Severus sat in his usual seat in the great hall, awaiting permission to drink his coffee, and listening to the annoyng hat sing another song he probably worked all year on. A few seats down, Miss Granger, was smiling broadly and listening to the song with such interest. A peice of parchment sat beside her empty plate and a quill was sticking out of her robes. Earlier he had noticed she had taken a few notes down before everyone had entered the room. She was early, as was he but he didn't dare speak - nor look at her.

Candles hung in mid-air, first years gathered around the front of the hat, and the smell of sacks worn by house elves were noticable to Severus, whose nose was above the normal rate of abilities when it came to sniffing something out. It's why he always made such a great potions master, and why he could detect someone before he saw them. It came useful in situations, like when he walked the corridors at night looking for rule-breakers.

After the sorting took place, Dumbledore stood up and smiled at everyone kindly.

"Welcome, welcome. First years are to be aware that the dark forest is off limits, as well as returning students," He eyed a few people whom have trouble remembering that. "A few announcments are in order - First off our Potions master, Professer Snape with be taking over the Defence against the Dark arts class, and a new member of our Staff, Professer Granger, will be taking over potions. I expect you all will treat her with the same respect you did with Professer Snape."

Murmurs went across the room, and after a few more announcments, finally he gave the order to eat. Food appeared across all the tables, and Severus ignored his plate and went straight for his coffee. Black, strong and bitter. The right taste and the right smell.

He didn't touch any of his food, just kept refilling his cup. Dumbledore gave him a cup of his own reading 'Severus' on it for his birthday 5 years ago, which on command could refill his coffee exactly right. The other cups that everyone else had refilled it the way it wanted instead of the way he wanted. He would always get pumpkin juice which he revolted.

Hagrid was talking away with Miss Granger as she picked at her food and nodded with him.

"So I told Sirius that he didn't 'ave to be 'fraid of Fang, that he wouldn't hurt a fly. Course it didn't help when Fang tried to get a bit roudy with 'em," the oaf said, stuffing a large peice of pie in his mouth.

Severus shook his head and finished his 4th cup of coffee. He looked around the room at the children, and a few of them gave him looks of disgust. He didn't care. Why should he pretend to like them, they had their parents and other students for that. It wasn't his job to like them. His job was to fill them with as much knowledge their more-than-often tiny brains could hold.

After the feast he headed up to his quarters to catch up on reading and hope that sleep would overtake him as soon as possible. He couldn't bear being awake all night, it had been too long since he's had a full eight house of sleep, and even longer since he's had a dreamless one. He tells himself he needs natural sleep. That potion wouldn't be real. He would not offer up defeat.

As Severus layed in his bed, he let his mind wander to the things he hated thinking. Being lonely, though sometimes he doesn't mind so much. He's got himself figured out during those times. He understands completely what he needs in those times and that he can never have them. He is nothing but an ex-death eater, greasy haired git whom nobody would want to be courted by. Somedays it didn't matter, but on the days it did those were certainly the hardest.

His childhood had been more than terrible. Granted he's casted aside as many memories as he could of those difficult times. His father hovering over his mother as she covering any part of her body she could reach with her arms. Gritting his teeth, Severus wished he could have been born blind. Athough, he though, the screams and noises emerging from the rooms were enough to tramatize him alone. He's glad they're dead and gone, and that he doesn't have every memory still with him.

His 'daddy issues' provided enough self-conciousness so that growing up he never bothered with woman. He was terrified of ending up like him. And with his mother, she had only said few things to him before her life was taken (and tose had completely changed his views on what a woman needs). He vowed to never touch a woman and cause her as much pain as his mother had been through. He may look like his father, but the outside isn't what matters to him.

His students were too dumb to realize that. He had a stone facade for more than a decade of teaching and it was just an act. At least it started out that way, somewhere between detentions and harsh words he somehow managed to merge himself with this mask. He doesn't know where the real Severus and the fake Severus began. Is there a real Severus?

When he had finally let a woman in, he was 17 - just a year before he had made the life-changing decision to become a death eater. She was kind to him at first, telling him things he needed to hear. That he was kind underneath it all, and that she didn't care about his looks. She confessed 2 weeks later that she had only been using him to make her boyfriend jealous - and shrugged at him. Shrugged, as if she couldn't make up her mind upon Tea or Pumpkin Juice. That shrug had haunted him for years and he took it out on victims of the Dark Lord. It took Severus just under a year to realize what he was doing and imediatly contacted Albus Dumbledore.

He could still see all the faces of the people he's used the unforgivable curses on. And it still burns to think that - while under the imperius curse due to lack of cooperation - he did terrible things to women. Another reason to keep to himself. To stay lonely. A chance at happiness was nowhere in reach for him and he accepted that years ago. But he wanted some changes, he certainlly didn't want to die without knowing a womans loving touch. He would formulate a plan in finding a wife sometime after the year was over.

After what seemed a lifetime Severus fell asleep, and in the morning he awoke feeling exceptionally eladed about the day. Classes started in 2 hours, his first being a Defense professor. He showered (though he had to prepare a few potions later the heat and chemicals in the air would surly put it back into a greasy state), put on his usualy attire and stormed off to the first class.

Loving to make a late entrence, he opened the door quickly stepping through. His robes with a cape-like look billowed in the stride he took towards the head of the class. First years. They all stared at him and he couldn't trace any blinking on them - meaning he was doing good so far.

"Professor Snape, that is what you will call me. I do not accept 'Snape' or 'Severus'. I am your professor, not your friend and you will appreciate that later on." he stepped down off the higher mantle and closed the robe around him, hiding his arms in the process. "You are here to learn to defend yourself i properly /i against any dark magic that may come your way. I do not tolerate disobedience, or back-talk. You will come to hate me within days and the feeling will be completely mutual. If you want a friend, wait till after my class and then approach another morsal."

By the end of the class the children were racing out as fast as they could. He accomplished avoiding many questions. He had already taken 15 points from Hufflepuff and 5 points from Gryffindor. His next 2 classes were dismal at best and he could already feel a headache forming. A ravenclaw in her second year had manages to mutter a hex the wrong way and it bounced off a mirror on the side wall and hit a boy from Slytherin square in the shoulder.

during his lunch hour Severus took advantage off the Staff room. Nobody ate there, they all went to the great hall to converse with each other. He sat in his usual place, a tall dark red leather chair beside the coffee and accio'd his mug. A few moments later the door opened, and expecting to see his mug he looked up. What was really there was Miss Granger, holding the mug.

"Saw this outside the door, and as I was coming in anyways.." she said stepping closer to him. He huffed and grabbed the mug from her. So much for having a quiet lunch break.
He waved his hand over the cup, filling it with the perfect brew of coffee. Trying to ignore her, even though she sat in the chair beside him, he tried drinking his coffee without snarling at her.
"How was your first morning teaching Defence against the Dark arts?" her own mug filling now with some light green liquid, which Severus assumed was some sort of Herbel Tea by the smell.
"Civilized," he stated shortly. By the look on Hermiones face Severus could tell she was expecting some sort of longer answer or to atleast be asked the same in return.
But he said nothing else, just kept drinking his coffee.
"Withing the first 30 minutes of Potions this morning, Drew Crintora blew up a cauldron," she sighed, taking another sip of her tea, "And in my second class there's this kid, I swear he's the spitting image of Draco and equally as michevious.. he tried hexing a girl while my back was turned."

She looked over at Severus, who was deeply involved in his coffee. "The classes seem to be going okay other than those two mishaps.." she smiled, tilting her head a bit to the side, "I'm taking a few pointers from you, Severus," He grimaced as she used his name, "I'm a bit harsh, but not nearly as snippy as you were."

Laughing she stood up and walked towards the opposite wall, nodding at a portrait of a man Severus has yet to learn the name of. Spinning around she nodded at him and excused herself. "Classes will be starting in 28 minutes, must get going."

A deep breath emerged from him, as he relaxed a bit in the chair. 'Who does she think she is?' he thought. 'Does she know how long it took me to be civil with Minerva, and her chatterbox of a mouth?'

He looked at his watched and noticed he had 14 minutes to get to his classroom. He filled his coffee once more and headed out into the hallways, brushing against children and covering his coffee with his other hand so it wouldn't spill.

"Severus!" A voice bellowed from behind him. He tightened his lips and swung around to face Poppy.

"Yes?"

"Let me walk you to your classroom," she smiled grabbing his elbow lightly.
"I can find it on my own.."

"So how do you feel about Hermione taking over potions? I think it's wonderful. She always did have a knack for it when she attended your class.."
"I also remember her being an annoying know-it-all," he smirked, hoping she would trail off of this subject.
"Better to know it all then to know nothing, eh? Well anyways, I do hope you be more kind to her now that you're no longer her professer. You've become civil with the rest of the staff," she smiled up at him, her eyes half closed in amusement.
"That took a great deal of time, Poppy."
"Well, if it takes time I hope you atleast give her that." And with a quick nod she left, rushing through the children who were already running late for class, he presumed.