Comments: Thanks to everyone who reviewed, it was good to know I'm not a
hopeless failure at writing. ( As for the comment on apparating, let's just
say he apparated close to Hogwarts, maybe not right on grounds. Good
observation.
Chapter Three: Enemies In The Shadows
The first day of school at Hogwarts was cause for many things. For first years, it was a combination of nervousness and excitement. For older students, it was meeting back up with old friends, or dreading certain classes. For the teachers, it was excitement as well, and the last-minute ordering of lesson plans, the meeting of new students and greeting older ones. At least, that's the way it was for most teachers. But Professor Severus Snape wasn't like most teachers. No, he was far from it. The Potions Master had a secret, a secret that if revealed would not only cause him to forfeit his life, but most likely the lives of others as well. Severus Snape was, at one time, a Death Eater. You could say he still was, and that would be partly true. For although Snape answered the Dark Lord's calling when he heard it, and bowed to his Master, he was definitely not loyal to Lord Voldemort. Only a select few wizards and witches knew that he was, in fact, a spy for Dumbledore and the resistance forces. So, when the first day of school came, Severus suffered no excitement, and certainly no nervousness. To just about every student who saw him, he was the same old "slimy git" of a teacher.
But Albus Dumbledore saw through the wall Snape had build around himself. The Headmaster could tell that Severus was, in fact, playing the most dangerous game of all. Harry Potter, the boy that lived, and his companions might think that defeating the Dark Lord a few times was something to be proud of. But even Dumbledore doubted that Harry would be able to stand being on the inside. Having to be at mercy of Voldemort, having to constantly look over your shoulder, cover your tracks, and all the while knowing that one slip-up, one mistake, would mean the end of the game. While Severus Snape may not have struck a single student at all as the heroic type, he was, in his own way, just as much a hero as Harry Potter. Maybe even more so.
After the Sorting Ceremony, and the general announcements that Dumbledore made every year, he introduced the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Mrs. Arabella Figg. The name was unfamiliar to a majority of the students; only Harry Potter remembered her as his eccentric neighbor. In truth, she was more than that. She was Potter's Secret Keeper. She had delivered Harry the day he was born, and because she had been friends with Lily and James, they had named her his godmother. Thus, she was a logical choice for Secret Keeper. Arabella was the reason that Harry was kept safe over the summer; the reason Voldemort had never been able to find out where the boy lived. Because of the increasingly dangerous situation involving the Dark Lord, Dumbledore had decided to hire her on.
The students ate their meals and were led away, chattering happily, back to their common rooms. Severus Snape sighed to himself, knowing that with his faked 'return' to the Dark Lord, things promised to be a good deal more difficult this year. As he walked towards his office, the sound of someone's footsteps behind him caused him to stop. Turning slowly, he saw nothing. No, wait. There was a slight glimmer of silver. Stalking over to the wall, he growled, "I see we're starting off the year well as usual, Potter." Grabbing something, he pulled down. The invisibility cloak fell to the floor to reveal.Draco Malfoy. Although nothing registered on his face, Snape was surprised .What reason would Malfoy have for following him around Hogwarts? Unless..
"Sorry to disappoint you, Professor." The blonde-haired boy was recovering his 'I'm-better-than-you' stance, obviously shocked at having been discovered. "Mr. Malfoy. To what do I owe this pleasure?" Unfortunately, Severus could not lay the remark with as much heavy sarcasm as he would have liked. He had to keep up appearances, as much as it pained him. To any spies that might have been lurking around, Severus knew he must appear to be ridiculously unfair in the favor of all Slytherins. And that included Draco Malfoy.
"I'm one of you now, Professor. Or should I call you Severus?" The malicious glint in Draco's eye showed that he was clearly enjoying this. He pulled up the sleeve of his left forearm, revealing a still fresh Dark Mark there. It took some effort for the Potions Master not to flinch. The skull, the snake, it was all too familiar. And if Voldemort were accepting members this young..it must mean that there was indeed something big being planned. "And I want you to know that I'm watching you, per the Dark Lord's instructions. So take care where you step." The boy was smirking; those such as Malfoy always enjoyed flaunting their power over those they believed to be beneath them. Lucius was the same way; like father, like son. Severus nodded crisply, his voice as dry and silky as ever when he responded.
"Well, Mr. Malfoy, thank you for informing me. I do believe you should be in your common room right now. We wouldn't want to arouse any suspicions, would we? I bid you good night." With that, Snape turned on his heel and left Malfoy standing there to sort things out on his own. The Professor's mind was moving quickly. No doubt those two boys that Malfoy was always with have been initiated as well. Perhaps some of the other Slytherin group as well. There was no question about it now for Severus. There were enemies and spies everywhere, and he could do nothing about it. This was going to be a long year.
Comments for end of chapter: I know that there are tons of Sev fics out there where he falls in love with the new DADA teacher, but in my mind Sevvie is too good for anyone. And I also know that my idea for who it would be is not original at all, but I'm not too good at thinking things up like that. Sorry if it disappointed anyone, but I promise that she'll be involved in the story, if not romantically. Keep up the reviews, and maybe I'll be able to update faster. (The last update was delayed because of a summer reading assignment that I have for English)
Chapter Three: Enemies In The Shadows
The first day of school at Hogwarts was cause for many things. For first years, it was a combination of nervousness and excitement. For older students, it was meeting back up with old friends, or dreading certain classes. For the teachers, it was excitement as well, and the last-minute ordering of lesson plans, the meeting of new students and greeting older ones. At least, that's the way it was for most teachers. But Professor Severus Snape wasn't like most teachers. No, he was far from it. The Potions Master had a secret, a secret that if revealed would not only cause him to forfeit his life, but most likely the lives of others as well. Severus Snape was, at one time, a Death Eater. You could say he still was, and that would be partly true. For although Snape answered the Dark Lord's calling when he heard it, and bowed to his Master, he was definitely not loyal to Lord Voldemort. Only a select few wizards and witches knew that he was, in fact, a spy for Dumbledore and the resistance forces. So, when the first day of school came, Severus suffered no excitement, and certainly no nervousness. To just about every student who saw him, he was the same old "slimy git" of a teacher.
But Albus Dumbledore saw through the wall Snape had build around himself. The Headmaster could tell that Severus was, in fact, playing the most dangerous game of all. Harry Potter, the boy that lived, and his companions might think that defeating the Dark Lord a few times was something to be proud of. But even Dumbledore doubted that Harry would be able to stand being on the inside. Having to be at mercy of Voldemort, having to constantly look over your shoulder, cover your tracks, and all the while knowing that one slip-up, one mistake, would mean the end of the game. While Severus Snape may not have struck a single student at all as the heroic type, he was, in his own way, just as much a hero as Harry Potter. Maybe even more so.
After the Sorting Ceremony, and the general announcements that Dumbledore made every year, he introduced the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Mrs. Arabella Figg. The name was unfamiliar to a majority of the students; only Harry Potter remembered her as his eccentric neighbor. In truth, she was more than that. She was Potter's Secret Keeper. She had delivered Harry the day he was born, and because she had been friends with Lily and James, they had named her his godmother. Thus, she was a logical choice for Secret Keeper. Arabella was the reason that Harry was kept safe over the summer; the reason Voldemort had never been able to find out where the boy lived. Because of the increasingly dangerous situation involving the Dark Lord, Dumbledore had decided to hire her on.
The students ate their meals and were led away, chattering happily, back to their common rooms. Severus Snape sighed to himself, knowing that with his faked 'return' to the Dark Lord, things promised to be a good deal more difficult this year. As he walked towards his office, the sound of someone's footsteps behind him caused him to stop. Turning slowly, he saw nothing. No, wait. There was a slight glimmer of silver. Stalking over to the wall, he growled, "I see we're starting off the year well as usual, Potter." Grabbing something, he pulled down. The invisibility cloak fell to the floor to reveal.Draco Malfoy. Although nothing registered on his face, Snape was surprised .What reason would Malfoy have for following him around Hogwarts? Unless..
"Sorry to disappoint you, Professor." The blonde-haired boy was recovering his 'I'm-better-than-you' stance, obviously shocked at having been discovered. "Mr. Malfoy. To what do I owe this pleasure?" Unfortunately, Severus could not lay the remark with as much heavy sarcasm as he would have liked. He had to keep up appearances, as much as it pained him. To any spies that might have been lurking around, Severus knew he must appear to be ridiculously unfair in the favor of all Slytherins. And that included Draco Malfoy.
"I'm one of you now, Professor. Or should I call you Severus?" The malicious glint in Draco's eye showed that he was clearly enjoying this. He pulled up the sleeve of his left forearm, revealing a still fresh Dark Mark there. It took some effort for the Potions Master not to flinch. The skull, the snake, it was all too familiar. And if Voldemort were accepting members this young..it must mean that there was indeed something big being planned. "And I want you to know that I'm watching you, per the Dark Lord's instructions. So take care where you step." The boy was smirking; those such as Malfoy always enjoyed flaunting their power over those they believed to be beneath them. Lucius was the same way; like father, like son. Severus nodded crisply, his voice as dry and silky as ever when he responded.
"Well, Mr. Malfoy, thank you for informing me. I do believe you should be in your common room right now. We wouldn't want to arouse any suspicions, would we? I bid you good night." With that, Snape turned on his heel and left Malfoy standing there to sort things out on his own. The Professor's mind was moving quickly. No doubt those two boys that Malfoy was always with have been initiated as well. Perhaps some of the other Slytherin group as well. There was no question about it now for Severus. There were enemies and spies everywhere, and he could do nothing about it. This was going to be a long year.
Comments for end of chapter: I know that there are tons of Sev fics out there where he falls in love with the new DADA teacher, but in my mind Sevvie is too good for anyone. And I also know that my idea for who it would be is not original at all, but I'm not too good at thinking things up like that. Sorry if it disappointed anyone, but I promise that she'll be involved in the story, if not romantically. Keep up the reviews, and maybe I'll be able to update faster. (The last update was delayed because of a summer reading assignment that I have for English)
