Fanfiction based in the world of Harry Potter, created by JKR. Her
characters are hers. Original characters are mine. Please see first
chapter for full disclaimers and description.
The start of term. Now we get to interact with our favorite students and teachers. I won't be attempting to do a "Sorting Hat Song". Please read and review. Constructive criticism is just as welcome as compliments—how else can I improve? Thank you!
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Chapter 16: Returning to Hogwarts
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She sat dozing fitfully in a recliner, next to the empty bed in the secret room in the hospital wing. She had showered and changed into pajamas and a dressing gown, Remus had gone to his room at the Three Broomsticks to do the same, and returned. He was either asleep, or dozing as she was, in a chair in the corner. Dumbledore had tried to get them to go to bed. What was to be gained by sitting up all night? But Rowena couldn't stand not to be in the spot where she knew he would return—if he returned. And Remus needed the confirmation of at least that much success as well.
The sun was slowly rising, gradually lightening the room, yet he had not returned. Her body was exhausted, and so she did fade in and out of a light sleep, though every sound roused her. Remus seemed to be doing the same, and their matching eyes often met, anguished gaze mirroring anguished gaze across the empty bed in the silence of the room.
House elves brought breakfast to them, which lay cold and uneaten on the corner table. Later they brought lunch, then afternoon tea. With each interruption marking the further passage of time, Rowena's heart constricted further in fear, a panic bordering surely on the edge of madness. Who would have thought she could feel this much misery and remain alive? She felt as though tight bands were wrapped around her chest, around her lungs, around her heart. Every tick of the small clock on the wall caused the bands to constrict tighter and tighter, until she thought she might no longer even be able to breathe. Or that a scream of deep agony of the soul might soon be forced out of her.
At four o'clock, Albus entered the room. He had avoided intruding upon their silent vigil all day. His face was pale and drawn. He touched Rowena's shoulder in a comforting caress, and met her frightened brown eyes with his worried blue ones, "Rowena, you must prepare for the feast. I will wait here until you return. You can then wait here until it begins if you wish, once you are prepared. But I must insist that you come to the feast."
"Albus, I can't! I can't leave here. What if he's hurt when he comes back? How can I go to the feast not knowing whether... not knowing if...," her voice trailed off, and the tears she had fought since the Thestral ride home yesterday finally found release in great heart-wrenching sobs. Albus pulled her to her feet and into a fatherly embrace as he let her cry. When the sobs diminished, he hugged her gently.
"Rowena, my dear. You can and you must. You can't give up hope. We have heard nothing. If the worst had happened, we would surely have had word from our other sources by now. If you were to absent yourself from the feast, you might draw attention to HIS absence. Dozens of my students here are children of Death Eaters. We must not draw attention to Severus's absence. He's been late to feasts before."
He actually managed a small smile, "He actually prefers to be late, as he loathes them in general. His tardy arrival, or even complete absence won't be suspicious. So long as none of the rest of us MAKE it suspicious. We oughtn't know what he's doing."
Looking down at her and giving her a gentle hug once more, he added a note of firmness to his voice, "This is part of who Severus is. To support him, you must be strong and do what is expected of you to help maintain his role. Now, go and prepare for the feast. The new teachers will be expected to look professional and unruffled when presented to the students. You may return here and wait until 6:00 p.m., but no later. At that time, no matter what, you must take your place in the Great Hall. Remus can stay here. Poppy will send me word when he arrives if assistance is needed."
Pulling a handkerchief from a pocket, she dried her face and nodded dejectedly. "You're right, Albus. I wasn't thinking. You'll stay here until I get back? It won't take me long."
"Of course, Rowena. Remus will stay, too. He won't be alone when he returns. Now, go."
She was back in half an hour, primly dressed in dark green robes, her hair clean and shiny, restrained in its "working" braid. She had added a touch of make up to hide her pallor, and had a grim set to her jaw. Albus gave her a worried but approving smile and left the two Lupins again to their silent vigil. "Six o'clock, Rowena," he reminded her as he left the room, to which she merely nodded as she resumed her seat next to the bed.
Still, the small clock ticked on. And still, the bed remained empty.
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At a quarter to six, Rowena stood and began to pace, striving as well as she could to compose herself to sit through three hours of sorting, feasting, and announcing while she was in such turmoil. She tried to be comforted by Dumbledore's assurances. Did he really have sources that would know if the worst had happened?
Her body was so full of panic and adrenaline that her senses seemed oddly distorted. Her vision seemed blurred, as though nothing would focus properly, and her hearing was nearly deafened by the thudding of her own heart. She had paused by the window to watch students exiting the carriages at the front doors, their long shadows from the light of the open doors casting strange, spiky shapes across the front lawn.
And then the soft whoosh, like a sudden gentle breeze across tall grass on a calm day. She spun instantly on her heel and rushed to the bed.
He was already sitting at the edge of it, and quickly stood. He looked even more tired and wan than the day before, but whole and uninjured. He glanced from one worried looking Lupin to the other and managed a small grimace, saying sarcastically, "Ah, the Lupin welcoming committee."
But whatever other snarky or biting thing he may have intended to say beyond that was lost when Rowena threw her arms around him and buried her face in his chest. Her trembling body and shaking shoulders spoke of tears, and he fell silent, somewhat chagrined. He enfolded her into his arms and laid his very stubbly chin against her head. He looked over her head at Remus who had also stood, and was looking angry.
"By the Gods, Snape! She's been worried half to death! You could be a little considerate of her feelings, you know!" Remus snarled at him, saying nothing of his own worry over Tonks.
Severus tightened his arms around her further, protectively. "Lupin..." he said dangerously, but again Rowena interrupted him before he completed his comment.
"Don't! Both of you!" She hadn't released Severus from her tight hold, but had composed herself enough that her face only looked pink and blotchy, her eyes merely overbright, as she turned her head to look at her brother. "Remus... please... just don't!"
She looked up at Severus then, her body still trembling violently. She was smiling tremulously, and reached up to brush a lock of very dirty hair away from his pale and scowling face, caressing his stubbly, unshaven cheek gently. He looked like hell. Yet she devoured him with her eyes, as though he were the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.
"We were both worried, Severus. Tension is running high, for all of us. I promised Albus I wouldn't be late to the feast. Tell Remus what you can, please? Whatever you safely can, that might be of comfort? It's enough for me to know you're back, that you're here..."
As he looked into her shining face at that moment, her obvious joy at the mere sight of him, he realized she could have asked him for anything within his power and he would have given it. Even civility to Remus Lupin.
She caressed his face, and he forgot they were not alone in the room. Forgot everything but the strange miracle that had caused him to be so regarded by such a woman. He tightened his arms even more around her and brushed her lips with a tender, searing kiss. She sighed against his mouth, opening her own to brush his lower lip with her tongue, sweetly tasting. He answered the caress with the briefest one of his own tongue, a mere promise of kisses to come, and released her gently.
He gave her the smallest of smiles as he stepped away, "Don't be late to Albus's feast, Lupin. That is a privilege he only grants to me. I will be there, as late as I possibly can. Brother Lupin will have to content himself with grilling me with questions as I get cleaned up. Will that suffice?"
"Yes. Thank you, Severus," she said, smilingly, and she stood on tip-toe to kiss him briefly again before heading to the door.
"Lupin... don't let the Cowboy sit next to you. I will be there."
"As you command, Snape," she said almost playfully. "I'll save you a seat, then."
He snorted and watched her leave, and then at last acknowledged the presence of the other Lupin in the room, who was frowning at him. He chose to ignore the sour look, for now. He probably should not have kissed her in front of her brother—when had he become so careless in his rare displays of emotion?
"Come along then. I have promised your sister to tell you what I can. You will need to follow me to my quarters."
"Lead the way," was all Remus managed to choke out in return, following him silently.
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They entered his quarters in brooding silence. Remus had the sense not to question him in the halls, and Severus had not softened so much towards the mutant to be willing to engage in aimless conversation.
"Wait here," he said, brusquely, gesturing vaguely to the seating area in front of the cold fireplace. He then disappeared into his bedroom, reappearing shortly in clean robes, his Slytherin crest on the robes shining brightly, silver and green on the black. He had apparently used some sort of cleansing spell on his hair, as it did appear somewhat cleaner, though still limp and lank.
He then stepped into his bathroom, leaving the door open as he began to attend to his fine stubble of beard. "Alright, Lupin. What do you wish to know?" he called in bored tones through the open door to where Remus was sitting.
Remus stood and came to the doorway, leaning against the open frame. "Where is she?"
"Tonks is currently residing with the Dark Lord. When she is 'well' enough, she will be moved to the Malfoy Manner. I will be contriving that as soon as possible."
Remus paled, "He hurt her?"
Snape gave him a withering glance, "No, Lupin, He did not. However, she is in the guise of a severely mentally and physically ill person, or had you forgotten? I have told the Dark Lord that the Dementors he favors as guards may delay her improvement, or even cause a relapse in her illness. This will be my excuse for contriving the change of residence."
"I didn't realize you had so much influence with Him," Remus said, suspiciously.
Snape glared at him angrily, "Taking after Moody now, are we, Lupin? I am one of the few of his Death Eaters, that I know of, with any skill in healing arts. So in this matter, yes, I hold some influence. I will have to attend her several times a week as she 'improves'. The Dark Lord will want as few of his followers as possible to be aware of her existence and location. He trusts none of us. I doubt any other healers will attend her."
Remus ran a tired hand through his hair, and shook his head in chagrin, "I'm sorry, Severus. I don't mean to be so accusing. I'm just so... worried."
Now it was Snape's turn to eye him suspiciously. But there was no denying the sincerity of his feelings. Remus had never been subtle nor tried to conceal his emotions, but now Snape felt as though he had become nearly transparent. Perhaps it was because he was learning to read the sister so well, and they were indeed quite alike in many ways. He said nothing, but nodded in silent acceptance of the apology.
"Does she have an 'out'? A way of communicating with us, aside from your visits?"
A very satisfied, almost triumphant smirk overspread Snape's features, though he didn't respond right away as he finished shaving. He left the bathroom then and walked to a small box on his mantle, opening it and withdrawing a small unadorned golden ring, and tossing it carelessly to Lupin, who caught it.
"She is wearing a pair of rings. Claire Lestrange had a lover who was killed sometime after her incarceration. Tonks has the rings, and I've... modified them." There was no mistaking the self-congratulatory air, though his expression had not changed noticeably.
"The ring you have will enable you to communicate with her for brief periods, essentially telepathically. It's more subtle than that, but the comparison is sufficient. I recommend you only use it when SHE initiates the communication. If you are in her mind when the Dark Lord is with her, you could quickly blow her cover. So long as you are wearing it, she can contact you at will.
"I had intended to give it to Albus, as head of the Order." He shrugged carelessly, "But so long as someone in the Order has it, it matters not whom that someone is."
Remus looked at Snape as though seeing him for the first time. He would not have expected such an act of compassion from such a quarter. Severus met his gaze with a brow raised challengingly. Remus only shook his head in bewilderment and managed to find his voice briefly, "Thank you, Severus."
Snape snorted aggressively, "Do not thank me, Lupin. I think this is beyond foolish for her to even be there. Now, I am sufficiently late to the feast. Have you any further questions?"
"You said she had a pair of rings? Does the other do anything? What if Voldemort takes them away?"
"The other is a Portkey. It will work once. If she is outed, she needs only to speak the password to be brought here. He can't take them because I've enchanted them to be unremoveable, short of amputating her fingers. The enchantment will explain any magical aura if they are examined closely. And I offered to remove them at once upon presenting her to Him."
"YOU WHAT!?!"
Severus frowned, "Lupin, you are such a naïve fool. Had I suggested that he leave them alone, he would have wanted them off at once. By leaving the decision to him and offering to remove them immediately, he has less reason to suspect trickery.
"Amputating fingers would affect her wand work. He wants her functional. He views them as a mark of sentimental weakness and will give them no more thought. Do, PLEASE TRY to give me a jot of credit for knowing what I am doing!" The last was said with a sarcastic sneer.
Remus was still frowning, "But if He had said He wanted them off? You would have chopped off her fingers on the spot, wouldn't you?"
"Of course," he said, attempting to display an air of complete unconcern.
But Remus noticed the tightening of his jaw and shoulders. Suddenly, in the midst of his outrage that the man could be so callous, he realized that Snape wasn't nearly as unaffected by the things he was forced to do as he wished everyone to believe. He felt a rush of compassion for the other man, but it was quickly suppressed by his concern for Tonks.
It disgusted him, that he could speak of mutilating another human being so nonchalantly, and in his worry and fear he growled, "How do you live with yourself?"
He was sorry he had said the words as soon as they were spoken. Snape did not move, did not even blink, but his pale skin betrayed a flush of anger.
"This conversation is over. Get out of my quarters," he said in the dangerously soft voice that he used when rage was about to overwhelm him.
"Severus, I'm sorry... I didn't mean... I shouldn't have said... "
"GET OUT!"
Remus realized he had gone too far, and exited the quarters at once.
Severus waited several minutes, composing himself, before leaving as well, sealing the door behind him.
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The Great Hall was decked out in splendor, shining golden plates and goblets glittering in the candlelight. Glorious enchanted banners of each House Crest hung in vivid colors over each House Table. The doors would be thrown open very soon and the hall would become thronged with the excited babble of the returning students.
Rowena entered from the staff door at side of the room nearest the Staff Table. Dumbledore sat at the center of the table talking in low tones to Minerva, Hagrid leaning in and listening in as well from his other side. All three looked grave and worried. One look at Rowena's beaming, radiant face told them all they needed to know. The transformation of the air at the table was immediate. Minerva released a weak sigh and lifted her glass to Rowena with a tremulous smile. Hagrid clapped his hands once and guffawed, grinning broadly and taking a huge swig from the bucket-sized tankard in front of him. Albus merely beamed happily back at her.
She sat demurely next to Professor Flitwick and was happy to see him smiling as well. "Oh, what a happy day, Rowena," he squeaked in his high- pitched voice. She nodded her agreement, along with several of the other teachers. Rowena didn't know whom among the teachers, aside from Minerva and Hagrid, were part of the Order. Nor did she want to know. She assumed that her other colleagues were happy to have the students back and left it at that.
Dylan entered the Great Hall moments before the doors were to open, boots clicking, spurs jangling. Only two empty seats remained. The one next to Rowena, between herself and Minerva and one between Professors Sinistra and Vector. He grinned brightly and moved towards the one next to Rowena, but she placed a hand over the back of the chair possessively, and he instead took the other without embarrassment.
As soon as he was seated, the doors at the end of the hall magically opened, and the students began to file inside. Minerva leaned conspiratorially towards Rowena, across the empty chair, smiling. "They are enchanted so as not to open for the Opening feast until all the Professors have taken their seats. Albus had to modify the enchantment years ago for Severus. He avoids being on time to these things whenever he can."
Rowena laughed, "Yes, Albus told me of that earlier. It's rather unlike him, usually, isn't it? To be late to anything, I mean?"
Minerva frowned slightly and rolled her eyes a tad, "Severus was one of my most dedicated students when he was here at school. He has very little patience for students who are not equally driven as he was—which basically includes everyone. He's quite unpleasant to the children—you will see."
"Oh, I can imagine!" Rowena said, with another laugh. Her eyes then went to the students, and she engaged in "people watching". It was immediately evident who were the friends, the groups, the 'cliques'. The two Weasley children were obvious at once, and she gave them both a small wave as they grinned her way. Harry Potter was with Ron, as was the girl she remembered from the Memorial—Granger.... Hermoine, that was it.
Over at the Slytherin Table, Draco Malfoy gave her a very formal nod of recognition, which she returned with a polite smile and nod of her own. She was going to have to watch herself. She was determined not to be prejudiced or biased in her instruction with the students, but she definitely had a bad feeling about Draco.
Still, Severus had overcome similar odds, hadn't he? Was it possible that Draco was redeemable? She resolved to make no assumptions about him based on his behavior while under the sharp, watchful eye of his father. She would wait and see how he behaved on his own.
Nearly all the other students were strangers to her. Marietta Edgecombe she recognized from pictures her mother had, as she knew her mother from the Ministry. A few others she recognized from similar reference. But none she had actually met.
When most of the kids had found seats, and while they were chattering happily, Minerva left the room to collect the Sorting Hat, stool, and first year students.
The Sorting was nearly over when Severus entered the room through the same side door Rowena had done nearly half an hour before. He was glowering darkly and didn't meet her eyes when she smiled at him, though he took the empty seat next to her with unconcerned grace, nodding in acknowledgement of her silent greeting.
He scanned the room intently. He very methodically took note of each and every student in the room, annoyed to have missed so much of the sorting. He had an excellent memory for names and liked to know the names of each student before they entered his class. It added so much more to his intimidation factor. He knew most of the intricacies of the interactions amongst the student population. He was Slytherin to the core, after all. Knowing the acquaintances, allies, and adversaries of each student was always very useful.
His ruminations and studying of the current student body, and particularly the exchange of dark glares with one Mr. Harry James Potter were interrupted by Rowena's gentle hand on his thigh. It was merely a gentle caress, meant to get his attention without attracting the attention of others. His body, to his annoyance, responded to the touch at once with a quickening of his pulse and a tightening in his groin. Which of course got his attention, though his anger at her brother was by no means diminished, and reflected itself in his bitter scowl as he turned to look at her.
"Severus, what did Remus do?" she asked, once again annoying him further by her apparent perceptiveness.
He had caught Malfoy's interested stare in their direction, and so decided to put on a bit of a 'show' for his benefit. Turning in his chair to face her more fully, he draped a casual arm across the back of her chair. He wasn't even really touching her—for anyone else, it would have merely been a casual gesture. Many teachers did this all the time as they moved closer to one another to speak and be heard over the loud hum of the student chatter. For Snape to do such a thing, though... to put his arm around the rather pretty young woman that no one knew yet, elicited precisely the response he wished, in exactly the right quarters.
He leaned forwards so that he was speaking in her ear. His face nearly brushed hers. For all the world he might have been a lover whispering sweet nothings. Indeed, her face flushed pink and her heart began to beat a little faster at his proximity. The part of him that was cataloging all his interactions with her noticed her tremble with pleased satisfaction, and also delighted in the soft fragrance of her hair.
His words, though, when he finally spoke, were angry and bitter. "Your dear BROTHER seems to have sunk to new lows, Lupin. After I had carefully detailed to him the many things I had devised and contrived to arrange for the safety of his paramour, I was forced also to tell him some of the rather unpleasant consequences that may arise from her charade. His precise words, at that point, were, 'How do you live with yourself', in reference to my role in all this."
Her sharp intake of breath and stiffening of her back gave him pause a moment. He was angry, to be sure. What did Lupin know of how he lived with himself in light of his past and present involvement with the Death Eaters? The words echoed in his head, eating at him like a cancer. 'How do you live with yourself'... did he not ask himself that same question nearly every day?
He barely COULD live with himself. Did no one understand that? Well, Albus did a bit, perhaps. Rowena. Merlin's Beard, Rowena didn't understand at all! She thought it could be all forgotten and washed away, a clean slate, by some ephemeral thing like 'forgiveness' or 'redemption'. One does not forget or wash away the stain of guilt for the kinds of things he had done. The kinds of things he was still capable of doing when the need arose.
"Oh, Severus! He didn't!! I'm so sorry! After all you've done for him...," her hand was still on his leg, and she had squeezed it gently. Her eyes, when he leaned back to look at her, were glittering with anger and indignation on his behalf. The gentle blush of excitement at his proximity had risen to a flush of anger.
This, however, only provoked him further. Her blind trust was again eating at his conscience. His past actions were too horrific. He had no right to any semblance of happiness. He had done nothing to earn the affections and trust of any decent woman, and certainly not THIS one.
He hissed in her ear again, "You are so bloody naïve, Lupin! HE'S the one who's got the right of this. Of me. You just don't get it!"
The sorting had ended and Dumbledore had stood giving the words to start the feast so that the table was suddenly laden with food. He stopped his rant, looking away from the sharp reproach in her eyes. He determinedly brushed her hand off his leg, and resolutely ignored her for the rest of the meal.
He allowed himself to be drawn into vague comments with Minerva regarding the potential of the newest batch of students. She was far more optimistic than he was. Rowena equally unconcernedly chatted with Flitwick about her lesson plans for the first few classes, and ignored him with equal determination. Severus did not miss the speculative glances of the Cowboy from across the table, and told himself he didn't care.
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"Now that we have all been made comfortable by our excellent feast, I have a few start of term announcements," Albus began, standing and addressing the hall. "First, I would like to introduce you to our newest Defense Against The Dark Arts Professor, Dylan Howard. He is from America, and I'm sure will be a fine addition to our esteemed faculty."
Dylan stood briefly when Albus gestured to him, and bowed slightly to the hall as the students clapped politely. He wore dark blue wizard's robes over his usual 'cowboy' garb. Rowena noted the amused looks that passed between students in the Hall. He quickly sat and Albus continued.
"We also have a newly created class, Magical Theory and Research. This is available only to fourth years and above, and will be taught by Professor Rowena Lupin." Rowena felt herself blush slightly as she stood. Public speaking and crowds were NOT her forte. She had a moment of wild panic as she wondered what possessed her to agree to teach. She sat quickly amidst the polite applause, but also heard whispers of "Lupin" and knew the students were wondering about her relationship to Remus.
"Hogsmeade visits this year will be closely chaperoned. I need not tell you that our world is currently in the midst of dangerous times, and we will not be taking any needless risks. To that effect, please be aware that curfews this year are going to be very, VERY strictly monitored. This is not the time to be sneaking to the kitchens at midnight for a snack...."
A few more notices regarding Quidditch and some of the clubs, and the students were dismissed from the Great Hall. Albus immediately strode to the Gryffindor table and collected Harry Potter before he had the chance to leave. The boy gave Albus a look that could only be called sullen and resentful, almost bitter, but he did follow the Head Master to the staff table. To HER, in fact.
"Professor Lupin, I believe you met Harry Potter this summer?" Albus asked genially, his voice low to include only herself and Harry. She nodded but said nothing. On her other side, Severus was ostensibly listening to Minerva, though she suspected he was listening to what Albus had to say instead.
"I need Harry to be instructed in Occlumency. I need someone I trust to do this. I would like YOU to do this," he said, simply.
This was too much for Severus to ignore, and he snorted loudly in derision, turning in his chair to regard the three of them, "That's rather the blind leading the blind, Albus, don't you think? Have you examined Lupin's Occlumency? Her weakness is the same as his—emotion. If you get her riled up with any sort of emotion, which is easy to do, her discipline falters. You might as well let me continue it and be done. If he can behave with some semblance of self control and keep his nose out of my personal business, that is."
Potter had paled visibly where he stood, sullen and silent next to Albus, and was shaking his head wordlessly. He was apparently horror struck at the idea of doing the lessons with Snape.
Rowena rose from her seat at the table and rounded on Severus angrily, "Oh, yes. That would be a great benefit. Let's put him in a room with the person whom he dislikes the most and who dislikes him equally, and let them start throwing spells at each other. I heard enough rumors of how well that worked last year. I think not. You can have him after I've had a chance to teach him the basics."
"I taught him the basics. He didn't practice," Severus snarled, no less angrily, though once again finding himself an unwilling admirer of her spirit.
"Professor Snape," she bit back, "surely you are aware that, 'Clear your mind and prepare to defend yourself' does not constitute the basics," she said sarcastically.
"It ought to be sufficient. I learned entirely on my own. He is lazy and doesn't try!"
"ENOUGH!" Albus's sharp voice broke through the argument. "This is precisely why I wish Rowena to teach him, if she is willing, if Harry is willing. She can show him how to compensate for the weakness which you have pointed out, Severus. The practice will eventually strengthen both of them. And there is no past history of unpleasantness to make things difficult. Now. Harry, Rowena, I think at least once a week is imperative."
Rowena and Severus were still staring at each other angrily, breathing hard. Rowena was the first to look away, to look at Harry. "I would be glad to help you, Mr. Potter. Will Monday evenings be convenient?"
Harry had been standing in open-mouthed wonder as he watched Rowena and Snape argue. Snape didn't pull his wand on her, which he more than half expected him to do. She didn't back down from him, either. Harry had thought that she sort of fancied Snape, but decided now he must have been wrong. She surely wouldn't have criticized him as she had done if she liked him, would she? Though he had been equally critical talking of her 'weakness'.
He didn't know what to think of this Lupin, but she was Remus's sister, and she had stood up for him to Snape. Both in her favor, so he nodded, "What time should I come to your office, Professor?"
"Whenever you've finished your evening meal is fine, Mr. Potter. I'll be in my office by six. I'll see you tomorrow evening then. Unless you're taking my class?" She hadn't gotten a final student roster yet, her class being so new, and so had no idea who had signed up for it, aside from Draco Malfoy.
"Er..., Well yeah, I sort of signed up for it last week. Um... well... Professor Lupin... I mean, the other Professor Lupin....," Harry stammered, uncertainly.
Rowena sighed and rolled her eyes, but she smiled rather knowingly at him, "Ah, let me guess. My brother asked you to take my class? Maybe asked you to 'keep an eye' on me?"
Harry grinned sheepishly, "Well, yeah, he did. But I was thinking about taking it anyway." He looked anxiously then at something over her shoulder. She didn't need to look to know that Severus had stood behind her.
She heard him make a small, derisive noise in his throat, and then the soft swish of his robes as he turned away. She could just see him out of the corner of her eye as he left the room.
"Alright, then Mr. Potter. Tomorrow in class and then after dinner." She gave him a slight smile and shook his hand.
Albus met her annoyed gaze with a rather amused one of his own and smiled happily, "Capital! Very well then, Harry, off to your House." He watched him walk away worriedly and then sighed.
"Ah, Rowena. This has been a hard few days for you, dear. Severus is always especially irritable after a difficult assignment. It's nothing personal." He offered his arm and walked out of the Great Hall with her. "I'll let you in on a bit of a hint about my dear friend, Severus. Maybe you've already figured it out on your own.
"He doesn't believe he deserves to have anyone be kind to him. When he's feeling particularly unhappy about what he's been asked or forced to do, any level of kindness just makes him angrier. It's rather backwards, I know, but it's been true of him ever since he came back to us. Maybe always."
A wistful smile crossed her face as she nodded, "I know, Albus. It doesn't change my feelings for him a jot. But I'm certainly not going to sit by and let him trample all over me. I was so relieved to see him back safely, and then at the feast it was like he was an entirely different person than the man I left in the hospital wing a half hour before. My brother had more than a little to do with that, though, and his anger was justified.
"I just don't intend to let him take it out on me. I understand the anger; I don't even blame him for being angry. I can support him in his rages. I'm not afraid of him. But he won't respect me, and I won't respect myself, if I sit idly by and let him rant at me like it's my fault. Or rant at someone else just to have a convenient target. I think we're going to have some issues. Harry Potter might end up being a rather large one."
Albus laughed warmly and patted her hand as they reached the door to her quarters. "You are likely right at that, Rowena. I think its good for Severus to have someone like you around. If it helps you at all, I do believe he has become rather fond of you."
Rowena grinned happily and kissed his very hairy cheek, "It does help, Albus. He has a rotten way of showing it, but my heart tells me you just might be right."
"Always trust your heart, Rowena," he said, very solemnly, and then turned to walk away down the hall.
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Oh, this was a fun chapter to write. Snape has been dying to jab at Potter since the Memorial. He will get in much more before the story is complete, I promise. I also got tired of Rowena being so patiently accepting of Severus's rages. Things will be rocky but spicy for a while now.
Thank you for the reviews and suggestions. Yes, Rowena has done a bit of research with the Unforgivables, you will learn more of that later. Occlumency is going to be fun! Rowena is more than a bit unconventional in her teaching methods. We will also see the DA again soon, though perhaps not the next chapter.
Like everyone else, I crave reviews. If you liked my story, please recommend it to others. Many people avoid "original character" stories out of fear of "Mary Sues". I am trying to make sure that Rowena, aside from her classic "Mary Sue" Snape obsession, does not take on any other "Mary Sueish" characteristics.
Thank you, and happy reading!
The start of term. Now we get to interact with our favorite students and teachers. I won't be attempting to do a "Sorting Hat Song". Please read and review. Constructive criticism is just as welcome as compliments—how else can I improve? Thank you!
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Chapter 16: Returning to Hogwarts
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She sat dozing fitfully in a recliner, next to the empty bed in the secret room in the hospital wing. She had showered and changed into pajamas and a dressing gown, Remus had gone to his room at the Three Broomsticks to do the same, and returned. He was either asleep, or dozing as she was, in a chair in the corner. Dumbledore had tried to get them to go to bed. What was to be gained by sitting up all night? But Rowena couldn't stand not to be in the spot where she knew he would return—if he returned. And Remus needed the confirmation of at least that much success as well.
The sun was slowly rising, gradually lightening the room, yet he had not returned. Her body was exhausted, and so she did fade in and out of a light sleep, though every sound roused her. Remus seemed to be doing the same, and their matching eyes often met, anguished gaze mirroring anguished gaze across the empty bed in the silence of the room.
House elves brought breakfast to them, which lay cold and uneaten on the corner table. Later they brought lunch, then afternoon tea. With each interruption marking the further passage of time, Rowena's heart constricted further in fear, a panic bordering surely on the edge of madness. Who would have thought she could feel this much misery and remain alive? She felt as though tight bands were wrapped around her chest, around her lungs, around her heart. Every tick of the small clock on the wall caused the bands to constrict tighter and tighter, until she thought she might no longer even be able to breathe. Or that a scream of deep agony of the soul might soon be forced out of her.
At four o'clock, Albus entered the room. He had avoided intruding upon their silent vigil all day. His face was pale and drawn. He touched Rowena's shoulder in a comforting caress, and met her frightened brown eyes with his worried blue ones, "Rowena, you must prepare for the feast. I will wait here until you return. You can then wait here until it begins if you wish, once you are prepared. But I must insist that you come to the feast."
"Albus, I can't! I can't leave here. What if he's hurt when he comes back? How can I go to the feast not knowing whether... not knowing if...," her voice trailed off, and the tears she had fought since the Thestral ride home yesterday finally found release in great heart-wrenching sobs. Albus pulled her to her feet and into a fatherly embrace as he let her cry. When the sobs diminished, he hugged her gently.
"Rowena, my dear. You can and you must. You can't give up hope. We have heard nothing. If the worst had happened, we would surely have had word from our other sources by now. If you were to absent yourself from the feast, you might draw attention to HIS absence. Dozens of my students here are children of Death Eaters. We must not draw attention to Severus's absence. He's been late to feasts before."
He actually managed a small smile, "He actually prefers to be late, as he loathes them in general. His tardy arrival, or even complete absence won't be suspicious. So long as none of the rest of us MAKE it suspicious. We oughtn't know what he's doing."
Looking down at her and giving her a gentle hug once more, he added a note of firmness to his voice, "This is part of who Severus is. To support him, you must be strong and do what is expected of you to help maintain his role. Now, go and prepare for the feast. The new teachers will be expected to look professional and unruffled when presented to the students. You may return here and wait until 6:00 p.m., but no later. At that time, no matter what, you must take your place in the Great Hall. Remus can stay here. Poppy will send me word when he arrives if assistance is needed."
Pulling a handkerchief from a pocket, she dried her face and nodded dejectedly. "You're right, Albus. I wasn't thinking. You'll stay here until I get back? It won't take me long."
"Of course, Rowena. Remus will stay, too. He won't be alone when he returns. Now, go."
She was back in half an hour, primly dressed in dark green robes, her hair clean and shiny, restrained in its "working" braid. She had added a touch of make up to hide her pallor, and had a grim set to her jaw. Albus gave her a worried but approving smile and left the two Lupins again to their silent vigil. "Six o'clock, Rowena," he reminded her as he left the room, to which she merely nodded as she resumed her seat next to the bed.
Still, the small clock ticked on. And still, the bed remained empty.
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At a quarter to six, Rowena stood and began to pace, striving as well as she could to compose herself to sit through three hours of sorting, feasting, and announcing while she was in such turmoil. She tried to be comforted by Dumbledore's assurances. Did he really have sources that would know if the worst had happened?
Her body was so full of panic and adrenaline that her senses seemed oddly distorted. Her vision seemed blurred, as though nothing would focus properly, and her hearing was nearly deafened by the thudding of her own heart. She had paused by the window to watch students exiting the carriages at the front doors, their long shadows from the light of the open doors casting strange, spiky shapes across the front lawn.
And then the soft whoosh, like a sudden gentle breeze across tall grass on a calm day. She spun instantly on her heel and rushed to the bed.
He was already sitting at the edge of it, and quickly stood. He looked even more tired and wan than the day before, but whole and uninjured. He glanced from one worried looking Lupin to the other and managed a small grimace, saying sarcastically, "Ah, the Lupin welcoming committee."
But whatever other snarky or biting thing he may have intended to say beyond that was lost when Rowena threw her arms around him and buried her face in his chest. Her trembling body and shaking shoulders spoke of tears, and he fell silent, somewhat chagrined. He enfolded her into his arms and laid his very stubbly chin against her head. He looked over her head at Remus who had also stood, and was looking angry.
"By the Gods, Snape! She's been worried half to death! You could be a little considerate of her feelings, you know!" Remus snarled at him, saying nothing of his own worry over Tonks.
Severus tightened his arms around her further, protectively. "Lupin..." he said dangerously, but again Rowena interrupted him before he completed his comment.
"Don't! Both of you!" She hadn't released Severus from her tight hold, but had composed herself enough that her face only looked pink and blotchy, her eyes merely overbright, as she turned her head to look at her brother. "Remus... please... just don't!"
She looked up at Severus then, her body still trembling violently. She was smiling tremulously, and reached up to brush a lock of very dirty hair away from his pale and scowling face, caressing his stubbly, unshaven cheek gently. He looked like hell. Yet she devoured him with her eyes, as though he were the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.
"We were both worried, Severus. Tension is running high, for all of us. I promised Albus I wouldn't be late to the feast. Tell Remus what you can, please? Whatever you safely can, that might be of comfort? It's enough for me to know you're back, that you're here..."
As he looked into her shining face at that moment, her obvious joy at the mere sight of him, he realized she could have asked him for anything within his power and he would have given it. Even civility to Remus Lupin.
She caressed his face, and he forgot they were not alone in the room. Forgot everything but the strange miracle that had caused him to be so regarded by such a woman. He tightened his arms even more around her and brushed her lips with a tender, searing kiss. She sighed against his mouth, opening her own to brush his lower lip with her tongue, sweetly tasting. He answered the caress with the briefest one of his own tongue, a mere promise of kisses to come, and released her gently.
He gave her the smallest of smiles as he stepped away, "Don't be late to Albus's feast, Lupin. That is a privilege he only grants to me. I will be there, as late as I possibly can. Brother Lupin will have to content himself with grilling me with questions as I get cleaned up. Will that suffice?"
"Yes. Thank you, Severus," she said, smilingly, and she stood on tip-toe to kiss him briefly again before heading to the door.
"Lupin... don't let the Cowboy sit next to you. I will be there."
"As you command, Snape," she said almost playfully. "I'll save you a seat, then."
He snorted and watched her leave, and then at last acknowledged the presence of the other Lupin in the room, who was frowning at him. He chose to ignore the sour look, for now. He probably should not have kissed her in front of her brother—when had he become so careless in his rare displays of emotion?
"Come along then. I have promised your sister to tell you what I can. You will need to follow me to my quarters."
"Lead the way," was all Remus managed to choke out in return, following him silently.
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They entered his quarters in brooding silence. Remus had the sense not to question him in the halls, and Severus had not softened so much towards the mutant to be willing to engage in aimless conversation.
"Wait here," he said, brusquely, gesturing vaguely to the seating area in front of the cold fireplace. He then disappeared into his bedroom, reappearing shortly in clean robes, his Slytherin crest on the robes shining brightly, silver and green on the black. He had apparently used some sort of cleansing spell on his hair, as it did appear somewhat cleaner, though still limp and lank.
He then stepped into his bathroom, leaving the door open as he began to attend to his fine stubble of beard. "Alright, Lupin. What do you wish to know?" he called in bored tones through the open door to where Remus was sitting.
Remus stood and came to the doorway, leaning against the open frame. "Where is she?"
"Tonks is currently residing with the Dark Lord. When she is 'well' enough, she will be moved to the Malfoy Manner. I will be contriving that as soon as possible."
Remus paled, "He hurt her?"
Snape gave him a withering glance, "No, Lupin, He did not. However, she is in the guise of a severely mentally and physically ill person, or had you forgotten? I have told the Dark Lord that the Dementors he favors as guards may delay her improvement, or even cause a relapse in her illness. This will be my excuse for contriving the change of residence."
"I didn't realize you had so much influence with Him," Remus said, suspiciously.
Snape glared at him angrily, "Taking after Moody now, are we, Lupin? I am one of the few of his Death Eaters, that I know of, with any skill in healing arts. So in this matter, yes, I hold some influence. I will have to attend her several times a week as she 'improves'. The Dark Lord will want as few of his followers as possible to be aware of her existence and location. He trusts none of us. I doubt any other healers will attend her."
Remus ran a tired hand through his hair, and shook his head in chagrin, "I'm sorry, Severus. I don't mean to be so accusing. I'm just so... worried."
Now it was Snape's turn to eye him suspiciously. But there was no denying the sincerity of his feelings. Remus had never been subtle nor tried to conceal his emotions, but now Snape felt as though he had become nearly transparent. Perhaps it was because he was learning to read the sister so well, and they were indeed quite alike in many ways. He said nothing, but nodded in silent acceptance of the apology.
"Does she have an 'out'? A way of communicating with us, aside from your visits?"
A very satisfied, almost triumphant smirk overspread Snape's features, though he didn't respond right away as he finished shaving. He left the bathroom then and walked to a small box on his mantle, opening it and withdrawing a small unadorned golden ring, and tossing it carelessly to Lupin, who caught it.
"She is wearing a pair of rings. Claire Lestrange had a lover who was killed sometime after her incarceration. Tonks has the rings, and I've... modified them." There was no mistaking the self-congratulatory air, though his expression had not changed noticeably.
"The ring you have will enable you to communicate with her for brief periods, essentially telepathically. It's more subtle than that, but the comparison is sufficient. I recommend you only use it when SHE initiates the communication. If you are in her mind when the Dark Lord is with her, you could quickly blow her cover. So long as you are wearing it, she can contact you at will.
"I had intended to give it to Albus, as head of the Order." He shrugged carelessly, "But so long as someone in the Order has it, it matters not whom that someone is."
Remus looked at Snape as though seeing him for the first time. He would not have expected such an act of compassion from such a quarter. Severus met his gaze with a brow raised challengingly. Remus only shook his head in bewilderment and managed to find his voice briefly, "Thank you, Severus."
Snape snorted aggressively, "Do not thank me, Lupin. I think this is beyond foolish for her to even be there. Now, I am sufficiently late to the feast. Have you any further questions?"
"You said she had a pair of rings? Does the other do anything? What if Voldemort takes them away?"
"The other is a Portkey. It will work once. If she is outed, she needs only to speak the password to be brought here. He can't take them because I've enchanted them to be unremoveable, short of amputating her fingers. The enchantment will explain any magical aura if they are examined closely. And I offered to remove them at once upon presenting her to Him."
"YOU WHAT!?!"
Severus frowned, "Lupin, you are such a naïve fool. Had I suggested that he leave them alone, he would have wanted them off at once. By leaving the decision to him and offering to remove them immediately, he has less reason to suspect trickery.
"Amputating fingers would affect her wand work. He wants her functional. He views them as a mark of sentimental weakness and will give them no more thought. Do, PLEASE TRY to give me a jot of credit for knowing what I am doing!" The last was said with a sarcastic sneer.
Remus was still frowning, "But if He had said He wanted them off? You would have chopped off her fingers on the spot, wouldn't you?"
"Of course," he said, attempting to display an air of complete unconcern.
But Remus noticed the tightening of his jaw and shoulders. Suddenly, in the midst of his outrage that the man could be so callous, he realized that Snape wasn't nearly as unaffected by the things he was forced to do as he wished everyone to believe. He felt a rush of compassion for the other man, but it was quickly suppressed by his concern for Tonks.
It disgusted him, that he could speak of mutilating another human being so nonchalantly, and in his worry and fear he growled, "How do you live with yourself?"
He was sorry he had said the words as soon as they were spoken. Snape did not move, did not even blink, but his pale skin betrayed a flush of anger.
"This conversation is over. Get out of my quarters," he said in the dangerously soft voice that he used when rage was about to overwhelm him.
"Severus, I'm sorry... I didn't mean... I shouldn't have said... "
"GET OUT!"
Remus realized he had gone too far, and exited the quarters at once.
Severus waited several minutes, composing himself, before leaving as well, sealing the door behind him.
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The Great Hall was decked out in splendor, shining golden plates and goblets glittering in the candlelight. Glorious enchanted banners of each House Crest hung in vivid colors over each House Table. The doors would be thrown open very soon and the hall would become thronged with the excited babble of the returning students.
Rowena entered from the staff door at side of the room nearest the Staff Table. Dumbledore sat at the center of the table talking in low tones to Minerva, Hagrid leaning in and listening in as well from his other side. All three looked grave and worried. One look at Rowena's beaming, radiant face told them all they needed to know. The transformation of the air at the table was immediate. Minerva released a weak sigh and lifted her glass to Rowena with a tremulous smile. Hagrid clapped his hands once and guffawed, grinning broadly and taking a huge swig from the bucket-sized tankard in front of him. Albus merely beamed happily back at her.
She sat demurely next to Professor Flitwick and was happy to see him smiling as well. "Oh, what a happy day, Rowena," he squeaked in his high- pitched voice. She nodded her agreement, along with several of the other teachers. Rowena didn't know whom among the teachers, aside from Minerva and Hagrid, were part of the Order. Nor did she want to know. She assumed that her other colleagues were happy to have the students back and left it at that.
Dylan entered the Great Hall moments before the doors were to open, boots clicking, spurs jangling. Only two empty seats remained. The one next to Rowena, between herself and Minerva and one between Professors Sinistra and Vector. He grinned brightly and moved towards the one next to Rowena, but she placed a hand over the back of the chair possessively, and he instead took the other without embarrassment.
As soon as he was seated, the doors at the end of the hall magically opened, and the students began to file inside. Minerva leaned conspiratorially towards Rowena, across the empty chair, smiling. "They are enchanted so as not to open for the Opening feast until all the Professors have taken their seats. Albus had to modify the enchantment years ago for Severus. He avoids being on time to these things whenever he can."
Rowena laughed, "Yes, Albus told me of that earlier. It's rather unlike him, usually, isn't it? To be late to anything, I mean?"
Minerva frowned slightly and rolled her eyes a tad, "Severus was one of my most dedicated students when he was here at school. He has very little patience for students who are not equally driven as he was—which basically includes everyone. He's quite unpleasant to the children—you will see."
"Oh, I can imagine!" Rowena said, with another laugh. Her eyes then went to the students, and she engaged in "people watching". It was immediately evident who were the friends, the groups, the 'cliques'. The two Weasley children were obvious at once, and she gave them both a small wave as they grinned her way. Harry Potter was with Ron, as was the girl she remembered from the Memorial—Granger.... Hermoine, that was it.
Over at the Slytherin Table, Draco Malfoy gave her a very formal nod of recognition, which she returned with a polite smile and nod of her own. She was going to have to watch herself. She was determined not to be prejudiced or biased in her instruction with the students, but she definitely had a bad feeling about Draco.
Still, Severus had overcome similar odds, hadn't he? Was it possible that Draco was redeemable? She resolved to make no assumptions about him based on his behavior while under the sharp, watchful eye of his father. She would wait and see how he behaved on his own.
Nearly all the other students were strangers to her. Marietta Edgecombe she recognized from pictures her mother had, as she knew her mother from the Ministry. A few others she recognized from similar reference. But none she had actually met.
When most of the kids had found seats, and while they were chattering happily, Minerva left the room to collect the Sorting Hat, stool, and first year students.
The Sorting was nearly over when Severus entered the room through the same side door Rowena had done nearly half an hour before. He was glowering darkly and didn't meet her eyes when she smiled at him, though he took the empty seat next to her with unconcerned grace, nodding in acknowledgement of her silent greeting.
He scanned the room intently. He very methodically took note of each and every student in the room, annoyed to have missed so much of the sorting. He had an excellent memory for names and liked to know the names of each student before they entered his class. It added so much more to his intimidation factor. He knew most of the intricacies of the interactions amongst the student population. He was Slytherin to the core, after all. Knowing the acquaintances, allies, and adversaries of each student was always very useful.
His ruminations and studying of the current student body, and particularly the exchange of dark glares with one Mr. Harry James Potter were interrupted by Rowena's gentle hand on his thigh. It was merely a gentle caress, meant to get his attention without attracting the attention of others. His body, to his annoyance, responded to the touch at once with a quickening of his pulse and a tightening in his groin. Which of course got his attention, though his anger at her brother was by no means diminished, and reflected itself in his bitter scowl as he turned to look at her.
"Severus, what did Remus do?" she asked, once again annoying him further by her apparent perceptiveness.
He had caught Malfoy's interested stare in their direction, and so decided to put on a bit of a 'show' for his benefit. Turning in his chair to face her more fully, he draped a casual arm across the back of her chair. He wasn't even really touching her—for anyone else, it would have merely been a casual gesture. Many teachers did this all the time as they moved closer to one another to speak and be heard over the loud hum of the student chatter. For Snape to do such a thing, though... to put his arm around the rather pretty young woman that no one knew yet, elicited precisely the response he wished, in exactly the right quarters.
He leaned forwards so that he was speaking in her ear. His face nearly brushed hers. For all the world he might have been a lover whispering sweet nothings. Indeed, her face flushed pink and her heart began to beat a little faster at his proximity. The part of him that was cataloging all his interactions with her noticed her tremble with pleased satisfaction, and also delighted in the soft fragrance of her hair.
His words, though, when he finally spoke, were angry and bitter. "Your dear BROTHER seems to have sunk to new lows, Lupin. After I had carefully detailed to him the many things I had devised and contrived to arrange for the safety of his paramour, I was forced also to tell him some of the rather unpleasant consequences that may arise from her charade. His precise words, at that point, were, 'How do you live with yourself', in reference to my role in all this."
Her sharp intake of breath and stiffening of her back gave him pause a moment. He was angry, to be sure. What did Lupin know of how he lived with himself in light of his past and present involvement with the Death Eaters? The words echoed in his head, eating at him like a cancer. 'How do you live with yourself'... did he not ask himself that same question nearly every day?
He barely COULD live with himself. Did no one understand that? Well, Albus did a bit, perhaps. Rowena. Merlin's Beard, Rowena didn't understand at all! She thought it could be all forgotten and washed away, a clean slate, by some ephemeral thing like 'forgiveness' or 'redemption'. One does not forget or wash away the stain of guilt for the kinds of things he had done. The kinds of things he was still capable of doing when the need arose.
"Oh, Severus! He didn't!! I'm so sorry! After all you've done for him...," her hand was still on his leg, and she had squeezed it gently. Her eyes, when he leaned back to look at her, were glittering with anger and indignation on his behalf. The gentle blush of excitement at his proximity had risen to a flush of anger.
This, however, only provoked him further. Her blind trust was again eating at his conscience. His past actions were too horrific. He had no right to any semblance of happiness. He had done nothing to earn the affections and trust of any decent woman, and certainly not THIS one.
He hissed in her ear again, "You are so bloody naïve, Lupin! HE'S the one who's got the right of this. Of me. You just don't get it!"
The sorting had ended and Dumbledore had stood giving the words to start the feast so that the table was suddenly laden with food. He stopped his rant, looking away from the sharp reproach in her eyes. He determinedly brushed her hand off his leg, and resolutely ignored her for the rest of the meal.
He allowed himself to be drawn into vague comments with Minerva regarding the potential of the newest batch of students. She was far more optimistic than he was. Rowena equally unconcernedly chatted with Flitwick about her lesson plans for the first few classes, and ignored him with equal determination. Severus did not miss the speculative glances of the Cowboy from across the table, and told himself he didn't care.
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"Now that we have all been made comfortable by our excellent feast, I have a few start of term announcements," Albus began, standing and addressing the hall. "First, I would like to introduce you to our newest Defense Against The Dark Arts Professor, Dylan Howard. He is from America, and I'm sure will be a fine addition to our esteemed faculty."
Dylan stood briefly when Albus gestured to him, and bowed slightly to the hall as the students clapped politely. He wore dark blue wizard's robes over his usual 'cowboy' garb. Rowena noted the amused looks that passed between students in the Hall. He quickly sat and Albus continued.
"We also have a newly created class, Magical Theory and Research. This is available only to fourth years and above, and will be taught by Professor Rowena Lupin." Rowena felt herself blush slightly as she stood. Public speaking and crowds were NOT her forte. She had a moment of wild panic as she wondered what possessed her to agree to teach. She sat quickly amidst the polite applause, but also heard whispers of "Lupin" and knew the students were wondering about her relationship to Remus.
"Hogsmeade visits this year will be closely chaperoned. I need not tell you that our world is currently in the midst of dangerous times, and we will not be taking any needless risks. To that effect, please be aware that curfews this year are going to be very, VERY strictly monitored. This is not the time to be sneaking to the kitchens at midnight for a snack...."
A few more notices regarding Quidditch and some of the clubs, and the students were dismissed from the Great Hall. Albus immediately strode to the Gryffindor table and collected Harry Potter before he had the chance to leave. The boy gave Albus a look that could only be called sullen and resentful, almost bitter, but he did follow the Head Master to the staff table. To HER, in fact.
"Professor Lupin, I believe you met Harry Potter this summer?" Albus asked genially, his voice low to include only herself and Harry. She nodded but said nothing. On her other side, Severus was ostensibly listening to Minerva, though she suspected he was listening to what Albus had to say instead.
"I need Harry to be instructed in Occlumency. I need someone I trust to do this. I would like YOU to do this," he said, simply.
This was too much for Severus to ignore, and he snorted loudly in derision, turning in his chair to regard the three of them, "That's rather the blind leading the blind, Albus, don't you think? Have you examined Lupin's Occlumency? Her weakness is the same as his—emotion. If you get her riled up with any sort of emotion, which is easy to do, her discipline falters. You might as well let me continue it and be done. If he can behave with some semblance of self control and keep his nose out of my personal business, that is."
Potter had paled visibly where he stood, sullen and silent next to Albus, and was shaking his head wordlessly. He was apparently horror struck at the idea of doing the lessons with Snape.
Rowena rose from her seat at the table and rounded on Severus angrily, "Oh, yes. That would be a great benefit. Let's put him in a room with the person whom he dislikes the most and who dislikes him equally, and let them start throwing spells at each other. I heard enough rumors of how well that worked last year. I think not. You can have him after I've had a chance to teach him the basics."
"I taught him the basics. He didn't practice," Severus snarled, no less angrily, though once again finding himself an unwilling admirer of her spirit.
"Professor Snape," she bit back, "surely you are aware that, 'Clear your mind and prepare to defend yourself' does not constitute the basics," she said sarcastically.
"It ought to be sufficient. I learned entirely on my own. He is lazy and doesn't try!"
"ENOUGH!" Albus's sharp voice broke through the argument. "This is precisely why I wish Rowena to teach him, if she is willing, if Harry is willing. She can show him how to compensate for the weakness which you have pointed out, Severus. The practice will eventually strengthen both of them. And there is no past history of unpleasantness to make things difficult. Now. Harry, Rowena, I think at least once a week is imperative."
Rowena and Severus were still staring at each other angrily, breathing hard. Rowena was the first to look away, to look at Harry. "I would be glad to help you, Mr. Potter. Will Monday evenings be convenient?"
Harry had been standing in open-mouthed wonder as he watched Rowena and Snape argue. Snape didn't pull his wand on her, which he more than half expected him to do. She didn't back down from him, either. Harry had thought that she sort of fancied Snape, but decided now he must have been wrong. She surely wouldn't have criticized him as she had done if she liked him, would she? Though he had been equally critical talking of her 'weakness'.
He didn't know what to think of this Lupin, but she was Remus's sister, and she had stood up for him to Snape. Both in her favor, so he nodded, "What time should I come to your office, Professor?"
"Whenever you've finished your evening meal is fine, Mr. Potter. I'll be in my office by six. I'll see you tomorrow evening then. Unless you're taking my class?" She hadn't gotten a final student roster yet, her class being so new, and so had no idea who had signed up for it, aside from Draco Malfoy.
"Er..., Well yeah, I sort of signed up for it last week. Um... well... Professor Lupin... I mean, the other Professor Lupin....," Harry stammered, uncertainly.
Rowena sighed and rolled her eyes, but she smiled rather knowingly at him, "Ah, let me guess. My brother asked you to take my class? Maybe asked you to 'keep an eye' on me?"
Harry grinned sheepishly, "Well, yeah, he did. But I was thinking about taking it anyway." He looked anxiously then at something over her shoulder. She didn't need to look to know that Severus had stood behind her.
She heard him make a small, derisive noise in his throat, and then the soft swish of his robes as he turned away. She could just see him out of the corner of her eye as he left the room.
"Alright, then Mr. Potter. Tomorrow in class and then after dinner." She gave him a slight smile and shook his hand.
Albus met her annoyed gaze with a rather amused one of his own and smiled happily, "Capital! Very well then, Harry, off to your House." He watched him walk away worriedly and then sighed.
"Ah, Rowena. This has been a hard few days for you, dear. Severus is always especially irritable after a difficult assignment. It's nothing personal." He offered his arm and walked out of the Great Hall with her. "I'll let you in on a bit of a hint about my dear friend, Severus. Maybe you've already figured it out on your own.
"He doesn't believe he deserves to have anyone be kind to him. When he's feeling particularly unhappy about what he's been asked or forced to do, any level of kindness just makes him angrier. It's rather backwards, I know, but it's been true of him ever since he came back to us. Maybe always."
A wistful smile crossed her face as she nodded, "I know, Albus. It doesn't change my feelings for him a jot. But I'm certainly not going to sit by and let him trample all over me. I was so relieved to see him back safely, and then at the feast it was like he was an entirely different person than the man I left in the hospital wing a half hour before. My brother had more than a little to do with that, though, and his anger was justified.
"I just don't intend to let him take it out on me. I understand the anger; I don't even blame him for being angry. I can support him in his rages. I'm not afraid of him. But he won't respect me, and I won't respect myself, if I sit idly by and let him rant at me like it's my fault. Or rant at someone else just to have a convenient target. I think we're going to have some issues. Harry Potter might end up being a rather large one."
Albus laughed warmly and patted her hand as they reached the door to her quarters. "You are likely right at that, Rowena. I think its good for Severus to have someone like you around. If it helps you at all, I do believe he has become rather fond of you."
Rowena grinned happily and kissed his very hairy cheek, "It does help, Albus. He has a rotten way of showing it, but my heart tells me you just might be right."
"Always trust your heart, Rowena," he said, very solemnly, and then turned to walk away down the hall.
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Oh, this was a fun chapter to write. Snape has been dying to jab at Potter since the Memorial. He will get in much more before the story is complete, I promise. I also got tired of Rowena being so patiently accepting of Severus's rages. Things will be rocky but spicy for a while now.
Thank you for the reviews and suggestions. Yes, Rowena has done a bit of research with the Unforgivables, you will learn more of that later. Occlumency is going to be fun! Rowena is more than a bit unconventional in her teaching methods. We will also see the DA again soon, though perhaps not the next chapter.
Like everyone else, I crave reviews. If you liked my story, please recommend it to others. Many people avoid "original character" stories out of fear of "Mary Sues". I am trying to make sure that Rowena, aside from her classic "Mary Sue" Snape obsession, does not take on any other "Mary Sueish" characteristics.
Thank you, and happy reading!