Random fact: Wake Up Dead is the name of a song by my favorite band. When an opportunity presented itself in the previous chapter, I could not resist the temptation to use it.
The first day of term had gone smoothly. He had given his first year's speech like he used to. The first years looked at him with more awe and fear than ever before. He could see that every single one of them believed him when he said he could teach then to "put a stopper in death." He held their attention like never before, and he had been very pleased.
Some of the older students were not as pleased to see him alive and teaching. These students remembered him from before his supposed death and the Battle for Hogwarts. They remembered him as Headmaster, and all the horrible things he allowed to happen while he held that position. What these students did not know was that he had allowed these things to occur only to keep the students from enduring far worse. Many of these students still held a grudge against him for killing their beloved Dumbledore, and no matter what Harry Potter said, he just could not be forgiven.
The Slytherins, however, had remained loyal as ever. They had mourned his death and rejoiced his return. At this very moment, while Severus was in his room, his faithful Slytherins were holding a party in the Common room. Much as he knew he should quell the party, he could not bring himself to do so. He had even considered accepting the many invitations to join in. However, he knew it would not be a good idea.
So instead of rejoicing his own life, he bathed and relaxed in his chambers. He now stood in front of the full length mirror, examining himself. He realized that he looked younger than he had before his death. At 41, he looked more like 31. He had always looked slightly younger than his true age, but never by this much, and he had not looked this young for about 7 years. Had the daemon spell somehow reversed his aging? As he thought about the daemon child, the room seemed to become shadowed. He suddenly saw that child materialize next to him. He still could not make out any of her features, it was as if she was purposefully obscuring his view to prevent him from telling what she looked like. She had her wings curled up behind her, and he later wondered how such large wings could be curled up into something so small.
In his shock, he looked down at his side, and the daemon was not there. He looked back to the mirror, and she was still there. She laughed at his expense. Wrote something on the far wall behind them in silver, and disappeared as quickly as she had come. The shadows lifted and Severus attempted to read what had been written on the wall, but discovered it was backwards. He looked back to the wall behind him, not expecting to see the words, and was astonished to discover that the words truly were there. He walked over to them and read them.
I will always be here. Like a guardian angel, I will look out for you.
"Like a guardian angel? Ironic. How could a daemon compare to an angel?" Severus asked of the empty air where the child had stood. Getting not answer, he looked back at the wall, wondering how to get rid of the message, fearing it would be permanent. The words shifted to form the message Remember. and then shimmered out of existence.
Feeling suddenly weary, Severus prepared for bed, regretting that he would never sleep in the bed at his Spinners End, for someone had burned his home down after he had been declared a hero.