AN: This was actually one of my favorite chapters to right, even though it really is just breakfast. Reveiwing inspires quicker updates and helps me finish the outline.

Arthur Kirkland And the Job

Chapter Five

When Prussia woke up the next morning he was so happy that he didn't even mind it was practically the crack of dawn. It wasn't like he wasn't used to waking up obscenely early, what with West's precious schedule. But usually he would just pretend to get up until West left, then lock all the bolts on the basement door and put on the sound proof headphones he'd bought off America. Even Alfred had his uses it turned out. Not even West's dulcet tones could penetrate his, precious, precious headphones. After West's initial wake up three was his usual time of rising, unless he was tempted by fresh pancakes that is—

Prussia quickly brushed away the memories accompanied with such a thought and quickly dressed whistling to himself to keep his mood buoyant. Ignoring the dark mutterings from a certain Brit across the room Prussia loudly left and slammed the door behind him. The answering curse and thump of someone falling out of a bed was quite satisfying. Just because England had agreed he could stay, not that anyone could resist his awesome self so failure really hadn't been an option, didn't mean Prussia had forgiven the bastard for his abandonment. No, far from it, he fully intended to have revenge in millions of petty ways leading up for a grand finale right around, about Halloween if he could get replacements for the potions he lost in Diagon Alley early. Skipping a little at the pleasure of revenge and knowing he was finally going to be doing something interesting, and certainly not thinking or dwelling on unhappy memories or nightmares, Prussia began whistling the theme to Silent Hill.

As if sensing the song of a horror movie a creature of darkness turned into Prussia's path, glowered at him hatefully and turned his back to Prussia to walk to the Great Hall. Prussia smirked to himself as he settled in beside the man, changing to the Jaws theme. The man sped up in an attempt to lose him and Prussia happily matched him. Seeming to realize Prussia was a stubborn bastard, thank you very much, the man gave Prussia look and continued on in hate filled silence.

Prussia was distinctly impressed the look was so withering it was almost on par with Francis when you spilled ink all over his suggestive pictures of Romano. Not that Prussia ever had, And he'd most definitely not mailed those same above mentioned pictures to Spain and told him to guess who had them. Iceland, whom Spain had somehow thought sent them, got off lucky when Prussia convinced, he did not beg, Romano into saying it was his subtle way of informing Spain he may be willing to go to the next level. Honestly by then Romano, and everyone else in the world, would be willing to tell whatever lies were necessary or sacrifice Iceland to Spain, as Belarus had very kindly suggested, to get rid of creepy-oh-my-god-its-Conquistador-mode-run-like-hell-you-pure-bastard version of Spain.

When they got to the Great Hall and Prussia sat beside the man at the teacher's table, Prussia honestly thought for a second that he was going to get shanked, but somehow the man restrained himself and instead speared his eggs like they were Remus Lupin. Well Remus Lupin in the man's case, Prussia had saw the looks the friendly werewolf got. Now Prussia was thoroughly impressed. This man had restraint, now how far could Prussia stretch it? Prussia barely felt the sinister smile grow on his face as he took in his new toy.

"What's your name?" Prussia questioned sweetly, making the man give him a 'you-are-so-stupid-you-should-have-been-killed-off-by-natural-selection-along-time-ago-so-that-nature-could-assure-you-would-never-breed' glare. Damn he was expressive too, usually only France managed a look so detailed and even his longest was only five words.

"I believe you were informed last night." He said coolly, black eyes glimmering with what Prussia recognized as a desire to draw blood. Prussia grinned in response and noticed with amusement his fork was almost bent double in his clenched hands.

"Come on, got me some slack. My awesome self had just endured the un-awesome presence of walking Depression." Prussia countered, making a look of blatant horror appear on the man's face, before it was replaced with another murderous glower.

"I'll keep bothering you until you tell me." Prussia informed him challengingly. The man seemed to weigh the option of giving in and having to listen to Prussia longer. Apparently he couldn't handle Prussia's awesome nature.

"Severus Snape." He snapped curtly and focused on his pate. Prussia snorted at the name.

"You've got to be joking. Who makes their kid a walking alliteration?" Snape bristled, but ignored him. Prussia looked him over calculating the best ways to get a reaction.

"So, how long have you worked here?"

Death glare, but silence.

"What's your favorite color?"

Just a twitch at that. Hm, Prussia would guess he wasn't a pink fan.

"What's your favorite movie?"

Didn't get that one if Prussia was judging by the brief confusion in his toy's eyes. Psh. Wizards.

"Come on I'm trying to socially interact and form supposedly important work relationships with my colleagues."

Snape looked at him as if he was an affront to mankind. "In what possible way have I acted to allow you to delude yourself into thinking I would ever consider having any sort of 'relationship' with you. Because whatever it is I need to know so I will not give any other annoying fools false hope."

"You didn't stab me with the butter knife." Prussia informed him smugly. Prussia rather enjoyed the sight of pure hate fill Severus Snape's eyes. Prussia also finally remembered that Snape was the Potions Master. Prussia decided he should probably drink only things he himself brought from now on and not eat anything he hadn't already seen others eat. It might even pay to hire a food tester, maybe one of those little eleven year olds? Prussia pushed the idea away deciding to give it further consideration after lunch.

To Prussia's disappointment though, Snape didn't react further, in fact other than giving him a sneer and occasional Death Promise via eyes, he ignored Prussia's presence entirely, which in all honest made Prussia want to bother him all the more. This was something worth researching and going at from different angles, observing Severus Snape critically Prussia decided on his pet project for the year. But despite the promise of entertainment later at this moment Snape bored Prussia. Clearly Prussia didn't know enough about him to get a real reaction. Bored he turned to look around the Hall. Noting the quickly approaching figure in UBHME T-shirt, jeans, and trainers Prussia perked up. Finally conversation.

"Hello Gilbert," Charity Burbage greeted him with a bright sparkle in her green-grey eyes. Prussia's answering grin, unbeknownst to him made Snape shiver in horror and have flashbacks of being locked in a broom cupboard for seventeen hours with Black after James Potter had given him an almost identical one. Black had been about as happy as Snape and therefore more unbearable than normal.

"Here for breakfast?" he asked his new, and friendly coworker hopefully, while giving Snape a disappointed look meant to communicate how decidedly unawesome he was currently being.

"No," Burbage answered, chirping like a song bird. "I've got to get ready for class. "I'll see you at nine." With that she stole one of Prussia's muffins and practically skipping. Prussia sighed as he watched her leave, not only was he stuck with someone who refused to appreciate his awesomeness, for now anyway, but there went the other only person who dressed normally around here.

Prussia himself was dressed dark jeans, a semi-formal button up shirt and tie, to show he was being serious or some such shit, and flip-flops. Because flip-flops were the greatest creation ever. His current ones were black with little Gilbird-esque yellow birds on them. And therefore the best birthday present West had ever gotten him.

Prussia sighed and noted that the students were entering. At first his eyes focused on a familiar boy practically strutting to one of the tables. It's the one with the white-blonde hair and West's hair cut. He'd caught Prussia's attention on the train because of the resemblance to West, but now he drew it because of how the students were looking at him. At the other tables it was dislike or distrust, but at his table he was clearly the leader, even the older students seemed to acknowledge him. It was different from the Harry boy who drew attention from his own table in a similar way. Harry didn't notice it, but this boy did and he wore it gladly like a badge of honor.

"Who is that?" Prussia demanded pointing at the boy after elbowing Snape ni the ribs. Snape gave him a dark look, but seeing who he was pointing to he went downright glacial.

"That is Draco Malfoy," Snape said, glaring at Prussia with blatant suspicion. "My Godson." The threat in his voice was just too much like Antonio's reaction to any perceived threats to Romano for even Prussia to dare comment further. Seemingly satisfied Snape went back the skewering his food. It didn't take long for Prussia to become bored enough to attempt to speak to him.

"So how exactly does the house thing work?" he questioned sweetly, after dragging his eyes away from the sight of hundreds of birds descending. It reminded him of that Alfred Hitchcock movie.

"Did you pay attention to anything last night?" Snape hissed, spinning in his chair to face Prussia.

Prussia grinned with pleasure at the sight. "No."

Snape looked downright murderous, but didn't dare do anything because Dumbledore chose that moment to walking in and sit down. Having his options taken away Prussia made sure to repeat the question as sweetly as possible. And under Dumbledore's watchful gaze Snape was forced to act civil and began a very curt, very hostile explanation. He was so absorbed in his hating of Prussia he didn't even notice Lupin sit one sit away from him. Lupin looked downright bemused by the lack of hostile greeting and Prussia laughed out loud, interrupting Snape's explanation.

"If you aren't going to listen you can—" Snape began what would no doubt have been a very violent, very detailed explanation of what Prussia could do.

"Oh, I was listening. Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Slytherin." Prussia said waving away Snape's words. Before Snape could decide to finally kill him Prussia continued. "But it doesn't explain the animosity between the four houses. Especially towards Slytherin."

Snape stiffened and gave Prussia a withering look, but for the first time willing deigned to explain. Prussia swore it looked like the man was impressed by Prussia's observation, which would have been nice if it wasn't for the fact any self-respecting three year old could have came to the conclusion.

"During the War a great number of the Dark Lord's supporters were from Slytherin as the Dark Lord himself was. Afterwards the Slytherins bore the brunt of the Wizarding Worlds punishment. This is nothing to the months immediately following the War. It doesn't help the Black's escape threw the War fresh into the memories of those who'd lived through it." Snape explained expression dark. Prussia nodded understanding perfectly and looking over the students thoughtfully.

"What was it like pre-Voldy?" Prussia asked curious. Snape twitched a little at the name.

"I wouldn't know I was raised during his rise to power and arrived during the start of the War." Snape explained curtly. Fort he first time Prussia didn't reply and decided to remain silent looking over the Hogwarts population carefully, thoughts running. Prussia didn't bother to acknowledge England when he entered and sat beside Snape, pointedly ignoring him. Ignoring this Prussia rose to his feet thoughts still focused on the Slytherins. He saw England stiffen in the corner of his eye.

Not bothering with a good-bye Prussia left England's suspicious gaze following him. Right before he got out of hearing range he heard England demanding to now exactly what Snape had said to him.