Disclaimer : - The world of Harry Potter isn't mine – wish it was – but belongs to JK Rowling… anything from the books is hers not mine…. Anything else is probably mine. Not getting anything but fun from writing this etc etc etc….
The fic is Rate R ….. if you are not old enough to read it etc then please don't
Spanning the River of Blood
By Ridley-Roo
Chapter 10 – All Change
Severus sat in a dark corner of the staff room and tried to stifle a yawn as the weekly staff meeting droned on. The items were always the same and he seriously considered catching up on some lost sleep. He'd spent most of the previous night and practically all of today (apart from a nice distraction provided by Potter and Weasley giving him an excuse to take 10 points from Gryffindor), trying to find out more about the two women who had come to Hogwarts. So far he had drawn a blank, except to discover that the cavern with the concentrator wasn't on any map of the school he had been able to find, and the Concentrator itself was a mystery, no record of the device seemed to exist.
He raised a hand to his face and pinched his nose with long pale fingers. Why the hell couldn't he find anything, and why was Albus avoiding his questions? Finally catching up with the headmaster that afternoon had been frustrating to say the least. Unable to wring any information out of him, his head had started to throb. Ok Severus, calm down, let's try another angle…..
… Albus knew about the cavern… How? - Don't know
…He needed a potion to active it… Layla didn't… Why? Or was that why she had collapsed? - Don't know
…She had breached the schools wards… How? - Don't know
…Is there a way to see her naked… How? - Bugger! Get a grip man!
He shifted uneasily in his seat and took another mouthful of hot tea to keep himself awake. The meeting was coming to a close with only the 'Any Other Business' item left to address, he should be out of here in a couple of minutes.
'Does anyone have anything else they would like to discuss?' Dumbledore asked but received no answer, people were too eager to be off to dinner.
'No? Well I have a small item concerning the running of the school. I have been becoming increasingly concerned that inter-house rivalries may affect the students ability to work as a team. I have therefore decided to give everyone some practice.' He paused to gauge their reactions while the little boy deep inside jumped up and down at the thought of what he was about to do.
'At dinner tonight everyone will receive a letter informing them of their 'New House'. These changes will take place immediately and all points awarded… or deducted… will now count towards this new house.' Now he had their attention and the little boy was cheering him on. 'However since you are all here I might as well give you your letters now.'
He tapped his wand on the table and a bunch of scrolls appeared through the window and floated over to each of the teachers. All around the room people were staring at the parchments floating before them. No one touched them, just stared.
Snape was the first to speak. 'Headmaster! Is this some sort of joke?'
'I assure you Severus it is no joke. I suggest you get used to the idea. Your belongings have already been transferred to your new rooms.' He met Snape's glare for a few moments before rising and leaving the room. He closed the door behind him and careful placed an ear to the wood. He'd wanted to see them all open the parchments. He'd wanted to see Severus and Minerva's faces. He'd wanted to burn that image into his memory, but he's couldn't have kept a straight face any longer if his life had depended on it.
Snape looked suspiciously at the scroll in front of him, and then snatched it out of the air. Glaring around the room at the other teachers he ripped the Hogwarts seal off and opened it up to read 6 words…
'You are now Head of Gryffindor'
His howl of protest didn't disappoint the old man, or the young boy inside, and Dumbledore smiled to himself as he beat a hasty retreat.
* * * *
The students watched as the staff table filled up with stony faced teachers and the room became hushed as they unanimously decided that whispering was much better than talking. Professor Snape arrived last and one look at his face decided the matter, the hall became deathly silent. He took his normal seat and continued to scowl as Dumbledore told the students about the new house arrangements and asked them all to remain seated while the floating parchments found their new owners.
Hesitantly the students began to open them up and gasps of horror or delight came up in little pockets around the hall. Hermione was the first on the Gryffindor table to open hers and immediately burst into tears.
'What is it? What have you got?' Ron reached over and snatched the now crumpled parchment out of her hand. 'Slytherin! No way!' Turning to face Harry he could see the other's face mirroring his own as the thought of being in Slytherin with Snape penetrated his mind.
Together the boys reached out and ripped theirs open. Identical sighs told the other students at the table that neither was joining Hermione in the dungeons.
'Ravenclaw for me. What did you get Ron?'
'I'm still in Gryffindor. But…. But that means we won't be together!' His only answer was a sob from Hermione's whose head which was buried in her arms on the table.
After what felt like forever all the students knew their new houses and Dumbledore prompted them to make their way to their new house tables. Ron and Neville remained seated along with a couple of other Gryffindors and watched to see who would come over to their table. Harry now sat at the Ravenclaw table which was slowly filling with sulky students. When it was almost full a blonde head appeared at the far end and slumped down on the bench, muttering to itself. Draco Malfoy was not a happy camper!
Dinner was a quiet and subdued affair with three fights breaking out despite the Headmaster's watchful gaze at the head table. At the end, when all the plates were cleared, the four heads of the houses came down and glaring at each other went towards a table each. McGonagall to Hufflepuff, Flitwick to Slytherin, Sprout to Ravenclaw and finally Snape to Gryffindor.
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