Harry stared at the man and he had no words. He had never expected this when he had taken the job. Severus had disappeared and no one had seen him in a year. Well two years, other than Harry and Draco, when they had found him. Harry had once thought the man hated teaching. But he had come to see that wasn't true. He cared about his house and his class, he had been hard on them to not blow up his room, and as cover. He just thought it was the last place the man would come. He was bent on ignoring the people who had loved him.

Severus eyed the room but settled on Harry. His mind went for a moment to the chain he wore around his neck. He did look at his nephew who also sat there. He had heard they were both going to be here, and when he spoke to Horace, he took the job.

Severus sunk down into a chair. "No need to wait for me."

Minerva eyed him. "I was surprised to…."

Draco smirked. "To hear he was alive or he wanted to teach?"

Minerva sighed. "Both."

Filius smiled. "Poppy would be happy to know you were alive."

Severus assured him. "I let her know."

Harry stood. "I lost my appetite."

Remus moved to stop him. "Harry…."

"I am going to see Hagrid."

Draco grunted. "I am surprised my father didn't mention."

Minerva sighed. "The appointment didn't need to be passed through him."

Severus agreed. "Horace was welcome to choose his replacement."

Minerva looked at Draco. "Your father should know by now."

Draco smirked. "I would be expecting a visit soon."

Severus had no doubt his godson was right. He knew Lucius would be here sooner than later. He had not seen Lucius since they found out he was alive. He had no doubt Lucius would have more than a few words for him. If it was just himself, Lucius may have not been too angry. But he could see from his godson, Draco had not forgiven him. And he knew Lucius would be furious with him over his son.

Harry headed out onto the grounds. He had no idea if Hagrid was there but it was simply an excuse. Hagrid didn't eat in the hall all of the time. He found Hagrid's hut empty but he found Fang and sunk down on a bench in the garden. The big dog put his head in Harry's lap.

Harry had no idea how long he was there when he heard steps. "I'm fine."

"Brooding I see."

Harry's hair went up on the back of his neck. "You can keep walking."

"Here I thought you could use company."

Harry grunted. "Not your kind."

"Planning on sneaking into the woods?"

"I remind you they are not forbidden to teachers."

"There are dangers even with the spiders gone."

Harry stood. "Safer than my current company."

Severus came to his side. "Safety in numbers."

Harry stepped back. "I remember last time."

Severus tried to touch his arm. "Harry, I had to…"

"Potter."

The man eyed him. "What?"

"The name is Potter."

Severus tried to get close. "What happened to the person who angrily reminded me he had a first name?"

Harry snapped. "He disappeared around the time he thought his fiancé died in those woods."

Those woods. Not that they ever had good memories but the last one had been the worst. When he had watched the man he loved die, or so he believed. He had tried to sneak up on Voldemort but the snake could see through his cloak. Severus had sacrificed himself to protect Harry. Harry had thought Severus had either been eaten by the snake or spiders when his body was gone. Now he knew why his body wasn't found.

Severus tried to grab him. "We should talk about this."

"Talk? Now you want to talk?"

"No time like the present."

"How about when you were saved? Or even when we found you in the hospital?"

"You stormed out pretty quickly."

"It wasn't like you were stopping me was it?"

"I couldn't get out of the bed."

Harry snarled. "We both know that isn't what I mean."

"I was a cripple. I wasn't right for you."

"And now you can walk, you think you can just walk back in?"

Severus tried to touch his face. "Stop being so stubborn Harry."

Harry yanked away. "Flee back to whatever hole you hid in, like you did a year ago."

Severus pulled closer. "I did not flee. And I am staying."

Harry angrily yanked away. "The curse of defense may be back."

Severus shook his head. "Oh we both know you aren't one to run."

Harry smirked. "No, that is your style it seems."

Severus tried to pull Harry back in but they were both shocked by a snarl. Before Severus could react, he felt a sharp pain in his butt. He let go of Harry and they both turned in shock to see Fang. Fang had never been the bravest dog and Harry thought him so gentle. But it seemed even after years, the dog still loved Harry quite a bit. And he sunk his teeth into Severus to prove just how true that was. He let go when Severus had.

Harry went to leave. "Hope you have a potion for that. I highly doubt you will find Draco as welcoming as Poppy would have been."

Severus watched Harry go and he rubbed his ass. He could not believe the dog had bitten him. The dog was getting old and likely only had a year or so left. Of Hagrid's pets, it was the only normal one the man seemed to have. Severus had never liked dogs and that had not changed. He knew he would have trouble sitting for a time. He luckily had some basic medic skills. Unfortunately he knew Harry was right about his godson.

He was heading back towards the school when he saw someone coming up from the gates. Somehow he was not surprised to find Lucius coming his way. He was a bit surprised it had taken this long for the man to find out. Horace had chosen to retire a week before.

Lucius's voice cut the silence. "I see the letter wasn't a joke."

"You have heard of my new job."

"We will see how long that lasts."

"We both know the governors can only remove me with grounds."

Lucius smirked. "Oh I am sure we can find one."

"What, no welcome home brother?"

Lucius smirked. "I doubt you want the welcome I have."

Severus shrugged. "It has been two years."

"I don't hex men with canes."

Severus assured him. "I can still hold my own."

"You are going to need it."

"See the warm welcome home is continuing."

Lucius growled. "Maybe if you didn't leave in the first place."

"I was a fucking cripple and could barely do magic."

Lucius glared. "You really think that mattered?"

The two of them had been friends since they started school. They had faced a lot together. They had been tortured into the mark with one another. Remus had helped them both become spies. Lucius had relied on Severus for more than to watch his back when they were on a mission. He relied on him to help with Draco. He could never be the hands on father he wished to be. He and Narcissa had trusted the man with their son.

Severus watched the man and he noted Lucius seemed to have changed since the war. He saw a difference in the man's eyes He noticed like himself, Lucius had a chain around his neck and wore a ring hanging from it. Narcissa and he may have had an arranged marriage and never been in love, but he had cared deeply for her.

"Seems we share a fashion sense again."

Lucius smirked. "I may have to give up my cane."

"I was referring to the chain."

Lucius touched. "Her ring. You do remember her don't you?"

"You know I loved her like a sister."

"And yet you walked out on both of their sons."

Severus knew what he meant. "Draco is strong. He didn't need…."

Lucius snapped. "He didn't need another person to mourn? You're right."

"He was better off thinking me dead and moving on."

"And when they found you in the hospital? Why run?"

"I didn't run."

Lucius smirked. "Didn't run? You were invisible then when I came to see you."

Severus grunted. "I needed time to finish healing."

Lucius spat. "You needed time to brood."

The man was selfish plain and simple. Lucius had no problem telling him that and he did. The man was kidding no one. He couldn't believe Harry and Draco were better thinking him dead. And even if he did, that didn't explain him running when they found him. If he was such a coward, he should have stayed gone. If he didn't want to return a year ago, he shouldn't have now. He had caused them enough pain as it was.

Lucius went to leave. "Leave them."

Severus reminded him. "I am at school."

"Keep your distance."

"Or what? You know you won't fire me."

Lucius turned. "Try me."

"Concerned for your son or for Harry?"

Lucius snarled. "Both. Thanks to you, I care about Harry too."

"Just because of me?"

Lucius didn't give in. "Maybe I changed my mind."

"Doesn't seem your way."

"Both Harry and Draco can take care of themselves. Looks like Harry already proved me true."

Severus smirked. "Indeed."

"You can't tell me that your sore ass doesn't have to do with him."

"His bloody guard dog."

Lucius turned to leave. "Neither my son or Harry are going to open any doors."

Severus watched the man leave and he knew he had not seen the last of Lucius. Lucius was not about to allow him off that easy. But Lucius was simply processing seeing him. He had known Severus was alive for a year but it was the first time he had seen him face to face. If there was any he had to worry about cursing him, it was Lucius. It seemed that Lucius was not only protective of Draco but Harry. He wondered about that.

He headed back to the school grumbling. "That dog better not have germs."