Author Note: Sorry for the delay in getting this one out. I had a session tutoring ELI students today and started making preparations for classes/logistics of things this coming term. Again, after Monday, I'm not entirely certain how busy I'm going to be (I'll have a better idea of things come next Friday). But probably a few times a week at least.

A big THANK YOU again to everyone who reviewed me. Trying to keep my AN's shorter, so my word count isn't too unnaturally inflated, so I'll only respond to those who raise a specific issue/question. But I appreciate it from EVERYONE.

duj – Fair enough. I suppose if anything, Dumbledore could be conceived of as a "lawful neutral" moral alignment. Since inarguably his highest goal in life post-Grindelwald at least, was defeating Voldemort (aside from maybe when he almost jeopardized that quite stupidly with the Resurrection Stone). And he did a lot of things both good (protecting Harry and his allies many times) and arguably evil towards that end. The real shocker to it all is that really until the seventh book came along (unless you dug really carefully through the clues in the earlier ones), he SEEMED lawful good about as purely as possible.

That all said, in THIS particular fanfic, at least as far as I have it plotted out now, Dumbledore is going to play a fairly tertiary role. At the very least for quite a while, he's played his biggest part by far in this already. And while he'll come up a few times in conversation (nowhere near as much as primary or secondary characters), it'll mostly be either from the point of view of Severus (who hates him, arguably justifiably), or Hermione (who supports him, again from her position, arguably justifiably).

September 1st, 1976

It'd only been a few minutes later when the nervous-looking First Year Students came pouring in to the Great Hall, lining up for the Sorting. The same damned hat that Severus had watched for the past four years in silent loathing. The same hat that had been the first being to divide him from Lily, drive a wedge between them. Until the end of last year, he'd always thought the Sorting Hat had been wrong about her, made a mistake. It was either incompetent or malevolent – just like most of the Hogwarts staff really – and either way he despised it.

But now, seeing it again. After… it seemed it'd been right. It'd put them in enemy houses, and now she was acting like an enemy… He hated it more than ever. It, the Gryffindor House, most of the Hogwarts Staff. It was as if they were all part of the same dark conspiracy to make his life as absolutely miserable as possible. And for what… studying, having more knowledge, certainly more fascination for areas of magic most would hardly even know existed? For devoting his time to bettering himself instead of running around causing mindless mayhem, ruining others' lives…?

It was like the entire system was set up to punish the worthy and reward the degenerate. The same as the Ministry really. Hogwarts was just a microcosm of the wizarding world at large. The same Ministry that protected the muggles – their historical enemies – and tied the hands of magic users behind their backs. Just as the Hogwarts administration favored the inferior, the degenerate, the violent, the natural enemies of all who stood for advancement, so too did the Ministry. Just look what those laws had done to his mother, the noble Prince line… all but literally tortured to death by that hideous drunkard, deadbeat muggle, all because she – a witch, his superior – had been forbidden by her own government from fighting back.

It was infuriating. The world was an absolutely unjust place. Letting Tobias and the Marauders, Gryffindors in general run free to spread torment to others, while restraining the worthy from defending themselves, taking retaliatory action. Well, he thought. It wouldn't always have to be that way. The Dark Lord was rising to power. He was strong, perhaps undefeatable. Certainly one of the most powerful wizards the world had seen in a long time. Already the Ministry was showing signs of weakness, faltering. They and their lot were corrupt, weak, inferior, and could only exist so long before the worthy, superior ones overtook and destroyed them. Victory would be the Dark Lord's and he would finally deal with them. Make the world a better place for those who deserved it.

And, he thought bitterly. The Sorting Hat had been wrong about Lily. Sure it'd put her in with degenerates. Sure for now they'd poisoned her mind enough that she hated him. But, in time. She'd see. She'd have to see. Inevitably, the Dark Lord was going to win. The Dark Lord was stronger, invincible. And as a Death Eater, Severus would be on the winning side. He could keep her safe in the years to come, when whatever advantage the Marauders and their ilk held would very quickly dissipate after graduation and… the Ministry's fall. They'd be shown for the cowards they were, always hiding behind numbers or rules that favored the weak. And he, he would be a hero. Victorious, on the winning side. And… he'd save her. Save her where they couldn't. Lily could be stubborn as anything, but she was intelligent too; in time she'd have to see the inevitable. He'd save her, they'd forgive one another, restore the friendship and love they'd once had. And all the degenerates would burn around them. Yeah, that sounded… perfect.

Still, he looked for a second like he'd been physically stabbed when the hat called out "GRYFFINDOR" for the first of the first years to put the thing on his head. As if the Sorting Hat had done so intentionally on a capricious whim just to jeer about having put Lily there five years back. It was too painful, the memories attached. Most of the others at the Slytherin table jeered or shouted profanities. Snape just sat there, looking sullen. Something he was rather good at by now, so most didn't even notice him. Really though, he barely paid any real attention to the Sorting Process itself. His thoughts were elsewhere. Every call of "Gryffindor" a sharp pain shot through him, every call of "Slytherin" he clapped weakly – not really caring, as in practical terms he'd have little effective interaction with those so much younger than himself anyway. The Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs, he really couldn't care any less.

Lily was all that mattered. And while he would do something… anything… whatever it took to get her back. He'd win in the end. He'd have to… And while all that could … would have to be done… in time… For now, she hated him. And at least in part, that damned hat, the whole Sorting process was to blame. Were the school staff sadists? Why did they force him to sit through this year after year, especially now after… He just hung his head for a minute. Hoping he could pass it off as just being physically tired or… He didn't even care…

Finally, after Edward Zacharias was put into Ravenclaw, the whole affair was over. It'd hurt a lot more than he'd imagined it would. Now on to the traitor's speech, he thought glumly. Would the torture never end?

And as if on cue of Snape's thoughts, Dumbledore made his way to the podium, to address the students. Most of them, even the other Slytherins looking excitedly – though in the latters' case, mostly just to see how he'd address certain… recent events…

"Good evening to all of you."

Yeah, it's bloody brilliant, isn't it? Best day of my whole damned life, thank you very much… What a stupid phrase… Severus started dissecting Dumbledore's speech in his mind.

"And welcome back to another year of learning. First, I'd like to extend a very warm welcome to our newest professor, Argentum Gyllenkrok who will be filling in the position of professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts in the absence of last year's professor."

A rather stern-looking wizard with a long narrow beard, somewhat like Dumbledore's, but cut much more narrowly stepped forward and gave an almost imperceptibly small bow, before returning to his seat. Most of the students were looking at him curiously or more aptly … warily, as he seemed to have a certain aura of strictness about him. But Severus's narrowed eyes were fixed squarely on Dumbledore. Was he really the only one to take notice? That each and every last year they always had a new professor. And it was always in that exact department. Clearly something was amiss. And clearly Dumbledore must have had his hand in it. Snape wasn't sure exactly what or for exactly what purpose but… this was just another clue, another piece to the puzzle of Dumbledore's treachery. That one day, he swore, he'd reveal for all the world to see.

After that followed the same general speech, utilizing the same general clichés and points he'd already heard five years before. A slight spiteful smile did grace Severus's face for a second though, when Dumbledore seemed to end his speech with the same line about Hogwarts being safe, and not to enter the forest. Merlin, the man was predictable.

But then, something happened. Something Severus – or probably anyone for that matter – certainly hadn't been expecting.

"And finally," Dumbledore had said, "I have something of an announcement to make. It seems that in addition to the first years who are now joining us, Hogwarts has gained one other new student." At this, Severus's eyes instantly narrowed with suspicion. Another werewolf? He thought bitterly. Anything with Dumbledore involved already aroused his darkest suspicions, and now that it was something this unusual. Something that he'd never heard of happening before. Well, Severus would get to the bottom of this. And hopefully expose the man for the biased fraud he was.

"I'd like you all to extend a warm welcome to Miss Hermione Granger who will be joining us for her sixth year. As you might happen to see, she's already been sorted into the Gryffindor House. I'm sure you're all very eager to meet and we'll all get along jolly fine." A round of groans, and some obscenities flew from the Slytherin table, while the idiots in Gryffindor stood to cheer and welcome her as the brown haired girl stepped forward past the podium and quickly made her way over to the Gryffindor table.

"Let's just see how long you last…" Severus muttered darkly as she made her way to her table, his narrowed eyes trailing her the entire way. Until she came to sit next to them… The Marauders… The same four bloody idiots who had been cheering the loudest at the news… Alright, that made it official. He hated her now. He'd never met her, didn't know the first thing about her beyond her name, year, and House. But being a Gryffindor, associated with him, sitting with them. That was enough… She didn't need to do anything more than that.

For her part, Hermione had been rather embarrassed, being introduced to the entire school at once like that. She supposed… supposed Dumbledore was trying to be helpful, ensure the others knew her, her … circumstances – to the extent she could be honest about them at least – before classes started. At least he'd covered most of it for her but… She almost thought her cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she made her way off the podium towards the Gryffindor table.

The reception, in general seemed to be positive enough. Most seemed to be eyeing her with a degree of curiosity, but seemed welcoming and friendly enough. Then… there was the Slytherin table. She groaned internally. Evidently, even twenty years in the past, they were still the same mean spirited sort they'd always been. Oh well. She wouldn't let it bother her too much. She had much bigger concerns on her mind than a few … miscreants.

Hermione quickly made her way over to the table. It was … nice enough of Dumbledore to do what he'd done for her surely, but she hated the feel of everyone's eyes on her, all at once. The Slytherins' excepted, they were probably all well-meaning but… especially with a secret like she now had, the last thing she wanted was everyone questioning her. Though it was probably inevitable. A slight frown furrowed across her brow as she looked for a seat. By this time, even the incoming first years – odd as it seemed, actually old enough to have been her professors – had taken their seats, and the longer she was lingering, the more uncomfortable it was becoming.

Until she felt a tap on her shoulder, and spun around to see… Harry? B-but that wasn't possible, he… Oh. Right. James. She'd always heard that Harry had looked remarkably like her father, but now that she could actually see it… she could see how it hadn't been much of an exaggeration.

And then getting up to stand next to him. Sirius Black. He was younger of course, but … she'd recognize him anywhere. A tear almost came to her eye at the sight of him. After… what had happened in her fifth year, she didn't think she'd ever see him again… Well, she supposed this wasn't "after" at all, was it…? How terribly confusing.

And there, sitting down on the other side of the table – Lupin! The one professor of DADA who hadn't been out to kill them, a fraud, or an absolute and utter sadist. Actually, on all accounts, he was one of the best she'd ever had. Though, for now, he was just a student, wasn't he? This was really, really odd…

For a second, she forgot all about her troubles. It was just so … weird… but in a good way, definitely a good way. Seeing them "again". Or for the first time. Or… Whatever…

"Well, my lovely young lady, I'd like to be the first to welcome you to Hogwarts. The name's Sirius Black." Hermione nodded knowingly, then almost panicked at the thought that he'd seen her expression. How could she possibly explain already knowing who he was when… Her thoughts were interrupted as Sirius took her hand in his and kissed it. "Care to sit with us…?"

At this, Hermione frowned heavily. Sure, she was glad to see him again, but that only went… so far… With a very uncomfortable laugh, she motioned towards Lupin, seated on the other side of the table. "Sure, well, that chair looks very nice." Purposefully pointing out the seat next to Remus.

Sirius pouted slightly, but Hermione quickly made her way to the other side of the table before he could say anything. And quickly sat down in the empty seat next to Lupin. Somehow she had the sort of intuition that he at least wouldn't be so … uncomfortable to sit next to. Yeah, nothing really against Sirius. He… probably was nice, well-meaning. Well, surely he was as an adult. He was just a bit… forward. A lot of adolescent males could be that way.

She'd smiled, introducing herself to the "first" time to Remus, and for truly the first time to James, a bit of sadness that she hoped didn't show in her eyes as she reflected that the two Gryffindors seated across from her both wouldn't be alive in her own time… One would be murdered in his own home by he-who-must-not-be-named himself, and the other spend much of the remainder of his life in Azkaban for a crime he didn't commit, then have to remain in hiding, and finally be murdered in turn… It… was painful to think about.

When Hermione turned to the other side, she'd nearly shrieked. There, to her right, directly opposite Lupin, a rather heavy-set young man too was holding his hand out. He didn't even have to say his name for her to know. Pettigrew. She could feel her temper rising. Him… He was the one responsible… responsible for what had happened to the two Gryffindors sitting across from her. His own comrades, he'd let them die. A coward, a traitor.

Hermione felt almost nauseous as she reached out to touch … his hand. She supposed she couldn't very well explain why she didn't seem to have much of a liking for him, could she? Hermione pulled away as quickly as possible, just nodding at his name, not bothering to repeat it like the others.

It was only then, when she quickly turned away from Pettigrew she noticed. There were … another set of eyes watching her. Cold, calculating, suspicious. It… couldn't be. She'd nearly groaned. But there, sitting nearly directly in her line of sight, over at the Slytherin table, a very familiar looking sixth year with greasy black hair and coal black eyes was almost glowering at her with the same icy, suspicious gaze she'd endured from him for years.