Title: Verisimilitude

Author: GrapeSmshr

Rated: R

Coupling: HP/SS slashy goodness

Disclaimer: As much as I wish it were so, these charas don't belong to me.

Thanks to: Crazy Mary-J... You're my lifesaver with this, you know.

A/N: I'm having such a blast with this fic... Like I said earlier, this chapter introduces one of my fave characters. I'll keep this note short so you won't be bored to tears. Read on and enjoy!
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Chapter 4: Revelations

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Three minutes.

That was how long they had been staring at each other in uncomfortable silence. Having nothing better to do, Harry had been keeping track of the lost seconds. Three minutes. One hundred eighty seconds. Eighty-one, eighty-two... This was really starting to grate on his nerves.

Exhaling noisily, Harry stated bluntly, "This situation sucks."

"While I would never use such crude language, you are still correct," Severus responded with a raised eyebrow. He folded his arms across his chest. "Let's just get this over with. I have things to do."

"Fine." Harry had actually thought about this before, in the sparse amounts of time he had over the past few years. While he knew it wouldn't be easy, he always figured the two would be able to reach some sort of compromise. But now, he wasn't so sure. "I was thinking that for the fourth through seventh years, we could alternate with one of us lecturing and the other grading papers. For the lower classes, we could both help out since those classes are the ones where the students need the most assistance."

"Even a first year could follow the curriculum without problems," Severus retorted with a sneer.

"Actually, the curriculum was changed around a bit." Before the potions master could let out whatever insult he was obviously yearning to unleash, Harry rushed on. "During the war, Herr Orten and I found it more prudent to have the higher years learn more healing potions and the lower years more defensive potions. That helped keep the infirmary stocked and also gave the students more knowledge on ways to stay safe if any... incidents arose. After the war, we incorporated some of those potions into the original lesson plans."

Severus could tell that Potter was waiting for some kind of snide comment, but he really didn't have one. The change in lesson plans was actually valid. "I suppose we could continue with the revised plans," he answered grudgingly, quickly adding, "Assuming I overlook and approve them, of course."

"Of course." Harry rolled his eyes. Then he grinned. "The other Houses may not be thrilled to see you, but the Slytherins will surely welcome their Head of House back."

Unable to hide his outraged horror, Severus cried out, "You mean that you have been the acting Head of Slytherin House?"

Harry looked surprised for a moment, then burst into a fit of laughter which was quickly stifled into coughs at the warning glare. "Of course not! I'd be a bit biased, don't you think? No, their current Head of House is the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. I'm sure if you asked politely, he'd step back and let you assume your old role."

"Don't tell me that Lupin has been rehired! That mangy wolf..." Severus was practically seething. The one person who would have been worse than Harry was Lupin. Oh, Salazar. He could only imagine what kind of bumbling Gryffindor-ish rituals they had had to partake in. They would probably hate him for leaving them in the hands of someone as feeble-minded, as--

"I suggest you keep your horrible comments to yourself," Harry interrupted with more than a hint of annoyance. "Remus was one of the best Defense professors that taught us, not to mention his being a father figure to me after Sirius--after Sirius died. And to interrupt your little tirade, no, he is not the new Defense professor. You didn't notice him at dinner, did you?"

"I didn't notice anyone new at dinner," Severus answered a bit less gruffly, relieved to hear Potter's words. Then he felt a small wave of guilt wash over him at the mention of Black but promptly quelled it.

He wasn't given time to linger on his feelings since Harry murmured thoughtfully, "Wasn't at dinner? Oh, that's right. He had something to pick up from a shop out of the area and won't be back until morning classes."

Severus waited patiently for Potter to tell him who the current Defense professor and Head of Slytherin was, but it was apparent that he was lost in thought and was content to stay there. Impatience flaring, he demanded, "Well, who is it?"

Harry blinked at the sudden outburst. He had almost forgotten Snape's presence. Deciding to let the other man suffer a bit longer, he said cheekily, "You'll find out soon enough. I'm sure he'll be seeking you out tomorrow."

Eyes narrowing, Severus scowled. "Just tell me now!"

"Go ask the headmaster. I have more grading to do. Can I see you out?"

Severus stood, glaring at the man. Potter knew full well that he wasn't about to go ask the headmaster, or any other professors at that. He would just have to wait until tomorrow. He stepped past Potter into the Potions classroom.

Walking over to the desk, Harry pulled out a neatly bound stack of parchments. He held them out to Snape. "The current curriculum," he explained as it was eyed suspiciously. "I figure you can come back to teaching on Monday. Since tomorrow is Friday, it will give you the weekend to look those over. If you have questions about anything, please let me know," he added politely.

Taking the parchments, Severus glanced through them briefly. He nodded curtly in thanks before taking his leave. He didn't know how this was going to work out. One or the other just might end up in St. Mungo's if the animosity kept up.

Sighing in defeat, Severus made his way back to his quarters.
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The next morning found the Slytherin and Gryffindor seventh-years in double Potions together. Before Harry could start class, one of the Gryffindors raised his hand. "We're all aware of certain things going on, but there are also tons of rumors. We were wondering... is it true that Professor Snape will be back to teaching next week?"

Harry sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. Information sure did travel quite fast at that school. Of course, he knew that from the moment he set foot into Hogwarts. He supposed their Head of House would be speaking with them sometime in the next couple of days, so Harry might as well fill them in on the basics.

All attention on him, he confirmed, "Yes, Professor Snape will be back to teaching come Monday." He paused as the Gryffindors groaned and the Slytherins cheered. When they somewhat quieted, he called on a Slytherin, whose hand was raised.

"If Professor Snape will be teaching again, where will that leave you?"

It was a legitimate question if Harry ever heard one. He thought for a moment, gathering his words carefully. "It will leave me where I am. We will be teaching... together." He was much amused by their reactions. Being seventh-years, they either witnessed or had heard rumors of the ever occurring spats between himself and Snape, as they had been first- and second-years when Harry was still a student. The last five years had been filled with speculation on what would happen once Snape came back and found one Harry Potter, only his most loathed pupil, teaching in his position.

But to be teaching together? They had just assumed that Harry would move onto something else. Not that they actually wanted him to. To Harry's immense delight, the students actually enjoyed his teaching. Even the Slytherins did! Harry knew this because a few had been so bold as to tell him so. And being skilled in the art of Legilimency, he knew they weren't lying. He had checked, of course.

"Quiet down!" Harry called over the noise, immediately hushing the students. "Yes, I know it's a bit... strange, but that is how things will be. Now, let's not dwell on this. You will see for yourselves on Monday. For now, I believe we have a two-foot long essay due. Didn't think I forgot, did you?" he added when a few students started muttering. Grinning to himself as he picked up the essays, he mused at how much they wouldn't be complaining had they known what kind of workload Snape would give them by comparison. Oh yes, next week will definitely be interesting.

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He just didn't know what to do with himself. There was nothing to do. For the first time in his life. Severus found himself bored to tears. Had he been teaching, he would have had something to grade or to plan or to critique. He had already gone through Potter's lesson plans–twice, even. And he had found nothing wrong with them. Granted, most of the plans were originally his, but the rearrangement and incorporation of the new potions had been done in such a pattern to enhance and not hinder the learning process. It was certainly not what he expected. And it seemed that Potter gave out just as much work, too. In all reality, Severus was quite impressed. But he would never, ever admit that to another living being. Or a dead one, for that matter.

Glancing at his watch, he saw that it was just about time for lunch. Deciding to once again subject himself to the stares and whispers in the Great Hall, he slipped into his robes.

Just as he was about to leave his bedroom, his ears caught the slightest of noises from his main sitting room. Slipping his wand out of its hidden pocket, he cautiously made his way to the door and peered around the corner, wanting to see who had breached his wards and administered his password successfully. He was quite thrown to see–

"Draco?"

"Severus!" Draco exclaimed. Crossing the room in a few long strides, he wasted no time in pulling Severus into a hug. Thinking better of the tight embrace, he loosened his hold and sat down on the couch, beaming as Severus took the seat across from him. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine," Severus murmured, still dazed from seeing his godson five years older. He looked the same, only with more defined features. He still had the slicked back, immaculately styled hair, accompanied by chiseled cheekbones and an aristocratically pointed chin. Like Potter, his steel-colored eyes also seemed much brighter than before. Shaking himself away from these thoughts, he realized that Draco was looking at him expectantly. "How are you doing?" he returned.

"Great. It is fantastic to see you! I apologize for not stopping in to see you before this, but I was out of town all of yesterday as well as this morning." He shrugged apologetically.

Out of town? Hadn't Potter said that the new professor had been out of town? "You are the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor? And the Head of Slytherin?" Severus asked incredulously.

"Well, yes." Draco frowned as Severus gaped at him. "Didn't Harry tell you?" Then he shook his head, a smile playing upon his lips. "What a troublemaker."

Was the world coming to an end and he wasn't aware of it? By this conversation, it sounded to Severus like his godson and Potter were friends! But that was preposterous. They hated each other... five years ago.

Unable to sit on these wonderings, Severus asked, "So you two tolerate each other's presence now?"

Draco chuckled. "I suppose you could put it that way. But enough about Harry. How are you doing, really?"

This was one of the reasons why Severus held Draco in such high esteem. The blonde could always tell when Severus was covering something up. Of course, this also meant that he now had to explain himself. "I don't quite know what to think or feel," Severus admitted reluctantly. "I am grateful that I am alive, that a cure was found, but I am also angered by that. I know that technically I never did lose five years of my life, but that is still time that passed without me! I don't quite know what to do with myself now."

"Aren't you going back to teaching?"

"On Monday, I will be sharing those teaching duties with Potter." Severus made a sour face.

"You mean that Harry didn't just relinquish his position?" Draco asked in surprise. That's what Harry had always said he would do once Severus was back in the picture. There must be something going on there.

"No, he did not, so the headmaster decided that we will both teach."

Draco chuckled at this. Leave it to Albus to come up with a plan that would force two of Hogwarts' greatest minds and rivals to work with one another. But it could be done. Draco would know; he and Harry had been in that same situation.

To his godfather, he said, "I have to get going. I need to review my lessons for the classes after lunch." They both stood. "Harry and I are having dinner up in the Astronomy tower tonight, something we do every so often. Why don't you join us?"

Severus was a bit taken aback by the invitation. It was a joke, right? But Draco looked serious enough. Eager, even. "I highly doubt I will, but I won't rule it out entirely."

"Wonderful!" Draco hugged him briefly, them walked over to the door. "See you at dinner, then." He winked, and then he left.

Shaking his head, Severus mulled over Draco's new personality traits. The blonde used to refrain from showing affection. Hugs were saved for rare occasions, such as when Draco had received the Dark Mark when he had no desire to be a Death Eater, so he had sought solace in his godfather. Or when his father had been caught in a Death Eater raid and had been Kissed, and his mother had killed herself when she found out, leaving Severus as his only family. No, hugs were never given over such trivial matters as happy greetings. He wondered how else Draco had changed. Hell, he wondered how else everything had changed. It seemed he had missed rather a lot and would have to reintroduce himself into this new world.

Oh, he could hardly wait.
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Yes, I'll be the first to admit that Draco is a little... uhh... happier than usual. But ya know what? That's why it's called fanfiction! And don't worry, there will definitely be more and more of Draco... Ooh, I can hardly wait! Until next chapter, then!