Thanks to Yen who corrected this and then patiently waited upon my time to change it here.
The Second Term
Severus was more than pleased that most of his house went home for the holiday, and the ones that stayed did not need his attention. He spent most of his days immured in his laboratory brewing for the upcoming cold season. Dumbledore had taken it upon himself to make sure that he ate and slept periodically.
Striding down the hall, his robes billowing behind him, Severus felt his lips twist into what was his smile. Dumbledore insisted he sign up to leave Hogwarts during the holiday, so he had. Those were the only two days that he was left alone in his laboratory to brew to his heart's content. Turning abruptly, he entered the staff room. McGonagall and Flitwick were already there, and he knew that Dumbledore and Griffith would be in shortly. As he moved to sit in his normal spot, Flitwick spoke up.
"It is just the Head of Houses meeting, Snape. Come sit over here with us."
A quick assessing look showed that McGonagall agreed with the Charms Master. Moving to take the seat next to Sprout's usual one, Severus watched the two carefully. He knew that Vector had not given up on slandering him and disparaging his abilities, but all he could see was acceptance in their faces. 'Maybe Dumbledore told them he plans to have me be a Head next year as well and they are just accepting me now.'
Dumbledore and Griffith arrived shortly afterwards and the meeting began.
Severus made notes about the general things that he had no idea that the House Heads did, such as a contraband check at the beginning of the term.
"Do not forget that you need to schedule career counselling sessions with your fifth years this term." Albus turned to Severus as he continued. "Severus, if you need help, then I am sure that Minerva, Filius, or Archibald will be willing to help you, and of course my door is open."
Severus looked over at McGonagall, his quill ready to write down appointments. He knew he was going to have to get advice about how to run the meetings and even more about determining what the students would need to get into the field they were aiming for. "If I could see you later tonight, Professor McGonagall?"
"Minerva." Minerva folded her hands on the table, waiting for a response.
Severus stared at her before nodding. "Minerva, can I see you later tonight?"
Using her first name felt strange, and he was very grateful that he didn't stutter.
"Of course, Severus, after dinner in my office would be a good time." Minerva's lips barely hide the small smile that was attempting to form.
Filius leaned on the table so that he could see the youngest member of their group. "You may call me Filius, and I will be at the meeting as well."
Severus was doing everything he could not to let his eyes widen as he nodded in agreement. "You may call me Severus."
A quick glance showed Dumbledore's eyes twinkling happily and a smile almost hidden by his moustache and beard.
Blue eyes caught and held his gaze as Dumbledore spoke. "You are permitted to call all the professors here by their first name, Severus. Even myself."
A swift look shot over to Griffith showed the man nodding.
"Even the ones not in this room? They have not extended their permission."
Albus nodded. "Even them." He turned his attention back to the group. "Is there anything else we need to discuss?"
Heads shook and the meeting was adjourned.
"Severus."
Severus stopped part way to the door when Minerva called him. Turning back towards her, he raised an eyebrow.
"Miss Tonks is doing very well. Please inform her that I will only need to see her once every other week this term."
"She will be informed upon her arrival." Spinning about, Severus headed out the door. He had things to prepare for his students return.
Albus was not alone in shifting his attention from the black robe slipping through the door way to his Deputy Headmistress. "What is Miss Tonks doing well in, Minerva?"
"At the beginning of last term, Severus requested for me to help her learn to control her metamorphmagus ability." Filius and Archibald both chuckled as she continued. "Which is why I never listened to Septima's complaints about him not knowing what was going on with his House."
Albus knew a satisfied smile filled his face, but he didn't care. Severus was doing better at this than he had ever imagined.
§§§§
Severus sat still, staring into the fire, his mind turning over all that he had learned at the meeting with Filius and Minerva. Archibald had made a quick appearance as well just to include his two cents worth. 'Why? Why do we start counselling during fifth year? They have to have the correct OWLs to take the proper NEWTs to get to the position that they want. Why are they not informed about the choices before they reach the end of a crucial choice period?'
Shuffling scrolls about on his coffee table, he looked at the multitude of careers that only required OWLs, but they were specific OWLs and specific scores that were required. Compressing his lips together, he pulled out a clean scroll and started organizing the information in an easy to understand format.
§§§§
Entering the common room, Severus spelled the career planning appointment chart onto the bulletin board before addressing his badgers. "Your attention."
The low buzz of conversation that filled the room came to a halt, and the study groups turned their attention to him. "This term, I will be seeing fifth, sixth, and seventh years about their career options. Check the chart that I posted to determine when we shall meet. Mr Moses and Miss Munns," Severus held out a stack of parchments toward the two prefects. "pass these out to every member of our house from second year and up."
He waited until they had done so before he continued. "You have in your hands a simple chart for the standard career choices open to you. A number of those careers have specialist fields which require specific scores on your OWLs and if they require NEWTs, those as well. Fifth through seventh years, please review the requirements and come to our meeting with a plan. Sixth and seventh years, check to make sure you are currently on track, and all should have a back up plan to discuss. Second years, if you know what you wish to do after school, check to see what OWL courses you should be taking. Third and fourth years, make sure you are in the correct OWL courses, if not, then inform me in writing, and it shall be corrected. If you wish a career that is not listed on the chart, please set an appointment to see me. That applies to all years. Are there any questions?"
One of the second years raised their hand and asked when Severus gave them permission. "This chart lists NEWT courses as well, should we pay attention to those as well?"
"Your OWL courses determine your NEWT courses. If you see that you need a NEWT in Arithmancy, you need to make sure that you take the OWL for Arithmancy. Also, check with the professor of the course to know their requirements on the OWL exam to be accepted into their NEWT class. I accept nothing less than an O for Potions."
"Sir," Francesca Manchester, the other seventh year prefect, raised her hand while speaking, "I've never seen the sixth or seventh years called back in for career counselling. Do we have to attend?"
Severus forced the glare not to show, and only a frown crossed his brow as he answered. "Professor Sprout knows what you have decided to pursue so she would be able to advise you individually if it was noticed that you were deviating from the course you need to stay in to get into your career choice. I do not have that knowledge, so I will be meeting with you as well."
The sixth and seventh years nodded, accepting his reasoning. The room then fell quiet, the students looking over their charts with many of the first years peering over other shoulders. Severus waited until he was sure that there were no more questions before turning towards the door. "I shall be in my office if you have any more questions."
He left quietly, the door gently closing behind him.
§§§§
Clarissa Munns rolled up the parchment in her hand as she approached Snape's office door. Jonathan and Francesca had both exclaimed over the chart that Snape had made them with the other seventh year and sixth years joining in. They had planned on sharing it with their friends in the other houses, but that changed quickly. 'The other houses had started talking bad about Snape. Not the normal fussings about how he runs his class, no... they were talking about how he takes care of us. So, the chart is going to remain a Hufflepuff secret – we are not going to let them benefit from his care.'
She personally had endured the criticisms when she had talked to her friends in Ravenclaw and Gryffindor during which she learned that they were not meeting with their Heads until closer to the end of the term. Since hers was the first appointment on the schedule, and it was only the second week of the term, she wondered if it was because Snape wanted to meet with three years verse one year.
As they were having their meetings early, it was flying around the school rumour mill that Snape was rushing them into decisions. Clarissa also knew that Professor Vector was promoting that idea. 'Then again, it is no mystery that she doesn't like that Snape is our temporary Head of House. I wonder why?'
The thought fell out of her mind as she knocked on the familiar wooden door.
"Enter."
Smiling slightly at the abrupt call, she pushed the door open. Snape sounded friendlier if you knocked on his laboratory door. 'Maybe because he knows it is us...'
She approached the desk, watching the bent head and the black quill as it left red across some unfortunate's essay. She hoped it wasn't hers. Stopping near the chair, she waited to be acknowledged. It was not long before the head lifted and those dark eyes spotted her.
"Miss Munns, have a seat." Snape placed his quill in its holder and used the blotter across the words he had just written before giving his full attention to his prefect. "What career are you interested in, and are you currently in the correct courses?"
"I was looking into spell crafting, and yes I am currently in the right courses." Clarissa held in the thank goodness, as it had been touch and go if she wanted to take Ancient Runes when she was a third year. She had almost dropped out.
"Your second choice, if you do not achieve the appropriate NEWT or OWL scores to pursue your occupation of choice?"
Clarissa frowned slightly. "I don't truly know. I might become a shop keeper, or just go into research. I can do either with my current courses."
Snape leaned back in his chair, his dark eyes never leaving her. "From a spell crafter to a shop keeper. What would you consider selling? Who would your customers be? Where would you set up at? What are the set up costs? These are all things you need to plan out over the next couple of years. You should also focus on learning Latin if you do not have full command of the language, as most spells are spoken in that language."
Sitting forward, he picked up his quill once again and made a note on a parchment that was set on the edge of his desk. "You have checked into the OWL scores required by the professors of your NEWT courses, correct?"
She nodded quickly. "Jonathan posted a list up in the common room for everyone. He and Francesca asked all the professors for us."
Snape's eyebrow raised slightly before he made another note. "Do you have any other questions for me?"
Clarissa bit her bottom lip lightly before deciding it was best to ask now. "How can I find a master in my field? When do I apply for apprenticeship?"
"You should start seriously looking after the first term of your seventh year, but you should find out who is available during the summer holidays between your sixth and seventh year at the latest. Learn what their requirements are and then apply yourself to fulfil them. The Ministry typically has a list of masters that you can use to determine who is in the field of your choosing. If there is a guild, check with the guild about the standard requirements, and if there is no guild or they do not have specific requirements, you should then write that master."
Eyes widening, Clarissa was glad that she asked. She would make sure to pass this information along to the other Hufflepuffs. Maybe she should post it next to the list of OWL score requirements. "Thanks."
"You are welcome, Miss Munns. Anything else?"
Shaking her head no, she stood from her chair. "Thank you sir, I will leave you to your marking."
With a nod and a slight dismissing wave of a hand, Snape sent her on her way.
As the door closed behind her, Clarissa strode off to the common room. She had news to spread about.
§§§§
Francesca Manchester studied the rest of her house. "This situation is becoming intolerable."
The sixth and seventh years who took NEWT Arithmancy agreed at different levels of volume. Even the third, fourth and fifth years jumped in, their voices mixing in with the others.
Emma Barton frowned. "Why is it intolerable that people are calling Professor Snape a Hufflepuff? He is our Head of House."
Manchester noticed that the other first years looked just as puzzled. "Because they don't mean it in a good way. Professor Snape is a Slytherin and that is how he has dealt with us this entire time, as a Slytherin. By calling him a Hufflepuff they are implying that he has lost his cunning and ambition. That he is becoming nice, easy to get things by, and not very bright. Just like they think we are."
"We're not!" Marcus Tucker folded his arms across his chest. "Just because we think things through and base our decisions on what would be best for all, just because we have no interest in entering into the cutthroat competition for the House Cup, it doesn't mean we are stupid and don't want to succeed."
The rest of the House started vocalizing their opinion on the other Houses' opinion of them."We aren't dull." "Far from dimwitted!" and "So what if we are nice, it wouldn't hurt them to learn to be as well." were heard from all around the room.
"We know that, and we also know what the others think of us. Professor Snape is different, at least he seems to believe in us." Jonathan Moses spoke over the din. "So, we need to do something for him before this makes the others act out in his class."
A group of fifth years chuckled and grinned. "They would only do that once. Professor Snape would correct that opinion faster than they could bat an eye."
"But it would make his day hard, and I think we owe him." Moses glanced over at the other seventh years who nodded. They discussed this problem for the last two weeks, but today brought it all to a head. The events in Arithmancy had made him frown, and not just him, but all the other Hufflepuffs in the class. "Also, Professor Vector seems to be promoting the opinion that has developed. That means that they might not give up on it after the first attempt."
"Why is Professor Vector so mad at Professor Snape? She has had it out for him since the first day back."
Clarissa Munns glanced at the fourth year who asked the question that had been bugging most of the upper years since the second month of the school year. It had taken a good deal of cunning, plotting, and other skills that were not normally associated with their House to learn why. "Because she was rejected as our temporary Head of House."
"So, she is trying to destroy Snape's reputation because he was picked?" A second year frowned. "We can't let her get away with that. Sure, Snape is not the friendliest of professors, and he will certainly let you know if you did something wrong, but he has taken care of us."
Manchester grinned, her eyes twinkling slightly. "Precisely. We can't let her. So, we are going to do what she, nor anyone else, would think we will not or cannot do."
All eyes turned towards her. Only the other seventh years, who helped to develop the plan, didn't show open curiosity on their faces. "We are going to show them Slytherin traits."
All the eyes widened, some with anticipation, others in uncertainty, and still others in amazement.
A smile curled her lips. "We are second place in the House points right now, the highest we've been in a long time. Our Quidditch team is also in second place for the Quidditch Cup. Slytherins are cunning and ambitious – we can do that. If we all agree on it, we can win the House Cup and possibly the Quidditch Cup. We just have to put our minds to it."
"If the other houses suspect something, they will try to outdo us."
Manchester glanced at the sixth year. "That is where the cunning comes in. We need to be sneaky and sly. We need to act in a way that they are not suspicious until the last possible moment and they cannot win."
A timid sounding first year called out from the corner of the room. "Can we do it?"
"I think we can. We are not dull or dimwitted. As long as we are working together and helping each other out, we can achieve what we wish." The confidence in her gaze had the others believing.
"Should we let Professor Snape know? I mean, we don't want him to be surprised and give us away." Clarissa grinned as she imagined Snape being confronted by the other professors for making the Hufflepuffs into Slytherins. "Besides, if by chance someone questions our actions, it would be better if he knows so that he can either refute or agree with what they say."
Manchester turned to her male counterpart. "Moses, go get the Professor."
Jonathan left the common room, hoping that Professor Snape would not object to their plan.
§§§§
Severus put the last of the potion into its flask when a knock sounded on his door. "Enter."
Setting the flask down, he turned his attention to Mr Moses. "What has happened?"
He was already heading for the laboratory door before Moses answered.
"We need your advice, sir." Moses followed Snape out of the door, hoping that the man would not ask too many questions. He wanted the professor to hear the plan with everyone there.
"Advice on what?" Severus strode down the hall and turned sharply at the corner. Moses was not normally this reluctant to tell him things.
"Can you wait until we get to the common room? We'll tell you everything then."
Severus shot an irate glare at his prefect. Instead of developing solutions as he walked through the hall, he was going to be forced to wait. Not replying, he turned the next corner, his steps even faster causing Moses to work at keeping up with him.
A searching look cast about the black and yellow common room let Severus know that all the badgers were present. Turning slightly to his side, he landed his 'start talking now' glare on Moses.
Moses moved to stand near Manchester before starting in. "Professor Vector is promoting the idea that you are a Hufflepuff. She is not subtle about it either."
Manchester cut in. "She thinks she is. She makes a side comment here or there about how it is obvious that you were meant to be a Hufflepuff. The students are taking this and starting to spread it about. Some of the Gryffindors have commented that you are learning it from us – that we are bringing their ideas of what it means to be a Hufflepuff out in you."
Severus folded his arms, his gaze resting on both of them. He knew that his reputation was taking some damage, but he hadn't realized that Vector was part of the problem. "Mr Moses said that you wished my advice. As of yet I hear nothing that should be addressed by you."
Clarissa stepped forward. "We wish to show them that it is not you who has been affected by us, but the other way around. To do this, we are going to strive to be more cunning and ambitious. To be noticed more in class for answering questions and doing even better on our work."
It had been decided while Jonathan was out that they would not let Snape know that they were attempting to win the cups. They didn't want to disappoint the Potions Master if they failed.
"And you need advice on this endeavour?"
"Yes, sir. On how to go about it in a cunning manner that would not be easily noticed until the end of the year, but show a marked trend over this term when they look back. We also want you to know just in case it is brought to your attention, since we wish to pass this off as your influence on us. It would help that you knew that you were doing so." Manchester gave a hopeful look as she finished her explanation.
Severus studied each face before pacing a moment. "This is how you should go about it."
The badgers listened eagerly. Their snake was willing to play along.
§§§§
Albus looked over his staff as they discussed the topic that he had asked them to think about. 'Severus is still not sitting with the other Heads of Houses. Septima is still in Pomona's spot.' Minerva had shot a questioning look at Severus when the Arithmancy Professor took that seat and the Potions Master did nothing. He knew his Deputy was worried that Snape was becoming just as the rumour mill was portraying him – a Hufflepuff, and she would not get to listen to him point out the hard to accept facts bluntly.
'He isn't though. Severus has always shown the Hufflepuff traits of hard work, loyalty, and the ability to toil under any circumstance. It is the kindness that was missing, and it is still masked under many layers. It cannot be kindness that lets him sit there. I wonder what his reason is.' Albus watched as his future Head of Slytherin scathingly put down Sinistra's idea. He knew that even though Severus showed the traits of a Hufflepuff, they were only used to reinforce those of Slytherin. They were his way of getting what he wanted.
Shifting his attention back to Septima, he tried to determine if she had any part of the rumours running about. Over the holiday break he had pulled her aside and told her to stop attempting to get Severus removed as the Head of Hufflepuff. That there was no way he would change it now they were through first term as it could be more harmful to the students. Mainly it was because he was sick of her whining and fussing; he never expected her to be such a poor loser. Looking back at Severus, he contemplated if the Potions Master knew the answer. Part of him doubted it since Severus hadn't paid one wit of attention to her attempts since day one, but the man was a Slytherin and was very good at guarding his back.
Severus' eyes met his and he could tell that they were questioning his attention. Giving a slight shake of his head, he called the meeting back to order.
Severus was very glad that the meeting was coming to an end. It had been one of those he would have been happier not to have attended as he never cared for discussing plans with others. It was partially this secretive nature that made it hard for him to teach. He was surprised that he had so easily become involved with his students' plans. 'It was easier since I was just advising not participating.'
He shifted to stand up as Albus had dismissed them when Filius called his name. "Yes?"
"The Hufflepuffs have these quills that they are starting to use; they are their House's colours. I've never seen anything like them around or for sale. Do you know where they are buying them and if they might come in Ravenclaw colours?"
Severus suppressed his grin as he shook his head. There was no way he was going to tell them that he was personally charming those quills for points awarded during study groups. It was trying sometimes to come up with new patterns, but it was a challenge that he enjoyed. "I don't know where they are buying them."
Minerva sighed lightly. "The members of my House are wanting to find them in their colours as well."
Standing up from the table, Severus ignored the look shot his way by Vector as he prepared to leave. "I fear I cannot help you."
Striding out the door, he headed for his laboratory. He was amazed that his tokens had become something to be envied. Surely Filius could easily figure out the charm work on the quills. It was a simple colour changing one.
§§§§
"Professor Snape!"
Albus watched as Mildred Catchpole called out to her Head of House, obviously hoping to catch his attention before he made it into his laboratory. Shifting his attention, he wondered what Severus' reaction would be. Hanging back near the corner, he watched to see what would happen. He would wait to talk to Severus after this issue was handled.
"Miss Catchpole, what is the problem?" Severus spun about, his eyes narrowing on the captain of the Quidditch team.
Albus blinked when the seventh year continued forward, not letting the glare that hit her deter her at all.
"It is the Slytherins, sir. We were scheduled for the pitch today, all afternoon, to train for the upcoming game against them, and they have taken over and refuse to budge."
"You have verified the calendar with Madam Hooch?" Severus was already striding back down the corridor with Miss Catchpole falling into step with him.
Albus backed up so that he would not be spotted, and then fell into step behind them. A quick Disillusionment spell helped to hide his presence. He was very curious how Severus was going to handle this, especially as the Potions Master knew that he would most likely be the Head of Slytherin next year.
"Yes, I checked with Madam Hooch before I came to you. I know better than not to. She said we were still scheduled for the field."
Severus nodded once, and they continued through the halls.
The rest of the Hufflepuff Quidditch team was waiting outside Madam Hooch's office. All eyes looked to Severus as he approached.
A quick rap on the door was answered by Rolanda Hooch. "Professor Snape?"
Severus' eyes narrowed and his question was asked in a quiet glacial tone. "Why has my Quidditch team had to pull me out of my laboratory to attend to a team hogging the pitch that they are currently scheduled to use?"
Hooch's back stiffened slightly and she swept out of her office. "I told your team to tell them it was time to change."
"We did! They refused to budge."
Hooch compressed her lips into a thin line. "Then I will see that they give way."
Severus, the Hufflepuff team, and Albus followed her.
As they approached the pitch, Albus watched as Severus' glare increased until it reached the level that would have most students cringing and wondering how they were going to escape this time. He was sure that was the reason the Slytherins landed, not Rolanda's attempt to call them down.
As the Slytherin captain strode past Severus, Albus was sure that he heard the boy snarl
'Hufflepuff' at the Potions Master. What shocked him was that Severus only smirked at the comment before heading back to the castle.
§§§§
Albus smiled softly while Septima Vector stared with the rest of the professors, except for Snape. The knowing look that flashed across his Potions Master's face told him that Severus had kept an eye on the points, not that he doubted the man would. Albus had thought the other professors would have started paying closer attention to the house points when Hufflepuff came in second place for the Quidditch Cup, Slytherin beating them out by a mere fifty points.
Running a hand through his beard, he let his gaze rest on Septima. "I have heard a number of rumours running about the school, most of them casting Professor Snape in the position of becoming very Hufflepuff like. I think that instead of our esteemed Professor becoming more Hufflepuff like, it seems as if the House under his care has become more Slytherin in their behaviour as they have succeeded in taking the House Cup into their possession without anyone noticing."
Septima whipped her head about, and glared at the man she had despised all year. "How could you do that to those kind children? You made them into people that I doubt they can live with. They are going to be so depressed when they learn what you have taught them."
Severus forced himself to remain calm under her attack, and knew that he would let his house know that they succeeded in their endeavour. They worked hard to be perceived as Slytherins. "Maybe you just underestimated what they are capable of? I did nothing more than what I told Albus I wished to do, have them succeed."
Albus cleared his throat softly, pulling everyone's attention back to himself. "To conclude this meeting, I have the change of staff to announcements for next year. We all know that Professor Christoffersen will not be joining us next year, and the hunt for the next years Defence Against Dark Arts professor has already begun." He shifted his attention to the current Head of Slytherin, who nodded. "Professor Archibald Griffith will also be retiring at the end of this year. The hunt for a new Ancient Runes instruct has also begun."
Minerva leaned forward, as did the other Heads. "You didn't tell us you were leaving."
Griffith shrugged lightly. "Albus asked that I didn't. The students would have heard about it and it would have made this year more difficult as they were already dealing with Pomona's absence."
"Albus, who is going to take over the Head of Slytherin? Are you taking applications?"
At Minerva's question, Albus noticed Vector's eyes brightening. Shaking his head, he let his gaze rest on his deputy. He knew she would corner him later for leaving her out of this decision. "I have already filled that position."
Only the fact that Griffith's face filled with as much surprise as most of the other professors kept people from pestering him. He met Albus' gaze. "Who? Who here did you select to go into the snake den?"
Albus' quiet answer sounded loud as everyone waited to hear it. "Severus Snape."