He kind of wished he hadn't been sent back to walk the earth as an immortal and he especially didn't want to walk hallowed grounds of Hogwarts. Not because of all the destruction and death that hung thick in the air like a veil of morbidity, no, there were questions he was going to have to answer; her questions. The little know it all Gryffindor whom once she sunk her claws into something, she would be relentless until she got an answer that was logical, and right now he didn't have the energy or the care for her shenanigans.

He knew she would hound him at every chance she had trying to push him for questions on to how he ended up walking through the front doors without as much as a scratch upon his person. Of course, Potter was the one that was there as he took his last breaths as a mortal and left the world behind but with Potter came Granger and he knew she was there. The much too observant little Swot was going to the bane of his existence. He could only hope that she chose to leave Hogwarts and not return and then he would have his peaceful life.

He snorted and rolled his eyes; as if that would happen. No, the girl would be back for another year of offered education without a doubt and he knew she was going to make his life a living hell, ironically the one place he had just been expelled from.

And it was confirmed the moment he had traipsed back into that hall without as much as a limp or a misplaced step, without a much as a scratch upon his neck and his skin only marred by dried blood smattered sporadically across neck and face as if it were someone else's and not his own.

The great hall full to the brim of people with the injured and the dead as the sobs ripped through the otherwise quiet air, as woman, men and children sobbed of lifeless bodies of family and friends. And there she was, the Granger girl looking at him as if Dumbledore himself had clawed his way unmercifully from his own grave and crawled back through the front doors.

Confusion etched in every line in her face as she elbowed Harry hard in the side and inclined her head just so, almost undetectable.

Green eyes looked at him with deep regard from behind glasses as if trying to piece things together and couldn't. This was going to be awkward he had just seen some of the man's most intimate memories and now he had to stand here and look him in the eyes.

The Weasley boy wasn't with them which piqued his interest until he realised the sobbing that had rent the air as he walked in was emitting from Molly Weasley, the matriarch of the Weasley clan and he couldn't help but notice the sea of blinding red hair amassing around a stretcher and his stomach dropped just a touch. He hoped it wasn't one of the twins because he found that duo funny and amusing despite what others may think about them; he would never let anyone know he was fond of them, however.

Minerva bustled around from group to group giving a much-needed pat on the shoulder or a reassuring smile, of course, deep down she was lost and numb inside at the death of all those around her and the destruction of the castle she called her home. Later, when people were feeling up to it she would gently ask them if they could get together and start the repairs although she knew it would take many hours of manpower and much magic to restore the castle to its former glory.

She looked up as she was about to sweep along to the next group and she stood stock-still on the spot, mouth agape she tried to form words but couldn't. All she could do we move agilely towards him with much more speed and finesse that a woman of her vintage should probably display.

"Potter told us you were dead," her deep Scottish brogue all but a harsh, barked whisper as eyes bore into him with accusation pinning him heavily beneath her gaze.

"You don't know the half of it," he whispered back, shakily running a white hand marred with his own dried blood through onyx hair shakily. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

"You can tell me that story later, Severus. You aren't dead and if you aren't injured I could use your help for a plethora of tasks if you don't mind."

Her tone of voice told him that he didn't actually have a choice in the matter and he would be helping if he wanted to or not because she was a persuasive woman and she rarely took no for an answer.

She turned away from him and took two steps, stopping once she heard him talk once more.

"I'll help if you tell me who the Weasleys lost." He tried to crane his neck to see but the gaggled of Weasleys huddled tight around their fallen.

"Fred Weasley," She managed to sigh out sadly. "Tonks and Lupin are gone too," she managed to choke out, turning away hurriedly as the tears began to prick at her cheeks

"Oh." Was all he managed to mutter out as he felt a slight emptiness within him at the revelation. He wasn't close to the man by any means, but he still couldn't believe he was gone.

"Professor Snape?"

He was pulled from his stupor by the soft female voice gently flowing in his direction like a gentle breeze during summer and he looked for the source. Of course. Her.

"Yes, Miss Granger?" He snapped through gritted teeth before relaxing his expression a little and trying again, "Yes, Miss Granger?" He asked levelly and civilly this time. Given all that had happened and all those that lost their lives show some niceties during the otherwise dark times wouldn't go astray.

"You were dead. I saw it with my own eyes how are you here now?" Arms folded tightly across her small chest as she pinned him under her gaze with the same force as Minerva had done not long ago.

"I went to hell and the devil sent me back."

She narrowed her eyes for a minute as if processing what he had just said. "Don't you think you could have come up with a better story than that, Professor?" She pursed her lips, showing her disapproval before turning on her heel and stalking away.

And there it was the start of her proverbial witch hunt and truth-seeking where she would relentlessly hound him until she got an answer that she could logically comprehend.

A/N: Just a little filler chapter to keep you all sated. I'm not sure how often I will update this story, I will aim for at least once a month, hopefully, more but I do have quite a few stories on the got and I like to spread the love.

-Aliasmel1