"Return of the Brats," Severus muttered as the students poured into the hall on the first of September. He darkly hummed the Imperial March – Darth Vader's theme song – under his breath, toying with the stem of his wine glass. He hated September 1st.

"Welcome, all of you, to Hogwarts!" Dumbledore spread his arms with a beaming smile larger than life, and Severus tuned out the rest of his spiel with a stifled groan. He'd heard it all a thousand times before.

Letting his glare wander across the tables, he lingered over a certain part of the Gryffindor table. Seeing Longbottom there, listening earnestly to Dumbledore's predictable speech, Severus had to admit that he felt a small hint of relief that it seemed Longbottom hadn't faced any trouble at home. Glancing on to where Potter sat with his friends, though, he felt his lip curl. The brat was living with Black, now, and Severus didn't doubt that the boy would become ever more insufferable through the mutt's influence.

At least Lupin wasn't around anymore. Severus hadn't felt the tiniest bit of guilt when he'd drunk a toast to Skeeter's vile little article, though he'd certainly been offended when Albus had asked him whether he'd had a hand in it. At least the wolf had been more competent than Lockhart, the blistering idiot. He couldn't imagine what the classes of this year's professor might be like.

As though called forth by the power of his thoughts – Severus snorted to himself – the double doors opened and Alastor "Mad Eye" Moody limped in, looking every bit as gnarled and weathered as the last time Severus had seen him. His blue eye whirled around madly, wand hand twitching as though ready to draw his wand. Yes, the man was just as paranoid as ever. And the retired Auror had never hidden his mistrust of the Death Eater spy, but at least Severus could respect him for that. He was sure it would be simply delightful to work in the same castle as the man.

Ah, yes – there. The blue eye lingered on him for several heartbeats, and Severus was sure to keep his expression even. No need to antagonize the man on the very first evening, he supposed. At least someone had been intelligent enough to seat Moody at the other end of the Head Table.

Stifling a sigh, Severus settled back to wait out the rest of the evening. Another school year had begun.

Longbottom gave him a small smile when the fourth-year Gryffindors filed into his classroom for their first lesson of the year, and Severus forced himself to sneer back. The boy hesitated, then shook his head impatiently and took his usual seat.

The lesson went as every lesson before: Severus gave them the instructions, watched them mangle their brews, and either helped or berated depending on house affiliation. He hated it.

When the class let out, however, he found that Longbottom had unobtrusively left a scroll and letter on his desk.

For you, the envelope said in bold letters. Curious now, Severus picked up the items and settled behind his desk to read the letter. It turned out to be a surprisingly long one, full of Longbottom's thoughts on Potions and Herbology and remarkably devoid of anything that could identify either author or recipient, which Severus noted with approval. At the end was a short paragraph thanking him for the useful gift and offering him a rare scroll from the family library in gratitude, and Severus felt a strange squeeze around his heart to know that Longbottom had needed protection against a magical or physical attack while at home.

He couldn't compose a reply just then, but it was the first thing he did that evening.

The foreign visitors arrived, and Severus was hard-pressed to keep his snide remarks to himself. The Beauxbatons students continued underdressed even after their arrival, it was hardly a pleasure to see Karkaroff again; if Moody decided to lump him together with that coward one more time he'd blow a fuse, and the male reactions to Fleur Delacour were pathetic. The school year couldn't be over too soon, in his opinion.

Then the champions were chosen. When Delacour passed the Head Table he pulled up his Occlumentic shields firmly and was unsurprised when none of the other teachers reacted to her Veela heritage, either – after all, Filius and Hagrid were both of mixed blood, Dumbledore had no interest in women, Moody was Moody, and though Sinistra was attracted to women she was well used to hiding it. Krum seemed a good choice for Durmstrang, even his fellows nothing more than resigned to his selection, and Diggory was a popular choice for Hogwarts.

Content that at least it seemed serious and competent students had been picked for each school, Severus was just reaching for his wine glass when the Goblet of Fire belched out another flame, Dumbledore snatching a slip of parchment from the air.

"Harry Potter."

"He didn't do it, sir," Longbottom had the temerity to tell him, and Severus snarled.

"Of course Saint Potter didn't do it, he expects everyone to believe that he is simply so imbecilic as to run headlong into danger, my hopes for a peaceful year once more dashed by his moronic incompetence-"

"That's how he feels as well, sir," came the unexpected interruption, and Severus abruptly stopped pacing to fix Longbottom with an intent look. The boy had actually back-talked.

"How does he feel as well, Longbottom?"

"He was hoping for a peaceful year as well, sir," the student said, and though he tried to sound firm Severus could hear the waver in his voice. So the boy was still afraid – but believed this strongly enough to go up against his Potions Master. "He just wants to have a normal year at school, without any craziness or danger, he said. He really thinks someone wants him dead," he stuttered slightly on the last word.

Severus snorted. "Well, at least he is not oblivious enough to have missed that, then. How very reassuring."

And yet, despite his sarcasm, Longbottom was looking up at him with earnest, guileless eyes.

"Oh, very well, Longbottom," Severus sighed. "Why does the rest of Gryffindor seem so antagonistic, then?"

The Gryffindor wilted slightly at that. "They don't believe him," he muttered. "Even Ron. Harry's really hurt."

Severus frowned at that. "Weasley does not believe Potter? I believed they were – best friends." He was tempted to call them partners in crime.

"Yeah," Longbottom confirmed, looking at his shoes. "But Ron – well – he's a bit of a jealous sort, you see…"

"Ah." Yes, indeed, Severus could see all too well. "'Why do you get all the fame and fortune, Harry? I grew up with nothing and everything just falls into your lap,'" he whined in a vague approximation of Weasley. Longbottom's head shot up to gape at him. "Like so?"

"Yeah! How'd you know?"

Severus snorted. "Please – it is hardly difficult to guess." He had felt similarly uncharitable many a time. Fixing Longbottom with an intent look, he asked pointedly, "You are sure that Potter did not enter his own name."

"Positive, sir," the boy answered firmly, and Severus sighed.

"Very well. I suppose we will have to ensure he survives – again. Do tell the boy to stop getting involved in such harebrained stunts, for saving his life is getting quite tiresome." To his surprise, Longbottom just beamed up at him, and he was momentarily alarmed that the boy might actually relay his words to Potter.

"Do not actually say that to him," he said quickly. "He is not to know of my involvement."

"Of course, sir," Longbottom grinned.

"Good."

That began a strange partnership, where Severus found himself giving Longbottom hints to help not only Potter, but Longbottom himself. To his surprise, he found himself warming slightly towards Granger when he found out that she was including Longbottom in their intensive spell practice sessions, and Severus couldn't help but feel slightly proud each time he heard of Longbottom's progress in the staff room.

Remarking idly one time that Longbottom might wish to take up some exercise – running, for example – he was surprised to find not only Longbottom, but also Potter jogging outside the castle the very next morning. A suggestion to add swimming to his exercise saw both boys promptly learning heating charms and swimming in the lake – and when he sneered that Potter might care to wash his golden egg, as he didn't doubt it was covered in fingerprints by that point, he received a little note reading mirthfully that Harry thought the thing most precious to him might be his Firebolt. Severus sneered at that at first, then wondered what it said about a boy that his broom would be the thing he most valued. Deciding that the boy was unlikely to think that a human would be chosen, he thought in disgust that of course a broom would be the Seeker's most prized possession.

And yet, he had his misgivings when Weasley was chosen as Potter's hostage. The boy had been a rather flaky friend, that year, so it seemed odd for him to be chosen – unless, and Severus felt slightly ill at the thought, Albus thought he was choosing the romantic partner of each champion but Delacour. She could hardly be seen rescuing a Hogwarts professor, after all. (He had been unsurprised to find Delacour and Sinistra meeting secretly. He had, however, been rather surprised to find them together on the Astronomy Tower during one of his rounds, and he couldn't deny that the view had been spectacular. He was only human, after all.)

More surprising than Weasley being chosen, however, was that Potter was the first to reach the hostages and the last to leave, rescuing not only his hostage but Delacour's as well. Severus's first inclination was to brush it off as dramatics and a misplaced hero complex – and yet… He knew the boy ran with Longbottom every morning. Trained incessantly with Granger. Was not above extending the hand of forgiveness and friendship to Weasley after the brat had come crawling back.

The parallel to his own relationship with Lily Evans was not lost on Severus.

No, the boy seemed… to truly have feared for the lives of the hostages. Potter blushed beet red when assured that the students wouldn't have come to any harm. He seemed lost for words. That wasn't the reaction of a wannabe hero.

And once again, Severus was left with the unpleasant feeling of wondering how much he had wronged one of his charges.

The next lesson, Severus slipped Longbottom a list of spells, titled only "Copy and destroy". The list had the incantations, wand movements, and a short explanation for the spells Severus thought would be most useful in the final task. Even if he was wrong about Potter, Longbottom and Granger would ensure that he learned them.

It was strange, to see the small group of Gryffindors at their table during meals. It was a common sight now to see Potter, Weasley, Granger and Longbottom with their heads together – though Severus didn't miss the looks Weasley sometimes gave Longbottom. It seemed he felt that the other boy had encroached on his position as the Boy-Who-Lived's best friend.

Severus snorted. Longbottom was better than that.

It was remarkable, actually, how little Potter's involvement in the tournament seemed to change Severus's life. He'd honestly been expecting the need to keep tabs on Potter all the time so as to prevent any further harebrained stunts, but this year all the harebrained stunts appeared to be taking place in public, in front of crowds of people who could help, and in private he found he could trust Longbottom with Potter's safety.

And wasn't that a strange thought? His previously most incompetent student – unfortunately, Dennis Creevey seemed to aspire to be just as much of a menace as Longbottom had been – now was the student Severus trusted most. Even over his own godson.

Of course, Draco was also a brat and a wannabe bully… Severus sighed. Perhaps he'd have a word with the boy one of these days. Despite his distaste for Potter's offspring, those infernal badges Draco promoted at every turn were getting on his nerves. A ban within the classroom, at least, would not be unwelcome.

Sighing again, Severus swept up his papers and proceeded to his private quarters. The final task was almost upon them, and events would come to a head then, no doubt. He would have to ensure he was prepared.

"The same phrase as yours," he muttered the day before the final task, pressing a portkey into Longbottom's hand. "Should Potter use it, you will need to run for the Hogwarts gates to clear the ward line, then use your own portkey to pick up Potter. The Knight Bus should bring you back safely," he wrinkled his nose at the thought of that unpleasant contraption. "I cannot be seen helping Potter," he clarified – unnecessarily, it seemed, as Longbottom simply nodded firmly.

"Don't worry, sir," Longbottom said. "I'll make sure he doesn't know it's your house, too."

"Very good." A sharp nod that Longbottom took as a dismissal, and as Severus watched the boy leave he was surprised by a brief burst of relief and pride.

The following day was a tense affair, and Severus mentally cursed Albus thoroughly as he watched the outer walls of the maze and the cloudy sky overhead. Twice, sparks went up, and both times he was unsure whether he hoped it was Potter or wasn't. His tension just rose each time it wasn't Potter.

Then he felt the wards on his house go off and, heart in his throat, whirled to the stands, catching Longbottom's eye – the boy must have been watching him the entire time, and Severus would consider the implications of that later – and Longbottom dashed off towards the Hogwarts gates, Granger in hot pursuit. Weasley didn't even appear to have noticed, still staring intently at the maze, but then the redhead glanced at his departing friends and Severus realized that he was staying at Hogwarts on the off chance that something happened.

Burying his surprise as quickly as it surfaced, Severus waited, schooling his face into perfect impassivity even as his eyes swept over everything and everyone present. Most people seemed bored, the teachers tense, and Moody…

Severus frowned. The Auror was a strange one, no doubt about it, but something about him seemed off.

Looking away before the wizard could notice his gaze on him, Severus mulled over his observation. Eventually he decided that the retired Auror was probably just high on adrenaline and hoping something truly life endangering would happen. Snorting derisively, Severus settled back to waiting – and observing.

What felt like an eternity later, Longbottom and Granger reappeared with both Potter and Diggory, the Hufflepuff holding the Triwizard Cup, and Severus moved towards Albus as soon as he realized that was where the students were headed.

Dropping his supporting arm around Diggory, Longbottom raced towards the headmaster and urgently told him that they need to get Aurors to a graveyard, handing over a slip of parchment with apparition coordinates Diggory must have known how to extract from the portkey. Longbottom's eyes slid over Severus's face just once, and the professor gave a sharp nod. Whether it was that or Albus's hurried assurances that caused Longbottom to sag in relief, he couldn't say, but Severus took a step back to observe as Albus sent off his phoenix Patronus and students swarmed the grounds.

The Hufflepuffs gathered around Diggory immediately, of course, and the Gryffindors flocked to Potter – but only a few minutes later, Potter easily separated from the group when Moody came up to him, both of them limping towards the castle, and Severus frowned. Not because of the surprise it caused him to see Potter leave his fan club so easily – and with no apparent regret – but because Madam Pomphrey was on the grounds with the other teachers, and it was decidedly suspect for Moody to lead Potter away from everyone else.

Following swiftly as soon as they had disappeared into the castle, Severus headed directly for Moody's quarters – and burst into the man's office just as he was raising his wand to cast.

Heart pounding, Severus snarled a stunner and trussed up the Auror securely before flicking his wand at a piece of parchment, dictating his message and addressing it to Albus. He had no inclination to reveal his Patronus to the world, and there was no reason to when there were so many other means of communication available to the educated wizard.

Turning to Potter once the letter was safely out the window, Severus was unsurprised to see the boy watching him warily. Flicking two healing spells at his student's leg, he was tempted to demand a full explanation of events.

"The full story is best told when all the relevant people are assembled," he said curtly, turning away from the unusually quiet student. "However, are you aware who this man is?"

"No," the boy said stiffly, "but he's a Death Eater for sure, kept going on about his Master being resurrected and him being rewarded…" Severus could hear the shudder in the boy's voice, and nodded sharply.

"An imposter, then." Casting a few spells, he added darkly, "Under Polyjuice Potion." Stooping, he snatched the flask from Moody's belt and uncorked it. He barely needed the careful sniff to ascertain that he was right. "But was he an imposter this whole time, or just today," he muttered to himself.

"Probably the whole time," Potter volunteered unexpectedly, and Severus turned to see him look no less wary than before, but also slightly bitter. "He's been trying to help me with the tasks all year – I thought maybe he didn't want me to die, but he probably just wanted me to reach the trophy first…" His voice was more bitter than his expression, the jaded sound striking Severus too close for comfort. No, this wasn't the entitled, self-satisfied brat he'd always thought Potter to be.

Shoving aside the guilt he felt at the confirmation of his unwilling suspicions, he simply nodded. The second Death Eater to have been so close to Potter. The third, if one counted Quirrell.

And yourself, his traitorous mind whispered, and with a scowl Severus took up a position in the corner, silently waiting for Albus to arrive. Thankfully, it didn't take long.

The Polyjuice Potion wore off shortly after that, and questioning the newly revealed Barty Crouch Junior under Veritaserum was most elucidating; to their relief, Albus brought with him the news that the apparition traces from the graveyard were traced back to Malfoy Manor and the Aurors were taking the family in for questioning while they searched the manor for the Dark Lord's homunculus. Severus couldn't quell a shudder at the thought of such a thing.

The realization, however, that his emergency portkey had prevented the Dark Lord's resurrection was a heady one, and he felt a sort of vindictive pride when he realized that again, it had been he who had saved the Boy-Who-Lived's life. Chancing a glance at the corner where Sirius Black sat with an arm around his godson, Severus resisted the urge to smirk. Now was neither the time nor the place to gloat.

Granger, Weasley and Longbottom had turned up as well, Cedric Diggory and his father crammed in another corner of the room, and along with the professors it was, in his opinion, altogether too tight a fit. Not that the office was small, by any means, and at least most people had the good sense to linger along the walls and corners of the room. From his own position in the rearmost corner, Severus had an excellent view over the entire group.

It was this advantage that had him reacting as soon as the door opened to reveal Fudge, a Dementor preceding him into the room – and the black figure swooped immediately towards Crouch, only to be stopped by a twin shout of "Expecto Patronum!"

A stag and a doe burst into existence, charging at the Dementor and driving it out of the room, and Severus felt like his face had been carved out of stone, his expression was so rigid in the face of the students' gaping surprise. Reaching out a hand to his doe, his heart clenched at the parting nuzzle she gave the stag before butting his palm and disappearing.

"Not a word," he snarled at his students, not meeting their shocked stares. "Fudge, I suggest you get your quivering arse in here and question the man before the Veritaserum wears off."

Leaning sideways against the wall, Severus folded his arms firmly and tried to quell the ache inside. Even in Patronus form, Lily loved James Potter.

After that, things were a whirl of happenings – Crouch received a formal trial before the Wizengamot, the Dark Lord's homunculus was captured and executed in a public setting, Potter awkwardly approached him in an attempt to thank him and Severus silenced him with a deadly glare before stalking away. Perhaps Potter was not the insufferable brat he had believed him to be, but that didn't mean he wanted his gratitude. Longbottom told him in an aside that Diggory and Potter split the prize money, which Severus ruefully acknowledged didn't surprise him. The Hufflepuffs seemed eager to count Potter as one of them, now.

Then the summer holidays arrived, and it sank in that Severus was free, after so many years, from acting the part of the spy. He only briefly entertained the thought of a public apology before discarding the thought, deciding it would be enough to begin treating his students more fairly with the start of the new term.

A week into his vacation, he felt the wards on his house react to a portkey and his heart sank. Stomach clenched in dread, Severus dashed to his living room and found Neville Longbottom slumped on the floor, barely conscious.

Poison, he realized with a sick feeling, and spared only a moment to grasp Longbottom's hand. "You'll be fine, Longbottom," he assured him before the boy blacked out, immediately dashing to get the potions he would need to pull his student through.

Several days later, Longbottom woke from the delirium the poison had sent him into, and Severus carefully helped him sit upright in bed, propped against the two rather sorry pillows, and pressed a mug of tea into the boy's hands.

"What happened?"

Longbottom told him of a lunch with his uncle and choking on his food and knowing, despite his uncle's concerned reaction, that it wasn't an accident. Severus felt nauseous at the thought.

"You may write your grandmother a letter, if you wish, but you are spending the remainder of your summer here," Severus said with a tone that brooked no argument, his heart aching at the grateful look Longbottom gave him for it.

It took Longbottom several more days to recover his strength, and Severus used that time in an attempt to liven Spinners End up a bit – he knew he had hated growing up here, and he couldn't imagine what the Pureblood boy would make of the run-down house after having grown up in a manor. Even so, the few things he did in an attempt to make the house appear more welcoming seemed pitiful and weak to him.

And still, somehow Longbottom brought life into the house, despite his quiet nature, and Severus found himself strangely enjoying teaching the Pureblood how to do things the Muggle way – how to cook and clean by hand, buy food and clothing – and he even, to his surprise, found himself going out of his way to introduce the boy to the Muggle world. They went to libraries and museums, even the swimming pool and an amusement park, and Severus realized he was more invested in the boy than he had thought when he agreed to take him to visit Potter.

Black had apparently bought himself a Muggle apartment – something about loathing the Black townhouse, which Severus could reluctantly understand – and Potter was surprisingly taken aback and touched to find Neville on his doorstep. Had the boy never had any friends over?

That question was answered when Potter himself exclaimed that Longbottom was the first friend who'd ever visited him, and even Severus was invited in enthusiastically. It was the first time Severus wondered what Neville had written to his friends about his summer holidays.

Even Black was surprisingly civil, not picking a single fight, and Severus had the uncomfortable impression of them as two fathers watching their sons play. When the boys went into the other room – Potter first checking that it was safe to leave the former enemies together – Severus quietly brought up the idea of a joint Birthday party, as the boys' Birthdays were so close together.

"My house is unsuitable," he said bluntly, "but I do not believe either boy to have a large circle of friends. If you believe this apartment to be too small for the antics they may wish to pursue, I am sure that Albus would allow the Birthday party of his favorite Gryffindor," he couldn't help a grimace, "to take place on the Hogwarts grounds."

Black waved off the concerns, saying that his apartment was bound to be fine but that they could take the children to Diagon Alley or another place should it become too cramped. Severus grunted noncommittally, and Black looked at him inscrutably for a long moment before leaning back on an exhale.

"You really love Longbottom, don't you," he said, and Severus stiffened.

"His family was attempting to murder him, and nearly succeeded, Black," he hissed. "I would have offered my home to any student in that situation."

Black looked at him for another long moment, quietly assessing him. "Either way, you're a better person than I had given you credit for," he said finally, softly. "I apologize."

Severus was, for the first time in a long time, lost for a cutting response, too shocked by the apparently sincere apology from his one-time tormentor.

"I know that doesn't make up for the past," Black continued, glancing away briefly to make sure the teenagers weren't listening in, "but… maybe we could start anew?"

Severus stared in shock at the hand Black extended to him, then slowly accepted it with a growing sense of surrealism.

"Severus Snape," he said as firmly as he could, but to his shame a tiny wobble entered his voice and his expression immediately shuttered.

"Sirius Black," the other man said before grinning suddenly. "It's nice to meet you, Severus. I hope we can be friends."

A/N: An unexpected continuation! I just love these two so much, and I really wanted to write the scene with the doe and stag Patroni. I'm pretty sure there won't be more after this, since I got Voldemort dealt with, and I think this is a sweet ending. I'd love to hear what you thought! (I might have to write a Fleur/Sinistra fic at some point… *fans self*) Feel free to check out my other stuff; I'm crazy busy at the moment but already have quite a bit up for you to enjoy! Thank you for reading; you guys are awesome.