Raven lets out a snort but says nothing to the Professor as he exits the room silently. He looks around the deserted corridors before making his way down to the dungeons. It was clear that the Professor was putting Snape in charge of him. A small smirk forms on his face. The dark lord may not trust the greasy haired potion master but Raven trusted him with his life. And for a very good reason. He stops in front of a large wooden door and pushes it open. Inside was the potion's classroom. He steps inside and looks around. Nothing had changed. Not one little thing. Even the dust was the same. Looking around his eyes fall upon one seat in particular. It was his old seat. He heads over to it and rests his palm flat and closes his eyes. Memories flash through his head. All the insults that Snape had given him and his fellow Gryffindors and all the points he had given Slytherin. He pulls his hand away and sways, only to feel something solid holding him up. His eyes focus on the form of the very man he was sent to find. Severus Snape.
Upon seeing the classroom door open Snape goes to investigate. Seeing Raven inside he watches him closely until he sees him sway. He rushes forward and catches the boy before he collapses onto the ground. "Why...Mr. O'Reilly has finally decided to grace the walls of Hogwarts once again." He sneers but it soon fades into concern. "Are you alright, Raven?" He lets his eyes scan the boys pale and sweat covered face. "I told you not to over stress your powers, boy. This is all still new to you and very dangerous." A frown etches across his sharp facial features as he watches the boy.
Raven takes a few deep breaths and nods. "Sorry Sir. I just wanted to get a feel for the place again. The memories are still fresh." He then pushes away from Snape and stands on his own. He crosses his arms over his chest. "Dumbledore has sentenced me to stay with you while I am on Hogwarts grounds. The old man does not trust me. And yet he still seems to have ample fate in you. I would say that you're a very good actor to keep him fooled all this time." He raises an eyebrow and waits for a reply from Snape.
Severus brushes his all back attire off and looks at the boy. "I do what has to be done, Raven. As for him not trusting you...Did you really think that he would? After all he was involved with the whole ordeal four years ago. He gave the order to have you removed from the school grounds and placed under permeant care of your muggle relatives. He is still prejudiced by those events. He doesn't know the truth. Only Draco and myself have been honored with those details." He sighs. "Enough of this small talk. Voldermort is having me investigated am I correct?"
Raven nods and looks at the floor. Snape was the only person, besides Draco, that could make him feel any kind of emotion. Right now he felt pity for the old Potions Professor. "Yes Sir. Lord Voldermort thinks your acting is a little too real and just wants to make sure your still loyal to him and the cause. I am assigned to that little job, father." He states matter-of-factly. "Who better to test a father than his own son?"
Snape frowns. "What did I tell you boy? Never address me as father in public. We can't have that blundering fool of a Headmaster snooping around. Not when we are so close to being done. Is that understood, Raven?"
With a sigh Raven nods. "Of course it's understood Sir. I was only trying to lighten the mood. It will never happen again." He needed to change the subject. "Do you know when Dragon is getting here? That pain in the arse keeps changing the dates with every owl he sends me."
Severus looks around the Potions classroom and nods. "He will be arriving in two days. But when he arrives we will have to be extremely careful. After all Dragon is a suspected Death Eater. That means if we meet in private, suspicions will be peaked and we don't need that. You two may get away with it since you were both trained by the warlocks up in the mountains."
With a snort Raven nods. "Suspected Death Eater? Thank god we've been lucky up to this point. The werewolf and Black were a surprise when they joined so the information was safe. Then there is you. Withholding some of the findings. Makes one wonder...Don't it?" A sneer close to Snape's appears on his lips. "But also remember Professor. I'm the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. I know nothing about Potions so calling upon you for instruction will be acceptable. People don't need to know that you personally tutored Dragon and myself in the fine art of Potion making." An amused look is plastered on his face.
Snape blinks but soon his lips form into a sneer. "Very true Mr. O'Reilly. But I think the information about Dragon will have to become public since he is assigned as my apprentice." He shakes his head. "I don't know how you two pulled it off. Both of you getting assigned to Hogwarts at the same time these particular positions open up. That takes some skill. But I would have rather had you, instead of Dragon, as my apprentice. He does not fully understand the importance of Potions. But he will do. After all...twins should have something in common. Maybe he has the skills buried somewhere inside that blonde head of his."
Raven chuckles. "Really Sir. Don't talk ill of Dragon. He is a good kid, just needs to get his priorities straight. And yes he does have the skills. But due to his lack of stamina he refuses to show them. After all when you have a skill people will actually want you to use it. But if you don't have the skill or appear not to have the skill, nothing can be expected of you. We have more than enough in common to make three sets of twins. And besides, Dragon has no real experience with the Dark Arts. Sure he practices them but I am the one that spent my younger years fighting against them. I think I have a better understanding for what Dumbledore expects to be taught to these children." He lets out a small chuckle. "Dragon would end up recruiting the students for instead of teaching them how to fight against Lord Voldermort."
Snape shakes his head. "Yes. I believe your brothe..." He stops when he hears a noise coming from the doorway. He turns and his black eyes scan for any sign of an intruder. He lets out a sigh before continuing with guarded words, knowing exactly who was hiding in the shadows. "I believe Dragon would not do well as a Defense Against Dark Arts teacher. A Potions Master requires fewer brains and less knowledge of life threatening curses. But learning them on the side would not be a bad idea. I expect that you will help our young Mr. Malfoy in mastering some of the counter curses that he may need in the future?"
Blue eyes follow black as he looks to where Snape was looking. He also notices Snape's change in wording. "I do believe Sir. That you just made a joke at your own expense. And yes, I will teach Draco the same counter curses that I will teach the students. Speaking of which...Miss Granger? You may refrain from hiding in the shadows now." He glances at Snape and gives him a wink.
A young women steps from the shadows. Her heart was pounding and she looked very pale. She had just been caught by the new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor and to make matters worse Snape was there. She reaches a hand up and smooths cobwebs from her straight brown hair. "Sorry Professors." She mumbles.
Snape smirks. This was going to be fun. "Miss Granger. It's always a pleasure to see my best student." His voice was laced with sarcasm. "Explain yourself. I am truly disappointed in your actions. Already starting out on the wrong foot and with the new Professor around. Shame on you. Fifty points from Gryffindor, beginning at the start of the term."
Raven watches the girl in front of him with shock in his eyes. She looked nothing like he remembered. Her hair was no longer curly and bushy. She had also grown into her curves. He shakes the thoughts out of his head as he meets her eyes with his cold ones. "Miss. Granger. I have heard all about you from Severus. I will not tolerate a know-it-all-show-off in my class. Is that clear? Ten points from Gryffindor, beginning at the start of the school year. Speaking of which. What are you doing here one weeks before the start of the school term?" He crosses his arms over his chest and waits for a reply.
Hermione takes a deep breath and slowly lets it out. Tears form in her eyes. She had gotten sixty points taken off her house in a matter of a few seconds. This was all she needed. Now she was being interrogated by the new Professor. "Sir. My parents were killed by Voldermort, two weeks ago. I have been staying here ever since. Professor Dumbledore says that this is the only safe place for me. I am sorry for bothering you..." She trails off as she turns and bolts out of the classroom.
Raven blinks and his brow furrows in confusion. He was feeling a emotion that he hasn't felt in a long time. He was feeling bad for treating her so...Snape like. "Miss Granger, wait!" Before Snape can stop him he is out the door and following the sobbing girl. He easily catches up to her and grabs her elbow. "Wait. Let me apologize for acting like a prat back there. I'm sorry to hear about your parents and now that you mention it. I believe I remember reading a report about it. It slipped my mind since so many deaths have occurred in the past few months. Lord Voldermort is on the rise and no one is safe. So please forgive me?" His voice was soft and held a hint of caring. He lets her arm go.
Hermione sobs but stops feeling someone grab her. She doesn't bother to struggle. After hearing a the Professor ask for forgiveness she wipes her eyes and looks at him. He didn't look any older than her and there was something familiar about him. "Sir. If I may ask...how old are you?" Her voice sounded tired and older than her eighteen years.
Raven sighs and leans against the cold stone wall. "I just turned seventeen two months ago. Since I already know your name its not polite of me to withhold mine." He offers her a hand. "I'm Raven O'Reilly and I will be your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher for the year." His crystal clear blue eyes sparkle with warmth.
She sniffles and takes his hand, shaking it. She pulls back feeling a jolt of what felt like electricity run through her body. "Raven is a odd name and O'Reilly... Are you Irish?" This was the first person, other than the Professors in class, she really talked to since Ron's death last year.
He chuckles. "No. I'm not Irish and yes Raven is a odd name. My father gave me the name after the bird. He always said that it fit me since my hair is the color of the Raven's feathers. Why don't we continue this conversation over a cup of tea in my quarters? I believe it will be more comfortable than out here." He looks around the empty corridor and shivers. He didn't like this place. Especially at night.
She smiles and nods. "That would be wonderful but I don't want to intrude." She lets her eyes wonder over his chest and they land on the Slytherin crest that he wore. How could this man be a Slytherin and why hadn't she seen him before? They had to have went to school together since they were around the same age. Maybe she would ask him later?