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Here's the next chapter. Sorry for the delay. To my reviewers: I cannot express how much I appreciated and enjoyed your reviews! They make my day, thanks! I've replied to my lovely reviewers at the end.

Chapter 4: The Master of Potions

Snape grabbed a heavy black cloak as he watched Linkle send the midday breakfast dishes into the sink from the living room. Dumbledore pushed his chair back and entered the living room looking at Snape with curiosity.

"And where are you going? Ms. Richardson did ask you not to do anything ill advised."

Snape, his back turned to the Headmaster, rolled his eyes. Honestly, one would think he was a child trying to sneak past his parents. He furrowed his brow—those days were over and he did not wish to revisit them. All his life, the hate, anger, shame, betrayal and guilt consumed him. He was on constant alert to disguise the emotions that he was forever drowning in, hiding his broken soul behind a mask of coldness.

"Sera will not return until tonight and I'm sure she would approve of a trip to Hogwarts," said Snape, curtly. "I believe I left my second years' essays in my office." Couldn't the man just leave him be?

Brushing the soot off his robes, Snape stepped into the Hogwarts staff room and to his annoyance, Dumbledore soon appeared right behind him. For the first time in his life, he felt like 'Mary' in the ridiculous nursery rhyme he had heard Sera recite to his niece. He would have never thought it possible, let alone having Dumbledore as the lamb. Then again, Dumbledore had always been the persistent type.

"As it happens, I too need to fetch a few items," explained Dumbledore, cordially as he stepped out of the fireplace.

"Lemon drops, perhaps?" suggested Snape, the sarcasm barely controlled in his voice.

"Indeed," said Dumbledore, absently. "I ask you to join me in my office after you have sorted out your affairs for tea and biscuits."

"I do believe I just ate."

"Nevertheless, you could do with a bit of extra nourishment."

"I hardly consider biscuits to be of the nutritive variant."

"Would you rather I say that I'm secretly trying to fatten you up? You surely need it," replied Dumbledore, giving a knowing smile before leaving the room.

"Why can't he just admit that he wants to discuss the damned Order?" muttered Snape to himself, sitting in his usual chair, at the end of the table, in front of an ugly wardrobe.

Snape snorted. The headmaster enjoyed being infuriatingly cryptic and full of ulterior motives—a caring yet manipulative old man. Snape couldn't help but make the comparison between the Headmaster and the Dark Lord. Dumbledore never seemed to realize how like the most feared wizard he was. Yes, they stood on opposite sides of the battlefield and Dumbledore coated his actions with love while the Dark Lord used pain but the similarities were blatant—to him, at least.

His eyes caught a sudden movement ahead of him and he instantly brought out his wand.

"Damn," swore Snape, lowering his wand. It was just a long moving photograph of the staff hanging on the wall in front of him. He walked up to the photo and scowled. His own image had moved and startled him.

In the picture, he stood in the back beside Trelawney, glowering at the camera. He tried to exit the frame but Trelawney grabbed his robe and pulled him back. Meddlesome woman, he thought. He looked extremely young. "Young and stupid," muttered Snape, bitterly. The picture was old, taken the day he arrived at Hogwarts—the first day of the first warless school year in ages. Everyone around him had been so happy and full of hope. He closed his eyes, remembering…

September 1982

Twenty-two-year-old Snape stood rigidly behind a large, overstuffed blue couch, his eyes wondering aimlessly around the warm and welcoming room. Too warm and welcoming, thought Snape. Muttering a few words and waving his wand, he changed the soft blue walls into a dark green. With another wave, the couches turned black and the lights dimmed.

"Much better," he mumbled. He knew he wouldn't be able to live in such 'happy' quarters when he didn't know what happiness was.

"Now I know why somebody would want to become a teacher. Your bedroom is massive and you have a walk-in-closet. Not that you need one," came his fifteen-year-old sister's voice from the adjacent bedroom. Snape and Sera had just arrived at Hogwarts via the Knight Bus.

Sera walked into the living area. "Whoa, what happened to this room? Attacked by the new Potions master, I see. Oh come on, I liked the blue."

"You would, wouldn't you?" said Snape, moving towards the bedroom, armed with his wand, ready to change the décor in there as well.

She smiled. "Ravenclaw does have the best colours."

"If I remember correctly, before being sorted into Ravenclaw, your favourite colour was purple," said Snape, returning to the living area, satisfied with the colours of his bedroom.

"No it wasn't. Blue has always been my favourite."

"Your first set of muggle clothes was purple. You insisted, remember?" said Snape, realizing too late what topic he had unintentionally ventured into.

Sera's eyes watered and she looked down. "I was such a stupid child, sorry," she whispered.

"I didn't mean it that way, Sera. You were only five. Forget about it," rushed Snape, coming up to her and brushing her tears away. He hated it when his sister cried. He didn't know how to handle it.

Sera nodded slowly and hugged him. "I'm so happy you decided to take the teaching post."

Snape snorted, grateful for the change in subject—if he dwelled on the topic any longer, he wouldn't have been able to stop the emotions from overwhelming him. "I assure you, your potions mark is not going to improve by it. You'll have to do that on your own."

"Oh, I'm not expecting any favouritism from you. I know you too well. You'll favour the Slytherins, butcher the Gryffindors and act indifferent towards the rest of us."

Snape smirked. "Then why exactly are you happy to have me as your Potions master?"

"This way I can keep an eye on you."

"I thought I was the older sibling."

Again, her eyes darkened. "All my life, you took care of me but no one has ever taken care of you. At least here, I can make sure that you don't jeopardize your health. "

Snape looked away. He had been unable to regain any flesh on his body after he was freed from Azkaban and opted to hide his exceedingly bony figure underneath thick robes. He would have forgotten to eat altogether if it hadn't have been for his sister who had constantly forced him to eat. He knew that he wouldn't have survived the summer without Sera.

"You promise to be careful?" begged Sera, tugging at his robe sleeve to bring him out of his thoughts.

"I'll try," muttered Snape.

Sera was about to counter his reply when someone knocked on the door.

"Who is it?"

"Minerva."

Snape walked up to his door and pulled it open.

"The students will be arriving soon. You should be in the Great Hall," said McGonagall, stepping into the room and just barely disguising her surprise at the change in décor.

"Yes Professor."

"We're colleagues now, Severus. It's Minerva. And Miss. Snape, you should wait at the entrance for your peers."

"Yes ma'am," muttered Sera, nervously. She quickly smiled at Snape before leaving.

"She's rather shy, isn't she?" mentioned McGonagall as they made their way to the Great Hall. "She's been my student for four years and she's still jittery around me and all the teachers for that matter."

"Luck is always against me, it seems. One can only hope for an obnoxious and egoistic sister," said Snape, bitingly. Like Black and Potter, he thought.

Leaving the baffled professor at the Great Hall entrance, he found his seat beside McGonagall's empty one and sat down. The teachers smiled at him encouragingly as the upper year students filed into the hall. He kept his head up and set his face into a daunting glare.

Soon the nervous first years were sorted into their houses and Dumbledore stood up to welcome the students into a new year and after a couple of words, food instantly piled onto the empty dishes.

Snape pushed the food around on his plate. "You know, it would be awfully bad for your reputation as a teacher if you collapsed on your first day," said McGonagall. "I'm sure the house elves haven't poisoned the food. The Yorkshire pudding is rather delicious, in fact."

"I'm sure it is," muttered Snape, peevishly as he reluctantly ate his dinner.

"Now that we have all been fed and watered, I would like to remind everyone that the forest is forbidden to all students. Our caretaker, Mr. Filch has all the rules listed on his office door. Finally, I have the pleasure to introduce Professor Severus Snape, our new Potions Master."

There was a stunned silence among the older students as they peered up at Snape, shocked. They greeted him with a lukewarm applause, which was slightly louder at the Slytherin table.

Snape sneered back at the students. He wasn't going to let his former reputation ruin his reputation as a teacher—he just couldn't.

The next morning, Snape was forced to attend a quick staff meeting in the staff room.

"Well, Severus, I'm delighted to have another Slytherin among our ranks," greeted his former Head of House and Defense Against the Dark Arts professor after the meeting.

"Good morning, Professor Hargrove."

"Caelen," corrected Hargrove. "You know, I have a good feeling about this year. We're going to win the house cup."

McGonagall looked up from her paper. "We'll see about that."

Hargrove laughed. "So, what's your first class, then?"

"Hufflepuff/Gryffindor NEWTS potions."

"Ah, the seventh years. Would have been better to have first years first, easy to mold your image with them, you see. Nevertheless, I know you'll do well. Just be firm, don't let them see any weakness even if they already have an opinion of you," advised Hargrove.

Snape could hear the students conversing amongst themselves just outside the dungeon doors. Taking in a deep breath, he pushed the door open. It slammed against the wall as he marched into the drafty room, his robes billowing behind him.

The students looked up at him, surprised by the sudden outburst but upon noticing Snape, a few Gryffindor students went back to their conversations.

"20 points from Gryffindor," sneered Snape. He had noticed that the house hourglasses already contained gems that morning and grateful used that against the students. He surveyed the class, recognizing all ten of the students in front of him—they were only a few years younger than him.

"You can't do that!" exclaimed one of the Gryffindors.

"I believe I just did. That will be another 5 points."

"Stupid Snivellus," muttered another student under his breath.

Snape used all his willpower to prevent his face from burning with humiliation and swooped down, pressing his palms onto the boy's desk and looking him directly in the eyes. The boy moved backward in his chair, startled.

"You shall address me as professor or sir," he hissed. "And you shall meet Mr. Filch tonight for detention, Mr. Bowen."

The Gryffindors stared at him, spitefully but decided it was best to stay silent.

"This is NEWTS potions and though I doubt most of you actual posses the skills of an expert potion brewer I shall attempt to imbed in your useless minds the subtlety of advanced potions. There shall be no nonsense tolerated in this class and I accept only the highest quality of work."

He paused as his eyes swept the classroom. Everyone was looking at him, some apprehensively, others with a slightly bored expression, as if they did not take his introduction to heart. I'll change that, thought Snape. He waved his wands and small slips of numbered parchment landed on the desks, in front of each student.

"Let's see how well you have retained previous knowledge. At the back of the classroom are 10 sets of ingredients, all unique to particular potions you have learnt over the past six years. You are to retrieve the set that corresponds to your number, identify the potion that the combination of ingredients create and brew the potion."

The students sat, dumbfounded. "Without procedures to follow?" asked a Hufflepuff girl.

"5 points from Hufflepuff for speaking out of turn. The only information you are given about the potions are the ingredients. Failure to successfully identify and brew your potion will result in completing a 5-foot essay on the uses and chemistry behind your potion, due by the next class."

Nobody moved.

"Why are you still sitting there? I would assume that you would want to prove yourself more than the dunderheads you are."

At those words, there was a sudden scratching of chairs against the floor as students hurriedly gathered their ingredients and started to work through the puzzle.

"This is so unfair," mumbled one student as he looked bewilderedly down at the various ingredients.

Snape smiled inwardly as he watched the anxious students. Slowly, he would erase the reputation Potter and Black had sketched for him and replace it with fear and loathing, it was a type of respect, he decided—better than being ridiculed at any rate.

Present

Pain jolted through his left arm, violently snapping him out of his thoughts. He couldn't understand what possessed him to fall into such a vivid memory. It was as if he had been woken up from a dream. Again, pain shot through his arm and he clutched his marked arm, painfully. It was too soon after his last meeting. What could the Dark Lord possibly want?

He draped his cloak around him and headed for the main entrance. Dumbledore would have to wait. He could never ignore the Dark Lord's call.

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I know I said that this chapter would have Voldemort's and the Order's headquarters but the chapter would have become exceedingly long. I'm sorry for the delay. I blame it on my horrid exams and then the lack of computer during my two-week holiday. I hope to be more regular and frequent with my updates from now on. Again, my reviewers…you're the best!

What do you guys think of this chapter? Any feedback is greatly appreciated!

Happy New Years everyone!

Review Replies

Lilith11: I haven't written many fics but I have spent a great deal of time lurking (and reviewing anonymously) and before I decided to sign up and tackle writing. Fiction Alley Forums are really helpful but sometimes they become really picky. My chapters are definitely going to be more regular and frequent now that exams are behind me. Hope to see more of your story. Thanks for your delightful review! Weasleygirl-ca

Emma: Thanks! Weasleygirl-ca

Phinea Rogue: Now that exams are over, I am going to start your sequel (amazing story!). I'm glad you like Sera, I've become rather attached to my creation and I hope I can keep her character consistent. Dumbledore and Snape's relationship is so complex, isn't it? And there are so many interpretations, I love it! Personally, I think they both care for each other but Dumbledore is a bit manipulative. Thanks for the great reviews! Weasleygirl-ca

lil' Cute Snivellus: Amusing but sad :D that's what I was hoping for. I'm glad that's the way it turned out. Melodramatic is more on the exaggerating side (if I do become melodramatic, please tell!). I think I was going for a more bittersweet type of chapter. Thanks so much for you wonderful review! Weasleygirl-ca

Silverthreads: My writing always seems to take a mind of its own (it's the same with essays—I just starts typing and see where it takes me). Thanks for the review! Weasleygirl-ca

duj: I've always seen Dumbledore as a mix of a fatherly disposition and ulterior motives (i.e. save the world at all costs). I guess we all have different viewpoints of everything in HP. It makes fanfiction so interesting, don't you think? Thanks for the review! Weasleygirl-ca

Viskii: Ooo, long review :D! You're so right about the caring about Harry more (that's how I feel overall) but then again we do see it only through Harry's eyes. Yup, in my story, you're right. I can see a mix of my sister in Sera too…though my sister has a crazy temper and well, I try not to piss her off too much (Sera isn't that bad, lol). I laughed at my little jokes in that chapter. I'm not too good at the whole subtle humour thing, so I'm really pleased you liked it :D. My story is leaning more towards a balance b/w past and present (but right now, it's more in the past, isn't it?). I hope I can continue to balance everything properly. Thanks for the delightful (and long :D) review! Weasleygirl-ca

risi: Grins I love those stories too! I guess that's why I'm writing one. Thanks for the wonderful review! Weasleygirl-ca

Snivellus aka Heather Granger: This chapter had a little more Sera (with more to come) and Severus musing on Albus. I hope you liked it. Thanks for the great review! Weasleygirl-ca

Asha Ice: Linkle took me a long time to come up with (I admit, I did take tinkle and replace the 't' with 'l', lol). House elves always have unusual names. This one is slightly on the happier side…less ridicule and more feared (which I think he sees as respect). Thanks so much for the lovely review! Weasleygirl-ca

Morena Evensong: I really like your ideas! You've got a point about the whole Sera not trusting them (wow, you really understand her!). Yeah, this story is so heavily based in flashbacks. I thought I would try this approach to explore his past instead of writing it as a story starting form say age 5 onward (though you will most definitely see 5-year-old Snape). Thanks for the wonderful review! Weasleygirl-ca

Molly: Thanks! Snape is the best! Weasleygirl-ca

Olivia: Thanks :D! Weasleygirl-ca

hulahula: Long review, yay! I really appreciate your comments on the set-up of my story (a point I was nervous about). You caught the scars! Ah, poor Snape! More on the scars to come :D. Yeah, I want a caring yet complicated Dumbledore-Snape relationship. I also want to thank you for pointing out that I should express Snape's thoughts on Dumbledore, which I did in this chapter. I hope that, as the story progresses there will be other thought floating around about each other and other characters. Oh, my poor Snape…what will happen to him before they trust him? Thanks you so much for your fabulous review! Weasleygirl-ca

XiaoGui: Lots of people don't seem to like OCs but I'm glad Sera is ok and you are right about the "It's ok," part (I've changed it, thanks). I may have made Moody too cruel (but for some reason I wouldn't put it past him, I don't know why). Isn't Azkaban a horrible place? I just can't help thinking that the wizardry world is slightly backward as they ally themselves with such vile creatures. My bat and vampire remark—hehe, I'm happy you liked it! Thanks so much for your wonderful reviews! Weasleygirl-ca

Oya: 10 days without a computer…I know how you feel! Dumbledore favours the Gryffindors just as much as Snape favours the Slytherins, just less obviously, don't you think? Ah, the slapping part…I'll try to bring it in…maybe a tiny slap here and there before the big bang, lol. Thanks for the lovely review! Weasleygirl-ca

Athena Keating-Thomas: I'm back at a computer :D but the holiday was relaxing so I guess I can't complain. Thanks for the review! Weasleygirl-ca