Dark blood- Servine's mistake

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phew! Anyway, here we go guys. Chapter 16 wow, and I think A WHOLE LOT OF YOU WILL LIKE THIS! THATS RIGHT LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, A GREAT MOMENT HAS ARRIVED:D

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The students filtered into the hall quickly and filled the place with life and colour. Most students seemed very happy to be back, Servine observed. He had sat down in his usual place with all the other teachers and Alder next to him on the professors table and he was busy looking at all the students. Draco was seated amongst the Slytherins but seemed very quiet while Harry seemed to be in deep conversation with Ron. He wondered how they'd react to a new DaDa and potions professor but decided there was no point worrying about it. He wasn't really here to teach as much for the sake around being with people he loved. Did I really just think that? Damnit you have gone weak. I wouldn't be surprised if you got showered by a potion! He growled slightly and put a hand to his head when the internal conflict amplified his headache. Alder noticed with concern.

"Servine, child does your head hurt?"

There wasn't a point in lying. He would notice. "My head...and stomach slightly"

"You ought to see Pomfrey this instant"

"No, I am well enough. I just haven't taken the antivenom yet and-"

"Servine you haven't been sleeping or eating either. And that potion isn't enough, you know this"

"I will brew them in the class alright?"

Reluctantly, Alder nodded. Once everyone had gotten seated, Minerva stood up and began her welcoming speech.

"Well it is truly a pleasure to be able to welcome you all back after what I am sure you will agree has been an extremely difficult year. Let me just say that the vanquisher of Voldemort resides here amongst us right now. Harry Potter would you please stand up." He stood up and gave a small smile as everyone clapped and cheered loudly.

"Harry would you like to say anything?"

"Uhhh...look I know I defeated Voldemort. But I couldn't have done it without the help of so many people here. Most of you have had a part to play in this. I think we have to work together to build the lives around us and to not let those who have sacrificed their lives to have been in vain. Not Everyone survived this war so us-as in those who did, have to make this world a better place. It was why we all fought and I think if we all try we can make this home again."

The whole hall filled with cheers as he sat down with Hermione and Ron by his side.

Minerva drew the attention back to her.

"Well said Harry. Now let me introduce the new additions to our staff, Mr Servine Slade and Alder Slade, the new potions and defence teachers of Hogwarts. I am sure they will find themselves much at home here at Hogwarts. Professor S. Slade will be the new head of house for Slytherin and professor A. Slade will be head of Gryffindor. Now, as you all know the petition which we came up with to express our voices to the ministry has gone through and has been received by the minister himself. However I am sorry to report that the ministry is still not willing to accept Headmaster Severus Snape's position in the war as being on the side of the light."

The reaction brought about by this statement was devastating. An uproar similar to the staffs was created and if the students weren't protesting then they were sobbing silently to themselves. While this was going on, Minerva looked over her shoulder and gave him a pointed look as if to say 'I told you so'. He stared ahead in a daze. This couldn't be right. They couldn't actually believe he was innocent. In all his years at Hogwarts he had only ever had two people care for him and that was Albus and Minerva. Albus had been dead however, and Minerva hated him the minute he became headmaster. So for a whole castle full of people to care how he was remembered was a shock to him.

"Now settle down!" The noise died down as Minerva demanded total attention. "We will try again! And this time we will do a personal letter and will call him here to convince him. In the mean time concentrate on building up the kind of atmosphere like before. As Harry said, this is home and we have to work hard if we ever want it to be what it once was." Claps and chatter resumed from then on and Minerva took her seat and summoned the feast for the students much as he and Albus had done in the past. Then she sat down beside him and turned to him with a glint of satisfaction.

"Do you see Servine? There are so many who care about him." She smiled sadly at the memory of Severus.

"But...why? Why do they care about him so much?" He honestly wanted to know. She sighed.

"Because only now, after his death do we see what he did for us. He sacrificed so much just to keep people like us protected. Yes he made mistakes, but at least he made the vow to make up for them." Then she laughed bitterly. "He was always compromised. And it brought him so much pain. Did you know he was a death eater so that he could spy for the light? There were days when he would come back covered in blood"

"...I had no idea..." He would have laughed had it not been for the shock this whole thing had caused him. He shook his head but his headache increased tenfold and he grimaced.

"Are you alright Servine?"

He frowned and brought a hand to his head. He could ask to leave to brew the potion, but that would be rude.

"I'm fine, Minerva stop fussing"

She flinched in surprise and looked at him with wide eyes. He looked at her in surprise.

"What?"

"...it's just that...in that exact moment you...reminded me of Severus" he paused. shit!

"Feeling sentimental are we?" Dammit that also sounds too much like me!

"Again! Merlin I must be missing him too much" she laughed sadly.

"Yes. Do not worry though. I am sure with time you will learn to adjust. This is your first year as headmistress is it not?"

"Yes...how did you know that?"

Careful! "I just...know"

"Hmmm well yes. I suppose with new things we must learn to adjust."

"Indeed"

That evening Servine decided he wouldn't give the Slytherins the speech he normally gave. Knowing them they wouldn't take lightly to the new head of house. They had been close to him before and probably wouldn't trust a new face. While everyone headed to sleep including Alder, he read through his lesson plans for the next day in his bed chambers. At one o'clock in the morning he went to bed. At three o'clock he was still awake. By four he was asleep but was trapped in a nightmare.

A pale hand brushed his cheek from behind in a sick mocking version of Albus who had done the same countless times. He shivered but couldn't move for he was under the imperious curse. He knew who the hand belonged to. As he was forced to turn around to his red-eyed master he heard the very words that would have decided his fate.

"Nagini...kill!"

By four thirty he was awake again and realised he had a slightly higher temperature than was normal. Probably too much venom. I have to make that potion tomorrow or else!

At five he fell back to sleep and thankfully didn't wake up until Alder knocked on his door and shook him awake.

"Leave me alone, Albus!" He hissed. When he was tired he wasn't a morning person. Alder frowned and put a hand on his forehead.

"Child you have an even higher temperature than yesterday. Perhaps you should rest for today while I brew the-"

"No! I will teach. Today's the first day! I don't want people to think I am incompetent and useless" And with that he was up and ready before Alder could say anything else.

In the great hall however the noise of chatter and the bright lights made Servine's head hurt even more. And the thought of eating food made him feel very nauseous. Minerva questioned him again but thanks to his skills of deceit he was able to successfully draw her attention away from him.

The first lesson was tedious followed by the second and third. He mainly gave introductions and went over the basics of potion making and safety. He was however much nicer to the students because he now could be and also knew that if he behaved like he had previously with the same harsh manner, people would be able to make the connection. But one thing was bugging him. He still hadn't gotten a chance to even start the antivenom and it took three hours to brew. After the third lesson the students went to lunch but he stayed back and got the antivenom going. As he stirred in more lacewing flies his head began to spin and he gripped onto the table for support. After a moment it passed but now his whole body ached and he was feeling hot and cold all at once. Dammit I should have started this sooner. Now I have to make sure I take it as soon as I can, and to be honest the sooner, the better!

Alder walked in the middle of lunch and saw Servine brewing.

"Child, how do you feel now?"

"Fine!" He snapped. He really wasn't in the mood and he was in too much pain.

"I see you have started the potion"

"And I see you ignore subtle hints that suggest I am busy!" A flash of hurt crossed Alders face and it soon turned into anger.

"Really Servine I am only concerned about your welfare!"

"You are just getting in the way! Stop going on about how I feel!" Servine scowled and Alder crossed his arms and took his angry headmaster tone.

"Severus, that was extremely rude. If you wish for me to leave then do ask but this is not the correct way to behave. I expect better from you"

Servine looked up and stopped. "Do you know what Albus? You're right this isn't the proper way to behave. Perhaps I should point my wand at you instead!" He growled.

Alder walked out of the dungeons and went back to his classroom to collect his things. He had only wanted to check on Severus but if the boy didn't even behave properly then what was the point.

"I am professor Slade, your new potions teacher. As your professor I expect the utmost respect from each of you as we endeavour into the exact science that is potion making." The fourth class had started and was a two hour lesson. Servine really didn't want to teach this class right now though and not because of it being Slytherin and Gryffindor or having Harry Potter and Draco in it. It was because he felt too tired to keep this up. His body hurt, he felt sick and wanted to just lie down. He sighed and carried on with instructions.

Harry sat in his usual place in potions beside Hermione and Ron and watched the new professor. He reminded Harry a lot of Snape actually especially when he said 'exact science that is potion making' but still it made him upset. They had a replacement for Snape. In all his years here Snape had always been a well known teacher. Now there was a new defence teacher and potions teacher to take his place. Harry screwed his eyes shut as he ,against his will, visualised Snape being killed by Nagini. His eyes began to water when he thought of the blood but he snapped out of it when the new professor told them to start making a simple antidote.

"Well get to it. If you have any questions please do not hesitate in calling me. If there is a problem with your potion place a stasis charm on it and find me."

Then the hustling began as people moved to different areas of the room to retrieve certain apparatus. Harry returned to his desk carrying some supplies when Ron nudged him.

"Look at the professor. Doesn't he look kind of..."

"Ill?" Hermione finished.

"Yeah, actually now that you mention it..." The professor looked busy working over a cauldron at his desk but his face seemed white as a sheet and his grey eyes seemed murky and bloodshot. It was like the man hadn't slept. Strange.

"Well lets just hope he gets better soon." And they carried on knowing there wasn't much else they could do.

About halfway through the lesson though, Ron added too much Asphodel and that caused the potion to become an unstable black tar. Harry looked up at his partner.

"Ummm Ron I think we should call the professor." Then they turned to look at the man who was still fussing over his cauldron, not really paying any attention to any of them. Harry walked up to him while Ron tried to put the stasis charm in it.

"Professor, we need your help. Our potion just-" then a shriek from Ron was heard. The professor jumped up and bolted to the shaking cauldron. He tried a spell but realised it was too late. And all the children were within range of the explosion he knew would come.

"EVERYONE TO THE FLOOR NOW!" He screamed out and everyone ducked down. Just then the cauldron exploded, showering black potion and bits of cauldron everywhere. Servine had only just enough time to put a Protego spell on Ron before he was hit with the potion. For a few moments he was completely disorientated and within a matter of minutes he heard a whisper from behind him from Harry.

"Pro...Professor...Snape?!" And then Severus collapsed onto the floor in a dead faint, completely exhausted by the days events while the children crowded around him in fear and utter disbelief.

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