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Chapter 2

After wiping his mouth and taking a swill of water, Severus couldn't take his eyes off Harry Potter. The boy that lived had grown up. And he looked even more like his godforsaken father than when he did as a teenager. Just with Lily's bright green eyes.

That he was alive at all was surprising in itself. Poppy had told him that Voldemort had been defeated by Harry, but his initial assumption had been that Harry had died in the process. Dumbledore had set him up to die, after all.

It turned out that he'd finally had that growth spurt he lacked when he was a teenager. He was a good few inches taller than his companion, and had also bulked out a little with broad shoulders. He was no longer the scrawny looking kid in ill fitting clothes, but a man in his own right. He didn't have the spectacles he'd had as a boy, which also made him look quite different. Severus wondered what led him to correct his vision, because as far as he was aware there was no spell or potion that would correct vision to that extent.

"It's good to see you, sir," Potter said, holding out his hand.

Severus just looked at it without moving. He didn't know what to do or what he was supposed to think. So Potter was now head of the MLE. Considering the boy had been an awful student he wasn't quite sure how he got there, particularly as he doubted he'd be able to cheat from Granger. He imagined that being the hero probably got him a long way, but he doubted it would be all the way to the top. Maybe the boy had matured after all.

Speaking of which, he moved his attention onto Miss Granger, assuming that was still her name. She was apparently Minister for Magic, which was both surprising and predictable at the same time. He imagined that she'd been aiming for the top job since she knew the job existed, but it was still surprising that a muggleborn could be Minister, particularly that one. He was fairly certain there hadn't been a muggleborn Minister before.

He glanced over her. Her wild hair was no longer the rats nest it was as a child. It was tamed into glossy chestnut curls that went down her back. Her robes were fitted yet classy, and showed off her womanly figure, something she definitely did not have the last time he saw her.

Which was technically earlier today, or yesterday, on his timeline. He was finding this time jump very hard to get straight in his mind.

Potter put his hand back down to his side and continued to study Severus. It made him feel quite uncomfortable having those eyes critiquing him in that way.

"Where's your tag along?" Severus asked, after realising the red-headed idiot wasn't around.

"Ron?" Granger asked, as if there was another.

Severus just raised an eyebrow.

"Harry sees Ron quite often," Miss Granger started. She smiled at her friend. "He's married to Ginny and they have three children…" The thought seemed to get stuck in her mouth, and she looked to Harry with a slightly horrified expression. He clearly caught her meaning and looked a little sick. Miss Granger pulled herself together first. "Ron works with George part-time in their joke shop, and also looks after his own kids as well as various other Weasley children. He's a great dad."

Miss Granger had an odd smile on her face, and he studied her more. He had to (begrudgingly) admit that she'd turned into an attractive woman, and she had a confidence about her that no doubt came with her age and her position as Minister. She was no longer the insufferable know-it-all. Or if she was, she at least hid it better. Since she couldn't even be forty yet, he wondered how long she'd been in the job.

"And not Fred Weasley?" Severus asked.

He noticed the atmosphere of the room suddenly change, and he realised he'd said something he shouldn't have.

"No. Fred died during the final battle," Potter filled in. "The loss of life on both sides was extreme."

Severus realised he hadn't thought more about the others that may have died. "Who else?"

Potter looked to Miss Granger and she answered his question. "Aside from Fred, Lavender Brown, Colin Creevey, and a lot of aurors and Order members." She paused for a moment. "Nymphadora Tonks and Remus Lupin both died."

He had quite liked Tonks, so was sad to hear she'd been killed particularly as he knew she'd had a young baby. But he didn't know what to think of Lupin's death as they were anything but friends. All of the Marauders had now died. He assumed that he'd been on Miss Granger's casualty list prior to today.

She continued. "On the other side, Voldemort, obviously. Also Bellatrix Lestrange " It was clear there was no love lost there, and she unconsciously moved her right hand over her left lower arm. He wondered what the crazy bitch had done to her. "Vincent Crabbe didn't make it. I know there were others, many others in fact, but those are the ones that stick in my mind." He suspected that Crabbe had probably done something stupid to end up dead.

"The Malfoys?" Severus asked the two of them, watching them both closely for a reaction.

Potter rolled his eyes. "They made it through okay. Although Narcissa passed away a few years after the battle."

Severus frowned. He'd always liked Narcissa. Her and Lucius were two of the only friends he'd really had, and they'd been a loving couple. Not many pureblood relationships worked the ways theirs did.

Potter continued. "Lucius Malfoy is no different to how he was before the war. Nothing seems to stick to that man." Potter rolled his eyes again like a petulant teenager. "Draco married Astoria Greengrass a few years after the battle, and they have a son the same age as my second son." Potter that odd expression on his face again. "They're both in Slytherin," he volunteered.

Severus raised an eyebrow at Potter. "You're telling me you have a son with the Weasley girl who is in Slytherin?"

Potter looked a little affronted. "You know the sorting hat wanted to put me in Slytherin. I chose to be a Gryffindor."

Severus couldn't hold back his smirk. "You'd have made an awful Slytherin," he commented.

Potter shrugged. "That's what Hermione always says."

Severus looked to the witch I question. "And your children with Weasley? No doubt they are as swotty as you were as a child. Well, I suppose we can hope they take after their mother, anyway in that respect. It would be a travesty if they were too Weasley."

She shook her head. "I'm not married to Ron. He's married to Daphne Greengrass." She smiled. "It's an odd couple in theory, but they work. Him being brother-in-law to Draco had led to some trials along the way, but no one has ended up in Azkaban. Yet, anyway."

Severus really struggled with that one; things clearly really had changed since the end of the war, as he was certain a Greengrass wouldn't previously have married a Weasley.

"Professor," Miss Granger started more formally, "we do need to ask you some questions about what happened to you. There are also some things we need to tell you about the intervening years."

He expected that this was probably the reason for their visit rather than a catch up. He nodded and watched as the two of them sat down by his bedside. Minerva, who'd remained quiet during their conversation, finally nodded to Severus telling him she'd speak to him more later and left the room.

.

Hermione studied Snape as her and Harry sat down. He looked exactly as he did the last time she saw him. Which had been when he was laying dying from a slit throat. She still couldn't believe he was alive.

His black eyes were on her, his face framed by a curtain of black hair and she couldn't help but feel like a child again. She needed to remind herself that she was a thirty-nine year old woman, and not a twelve year old girl.

It was Harry that started speaking. "Sir, can you please tell us what happened after we left the shack? As far as we knew you were dead."

"You were meant to think that," he answered with his characteristic snark.

"You had planned this?" Harry continued.

"Obviously."

"How? How did you survive both the slit throat and the snake bite?"

Snape raised his eyes to the ceiling and sighed in defeat. "I had been taking small amounts of antivenin for some time, and took a larger amount once you'd left. I was able to heal the wound on my neck reasonably well using an extra strength Dittany. And anyway, the wound on my neck wasn't as deep as I led the Dark Lord, and you, to believe."

"Where did you get the antivenin?" Harry asked.

"I am sure you remember, Potter, but when Arthur Weasley was bitten by Nagini in your fifth year an antivenin was used to save his life."

"You brewed that potion," Hermione interjected.

"Five points to Gryffindor."

Hermione rolled her eyes, and yet it was probably the most points he'd ever given her, even if he was being sarcastic. "You'd been taking it in case of attack."

"It seemed prudent. And I was proved correct. Once you'd left and I healed myself as well as I could, I performed the moventur tempore spell."

"That's not a spell I've heard of before."

"Shock, horror, Miss Granger! Believe it or not, you do not know everything. It is a rare and complex spell, and verges into the grey area between dark and light magic."

She ignored his sarcasm. "I'm assuming twenty-one years wasn't planned." He didn't grace her with a response to that. "How long had you planned?"

"A few hours. Long enough to make sure that the Dark Lord believed I was dead."

"And what if Voldemort had won?" Harry asked.

"Then I'd have found myself very dead," he answered with a smirk.

"So what happened next?"

"I found myself here. It seemed likely that more time had passed then I'd planned, but years was not what I expected." His black eyes studied her. "So what happens to me now?"

Hermione took a deep breath. "To be honest, we don't know. This is somewhat unprecedented. For now, let's make sure there are no adverse effects from the spell. I'm sure Minerva will have no problems with you staying here for now. No one else knows and you can get the treatment needed from Poppy. After that," she paused, wanting to shrug but feeling that would be unprofessional.

"After that? What? I get to live a normal life? I hate to remind you, but earlier today, the Dark Lord slashed my throat and set his snake to kill me because he thought I was the master of a wand. He didn't know I was working for Dumbledore. He tried to kill me purely because I was in the way. Earlier today, I saw the Dark Lord descend on the school I'd spent most of my life with intent to murder children. Children I had spent the last 7 years trying to protect!"

He was shouting by the end of his rant, which led to a coughing fit. Poppy rushed in to try and check on him, but was swatted away by an angry Severus Snape. His face was red and his eyes were scathing.

Hermione looked at Harry who clearly had no idea what to say, not that she knew either. "We're trying to understand, Professor," she said in a calm tone, but hoping she wasn't sounding patronising. "We get that we've had twenty-one years to come to terms with this, whereas you have only had a matter of hours. Believe me, not one of us was in a good place after the end of the war. So we have been there. We had close friends and family members injured and killed, but we have had the time to mourn, which again you have not."

"I can't say there is anyone I would mourn," he spat.

"I'd imagine not," she replied. "Is there anyone you would like to get in contact with?" Hermione had a bad feeling she knew who he would say.

"Lucius," he answered, confirming her suspicion. She'd really rather he wasn't involved, but she felt Severus needed some allowances and a 'friendly' face. "Can I ask what happened to my belongings?"

She again looked to Harry who did answer this time. "Your house in Cokeworth was emptied on your … well when we thought you had died. Since you didn't leave a will…"

Snape snorted. "I don't know who you thought I would leave anything to."

"Fair point. I believe Minerva placed your belongings from Hogwarts into storage, but you will have to check with her."

He nodded at her and spent some moments in seemingly deep contemplation.

"And what exactly has happened in the intervening years?"

It was Harry that answered. "After the final battle, many Death Eaters were caught, arrested and tried. Most of them are still in Azkaban. Or they're dead. The Malfoys escaped conviction thanks to Narcissa's lie to Voldemort and the fact that Lucius didn't even have a wand for the last year or so."

"What did Narcissa do?" He asked.

"You're aware that Voldemort created a seventh Horcrux," Snape nodded. "Thanks to the memory you showed me, I knew that I therefore had to die, and had to be killed by Voldemort. And I did. Only I also came back as he ended up destroying the Horcrux himself. After he Avada'd me in Forbidden Forest, Narcissa Malfoy was asked to confirm whether I was dead. She knew I was breathing, but asked me if Draco was okay. I answered that he was and she turned to Voldemort and lied to his face."

Snape looked impressed. "And you knew for certain Draco was alive? I doubt you'd have been able to lie."

Harry rolled his eyes. "Hermione, Ron and I had rescued him not long before from the Room of Requirement which was on fire from fiendfyre."

"Who cast that?"

"Vincent Crabbe. He didn't know how to control it." Harry paused for a moment. "It was what killed him."

Hermione stepped in. "After the war the Ministry was completely overhauled after extensive corruption was found. The likes of Delores Umbridge were also sent to Azkaban…."

"Good."

She smiled. "Kingsley Shacklebolt was Minister until a few weeks ago when I took over. Things are a lot better, and there has been peace for the most part. Every now and again there are a few witches or wizards who decide they want more power or feel that muggleborns should not be allowed into Wizarding society, but nothing sticks."

She paused for a moment, trying to work out how to tell him the information she needed to. "You should know that you were awarded an Order of Merlin First Class."

"I don't want it."

"Maybe. You have one though. It does come with a significant stipend."

"I'd love to know what happened to that," he answered with a sneer.

"Actually Lucius Malfoy stepped up as Trustee, so you'll have to speak to him about it. I understand he invested it with a plan to use it for a potions scholarship for the brightest students. As far as I am aware, it has not been touched."

"Why doesn't that surprise me?"

There was silence for a few moments while Professor Snape appeared to take in the information given, and Hermione thought back to the end of the war. She generally tried not to think about it, but it was hard not to right now.

After a moment Harry cleared his throat. "Sir, I'd like to talk about the memories-"

"No," Snape growled viciously. He was glaring at Harry for even starting that question. Hermione was questioning his sanity to ask that considering to Snape it had been only a few hours.

Harry was persistent, however. "I didn't know you were friends with her."

"Get out."

"I didn't know that you loved her."

Snape's face was red and he wordlessly summoned his wand, which was now being pointed threateningly at Harry. He was practically vibrating with anger, and she was surprised that he hadn't tossed a curse at Harry. She fingered her own wand in case she needed to through up a protective spell or disarm her former professor.

"Harry," Hermione said softly, placing a hand on his arm bit keeping her eyes firmly on Snape. "I think it's time we left. We can speak more with Professor Snape another time."

Harry stood still for a moment and nodded to Hermione before leaving the room.

"I'm sorry, Professor," Hermione started.

"Just go, Miss Granger."

She nodded her head and left following Harry. Once she was safely outside of the hospital wing, she couldn't hold back any longer. She grabbed him by the shoulder to make him look at her.

"What the hell, Harry?"

"I have always wanted to know what happened."

"And now is the time to ask? In his timeline it's been a few hours. I doubt he actually wanted you to know any of that anyway. He no doubt only told you because it was the only way for you to believe he was working for Dumbledore."

Harry took a deep breathe. "I do get that. I just…" He didn't finish the sentence.

"I do understand, Harry, but please think of this from his point of view. Come on, let's go. I need to speak to Kingsley and try and work out exactly what happened and what we do next."

.

Severus felt that he was seconds away from exploding. He hadn't been so angry since the same boy had looked into his Pensieve and seen one of his worst memories of his childhood. He needed a vat of calming potion right now. He instead focused on his breathing in order to calm down. He was actually quite impressed with himself that he hadn't cursed Potter. If it wasn't for the fact he still felt considerably weak and nauseous, he was certain that he may well have killed the Head of the MLE.

Around an hour or so later, Minerva came back to see him. He wondered if she'd deliberately given him some space to calm down after that particular visit.

"How the hell did those two get their positions?" He asked as soon as she came into his room.

She smiled, clearly proud of her former cubs. "They deserve it. They have both worked hard to get where they have, and haven't relied on their status following the war. Mr Potter was Head Auror until he took one the MLE."

"And I suppose the both came back here to study for their NEWTs?"

"Miss Granger did. Misters Potter and Weasley didn't. They went straight into auror training after the war. Mr Weasley left after about five years to join his brother."

"So they didn't deserve it then."

Minerva gave him a reproachful look that made him think he was the student again. "Severus, they defeated Voldemort. Yes, they had a lot of help, but that doesn't take anything away from what they did. Miss Granger always was academic, so it wasn't a surprise that she came back."

"What was it like after the war?"

Minerva took a seat. "The first year was terrible. There were so many students and teachers missing. Not only that had lost their lives, but many parents didn't want their children to return after what happened here. It took ten years for the student population to properly get back to normal. And that's not taking into account the fact that the whole Wizarding population lost a large percentage of its adult witches and wizards. There was even talk of a marriage law after the war, but that never went ahead."

"And what of Slytherin House?" Severus asked her.

"The most affected. If you thought things were bad before for Slytherin students, for those that came back to school, it was awful. Draco Malfoy was the only Slytherin student who came back after the war to take his exams, but he was quiet, fearful, and withdrawn. He got into a lot of fights with many students from all other houses, and I don't believe he started any of them. Him and Miss Granger oddly became quite good friends, and that ultimately helped him.

"Now, Slytherin has a strong leader in Anya Ollivander. She was a Slytherin in her time here 2000. After the war Horace Slughorn continued as Potions and Slytherin Head, but his heart wasn't in it."

He has never had any respect for Slughorn, and imagined that he hadn't even tried to protect the Slytherins.

Minerva continued. "I'm sure both Poppy and Miss Granger told you that you're welcome to stay here as long as you wish. Or until the new school year, anyway. I have asked a house elf to remove your belongings from storage, and they have set them up in the suite by the three-eyed witch on the fifth floor." He knew the one. It was actually a nice room with views across the black lake. He'd never be given that room prior to then.

He nodded to her in thanks, but restrained from actually saying it. "I have an owl I would like sent," he noted, picking up the thick parchment letter on the bedside cabinet that he'd written before she came back. He handed it to Minerva who frowned at the name on the envelope.

"Of course, I will get this sent straight away. Please let me know if there is anything else I can do for you."

He was planning to take advantage of that particular statement.

….

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