Disclaimer: This is mostly the people and place of JKR's making, of course, behaving as I picture they might during the days immediately after such horror and joy. Again, Barbara is a character I made up.

The Great Hall was still full of students and families, laughing, crying and just being together. There weren't many Slytherins, but he headed toward them.

"Professor Snape!"

"He didn't die after all!"

"Brilliant!"

The whispers and comments circled around him, but he went directly to where there was a small knot of Slytherins without parents.

"How is everyone? Do you need any medical assistance?" He looked the students over carefully. Those who had been injured were already cared for. "Have you eaten?" They all nodded. "Let me find out if you can go to your rooms. I'm sure you would like to clean up and get some rest."

He turned to see Professors McGonagall, Flitwick, Sprout, and Trelawney, as well as Madam Pomfrey facing him. "Minerva --"

"Severus! I had just heard whispers... thank goodness. We've lost so much." She cast a watery gaze around the room. "First of all, Severus, are you injured?"

"It's taken care of...Minerva--"

"Second of all, we've been told a few things by Harry Potter and I'm sure there are questions we all want answers to, but I think we, at least, are satisfied that you were always doing what Albus told you to do and that you had the school's best interests at heart. Is that true?"

"I gave my allegiance to Albus Dumbledore seventeen years ago and have worked for the good of this school since I first entered its doors. Minerva...all of you...I'm sorry for the things I've done, especially the quarrels that were unnecessary to the work we were doing."

"We understand, Severus. If it comes to that, we've quarreled with you unnecessarily, too, particularly last night when we might have worked together and prevented much loss." The other professors nodded and agreed.

Severus remembered his uppermost concern. "Can the children go back to their rooms?"

She nodded to him. "The castle has sustained a great deal of damage, but Hufflepuff and Slytherin, of course, are essentially untouched. Ravenclaw and Griffindor towers, unfortunately...those giants..." She shook her head. "Yes, you may send your house back to their rooms. Perhaps they would be willing to share with Ravenclaw? We'll send Griffindor with Hufflepuff."

He nodded and turned to speak with his house.

"Oh, Severus?" He turned back. "After you get the children settled, can you come to the headmaster's office? We need to discuss what happens next at the school, if you're agreeable."

"Of course, Minerva. I need to come up there to...collect my thoughts...anyhow."

Having fewer students to look after, he spent a few minutes watching the Ravenclaw students moving toward the Slytherin door. He watched Barbara Merrill working with the children, offering a smile here and a tear there. She noticed him looking at her and winked a wet eye.

xxxxx

He arrived in the Headmaster's office before anyone else. He was surprised to see that it was still his own office. Albus Dumbledore and all the previous headmasters were snoring quietly in their frames after a long night. The pensieve was sitting on his desk. He removed his memories from it and returned them to his own mind. Looking around, he realized others of his own things were all over the office. So he started to clean up, packing as he went along.

Kingsley Shacklebolt showed up next. "Clearing out? I would have expected you to stay on as headmaster."

Professor Snape twisted his face. "I think not. It should be Minerva. She's been the Deputy Headmistress for as long as I've been on the faculty, even when I was named headmaster under... dubious circumstances. Are you next Minister?"

Kingsley waved his hand dismissively. "It's far too soon to say. I will work with the provisional Ministry, certainly, and then see what way I can help best. For example, Minerva wanted me in on this conversation as a member of the Board of Governors."

"I see that as my position here at Hogwarts, as well."

Minerva walked in. Both men stood. "Welcome, Headmistress."

She blanched. "You know it's not official. The Board hasn't met, of course. Most are here at the school, though, and I would like the three of us to have recommendations ready for when they do meet. First though, Severus, I have to know, despite what I said in the Hall. What happened a year ago on the astronomy tower?"

As much as he dreaded it, it would be a relief. "I don't know what Harry told you, but Dumbledore was dying. He'd run across an evil spell a year before and wanted me to kill him rather than one of the students--"

"Draco Malfoy?" There was acid in Minerva's voice.

"Well, yes. Don't—Minerva, the boy's heart was never in the task, and I think he will have changed his mind about many things, now. Don't punish him, please. Anyhow, it was clear that Albus had run across more evil magic that night and that his end was near, regardless. He gave me a signal that he wanted me to do it, then, and with Death Eaters coming up the stairs and onto the tower, I just did. I know that none of you will forgive me..."

"It's exactly as he says, Minerva." She turned and looked into the eyes of Headmaster Dumbledore's portrait for a long moment.

Minerva McGonagall sighed and reluctantly smiled. "If Albus, himself, forgives you, the rest of us can do no less."

Kingsley said, "I think the inquiry will arrive at a similar conclusion. If it even opens again. We each had roles to play during the war. Each of which had its moments of being, shall we say, unpleasant?" The three looked at each other and then away.

"Then we won't discuss those misunderstandings any further today. Getting down to business, here's where things stand: The children are settled for the next day or so. Many parents are here, as well as other members of our community. The Hogwarts Express can start to take families home tomorrow morning and children who are traveling by themselves at the end of the week. We, we have..." She started to break down, caught herself. "There are orphans among us, now. We need to contact families who will take the children in, at least temporarily, and make arrangements for burials."

"And," regaining composure. "We need to decide how to proceed with the educations of those affected by the events of the past year. The fifth, sixth, and seventh years, especially, may need intensive tutoring to complete the coursework for their OWLs and NEWTs. All in the midst of reconstructing our home, here." Professor McGonagall was all business now. "Gentlemen, here's what I propose..."

xxxxx

One week later, Professor Severus Snape was sitting at his accustomed place at the faculty dining table, looking around the Great Hall with hooded eyes. It was so normal and yet not. It was the beginning of a summer term. Part of the hall was roped off while the staff pondered the effects of the magic in that area. Instead of long house tables, they were arranged in a circle under a banner that incorporated those of all four houses. Professor McGonagall was speaking.

"Welcome to the first ever summer term here at Hogwarts. You have returned here to make up the work that you have missed due to the war, and perhaps to unlearn some badly taught lessons." She cast her well known acerbic look around the room and the students shuffled in their seats.

"As you know, Ravenclaw and Griffindor are closed for now. We hope to reopen them for the fall term. Therefore, we have only Hufflepuff and Slytherin Houses in which to live. Therefore again, we will NOT separate into houses for this term. Girls will live in Hufflepuff and boys in Slytherin" She lifted her goblet of pumpkin juice. "Hogwarts, all!"

Everyone followed suit. "HOGWARTS, ALL!"

"If, however," McGonagall continued, "you wish to separate into houses just to play a small tournament of Quidditch..." On any other face the look would have been called a smirk. The students responded with a cheer.

Professor McGonagall got to more serious matters. "Those of you who should have been preparing for OWLs and NEWTs will take, first thing tomorrow, a preliminary test to see where your greatest academic needs lie, after which you will meet with your faculty advisors and map out your summer course load. Sixth years, since you will not be taking the preliminary tests, will meet with your advisors tomorrow. Some of you may even need to do advanced coursework during the regular school year. In this way we hope to graduate both this past year's seventh year class and this coming year's, next spring.

"For the rest of tonight, though, I give you an opportunity to renew your friendships and directions to forge new ones. Let us also remember the dear ones who are gone forever." A moment of silence filled the room. She lifted her glass again. "To our separated friends." Again, everyone in the room followed suit.

"Now, as a dear late headmaster would say at this time, 'Tuck in.'"

A/N: Thank you to everyone who has read this. I have enjoyed the reviews that have come and would be delighted with further ones. After WWII, many of the young men who came back to America at least, went back to their colleges and universities and picked up their classes as quickly as possible. From what I've been told as a grandchild of that generation, it has always seemed to me that the schools had really reached out to assist their students and rebuild the better world. My thinking of how Hogwarts handled this similar situation was influenced by that bit of history.