Innocent Enough
Author's Note: Quite busy at the moment with classes and my job, not a single day off... but I will do my best to update regularly and keep things moving along. Also, thank you to one particular reviewer for his/her ideas! I've already got everything laid out on the table actually, but your input will probably be used ~
Chapter 2: Introductions
Snape rubbed his weary, sleepless eyes as he rounded the last of the endless spirals down to the dungeon. What used to be his dungeon. He kept his fists clenched and pressed against his sides, his eyes dully watching each cold cobblestone step pass by. It had been a long night. He was still seething from his conversation with Albus, his mind mulling over all that had happened and been said, trying to straighten things out. That senile, shriveled prune... how dare he... Snape could see it all happen again in his mind's eye.
Albus, sitting at his desk with his hands folded passively, motioned to him with a nod. Snape had obediently stepped forward to sit in the singular, rather plushy chair which sat directly before the Headmaster. Niether of them said anything for a good, long moment. Albus's twinkling eyes seemed to pass over him multiple times, observing Snape and the changes to his appearance. His carefree, light voice suddenly pierced the silence as Snape stared at the Headmaster intently. "It's an impressive effect, it is... you have obviously taught your students very well, Severus. I have only ever seen this potion but once before," he chuckled, eyes drifting to the left in rememberance of some distant time, "However, you need not worry."
Snape waited for Albus to continue, but when he simply sat there before him, contentedly twiddling his thumbs and smiling, Snape could not help but feel tense. Infact, his body became more rigid and his eyes narrowing only slightly. As the silence enveloped them, Snape could feel a growing sensation of concern in his chest, growing larger and larger with each breath. Albus wasn't saying anything, only looking at him thoughtfully. When Snape shuffled in his chair restlessly, his mouth opening to begin some sentence, the Headmaster cut him off before he could even inhale. "I have seen it, yes Severus, and judging by your expression, I would have to say that this particular concoction isn't something you're familiar with? Not that I'm surprised, as it is mostly used for pranks..." His lips crinkled in a smile, "The Aetatis Lumen Elixir brings youth back to anything that comes into contact. It is not a permanent state, but there isn't any cure either. It will wear off with time, however," Albus raised a finger, pointing to the cieling as if there laid the answers to all questions, "There is no way to predict when the effects will end."
Finding himself at the heavy doors of his own classroom, Snape drew in a steady breathe. He was stressed, anxious, and temperamental. The look he had seen on Albus's face that night had not made things any easier. It was innocent yet ever so subtley mischevious. "For the time being... I'm sure you wish to keep your dignity. You will not teach in this condition, instead..." The words echoed too him, light-hearted words that filled Snape with malice. "Why don't you enjoy your youth, Severus? When in Rome..."
Pressing the door open, he slinked inside quickly and quietly, hoping not to draw the attention of his new... classmates. Classmates... The thought sent a sudden shiver down his body, distaste showing only slightly on his face. Distractedly, he found an open desk and began to unload his potions supplies. He was deep in thought, his face rather blank, when the last few students trickled into the room. He could feel their curious gaze upon him and it took everything within him to remain calm. He didn't like school when he went through it the first time, and Snape was absolutely positive that the end result would be no different now.
Over the sound of clinking vials and murmuring, a voice rang clearly from behind Snape. "Uhh, mate? This is my seat..." Snape glanced over his shoulder only to be greeted with the sight of a rather confused looking Ron Weasley. Snape couldn't help himself from smirking slightly, it was so odd to see the idiot looking at him this way. He was so used to looks of distaste from the Weasleys that to see one looking more casually at him sent an odd sensation running through him. "My apologies," Snape spoke softly but there was ice in his tone. Snape suddenly frowned and looked back at the Weasley again as the Potter boy sat himself down as well, casting him a suspicious glance. It only took him a small moment to get re-situated in a desk one row behind the couple of dunderheads. The thought of being so near that boastful Potter was as much motivation as he needed. Leaning his head on his palm, Snape glanced around the room moodily. Many faces turned away as they noticed him glaring. Snape raised an eyebrow. He knew that new students were always a curious interest for the students, but this seemed a little odd.
It then hit him, we has sitting on the Gryffindor half of the classroom, his Slytherin robes seeming in stark contrast with the crowd. It was such a blatant sign of how distraught he was, he hadn't even been rude or jeering to the Potter Club yet either... And even past the fact that he was already so out of place, it didn't help his case either that Snape still looked very much like Snape. He still wore the same long, black hair, the same dull expression and body language, the same black eyes... Maybe, perhaps, he should style his hair slightly different... At the thought, he suddenly felt a wave of depression and aggrevasion wash over him. Lifting his fingers to his temples, he massaged them gently. Dark magic, Voldemort, death... and yet I can't keep my sanity in check while in a student's desk... Merlin's beard, to even think of changing my hair, and for what? Popularity? Snape let out an audible "tch" sound.
The doors to the classroom opened once more to reveil a rather cautious and out of place McGonagall. Ignoring the intrigued expressions on the faces of almost every student, she strode stiffly forward, her lips pursed. "I'm sure you are all wondering why Professor Snape was not at the Great Hall this morning for breakfast, nor here now. It's my duty to inform you that he is... occupied at the moment with personal affairs. I will be taking his place while he is away." Her eyes flickered in Snape's direction and he crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow and lifting his lips in an amused half-smile. He could see her eyes narrow ever so slightly. shoulders lift tensely.
But then she smiled brightly, and keeping her gaze upon him, she made a motion with her hands in his direction. "And while one man is missing, it seems we have a new student to replace the absence. This is," she hesitated for a moment, Snape could tell she was holding back a fit of giggles, "This is Esmond Thorne, and I expect you all to treat him with decency. Now, if you would please turn to..."
As Snape left his Potions class, he let out a sigh, a look of amusement crossing his features. It had been almost enjoyable to watch McGonagall act so flustered and out-of-sorts. It brought him the very slightest sense of satisfaction to know that he was not the only one who was feeling out of place. Poor old McGonagall probably had to use a Time Turner to fulfill her position in both her Transfiguration classes and his Potions classes. He almost grinned at what misery he knew it must cause her.
The rest of his classes were dull and time seemed to flow together seamlessly, his mind wandering freely. Despite that he hated his own situation and the pleasure it brought to the other professors that they now could talk down to him, Snape had to admit,it had its advantages. Since he already had taken all of his classes once before, he needn't pay any attention, and for that he was grateful. It had been a long time since he had just had time to himself to think. Not to mention, he had plenty of opportunities to slip in snide comments to his former colleagues while they taught, making their faces grow red with annoyance at his arrogance. It was innocent teasing though, naturally, how could they not see?
"Hey...hey?..!" Suddenly Snape went rigid as he collided with someone. Startled, he almost toppled over onto the ground, but a hand caught him just before he could hit the hard stone floor. In one swift motion, Snape was pulled back up into a standing position, though his knees were signifigantly weaker from the sudden surprise. "Watch wh-" Snape began to growl out, but upon seeing Ron Weasley before him, his mouth shut tight. He resigned to simply furrow his eyebrows and watch the redhead as he stood a little awkwardly before him. Ron smiled a timid smile, "Are you quite alright?" When there was no reply, Ron shifted a little uncomfortably, but kept up his kind smile nonetheless. Letting out a tense chuckle, he sighed, "Don't worry, I understand. You're new and probably quite overloaded. This place is huge! But, um... don't worry 'bout it, just keep your heads out of the clouds, unless ofcourse you're in Flying classes but... Hey, if you ever need help, you can talk to me, okay?"
Snape's face remained blank. "I'll keep that in mind," he muttered softly, the quietness of his voice had meant to sound insulting but instead came out quite shyly. He looked away and to the side, waiting for Ronald to leave.
Ron simply smiled again, a kind and empathetic smile, something Snape wasn't accustomed to seeing. Turning round to leave, he raised a hand in a small wave, glancing back, "And it's Ron Weasley by the way. See you round!"
Huffing quietly, Snape strode towards the Great Hall with a hasty speed. He was angry, annoyed, frustrated. Perhaps it was because he had done something stupid and empty-headed and ran into another person, a mark of stupidity that he would have sneered at if he hadn't been involved. Perhaps it was because, that smile... when was the last time anyone had smiled so genuinely and innocently at him? He shook his head sternly, no, that wasn't it. Ronald Weasley was simply an idiot.
With his focus being mainly on his hatred of idoits, Snape hadn't noticed a band of three boys hiding in a notch in the wall as he passed them. He hadn't noticed them staring at him and grinning evily. Snape hadn't noticed that he had wandered away from the Great Hall and into a deserted passageway. Needless to say, Snape was quite surprised to feel himself suddenly collide to the floor, an immense invisible pressure pushing against his entire body and preventing him from motion. As the sound of shoes against the stone floor grew nearer, he could hear faint snickering as well.
"Well, would you look at this? You know, I've always wanted to give Snape a good kick. I'm sure this smaller, uglier version of him will do just fine."