Again, not a challenge to the marketing monolith that is the Harry Potter empire...just a little bit of fluff...
Hawiian Girl/Red Bess Rackham - If you could see the entire story as I can, you might change your mind. Or it could just be my warped and twisted Aussie sense of humour. And for the record, I hate Draco...
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The sorting was over, the feast consumed, and Blaise Zambini was absolutely exhausted. The amount of mental effort it required to face the rest of the school with a confident face, just took it out of him.
Passing through the wards into the Slytherin common room was a relief. The calm, serene, supportive colours lifted his spirits. He paused to take in the comfortable worn tartan couch, the colourful beanbags, the lush floor coverings, and the numerous posters on the walls with pictures of friendly people saying things like "You Can do it" or "Turn that frown upside down" …
He slumped down onto his favourite chair, just to the left of the picture of kittens romping in a meadow, and watched as Professor Snape introduced himself to the firsties.
The moment Snape had crossed the wards, his entire appearance and demeanor had shifted. No longer the stern, sarcastic, greasy, and much feared Potions Master; he was garbed in light emerald robes, his hair clean and slightly curled, an open and friendly smile on his face. It was his eyes that changed the most though…from dark, withdrawn and closed…they were now shining with emotion…love, caring, empathy.
He walked slowly over to the five first year students, kneeling down before them, he reached out and drew them…one by one…into a caring hug, the kind of hug a parent gives a loved son or daughter.
Around them, many of the older students had tears in their eyes, remembering. For most of them, the Professor was the first person to ever show them affection, to show them that they were deserving of a parents love.
As the evening passed, and his wards toddled off to bed, Severus went from room to room, dispensing hugs, pats on the head, and reassurance. It had been a long and stressfilled day...