Chapter 14 – New Beginnings
Hogwarts was curiously eerie without students teeming through its corridors. It held a ghostly quality that was more than simply the ghosts inhabiting it, the timeless feeling that all those who walked these corridors were in some way still here, the feeling that the building itself thought unfathomable thoughts to itself, something a mere transitory human could never understand.
Severus was quite content to settle into the dungeons – Professor Flitwick, pleased at seeing one of his most talented pupils return, had expressed certain disdain when he learned that Severus's quarters were to be located in a place with such grim significance, but he found that he did not mind, or even care. His room was comfortable enough, with a good fire and plenty of space for his books. Since this room had not been used for imprisonment or torture for a very long time, the décor was in fact rather pleasing, a sort of pseudo-medieval style.
There had been times in the past few months when he had felt terribly old, as if the years had come prematurely upon him, bearing down after all the crimes he had committed. Right now, however, he realised that despite the unnatural ageing he had felt, he was still very young indeed. Twenty-one years had passed since his birth. His last birthday may have passed with almost total lack of ceremony – his mother and sister had sent him cards, and that was the extent of it – but he was still twenty-one, one of the youngest Potions Masters in the country. He found himself fighting a foolish nervousness, something he thought had vanished a long time ago. Perhaps it was Hogwarts that did this to him. Well, no matter. Today was the day he ate with the rest of the staff for the first time. He would see it to it that they did not look down on his lack of experience, that they treated him as a colleague, not an overgrown student.
He arose, and walked slowly to the Great Hall. The rest of the teaching staff were already there, even the mysterious Trelawney he had never met, although he had been told by his classmates she was a phony. Professor Dumbledore sat at the head – Professor McGonagall on one side, and Professor Flitwick on the other. A man he didn't recognise was next to McGonagall, and also present were Professors Sprout, Kettleburn, Littlewood the Ancient Runes professor, Akehurst the Muggle Studies professor, Professor Vector and Madam Hooch. He recognised the woman who must have been either the Astronomy or Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher as Yolande Sinistra, who had been a Slytherin a couple of years ahead of him. Binns was absent, but that was hardly surprising.
Dumbledore arose.
"Severus, welcome. May I introduce Francis Quirrell, our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher?"
Quirrell, the man he had not recognised, arose and shook his hand. Severus disliked him instantly. He had the eyes of a fool, a weak-minded fool. The man was about his age, but could not have attended Hogwarts. Perhaps he had attended Durmstrang.
"Have you met Yolande?"
"I believe so." Sinistra arose, extended her hand. Now this woman he could at least have some respect for – he had never seen her among Death Eater ranks, yet she still bore the pose of a true Slytherin, with cool, confident eyes and a not-quite-trusting expression. Good, she had sense.
Severus took a spare seat, and then noticed for the first time that the Sorting Hat lay on the table. He looked to Dumbledore.
"Now that we are all here – with the exception of Reginald, but that is scarcely surprising – it is time to finally choose the new Head of Slytherin." Severus took a quick glance at the rest of them – Sinistra was wearing a particularly confident expression. "As you know, Professor Bulwark took this position for two years after Professor Cecilius left, but as he left this December, it is time to choose a successor. As tradition – and necessity – dictates, this will be conducted via the Sorting Hat. Francis, please take the hat."
Quirrell place the hat upon his head. There was silence. Then Quirrell placed the hat on the table, and Kettleburn took it. More silence, Kettleburn looking pensive and then worried. He placed it down, and Littlewood took it. Her lined face creased into an interested expression, then a frown, then she put it down. Severus took it. He had been under the impression that only Slytherins would be included in this ceremony, but no one objected when he put it on his head.
"Ah, Mr. Snape or should I say Professor? Such a lot has happened since I last saw this head, for such a young man."
Get on with it.
"You've become a lot more surly I see. What will it be, Severus? Is it time to end the masquerade?"
What masquerade? He thought furiously. The masquerade finished a long time ago.
"Then why do you still consider yourself a Ravenclaw when you know perfectly well that you are not?"
You yourself placed me in Ravenclaw.
"You wanted me to."
Wanting to stay friends with someone is scarcely a Slytherin trait, don't you think?
"You were always too afraid to be yourself. 'Please don't put me in Slytherin, James will never be friends with me then…' "
The Sorting Hat's tone sounded frighteningly like his eleven year old self.
I never thought that.
"I think it's always beneficial to be aware of your own thoughts, don't you? It appears I know you better than you know yourself. Surely events of late have showed you where you really belong?"
In Azkaban, you mean?
"In Slytherin. Will you accept it?"
It was silent for a moment. Severus sighed inwardly, and decided to accept the inevitable.
If you must know, yes. I have always known that part of me was Slytherin. Is that enough for you?
"It will have to do, for now. Pass me on."
Severus took the hat off his head, and Sinistra took it. Her expression was bemused. She passed it on – Professor Akehurst and Professor Vector both tried on the hat. Madam Hooch took it, looked intent and then shrugged, and put it down. Professor Trelawney took it last, frowned it annoyance, and placed it down almost straight away. Professor Dumbledore took it.
"Who will it be?"
Severus noticed that Sinistra had lost the confidence she had had earlier, and was actually looking rather angry.
Then the Sorting Hat said what he already knew. "Your new Head of Slytherin House will be Severus Snape."
Flitwick had looked upset. Sinistra's anger had risen enough that she was barely holding onto her composure, Quirrell shrugged, McGonagall stared at him in surprise and a few of the others just looked relieved that it was not them. Dumbledore glanced at him, looking him in the eye for a moment and even smiling slightly, as if Severus had just confirmed something he had known all along. Then Dumbledore had clapped his hands, and dinner had appeared.
So he was a Slytherin, was he? He'd never had Ravenclaw pride – he wondered if this was why. He had tried to maintain some throughout Quidditch games – but it was always more a sense of personal accomplishment, rather than House Pride, that had driven him to success. Well, so be it, he told himself. If he was a Slytherin, he was going to be a damned good one.
His first class were third years. Gryffindors and Slytherins. Severus idly wondered for what bizarre reason Dumbledore had decided to pair those two particular houses up in a potentially dangerous class. Hufflepuff and Slytherin had been a much better choice, in his opinion. They were much less likely to have explosive arguments.
They filed in in dribs and drabs, plainly not caring particularly whether they were in on time. Severus sat at his seat, watching them silently, allowing his first day nerves to transform into a controlled sort of rage. He waited for them all to sit down.
"Looks surly, doesn't he?" he heard one Gryffindor mutter.
"He looks so young – how old is he, do you think?"
Severus got up. His voice, when he spoke, was soft, but curiously, in this dungeon, it seemed to penetrate the entire room.
"I was under the impression that this lesson began at nine o'clock. Was I mistaken?"
The class was silent, somewhat taken aback by this curious statement.
He picked a boy with conspicuously red hair. Gryffindor, of course.
"You. What is your name?"
"Charlie Weasley, Professor."
He looked at the boy again. Arthur Weasley's son. Arthur Weasley – ah yes, his job was a joke, attacked the Ministry of Magic for their lack of action concerning Muggles and Muggleborns, probably placed morals before promotions. For no good reason, Severus instantly disliked him.
"Mr. Weasley, would you be so good as to tell us what time this lesson started?"
"Nine o'clock, Professor."
"Correct. One point to Gryffindor." Several people gasped. This was unusually charitable for a Slytherin Head of House.
"So, in light of this, would you care to explain why some of you…" He paused, and pointed to certain members of the class. Gryffindors, all of them. Arrogance was always rife in their ranks. "You – you – you and you – came in at least a full five minutes after nine?"
There was silence. One foolish student spoke up. "Professor, I…"
"Silence. Five points from Gryffindor." The Slytherins sighed audibly with relief. "I will not tolerate such indolence in my classes. You four will all report to Mr. Filch for detention tonight. I trust you can arrive at nine o'clock sharp to his office."
"Detention? But that's not fair!"
Severus rounded on Weasley Junior. "Another word out of you, Mr. Weasley, and you will be joining them. I suggest you learn that life itself is not fair."
Weasley became quiet, but his face was a furious red. The rest of the class were now apprehensively silent, wondering what he would do next. They were looking at him as if he were a bomb about to go off.
"I do not know what your former Potions professors thought of such a show of disrespect. I, for one, will not stand for it. In future, you will all arrive at on time or suffer the consequences. I dread to think what your potions skills will be like, considering your manners, but we shall see."
The lesson dragged on. Severus found the Gryffindors to be irritating and self-absorbed, far too convinced with what they 'deserved'. He didn't like the Slytherins – his house – but although he did not care for them, he found he could not despise them. Some of them would undoubtedly end up like Malfoy, but there were a few with potential.
These foolish children had such a lot to learn, sitting there arrogantly and thinking they knew everything. If they weren't careful, they would grow up as he had. Someone would have to knock them into shape.
By the end of the week, he knew he had a reputation. The first year Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw class all showed up on time for their first lesson, some of them looking out of breath, and appeared apprehensive. Good. So they heard he favoured Slytherins – why shouldn't he? They appeared to be the only students who had any concept of what the real world was like. The ones who weren't foolish showed some promise for something other than fawning at the feet of the powerful. As for the rest – well, he thought, they had better get used to the idea that not everyone would humour them, not everyone would be fair, and hardly anyone in the real world would give them a second chance. There are very few people like Albus Dumbledore.
He found the man himself waiting in his office after the last lesson of the day, looking mildly concerned.
"Professor Dumbledore," Severus said cordially.
Dumbledore smiled. "That's Albus, Severus – as your colleague. Unless, of course, you would prefer to call me Professor Dumbledore."
Yes, I would, Severus thought, cursing his own innate feeling of inferiority. He knew it was ridiculous. Somewhere inside him, he had a childish instinct that desperately wanted to cling to someone else's wisdom and never have to accept responsibility ever again.
"Albus then," he said, helplessly. "What can I do for you?"
"I came to discuss your first week's lessons."
"I see."
Dumbledore sighed. "How do you feel, about being Head of Slytherin?"
"I am perfectly fine with it," Severus said – almost snapped, even though he quailed at the thought of snapping at Albus Dumbledore.
"Are you sure?"
Dumbledore's eyes, as usual, looked as though they were reading his mind. Severus struggled to give his answer, even though he had no other to give.
"I am quite sure."
"From all reports, your first lessons have been – interesting."
Suddenly defensive, Severus looked up. "I have proceeded as I see fit."
The Headmaster gave a sad smile. "I confess, Severus, I have never seen any Hogwarts student so eagerly take to their Potions homework. I am doubtful as to the necessity of your rather stringent methods, but I will leave you to do as you think is most appropriate. We will, of course, have periodical discussions in staff meetings. If you feel you need any advice, please feel free to talk with me. You know my password."
Severus nodded. But he didn't feel he could trust himself anymore. He did not deserve the sort of treatment Dumbledore was willing to give him… The Headmaster left, and in the silence that descended in his absence, Severus wondered what was to become of him.
***
A/N – Apologies to anyone called Francis. I like the name, just it was the only one I could think of that might mildly suit Quirrell…
A/N2 – Thank you to everyone who reviewed!
Darcel – Is it AU? I haven't a clue :) How could he be Head of Slytherin not being a Slytherin? Well… by me using the Sorting Hat for twisted plot devices *cackles*. Thanks for mentioning 'My Dad' by the way, I found it and loved it.
Sage and Snape – Thanks very much, I'm glad you like my transformation of Snape.
AbbaLoveU – It's actually quite pathetic how much I was pleased when I read your review. Thank you so much! :D
Gina Starr – Hello! You really are a very loyal reviewer *hugs*. Aaah, good ol' evil Snape. One of my great aims in fanfiction is to write convincingly Snape in character, so thank you very much for the compliment :) Yes, the irony is evil, I think my favourite bit of sick irony is 'Don't mind Sirius, his bark is worse than his bite'. It's so ridiculous I might put it in ADI for the next round of dog puns.
A/N3 – It's funny – what the Sorting Hat says about it paying to know your own thoughts is something along the lines of what I've always thought about Severus. I can't imagine him being too aware of his own nature – it's very difficult to write him first person convincingly, although Bored Beyond Belief does a nice job in 'Never Alone, Never Again' and 'A Day in the Life of Severus Snape' (the author of which I forget) is also wonderful. He always appears to me to be someone who stubbornly refuses to introspect, convinced that he won't like what he sees.
A/N4 – Damn my moderateness! I offend all the Slytherins by putting their favourite Potions Master in Ravenclaw, then I'm sure I'll offend all the Ravenclaws by putting their new favourite Potions Master back into Slytherin :)
A/N5 – I'm on the home straight! Whoopee! I should think that there are only a couple more chapters to go.
A/N6 – For the record, this chapter was hard to write. I had to reconcile 'my' Severus with canon Severus, and what a task!
A/N7 – Yes, Sinistra's first name – 'Yolande' – really is the same as her first name in Albus Dumbledore's Inbox. Professor Akehurst is also the Muggle Studies teacher in Confessions of an Attention Seeking Hufflepuff. And he's named after one of my teachers at school *big grin*.
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