AN: You know I might get all of these chapters posted before anyone looks at this. Ha, not going to happen. Enjoy.
Chapter 5
Snape had already taken a seat between Ginevra Weasley and Hermione Granger, he shuddered when he heard Umbridge's name. As an adult he knew she was not someone to trust at all. Unfortunately, the current Gryffindor prefect had felt that shudder.
"Alan, are you alright?"
"Yeah, just that Severus warned me of her."
"Warned you?"
"Anti-everything that is not pure blood, wizarding or human. As a ministry employee she will shoot down anyone who says Riddle is back."
"Riddle?"
"The dark lord's name before he cursed it."
"Why would someone curse their own name?"
"You know the phrase speak of the devil?" Hermione nodded. "He took it a bit literally; he is also the reason there's a new defence professor every year, he jinxed the placement. Dumbledore would not give it to him."
"That's crazy."
"That's a deranged madman for you."
"How do you know all of this?" Hermione seemed anxious to know the answer.
"I know Severus better than I know myself." Alan stated, Potter's eyebrow twitched at the wording since he knew that Alan was Severus. Hermione was about to speak again but Ron interrupted her.
"Your less closed off then I thought you'd be."
"Just because I'm a Snape does not mean I am an emotionless bastard. I suppose you thought you were making a compliment?" Ron nodded. "Then thanks, I think." Snape bowed his head slightly.
"Your welcome, Snape?" Ron answered questioningly.
"Alan."
"What?"
"My name. It's Alan."
"Right. I guess Ron's fine then." Snape's eyes widened slightly in a confused expression.
"You don't have to feel obligated you know." Once the long speech of Umbridge was over Ron looked at Hermione who sighed and was about to explain but Snape beat her to it. "The ministry is interfering at Hogwarts, and you three are in for a rough year." Ron looked amazed at Snape.
"You multitask? I thought was a girl thing?"
"Severus taught me, unless your implying that Professor Snape is secretly a woman?" Ron shook his head so fast it was almost comical. "Besides Granger was focused on our conversation not what she was saying. Its just something I'm good at, so." Snape shrugged.
"We have our own little spy?" Ron seemed gleeful with the prospect of Snape spying for them, little did he know he already did.
"Severus said you had a tactician's brain, Ronald. Hermione's the encyclopaedia…" Snape looked over at Hermione. "Please don't take that the wrong way. And Potter, well I cannot in good conscious repeat that in mixed company." Harry snorted.
"Yeah that sounds about right." By this point Harry, Ron and Hermione realised that the hall was beginning to empty. Hermione looked at Ron.
"We should get the first years and Alan to the tower."
"I can follow you up later, unpacking shouldn't take that long?"
"Depends on how much you have to unpack."
"Right, I'd better go with the tiny ones then." Snape began to move with the crowd until a certain voice called to him. He turned to the voice. "Yes, headmaster?"
"Professor McGonagall would like a word with you." Snape instinctively swallowed.
"Yes sir. Where can I find her?"
"Behind you Mr Snape." A hand lay gently on his shoulder which he subconsciously pulled away from. McGonagall frowned just enough for it to be noticeable, she turned to Granger. "Miss Granger, I'll take him myself." When she looked back at Snape, she could easily see the typical student panic. "Don't worry so Mr Snape, you're not in any trouble. I just want to ask your opinion of something."
"Yes mam." Snape silently followed McGonagall to her office. He knew he wasn't in trouble, but the fourteen-year-old part of his brain insisted that he was.