Chapter Thirty

The Changing of the Guards

Dumbledore had had his hands full with board meetings and Ministry committees demanding his attention and had not been at the school that weekend, so was not initially aware how a single student incident would turn into a school-shaking event.

He was passing through the main hall upon business just after his lunch with Professor Delacour when his eyes momentarily glanced at the point spreads. He paused in surprise, furrowing his brow at the green hourglass, which had dropped to third place since his absence behind Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. Making a note to himself to speak to Hermione about the change, he was about to turn again when he saw out of the corner of his eye more points slip away from Slytherin… followed by a substantial raise in Gryffindor's points.

Of course, it was probably coincidence…the hourglasses were always moving up and down during the course of the day. He didn't know why it disturbed him. Shrugging it off, he tried to turn again when he saw another smattering of Slytherin's points go down. Staring at it curiously, Dumbledore made no more attempts to leave and ended up spending the rest of his afternoon watching the sands move.

By dinner, the Great Hall was alight with chatter at every table except for Slytherin. There, the mood was extremely different; it was quiet and grim. Down the center of the table, a large gap separated the two sides… one supporting the Prefects, the other supporting Eigil. None of them, however, looked very happy to be there.

Andrew himself didn't feel too happy either, but Halbert was absolutely ecstatic. As they took their places he was beaming from ear to ear, and he, like every other student who came to the table, asked the hot question of the evening.

"Who else had Snape's class with Slytherin house today?"

"Us, we scored twenty points!" Shelly Meadows said. "But we had him first thing this morning. I heard the points got better later on. How'd you do?"

"Fifteen points, all by myself," Halbert said smugly.

"I got five," Phil put in with a grin. "If you'd only been there when he started in on Meyers! I was so surprised I fell right out of my chair! And then he didn't take points off for me doing it! Ten points off Slytherin house because Meyers sniggered, and another ten later on for picking up his quill without being instructed to!"

"What? That happened in Snape's class?" Zoë said with a frown.

"It sounds like he's totally cracked," Selda said.

"Cracked, no doubt," Ted Gaffney grinned, "But not in a bad way. Anybody know what's gotten into him? It's like all the sudden he's turned on his own house!" Halbert looked at his friend, who was picking at his food with his fork but making no attempt at all to actually eat.

"Well, I'm sure whatever it is that's got into him, it'll wear off in a few days," Halbert said carefully.

"I just hope it lasts long enough to get our points even with the others," Shelly admitted. "Even if he keeps it up another day, Slytherin's going to fall into fourth place. About time they got their just deserts!" Everyone else seemed to be in agreement of that; everyone except Andrew and Slytherin House.

The next morning, Aurelius couldn't help but feel a bit leery about heading to Defense class, especially after everything he had been hearing about the classes the day before. It didn't help that he had class with the sixth years, which meant Eigil Hauk was also in attendance. Anger didn't even describe what Aurelius felt about what had happened, but he also thought that Andrew was just as much to blame with the situation as Hauk himself. Even worse, the incident effectively created an inner tension in the house that nothing seemed to cut through, and Aurelius and Jocelyn both were out of ideas how to pull things back together again. One thing was certain; neither of them felt comfortable about going to Snape about it right now.

"Whatever you do, make sure you follow every rule to the letter," Aurelius murmured to some of the other Slytherin as he sat down. "We can't afford to lose any more points."

"Yes, ve don't vant to make da prefects look bad, do ve?" Eigil sneered.

"If I were you, Hauk, I would do it to save your own hide," Aurelius advised seriously. "I've never seen him like this, ever. If you know what's good for you, you won't press your luck today."

"I do not need any advice from anyvun, especially not from you, Prefect," Eigil said, slurring the title mockingly.

"Goodbye third place," Aurelius said under his breath sitting down, nodding to Alex as she and Mandria came in, waving to him as they took their own seats.

Not long after they got settled, Descartes flew in the window and took his perch by the fireplace, his beak open and making a hissing-like noise at them from deep in his throat, a sure warning that his master was in a less than agreeable mood. The bell rang, and Aurelius for one sat as still as he could with only a casual flick over to the office door, which was slightly ajar. As usual, Mandria and Alexandria were whispering softly to each other, a bit excited to see if the rumors they had heard about the class the day before would roll over to the next day. The door to the office flung back then and quickly they turned to the front as Snape stepped out, glancing irritably at them.

"Quiet," he warned as he stepped over to the desk, glancing briefly at his notes before making a gesture with his fingers to pass up their homework. His dark eyes shifted over them as they gathered their papers up as if waiting for a wrong move. Frowning slightly in apparent disappointment, Snape snatched up the stacks from each row. "I've decided to have an exam today on the material we've been covering. Provided that you spent time on your homework, you should do well. An oral exam," he added, putting the papers on his desk and turning back around. "Three questions each, I advise you to think over your answers carefully and speak them clearly; you only get one chance for each one. The rest of you would be wise to remain quiet and pay attention to the answers. Anyone not being tested who is caught talking will be losing points." He looked over the class thoughtfully as if pondering where to start before walking to the back of the class to do it in reverse alphabetical order.

Aurelius listened carefully as each student was called, squinting as he began to see a pattern; the Slytherins seemed to be getting decidedly more complex questions, while most of the other students were being asked things right out of the homework, or having to name three answers to the same base question. He, it seemed, was no exception; although being top of his class it hardly worried him. It did, however, bother him that out of the six Slytherin already quizzed, two had missed one, jumping down their marks by two letters, while none of the others had missed any at all.

"Mr. Snape," Snape said, looking down at him expressionlessly before glancing at his book. "Tell me the proper instrument and charm to use when dealing with a Bedeviled Eyestalker."

"A watch, medallion, or other swinging object and a Pendulum Charm," Aurelius said.

"How do you counter the Reflection Entrapment curse?"

"Liquefy the mirror," Aurelius answered.

"And what is Rule Thirteen out of the list I gave you last week referring to defending against Dark Wizard Organizations?" Snape asked, a hand on his hip as he waited. Many of the Slytherin looked at Aurelius nervously for he seemed lost in thought as he went through each one in his mind. None of them had any idea, having barely made notes on all twenty points, let alone memorized them.

"Never rely on Apparation as your only means of exit," Aurelius said. As Snape nodded, several of the Slytherin around him relaxed a little and watched as he moved on to Alex.

"Miss Snape, name the best way to defend yourself against the Mortification Curse," Snape said.

Alex began to say something and then hesitated, using a word with the same starting sound to cover it up. "Discipline…mental discipline, I mean. Recognizing it and reasoning with yourself to discount it."

"I hardly needed a lengthy lecture upon the subject," Severus said dryly. "But despite the rambling aspect, I suppose I have to count it as valid. What's the second best way?" Again, Alex curbed her first response, thinking it over.

"A Shield of Apathy draught…but of course you need to know about the possibility someone's going to cast the spell to do that," she added.

"And the third?"

"The Defiance Charm…but only as a last resort," Alex said quickly. Severus nodded again and stepped over to Mandria, while Alex grinned triumphantly.

"Miss Shea, what type of curse is the Mortification Curse?" He asked. Aurelius frowned. Another easy one?

"Manipulation curse," Mandria said.

"What is the name of a manipulation curse bad enough to be considered an Unforgivable Curse?"

"The Imperius Curse."

"And what is the most subversive way that curse can be used?" Snape asked evenly.

"They start out by suggesting things you want to do," Mandria said slowly, "then work their way to things you may not feel like doing, then uncomfortable about doing, and so on, until your will is so low that you'd do anything. That's why it's important to fight the spell from the beginning."

"Correct," Snape said, and went to the next person. "Mr. Ramsey, for your first question, name all the poisonous traits of the Venowraith." Aurelius squinted. Even he didn't know all of those, and wasn't that a Magic Creatures question anyhow, dark or not? His fellow Slytherin immediately began stumbling over the answer, and Snape was obviously unimpressed by his filling his answer in with his best guesses, marking it off as wrong and cutting him off with the next question impatiently.

"He gave your sister more time than that," Blanche Trembler whispered to Aurelius from where she sat on the other side of him. Immediately, Snape looked up from where he had been hovering over Ramsey who was stumbling over his last question as well.

"Ten points off of Slytherin for talking! I warned you to pay attention!" Snape snarled. Alex, who had been whispering congratulations to Mandria just a moment before, instantly looked completely attentive.

Blanche, who hadn't missed either her whisper or her feigned innocence, exchanged glances with some of her fellow students and even Aurelius before turning back to what was going on. Aurelius privately didn't like what was going on any more than anyone else and quickly realized that his father was in the process of making his already strained position a great deal harder to manage. He also knew as Snape turned down the middle row where Hauk sat that he most likely wasn't going to get an opportunity to speak to him about it before things came to a head. But as much as he himself had expected that Hauk's questioning was going to be a problem, he had no idea of his father's true dastardly intentions until the first question was spoken.

"Mr. Hauk, the dark spell Mesmerizing Lights was based on what magical creature?" Snape asked.

"Vill-o-Visps," Eigil said with certainly. But Snape gave him such a look that Aurelius couldn't help but feel wary.

"Care to repeat that one more time?"

"Vill-o-Visps," Eigil said again, then blinked when he saw Snape make a scratch on his sheet. "Vut? I know dat's right!"

"No it was not," Snape said curtly. "And if you question me again, you'll most definitely be losing points. Name a common dark curse used on prisoners when threatening water restrictions during interrogations?"

"Unqvenchable T'irst," Eigil said.

"Sorry, wrong again," Snape said, marking it off.

"Wait a minute! Sir, isn't Unquenchable Thirst the answer? I'm sure it is!" Blanche said, glancing under her desk as if to grab her notes."

"Twenty points off Slytherin not only talking out of turn, but of giving out answers!" Snape snarled at her. "And if you make one more move towards those notes, Miss Trembler, you will be sitting detention with me!"

"But that is the answer," Blanche pressed.

"That is not what he said! And ten more for not getting the hint to be quiet!" Snape snapped.

It did go quiet then, but not completely because Snape told her to do so. The entire class was staring at him in complete disbelief as they realized now exactly what he was doing.

"Mr. Hauk," Snape said again, ignoring the reactions around the room, his black eyes zooming back in on Eigil. "What is the common name for someone inflicted with lycanthropy?"

"I vill not answer," Eigil said.

"I beg your pardon?" Snape asked.

"You are setting me up. You are counting me wrong because of my accent!"

"I am counting you wrong because you are wrong," Snape snapped. "Your accent is no excuse. It is stated within your student handbook the importance of perfect dictation in your school performance. Just how do you cast the Levitation spell, Mr. Hauk? I gather you haven't had trouble in Charms."

"I use a different version of the spell," Eigil murmured.

"Really? And does Professor Weasley know this?" Snape asked.

"I do not know," Eigil admitted.

"Well, you may be able to slack in her class, but you will not slack on it in mine!"

"You never had a problem wit' it before!" Eigil said.

"This is our first oral exam of the year, Mr. Hauk," Snape pointed out. "Although it probably will not be the last. Now, I suggest you answer the question, since this does count as a full test for the semester."

"I bet you didn't have oral in Gretchen's class!" Eigil said angrily.

"As a matter of fact, she got a perfect score and she's only been here two months. You have been here nearly two years and have no excuse. And, since you have refused to answer the question, I will have to assume you don't know it and count it against you…"

"It is a Verevolf!" Eigil snapped. "I vill spell it for you!"

"This isn't a spelling contest, Mr. Hauk," Snape said, marking off the last one. "I suggest you try and be ready for the next one."

"Dis is not fair!" Eigil growled as Snape moved on. "Dis is an outrage! You are doing dis to get even wit' me for Andrew! T'ree on one! Dat's not a coincidence!"

"Mr. Hauk, I am finished with you. I suggest you sit quietly while I finish the exam."

"I vill not!" Eigil said, shrugging off Aurelius' hand of warning. "You let go of me! I vill not stand still! You baited me and used da whole class to do it!"

"That's ten more points lost to Slytherin for speaking out of turn!" Snape snapped. "If you speak again, you will find yourself dealing with your advisor on this issue. Oh wait, that's me. You will see me after class then."

"I vill see Dumbledore after class instead, I t'ink," Eigil said daringly. Immediately Snape turned and was on him again, leaning on his desk a bit to get in his face.

"You want to go over my head on this, do you?" Snape said, his eyes flashing dangerously. "Fine, let's go together, shall we? And then you will see that there's nothing in the books that says I cannot have an oral exam, or that I can't ask for clear answers on that exam. Let's see just how far you get then, Mr. Hauk."

Suddenly, Snape blinked and his hand went to the chain on his neck and he stood straight up. He stared out the door of the classroom, which seemed to have swung open on its own while he was talking. Standing in the middle of the doorway, meeting his gaze with a somber one of his own was none other than Albus Dumbledore.

"Pardon me, Professor, I didn't mean to disturb you. Don't mind me. Please, continue," Dumbledore said.

For a long moment, Severus seemed torn, frozen as if unsure how to proceed. Finally he went over to the next student, another Slytherin. He glanced at his chosen questions then and looked up at Dumbledore again.

"No, it's quite all right, Professor. Was there something you wanted to speak with me about?" Severus said.

"Oh, yes, now that you mention it…something I'd like to speak you about in my study. But I wouldn't dream of interrupting your exam for it," Dumbledore said with a smile. "I'll just wait here." But Severus didn't miss the strange look behind Dumbledore's otherwise warm expression.

"Never mind. Consider yourselves all passed," Snape said in a low voice.

"Eigil as well?" Blanche asked daringly.

"Yes, everyone, read the next chapter for tomorrow, dismissed," Snape said, waving them towards the door. Aurelius and Alexandria exchanged a very long look before they got up, following the rest of the students out and gazing at Dumbledore with worried expressions while outside many of the Slytherin had suddenly got loud and exited, laughing as they went down the hall.

"Come, Severus, do walk with me. There's something I want to show you before we go upstairs," Dumbledore said. His voice was quite gentle in tone, but Severus immediately slumped, reluctantly following behind him with only a quick glance back at his classroom before he left it.

It was in the entrance hall that Dumbledore stopped, glancing up at the hourglasses there, adjusting his glasses slightly as he stared fixedly at where the Slytherin points were compared to the others. True enough, as Aurelius had predicted, Slytherin had fallen in fourth place.

"Do you know, Severus, that in the last two days I have spent the majority of my time in this very spot? I even ate in the Great Hall the last couple of nights so I could watch the points there as well," he admitted, still staring at it for a few moments longer. "Strange, they had been moving so rapidly just a few moments before I came to see you. They're not moving now, as you can see." Severus merely stood with his mouth clamped shut until Dumbledore finally moved on, the stairs immediately coming into alignment to take the two of them straight to the fifteenth floor.

Severus was not surprised when it took a shorter time than it should have, or when he found himself standing at the open doors of the study without remembering the climb up the stairs. He merely stepped in silently as Dumbledore closed the doors behind them and walked over to his desk.

"Please, make yourself comfortable, Severus, really. If it is that business that I just walked into that's disturbing you, you hardly need be concerned. It's true that you do have the right to have an oral exam whenever you like, and it's true you can insist on perfect dictation. I'm quite sure it's written somewhere, because you've always known every rule ever written in this school; you even knew those as a student, and often tried to use them to your advantage, as I recall, much like you just did now…well, I suppose that's rather presumptuous of me to assume that. You can deny it, of course. Perfectly in your rights," he said, sitting down. But Severus merely stood there wordlessly.

"Actually, Severus, its another matter I'm here to discuss with you…well, maybe several related matters; the first one being the matter of a very persistent rumor going around this school at the moment."

"Professor, if this is about Fleur…"

"Goodness no, Severus. I have a part in that little conspiracy myself as you may or may not know, although I really think you ought to brave the worst and tell Jennifer, if no better reason than to get it over with since you can't keep her in the dark about that forever. But really, that's none of my affair, so I won't say a word about it," Dumbledore said, despite the fact of just having done so. "Actually, the rumor I am speaking of is entirely school related. It seems that the majority of students in this school, Slytherin and otherwise, have developed the startling opinion that you, Severus Snape, have turned against your own house. And I must say that the strange turn in points over the last couple of days seems to support that rumor."

"Is it, or is it not within my rights to give or take whatever points I feel necessary in my classroom?" Severus asked.

"Oh, of course, Severus, and there's a good reason that the school has always allowed that," Dumbledore said. "You see, the fact that one teacher may give or take away more points than another has never been an issue, because what happens is the other teachers tend to, shall we say, get wind of points they think is out of line and compensate the other way," he said, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. "But then, you of all people know that. You too have been a part of that balancing act for years now with your own compensations. It's all a part of a well-oiled staff…knowing each other's systems and quirks… I've found the point system has in some cases helped really bring staff of vastly differing styles and opinions a way of working together in a complex harmony. The problem is that when one of the notes in that harmony suddenly jumps out of tune with the melody everyone hears it, and not only that, the rest of the harmony has a hard time trying to figure out how to compensate for it. And that is what seems to have happened since last weekend.

"Severus, I've been making inquiries. Hermione told me what happened to Andrew. And Jennifer…well, although she didn't say much about it, it was obvious, at least to me, what must have been going through your mind at that moment."

"You have no idea," Severus said, and then tried to bite back his temper. "But I'd prefer not to speak of it."

"That may be but it is affecting your teaching, and that has reason to concern me, and it also affects your relationship with Eigil, which also concerns me."

"My relationship with Eigil?" Severus said in disbelief. "He has been nothing but a pain in the ass since the moment he arrived! Manipulating, bullying, and harassing any student who crosses his path!"

"Yes, but you know the reasons why, Severus."

"Damn the reasons why!" Severus snapped. "I don't care anymore!"

"That's not the Severus I know," Dumbledore said quietly.

"Then damn the Severus you know!" he retorted with such ferocity that one of the glass sconces by the door suddenly broke. "I have given everything to that house, Professor! For over twenty-five years of my life, I have done everything in my power to pull those kids out of gutters and focus on their strengths instead of weaknesses and keep them from killing each other… and even attempt to save them from whatever hell life condemned them to. But for what? To have one of them send Venowraiths into a classroom with full intentions to kill a teacher, nearly killing another student in the process? To have another send my adopted son to the hospital wing an inch away from death from a supposed Bludger accident? To have that same student come back and Obliviate my wife's memories, and his fellow student, whom I had spent hours in my office speaking with after his father died, to have not only drugged her but is even now plaguing my family again? And now, now I had to witness my son being tortured and humiliated by three of them under my own eyes! I am sick of being betrayed by students I did everything in my power to help. I am tired of putting all of my effort into some that I am frankly not sure are even worth saving!"

"You don't mean that, Severus," Dumbledore said gently. "Every student is worth saving, but you know as well as I do that you cannot save someone who for whatever reason doesn't want to be saved. And Severus, you have saved so many over the years…not one knock came to your door that went away unanswered, and not all were even Slytherin. I know that even now you are willing to answer the call."

"Maybe to some of them," Severus said. "But not Eigil Hauk!"

"Eigil is a Slytherin, Severus."

"You are not listening to me!" Severus snapped, walking up to the desk with clenched fists. "How can you expect me to continue to associate myself with a house that has done nothing but betray my confidence since I joined it? After everything that's happened, how do you expect me to continue this way when I have absolutely no respect left for the house I am supposed to represent? I am not the same man that walked in here to teach Potions all those years ago, Dumbledore, and you well know it, and as far as I'm concerned, I am no longer a Slytherin."

"Oh? Then what are you?" Dumbledore asked with interest.

"A Hogwarts Professor!" Severus barked. "One who at this very moment is tired of the entire house equation! Professor, twice in the past you have refused my request to step down as head of Slytherin House, but this time I must insist. I cannot do this any longer, Dumbledore. You cannot expect me to!"

"I agree," Dumbledore said in a quiet, serious voice. Severus, who had been ready to argue the point again, was immediately taken aback.

"What?"

"I agree, Severus," Dumbledore said again, folding his hands upon his desk. "You are no longer right for Slytherin house. You have grown past it in so many ways now, and also, Severus, it has outgrown you," he said gently, shaking his head. "It is not the same house that you took over back when the fate of Voldemort was uncertain and still hung in the balance, and the next generation of his followers entered this school. Yes, it's true there is right now a surge of supposed Death Eaters, but I'm sure even you can see the difference. Their presence is not directly affecting the school as they had in the past, and the students, for lack of a better term, have grown more sophisticated in their approaches towards the outside world. Not that I think that you can't in any way make an impact on the students... such as how you've helped Zoë this year comes straight to mind, for example, and she being a Gryffindor. That makes me wonder, Severus, just how much your association with Slytherin has been holding you back." Dumbledore paused then and leaned back in his chair. Severus said nothing, his angry expression being replaced with one of grief and exhaustion. "Any objections to my naming Danny Brittle as your successor?"

"None sir," Severus murmured quietly as if in a daze, and then suddenly came out of it for a moment. "As a matter of fact, considering her own history, she may have some ideas on how to get through to him." Dumbledore smiled then, knowing Severus was referring to Eigil.

"The next few days are sure to be rough ones for you, Severus. But you really are doing the right thing," Dumbledore assured him. "Let me have a few words with Danny. If she agrees, I think you should go ahead and make the announcement tonight at dinner. I hope you'll agree to work with her and help her get acquainted during the remainder of the year?"

"Of course," Severus said expressionlessly. "Sir, about the last few days…"
"Oh, I don't think we need to discuss that any more, Severus," Dumbledore assured him gently. "I'm sure all of that will work itself out by the end of the year, and quite fairly on its own merits. But I am glad you spoke with me about it. I know what happened to Andrew must have done to you. But, perhaps now that you no longer feel obligated to any one house, it'll help give you and Andrew both an opportunity to work out what you've been going through together? Professionally speaking, of course," Dumbledore said with a twinkle in his eyes. Severus merely nodded and went to fetch Danny, speaking not a word of what happened to anyone as he returned just in time for his next class. He gave them busywork for the period while he wrote down notes on a small piece of paper.


It hadn't taken long for Jennifer to know something was up. It had been Dumbledore who had sent a note to the classroom, telling her to make sure she ate dinner in the Great Hall that evening. She arrived to find nearly every staff member already there. Even Sagittari was at his spot at the far side of the table, looking unusually solemn. Everyone else, it seemed, had gotten a similar note. But as Severus walked in from the back, it only took one look at his face for her to see what had happened. The other professors around her gasped as well, and it only took Jennifer a second longer to see why, for he had chosen to wear his cloak; a cloak which no longer bore the house crest of Slytherin. They watched as he stuck it on the back of the chair and stared at the Hogwarts crest curiously as he sat down. Beside him, Jennifer had quickly noted that he had done without cufflinks rather than wear his snake ones.

Just then, another rumble went through the staff, and Jennifer couldn't help but lean back with the rest of them to see Danny come in wearing Slytherin robes and tie, her face looking just as solemn and somber as Severus. The students, too far away to notice the subtle change, just looked at the teachers curiously, wondering what was going on. Dumbledore gazed over them as if making sure they were all there before nodding to Hermione to call them all to attention and standing.

"Good evening, everyone! I hope you are enjoyed the warm weather today, since I hear rainstorms will soon be coming in. Not that I'm really here to give a weather report," Dumbledore sighed. "Actually, I am here only to introduce our most esteemed Professor Snape, who has something important to speak with you all about, and before he does, I would like to tell you that I hold Professor Snape in deep admiration and respect. He has my full support in every way, and I will not look kindly upon any rumors spread to the contrary. Thank you. Severus?"

Curiously everyone turned to him as Severus stood, glancing momentarily over the crowd before finally forcing himself to speak.

"I hardly want to delay dinner for this announcement, so it is best that I get to the point without making too long of a speech, since I'm sure you're hardly interested in that sort of thing," Severus said. Only the crackle of the flames in the fireplaces could be heard. "I have come to the decision that is in the best interests of the school, as well as my own interests, that I should step down from the position of Advisor for Slytherin House." Immediately a roar went up from the students, most of pure surprise, while at the Slytherin table a mixed reaction of cheering and horror rumbled through. Severus put up a hand in attempt to settle them… a movement, which in his own class would have had instant results. But Zoë and Zack leapt to their feet in protest, followed by Andrew, Halbert, and even Ted Gaffney and Shelly Meadows, loudly protesting the change. At the Ravenclaw table, Alexandria, Mandria, Gretchen, and the Head Boy Arch Morris stood, followed by Aurelius, Juliet, Jocelyn and Stock from Slytherin. Alicia, who had not stood, was quite surprised when both Morfinn Bliant and Phoebe Grey stood up next to her, along with one of the prefects and another seventh year she didn't know.

"What are you doing?" Alicia said in surprise at Phoebe.

"You just don't understand, Alicia. You don't know what it's like with Heph at home. What's going to happen without Snape around?" Phoebe said worriedly, and then yelled in agreement to Zoë's protest that this was the stupidest idea she had ever heard of.

Behind them, Jennifer stared in surprise to see that there were as many if not more students standing at the other house tables as there were at the Slytherin table. At the same time she recognized them too… each one of them had come to Severus about some problem or another at some point in their schooling. She also noted Alicia was still among one of the many sitting down, staring at the protesters as if they had lost their minds. On the other side of Severus, Dumbledore seemed to be noting the students who stood as well, the hint of a smile playing across his lip.

"This is not up for debate," Severus said firmly. "It was my own decision to do this, and mine alone. For those of you who seem worried about it, no, it will not affect my standing in this school either as your Defense teacher or my faculty duties except for this one. I merely think it is time… long overdue, in fact, for Slytherin to have a new face to turn to. And that face will be Madame Brittle, whom I will be working with the rest of the year to get her settled in her new responsibilities. However, officially as of this moment, may I present the new head of Slytherin house, Madame Danyelle Brittle."

Danny stood then, and an unmistakable roar went up within Slytherin house. With a single look from Severus, those Slytherin who had protested sat down, reluctantly clapping for their new advisor. Across at the other tables, the other protesters slowly sat down as well, looking at each other with glum faces that neither Jennifer nor Danny could miss.

"Thank you, Professor Snape," Danny said as he sat down, "And thank you for agreeing to help me in the remainder of months here. I know this is a big change for everyone, including me," she grinned. "And I'm sure I'll be seeing you all in my office…that's by the Quidditch storage room for those of you who don't know… in the future. At the same time, I would like to remind you that Hogwarts has an open door policy. Although you are of course encouraged to go to your advisor if you need anything, you are not restricted to them. If you have a problem in which you feel more comfortable going to another member of staff about, by all means do so," Danny said.

"A very good point. I second that," Dumbledore said with a nod.

"In the meantime, although we already know each other…especially those of you on the Quidditch teams, I am looking forward to getting to know all of you better. Granted, turbulent air may be possible, but I'm sure we'll all fly straight in the end. Thank you."

"Very nice metaphor," Dumbledore said with appreciation as she sat down.

"Welcome into the headache four," Hermione teased her.

"Thanks, I think," Danny said with a wry grin as Dumbledore gestured for dinner to begin. But Jennifer was too busy watching Severus pick at his food to eat herself, an unmistakable depression falling over him.

"I don't suppose we could talk later?" Jennifer whispered softly to him, watching his face carefully hoping to see a spark.

"Actually, I have a lot of records to transfer and things to go over with Danny," Severus said.

"Well, maybe lunch, or…"

"I'm not really in the mood to deal with that," Severus said curtly, and then his expression softened, as if immediately regretting it. "Jennifer, please. Give me a few days? I need some time."

Jennifer nodded slowly, turning to her food. At least, she sighed silently, he seemed to be willing to consider talking. Perhaps it had made it easier to hide, being at odds with him, but her heart ached terribly every time she thought of another night alone in her sitting room. On the other side of the table, Jennifer gazed over to see Fleur looking quite unhappy as well. Would she have any idea, Jennifer wondered, of just how hard this was hitting him? Jennifer poked at her food again; trying not to wonder too much just what was going on between them. Right now, seeing Severus over this was all that really mattered, no matter who saw him through it.