The feast in the great hall was everything I had remembered, although most of the faces were new, I felt instantly at home. Severus seemed rather surprised to see me sitting at the faculty table, as he hadn't been at the school when I met with Dumbledore and the other Professors.
"I didn't expect you to look the same," he said sitting down next to me.
"You forget yourself Severus. Fully human wizards age differently from muggles, and you forget my non-human nature, of course I look too young for my age." I replied wryly.
"I'm sorry the rest of us don't have the ability to appear eternally young." He spat at me.
"Don't be such a git. You know there are some aspects of being a veela that I absolutely detest, and if you don't want to make me angry, which I assure you that you don't, try not to push your luck." I said and fixed him with an icy glare.
"All right, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring that up and offend you. Welcome back. If you need any help with your class preparations, feel free to come to me."
I arched an eyebrow at him. "Who is the one who got the highest marks in that class? Don't be sore that Dumbledore passed you over for the job, I've heard that you are the most knowledgeable potions masters of this century, he needed you to teach what you are most qualified for." He blushed slightly at this comment.
"Truce?" he asked questioningly.
"Truce, now I suggest we do as Dumbledore said and tuck in, I'm starved."
The food had appeared on the table just as it always had. There was roast beef, mashed potatoes, various puddings cakes and pies, and of course pumpkin juice; the only difference between the students' tables and ours was the fact that we had alcohol.
"Bourbon?" Severus asked halfway through the dessert.
"Sure, so long as you have a pumpkin juice screwdriver." I replied.
"A what?" he asked looking confused.
"Good god man, you're the best potions master in a century and you don't even know your mixed drinks? It's a glass of pumpkin juice with a shot of vodka mixed in, here, I'll make it for you." I teased him. I mixed it and he drank it grimacing.
"Interesting, but I think I prefer the wine." He said hoarsely. "How can you stand that shit? It totally ruins your palate." He grumbled, glowering at me.
"Compared to some of the combinations being downed at the other end of the table, that's nothing. I think I just saw Flitwick down his fifth martini." I said starting to giggle.
"I think you have had quite enough," he said looking closely at me.
"Why whatever gave you that idea?" I asked innocently, blinking owlishly at him.
"Maybe the fact that you've always had trouble holding your liquor, that and you are having trouble sitting up. I think you should retire to your room now." He said looking concerned.
"All right, but I really have to pee first. Could you help me to the ladies room? I don't think I can walk straight." I said frowning.
With that he helped me out of my chair and I staggered my way to the door. Once outside the Great hall he placed his arm underneath mine and around my waist to steady me as we walked toward the ladies room.
"Thanks," I said the hallway starting to swim before my eyes; " I don't think I could have made it this far on my own. I don't know what I was thinking, drinking all that alcohol. I've never had a head for it. Should have known. OHHH, here's the door. Pardon me while I go and relieve myself."
He let me go and I staggered in and did my business, unfortunately dinner decided to say hello again, and I felt only slightly better when I rejoined him in the hallway.
"Don't tell me you drank so much you puked. I warned you anyway. Come on, let's get you to your room." He said resuming his position as a walking guide. "I think you are just down the hallway from me. Here we go," he said hoisting me when I slipped out of his grasp and crumpled onto the floor.
"I think this is my stop," I said groggily when we reached my door. I was considerably worse for the wear. He set me down in one of my chairs inside and told me to go to bed.
"I am perfectly capable of going to bed by my self," I said stumbling towards my dresser, "I don't need you to supervise, I will see you in the morning."
"Don't get sick in the night and not get up in the morning, it would not look too good on your first day teaching."
"Shut up and get out of my room." I growled. He left and I climbed into the bed fully clothed. "I hope I don't have a killer hangover in the morning, not that I have before now, but knowing my luck . . . " and drifted off to sleep.