Chapter 2 - Severus' Plans and the Headmaster's Plots

Severus Snape strode down the corridor, making his way to the staff room. As there were rarely ever any problems on the first night (some students being too scared to ask for help) it was the perfect time for a staff meeting. Grumbling about incompetent students not getting sorted where they're supposed to, Severus stepped into the dimly lit room and made towards a corner.

"Ah, Severus. I knew I'd run into you here," said the Headmaster as he too walking into the room. With a flick of his wand, the lanterns on the wall gave of a brighter light, illuminating the face of a cheerful looking Albus Dumbledore. "Always a half hour early, no matter what."

"What do you want this time, Albus," Severus grimaced. He just knew that Harry Potter would be brought up. Not only by Albus, but likely by the rest of the staff as well.

"Well, as you know, the House of Potter has always been sorted into Gryffindor." At this point, Severus felt a sliver of defeat coil in his chest. "I want to see if you would not only watch over Harry to make sure nothing happens, but to see why he was placed in Slytherin to begin with."

"Is there something wrong with my House, Headmaster?" Severus asked stiffly.

"Of course not! Heavens, no. I just wanted to see whether his ambition would get in the way of his education." Albus smiled as if that answered anything, but Severus noticed that the smile didn't reach his eyes. In fact, he looked positively frightened. At least to Severus he did. Nobody else would have been able to pick up on it, but Severus had learned how to read his masters like an open book.

Severus sneered and remained silent. He knew that the Headmaster was terrified of another Dark Lord, and would never admit it. But there were some things that Albus never realized; things like not every evil or Dark witch or wizard goes into Slytherin, and that sometimes other Houses are more of a threat than Slytherin.

Severus had meant what he'd said to his students during his speech. They would be bullied just for being in his House, and nothing would ever be done about it.

And that was when Severus Snape got a brilliant idea. Harry Potter being in Slytherin could be a great asset. Severus didn't think that just because he got sorted where he did made him evil. In fact he would have been worried if he'd have been sorted into Gryffindor where his prejudice could be developed. Ambition was not always a bad thing.

As he planned on what to do about Potter, more and more teachers appeared in the staff room. When the last of them arrived, Albus started the meeting.

"Ah, now that everyone is here, we can begin." He sat in his usual chair and looked around. "So, first order of business. After watching the Prefects, do you think that they have done their job accordingly? Do you see any problems in the future?"

"Percy Weasley has done well, but I think that his attitude is going to stop some of the students from going to see him," Minerva McGonagall said. Some of the teachers nodded their head. Severus rolled his eyes.

"Yes, well, as long as you keep an eye on him, I think it should be fine." The rest of the meeting went like this. Dumbledore asking questions, and when someone answered he made reassurances without fixing it. After and hour of this, the topic of Harry Potter came up.

"And finally, Harry Potter," Albus said. The teachers started to chatter to their neighbor like the students they teach. "I have already spoken to Severus, and he will make sure that Harry is at least safe in his own House. But I want him to make friends from other Houses as well, just so he can keep an open mind about somethings."

In other words, Severus thought, you don't want him to have the Pureblood stance on things.

"'e's a pretty open minded kid already, 'eadmaster," Rubius Hagrid said. "When I took 'im out to Diagon Alley, he didn't judge me on my clumsiness or nothi'. He even helped me from that blasted Gringotts cart."

"Yes, but as a child, his mind is very impressionable. His aunt may have taught him to have an open minds, but living with five other boys who have been raised differently than him may change his stance on many things." The rest of the staff, barring any Slytherin teachers, nodded like this made any sense. "Now, there are some students I have in mind already. Some of them, I've heard he's met on the train. I will make sure the Head of House knows which students will be meeting and where. If there are no more problems, I think I'm ready for bed."

When no one said anything, the staff trailed out of the room and headed to their own quarters. As classes started the next day, most of the teachers were heading to bed. Severus, too, was headed to his quarters. He always got up early on the first day of classes to wake up the prefects so they, in turn, could wake up the first years.

Ignoring the look the Headmaster sent him, Severus made his way down the corridor. After he got to the dungeons and muttered the password to the empty wall in front of him, which then opened up to his rooms, he sat on the antique chair that sat by the fire.

After he switched sides, Severus had taken care to watch both of his masters. He made no illusions as to whether Albus was his master or not. Severus did what he was told to, or paid the consequences. As such, he knew how to read them better than anyone else, and he knew that Albus was worried about how Potter would turn out. Usually Severus wouldn't put any stock into what Hagrid has to say, but if Potter actually was as open minded as he said, then Severus could make Potter see the way the Headmaster handled things to get the results the way he wants.

He went to sleep still making his plans, but he had no idea how Albus' choices would turn Harry Potter against him in the near future.

A/N: Thanks for thee review, and I hope you like this new installment.