Chapter 9

Quick message:

Yes, I know Snape isn't evil and I knew that there were parts of the last chapter that people didn't agree with and I'm kinda surprised that I didn't receive more hate than I did. Please if you don't agree feel free to tell me but make your criticism constructive instead of condescending. If you believe the author's idea to advance the plot was badly thought out just consider that it may have another purpose behind it involving character development or an ulterior motive that was not explained in the story yet. When you start a comment with "did you know" or "just saying" just remind yourself that, yes, the author most likely knows and please stop patronizing the author. And no I do not hate Snape, I believe that just like Draco he has a lot of potential character development and I am playing into that in a way that best fits the future of this story.

Previously:

"Stay out of this mudblood" snarled Snape, eyes widening as soon as the word left his lips. Many students gasped, including Slytherins.

"DON'T YOU CALL HER THAT" screamed Harry, a surge of anger overtaking him. Every glass jar in the classroom suddenly exploded and wooden shelves splintered loudly. Hermione was blasted back from Harry and caldrons were shoved off the desks. Harry stumbled backwards as students looked back and forth from the two in a mixture of horror and amazement.

"Bloody hell mate" muttered Ron. Harry looked at students who were desperately trying to get their shoes off before the potions that had splashed through them managed to touch their skin. Feeling a horrible mix of guilt and horror, Harry began to back away from a bleeding Hermione.

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry," he repeated before racing out the classroom door.

"Sir it was a mistake I..." tried Severus Snape once again.

"I don't want to hear it Severus!" cried Dumbledore rubbing his temples in an effort to thwart his oncoming headache. Snape sat silently, studying his colleague's face.

"Severus..." sighed Dumbledore, no longer looking as angry, "do you know how many complaints from students I have received in the past week about your behavior in class?" Snape shook his head wearily.

"Thirty two" the headmaster said, "I...I understand the stress you're under with the certain, ah, extra projects you've had to take on lately. But I'm afraid that for many of the students and staff this was the last straw" Dumbledore lectured, watching the potions professor's face grow guiltier with every word, "I know you're not a people person and up until now you've been able to get by on intellect alone but that has to change Severus."

"I'm sorry Albus" Snape repeated, "I just...the boy pushed me to the edge and I...he looks so much like his mother." The last part was muttered so quietly that Dumbledore barely heard it.

The old face softened slightly with sympathy, "perhaps my soft spot for you has finally gotten the better of me Severus, I will allow you to continue to teach given that you apologize to Ms. Granger and promise me that habits from your time with Voldemort will not spill over into this life."

Snape nodded and sighed wearily, sinking down into his plush seat, "I understand." He paused for a moment before continuing, "The Potter boy. I just don't know what to do anymore."

"What do you mean Severus?" asked Dumbledore gently probing for more information. He hadn't seen the potions professor this vulnerable since Lily's death.

"At times all I see is James. I can see his arrogance, his hubris, his mischief...but as soon as I see him I see her; her eyes and intelligence and kindness" Snape confided sadly, keeping his black eyes trained on a far corner of the room.

"Severus, Harry is neither James nor Lily. As hard as I know it is for you to see him as his own individual person that he is. The poor boy has been through more than many of us combined and that has made him who he is. Although sometimes he can be a bit brazen and he has inherited his mother's kindness, he also has many traits that neither of his parents had. I do not ask that you like the boy, only that you treat him with the respect he deserves" Dumbledore said quietly looking up at the raven like man.

Snape nodded and rubbed his obsidian eyes wearily, slumping over in his chair. Dumbledore could not see anything but a broken man.

"I know...how difficult this must be for you Severus...how many bad memories have been shoved back in your face lately, but that will never excuse the behavior exhibited in class. I will expect much, much better from you from now on. Another 'slip up' like that will not be tolerated; even by me" Dumbledore repeated, giving Snape a look that sent a shiver down his spine.

Snape nodded, "Thank you for your leniency Albus." He stiffly stood and exited the room.

Dumbledore felt his shoulders slump as soon as he was once again left alone in his office. The old man had a sense of dread that had been growing in his stomach for the past few months. If it wasn't the strange rumors circling around the newest teacher it was the professor he had bet his career on multiple times calling a student a mudblood. Although he had know that Snape had struggled with the memories being brought to the surface, he had never expected the man to act as he had.

Then there was the question regarding Harry's magic. He knew something was wrong as soon as Harry survived the virus that had infected his magical core, but the burst of accidental magic he had displayed in potions class that day was unheard of in someone of his age and power. The results of his Ministerium exam made any kind of magical outburst at all almost completely impossible. He knew the boy had been having nightmares all year, but the questions that had been circulating around Harry made Dumbledore wonder if it really was Harry still in there.

The old man vowed to begin teaching the boy occlumency as soon as possible, if only to confirm his identity more than anything else.

XXX

"Good morning class!" greeted the always enthusiastic Professor Emrys. The fifth year Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs glared at him in reply. It seemed that none of them were morning people.

"Today we will be discussing vampire bats" began Merlin as the students slowly began to pull out their textbooks, "the information you will need for today is on page 295." Although he had planned on discussing the Patronus Charm today, the plump figure of Dolores Umbridge standing in the back of his classroom had stopped him from doing so. Many students had refrained from discussing classes at all in fear of drawing attention from the ministry witch.

"Although vampire bats are non magical creatures there have been instances in which they have been weaponized" he noticed Umbridge's brow furrow slightly at this, "for example during the infamous final of the first Quidditch world cup in 1473, Transylvania released one hundred of the little buggers into the Flanders team. I guess you could say they went a little batty with competitiveness."A few students snickered and the rest rolled their eyes with mock annoyance.

"I'm sorry Professor Emrys, was that information in the textbook?" piped up Umbridge, an evil gleam in her beady eyes.

"No, it is simply a fun fact that I believed some of the students would find interesting" replied Merlin, watching the pink witch wearily.

"I don't think it's necessary to expose these young individuals to that kind of violent information," she said in a high tone while making a mark on her clipboard. Almost every student swiveled in their chairs to look at Umbridge with a look of disbelief written on their faces.

"I would appreciate if you left any criticism of my lessons till the end Professor Umbridge" replied Merlin curtly, "these children do not need you damaging your education more than it has already been destroyed." Many of the students his smiles at his words, but the toady woman seemed to take it as a jab towards past teachers and not her annoying presence. She nodded curtly, her face unreadable.

Merlin taught the remainder of the lesson in peace. Although even he had to admit that the subject today was horribly boring. He had never seen his students look so relieved to leave his classroom when the bell rang.

"Professor Emrys, a word please" said Umbridge, strutting to the front of the classroom to face Merlin, "If you want to keep this job Professor Emrys do not exaggerate the violence in history so much in your lessons. We need not expose such young minds to those kinds of thoughts," said the evil woman seriously. Merlin felt words escape him and simply stood in front of Umbridge, mouth slightly agape. Was she serious?

"I'm sorry Professor I'll try not to make my lessons so horribly violent next time" said Merlin sarcastically. Umbridge's face turned an ugly shade of red and opened her mouth to retort when she was interrupted by the creak of the classroom door opening. Merlin peered past the horrible woman to see Headmaster Dumbledore standing in the wide doorframe with a kind smile on his old face.

"I'm so sorry to interrupt you Deloris, but do you think I could have a word with Ben for a moment?" he asked kindly, but forcefully. She send Merlin one final glare before storming from the classroom, her pink pumps clicking on the stone floor.

"Thank you Headmaster" sighed Merlin, visibly deflating, "I don't think I could have contained my temper for much longer." Dumbledore nodded but gave Merlin a stern look.

"We must treat all staff here with respect Ben, no matter any personal opinions we may have." Merlin made a mental note of the man's use of 'we'.

"May I ask why you've come to visit me Headmaster?" he asked, changing the topic of conversation.

"Albus is fine Ben. Actually, I've come to discuss Mr. Potter" the old man said seriously. Merlin felt his stomach drop, how much did the man know?

"He seems to have had a nearly impossible magical outburst recently, injuring one of his classmates. I've been informed that you were the one to heal him from the mysterious illness that plagued him earlier this year; is this some sort of side effect?" Dumbledore questioned, folding his hands in front of him.

Merlin sighed, "I will admit Albus I'm not any sort of expert on the subject. I've only seen it once before. From what I know, it consists of a magical virus infecting one's magic core and draining them of any magic energy" Merlin said truthfully, "magical outbursts makes sense."

"Yes, but I was also wondering why you lied to Poppy when you cured him of it" said Dumbledore, watching the other man's expression twist into one of fear.

"Yes...I'm sorry Albus but the way to cure the virus is extremely risky and I didn't believe I would get permission to perform what I needed to do before it was too late..." replied Merlin. And I didn't want anyone to try it but me, he added internally.

Dumbledore sighed and nodded, seeming pleased with his answer. "If it is alright with you professor, may I ask you one more question; I seem to be letting my curiosity get the better of me recently."

Merlin nodded wearily, "ask away."

"Are the rumors about you touching the crystal true?" he asked, old eyes twinkling.

Merlin laughed, "of course not Albus. A blinding light? A pink stone?" He laughed again and this time the Headmaster joined in.

"I thought as much, but I couldn't help myself" Dumbledore said happily. The two men talked for a few more minutes before Dumbledore turned to leave.

"Forgive me Ben, may I ask you one more question?"

Merlin laughed, "of course Albus."

"What was your house when you attended Hogwarts?"

Merlin looked at the man with a mischievous twinkle in his eye, "may I ask what your best guess is?"

Dumbledore smiled, "You are a very kind and intelligent man. You're passion when it comes to equality in the wizarding world makes me believe you were a Hufflepuff. But once all aspects of your personality are analyzed it points towards Slytherin, but for some reason that seems unlikely to me..."

Merlin smiled and walked past the Headmaster towards the door, "Forgive me Albus but I don't think I'll confirm anything just yet. I rather enjoy watching everyone try to figure it out".

Albus Dumbledore watched his youngest professor strutt out the open door with a sly smirk on his youthful features. Although he truly had no idea who Ben Emrys really was he knew he would have fun figuring it out.

I'm sorry this chapter is a little shorter but I really haven't had much time to write recently. I know I didn't mention Harry much in this chapter but I promise you'll all get answers in the next one.

P.S: I don't answer reveiws in the chapter unless it is something very important. If you wish to discuss part of the story with me or have any small questions feel free to message me and I'll answer anything you need to know (within reason).