June, 1999
Severus Snape was not overly fond of visitors in any capacity, and Minerva was certain this included a former colleague showing up on his doorstep unannounced. However, within seconds of her brisk knock, the door swung open and there stood Snape looking at terse and unpleasant as ever. His pale skin appeared almost sickly in contrast to the severe black he wore. His hair was limp and in dire need of a cut, and from the scowl on his face, it appeared that even his mood had been unchanged since they had seen each other last.
"Minerva," he greeted her, looming in the doorway. He wasn't a particularly tall man, but he filled the frame of the small entryway. Minerva suspected that it was out sheer devotion to appearing as unwelcoming as possible at all times.
"Severus," she returned, taking a step forward. "May I have a few moments of your time?"
Without a word, he stiffly stood to the side to allow her access inside. Minerva glanced around as she entered. The house appeared largely unchanged since the last time she had been here years ago during Severus' own years as a student, although it was slightly less unkept now. The furniture was shabby, the lighting dim, but all in all it was neat, orderly room.
"To what do I owe this pleasure?" He said, gesturing for her to take a seat, which she did. While the sofa was worn and stained, it at least appeared to be clean, which was more than she could say for the sofa at Grimmauld Place. Harry Potter had many talents, but housekeeping was not one of them, and by the look of his house elf it might be a while before anything was done about it.
Clearing her thoughts of sofas and basic housekeeping, she made an effort to focus on the task at hand. "I would be surprised if you didn't know why I was here, Severus."
Snape sat down opposite her. "Skipping the pleasantries," he said, eyebrow raised. "How- unusual for you."
Minerva gave him a look. "Now, Severus. I have always known you to appreciate the more straightforward approach."
"Indeed," he said, barely moving. For a moment neither said anything. Several times, Minerva thought he would speak. Instead he merely observed her a moment before stating, "You want me to return to Hogwarts."
She nodded in affirmation, "That is the general point of discussion, yes."
"Why?" His voice was lazy, almost uninterested, but she knew better. And it hadn't escaped her notice that he had not immediately said no. His eyes continued to track her gaze, the small movements she made. He was trying to unsettle her. Unfortunately for him, it would not be that easy.
"Frankly, Hogwarts is in trouble. Instructors are leaving left and right, and if I can't get these positions filled, then students will follow suit. I need people with experience, people I can trust to their jobs and do them well."
Snape snorted. "I wouldn't worry about students leaving. Hogwarts is the closest school by far. Where will parents send their children? Beauxbatons?"
"It is not as ridiculous as you make it sound. People are still terribly shaken up over V-Voldemort," Snape scowled at her but she continued, "And they want their children where they know that they will be safe. After all that has happened in the last few years, people's belief in the safety Hogwarts offers was shattered. The end of last year was hell on earth, and I don't expect many students have forgotten it over night."
Severus blinked once, twice. "I can only imagine," he said flatly.
They stared at each other for a few silent moments. "I will not apologize for my actions last time we spoke," she said finally.
"Good. Neither will I," he replied.
Despite the year that had passed since the Battle of Hogwarts, they had not exchanged words since their duel. Snape had been severely injured and had been kept under magical arrest at St. Mungo's while his injuries were treated. As soon as he was well enough, he had stood trial. While she had attended, she had been only one of hundreds that came to see the former Death Eater/Headmaster's defense. His own statement had been greatly overshadowed by the defense's lead witness: Harry Potter, who had been very forthcoming about Snape's bravery and inner struggle. While it seemed that Snape would have rather kissed a Dementor than to hear Harry Potter talk about his bravery and love of a long dead married woman to a room full of people, Harry's testimony had ultimately been his saving grace. Minerva had not seen him since the trial.
"I was simply doing what I could to protect the students and to stand up for what is right" she said, much more calmly than she felt.
"As was I," came the retort. Snape looked sullen, but no more so than usual, and Minerva felt a warm fondness well up in her. If nothing else, she felt glad to have talked with him again, however brief their conversation might be. Having acknowledged their previous encounter, Minerva was ready to bring to conversation back to the point.
"Oh, Severus. We have passed the point of explanations and excuses. Let's focus on the present instead of past."
There was a smile, so small and so brief that she almost missed it, but it was a smile nonetheless. "So, tell me. What sort of desperation has led you to my doorstep? Surely there are candidates with less questionable backgrounds than my own? I can't imagine that I would be an easy sell to the Ministry."
She waved off the objection. "I have already spoken to Kingsley. If you want the position, the Ministry is fully prepared to publicly back you and support you through the transition in whatever way possible."
While some things had returned to the way that they had previously been, the Ministry was still much more involved at Hogwarts than it had been prior to Umbridge's influence.
"Would it not be in poor taste to bring a professor so many students remember as being implicit in torture, bigotry, and genocide."
Well, when he puts it like that, she thought.
"Your name was cleared at trial," she said.
"That doesn't mean people believe that," he said sharply. "And it does not answer my question: Why me?"
"You know the answer to that," Minerva. "But if it's an inflated ego that you are attempting to achieve then fine. You are the best candidate that I've got right now. You have experience in the position, and you are one of the few remaining Potions Masters in the country. I need someone I can trust to do the job; The students scores have plummeted since Horace has resumed teaching."
Snape did not seem surprised, particularly by the last statement. "Could not the events of the last few years contributed to that? After all, a war is not a conducive learning environment for young minds."
"Your sarcasm is neither needed nor appreciated, Severus. I will not spend all evening trying to convince you. Will you return or not?"
Instead of answering directly, he said, "You mentioned that there are other positions you must fill."
Insufferable man. She should have known that that would not have escaped his notice. Just as his evasive tactics had not escaped hers. Really, he wasn't even being subtle about it.
They spent the next thirty minutes waffling back and forth, neither willing to show their hand. Finally, Minerva took her leave, after stating that she expected to receive his response by owl tomorrow. Upon leaving his house, she continued down Spinner's End. She felt tired and agitated, emotions not conducive to successfully Apparating. Finally she calmed down enough to return to Hogwarts.
Alone in her office at last, she sighed and sat down at her desk. It was early evening, but a steady stream of snores filled the room. During the summer, the portraits tended to keep strange hours, napping at odd intervals. Right then most of the portraits were fast asleep, but she knew that a certain white bearded former headmaster would make an appearance shortly. Sure enough:
"Minerva," he greeted her.
"Albus," she said, not bothering to look up from the papers in front of her.
"I trust the day's events were successful?" He walked fully into his frame, and took a seat.
"I believe so."
"How is he?"
"The same as ever," Minerva said wryly.
Dumbledore chuckled. "I would expect nothing less."
"You were right. Although he did not outright say yes, he was not subtle in his desire to return."
"Hogwarts has long been home to those who have needed it," he said.
"I heard something quite similar earlier today," she commented.
"Ah, yes. Harry is another person who always found comfort here," Dumbledore gestured around him to indicate the greater castle. "What were your impressions from the day?"
"I worry that Severus agreed to readily," Minerva said. "It seems unlike him."
While he had not technically agreed just yet, she would be surprised if she did not have a letter waiting for her by midmorning.
"You have grown to accustomed to bickering with the boy, Minerva."
"He's hardly a boy, Albus."
"He is when compared to either of us," Dumbledore said mildly. Before Minerva could say anything in response, he continued. "I am afraid that Severus has spent too long bending to the will of others," Dumbledore said. "I am not sure he would be able to find fulfillment of any sort without direction. You will have to keep an eye on him."
"Are you sure that this is right decision? To bring him back so soon? The students might react badly to their former headmaster returning."
"I am not sure of anything, Minerva. After all, I am only a painting."
"You might have told me that before I consulted you for advice. I didn't even apologize to him, you know, on your instruction."
"Ah. Yes, that was wise. He is not a man that appreciates sympathy in any form. I assume he took it well?"
Minerva was forced to concede that he had. "I avoided telling him about the other new instructors, another decision that I am not sure was wise. After all, he will find out at some point, and for everyone else's sake I probably should have told him in advance. I dislike being involved in dishonesty."
"I am unsure of what the correct course of action would have been," Dumbledore said lightly. "As I said, I am only a painting."
The subsequent swears in thick Scottish brogue was enough to wake up sleeping portraits from her office to the other side of the castle.
Severus surveyed his trunk, currently half full. After McGonagall's visit he had methodically began collecting books, papers, and equipment almost without thought. It was only now, as he held his robes in hands that he realized what he was doing. He hadn't even agreed to take the position yet. Not to mention that it would be several months before his return in any case; there was no reason to pack for the fall when students were just unpacking for summer holiday.
He gritted his teeth as he set the robes aside. Is this truly who he was? Agreeing to every request? Bending to every whim? When the Dark Lord returned, there was a singular purpose for obeying. Dumbledore had wielded a similar power over him. And now, truly free of a master for the first time in over twenty years, he had floundered around until someone else had come along to tell him what to do next.
Even worse was the pity Severus had seen in McGonagall's eyes as they spoke. Despite what she said, he had a strong suspicion that her offer had come not from desperation but from the persuasive suggestion of a certain meddling portrait. Perhaps that is too much power to attribute a painting, but Severus knew that if there was anyone who would have found a way to manipulate things beyond the grave, it was Albus Dumbledore.
He was equally suspicious of McGonagall's avoidance from disclosing the professors who would not be returning for the next year. If he snooped around, it would not be difficult to uncover who was leaving, and thus who would be replacements. Professors often vouched for favorite former students upon their retirement, although Slughorn -the imbecile- had certainly not played a role in Severus securing the Potions position.
He snorted to himself. Horace Slughorn had been useless since Severus' own years as a student; of course students' Potions marks were abysmal! The man had no interest in anything except cultivating unsettling relationships with students, usually the richer the better. Severus had no delusions of being a favorite among students, but at least he did his job. Or at least he had done his job.
This was pointless. Mulling over Slughorn and old grudges was a waste of time, and really only a testament to how badly Severus needed a change. Give him another year to deteriorate alone at Spinner's End, and he would be completely unrecognizable to even himself. No, he needed a mental challenge. Probably far more than even Hogwarts could provide.
He promised himself in that moment that by this time next year, he would be doing his old school house justice. Ambition was the trademark quality of all Slytherins, and it was about time he rekindled his. If he had it his way, his contributions to the last two wizarding wars would be the least of his accomplishments. He was done being a heartless traitor, done being a love begotten hero. It was time he found a new purpose.
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