Chapter Nine: So We Meet Again

2 YEARS LATER

"Sit down you crazy mutt, the feast is about to begin." Severus drawled; he was beginning to dislike Sirius more and more.

"Pipe down, Snape. I was just talking to Harry. Wait! You don't like him either! Well, must I bow down, oh great one?" Sirius smirked as he said this to Snape.

"Yes, and while you do, kiss my feet."

"That's just about the worst torture I've ever heard of. Your . . . feet?!" Sirius made a look of pure disgust.

Severus was about to say something, but Albus interrupted with, "Boys, settle down. I'm afraid we'll have to start without the new DADA teacher."

Severus raised a brow, he didn't know there was a new one, and he thought Potter was the new teacher.

Albus caught on and added, "Harry will be staying with us for a short while, he's visiting Professor Black."

Severus glared towards Black and Black beamed. He knew he was the new Charms teacher and he was bloody proud to rub it in Severus' face. He would say things like, 'Potions is important and all, but Charms is much more fun and the ickkle kiddies like me the best!'

Severus rubbed his temple as he thought about this.

---

The first-day-of-school-and-really-unnecessary-feast had begun, and Severus took a moment to glare at some first years and started to pick at his food.

Then it happened.

In the middle of the feast, the large, oak doors burst open and revealed a rather short girl with auburn hair. She had on a short, rather showing, black dress and black teaching robes over the dress. Her eyes seemed to have coldness lurking in the depths of them and her lips were nice a plump. The whole Great Hall went silent and the girl looked ahead and took long, savored strides towards the place where the professors sat. Her heels made a sound that echoed and her teaching robes billowed out behind her.

She looked remarkably like . . .

Zora.

But there was something missing. Her smile wasn't there, the spark of interest in her eyes, the shine of her hair; it had all left when her mother died. But she still looked absolutely gorgeous.

Some very courageous seventh year boys whooped and whistled at her, but one glare from her silencing them. She reached her destination and took a seat, beside Sirius.

Severus gave a groan.

***

Sirius had a wolfish grin as he got a flash of Zora's legs and he winked at Potter. Potter winked back. They had placed a bet to see who could pick of the DADA teacher first.

Sirius made a move first. "So, how's it going?"

Zora looked straight ahead at the still gaping students and said, "Wouldn't you like to know."

Severus gave an audible snort. Even Albus' eyes were twinkling a bit more than usual as he watched. Softly, he said, "That's the niece I've missed so much."

So, Severus was right. Severus reached up and touched his chin, where Zora kissed him last. Noticing some students looking at him, he made a scowl and removed his hand quickly.

"Yeah I would like to know, that's why I asked, babe." Sirius thought he was doing a good job, he obviously didn't know Zora too well.

Zora took a second to answer, then said, "One, I'm not babe, my name is Professor Blaire. Seeing as you aren't exactly up to par, you will regard me as Professor or Ma'am, and not my first name. And you shouldn't make bets, you could lose."

Sirius looked as if he had been kicked in the stomach.

Severus was trying to stifle his laugh.

"Well bloody hell, that's the first who could resist the ole' Black family charm." And Sirius lit a cigarette.

Severus winced as he saw the cigarette.

Zora quickly swiped the cigarette out of his mouth. "Students are present, don't smoke. Also, it's terribly nasty and bad for you. I suggest you stop. You could . . . die."

Severus noticed Zora taking a deep breath. She still was mourning the loss. Severus almost went to comfort her, but he didn't think she would recognize him.

"Hell, I'm glad Snape didn't try picking this 'un up, he would've been slapped right then and there."

Severus growled. "You better stay silent, you old mutt."

Zora frowned, was that really Severus? Well, it had to be, he looked just the same. Also, she did catch his chin, where they last kissed. Zora gave a devilish smile. "I wouldn't be too sure of that, Professor, Severus is definitely a fine snogger."

At once the whole table grimaced, gagged, or laughed. Sirius laughed. "Like you'd know, you don't even know the bloke!"

Zora got up and made her chair beside Severus. "I know him well enough that he wouldn't treat me like some common prostitute, Professor." As she said this, she sat down beside Severus and gave him a weak smile. Softly, she said, "So, we see each other again."

Severus gave a sneer.