Chapter 8: The Making Of Rounds
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{A/N: Here's Another Very Long Awaited Update...}
The Front Room, Snape's Quarters, Slytherin Dungeons, Hogwarts Castle, Wizarding World...
It was a somber feeling, knowing that he'd be departing Hogwarts castle after all these years for, as the charming Muggle expression went, "Greener Pastures." Part of him had been looking forward to it. His life had no longer been reduced to the care of snot nosed brats of wealthy ingrates. He could see the world and the long cast shadow from his past had no place here. He'd more than made up for his youthful folly in joining the dark lord on his twisted quest for power and dominance within the wizarding world and ironically achieved just that in the last few years alone. Harry James Potter was alive and well and all debts owed to one James Potter I had been paid in full. Lily could finally rest in whatever afterlife would have her and the threat of a "dark lord" had been nearly forgotten, at least until the next inevitable one rose in the despot's place.
Severus Snape had been presented with freedom and power beyond that of his initial wish when he'd been little more than a despised and helpless child. Second chances at life did not come often for people like him and he intended to make the most of it. The only downside to his newfound freedom had been the fact that once again he had to leave his mate behind. It was a necessary move of course, she still had school to finish and a life to live without the threat of looming warfare. With his time coming to a close at Hogwarts Snape decided to tour the dungeons while they had been filled with his students one last time.
The usual whispers about him coming from all the students were amusing to say the least. He had enjoyed his fair share of moments terrorizing the new arrivals and parting ways with the older students embarking upon their next great adventure. It was an odd thing to venture into the dungeons and hear most of the students silent despite being present. He figured many or all of them had witnessed his transformation at some point during the final battle and were reluctant to match wits with a known werewolf despite Remus Lupin prowling the halls as well. He made an adequate replacement for Umbridge as she abandoned her various posts and invited herself to posts that had not belonged to her.
Severus Snape had not been sorry to see the deranged loon gone and in fact delighted in the absence of those he felt inferior. She, like her police hound Greyback had lacked the will to lead and simply thought fear was a course of action due her station. Snape turned his attention to Draco Malfoy whom had approached him while he'd been lost in thought. His godson looked no worse for ware following the events of the second wizarding war and even still seemed quite content to be the alpha male of the halls once his godfather had taken his leave of them.
Lucius and Narcissa both insisted he return to finish his education that was vastly sidelined due to the second wizarding war and the various obligations on their part. Draco had not cared one way or another about what the future held for him and his status as a werewolf was ever present.
"Off to terrorize the new arrivals Uncle Sev?" asked the sleek blond younger werewolf.
"Already beat me to it?" replied Snape with something of a smirk filed across his sallow pale face.
"Well someone has to keep up with the tradition." replied Draco with his arms folded across his chest and his back pressed against the nearby wall. "You were getting sloppy with the terrorizing now that you're shagging Granger full time."
Snape rolled his eyes none too pleased about his godson's vulgar outlook on his relationship with the younger Hermione Granger. Still he could have sworn he detected a hint of bitterness in the tone of the young lad despite all appearances to the contrary.
"I'll never understand what it is that you see in her." continued Draco still seemingly annoyed. "She's as dull as dried paint but I suppose you're fond of shagging her so she's got to be good at something."
Snape smirked accepting the backhanded compliment on the part of his witch as he moved passed his embittered godson. He knew Draco well enough to know that most of his bitterness was about his upcoming leave and he hated the idea of it almost as much as Hermione had but it couldn't be helped.
The last thing he wanted was to be confined to a cage for the rest of his life. He'd already been imprisoned as it was being here at Hogwarts for all those years.
He didn't believe Draco would be pleased with the present outcome either but it was something they all had to endure until further arrangements and better treatment for werewolves had been established within the wizarding world. Umbridge and her ilk including the likes of Greyback had seen to the prejudices getting to the point of outright violence when one of the wizarding kind even suspected anyone of being a werewolf.
Remus Lupin had known all too well what wizarding kind thought of werewolves and Severus Snape had experienced his own fair share of being on the receiving end of it despite their collective efforts to keep both the wizarding and Muggle world's safe from the despot during the second wizarding war.
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The Dungeons, Hogwarts Castle, Wizarding World...
The patrol had not gone as Severus Snape had anticipated as most of the Slytherin students were more in awe of him than terrified especially when it came to his standing as a werewolf that saved Hogwarts and all of their lives during the despot's reign of terror. He supposed it was only fitting as he had his fair share of terrorizing the students during his term as Head Of Slytherin House. He had hoped his replacement had even bothered to hear out the students and actually take the time to look after them. He had not liked baby sitting much but he knew what it had been like to be a child left to their own devices when the adults had been no where in sight to lend a helping hand.
He had managed to teach his snakes to be resilient and to always look out for one another even if the other students and teachers treated one of them as if they were mere waste at the bottom of their boots. Despite his behavior to the contrary, Severus Snape had been quite proud of his students, most leaving Hogwarts with high marks and taking on bigger and better responsibilities not including daring and respectable positions throughout the wizarding world.
The Headmaster had elected to steer clear of Snape for the time being following their exchange with the centaurs and it appeared Hermione was busy with her current classes. With the coast most definitely clear, Snape made the trip back to his private quarters fully expecting to get a bit of rest before the day was done or at the very least a moment to himself before his witch had been finished with class.
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Severus Snape's Quarters, The Slytherin Dungeons, Hogwarts Castle, Wizarding World...
Feeling the effects of exhaustion once more, Snape entered his private quarters only to be surprised via a random visit from his oldest and dearest friend whom had not been in the least happy to hear the news of his imminent departure from Hogwarts Castle and The Wizarding World as a whole.
"So when were you going to tell me you were leaving you pompous arse?" growled an angry Lucius Malfoy as he stood amid the shadows of his younger counterpart's private quarters with his arms folded across his chest in a fashion similar to that of his son.
"Pompous arse?" asked Snape with an arched brow. "Isn't that usually your thing."
Lucius rolled his eyes.
"Don't try and change the subject Severus." he growled in annoyance. "When were you going to tell us that you were leaving...once you disappeared and by owl like a coward."
Snape's eyes suddenly glowed red for a few moments before he charged his old friend head on pinning the handsome blond into a nearby wall.
"Poor choice of words." replied Lucius whom had nearly forgotten that not only did Severus Snape despise that word but that he'd been a surprisingly strong werewolf at the same time.
"See to it that you don't make that mistake again." growled Snape this time letting the effect rumble in his tone in dire warning.
He released Lucius and made his way over toward the makeshift bar pouring himself a glass of fire whiskey in a bid to calm himself.
Lucius made a showing of dusting himself off and righting his attire before gripping his notorious serpent cane that doubled as a holder for his wand.
"What I meant was...you should have told us you were leaving." continued the irate Governor of Hogwarts.
"And how did you propose I do that?" asked Snape. "It's not as if this was entirely planned, it was a spur of the moment thing and mostly due to necessity, The Ministry Of Magic made it quite clear that due to my current status as a Hound Of Hircine I am no longer welcome within the confines of the wizarding world."
"That bitch Umbridge." muttered Lucius realizing that this supposed war on all things half beast and half blood related had put his own son at risk due to his own werewolf status.
"Indeed." replied Snape. "If it makes you feel any better, Hermione isn't too thrilled about it either as she'll be finishing her education here at Hogwarts while I look for gainful employment elsewhere."
"Sounds like you've found something." said Lucius observing the younger wizard he considered to have been as close in bond to him as a biological brother with a smile.
"As a matter of fact the invitation came to me." replied Snape recalling the message sent to him via the mysterious Headmaster Kodlack. "It was an invite to teach at Frostmount College."
"College?" asked Lucius. "Is that something like a Muggle University?"
"It's apparently a kind of safe haven for magical creatures and those of half blood and half beast status that were rejected via the wizarding world." explained Snape. "It seems an ideal place for a werewolf such as myself and if all is as it should be it would be better to send for Draco once I am established."
Lucius seemed to relax at the implication that Snape intended to send for Draco once he'd been established at the new school.
"Well that was all you had to say." he replied with something of a smirk. "And here I thought you were seeing your way to ditching us all."
"And that is why you do not get paid to think." replied Snape turning up his fire whiskey and taking a drink.
"Quite right." agreed Lucius. "Well I'll leave you to it then, and do inform me if and when you head off to this magical college then...I shall like to know when to prepare Narcissa and Draco for the departure."
Snape nodded and finished off his fire whiskey before heading toward his bedroom where he planned to await the arrival of his witch once he'd gotten a bit of rest. Lucius saw his way to taking his leave and the dungeons grew relatively quiet once more.