought to go exploring. So she headed for what she remembered to be the DADA room. Tentatively, she unlocked the door and walked in. Siting behind the teacher's desk, she let out another long breath. She swept the room with her eyes and recalled her own experiences at Hogwarts.
She was a very studious girl and highly praised by her
teachers. She greatly excelled in
Defense and especially in Potions. Actually, she was so advanced in Potions that she took classes with the
students one grade ahead of her. She
didn't even have to take it her seventh year. Due to her intelligence, she was often offered to be a Prefect and even
Headgirl her seventh year, but she refused them. She wasn't ambitious and didn't want that sort of responsibility
over the students. So what am I doing
here now?
Collecting herself, she checked her watch. It was about time for the Start of Year Professors' Meeting/ lunch.
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Snape sat in the chair rather heavily. He sat back, closed his eyes, and let out a long breath. "Are you all right, Severus?" He opened his eyes. Sinistra, the Astrology Professor, was on his right. She studied him, quizzically.
"Just tired," he assured her. It wasn't an exact lie, but there was so much more to it. The year had not even officially begun, and already he was greatly irritable and resentful. He inwardly laughed at himself. No difference there! He checked his watch and scanned the table. It was quarter to noon and several of the seats at the table were unoccupied. Two of which, he discovered with slight annoyance were directly in front of him.
The doors opened and in walked McGonagall. She took the place across and to the left of where Snape sat. She was smiling like a Cheshire. "What are you grinning about?" He asked sourly.
"Oh, I just had the pleasure of showing our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher to her room."
He gave her his most sarcastic and bored expression and tone, "How jolly." Her grin twitched a bit into a frown, but decided to start a conversation with Flitwick who was next to her. For once he really didn't care about the DADA job. Lord knows he has to deal with the subject matter enough this year without trying to make a group of unintelligent dunderheads understand it. This new teacher can be damned for he cared, and her position, too.
The Great Hall's doors creaked open again. "Well, speak of the devil!" Exclaimed McGonagall. Snape had to blink a few to times to make sure what he was seeing was real. Whatever he was expecting of the new professor, this certainly wasn't it. Then, to his mixed delight and horror, McGonagall patted the seat next to her, in front of him. The young woman delicately seated herself.
Snape struggled, but fond it difficult not to stare at her. She was extraordinary! Her skin was so pale it was close to white, her golden blonde hair, tied back from her face into a braid. Her pink lips were kept close together and betrayed no expression as she listened to McGonagall. They didn't need to. All the emotions in the world were expressed in those fabulous dark, blue eyes. At the moment they told of her nervousness, but also the inner strength that she possessed.
She flicked a glance in Snape's direction. Immediately he masked his infatuation with a frown. Hers brows furrowed and she returned the frown. McGonagall stopped chatting as she took notice to her two companion's demeanor. "Don't let him get to you, Mallory," Mallory, that was her name! "He's just bitter because you hold the job he covets. He's just never happy even though he's a perfectly adequate Potions Master."
He sneered at the older woman. "Very mature, Minerva, putting the new kid against me before the semester even starts."
Mallory cleared her throat. "If you would excuse me, I am perfectly capable of making my own judgements and am not easily susceptible to others' opinions. Please do give me that much credit, sir." Her voice was soft, had an Irish brogue, and carried a twinge of malice.
He allowed a small smile. "My name's Severus, Severus Snape."
She smiled back. "Mallory O'Kenly." Her voice returned to soft and shy, the hint of anger gone. She looked as if she was going to continue the conversation, but at that moment Dumbledore finally made his appearance.
The silver haired Headmaster took his place at the head of the table, but did not sit. "Welcome back to Hogwarts for an exciting new school year!" He beamed and his blue eyes twinkled behind his half-moon spectacles. How can he be so happy knowing of the evil that is rising around us? "First off, I have the great pleasure to introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Mallory O'Kenly." He motioned for her to stand. After some hesitation she stood up and quickly sat back down. She had turned even paler, it seemed. As Dumbledore's speech came to a close, food finally appeared at their plates and he told everyone to "Tuck in".
Snape glanced up at O'Kenly again. She just stared at her plate, looking ill. McGonagall tried to place a reassuring hand on her shoulder, but she jerked away from her touch. "I'm sorry," McGonagall, whispered, "I forgot."
"That's all right," she whispered back. Nonetheless, she shoved herself back from the table and hurried out from the Great Hall. The rest of the faculty just watched her leave.
Fascinating creature…
