Author Notes: Thank you so much for the reviews again everyone; sorry again for taking so long in writing this chapter. I've already started writing the next one partly in advance, so hopefully it won't be as long next time around. Sorry.
duj – Well, I meant 'lawful' in the broader sense of supporting the Ministry against Voldemort. And … agreed on Snape's book. But, that particular bit was from Hermione's point of view, and she doesn't really have the fullest picture to work with at that point.
xitsrealforusx – Thank you soooo much for reading/reviewing my story. Means a lot coming from someone as good/established as you.
Also, to all my readers, I DEFINITELY recommend reading xitsrealforusx's SnapexLily story "Always". Very, very well done. The best of its sort I read.
September 2nd, 1976
With a sudden, angry jerk, Snape wrested the book away from Hermione's grasp, spinning around to face James Potter… and evidently the blood-traitor Black beside him, Lupin and Pettigrew some few paces behind them. Worst of all, the first two of them had their wands out, threateningly. Perfect. They were quite "brave" when it was four on one… Or five now…
"Now now," Black jeered, stepping forward a bit closer, "You know it's not nice not to share. And you used to be so good at it."
"I don't have time for this…" Snape muttered almost under his breath, feigning indignation rather than anything else, his own hand reaching into his robes to grasp his wand, but not holding it out quite yet. This was an extremely delicate situation. The last thing he wanted to do was show any signs of weakness, particularly in front of the new Gryffindor girl who he already despised. But, if it came to a fight, he'd be hopelessly outnumbered. Even if he was a superior duelist, it wouldn't account for much like this. He couldn't be deferent obviously, but he couldn't afford to provoke a fight – not that their lot ever needed much provocation.
He turned his back on them, walking away deliberately, as if to demonstrate that their words had no effect on him whatsoever. Of course they did; the cowards were mocking to his face that love of his life hated him; how else was one to feel. But he wasn't going to give those vermin the satisfaction of seeing any such weakness. They'd just be all the more vicious for it after all. Subhuman, bloodthirsty animals.
Snape had only gotten a few paces away, however, before he suddenly felt himself yanked up into the air by his ankles, courtesy of his own spell.
"Leaving without saying goodbye, are we, Sev? That's not polite either. Tisk, tisk. No wonder she's not your friend anymore…" James had said with a rather cruel laugh, quickly followed by all the Gryffindors present.
Well, all, notably, except one. Hermione had been watching the scene unfolding before her eyes in increasing bewilderment. Gryffindors tormenting Slytherins? Had the world suddenly fell upside-down? She couldn't believe it; couldn't believe that Harry's own father or Sirius Black of all people could be so… malicious. For almost no reason. She had no trouble believing that Snape probably wasn't innocent himself, probably went around causing trouble for others at times, but that still came nowhere near excusing this.
Horrifying of a thought as it was, James Potter's actions almost reminded her of something Draco Malfoy might do. It was sickening. Sure, maybe Snape caused them trouble at times; but here and now, he wasn't doing anything to them. He was just … trying to get away. Hermione had never imagined she'd be taking sides with a Slytherin against "fellow" Gryffindors, Snape least of all; but she still had her principles that she'd have to abide with.
"Let him go!" she demanded sharply, taking a step towards James.
Yet instead of backing down, James seemed … all the more amused by Hermione's protestations, chuckling a bit. "What's this, déjà vu, hmm, Sev?"
"I said let him go!" Hemione shook her head disgustedly, still in disbelief that "fellow" Gryffindors could act so… vilely.
"Fine, fine. Spoil our fun…" James shook his head in playful derision. "Looks like you're in luck, Sev. Another muggleborn running to your rescue…"
With a flick of his wrist, James muttered "Liberacorpus", causing Snape to fall to the ground with a rather hard thud, his potions book falling out of his bag.
"C'mon guys, let's get out of here!" James exclaimed, "Don't want to be late for class on his account."
And with that, Snape watched the cowards run off, not wanting to face him now that he potentially had use of his wand again.
"Are you alright?" Hermione frowned, offering Snape a hand to help him up.
"Don't touch me!" he exclaimed sharply, grabbing his book and pushing himself back up to his feet, brushing off his uniform. Desperately trying to salvage what tiny modicum of dignity remained. His eyes met Hermione's for a moment. She looked a bit … indignant at that. As if she'd expected him to be grateful or…
Fine, he didn't honestly know what to think… It was absolutely bewildering. As if a law of nature had been broken or something. Gryffindors hated Slytherins. That was just how the universe functioned. A Gryffindor would sooner leave a Slytherin to die than come to their aid.
Well, fine, last year, she had come to his aid – in a scenario almost identical to this one. Same stolen spell and everything. A painful reminder of that. But that was different; they'd been friends before Hogwarts, best friends and… even Lily had eventually succumbed to the dictates of Gryffindors hating Slytherins. If even Lily couldn't be trusted, there was no possible way he could conceive that Hermione – someone presumably working with Dumbledore – could have anything but malicious intent.
Still though, her motivations eluded him. They seemed on the surface of things to almost to suggest that, despite being a Gryffindor, she had some degree of humanity to her. But that couldn't be it; he wouldn't be foolish enough to ever believe the hideous lie of a "good Gryffindor" ever again. She had to have some ulterior, sinister motivation to her seeming kindness.
Actually, it made perfect sense if he thought about it. Just like James said – she was acting like Lily had. Probably deliberately. Trying to remind him of that terrible day; to torment him far more than any spell ever could. True, Hermione hadn't been there the last year. So she hadn't witnessed the events firsthand. But she was with the Marauders; it was obvious enough that they must have told her as much. Hell, the whole thing started to make sense as some malicious plan of theirs.
And beyond that perhaps, to try to gain some tiny fraction of his trust, make him see her as anything less than a complete and utter monster that all Gryffindors were, and then at some critical point down the line, betray whatever slight trust he gave her, putting him in an even worse state. It was entirely cruel, twisted. But this was the Marauders who were concerned; it certainly made more sense than the alternative. There were a few flaws with his theory that came to mind, but he cast them aside. Anything else was … unthinkable.
Awkwardly, he realized, Hermione was still standing there as he mulled over these uncomfortable thoughts in his head. Well, he'd have to do something to deal with this … situation… His coal black eyes meeting hers once more, he finally addressed her again. "This," he stated coldly, in a steady of a tone as he could muster. "Changes nothing…"
And with that, he turned and walked off. Anywhere to be away from her. It was just too … conflicting to deal with right now.
Hermione stood there for a moment, still somewhat dazed herself at what had just happened. She'd really just taken sides with a Slytherin against Gryffindors – those that she thought so highly of moments before. And now … didn't know what to think. She couldn't help but feel a bit indignant at Snape's reaction as well. Sure the two of them clearly disliked each other but… she had just saved him after all from what could have ended up being a lot more humiliating. Though… perhaps to a Slytherin, being "saved" by a Gryffindor was the worst humiliation of all.
She… hadn't thought of that. Maybe she should have handled the situation somewhat more delicately. But still, in some senses he "owed" her, for what she just did. And even if they otherwise hated each other, was it really that much to ask for him to be civil, at least give a begrudging "thanks" or… Well, perhaps that was far too much to expect from a Slytherin…
As … uncomfortable as it probably was for all parties involved, Defense Against the Dark Arts was the next class for Snape. And the Marauders. And… Hermione. Once more, as a NEWTS level class, the class size was rather smaller, only making things all the more awkward.
The only slight consolation Snape had was the fact that all four of his dorm mates – Avery, Wilkes, Rosier, and Mulciber – were enrolled in the class as well. Though it often seemed they had little interest or competence in academic matters, rather to Snape's own derision, anything involving the Dark Arts – even under the pretext of "defense" against it – seemed a rather large exception.
Though, as was almost ubiquitous for them, they always seemed to have a knack for bothering Snape when it was least desired.
"So, Snape." Mulciber began, "Think this professor will be any better than last year's? Hell, the old wench almost made this stuff boring… And always left out the good parts…"
"How could I possibly know…?" Snape remarked drily. Really, in any sense of things, it seemed a stupid question to him. Like… every year in the past, the incoming DADA professor was new. Severus hadn't even heard the man's name mentioned before the Welcoming Feast – how was he possibly supposed to know how the professor would teach class. Idiotic. He had little patience for idiocy at the best of times, and now was certainly not the best of times.
"Oh, well, I hope he is…" Mulciber continued, apparently missing the slight venom in Snape's tone. "'Course it wouldn't take much after her…"
"Any idea how she got sacked?" Avery added, "I mean, I'm glad of course. Hell, I'd have done it myself."
"Spell gone bad I think…" Snape muttered, repeating the supposed reason for Ms. Cuttington – their past professor's sudden abandonment of her post... Were these four really too dense to notice that each and every DADA they'd ever had ended up – for some reason or another – leaving after only teaching for a single year? Well, he supposed they weren't the only ones ignorant on the matter; most of the school seemed almost unaware of the thought. That each and every year without fail, the DADA Professor, and only the DADA professor met some untimely end or another. It was too suspicious, too much to be mere coincidence.
"What a dunce. I'm not surprised. She was so terrible at her own subject. Serves her right for being such a conceited old hag. Swear she hated me anyhow." Rosier added.
Snape couldn't help but see the irony in Rosier insulting someone else's intellect – or devotion to their subject at least – but, to an extent he had a point. Professor Cuttington had been… fairly bad.
"So what do you think our new professor, 'Glenkok' was it, will be like?" Rosier continued, contorting his face at the professor's name. "I do hope he's not as much of a bore as Cuttington, or an obvious muggle-lover like Greene, or gives odious amounts of homework like…"
"And let us hope…" a sudden, rather cold voice from behind the five Slytherins came, "That not all of my students are so crude and unintelligent as yourself. Five points from Slytherin, and many more to come if this foolish lad doesn't watch his tongue."
Rosier bit his lip, the other four – particularly Snape, shooting daggers at him through their eyes. To the Marauders however, the situation must have seemed absolutely hilarious, as they burst out into a round of laughter at the Slytherins' expense.
"Is something funny?" Gyllenkrok asked sternly, stepping towards the Gryffindors.
The four Marauders shook their heads, still sniggering a bit to one another.
"Good." The professor replied with a slow nod. Without a further word, he made his way to the front of the classroom. "My name…" he began, "As obviously there are those among us with too poor of memories to remember it from Professor Dumbledore's introduction is Argentum Gyllenkrok. Professor Gyllenkrok to any of you. The Dark Arts are a mystifying and powerful thing; ever changing. At once nebulous and overpowering. If … any of you hope to have any chance of surviving to my age in this world – a prospect that seems quite unlikely for most here… then you will pay special heed to my every word.
These are dark times we live in. There's no denying it. Only a fool hides his head in the sand and thinks by doing so he can avoid the enemy which pursues him. Only the lowest, worst of imbeciles would pretend otherwise.
Dumbledore, as you may know, requested specifically that I be the one to teach this subject, in such dark times as we all now find ourselves – so that perhaps, the worthy among you, might, if you hold any competence whatsoever, hold some chance of survival.
As, you are probably all unaware, unlike yourselves, this is my first time setting foot in Hogwarts. Not merely as a professor, but ever… I received my own … extensive knowledge on the subject of the Dark Arts at Durmstrang Academy. The methods and teaching of the subject here are grossly naïve and beneath the standards held there; and so, I have been sent in attempts to … raise the standards."
A punctuated silence followed; none of the students dared to speak. If not even for Gyllenkrok's words, everything else about him – his stern appearance, his posture, his tone of voice – all of it was more than enough to coerce even the Marauders into a sort of stunned silence.
Durmstrang Academy? It wasn't a place often talked about but… it had a reputation. It was said, much as Gyllenkrok alluded to that their… study of the Dark Arts was a lot more … comprehensive and "hands-on" than that of Hogwarts. That students actively learned the Dark Arts and were encouraged to practice them. A daunting prospective probably for most Hogwarts students. But though silent, Severus's eyes glistened with anticipation. Any indignation at Slytherin losing five points before was far, far overshadowed by the thought of how DADA would certainly be. Actually learning the Dark Arts – even slightly. That… would be absolutely fascinating.
"Now…" Gyllenkrok continued, breaking the chilling silence. "Let's see what I have to work with. It's my understanding that your education in the subject has been quite… below standard to this point. I'd be surprised if even one or two of you held any actual potential in this field."
Severus was undaunted by such words. He already knew he was far, far more competent than most in the Dark Arts. And actually being encouraged, recognized for such. It was… everything he wanted. Well, almost… But Lily could still change her mind in time. Perhaps if a professor, someone in the establishment, recognized him positively for such; it … might help to change her opinion. Possibly… Alright, so it was a fool's hope; but it was at least … something.
Hermione was understandably wary, like most of the other students; actually forgetting her earlier… incident with the Marauders enough to shoot them all an uneasy glance. Surely there had to be some reason to the matter. Dumbledore wouldn't actually have them learning the Dark Arts themselves would he? It… was probably just rhetoric on the professor's part. His own, rather dark, way of getting them motivated to the subject. Still, she couldn't say she liked the idea of it, even as rhetoric… at all…
"Pair up!" Gyllenkrok ordered sharply. Instinctively, Snape turned towards Avery; Wilkes towards Mulciber; James towards Sirius; Pettigrew towards Lupin. Hermione and Rosier of their respective Houses looking around awkwardly – certainly not wanting each other.
"No, no!" Gyllenkrok exclaimed, waving his wand. "This won't do at all! Do you really expect that in a fight involving the Dark Arts, you'd be facing a comrade? Even you all can't possibly be that dense. As… I understand it, there's something of a rather strong rivalry here between Gryffindor and Slytherin, is there not? Let's use that for now." With a curt gesture of his wand, Gyllenkrok pointed between a Slytherin and a Gryffindor.
Avery was to face Potter, Wilkes to face Black, Mulciber to face Lupin, Rosier to face Pettigrew, and finally … probably the most uneasy pair of all, Snape to face Granger.
"Good." Gyllenkrok said sharply. "Now, time for a bit of a duel between Houses. The better House gets fifteen points." At this, Rosier already raised his wand, Pettigrew almost cowering. "Not so fast!" Gyllenkrok demanded sharply, grabbing Rosier's wrists. "Rules now are in order. They won't be in reality of course, and for that I admire your spirit but… this is merely to gauge your abilities."
"Firstly, as I'd rather not lose half my class on the first day, however incompetent they might be, spells are limited to 'expelliarmus', 'petrificus totalus', and 'stupefy'. For today…"
"Now, of course, that in itself is nothing remarkable. Something I'd expect of a First Year, at least at Durmstrang. As… the few of you who might have actually done the reading for today's class will know, our first matter of study is on non-verbal magic. As such, this is to be a non-verbal duel, to gauge your competency or… very well lack thereof. One at a time, down the line, begin!" He ended, pointing to Avery and Potter.
The first two rounds did not go well for Slytherin at all. Within seconds, Avery was on his face and Wilkes on his back, Potter and Black beaming triumphantly. Fortune changed however at Mulciber and Lupin's duel. Both struggled to cast a working spell at the other, but finally after nearly a minute, Mulciber disarmed Lupin. Rosier merely had to flick his wand – possibly without even trying to cast a spell – and Pettigrew nervously dropped his own wand, his lip quivering.
"Very well." Gyllenkrok nodded. "Seems it's two to each House thus far. Let's see how the last two handle this. Your House's fates rest on your performance. Begin."
The two bowed quickly to one another, Snape raising his wand almost as he came up. Petrificus totalus he thought with all his mind – a spell he knew far, far too well, verbal or otherwise – shooting the spell's energy directly at Hermione. Hermione for her part was just as quick with a nonverbal expelliarmus, and both leapt to the side, easily dodging the other's attack.
Snape glowered at her. Everything was riding on this duel. Slytherin House Points – sure. His dignity after what had happened earlier, much more importantly. But even more than that, a chance to impress Professor Gyllenkrok; someone with actual knowledge and experience in a field he found so fascinating. Someone with an … enlightened view on the matter probably. And… perhaps through him, some small chance of gaining Lily's favor again. Of legitimizing his stance. Whatever tiny favor Hermione had done for him earlier – for reasons he couldn't comprehend – was absolutely irrelevant.
Hermione was… equally intent on winning. What Gyllenkrok was doing was intense… More so than what she'd seen from most any other professor. Rivaling perhaps even an adult Snape. But she wasn't about to back down from a challenge.
The two scrambled to turn to face one another again, their spells colliding again and again with one another in the air. By now, most of the class was watching absolutely intently. Even Gyllenkrok seemed genuinely interested in the two of them.
After four or five rounds, both checking the other's attack, Gyllenkrok waved his hand for them to stop. "Well done…" he nodded slowly. "Better than I'd have expected from Hogwarts students. Seems I do have some potential to work with here after all, if only in these two… Very well, fifteen points to each House, and for your sake, Snape, I'll forget the foolish words of your friend earlier and spare the five points from Slytherin."
"Class dismissed." He stated, waving the students away, "Though I'd like a brief word with Mr. Snape and Miss Granger in my office for now…" motioning for the two of them to follow.