A/N. So here is another chapter! Honestly, I am surprised at the amount of followers and favourites I have thus far. I didn't expect so many, and honestly just seeing the amount of views my story has received is encouraging beyond belief! Anyways - I promise the chapters get longer! For the first ten or so chappies, I had no real idea where the story was going (I was only writing to see if I could keep Severus in character), but it has really kicked off and I have 30 chapters written, and real plotline going, so bear with me! Thank to all who have reviewed, followed and added me to their favorites. Also, a special thank you to my lovely sister, for her helpful advice and her brilliant beta reading. Enjoy!
Once again, I do not own the characters. I just refused to let J.K. Rowling be the end of Severus Snape!
Severus stalked up to the headmistress's office after having made sure the new Slytherin students knew their way to the dungeons. What was she thinking, not telling anyone about the newest teacher? His irritation increased the closer he got to her office. He ran into a lost Hufflepuff girl and snapped at her, threatening to dock points if she didn't find her dorms quickly. She cowered and ran in the opposite direction, nearly in tears. Severus smirked, he still inspired fear in the students. That would never change.
He reached the gargoyle that guarded Minerva's office. "Professor Snape to see the headmistress," he barked, annoyed. The gargoyle slid aside without a word, and Severus swept through the door, finding Minerva sitting at her desk.
"Care to explain why the Granger girl is here at Hogwarts?" he said dangerously as he walked towards her, black eyes glittering.
"I had thought your powers of deduction were slightly more refined than that Severus, but perhaps I was wrong," the headmistress replied, not taking her eyes off the book in her hands.
Severus scowled, he didn't want her banter tonight. "Hermione Granger?" he asked incredulously. "As the new Defense teacher?"
Minerva rolled her eyes, and looked up at him. "Have a seat, Severus. You look like you need some tea," she waved her wand and conjured a teapot and two cups, along with a tin of biscuits. She poured some of the hot liquid into a cup, and passed it to him. "I didn't think it was that much of a surprise, you know. She was top of her year here and at the university she attended, as well as helping Harry Potter defeat Voldemort."
Severus snorted derisively. "Don't condescend me, Minerva. I know bloody well what that insufferable girl did. How does that make her appropriate for that position?"
"Oh come off it," Minerva snapped. "You know full well that she is capable, and certainly the most qualified for teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts."
The dark haired potions professor heaved a sigh as he took a sip of his tea. "I was doing so well forgetting how impossibly irritating she was, too."
Minerva glared at him. "She testified for you, Severus. The least you can do is show her the respect she deserves as a teacher of Hogwarts."
Severus raised an eyebrow delicately, inwardly fuming that Minerva had the gall to bring up his trial, and the fact that the insufferable girl had testified for him. "Of course, headmistress. I will treat her as any other teacher here. But do not expect me to seek out her company in any way," he said wearily.
Minerva exhaled in an exaggerated fashion, and rolled her eyes. "If that's the best you can do, then I suppose. But really, Severus," she said as she leaned forward hopefully. "You really should consider going out sometime. Perhaps you and I could grab drinks this weekend at the Three Broomsticks?"
Severus gave her a withered look. "You really should know by now that my answer to your invitation is no. It will not work. If I haven't accepted your offer of drinks in four years, I will not be doing so any time soon."
"I'm a Gryffindor," she said by way of explanation. "We don't give up."
Severus sneered at the headmistress. "Yes, that much is apparent," he replied waspishly. He looked around curiously, noting something was missing. "Where is this supposed game of chess you offered to me?"
The headmistress grinned. "Up for a few rounds, are you?" she said playfully. "Are you prepared to be brutally defeated yet again, my dear potions professor?"
Severus rolled his eyes as Minerva took out her set and set up the board. Not even bothering to ask him, she shooed the black pieces to his side of the playing field, where he ordered them to take their places. She rarely won, and they both knew it. It was ridiculously easy for him to beat the headmistress, but he had grown into the habit of baiting her, letting her believe she would win before he swooped in, swiftly disposing of whatever piece she had used to attack him.
He let Minerva have her fun though, and quickly proceeded to dash any hopes she may have harbored about winning. After he had won for the fifth time, he decided it was time to stop damaging her dark haired man stood up abruptly, and inclined his head towards Minerva. "As much as I enjoy watching your miserable attempts to defeat me, I must retire. I shall see you tomorrow."
With that, he turned sharply and swept out of her office, not pausing to give her time to reply. He slowly made his way towards his quarters in the dungeon, hiding in the shadows in the hopes of catching a student out after curfew. He didn't find anyone though, and felt a twinge of disappointment. There went his evening's entertainment. He scowled as he reached the corridor that led to the portrait that guarded his living space. Tomorrow he had to resume the monotonous and highly frustrating business of attempting to teach his craft to less than capable students.
"Brilliant," he muttered to himself as the portrait of the dragon swung open. The dragon gave him no trouble tonight, he noted. It must have been tired of trying and failing to get a rise out of him. Nearly every time he asked for entrance, it would reply with some snarky retort, and Severus would have to wait for it to be finished before he could enter. It was a severe inconvenience and he had thought about asking the headmistress if it were possible to get a new portrait several times. If he had to be honest with himself though, Severus did enjoy the dragon's banter on some days. It had a very dry sense of humor, and he never did get a name from it, just a lot of sarcastic attitude.
Entering his quarters, he walked to his fireplace, wondering how he should spend the rest of his evening. He debated on writing more on his article about the hitherto undiscovered properties of silverweed. He didn't feel like writing though, instead settling on curling up in front of the fire in his animagus form. As he lazily watch the flames flicker, he thought about the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Not that he would admit it to anyone, but the bushy haired witch was uniquely qualified to teach that particular subject. At least it wasn't Harry bloody Potter himself, Severus thought dryly. He didn't think he could stand to be around that boy's hero complex for an entire year. He thought about it more, deciding that out of the trio, Granger was the one he could handle without wanting to go and off himself. It wasn't as if he had to work directly with her, either. They were on completely separate floors, if anything their contact with each other would be limited to passing in the hallways, or a quick greeting at the staff table. He could certainly deal with that. He had, after all, suffered through the less than pleasant company of the Dark Lord for years. The overly eager swot would be only a minor inconvenience to himself. Besides, maybe, just maybe she would do a decent job of imparting whatever knowledge she had to the students. He would never let anyone know that, though.