Disclaimer: I do not own HP. I repeat, I do NOT own HP. But, of course, you lot know this, right? If not, whack yourself repeatedly in the head with a blunt object until you do.
Chapter 2 – Blood From a Stone
"I am going to kill that old man when I get my hands on him. I'll rip out his entrails and feed them to Lupin! I'll give his head to Voldemort! I'll bloody…"
Minerva McGonagall smiled down at the short figure beside her. She said in a jocular tone, "Come now, Severus. It won't be THAT bad."
Snape snorted, green-streaked black hair swinging about his face.
"Surely you jest, Minerva."
"You'll have to remember to stop calling me that."
"Damn," growled Snape. "And now I can't give Trelawney that piece of my mind I've been meaning to give her."
McGonagall patted Snape on the head and he glared fiercely at her. The now taller of the two laughed and said, "You can't do that anymore either, you know. If you don't recall, you were rather cute as a child. ESPECIALLY as a first year. And glaring only made you cuter."
Snape glared at her anyway, his almond shaped eyes bared to near slits.
"Sod off, Minerva. And I hope you made sure to Obliviate those who saw my – ah – transformation."
"Of course, Severus."
McGonagall smiled merrily then cocked her head to listen to what was going on inside the Great Hall. She then looked down at the thirty-six-year-old trapped in his fifteen-year-old body beside her.
"It's time."
Snape snorted and brushed invisible dust off of his old school robes. They had been dug out of his old school trunk (which had to be searched for in storage). Once they'd been found, he'd remarked about there being no change over the years in uniforms. McGonagall had jokingly called him a goat and he had retaliated by calling her an old goat. You see, contrary to popular belief, the two Heads of Houses were quiet good friends starting from Snape's second year when the seventh year McGonagall had begun to tutor him in Transfiguration, which he had been absolutely hopeless in.
McGonagall pushed open the main doors and strode down the center of the Hall, not looking back. Snape spat bitterly on the stone floor then followed her, staring straight ahead as several pairs of eyes followed him. When they reached the Head Table, Dumbledore smiled warmly at Snape, who scowled in return.
The Headmaster rose as McGonagall vanished through one of the doors to the side of the Table.
"Attention. Attention, everyone."
Oh shit, thought Severus, the nervousness he had fought so hard to conquer during his school years suddenly swelling to fill him as hundred of eyes turned upon him. He did manage to keep his face neutral, which pleased him to no end.
"I would like you all to welcome our newest student; Professor Snape's son – Ethan Snape. He will now be Sorted and I hope that his Housemates will greet him warmly. Also, Professor Snape himself will be absent for some time. During the time that he will be gone, I shall be taking over his classes until a suitable replacement may be found."
Murmurs erupted throughout the Hall as Dumbledore sat back down and McGonagall returned with the three-legged stool and the worn Sorting Hat. Snape – Severus – er, Ethan settled on the stool for the second time in his life then felt McGonagall drop the Hat on his head.
"You again?" said the Hat in surprise.
Yes, me again, thought Severus – Ethan venomously. Just put me in Slytherin and we'll be done with this.
"Slytherin? No, no, Mister Snape. My original opinion of where to place you still holds, even after all these years. Yes. Yes, indeed."
Ethan paled severely. NO!
"I only placed you there because you ASKED. Much like a certain student you dislike. You really should get over that grudge."
Sort me, damnit!
"Certainly!"
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Ethan swept the Hat off of his head and shoved it at McGonagall, glowering at her as she covered her mouth to hide a smile. He stormed down to the first seat he could find at the Gryffindor table – which just so happened to be right in front of the Trio. As he sat down, he snapped at those staring at him, "What? Never seen a Snape before?"
Quickly everyone turned back to his or her plates. Ethan was just reaching for a roll when a hand was suddenly thrust into his face. He studied the half-healed paper cuts on the hand for a moment before lifting his eyes to look at its owner's face.
"Hi. I'm Hermione Granger."
Ethan was about to snap at her but a tiny voice in his head said, Be civil, Severus. You're stuck with them until that potion wears off.
Cursing his mental voice (but knowing it was right), Ethan took the offered hand.
"Ethan Snape. It's a pleasure to meet you."