A/N: I would like to thank Corgi1, Toria, SlythGrl18, Harry's Muggle Sister, vbwizard, the-ladyship-writers, Eleanor Branstone, Prd2bAmerican18, Serpent of Light, Furies, deatheater03, rachie-baby18, Anarane Anwamane, and Rhysel Ash for reviewing and for encouraging me to continue the story.
If you are enjoying this story and like to write; you may wish to check out my challenge / contest. The link is in my profile.
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Chapter 9
Back to School
"Good morning Severus," said Harry as he joined his father for breakfast.
"Good morning Harry," his father replied glancing across the dumbfounded statues that were Ron and Hermione. "Are you two planning to join us?"
"Yes Professor," answered Hermione shaking some sense back into her head and dragging Ron to the table.
"Are your trunks packed and ready to go?" asked Severus. "Good, I'll have them sent up to the Gryffindor common room. All of the staff are going to be very busy today, you three need to stay out of everyone's way."
"Yes Severus, Yes Professor," three teenagers answered.
"Shall we have lunch in the kitchens then?" asked Harry.
"Lunch… No, the house elves will be busy preparing the feast for tonight. I will arrange for a plate of sandwiches to be sent to your common room. Is there anything else you may need today?"
"No, I cannot think of anything."
"Good, then run along. Wait a minute; you may use your wands after 11:00AM not before! Stay inside the castle; now, get out of here."
"Harry, Ron and Hermione couldn't believe their luck. No one would be expecting to see them until the opening feast that night. They could spend the day getting their new meeting place ready and no one would miss them.
"Bloody hell," moaned Ran as they walked toward the Gryffindor common room. "Another beautiful day we could spend playing Quidditch and we're stuck indoors."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "I have the list of the locking charms you found yesterday. I found 'the holding charm' especially interesting although I am not sure why you put it on the list."
"I wasn't sure if you would like that one," confessed Harry. "It doesn't actually keep anything out."
"You're right about that, but it could be useful. I was thinking of placing it inside. Just incase someone manages to get past the locking charms. It would keep them in until we released them. Not an ideal situation but at least we'd know who they were and have an opportunity to confront them."
"So basically you want to lock people out and lock people in?" asked Ron.
"I was told you'd be here so it's all right," the fat lady warmly greeted them taking a break from her knitting, "no password until this evening."
She opened and let the three enter.
"Great," said Ran as the portrait swung closed behind them. "Now if anyone asks she'll tell them we are 'safely in the common room.'"
"Yes but we cannot use our wands to set the charms until eleven. What can we do until then?" asked Harry.
"Clean, that room is filthy!" said Hermione decidedly. "I have a few things in my trunk, if it's up there."
As Hermione climbed the stairs to the girls dormitory threw themselves across the couches before the fireplace.
"That's what we need!" exclaimed Ron, "a couch and a few comfy chairs, maybe a rug if we can find one."
"Where would we find furniture like that?" asked Harry. "If we took things from the empty rooms someone would be sure to notice."
"You're right, but still…"
"We can each get a blanket on the first Hogsmede visit. That will at least make things a little more comfortable."
"Yeah, I guess…"
"You guess what, Ron?" asked Hermione as she carried a bottle of cleaner and a few washcloths into the room.
"We were thinking of ways to make that room more comfortable," explained Ron. "We decided on getting a few blankets."
"You're right, that room could use a few chairs… We'll still need the blankets but I think I know just the thing. Harry, can I use Hedwig to send a letter to my parents?"
Harry agreed and the three spent the next few hours hard at work, cleaning many years of dust off to show the beautiful woodwork below. By the time they finished setting the locking charms and had moved into the common room they were quite exhausted.
"Sandwiches!" cried Ron spotting the plate and pitcher on their favorite table. "I'm starving."
"I could do with a few of those myself;" added Harry as he served himself.
"At lest we're done, that room is beautiful," said Hermione as she waited for the plate to refill, Harry had grabbed the last sandwich.
"Sorry Hermione. Ron only left one," apologized Harry.
Much to Ron's delight they spent the afternoon playing games, or in Hermione's case, reading. In no time at all it was time to change into their school robes and descend the stairs to the great hall.
"Potter;" came the sharp drawl of Draco Malfoy as they entered.
"Malfoy," answered Harry not backing down.
"Too good for the train now; are we?"
"There wasn't any room left after you got on Malfoy," explained Ron. "Your head took up all the extra space. Frankly I'm surprised no one suffocated."
"Best be careful this year Potter," said Malfoy with a glare towards Ron. With one last look he turned and sauntered over to his place at the Slytherin table.
"What was that about?" asked Hermione while leading the way to the Gryffindor table.
"I don't know, but I think we should keep a close eye on him," replied Harry warily looking across the hall at the blond Slytherin.
"Hi Harry, Ron, Hermione," greeted Neville. "Do you think that is the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor?" he asked indicating a frail looking elderly man at the head table.
"He looks like casting a single spell would kill him," observed Ron.
"Professor Dumbledore doesn't look like much either and he is one of the most powerful wizards alive," noted Hermione.
"Welcome!" the voice of Albus Dumbledore rang across the Great Hall silencing the student's conversations.
Snape looked down the table of his Slytherin students. They were paying no attention to the Headmasters speech; their eyes were firmly glued on him. He wondered how much their parents had told them. His dark eyes met the pale blue eyes of Draco Malfoy. He'd seen the boy talking with his son, and was curious about what had been said. He wondered what Draco had told his friends seated around him. "Traitor" he was sure, but what else? This was going to be a very challenging year.
"And last, let me introduce your new professor," continued Dumbledore.
Snape had completely missed the sorting ceremony while buried in his thoughts.
"Professor Books will be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts."
A reserved applause filled the room. The students' faces showed their uncertainty. Snape managed, with hidden reserve, to hide his disgust at the choice of the new professor as Dumbledore read the start of term notices. Finally the words he had been waiting for.
"Let's Eat."
And the tables filled before him.
"Did you bring him?" Ron begged Ginny.
"Yes, I left Pig with my trunk. He'll be upstairs when we're done," Ginny consoled him.
"Right," sighed Ron. "Thank you."
"How was your visit? We only got one letter from you," scolded Ginny. "Mum better get another before tomorrow or you'll be getting a howler," she predicted.
"I'll write her tomorrow don't worry," answered Ron exasperatedly. "The visit was fine."
"What did you do?" pressed Ginny, curious about how Snape was outside of classes.
"Harry, Hermione and I took care of some private business," replied Ron pointedly rebuking her question.
After giving Ron a dirty look Ginny rejoined a conversation with her classmates.
"Really, girls;" groaned Ron turning back to his friends.
"I've talked to the 6th and 7th year prefects," Hermione informed Ron and Harry. "Because we were not on the train, we were chosen to take the first years up and get them settled. The password is 'Gryffindor Pride.'"
"Us it is then," sighed Harry as the tables cleared before them, "time to get moving."
Severus watched as his son gathered the Gryffindor 1st years and led them out of the Great Hall. He needed to hurry down to the Slytherin common room, he'd already informed the 7th year prefects and they would be waiting for him. He took a moment to watch the Gryffindor's climb up the staircase out of sight before turning back to the business at hand.
Silently he hurried down the wide halls quickly arriving outside the Slytherin common room. He gathered himself before speaking the password and entering. Lined up before him, just as he had directed, all seven years of Slytherin students; 1st years were in the front 7th years in the back.
As he looked out over the tired young faces the speech he had prepared suddenly seemed inadequate. He hated to do what he was about to; he wanted to trust these young innocent faces.
"You all know the school rules, correct?" he asked, his voice cold and hard.
"Yes Professor," they answered.
"Then you will do as directed. Fold your sleeves up past your elbows, Yes Pucey, both of them."
He watched the faces of his students. Some were puzzled, questioning his request. Others were confident, scared or nervous; they knew what he was looking for. They were the ones he was worried about.
"First years, step forward," he ordered.
He didn't expect any problems with the first years. Even so, as he finished the line and sent them up to their dorms, he breathed a little easier.
"Second years…"
He continued through the classes. When he had finished and had sent the last group up to bed, he turned with a heavy heart to the three boys who stood waiting before the fireplace.
"Form a single line," he ordered. "I will take you to the Headmasters office."
He followed the group up the stairs to hisses of "traitor" and promises of death. No, Slytherin was not the only house going through the inspection that night. Yes, he had recommended the search. But he had hoped that he would be wrong.
Voldemort had moved quickly to reverse the decision Severus had talked him into years earlier. To wait until after they graduated to mark young Death Eaters.
Now he'd lost three, he hoped he could save the rest.
He escorted the three into Dumbledores' office and instructed them to join the group standing before the desk. One Gryffindor, Two Ravenclaw, One Hufflepuff. Seven lost.
Headmaster Dumbledore gazed over his half-moon spectacles. The merry twinkle usually present in his eyes was noticeably absent.
"You know why you stand here before me. Have you anything to say?" he asked the seven youths before him.
His question was answered with silence, and a few sneers.
"Very well," he continued. "Mr. Quins, Mr. Pucey, Mr. Obers, Mr. Adams, Mr. Combs, Mr. Banks and Mr. Denims. You are all hereby expelled from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for being a danger to the entire student body, including yourselves. Place your wands on the desk."
One by one, seven wands were snapped.
"Of course," thought Snape, "wands can be replaced."
"The reasons for your expulsion will be noted on your school records. I hope that this is not the last we see of each other."
Snape took the break as an opportunity. He strode before his former students, black robe billowing behind him. He turned, and then one by one, he tore the Slytherin patches off their robes. He was not going to allow them the dignity of leaving with the symbol of the great house of Salazar Slytherin displayed on their chests.
The other professors followed his example, the tiny Professor Flitwick levitating a chair over to assist him.
"You will leave here immediately," directed Dumbledore. "Your escort is waiting outside the door; your trunks will be at the station when you arrive. Good luck," the headmaster dismissed them.
As soon as the door closed behind them Dumbledores' head hit his hands.
"Seven."
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"Thanks for bringing Crookshanks, Colin!" Hermione called across the common room, her arms full of a purring bundle of orange fur.
"No problem," Colin waved before heading of to breakfast.
"Ron," smiled Fred coming up in front of Ron.
"Good morning," greeted George from behind him.
"What do you want?" asked Ron seeing no means of escape.
"Now is that any way to greet your brothers?"
"When all we want to do is tell you how proud we are of your making prefect?"
"Yes," replied Ron decidedly. "I repeat, what do you want?"
"Fine if you are going to be that way."
"We just want to give you this…" George thrust a package into Ron's hand.
"Have you seen Lee? He wasn't in the dorm when we got up."
"No," sighed Ron. "Do I have to open it?"
"Yes! We'll see you around, we need to find Lee."
The twins climbed out the portrait hole.
Ron took the package over to the trio's favorite corner and set it on the table.
"I think this calls for protective measures," suggested Hermione.
Agreed the three took up positions behind chairs, Ron pulled out his wand and used it to gently lift the taped flap. Heads down they waited for 'whatever' the twins had planned. A minute later they peaked at the package, nothing had happened. Cautiously they approached the now open bundle. Ron reached in and pulled out… solid black dress robes in a very expensive material.
"What?" he asked in shock.
"Wow, those are nice Ron," complimented Hermione.
Ron quickly ran the bundle up to his dorm and seconds later came barreling down the stairs.
"Come on," he called as he tore out of the common room. "I have to find out why they gave me those."
"You don't seem very surprised," Hermione noted to Harry as they followed at a more leisurely pace.
"Fred and George may be pranksters, but they really are good guys. I'm not at all surprised they did that for Ron," answered Harry with a smile.
Hermione and Harry collected the course schedules for the three of them before taking their seats at Gryffindor table.
"What's this? Potions first thing on Monday?" asked Ron incredulously. "Tell me this is a now charm you're trying out."
Hermione answered with a roll of her eyes as she tucked a knot into an owl's pouch after taking her paper.
* * * * * * *
"Good morning Remus," Sirus cheerfully greeted his friend. "Breakfast ready yet?"
"Not yet, will you get the paper?" Remus asked seeing the large grey owl that had just flown in the open window.
"Sure."
Remus turned toward the sound of the newspaper hitting the floor just in time to see a large black dog running out the door. Carefully he picked up the paper and read the front page headline.
The Boy Who Lived: Harry WHO?
A quick spell toward his room began his packing while he sat down to read the rest of the article.
* * * * * * *
Harry Ron and Hermione hurried out of the great hall trying to escape the snickers and whispers. Being a little early for potions was, for once, a small price to pay.
"What's this Potter?" asked Pansy Parkinson grabbing the hair neatly tied back at Harry's neck. "Trying to look like daddy are we?" she gave the hair a rough yank. "Oh, I forgot. You don't know who your daddy is, do you?"
"Get lost Parkinson," ordered Hermione while grabbing Ron and Harry and dragging them down the Hall. "Just ignore them Harry."
They chose a table at the back of the potions classroom not desiring to be any closer to the Slytherin students than they absolutely had to.
Professor Snape entered the room with a bang as the door hit the store wall behind it. His mood had not improved from the night before. His voice remained quiet as he announced the day's assignment but there was no mistaking its deadly steel.
The class worked in silence. No one knew the reason for the Professors foul mood, and no one seemed inclined to find out.
Steadily he stalked around the room, occasionally barking out corrections to those who dared to mess up the delicate potion they were working on. By the time the class hurried out the door every single student had managed to collect at least one detention with Filch, Nevelle three. Even the Slytherin 5th years dared not complain.
"Whoa," breathed Ron. "I hope that wasn't an example of what the entire year will be like."
"Agreed," replied Harry, "it's not like him to get that angry without a reason though."
"Well whatever his reason, I hope he gets over it. And soon," stated Hermione. "He completely skipped over telling us the standards and expectations for our OWL's. We do have that test at the end of this year you know."
"That's not like him either," pondered Harry.
"What do we have next?" asked Ron. "Perhaps the Professor will be in a better mood."
"Defense Against the Dark Arts with Professor Books."
"I still say he doesn't look like he can handle that class."
"We'll find out soon enough," answered Harry as they approached the classroom.
"Good morning class," Professor Books started as soon as the last student had taken a seat.
"Good morning Professor," the class answered.
"While I take roll you may read silently from your textbooks," he directed them.
Hermione gave the new Professor a pleased smile and opened her book. The rest of the class followed her example Professor Books went down the list of names.
Harry was mildly surprised when the Professor did not pause after his name. The elderly professor seemed to take no notice of the names he called out, just a quick glance as he placed a check next to the names of students that announced themselves "present."
After roll the Professor stood up and cleared his throat.
"As you should all know, at the end of this year you will be taking your OWL exams. It is very important that you perform your best on these exams. In this class you will be expected to follow a rigorous study schedule to prepare. Today you will start by reading silently from your book. Carry on," he announced.
"Professor Books as least gave us a good start toward preparing for our OWL's," stated Hermione happily as they headed towards lunch.
"Do you really think so?" asked Harry uncertainly.
"All we did was read!" complained Ron.
"Reading is an important part of exam preparation," scolded Hermione as she filled her plate. "I am sure a bit more reading would bring up your grades."
"What do we have next?" Harry asked between bites.
"Transfiguration," answered Ron, "and Professor McGonagall doesn't look any happier than Professor Snape did this morning."
Hermione and Harry followed Ron's gaze up to the head table where Professor McGonagall sat with her lips pursed and her hands at her sides. She hadn't taken a single bite of the meal before her.
"I am so not looking forward to this," sighed Ron as they walked toward the Transfiguration classroom.
Their classmates had also seen the unhappy expression on their Professors' face during lunch. The only tables left when the trio got to class were in the front row; and so they sat, front and center.
"Good afternoon," Professor McGonagall greeted the class. "This is a very important year for you. The exams you take at the end of the year will help determine your future careers. I expect you all to work very hard this year and to do your best in all your classes. Today's assignment is an essay about what careers interest you and why. I expect at least 5ft, due Wednesday. Class dismissed."
Harry, Ron and Hermione spent the afternoon in the library researching careers.
"I'm starving," proclaimed Ron, "how long until supper?"
"It's already started!" exclaimed Harry. "I've got an appointment. I'll see you later in the common room, alright?"
Harry didn't hear their reply as he ran down the stairs to the dungeons.
"Toad eyes," he told the portrait guarding the entrance to his fathers quarters.
He expected to see supper on the table and Severus, not so patiently, waiting for him. But at first glance the room was empty.
"Severus?" he called.
*Pop* "Master Potter!" squealed Winky. "Master Snape will not eat." The house elf exclaimed, grabbing Harry's hand and pulling him toward Severus' bedroom. "He says he won't get up."
Harry pushed open the door, and there was his father lying on the bed, fully clothed, with Dobby seated next to him trying to convince him to eat even a little of the heaping tray of food they had prepared.
"You must eat Master Snape."
"Go away."
"Severus?" asked Harry.
Severus adjusted himself so he could look at his son.
"It is Monday," continued Harry. "I thought we had plans."
Severus stared at his son a few moments before pulling himself to his feet.
"Yes, yes we did," he agreed. "Supper for two on the dining table," he directed the house elves much to their delight.
"You seemed… upset, during class today. Actually most of the Professors seemed … distracted. Professor McGonagall dismissed class early and she has never done that before."
"Some… unfortunate events have occurred, but it's done. You needn't be concerned.
"There was something I wanted to ask you about but if you would rather wait, I'll understand."
"What, exactly?"
"Elizabeth."
Severus leaned back in his chair and looked across the table at his son.
"Your mother; I suppose you have already been to the library."
"Yes, was she really a seeker?"
"Yes."
"Was she good?"
"No, she was terrible. Ravenclaw didn't win a single Quidditch cup the entire 5 years she was on the team. Of course, that might have been because Syltherin always won it."
"What else?"
"She was very smart, had the Ravenclaw brains, and completely ignored me… until her sixth year."
Harry impatiently followed his father to the couch.
"I still can't believe she said yes, when I asked her to marry me. But she did, and we married soon after she graduated from Hogwarts. We had a little house in Hogsmede; she… kept the garden herself. She grew all sorts of things; flowers, vegetables, even a corner of potions ingredients. I wish… you could have known her. She loved you so much."
"I guess I got her eyesight as well as her green eyes."
"What?"
Harry pointed out his glasses.
"Oh, no…" said Severus reaching up to his own eye and pulling out…
"Contacts!'
"Yes, I am afraid you have been cursed with Snape eyesight. Your mothers' eyes were perfect."
After promising his son a trip to the optometrist for contact lenses and sending him back to the Gryffindor common room, Severus wandered peacefully into his sons' room.
"My sons' room."
There in the corner, hanging over the desk was the frame Harry had purchased in Hogsmede. Severus walked over for a closer look and read
Corporation: Weasley's Wizard Wheezes
Owners: Fred Weasley, George Weasley, Harry Potter
"I think I have a headache."