The students descended upon Hogwarts like a plague. Well, at least in Severus's opinion. Although considering all the extra class time he'd managed to assign himself this year, he hardly had room to talk. He'd watched the nervous first years get sorted into their houses and dutifully clapped each time a new Slytherin was named. He'd caught sight of Hermione when she entered the hall and sat amongst her peers at the Gryffindor table. He'd wanted to owl her once he'd returned to the castle but had decided to wait until she'd arrived.
The headmaster's welcoming speech was more serious than prior years considering the looming threat. He'd announced the optional evening and weekend defense program. The response was mixed and rather predictable. The more studious students and the Ravenclaws (of course) seemed most excited, as did anyone who had aspirations of joining the auror program after graduation. The children were told they could take as many or few classes as they wished. A sign-up sheet would be available the following day, and the first classes would start the following week. Severus assumed some students may change their mind about the program when they saw what classes were on offer. The Quidditch minded hoard would most likely fight for spots on Madame Hooch's defensive flying class.
*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*
After class the following day, Snape asked Hermione to stop by his office that evening after supper. She seemed somewhat surprised by the request but nodded eagerly in acceptance before rushing off to her next class. Prompt as ever, she entered his office at 8 pm on the dot, and Snape quickly ushered her into his quarters. Within moments they were both sitting in their usual chairs in front of the fire with a pot of tea sitting between them.
"Miss Granger, first I would like to apologize for so abruptly ending our correspondence this summer," he started. "I'm afraid that I ended up with an unwanted houseguest and didn't wish to give him any reason to snoop."
The girl seemed somewhat surprised by his confession. "Oh," she said and frowned. "I thought I had gotten a bit…tedious. I have a tendency to do that when I'm not paying attention."
"No, Miss Granger, you weren't tedious at all," he assured her. "Now, what did you think about the evening classes that were announced yesterday?"
The young witch perked up considerably with that question. "Oh, sir, it's brilliant!" The witch exclaimed. "I can't wait for them to start."
Severus smiled at the girl's enthusiasm. "And have you given thought on whether you'd like to continue your lessons with me now that you have so many other options?" he asked. He honestly didn't want their lessons to end, but the whole point of them was to prepare her for war. She had a decent proficiency with Occlumency now. She wouldn't be able to withstand the Dark Lord, but very few could. It would most likely be sufficient. Although, he felt she had the talent to go further with the skill, but he wanted that to be her decision, not his.
"Yes, of course," she said vehemently. "Unless, you are too busy, sir. I feel like I still have so much to learn."
"That you do, Miss Granger. That you do," he agreed. "I am willing to continue our lessons. Assuming you have time in your busy schedule."
"I do, sir. I'll make time," Hermione insisted.
"Were you planning on taking all the additional classes?" Severus asked.
"Most of them, sir, but not all. I have no interest in ever getting on a broom again," she said.
Severus chuckled. "While I do believe that flying is a valuable skill to have, " he started. "I also believe it may be in everyone's best interest to keep your feet firmly planted on the ground."
Hermione scowled at the man. "How did you ever manage to ride a thestral all the way to London?" Severus continued. "Which I'm assuming you couldn't even see."
"I kept my eyes closed and held on for dear life," she answered with a grumpy little huff.
The wizard couldn't help but laugh again. "All the way?" he asked.
"Yes, I was afraid I'd fall if I looked down, and I thought I might throw up on the thestral," she said defensively.
Severus found himself laughing yet again. He tried to compose himself so as to not embarrass the girl further, but he couldn't seem to help it. He just kept imagining the swotty little thing perched atop a thestral with her eyes tightly closed and vomiting onto the unsuspecting masses below. He looked over to his student and saw her looking at him with wide eyes and her hand over her mouth. He was about to apologize, when a giggle escaped her, followed by another and another. Suddenly the dam broke, and they were both laughing together at the absurdity of it all. It felt good to share a laugh with someone, Snape decided.
*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*
They agreed to move their lessons to Wednesday evenings while her friends went to the defensive flying class. True to her word, Hermione signed up for every other available class. Severus had chosen not to teach an independent evening potions class. Slughorn was more than happy to allow Snape to take the lead and simply offered to stand in should Snape require it. So, Severus consulted with several of the other instructors and decided to lead potions labs that would tie in to lessons taught in the other classes. Pomona was teaching a class in foraging, and Snape would conduct the lab showing how the gathered ingredients could be used. Poppy was to teach basic healing, and Snape would instruct the students on how to make the healing potions that were discussed. This would allow him to be flexible should he needed…elsewhere in the evenings.
There was still the matter of Draco. The boy refused to divulge his plans, and refused his help at every turn. The stubborn little git was fraying his patience. He'd made a damned unbreakable vow to protect Draco. He'd also promised Albus he'd protect the boy, but the boy in question had no desire for assistance. The little idiot still thought he'd been bestowed an honor instead of a death sentence. He wasn't sure how to get through to the younger wizard.
It made him wish that Lucious was free. If anyone could get the boy to see reason, it would be his father. Draco idolized the man and would surely listen to him if no one else. But Lucious remained behind bars for the time being so it was up to Severus, alone, to look after the misguided youth. He only hoped that Draco wouldn't get either himself or someone else killed by accident in the meantime.
*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*S*
The evening defense program was a bigger success than anticipated. The older students enjoyed the lax atmosphere and the lack of homework. If a student decided they didn't care for a class once they started, then they were free to stop attending. Alternately, if a student wanted to start a class after hearing how much their friends enjoyed it, then they could simply start attending. As long as there was space available, that is. They just had to advise the instructor if they wanted to leave the class or join it so that the instructor could properly prepare for the class size.
Tonks and Shacklebolt were the most popular teachers. Despite how rigorous their classes were. They encouraged physical fitness, and many students had taken to jogging in the mornings to increase their stamina. Snape started to see the results in his own DADA classes. They were as rigorous as the evening classes, yet the students saw him as a ruthless dictator which suited him just fine. He'd leave the pleasantries and encouragements to the aurors.
He sat in on the first weekend intensive that the two taught at the end of September. He was impressed with the enthusiasm they generated amongst the children. The duo ran them ragged, but for the most part the students left exhausted yet with smiles on their faces.
Dumbledore approached him as he watched the children depart. "You've done a great thing here, Severus," he said to the younger wizard.
Snape looked over to him, "You mean Minerva did a great thing."
The old man smiled, "Yes, yes, Minerva did a great thing. I must admit, I didn't think that the students would be as interested as they are. I have been receiving requests from the younger years asking to participate. I don't think I've ever gotten so many students asking for extra classes." Dumbledore chuckled. "You must be a miracle worker, my boy."
"Hardly," the dower man replied. "The credit goes to the instructors. I didn't think they would be able to come up with so much on such short notice. They are the miracle workers."
The headmaster gave a noncommittal hum, then asked, "Do you have a moment?"
Snape nodded his consent and followed the older wizard to his office. Dumbledore sat behind his desk with a weary sigh and the younger man frowned. "Don't look at me like that, Severus. It's to be expected."
"How far has it progressed?" he asked, and Dumbledore lifted his sleeve. Severus jumped up to examine his hand. The blackness has spread to corrupt the man's wrist. "Are you in pain? Do we need to adjust your potions?"
Dumbledore gently pulled his hand from the other man's grasp. "It's nothing I can't handle, Severus," he said. "Besides, any more and I wouldn't be able to preform my duties as headmaster. You slowed the progress, and that is more that I could have hoped for."
Severus nodded in agreement and swallowed thickly. He hated the reminder of the man's impending death and his own role in it. "Has Mr. Malfoy confided in you?" Albus asked.
"No, I've approached him several times, but he's certain that he can do this on his own. I have no idea what the little git has planned," Snape groused.
"Be patient, Severus. I'm sure he will come around. The boy is misguided, but he isn't evil."
Snape agreed, but he still hoped that the idiot didn't get anyone killed in the meantime.
"I actually asked you here to discuss something else," Dumbledore said. "As you know, I've been training Harry to take over the Horcrux hunt after I'm gone. This week he asked me about resuming his Occlumency lessons."
Now, that surprised the potions master. While, he had absolutely no interest in training the boy again, the events at the Department of Mysteries made it abundantly clear how necessary such lessons would be. He'd do it. He wasn't happy about it, but he'd do it.
"I was thinking Miss Granger may be able to teach him. You said she was quite proficient. I wanted to ask if you thought she would be up to the task," the older man asked.
Surprised again, he responded, "I believe she could manage it. She has the skill for what needs to be done, and I have no doubt that she would jump at the chance. I do wonder how you plan on explaining her proficiency."
"I plan to tell him that I had asked her to take lessons with you as well when she expressed interest in the subject. Also, that I told her in exchange, she was not to tell anyone of them, even Harry."
"He won't be happy she kept this from him," Snape pointed out.
"No, I imagine not, but I will try to direct his anger towards me as much as I can. I will talk to Miss Granger and ask for her assistance then. Thank you for your input, Severus. It is much appreciated," he said.
Realizing that their conversation was over, Snape rose to leave. "Oh, and Severus?" He turned back to the headmaster. "You really are doing good work here. Times are far too dark not to celebrate your victories."
Snape found himself unable to speak. He simply nodded to the older wizard and left the office with a bit more warmth in his heart than had been there before.