VI.
In hardly any time, Severus found one of the old secret passages that led into Hogwarts. Cecil had once again fallen asleep in his arms, worn from her earlier trauma. He gently shifted her to his good arm and muttered, "Ferula." A sling formed around his broken arm, helping to alleviate some of the pressure on the cracked bone.
He made his way along the halls, silently and swiftly, his tattered black robes sweeping along behind him. It was the dead of night, so none of the students were yet awake, so the only ones he need worry about were Filch and his sinister cat, Mrs. Norris, if it were still around. Snape was convinced that the dratted feline was bewitched, because he had never once noticed the cat aging.
He paused outside the Headmaster's office, realizing his dilemma... he didn't know the password. Of course, knowing Dumbledore, it would be something involving candy. "Sugar quills? Blood Pops? Laughing Taffy? Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans?" He felt like an idiot, raking his mind for the name of sweets.
"Actually, my current favorite is a Muggle creation known as Hershey's Kisses." At his words, the guarded entrance slid open to reveal the passageway. Snape whirled so that his back was to the wall, his lank hair flying across his face. In front of him stood Albus Dumbledore, with his pointed white beard and twinkling blue eyes. Snape hated those eyes... they always made him seem like he knew something everyone else didn't. And he usually did. "Severus Snape! What a pleasant surprise!"
"I would hardly call it that, Dumbledore," he growled. "Do not presume to make things what they are not. My being here is neither pleasant... nor a surprise, judging by your uncannily well-timed entrance."
His snappish answer didn't appear to disrupt the Headmaster's cheery mood in the slightest. He started down the passageway, then poked his grey head back out. "Well, do come in, Severus, unless you plan on standing in the hallway all night. And if that is indeed the case, then I really don't see the point of your trying to get into my rooms in the first place... Unless you were simply naming your favorite candies, something I find myself doing more and more frequently in my free time. I find it a rather delightful pastime, if I do say so myself."
Snape stared in disbelief after the swishing blue robes of the Headmaster. Unbelievable. A Death Eater walks into Hogwarts carrying a child that isn't his and all that Dumbledore could do was comment on sweets and invite him inside like an old friend. Perhaps the old gaffer was battier than he had previously thought. Or perhaps Albus really did know more than he let on.
But crazy or not, Dumbledore was his only hope.
Not a very pleasant thought, if you asked him.
But regardless, he followed Albus down the corridor into his office.
There was a roaring fire blazing in the fireplace before Snape even entered. Albus, seated behind his desk, gestured Severus towards a chair. "You knew I was coming," Snape stated sourly.
"What makes you say that?"
Snape raised an eyebrow. "Must I list all the reasons that you already know? Let us not play games, Dumbledore. This is no time for your customary foolishness."
The headmaster's eyes hardened a bit and his mouth straightened into a line. "I do not presume to 'play games,' Severus. I am quite aware of the situation. These are dark times for us all, not merely for those who have just left the less-than-admirable service of Voldemort."
Snape raised his chin defiantly. "We all find our way in the world, as I am sure you know. That path, for some, is not the same one you yourself have taken."
"Well put, Severus, well put. I see you have not lost your pride or your quick and sharp tongue."
"Some of us put our mouths to better use than consuming sweets." Snape met Albus' stare evenly, unwilling to flinch, though he knew that if he kept it up, he would be as good as locked in his cell at Azkaban. Yet, somehow, he kept talking.
Dumbledore sighed, rising from his chair and approaching Severus, who was still holding Cecil awkwardly in his one good arm. He held out his hands. "May I?" Severus gave only a grunt in reply, leaving the response open for interpretation. Dumbledore took it for a yes, of course, and bent, gathering the child in his arms.
It was amazing, really, the way that Albus had with children. He cradled her expertly, whispering softly to her as she woke, her big blue eyes blinking up at him. "Hi," she said shyly. "We home now?"
Dumbledore smiled. "Yes, dearest, you're home." He snapped his fingers, producing a candy cane and handing it to her. Merlin- the man's solution to everything was candy. Snape would bet money that if Dumbledore could, he'd strike Voldemort down with a sugar quill.
That thought produced a very... interesting visual. He almost smiled. Almost.
"I presume the child will be safe here, Dumbledore?"
"But of course. I am happy to provide sanctuary to all who seek it, within reason." Of course. Within reason. Which meant, specifically, no ex-Death Eaters. Especially ones that were being actively hunted by Voldemort.
"Of course," he said coldly, moving to rise. He would expect the Aurors on his tail in a few days, or morel likely, to meet him at the gates as he left Hogwarts, to 'escort' him on his way to Azkaban.
"It is rather a bother," the headmaster said, seemingly half to himself, "that we have just lost our Potions professor. Seems he had a grave reaction to one of his own potions. Pity really, and right before the beginning of the new term. I don't know what I'm to do."
Snape glanced up. What was he getting at? Albus lips were twisted up in a characteristic knowing smile, the very one that Snape despised.
Dumbledore gave a sidelong look to Snape. "Any suggestions, Severus?"
"No, Albus," he growled. 'Get to the damn point,' he wanted to add. He was sick, deathly sick, of the games and jokes. He was much too used to the direct orders, punishments, and meetings that Voldemort had.
There was a long pause, during which Dumbledore began to hum a soft tune that sounded, if Severus' memory served him correctly, like one of the more pleasant versions of the school song. Midway through he paused and looked again at Severus. "If I'm not mistaken... you received quite high marks in Potions, did you not?"
"A perfect score, Albus."
"Yes, yes, I remember now. Very few receive such high marks, especially in Potions."
"It is a very delicate and careful subject. Few truly appreciate it for its worth."
"As you surely did. I was wondering... surely in one so adept at the subject, you wouldn't be quite so skilled as a teacher, would you?"
Snape bristled. He had taught plenty of the Death Eaters how to brew elaborate potions used for torture methods and other wretched purposes. How dare he presume..? "I am quite capable of teaching others, provided that they are not complete and utter idiots, Dumbledore." He realized too late his error.
"Wonderful! Then I can announce that we have found our newest Potions professor."
For the first time in his life, Severus was speechless. Never in a hundred thousand years had he planned on accepting a job as a teacher at Hogwarts. Never. He hated children, hated teaching, hated everything to do with it. "But, Albus..."
The headmaster held up a hand, smiling jovially. "No, no, Severus. No need to thank me." He headed towards the door, pausing to add, "But if you really wanted to thank me, I have found myself in dire need of a decent pair of socks. The holidays will be coming up before you know it! And get that arm looked at by Poppy. She's most excellent at healing bones."
With that, he breezed out of the office, leaving Snape more bewildered than before. He, a former Death Eater, was to be teaching Potions at Hogwarts. Plus, he would have to purchase... socks.
This was proving to be far more... unusual... than he had planned.
END CHAPTER SIX
Author's Notes: Dedicated to Azalian, since she's been looking forward to the Dumbledore conversation. I hope it came out quite alright!
Just wanted to say that seeing HP2 helped immensely on the inspiration for this. *fans self* Too... many... hot... guys...
...and Harry tried to seduce Lucius! *giggles madly* Inside joke with me and Kate... don't ask. Really. Don't.
In hardly any time, Severus found one of the old secret passages that led into Hogwarts. Cecil had once again fallen asleep in his arms, worn from her earlier trauma. He gently shifted her to his good arm and muttered, "Ferula." A sling formed around his broken arm, helping to alleviate some of the pressure on the cracked bone.
He made his way along the halls, silently and swiftly, his tattered black robes sweeping along behind him. It was the dead of night, so none of the students were yet awake, so the only ones he need worry about were Filch and his sinister cat, Mrs. Norris, if it were still around. Snape was convinced that the dratted feline was bewitched, because he had never once noticed the cat aging.
He paused outside the Headmaster's office, realizing his dilemma... he didn't know the password. Of course, knowing Dumbledore, it would be something involving candy. "Sugar quills? Blood Pops? Laughing Taffy? Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans?" He felt like an idiot, raking his mind for the name of sweets.
"Actually, my current favorite is a Muggle creation known as Hershey's Kisses." At his words, the guarded entrance slid open to reveal the passageway. Snape whirled so that his back was to the wall, his lank hair flying across his face. In front of him stood Albus Dumbledore, with his pointed white beard and twinkling blue eyes. Snape hated those eyes... they always made him seem like he knew something everyone else didn't. And he usually did. "Severus Snape! What a pleasant surprise!"
"I would hardly call it that, Dumbledore," he growled. "Do not presume to make things what they are not. My being here is neither pleasant... nor a surprise, judging by your uncannily well-timed entrance."
His snappish answer didn't appear to disrupt the Headmaster's cheery mood in the slightest. He started down the passageway, then poked his grey head back out. "Well, do come in, Severus, unless you plan on standing in the hallway all night. And if that is indeed the case, then I really don't see the point of your trying to get into my rooms in the first place... Unless you were simply naming your favorite candies, something I find myself doing more and more frequently in my free time. I find it a rather delightful pastime, if I do say so myself."
Snape stared in disbelief after the swishing blue robes of the Headmaster. Unbelievable. A Death Eater walks into Hogwarts carrying a child that isn't his and all that Dumbledore could do was comment on sweets and invite him inside like an old friend. Perhaps the old gaffer was battier than he had previously thought. Or perhaps Albus really did know more than he let on.
But crazy or not, Dumbledore was his only hope.
Not a very pleasant thought, if you asked him.
But regardless, he followed Albus down the corridor into his office.
There was a roaring fire blazing in the fireplace before Snape even entered. Albus, seated behind his desk, gestured Severus towards a chair. "You knew I was coming," Snape stated sourly.
"What makes you say that?"
Snape raised an eyebrow. "Must I list all the reasons that you already know? Let us not play games, Dumbledore. This is no time for your customary foolishness."
The headmaster's eyes hardened a bit and his mouth straightened into a line. "I do not presume to 'play games,' Severus. I am quite aware of the situation. These are dark times for us all, not merely for those who have just left the less-than-admirable service of Voldemort."
Snape raised his chin defiantly. "We all find our way in the world, as I am sure you know. That path, for some, is not the same one you yourself have taken."
"Well put, Severus, well put. I see you have not lost your pride or your quick and sharp tongue."
"Some of us put our mouths to better use than consuming sweets." Snape met Albus' stare evenly, unwilling to flinch, though he knew that if he kept it up, he would be as good as locked in his cell at Azkaban. Yet, somehow, he kept talking.
Dumbledore sighed, rising from his chair and approaching Severus, who was still holding Cecil awkwardly in his one good arm. He held out his hands. "May I?" Severus gave only a grunt in reply, leaving the response open for interpretation. Dumbledore took it for a yes, of course, and bent, gathering the child in his arms.
It was amazing, really, the way that Albus had with children. He cradled her expertly, whispering softly to her as she woke, her big blue eyes blinking up at him. "Hi," she said shyly. "We home now?"
Dumbledore smiled. "Yes, dearest, you're home." He snapped his fingers, producing a candy cane and handing it to her. Merlin- the man's solution to everything was candy. Snape would bet money that if Dumbledore could, he'd strike Voldemort down with a sugar quill.
That thought produced a very... interesting visual. He almost smiled. Almost.
"I presume the child will be safe here, Dumbledore?"
"But of course. I am happy to provide sanctuary to all who seek it, within reason." Of course. Within reason. Which meant, specifically, no ex-Death Eaters. Especially ones that were being actively hunted by Voldemort.
"Of course," he said coldly, moving to rise. He would expect the Aurors on his tail in a few days, or morel likely, to meet him at the gates as he left Hogwarts, to 'escort' him on his way to Azkaban.
"It is rather a bother," the headmaster said, seemingly half to himself, "that we have just lost our Potions professor. Seems he had a grave reaction to one of his own potions. Pity really, and right before the beginning of the new term. I don't know what I'm to do."
Snape glanced up. What was he getting at? Albus lips were twisted up in a characteristic knowing smile, the very one that Snape despised.
Dumbledore gave a sidelong look to Snape. "Any suggestions, Severus?"
"No, Albus," he growled. 'Get to the damn point,' he wanted to add. He was sick, deathly sick, of the games and jokes. He was much too used to the direct orders, punishments, and meetings that Voldemort had.
There was a long pause, during which Dumbledore began to hum a soft tune that sounded, if Severus' memory served him correctly, like one of the more pleasant versions of the school song. Midway through he paused and looked again at Severus. "If I'm not mistaken... you received quite high marks in Potions, did you not?"
"A perfect score, Albus."
"Yes, yes, I remember now. Very few receive such high marks, especially in Potions."
"It is a very delicate and careful subject. Few truly appreciate it for its worth."
"As you surely did. I was wondering... surely in one so adept at the subject, you wouldn't be quite so skilled as a teacher, would you?"
Snape bristled. He had taught plenty of the Death Eaters how to brew elaborate potions used for torture methods and other wretched purposes. How dare he presume..? "I am quite capable of teaching others, provided that they are not complete and utter idiots, Dumbledore." He realized too late his error.
"Wonderful! Then I can announce that we have found our newest Potions professor."
For the first time in his life, Severus was speechless. Never in a hundred thousand years had he planned on accepting a job as a teacher at Hogwarts. Never. He hated children, hated teaching, hated everything to do with it. "But, Albus..."
The headmaster held up a hand, smiling jovially. "No, no, Severus. No need to thank me." He headed towards the door, pausing to add, "But if you really wanted to thank me, I have found myself in dire need of a decent pair of socks. The holidays will be coming up before you know it! And get that arm looked at by Poppy. She's most excellent at healing bones."
With that, he breezed out of the office, leaving Snape more bewildered than before. He, a former Death Eater, was to be teaching Potions at Hogwarts. Plus, he would have to purchase... socks.
This was proving to be far more... unusual... than he had planned.
END CHAPTER SIX
Author's Notes: Dedicated to Azalian, since she's been looking forward to the Dumbledore conversation. I hope it came out quite alright!
Just wanted to say that seeing HP2 helped immensely on the inspiration for this. *fans self* Too... many... hot... guys...
...and Harry tried to seduce Lucius! *giggles madly* Inside joke with me and Kate... don't ask. Really. Don't.