Author's note: Because this story was started before OoP, it doesn't utilize certain canon points. For the sake of this story Arabella Figg is not a squib.
Chapter 2 - Introductions and Inclination
Sophie watched the new students file into the Great Hall as she surveyed the room carefully. In preparation of her new position Sophie did extensive research in the houses; their histories and their inhabitants. She watched the students of each house as they were segregated into their respective tables. Instinctively, she began to analyze:
Hufflepuff- they seem a mellow bunch, laughing, talking quietly, friendly. Ravenclaw - More animated with an undercurrent of pride. They looked like they had something to prove. Slytherin - Sinister looking group, slightly smug, and.troubled. Interesting. Yes, they were hiding something. Gryffindor - There was more confidence, perhaps too much. Overcompensating for something.
'Very interesting indeed,' she thought. Considering the events that ended the previous year everyone, seemed genuinely glad to be back at school. Perhaps it was the familiarity of the scene or perhaps just the thought of a fresh start. She was left wondering how they truly knew and what they are thinking as they sat and chattered.
She paused to admire the enchanted ceiling which gave a representation of the actual night sky and tonight it was full of stars; full of light, full of hope. It took a moment to remember where she was and why she was there. She could not allow too many lapses in concentration, but on this first night small allowances could be made for a quiet personal moment, lost in thought, and dreams, and faith.
Everyone turned and watched the new students enter the Hall waiting to be sorted, looking frightened and so disoriented. Professor McGonagall came to the center of the room with a battered looking Wizards cap. 'The famous Sorting Hat,' Sophie thought with a smile. She had heard about it years ago, but was still a little taken aback by actually seeing it in person. A seat was waiting for her at the head table, next to it an empty chair. She wondered whom the other seat was for. She would not wonder for long.
Snape walked through the hall and straight towards the head table, robes billowing around him. He made it across the busy hall and sat, not looking at anyone in the room, with every eye looking at him. 'Now that's a talent.' Sophie thought as a smile found the corner of her mouth.
The sorting began.
'This should be fun,' she thought. A student was called and she watched him fixedly as he walked, the walk of a man going down the last mile. She narrowed her eyes and studied his gait, his facial expressions, his every movement. She quietly specified a house name seconds before the hat gave the same name. After getting the first one correct most of the teachers sitting around her smiled. After the fifth they were intrigued. After the twentieth they were captivated, watching Sophie rather that the actual sorting. After she correctly sorted all the new students Professor Flitwick spoke, "That was remarkable dear. I have read about Muggle work in Extra Sensory Perception. Tell me is that what you possess."
Sophie smiled, "Hardly. It's not difficult to see what qualities the students of the houses share and who might be a good fit, so to speak."
Snape alone seemed thoroughly unimpressed. "Shared qualities? Really? All I see is a group of dolts who allow themselves to be molded by the other students in their houses. They strive to mediocrity, to become like all those around them for the sake of assimilation, rather than trying to rise above and bring the others to their level. All you managed to do was determine who would be most easily conditioned by which brainless group."
"Don't mind him," Madame Hooch whispered. "He's just bitter. He never did better than 85% himself." Sophie bit her lip to suppress a smile.
After the sorting was completed, Professor McGonagall joined the rest at the table. Dumbledore rose and spoke:
"Another year has begun and it pleases me to see so many familiar faces here today as well as those new to these walls. The upcoming year is set to be full of new challenges and hopefully we can all rise to the occasion.I would like to introduce two new faculty members to our family. Professor Arabella Figg will be the New Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher." An elderly women at the other end of the table rose. Though advanced in years but there was something mischievous in those subdued blue eyes. Sophie sincerely doubted that Professor Figg was quite the little old lady her appearance would deem.
"She will be joined by Professor Moody, who has agreed to stay on this year as we will be extending the course to include practical trials." The students shifted nervously in their seats. Sophie understood as she was also disconcerted by the headmaster's speech.
"Students will have a practical hour added to their schedule. The times available will be posted in the common rooms and you must sign up by the end of this week. Now if I may, I would also like to introduce Dr. Sophie Young. As the new School Psychologist she will be made available to all students this year. Her offices are located outside of the castle in the old groundskeeper's residence midway between the castle and the Dark Forest." Dumbledore waited for the murmuring to die down. "Dr. Young would like to have a few words with you."
She rose and smiled, "I couldn't help but notice the reaction you gave at the mention of a school psychologist. Believe me when I say I get that a lot." Professor Sprout kicked Madame Hooch under the table. "My goal here is to be an outlet for students with questions or concerns about school or anything that they may want to talk about. We could schedule sessions or just have a meeting. We could meet in my office or have a cup tea in my living room. All meetings will be confidential. That means I speak to no one about the specifics of our sessions - not your family or anyone here at the school. The purpose of my taking an office outside of the castle is for the sake of privacy. I encourage you all to come and see me if for nothing else than to introduce yourself and proclaim your sanity most vehemently." There was some laughter in the room; she seemed to have broken the tension if only slightly.
Dumbledore spoke again as she sat. "As always the Forbidden Forest is off limits to all students and curfew will be strictly enforced this year. No exceptions. Now, let the feast begin."
The plates in front of them suddenly filled with wonderful food, blanketing the previously clear table with a variety of colors and filling the air with delicious aromas. Sophie picked at some vegetables but was far too excited to eat. Scanning the room again, she was not surprised to find several pairs of eyes examining her closely. Some looked skeptical, some relieved, and some very anxious. Yes, it would definitely be an interesting year. She watched the Gryffindor table for a moment. Unless she was mistaken Dumbledore's last comments were directed towards that table in particular, and then she saw why.
Between a pretty girl with curly, frizzy hair and a young man with stunning red hair, sat Harry Potter. He looked just as she thought he would, shy and somehow sad. Even though he was smiling at his friends she could sense an emptiness. Or perhaps it was her own imagination getting away from her. 'That would not unusual would it now,' she thought with some disdain.
No, there was something off about him, about the whole scene. If her instincts were anything to go by then she knew he needed her help more than any other student in the school. She wondered if he would be making a stop at her office or if the mountain would have to go to Mohammed. As she sat, preoccupied with her thoughts and observations, the students started to leave the room, eager to get back to their rooms. She watched as Harry and his friends started walking in her direction. They were flanked by another boy, not as coordinated, but with a large smile beaming on a sweet face. "Hello Soph.Dr. Young."
"Hello Neville."
"These are some friends of mine," he began as he pointed to the three Sophie was studying. "Let me see," she cut in, "You must be Ron Weasley. I would know that hair anywhere. I worked with your father at the Ministry for many years. He's a good man." Ron blushed, his mouth slightly agape.
Hermione's eyes rolled to the back of her head. "I am Hermione Granger and this is Harry Potter." They all waited for the gasp of recognition that usually followed when anyone was introduced to Harry for the first time. It never came.
"It is a pleasure to meet you all. I would like to invite you to come to visit me if not in a professional manner than a social one. I don't know many people here and would love to get to know some of the students better." They all smiled politely. "Please feel free to call me Sophie," she said with a wink to Neville.
"Dr. Sophie," the voice lingered on the S in her name. It was Snape. Sophie was not surprised. "Doesn't quite exude confidence does it. Sounds as though you should have one of those ludicrous advice columns for lovelorn witches in the Daily Prophet."
"We can't all be as aptly named as you, can we Severus." She lingered on the S in his name. "I feel for your mother. Must have been a difficult labor." The students stiffened immediately as Snape's eye's narrowed. They know it would be detention if they even took a breath.
______________________________________________________________________________
Back in her rooms Sophie paced. She should apologize and she knew it. Her remarks were unnecessary. Though she really knew better, she sometimes forgot that not everyone appreciated her cutting wit. Why, why, why did she let her temper get the better of her so easily?
Despite her quick temper, she truly felt he got what he deserved. So damn smug and arrogant, he was asking to be knocked down a peg or two.or twelve. Still she should never have spoken to him in that way in front of students. He was definitely a man that demanded respect. He was also the kind of man that would take out frustrations on the students for sport. His feelings towards a few of these students in particular were very well known and how fortunate for them that they were the ones standing there when she shot off her mouth.
Deciding that dwelling on the disaster this day was turning into was pointless, Sophie carefully inspected her new living space. "This place needs work," she said aloud. The current groundskeeper could not use it because of his sheer size. It remained empty for years and it showed. Nonetheless, she found it charming. The office area she had set up was fine for meeting with patients, but the living quarters are in need of some serious help. Perhaps she could pay some students to work on it with her. 'Mental note: Talk to Dumbledore.' A trip to Hogsmeade was inevitable for supplies. She started making a list as she heard a knock at the door. Humming to herself, she went to discover who the brave soul was who would be her first visitor.
In her doorway stood one very incensed Severus Snape. Now she was surprised. 'My God you could almost see the smoke coming out of his ears.'
"I thought you and I should have a word." Tall and menacing, he stood at his full height as if to display his authority. The significance was not lost on Sophie. Despite his anger he did wait to be let in. 'Interesting,' she thought as she motioned for him to enter.
He spoke slowly, enunciating every syllable as if speaking to a small child; a small, stupid, insolent, spoiled brat of a child. "I will not be spoken to in the manner that you seem to find so amusing; not in front of the faculty, not in front of the students. You seem to feel you have a right to be impertinent. I will not be your target. You are here at the whim and folly of Dumbledore and though I respect the man his methods can leave something to be desired. In the meantime, I suggest you learn to curb your need to slur and offend me at will."
It was her turn to be furious. "We do need to get something straight. I am not a student, so I do not fear you. I am not a teacher, so I don't have to tolerate you. You are the one who insists upon slurring and offending. You do not seem to care what you say to me or whom it is in front of. You are the one who believes it is his right to insult me simply because I am a Muggle. You know nothing about me and yet I find myself constantly justifying my very existence to you. I refuse to explain my reason for being here to one who refuses to listen so unless you have anything further to add I suggest that you leave." She walked to the door and opened it indicating the end of the conversation.
He brushed past her but would not leave without the last word. "You came here with the pretense of helping in a situation you can not possibly comprehend, within a capacity that you do not possess. You will learn soon enough how useless you are going to be without my needing to remind you. In the interim it would be to your best interest to stay out of my way." With that he was out the door.
Sophie fell back onto her couch, stunned. He came all this way to reprimand her. Intriguing. He did not seem the type to go out of his way for anyone. She obviously brought out something in him he did not wish to be brought out. He was scared of something and used anger to hide it. Or did he? It was possible, after all, that he was just a hostile and hateful man. Yes, sometimes a banana is just a banana. She knew he was a former Death Eater and they did not care much for Muggles, or even Muggle born wizards for that matter. Somehow she did not believe that was the case. He was a man of depth and layers. He was a man who lived by his own set of rules and ideals. He would be her challenge. She smiled as the thought came to her. Oh, how she did love a challenge.
________________________________________________________________________
Severus Snape was beside himself. He stormed back to the dungeon, to his private chambers, where he tore his cloak from his body and threw it across the room.
Why was he so angry? The thought was nagging at him. Was he insulted that a Muggle was brought in where she did not belong? Yes. Was she pretentious and supercilious? Absolutely. Was she just another nuisance that he would have to add to the already enormous list of people he would be forced to protect? That went without saying. Did she act like she was their salvation and the one who would cure all the problems of the world? Well, did she? Was she the most beautiful thing he had ever seen? He paused. Was that it? Had he been without human contact so long that a pretty face and a shapely figure would make him act so out of character. Would it make him so confrontational, when he normally did all he could to avoid others? He never avoided conflict itself, per se, his life was after all a long series of conflicts faced, fought, and forgotten, but it seemed to him he went out of his way to argue with her.
Damn her.
Things had changed so much in the last few months. He had lived always knowing that one day he would have to come face to face with the past he tried so hard to forget. The resurrection of Voldemort meant that he would spend the rest of his life looking over his shoulder, at the shadows that always seemed to follow him. Midway through the summer he realized that he was getting his affairs in order. Subconsciously, he was preparing for his death.
Though he was content with his life at Hogwarts he knew there was something missing. He always failed to appreciate companionship. It seemed more of an inconvenience than a necessity. But now, with his world closing in around him he realized how much he missed it; realized it when he looked at a stranger, a woman, and for the first time in a decade and a half, emotions stirred that he presumed dead. He was not prepared to feel this way. He was not prepared to suddenly care what this outsider thought of him. His anger at her presence in his haven and the confusion that it was causing in his mind came to a head and he found himself arguing with her if only to draw attention to him, to spend time with her. It was petty and childish.
"Why am I acting like a love starved adolescent?" The words fell from his mouth as he fell to his chair.
He looked around him rooms and noticed for the first time how cold it appeared. It was full of sealed books, stacks of papers, and Potions journals. All of his personal items were locked in boxes; stored away and hidden from the world. Did he fear revealing that part of his life to anyone? To himself? He spent so much time trying to stifle his emotions, he forgot he had any. Now, they all decided to surface at the same time, only able to manifest themselves in loathing and aggression. 'Why do I find that so surprising?'
He sat for over an hour before he decided it was time to get ready for tomorrow's classes. The term had just begun. She had only been there for a few days and yet his life was turned completely around. Why was he so afraid of her? Why did he have such a powerful reaction to her?
A look of repulsion came across his face. "It sounds like I need therapy."
