To those who did review, thanks a lot! I really appreciate it!

duj- There's no Confundus charm on the glasses, all the people are just really too stupid to tell the difference. And Snape didn't clean the shower because he doesn't clean up other people's messes. He's a man of principles like that, lol.

Thanks for the review!

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Chapter 3

"Bloody Lucius," Snape mumbled as he strode down to the staff room. He prayed that Lucius wouldn't do anything stupid whilst he was away, and he thought about the evening that he was about to endure.

Severus hated the the Welcoming Feast and the Sorting Ceremony. He hated sitting for two hours watching a new bunch of dunderheads be sorted and then stuff their mouths unceremoniously with food. But, there was one thing he hated even more than the Welcoming Feast and the Sorting Ceremony and that was the first staff meeting of the year.

Dumbledore had always taken the opportunity to get all of the instructors in one room so that they could all meet one another and embarrass themselves. He'd always sat very quietly, even keeping his snide comments to himself, hoping that Albus would overlook him just one time and let him escape with his dignity. But, it never worked.

However, he always grunted out something along the lines of, "I'm Severus Snape and I'm the potions master. I have no private life as I'm a slave to Hogwarts and its Headmaster, so leave me alone." He had no idea what he was to say this year and really didn't care. His sole goal was to make it out with uttering the least amount of words as he could.

He neared the staffroom and making sure his glasses were intact and secure, opened the door and walked in. All of the other professors were already there, including one new face that he assumed was the new potions professor, a young woman with shoulder length dark hair and glasses. She glanced at Severus as he walked in, while continuing her conversation with Professor McGonagal.

Severus noticed that the only seat available was next to the new professor and he groaned to himself, knowing that it wouldn't be long before he was bombarded with questions from the young woman and forced into a conversation that would clearly waste much of his precious time. But, he sat down, nonetheless, turning away from the woman to face McGonagal at the head of the table who cleared her throat, bringing the staff to attention.

"Welcome to the first staff meeting. I would like to take a moment of silence for our former Headmaster Albus Dumbledore," the entire staff bowed their heads(AN:There ya go readers, a moment of silence. Now, stop grieving!) Minerva continued, "Now, I thought we'd start the first meeting the way Albus used to," Severus groaned and lay his head on the table. Minerva ignored him. "Let's start by introducing ourselves. Since we have two new faces here, I think it's only prudent that they begin. Professor Snap, if you'd be so kind as to say a few words about yourself."

Snape rolled his eyes and adjusted his glasses on his nose as he stood up slowly. He addressed the staff briefly, "I'm Professor... Sullivan Snap and I'll be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts. I look forward to working with all of you," he started to lay it on thick. At the blank looks on all of the staff he added, "That's all I have to say," and sat back down smoothing out his robes.

"Aw, c'mon, Sullivan. You can do better than that," Minerva teased poking Severus in the arm and smiling. He looked daggers at her and she backed down, going instead on to the second professor, the young woman sitting next to Severus.

The young woman stood up and smiled sweetly at the staff. She cleared her throat nervously and began, "Hello, I'm Professor Shayla Reed. A lot of you already know me as I graduated from Hogwarts eight years ago. Since then, I've been studying potion making and working in the apothecary in Diagon Alley. I can't wait to begin the school year as it's always been my dream to teach. Like Professor Snap, I look forward to working with all of you." She finished and sat down.

Minerva smiled at her, "That was very nice, Shayla. Sullivan, you could learn a thing or two from her," she chuckled nudging Snape with her elbow.

He granted Minerva a sarcastic smile and allowed his mind to wander while the rest of the professors gave their little introductions. He began to wonder how he ever got into this situation wondering what horrible things he must have done in his past life to deserve such punishment in his present one. Finally, after what seemed like hours, Minerva adjourned the staff meeting, informing them all to meet in the great hall in a half an hour to commence with the Sorting Ceremony and Feast. Severus groaned inwardly, a migraine forming in his head. He fought the urge to take his glasses off and rub his eyes, for removing them would surely put his identity in jeopardy. He wondered how all of these people could be so daft as to not recognize him.

He excused himself from the staffroom. Well, he didn't really excuse himself, more likely he slipped out when no one was looking. The other professors were all engaged in excited banter, of which he had no use for. He had just begun walking briskly down the hall when he was accosted from behind by the very sort of person he was avoiding. The new Potions Mistress, Professor Reed.

"Professor Snap?" she inquired and he turned around not saying anything. The expression on his face said enough. He looked at her as if to say, "Yeah, what do you want?"

"I just wanted to introduce myself," she said a bit shakily, put off by his stony silence.

"You already did," he replied his expression not changing.

"Ah, so I did. But, it's just that you look so dreadfully familiar," she continued.

Severus raised an eyebrow, he was becoming worried. Shayla had been his student a few years ago, he realized. He didn't remember her, but he knew she would remember the dreaded Professor Snape.

"Well, I've never seen you before," Severus said tersely.

"Oh, well. Sorry to have bothered you," Shayla replied slightly disappointed.

Severus snorted and replied, "Indeed," and he turned and continued on his way down to the Great Hall. He hoped to get there before all of the students started piling in so he could have at least a moment's silence before the chaos began.

Severus reached the Great Hall and took his seat at the staff table, laying his head down hoping to rid himself of the migraine that was forming. He knew it was futile for in a few moments, the professors arrived and started finding their seats around him. Their mindless chatter annoyed him to no end. But, what annoyed him more is that the Potions Wench was seated next to him.

"At least she's talking to McGonagal," he thought. "Hopefully I put her off enough to abandon any further attempts at a conversation with me..."

Shayla turned to face him, the smile still intact on her face.

"Oh, bollocks," he thought pinching the bridge of his nose. "Here it comes..."

"I'm so excited to be working here," she said trying to engage Severus in the polite conversation which he so hated. "Aren't you?" she asked.

"Ecstatic," he replied dryly.

"Ever since my last year here it's been my dream to teach potions."

Severus snorted. "You won't be saying that for long..."

"Why is that?" she asked innocently.

"Because," he said, "most of the students here are dunderheads who only take pleasure in annoying their teachers. And those who aren't, are know-it-all's who only take pleasure in showing you up."

"But, you've never taught here, right?" she asked wondering how he knew the condition of the students.

"Shit," Severus thought. "What the hell was I thinking? Shutting up now."

"Oh, look," he said trying to distract Professor Reed from his costly mistake. "Your precious students are arriving now."

He and Professor Reed watched as the seventh year students started filing into the Great Hall and taking their seats. This is the part that Severus dreaded, for among those students was the Golden Trio; Harry Potter and his little followers. He knew they would surely recognize him and his cover would be blown. Luckily for him, they hadn't noticed him yet.

Moments passed and all of the students had taken their seats. Severus tried to discourage Shayla's attempt to talk to him by facing the other direction and pretending to be very interested in Hagrid and Flitwik's conversation about the new chaise lounge Hagrid had just bought for his hut. He mused that Hagrid and Lucius would get along very well as they both had a flair for home decor. And then the Sorting Ceremony began.

Severus occupied himself by imagining each child being sorted being beheaded. He fantasized mounting the heads on the walls of his office. His eyes had become glazed over and he was deep withing dreamworld until he noticed that the Boy Wonder was staring intently at him.

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"Check out the new professor," Harry whispered to Ron and Hermione while the sorting was finishing up.

"She's hott," Ron observed in his usual piggish way.

"No, not her," Harry said pointing to Snape. "That dude."

Ron laughed, "Chexors out the glasses." Harry laughed as well.

Hermione stared at the two in indignation. "Stop being mean, you two. I'm sure he can't help his eyesight," she said, hushing the two boys.

"Yeah, but he can help his glasses looking stupid," Ron whispered, sniggering at his own joke. "I mean, take Harry for instance. He wears glasses, but he doesn't go around looking like that."

Ron glanced over at Snape and noticed that he was also staring at something intently. And that something seemed to be Harry.

"Harry, mate, I think the new professor has a thing for you," Ron chuckled.

"Sweet!" Harry exclaimed.

"No, not the chick," Ron laughed. "The glasses dude. He's staring at you."

"Stop it, Ronald," Hermione chastised with her usual uptightness.

"I'm serious! Look for yourself!"

Harry glance back at Severus to find that he was indeed staring at him and for a moment they made eye contact. However, Harry broke it in an instant, slightly embarrassed. He even blushed a little.

"See, mate. I told ya."

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"Well, he hasn't hexed me into oblivion yet. I guess that means I've managed to fool him," Severus thought as he stared at the Golden Trio. He noticed Harry glance in his direction and they made eye contact for an instant. "Is he blushing?" Severus wondered to himself when he saw Harry look away.

"Ahem," McGonagal began as she stood up to speak. "I would like to introduce two new members of our staff: Professor Sullivan Snap," Snape stood up to be recognized, "will be taking over the Defense Against the Dark Art's post. And Professor Shayla Reed will be our new Potions Mistress." Applause erupted in the Great Hall for the newly appointed teachers. "Now, let's commence with the mouth-stuffing!" McGonagal concluded sitting down and helping herself to the food on the staff table.

Severus didn't have much of an appetite as his migraine had gotten worse during the Sorting, so he just had some mashed potatoes. Glancing down at the Gryffindor table, he noticed that yet again someone was staring at him. But, it wasn't Harry this time.

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"He looks awfully familiar," Hermione said thoughtfully looking up at the staff table where Severus sat.

"I was thinking the same thing," said Harry.

"I think he used to come to my pilates class," Ron added.

Hermione and Harry turned to look at Ron in unison completely weirded out.

"What?" Ron asked with his mouth full.

"Well, whoever he is, he keeps staring at you, Harry," Hermione admitted.

"Raog isk tu jubb oks toab," Ron added his mouth trying to process his food. Hermione nodded in agreement. Harry just looked confused.

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The feast ended and McGonagal ordered the students to have a good night and all the students piled out of the Great Hall to go to their respective common rooms. Severus was reluctant to return to his rooms as he knew Lucius was waiting for him there, but he also didn't want to wander around the halls much for fear of running into anyone and being forced into conversation. So, he opted in favor of going back to his quarters.

Outside of the door he remembered that Lucius was an idiot, so he took off his glasses so as not to confuse him. He opened the door and was met with a narrow-eyed stare from Lucius.

"Where have you been, Mister?" Lucius inquired, his hands on his hips.

"You know damn well where I've been, not that it's any of your business," Severus replied, pushing Lucius out of the way and heading into the bathroom to make a tinkle. He had drank a lot of pumpkin juice.

"I stay here all day, laboring to make your living space clean and this is the thanks I get!" Lucius asked, his temper mounting.

"So, you did clean the shower, then?" Severus asked, not bothered by Lucius' behavior.

"You bet I did. It was in dire need of cleaning! I don't see how you live like this. I don't know what you would do if I were to leave you." Lucius waited for Severus' reaction.

"I'm not playing housewife with you Lucius, so you can forget about it," Severus stated.

"Aw, mannn."

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So, chapter 3 done. I think I'm really getting the hang of the characters. Expect more soon and remember that good reviews make a happy writer!