Disclaimer: Still don't own it. Wish I did, but I don't, so don't sue.
A/N: Sorry it has taken so long, I have been distracted by other things, but I hope that you all don't mind too horribly much. Anyways, here is the next chappie.
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Chapter 3- Alive and Well… Sort of.
I woke with a start, sweat practically dripping off of my because of that nightmare. Without hesitation I quickly sat up, of course I regretted the motion the moment I reached the 'up' position. My head suddenly exploded in pain and I raised my hands to my forehead, groaning as I did so. Damn, that was brutal…
Now a bit disoriented I forced myself to stand up, work my way out of my lab and to the bathroom. I must have fallen asleep while I was working and had forgotten to take my dreamless sleep potion. THAT was a memory I would prefer NOT to remember, though that theory seemed to apply to most of my younger memories. It was bad enough that girl's scream rose within my mind everyday; I would rather not relive it every night as well. Forcing the thoughts of the nameless muggleborn witch out of my mind, I took out my want and drowsily muttered a small charm that immediately filled the sink with water. It was something I always had to do because my rooms belonged to an old fashioned attendant when the school was first formed, and of course there were no faucets. I dipped my hands into the cool liquid, leaned down and then brought my hands to my face for the shock; it always helped me wake up in the morning. After a moment of deep breaths I groggily looked up to the mirror just above the sink. I gasped at what it was that I saw within the reflection and I rubbed my eyes. Unfortunately, and to my horror, what I saw within it remained.
In a rush of a moment the events that perspired the night before re-entered my mind. The explosion… I was alive… But… There had definitely been a side effect to it, the accident. I stared at myself in the mirror, entirely horrified at what I saw staring back at me. What I saw just could not be possible, it defied all logic, and so out of curiosity and horrible confirmation I brought my hand to my face to see if it were true, hesitantly touching my skin and nose… Unfortunately what I saw in the bloody mirror was only reinforced after the touch. I closed my eyes, half leaning onto the old sink, bringing my fingers to the bridge of my nose as I fought to control my temper. This couldn't be happening… It would ruin everything… Damn it all!
It was just like looking at an old photograph of, a bright young face, long slender slightly hooked nose, youth soft skin tightly stretched across an elegant face, and of course, greasy slightly past the shoulder length black hair. I took a deep breath and decided to look down at myself. My clothes fit loosely though I still =THANKFULLY= had retained my true height. My skin had regained that 'glow' to it that is only possible in youth, it was still extremely pale, but a creamier pale instead of the sallow unhealthy color Albus always complained to me about. I was horrified. I had created a youthening potion, and here I was, looking freshly 18 years of age. Disgusting. I didn't want this- didn't NEED this. I clenched my jaw, sank down upon my knees and then rested my head upon the rim of the sink to gather my thoughts. Well… It could have been worse… I could have died, though I don't see where that would have been a great loss to society. There was also the high probability that this was a temporary situation; at least lets hope so anyways. But for the moment I looked exactly as I had when I was in my seventh year of Hogwarts in my 18th year of age. Oh joy, I just couldn't bear the happiness I feel towards this… situation. I gave a quick look at the time… I now had precisely twenty minutes before my first class, first year potions, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, last class 7th year Advanced Potions and understanding. At least I was already dressed…
Wait a moment… I can't teach in this condition! A momentary panic beset me before my logic unlocked itself from within the back of my mind and beat me over the head with a big 'think' stick. -A basic illusion charm- Yes, that would work, it would make it appear as though I were normal... In one swift movement I was back upon my feet and I then quickly set the charm, concentrating on what I looked like before this, like normal. I soon felt the charm set in and I dared a look back into the mirror. A sigh of relief escaped my lips as I looked upon my sallow face fully restored to its usual horridness. I felt a sneer creep upon my face and it reflected into the mirror. Yes, truly dreadful. No wonder my students cowered before me. I chuckled to self a moment and then I headed out of my rooms. I took the back way to the dungeons, thankfully I was unnoticed, and quickly on to the classroom. Of course it was already full, those damnable early… Ok, right on time students. I felt my undeserved anger flare and I suppressed it as much as I could. I looked at the class and smirked a moment; well, I had to take it out somehow…
"Good morning class." I hissed to them as I barged into the room, the door slamming to the sidewall effectively. I walked quickly to the front of the class and turned on them. "If you would please turn to pages 70, and 81 for your next assignment." I usually gave a bit of a lecture at the beginning of class, but the hell with it, I was in no mood for goody goody chitchat. Before I was able to speak again I seen a hand rise. I glared at her a moment and then walked towards her slowly. "Ms. Hazel… It seems you are… eager to start the day, would you, perhaps, astound us with your magnificent amount of knowledge this morning?" Her eyes went wide and she hesitantly lowered her head and then cleared her throat.
"Oh… Yes well, last class you had said we would be doing the potion you told us of at the end of last class." Hmm… Now that I think of it that IS what I had said. Ah well, I raised my brow.
"Yes, that is what I was going to do. Pity though, it seems that I have changed my mind…" I trailed off and then turned from the gaping Ravenclaw girl, smirking as I did so. After his, the rest of my day passed by slowly as class after class came and went, my illusion thankfully held up, and so far unnoticed. It was the next class I was looking forward to in its complicity. A class ho took the time to understand the sheer importance of potions, who didn't mind my abhorring personality- at least enough to where they had decided potions we more important than an egotistical, sneering brooding professor who could hardly stand most of his students. I sighed, for the moment the room was empty so I could afford the luxury of such an action. Everyone had expected me to 'lighten up' when the dark lord was defeated, but I just couldn't do it. At first I had tried, truly I had, but… It wasn't that I couldn't stand the little brats, as I actually DO care for my students, but they were all so damned annoyingly impossible. Most of them refused to do their work, especially those two dunderheads from the 'golden trio', especially Potter, the idiot. I had given up hope it was even possible for him to actually win. I had tried… TRIED desperately to get the boy to understand the importance of what it was I was teaching him in his fifth year, but he completely… Oh damn him anyways. It had to have been a fluke, him winning against Voldemort like that. After all he had said himself he was not sure exactly how he had done it.
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A/N- Chapter three as I promised… I am sorry it took so long, it is actually part two of chapter two with one more part to go, but I decided it would be easier to break it all down. I should have the next part up in a couple of days.