Chapter 5

Severus had just been released from the infirmary a few days ago, he's been healing well but he can't stand for very long and gets tired after a while, the others wanted him to stay in the hospital wing for a while longer, but he refused to stay he was never fond of the hospital wing, being poked and prodded with a wand it was highly annoying, so they allowed him back into his rooms only if he would take the right potions at the right time.

It was the first day of the first term and later that night was the opening feast and the students would return for another year. Severus sat in front of the roaring fire that gave his living quarters a soft glow, he sigh as his gaze locked onto the golden flame.

Snape was a little disappointed that he would have to teach potions to a bunch of prepubescent teens that didn't enjoy the art of potions making, it was a dieing art. The new generation found no need for them, but there are many uses for potions, then just for healing, they could be used in battle. But no one had thought of such a thing, well he was sure one bright witch called Hermione Granger had figured it out, she wasn't the brightest witch of her age for nothing.

Snape thought of what the others would think when he started acting like himself; he might give them a heart attack! The students might just stare. But that wasn't the main thing on his mind; he couldn't stop thinking what would happen to him, what Voldemort would do to get to him, to finish him off. He didn't notice the time pass and soon it was time for him to go up to the great hall. He walked to his room and went to his wardrobe, and looked inside; he saw rows upon rows of teaching robes, in truth Severus hated those robes they were to stuffy, so he rooted to the back were some of his more liked clothes were he grabbed a black pair of trousers and a grey turtle neck, he placed them on and took his required potions before he left his quarters.

Snape walked to the great hall, no he didn't glide or stock just simply walked. It was a refreshing thing to not act so imposing, he never noticed it before but the dungeons were freezing! The robes he adorned must have blocked the cold for so long that he had forgotten such a thing since he was a student here so many years ago.

He entered the great hall and his colleagues were already there, he took his usual seat in the end of the table facing the Slytherin table. Next to him sat Minerva, she looked at him with a worried expression and he just smiled reassuring her that he was fine and there was no need to worry.

Soon you could here the excited chatter of the returning students as they walked through the halls, the doors burst open and the mummers turned to full boasting chatter, each student took there seats in there respected houses. Some students looked at the place were there new DADA teacher would sit, and they saw the one and only Remus Lupin, but little did they know that Professor Lupin was not going to be there new DADA professor but our young Severus Tobias Snape, even Snape wasn't aware of such a turn in event. It was a surprise from Albus, Snape had wanted it for so long but gave up hope on ever getting the position and Albus thought that Snape was ready for it, he also new that the students needed a great DADA professor, Lupin may have been adequate but he couldn't properly defend against the dark arts, but Severus he new the dark arts and new how to defend against it.

Minerva got up from her seat and went out of the great hall doors, the hall grew quiet and a few minutes later they were opened again, and behind Minerva came the first years, they looked scarred but above all else they looked nervous. They stopped in front of the teachers table and looked at the professors, they looked towards Professor Snape and they had fear, Severus didn't like what he saw so he did one thing that might help them, he smiled! The great hall was looking at the kids and looked towards were the younger kids gaze landed and they saw the smile that was on the dreaded potions masters lips, they stared shocked, everyone thought he looked weird, but Harry when he saw the smile a warm feeling spread through out his body, he didn't understand it and so he didn't dwell on it.

The professors Albus, Minerva and Poppy and Hagrid,-Hagrid had gotten to know the real Severus of the past few weeks-, stared amused at the others reactions to the Potions masters change.

"Yes the evil bat of the dungeons is smiling, someone call the press it's the apocalypse" Severus said sarcastically the four other professors and the first years laughed "Stop staring will you" he said a little while later getting annoyed. They continued to stare they couldn't believe it but did there stotic evil professor just crack a joke? Harry he gave a small smile he knew the other wasn't the real Severus and in truth he liked this one much better.

"Ok students you might want to stop staring before he gets angry and takes points" chuckled Headmaster Dumbledore, after that said all the students averted there gazes to the younger students, no one wanted to have points deducted for just staring they actually wanted to win the house cup this year. But that was hard to tell from here considering they all had equal amount of points.

"Now back to business" said Minerva as she pulled a piece of parchment from her robes and unrolled it "When I call your name you are to step up and place the sorting hat upon your head and it will place you in your house" she finished. She called the names and each student came up, there nervous showed but slowly ebbed away as soon as the hat was placed on their head. Gryffindor this year got 12, Slytherin got 9, Hufflepuff got 6 and Ravenclaw got 10. The first years took there seats each house clapping for there new recruits except for Slytherin they nodded politely they were too dignified to show such enthusiasm. The headmaster stood up and began the opening speech.

"Welcome old and new! First off the forbidden forest is as its name says "Forbidden", Mr. Filch has a list of forbidden objects outside his office, and I hope you will take the time to check it. As you can see Professor Lupin is back, he will be your new Potions professor" he said the students looked confused and looked towards the old potions professor to see if he knew anything about it, and apparently he didn't either from the very confused look on his face. "And Professor Snape will be your new DADA professor" there were protests going around the great hall. "Calm down students, I understand that you think that Lupin should teach you, his skills in the art are good but not the best, I believe it is about time you got a real DADA professor, now I understand that you are hungry, so tuck in" he finished and with a snap of his fingers food appeared out of thin air, the first years stared in awe at such a thing. The ghost of Hogwarts appeared some first years screamed from surprise and others stared gob smacked.

Severus looked at the younger students he couldn't believe he was once like that, so naive and innocent. Snape looked at the Slytherin table and hoped that the younger students haven't been corrupted by Voldemort's evil and promise of power like the older students he didn't want them to get chained to Voldemort it was something he would want on no one. He noticed the older students glare and sneer at him, so they've heard he thought. He smirked and went back to eating; he didn't eat much he never could.

Soon the dinner was done and the younger students were being lead to there common rooms, Snape left the great hall knowing that he would have to give a welcoming speech to the first years, warn them of what to expect from the other houses.

He entered the Slytherin common room and saw all the first years sitting around the place, they looked towards him as he entered he nodded his head in acknowledgement.

"Gather around so I won't have to shout" he said in his silky voice, the first years immediately complied and came closer. "Welcome to Slytherin house, I'm your head of house Professor Snape. In Slytherin we look after each other, we are like family, some of the older students don't follow this and tend to bully those younger then them, do not make your idol one of the older students we don't want you to do the same thing as them, that could lead to something you don't want. If you need to talk about anything come to me or any of the professors you feel comfortable with. And if you don't feel comfortable with the professors go to a good friend who you can count on, now off to bed with you, you have classes tomorrow." He finished as he gazed at the little Slytherin's. The younger students bid there goodnights to the professor before they went to there dorms for the night.

Severus left the common room and entered the dungeons halls, the cold air that circulated through out all the dungeon washed over Severus like a blanket he shivered, and he moved on to his rooms, he took some twists and turns before he came to a wall with a beautiful picture of a panther prowling in the forests foliage. The panther stopped its prowling when he saw Severus standing before him. The panther growled telling Severus to give the password.

"Darkness" Snape whispered to the portrait and with a purr the portrait swung open revealing the quarters behind it. Snape stepped into his rooms; one would expect them to be gloomy, but in fact they were homey. His rooms were a midnight blue, the carpet was a cream white, and the leather chairs and couch that were placed in front of a roaring fire were black, the room was lit lightly by the fire making you instantly relax. Severus sat in his favorite chair and looked into the fire thinking about today's happenings.

Snape was thankful to Albus for giving him the job he wanted when he had first applied for when he wanted to teach, and Albus was right the kids needed the best DADA teacher how did the students expect to defend themselves against something they didn't have a clue about. Severus new the dark arts so he could defend against them, it was a law almost you can't defend against something you don't know.

Snape thought of the reactions he got from the students when he smiled, he chuckled at it, surprisingly they didn't react to the way he had dressed he would have thought that would had given them the clue that something was up, but apparently not. Snape felt weary from the night's events and decided to get to bed; he would need the energy for tomorrow. He removed himself from his luxurious chair and went into his room, it was big, the walls were a forest green the carpet was a jet black and in the middle of the room stood a four poster queen size bed its bed sheets were silver along with the comforter and pillows the hanging were a black color, to the left was the a joining bathroom it was made of black marble and had a bath that was like a pool just a hole in the floor at least eight feet deep. Next to the bathroom was the closet; beside the bed was a small table that held potions of many kinds that would help him for his recovery.

Snape stripped down throwing his cloths into the small basket in the bathroom, soon he stood in his silk black boxers he did what he needed in the bathroom, and left he crawled under neath the covers, the covers protecting him from the dungeons cold, and soon he fell into a dreamless sleep with the help of a dreamless sleep potion.

TBC………

A/N: hey so how is this? Is this long enough to satisfy you for a while? Its gotta be the longest I have written so far, I seem to like it, I think its my best chapter yet, please leave a review and I'll up date soon. See yha.

….Potions Mistress 101….