Disclaimer: JKR's characters and world, for the most part.
The meeting with the Headmistress and staff went very well. Professor Flitwick, her advisor when she was a student, was delighted to see her again, and all the staff had remembered her fondly. The other professors were eager to get into the new school year. She would enjoy working here. Afterwards, Barbara was given a tour of the dungeon by Severus and the living area assigned to the potions teacher.
They were roomier than her flat. "I can't say the silver and green are my favorites," she said tartly, "But I'm sure I'll be quite comfortable."
"You can redecorate any way you please, of course. You can make it identical to the glamor of your current situation if you like." They both laughed.
xxxxx
The next day she sat in on potions OWLs and NEWTs.
"All right then, Miss Granger...let's see your invisibility potion."
Hermione worked nervously over the cauldron under the impassive stare of the proctor. The brown eyes missed nothing. "She's as scary as Snape," Hermione thought.
"Well done!" Merrill said, shaking Hermione's hand when she was finished, leaving the girl to wander away in confusion as Goyle stepped forward.
xxxxx
"I'm very sad to say it, but I think you will need to hold back Neville Longbottom." Barbara was looking over exam papers.
"You mean 'we', and if you'd seen where his abilities were two years ago, you would be extremely impressed with him. He's come a long way since deciding potions would be a good complimentary program with herbology." He passed her the student records.
"Well, I think we can shape him up greatly in the next year. I take it that he's one of the students whose attitude has changed since the battle?"
"If you spoke with Filius you would learn that the boy's ability in charms has improved, too. He does need more work, but he will be ready next spring...he's already qualified for his NEWTs in DADA and Herbology. I'm not sure Neville will mind being here for another year, though. He will surely be assistant to Pomona and then theres the Abbot girl...she's made remarkable progress, but she has over a year to make up...they've always been close."
They finished grading the exams and moved on to the potions curriculum. He had originally planned to do the grading and discussions at his work table, but instead moved them to a nearby classroom. He didn't want anyone to get a wrong impression about Miss Merrill, although it was unclear to him whose wrong impressions he was trying to avoid or what that impression might be.
They spent the afternoon going over his former class plans and ideas for making improvements, finding that their philosophies of the subject and teaching were quite similar. Having time to spare, he showed her some ideas he had about teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts. Again he was pleased to find that she had some insights that he found useful, although why she should be so knowledgeable about that subject was an enigma.
xxxxx
Professor Merrill had dinner at the teacher's table in the Great Hall, where the sixth years looked at her curiously, the seventh years were grateful that they did not have to be in her classes, and the fifth years fretted over their future potions classes. She had made a definite impression during the testing.
Everyone watched her carefully and therefore everyone saw and was amazed when during the conversation Professor Snape threw his head back and laughed. When he looked down again, he glared around the room and especially at Barbara. "You are ruining my carefully developed reputation. Quick, fix them with that death stare of yours."
"Surely you jest. I have no death stare. Oh, unless you are referring to how I look when someone breaks one of my cauldrons? Or squeaks when I'm writing a letter just because his favorite potions professor visits? Is that really a death stare?"
He looked into her face and knew he would soon have a different reputation. "How about that look you got as you asked them questions during the potions testing?"
"Professor Snape?" It was an effort to turn.
"Mr. Malfoy. What can I do for you?"
"Could I speak with you, please? In the hallway?"
Severus turned back, "Barbara, if you don't mind. You can join us in a few moments and we can finish our tour of the castle." She smiled and nodded.
They were arguing when she came out and they hadn't bothered with a muffiliato charm.
"Things are different now. The other houses want us here and they want us all to unite as one school. We need to meet them part way. Draco, some of the Slytherin ideas are mistaken."
"But how can you become so close to a muggle-born?"
"Whatever her birth, she's a highly skilled and qualified witch, Draco."
"I get it...So you're pretending to get along with mudbloods so that later we can rise up again?"
"DRACO! Do not ever use that word in my hearing again!"
"Professor! make use of her skills, fine, but to give her tours of the castle and become friendly with her? She's from muggles!"
"As am I, if it comes to that, Malfoy. My father was a muggle, too." Draco stood stunned and Barbara gasped.
"Ah, Barbara, could you join us, please? Professor Barbara Merrill, may I introduce you to Draco Malfoy, one of our prefects and brightest students?"
"Pleased to, meet you, Ma'am" said Draco. "Um, professors? I need to finish my dinner."
"Run along, then, Malfoy. The Death Eaters are through. Things are different now. Try to embrace that."
Turning to Barbara, Severus asked, "Shall we tour the castle some more? I understand that the Astronomy Tower is completely renovated and safe enough to visit."
"I should be delighted."
They weren't the first to visit the tower. "Weasley, Potter! Ten points each from Griffindor," he said before remembering that there weren't any points for the summer session. He curled his lip and laughed. "Under the circumstances it would appear that instead I should introduce you. Professor Barbara Merrill, may I introduce you to Ginevra Weasley and Harry Potter?"
"I'm delighted to meet both of you, although we've already met, Mr. Potter, haven't we?" Barbara said. A look of terror crossed Harry's face. "Oh, don't fret! The results aren't official yet, but I don't think we shall see each other during the school year, and just between you and myself, Kingsley Shacklebolt is anxious to get you into the auror program."
"Thank you, Professor." Harry brightened considerably.
"It's an honor to meet two heroes of the recent war. I shall look forward to working with you during the school year...Ginny, right?"
After a round of compliments and handshaking, Severus flicked his head in a well known way and the younger two disappeared quickly. Barbara had already moved to the railing to look over the grounds.
"Oh, it looks so peaceful! So lovely! I feel so at home, here...Thank you, Severus, I know you were responsible for the job offer." She blushed every time she addressed him by first name.
"Barbara." he touched her hand and she turned to him. "Tell me about yourself."
"What is there to say? My parents are muggles and my life has been frightfully boring."
"You know that's not true. However did you manage a dual education?"
"I'm not Ravenclaw by accident, you know. I studied hard, and chose majors that had certain complimentary aspects."
"You have a muggle degree that takes eight years to obtain."
"Well, a bit longer if you do it on nights and weekends, through the assistance of well-connected parents. That PhD came in useful when I had to go back to the muggle world."
"How much do you use that special empathy skill?"
How did her hand get clasped in both of his? She snatched it back. "You've been at my student records! That's-- my privacy--"
"I was doing some fact checking for Minerva and came upon a note from Albus Dumbledore. I didn't mean to spy or anything. I admit that I'm grateful for your skills and that you shared them with me. I've told you so much about myself and don't know much about you at all. How was it discovered?"
"Oh, little things, I suppose...there was a day in fifth year when we were in Professor Sprout's class and one of the Slytherin boys, Crabbe, maybe, was picking on the muggle born kids. All of a sudden Susie Atkins went into hysterics. We couldn't tell if she'd been cursed or hurt by one of the dangerous plants or what so Professor Sprout asked me to walk her up to the hospital wing. She seemed so upset that I just put my arm around her and she told me how scared she was of the Death Eaters and he-who-must-not-be-named and I just listened but by the time we got there Madam Pomfrey looked her over and said she was perfectly well. Then the Headmaster asked to see me and we talked about it and he asked if I realized how special that was." She looked up. "I don't feel special. I'm practically invisible to most people."
"You're not invisible to me, at least not any more."
"You can't know how horrible--" She stopped herself. "I'm glad if I was able to help you, Severus. Please don't tell anyone about it, though. It's no big deal. Not like you or young Mr. Potter, there. Sometimes I just have a compulsion to ask people to tell me their deepest anguish and then they do. Please, Severus. Just pretend it doesn't exist."
"It's your secret to tell or not, my dear lady, although to some people it is a big deal. I watched you in the Great Hall, that morning. Every person you spoke to was better off." She didn't seem inclined to speak any longer and they drifted off into their own thoughts.
Severus suddenly remembered what had happened the last time he had been in that place and shivered. Barbara looked uncertainly up at her companion. She realized that great tragedies had occurred on this tower, perhaps where she was standing. He was staring at the other side of the tower with revulsion.
Again that gentle hand on his arm. "Tell me."
"Well, it's been changed around a bit during the refurbishing, but I'm pretty sure I was standing to the right, there, and Albus was against the handrail over there on the left. Potter must have been in his invisibility cloak next to him over to the side a little, but immovable. I think Albus hexed him ...I think to prevent Potter from interfering. Albus was begging me. The others thought for his life, but I knew what he was demanding. I hated myself in that moment! I got away and was sick for hours. I would almost rather have suffered the punishment of breaking an unbreakable vow. From that moment, I have never used an unforgivable curse."
This time, she saw the tears. She wordlessly reached up and touched her hand to the side of his face. "I'm sure he forgives you, if that was even an issue. Please try to forgive yourself."
He closed his eyes and breathed deeply, then reached up to take her hand in his own. "You've done it again. You're so kind to me, and I feel like I hardly know you."
Her eyes got big and then she turned away.
"Perhaps I should see you to the other tower?" Barbara was using her old room in the newly refurbished Ravenclaw quarters. She nodded her assent and they left.
xxxxx
Saturday morning found them at the Quiddich patch. As in the Great Hall, the house markings were removed from the stands to facilitate minor repairs, and the students sat in one section with the faculty in another.
"Well, don't say I didn't warn you," Professor McGonagall was telling Barbara, "The Griffindor seeker is of course unbeatable, and Ravenclaw is, well you know." Griffindor scored again.
Barbara smiled while watching the players flying on their brooms. It was clear that they were enjoying the day and the chance to play. "It's so nice to see the students just being young again...BRILLIANT!" Everyone in the stands was on their feet. Harry Potter had just caught the golden snitch, ending the game. Everyone was cheering, even the team that lost. She looked around, her face shining with delight and turned to the older witch.
"Minerva, you've given these kids a golden summer. One last chance to be children and play with joy and abandon so as to heal from the war before taking on the responsibilities of adulthood. It was inspired genius."
"Thank you, dear. It has been rather a success."
xxxxx
The next day Barbara and Severus were walking to the village when suddenly Barbara stopped, dropping her wand, and backed up, stepping on Severus' foot. He grabbed her shoulders to steady her and looked curiously at her, getting an impression of a cruciatus curse before suddenly seeing a slammed door with a frilly "Do not disturb" sign. He looked up and saw that they were facing another person on the path.
"Ah, Mrs. Andromeda Tonks, may I present Professor Barbara Merrill? Barbara is to be our new Potions Mistress."
"Hello, Severus. I'm pleased to meet you Professor Merrill."
Barbara reached to take her hand. "Oh! Mrs. Tonks. I'm pleased to make your acquiantance. I'm so sorry for your losses. I often saw Tonks around the ministry." She was blushing horribly and on the verge of chattering.
"Thank you, dear. I wanted to come and see where Nymphadora--" She shook her head. "So I left Teddy with his godfather at the tea shop. Well, I won't keep you. Nice to meet you, dear."
"Nice to meet you, too..." And they were back on their way.
Severus pulled her hand within his arm to offer support and said, "What did Bellatrix Lestrange do to you?"
"Wh-? Bel-? I? Oh, nothing, nothing at all."
"I know she did something. Something that would make you upset at the sight of the sister who looks very much like her."
"Please leave it alone." Her face had now gone white and her lips were carefully set under overlarge eyes.
"Okay. So tell me, how long did you study Occlumency with Albus Dumbledore?"
"What are you talking about?"
"That door trick is something he taught."
She sighed. "He said that I needed to be able to close my mind because when...that other skill... comes out I'm vulnerable. So he taught me that trick, but told me that an expert Legilimens would know what I was doing and would find a way to get through the door. He told me to practice so that I wouldn't need the door and said that he had one student who was such an expert at Occlumency that the student could hide his mind in such a way that the person trying to read it didn't realize there was more...you, I presume? Well, since that student was also an expert at Legilimancy I assume you can look into my mind, anyway, then.
"Don't worry. I won't look beyond the door unless you open it. I'm not as ruthless as all that." Besides, he got enough of a glimpse to know where to pursue his inquiry next.
"Thank you, Severus." There was that blush again.
"You're a good enough occlumens that you don't wear your heart on your sleeve anymore."
"Whatever did Dumbledore actually say about me? Well, I had to become a cold fish, I guess. It's been dangerous times."
They walked into a the Three Broomsticks and what appeared to be a meeting of several Slytherin students.
"Professor Snape! Can you join us, please?" They put a chair out for him and pointedly ignored his companion.
"Hey! Rosmerta! I haven't seen you in ages!" Barbara went over to chat with the proprietress.
"That was pretty rude, my friends," said their advisor.
Draco leaned forward. "We're trying to figure out what you meant when you were talking to me last night."
Pansy Parkinson nodded her head. "We know it was some sort of a code.
Severus Snape sat back in his chair and surveyed the group. In some ways, they were the greatest victims of the war. In other ways, they brought their troubles on themselves and would continue to do so.
"The dark lord is gone. He will not return. Do not pin your hopes on that possibility. The Death Eaters are finished. I hope that none of you, even those of you who joined, want to go back to what they did." He was gratified to see that those who had joined looked ill. "I know that many of you want power. Ambition is part of what makes us Slytherins. We have to use that ambition to make the world a better place."
"So the heir of Slytherin will come back another way?" Goyle asked. These students seemed fixated.
The professor suppressed a shudder. He wondered how much of this reflected what the parents thought and believed.
"Look, the bottom line is that we need to try to work with the other houses. And while you are working with them, allow yourself the potential to become friends with them."
"Even the mudbloods?"
Snape looked around the table and made sure he caught the eye of each student. "Anyone who belongs to our world."
He stood, signaling that the meeting was over, and walked over to the table where Rosmerta and Barbara had their heads together. Rosmerta took their orders and left. Severus looked at Barbara with an inquisitive expression.
"Oh, girl talk. She was telling me where to shop and that sort of thing." She nodded over to where some of the Slytherins were still sitting. "Trouble there?"
He sighed. "I'm not sure the battle is over. As you say, these things will take time."