AN: No reviews!? What is this nonsense? Oh well, at least I found it on FF.net , so I can start updating and writing again... Had hit a bit of a writers block, so now that my creative ness is back again... I see late night sessions on the computer again. There might also be a drop in plausibility, but please forgive it. There's a reason why I could never write professionally. and Hence I'm here.
Ch 11: Back at School
Harry boarded the Hogwarts Express and found an empty compartment near the front of the train so he could stop in and talk to Ron and Hermione in the prefects' cabin and waited for Ginny, Neville and Luna to show up. He still had Belldani's letter with him. He wanted to reply somehow, but wasn't completely sure how.
Ron had gotten the notion that Harry fancied the young witch, and had been hoarding him about it, so he was using the time alone to work.
Belldani Snape, he wrote, using the same greeting that she had.
Thank you for the offer to help me with girls, I really need all the help I can get. Maybe you heard something about the row Cho Chang and I had last year? Really messed that one up. Hermione's not going to be much help anymore, now that she and Ron are a couple. He can be a bit of an arse. Do you know yet when you're going to visit Snape Manor? If it's a Saturday, a Hogsmeade weekend I mean, Dumbledore may let me go with you.
Luna and Ginny entered the compartment. Dean Thomas was with them, too, and was holding Ginny's hand nervously.
"Who're you writing to, Harry?" Ginny asked, having been let in on Ron's theory, "Your girlfriend?" Dean sat and tried to look at the letter.
"Can't be!" he told Ginny, "He's writing to a Snape!"
"She's not my girlfriend," Harry informed him, "She's a friend. And she's married." Luna looked up.
"Really? But she's a Snape?" she asked curiously. Harry decided to answer.
"Mrs. Snape," he replied, wondering if Belldani would be amused by the horrified look on Dean's face. Most likely not.
"You mean - Professor Snape's wife?" he choked, turning pale. Harry nodded.
"I didn't think he was married," Luna said politely, "What's she like?"
Harry thought for a minute.
"She's nice, once you get to know her… At first she was just like him, all Potter this and you nitwit that, but she lightened up… well, she stayed with me for part of the summer," Harry admitted, "Quite young too… Ron told me she was a 7th year just last term."
Dean whistled.
"Better start watching my girl then," he muttered, and Ginny half-blushed. The train started moving, and Harry rolled up the letter for now, deciding to finish it later.
Halfway to Hogwarts, Harry's three least favorite schoolmates showed up- Crabbe, Goyle and Malfoy.
"So heard the news yet, Potter?" Malfoy asked, strutting in.
"That you're a Death Eater? Naturally," Harry replied, and Malfoy sniggered.
"You really shouldn't go making up stories, Potty, though I suppose that's all you've had to do this summer, stuck with your Muggles. I meant the important news - about Snape?" Harry held his breath, wondering what Malfoy had to say. Draco took the silence of the cabin for a 'no', and broke into a smile.
"He's dead now. I hear," Draco said casually, with the air one uses when discussing the weather. Luna and Dean looked shocked. "Amazing what you find out when you read the paper, really." Draco's nose was in the air, ever the prat. "Poor fellow, father said his floozy wife is a bit of a slut."
"Get out!" Harry bellowed, and Remus Lupin appeared in the doorway.
"Do we have a problem, Harry, Draco?" he asked, giving them both a smile.
"What're you doing here, werewolf?" Draco sneered. Lupin gave him a more unpleasant grin.
"That'll be 10 points from Slytherin," he said cheerfully, "For being disrespectful to a staff member."
"They hired you back?" Draco looked surprised, "Wait till the owls start coming in-"
"I don't have a teaching position," Lupin interrupted, "I'm Head of Hogwarts security staff, and there are two trained Aurors with me. Now, shouldn't you be in the prefect cabins?" Lupin winked at Harry, before marching Draco back to the front car.
"Snape's dead?" Dean asked slowly. "Then who…?"
"We don't know, my mum and dad were talking about the new teacher. apparently it's 'very unusual' but 'been done before'," Ginny admitted, "Ron and I don't know who or what it is that's going to be our teacher."
"Another werewolf?" Luna asked, "Or maybe the Headmaster's teaching…"
"Let's get back to what Draco said," Dean spoke, "Harry, you knew Snape was dead?" Harry felt a bit flustered. He hadn't wanted to say anything about it, so Dumbledore could say what was best.
"He died this summer… I went to the funeral," Harry left out the bit about his aunt and uncle's guest room. Luna coughed slightly.
"How did you get to go to the funeral?" she asked, then added, "Where was it?"
"We both went," Ginny said quietly, sitting down and holding Dean's hand again, "His wife was really upset… and we're not supposed to say where he's buried, Mrs. Snape is worried about those who might try to take the body."
Luna nodded. "Good reason, he's probably got loads of enemies… Plus, think of all the students who would want to burn potions books on his grave or something."
The Hogwarts Express arrived at the station and Harry found Ron and Hermione. Neville found him then, too.
"How was your summer Harry?" he asked, holding a squirming toad, "I tried to find your cabin on the train but once it started moving I felt a bit sick… Sat with the Creevys instead." The four of them got into a coach together, none of them saying much the ride there, besides the general niceties.
The wind was picking up as they ran up the front steps and McGonagall was there to greet them at the door.
"Have a good holiday?" she asked briskly, "Better hurry on to the Great Hall."
The Sorting was less surprising than the year before; the Hat had its message to repeat. Harry wondered if anyone would believe the message now. Dumbledore stood up after the last first year was sorted, and stood.
"I hope you have all had a relaxing summer, and welcome students, old and new." Dumbledore's eyes were not twinkling and Harry knew that there was going to be a new Potions Professor. Belldani was close, in the nearby countryside; however, she did not mention coming to Hogwarts.
"We have had the misfortune to lose a teacher over the summer, I'm afraid," Dumbledore continued, gesturing to the empty seat to his left. "Professor Snape's death is not only the loss of those closest to him, but his Potions skills were also unrivaled. His shoes will be filled, for now, by Professor Greenwheel, who agreed to come out of retirement until I find a more permanent replacement. I'm finding it difficult to hire another Professor Snape, though," Harry saw Dumbledore's subtle nod in his direction, as he carried on. "Professor Greenwheel will be here in time for classes tomorrow; as for the other three new staff members, their introductions will have to wait until they are present. The standard rules apply - only third years and above may visit Hogsmeade, no one is to enter the Forbidden Forest. Now let the feast begin, as you have no more need to hear an old man's babblings." Dumbledore chuckled, and as he sat the feast appeared.
At the end of the feast, Dumbledore stood again and motioned to a door on the left wall. It swung open and Lupin, Tonks and Moody entered.
"May I introduce the Hogwarts security staff; Head of staff, Remus Lupin… Laison from the Ministry, Tonks, and the returning Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Moody." There was polite clapping and a few whispers and pointing. "They are here for your safety, now that the Ministry has realized the Dark Lord is returning…" Harry felt uneasy, looking towards the Slytherin table. "They can take house points and assign detentions like the rest of the teachers, so remember to mind them as well." Harry could tell Dumbledore was looking at Draco. "You are dismissed." He concluded, and they left from the tables.
Ron and Hermione were herding the Gryffindor first years towards the stairs and Harry hurried past them, telling the password ('Newtype') to the Fat Lady. Rushing up the dormitory steps, he flopped across the four poster bed and got out the letter he started earlier.