Under My Skin

Disclaimer: Why do you have to remind me that I'm not JK Rowling, nor do I own her lovely people!

A/N: This idea has kind of been playing around in my head... and it was just screaming to be written, especially when I try to fall asleep! Hope you enjoy. Reviews make me update a lot faster. I'M LOOKING FOR A BETA FOR THIS STORY! Anyone interested? E-mail me. On with the story...

Chapter 1

As Severus Snape was being forcefully pushed in the Three Broomsticks by Minerva McGonagall, he began to wonder what his life had really come down to. It had been years since he had to answer to Voldemort, since the war was won in Potter's seventh year. So no more Dark Lord, no more Potter and company, and he didn't even have to stay with Albus Dumbledore, if he truly didn't want to. But, alas, fate kept him at Hogwarts to teach because he had no where else he'd rather be at the moment.

He was a much more happier fellow, but not the nicest in the castle by all means. He was no longer the "greasy bat", but he was still rather harsh on all the dunderheads that kept magically appearing every year. It was a wonder that anyone he had been teaching lately would be smart enough to make it to their next year. Which was why he was going to the Three Broomsticks with Minerva and Hagrid.

"Well, if you stop being such a baby, Severus Snape, you would get out of here a lot quicker," yelled Minerva over the hustle and bustle of the pub. She directed the two men to a rather big booth in the back where there was less noise. As it was summer holidays, there was more adults than children, so Severus didn't nessecarily feel he needed to get away from the crowd.

"I'm not being a baby, Minerva McGonagall. Now, please. I do not have any stress put upon my shoulders at the moment, and would like very much so if I continued to have none," he replied with an aura of sophistication. McGonagall rolled her eyes at him as they sat down in the large booth and called for Madame Rosemerta.

"Professors!" Rosemerta exclaimed as she reached the booth. "Why, I haven't seen you in ages, Professor Snape. How's it going?" she batted her eyelashes at the dark man and he raised a thin eyebrow. Noticing this, McGonagall replied with a smirk, "We're all doing fine, Rosemerta. I'll have a dry cider."

"Pimms an' lemonade fer me, ma'am," said Hagrid.

"Shot of whiskey, please," Severus said. Rosemerta smiled and went back to the bar to return the drinks. While waiting, McGonagall brought up the topic of the small staff at Hogwarts.

"I mean, honestly, three teachers all retired this past year! Albus will probably never find new teachers by next term!"

"Wha'? Who all leff?" Hagrid asked as his Pimms and lemonade was brought to him, as well Severus's whiskey and McGonagall's cider.

"Please tell me that you have noticed a shortage in our staff? Professor Verret left, the D.A.D.A. teacher, you great oaf!" Severus added as a dumbfounded Hagrid stared back at him. "As well as Madame Hooch and Professor Vector." He downed his whiskey in one gulp. Now he remembered why he never went drinking with the great brute in front of him.

"Oh," came the lame reply. "Don' blame me!" he added with a huff. "Gawd knows I haven' been in tha castle fer months! Been too busy wit' all them creatures I got back there."

"Anyway," continued McGonagall, "I wonder who Albus'll get for the teaching jobs."

"Ain't it obvious?" Hagrid, proud of his ingenious thinking, smiled.

"Sorry," Severus said slowly. "Minerva and I are not up to your standards, Hagrid. Please, enlighten us."

"The Golden Trio, o'course!" his smile brightened. But when he saw the horrid looks on his companions faces, his own became somber. "I missed sumthin', didn' I?"

McGonagall sighed and replied, "Harry Potter, sure. But not Ron or Hermione! Ron is off playing a pro quidditch team and...Hermione...we haven't seen her since after she graduated." She was greatly saddened at this, for Hermione had been her favorite student.

"Damn, Hagrid. You have not been in the castle, nor have you gone to any Order meetings, especially when we tried to look for Miss Granger?" Severus asked, and signalled Rosemerta once more for another whiskey.

"Don' blame me," he said quietly. And then he changed the subject to a more happier one, like all the cute little first years he was going to get to teach nex year. McGonagall and Severus gently lay their heads down on the table and listened to him drabble about the kids they were actually dreading.

When Severus returned back to the dungeons, he felt a bit tipsy. No doubt McGonagall felt the same way, for in the end, they drowned their boredom of Hagrid's drabble with whiskey and vodka. He entered his quarters and immediately fell flat on his quite comfortable black satin comforter on his bed.

He then thought back to the conversation about the Golden Trio. True, as he wouldn't admit it, they would be the best candidates for the posistions that were open. Potter with DADA (Grrr), Weasley with Quidditch teacher, and Granger with Arithmacy. But he was almost glad none of them would be able to do it. That meant he didn't have to put up with them. He already had to see Potter and Weasley at Order meetings.

Then again, as far as he can remember, Granger had always been rather pretty. Especially in her seventh year, when she had matured into a young woman. She had curves that most prostitutes he had seen didn't have... and nice breasts, as he could tell. He then began to laugh at himself for ever thinking these thoughts. For all he knew, Hermione Granger was in Asia with an Asian husband and an Asian/English kid. After laughing he immediately felt sleep come to him, and he didn't even take off his shoes before snores could be heard around the room.

The next morning was awful for a particular Potions Master. The hangover was practically unbearable; luckily, he had Sober-Up potion, so within the next few seconds, his headache was gone, to say the least. He took a quick shower after getting up and requested a cup of coffee from his personal house-elf, Mertle.

While resting in his sitting quarters and drinking his coffee, the stone fireplace erupted in green flames and Albus's head appeared. "Severus, we have a staff meeting at two o'clock today, to welcome our new teachers. Think you can make it?"

Severus grunted in response, and Albus's head was gone. Great, he thought to himself, new people, new faces...and probably new people who don't know that I don't like to be friendly. After finsihing his coffee, he realized it was already one o'clock. Must've woken up a lot later than I thought.

He dressed and set out to McGonagall's office with a spare Sober-Up.