Author's Note: He guys, its been a while since I've uploaded anything since Uni has literally prevented me from doing anything fun :P Lol. But now I've decided to do this lil fic as a side project from my work! Hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the character, except those of my own creation, they belong to the talented J.K.Rowling!
Chapter 1: 1993 – Unwelcome Guests
Checking the clock on the mantle piece, Severus sighed and rose from his desk. He had been planning his lessons until way past midnight and his eyes suddenly felt as if they were carrying a ten ton weight. He filed away his work for the night and with a flick of his wand eliminated all the candles in his office. As he walked to his quarters in the dungeons of Hogwarts castle, the dread of knowing that the next day the castle would be filled with noisy students washed over him once more. He preferred the castle as it was; quiet and peaceful, without the happy chatter and yells of students as they made their way to classes. Being around them simply reminded him that he was alone and friendless; and he always would be. Albus had always told him to make more of an effort with the staff, but Severus insisted that he preferred his own company to that of the teachers. So inevitably over the years, he had become a bitter recluse. Never letting anyone in, for he was afraid if he started to forge relationships they would simply be taken away from him, like they always were.
He closed the heavy door to his quarters behind him and hung his black teachers robe on the stand by the door. Looking at the empty room that lay before him he felt his heart sink, every night the same feeling; of loneliness and depression. He reached for the bottle of Fire Whiskey in the glass cabinet and poured himself a glass; he couldn't seem to get to sleep without a shot these days. He had promised himself he wouldn't turn out like his Father and rely on alcohol, but like father like son eh? He thought, slinging himself on the chair by the fireplace. With a single blink of his eye, the fireplace sprang to life and warmth washed over him. Taking a large gulp of whiskey, he closed his eyes and sighed loudly.
He knew that this term would be more unbearable than the last, he past seemed to be forcing him to relive his more forgotten and distressing memories. Remus Lupin would be filling the post as Defence against the Dark Arts teacher, a man whom Severus loathed more than words could say. Lupin had been part of the gang of boys that made his life hell during Hogwarts, and even though Lupin had never taken part in the physical and mental abuse, he had also never tried to stop it; he was a prefect after all. But what enraged him the most was that Lupin was a werewolf, and Dumbledore had seen him fit to teach Defence! When he, Severus Snape had been persuading Dumbledore for years to let him teach the subject. For he had experience beyond anyone as to what the Dark Arts can do to you. He had a suspicion that Dumbledore did not want him tempted back into his old ways. But Severus knew he would never return to those days, for it was the Dark Arts that cost him the most precious thing in his life; Lily Evans. He suddenly realised that his pale cheeks were wet with tears; he quickly wiped them away cursing himself for letting his emotions taking hold once again.
Downing the last of the whiskey, he threw the glass into the fire place and made his way to his room, extinguishing the candles as he left to room. As soon as he got into bed he knew he wouldn't be able to sleep, so he reached into the draws beside him and pulled out a small vial of blue liquid. As soon as the vial touched is lips, he fell into a deep and dreamless sleep.
"Ah Melora, what a pleasure it is to see you again!" Exclaimed Dumbledore, rising from behind his desk and motioned for the young woman at the door to take a seat.
"Its always a pleasure, Albus." Smiled Melora, closing the door behind her. "Although its is a shame I have to return to Hogwarts in such dire circumstances"
Melora took a seat in front of Dumbledore, remembering the last time she sat in front of the Headmaster; which involved her and Sirius Black being giving detention for incidents involving Professor Slughorn and carefully aimed paint bombs. Smiling inwardly to herself, she took some files from her bag and handed them to Dumbledore who examined them closely.
"Those papers outline the Ministers wishes to have an Auror placed undercover at Hogwarts," Melora explained. "I will be given a position at Hogwarts, and my duties will be to protect students and follow any leads on Black."
Dumbledore nodded. "I'm sure we can find a suitable place for you amongst our staff," Dumbledore said, lowering the papers and resting his hands on his lap. "How do you feel about assisting Professor Lupin in teaching the students Defence against the Dark Arts? Maybe you could pick up where the unsuccessful Gilderoy Lockhart left off when he started the duelling club."
"That sounds perfect!" Melora smiled.
Dumbledore rose from his seat and clapped his hands together. "Right well, I think it's time you met the rest of the staff. Though I'm sure most of them will have no trouble in remembering you from you time here." He smiled mischievously and his eyes twinkled behind his glasses.
Melora flushed, she hoped that the teachers had forgotten about her student days. She never really felt much for school rules, and spent most of her time trying to break every single one of them. As she walked with Professor Dumbledore to the Great Hall for lunch, her mind was filled with many happy memories of her childhood. Most memories involved running from Filch and Mrs Norris, or sitting in detention for yet another class prank. However, with these memories came great sadness. Knowing that Sirius, her former childhood sweetheart, was now in prison for the murder of two of her best friends was a burden she had carried with her for twelve years. No one had seen it coming, Peter seemed the type to try and follow the biggest bully in the playground, but not Sirius. He had seemed so loyal, so loving so…Well, those times are over now, she thought solemnly to herself.
The Great Hall was almost empty when Dumbledore and herself arrived for lunch; although in just a few hours time she would be struggling breathe as hundreds of students dashed for their dinner. Looking up at the staff table she saw familiar faces beaming at her, though one face was not beaming. As their eyes met, she felt her mouth fall open and she saw his do the same. In all her years, she had not expected Severus Snape to be teaching at Hogwarts.
"I'm sure that you do not need me to introduce you." Dumbledore chucked, taking his seat at the head of the table.
"Oh, no of course not" Melora chuckled nervously, finally tearing her eyes away from the man she almost sent to Azkaban.
"Ahh Miss Conner, I trust that you will not be blowing anything up during your visit." Remarked McGonagall, rising from her seat and shaking Melora's hand warmly.
"Oh I assure you, those days are far behind me." Laughed Melora, turning her gaze back to Snape who seemed to not be taking any notice of her.
After greeting her former Professor's, she then had to endure the awkwardness that was greeting Severus Snape after thirteen years. She took her seat beside him, though he did not acknowledge that she even existed.
"Erm, hello Severus." She said tentatively.
"Miss Conner." He nodded, not taking his eyes off the bowl of food in front of him.
Melora sighed, she had expected this. She decided to speak to him later, when there wasn't the whole of the faculty watching. Though she didn't expect results over night, for she did go out with Sirius Black, who during his childhood made Severus' life hell but she was part of the Auror team who tried to send him to Azkaban during his Death Eater years. He had later been relieved of the charges, and Melora had never been rid of a sense of guilt that she had nearly sent an innocent man to prison.
Once she had explained her presence to the staff, she made her way to her quarters just off the first floor corridor. She found that her belongings had already been brought up for her and folded neatly into a small pile on her four poster bed. She strolled over to the large window which washed the room with sunlight and studied the grounds. The Dementors would be arriving tonight, even the thought of them made her shudder. She couldn't see why Black would try to attempt to enter the grounds with those horrors floating around, but then again, she never saw why he would murder thirteen people.
She decided that sitting moping in her room would not do her any good, so she decided to make her way to the dungeons to see Severus. It was the least she could do to lay the past to rest and apologise, for she knew that she was in the wrong. She made her way down the gloomy steps to the dungeon, wondering why on earth anyone would wish to live in the damp and dark. When she reached Snape's office she tapped quietly on the door, and when she heard "Enter" from within, she pushed the door open.
"Hello Severus, I was wondering whether I could have a word with you." She asked tentatively, feeling a flutter of nerves rise in her chest.
Severus looked up from his desk and glared at her, the force of his stare nearly knocked her off her feet.
"I cannot imagine why you would even dare to speak to me," Severus said icily, rising from his desk and walking towards her.
"Severus please, just listen to me for a moment." She said, stepping forward and closing the door behind her. "Your reaction to me is everything I expected, and deserve. But at the end of that day, I was only doing my job. I was ordered to go after you and I did, I had no idea that you hated your life as a Death Eater and were keen to leave."
"Do not make excuses Conner, you heard Dumbledore's testimony and yet you still refused to relent." He spat.
"Severus, I am not making excuses! I was an Auror, you were a Death Eater!" She yelled, feeling herself become angrier with each word. "What the hell was I supposed to do? Or is this not about me capturing you, is this about our school days?"
"DON'T YOU DARE!" He shouted, spit flying from his mouth.
"NO! DON'T YOU DARE, SEVERUS!!" She shrieked back, walking quickly towards him so she was only inches from his face. "You are a bitter, twisted man! Yeah I nearly sent you to prison, but I was doing my fucking job ok? And just because I was with a man you couldn't stand, does not make me the devil incarnate!"
There was silence for a moment, where both Severus and Melora simply stared at each other, seething with rage. Then, Melora whipped round and slammed the door behind her making the walls shake. Severus was rooted to the spot, his whole body shaking with a combination of anger and shock. He couldn't' believe she had the nerve to try to apologise, after all she was the one who took no notice when he pleaded with her that he was innocent. She was the one who laughed as Black and Potter made his life hell. But then, a nasty thought popped into his head; it wasn't really the fact that she was part of the team of Auror's that captured him, nor was it to do with the fact that she dated Black that seemed to make lose his temper. It was the fact that he found her very attractive, beautiful in fact, that made him loose control. He had never felt the beauty of another hit him so hard, not since the first time he saw Lily and Petunia playing near his home in Spinner's End. He felt angry, angry because he felt this way about another. He felt as though he was betraying Lily's memory by finding Melora so insanely stunning in ever way. Her long wavy mahogany hair, her flawless porcelain complexion and her dazzling opal eyes. He suddenly felt fury well up inside him once more; how dare she make him feel this way about her! After all, she did nearly imprison him and her previous affair with Black the murderer simply made his blood boil. Throwing his quill across the room in frustration, he marched off to his quarters to his drinks cabinet. He would definitely need to stock up more this year.
Author's Note: Hope you liked that! Review please, it helps me write better! Hehe.
Peace xx