A/N: Excuse the re-doing, but I hadn't said what i wanted to say when i first submitted, so i took it off. and as someone said, it wasn't my best, so i'm trying again :D The first and last bit is the same, so if you read the first draft, please read again, Thankyou!

1st July 1988

It was strange going back to Hogwarts. Much stranger than I had anticipated, anyway.

The floors felt the same to walk across as my feet carried me instinctively through the winding corridors, the walls were familiar to touch and the castle still smelled of the same complacent happiness as it had done before.

But, as familiar as it was, it still felt dramatically different; for one thing, the whole place was almost entirely silent as it was the summer holidays, but, for the most part, I think it was simply a case of growing up.

I hoped sincerely that, when the time came, Lucius would let Draco come here rather than Durmstrang. As I knew that Hogwarts would do him the world of good and at least he would have the chance to become his own person whereas in Durmstrang…well, let's just say that knowing the head-master personally would give Lucius a little too much influence.

As it happened, I was not the only person being interviewed that day, although I didn't see them.

Charity Burbage, a witch of about thirty who had recently come back from doing ten years of field work in a muggle community and had written a very long winded book on how there was absolutely no difference at all between muggles and wizards. Unsurprisingly, it was not a popular book in Flourish and Blotts and, as such, she had been forced to find a day job. Predictably, she was now applying for the post of Muggle-Studies Professor.

The other person was a rather annoying Ravenclaw I had vaguely known during my own time at school called Quirinius Quirrell. There was no denying the fact that he was exceptionally intelligent, but he was lacking considerably in the common-sense department and was prone to doing rash things which he would undoubtedly come to regret later on in life.

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Upon entering the headmaster's study, I was promptly accosted by my former head-of-house, Horace E Slughorn (what the 'E' stands for, I am not entirely sure)

"Severus!" he thundered delightedly, shaking my hand so hard it made me wince. "How are you? How is your mother? Heard you had a bit of a run in with Lucius. Not a wise thing to do, Severus, I must say. Not wise at all...doing well for himself though, mind. Not that I'm surprised of course…"

It went on like for this for a considerable amount of time and I swear that my hand was going to drop off at any moment, but luckily Dumbledore came in just in time.

"Really Horace," he said in his quiet Dumbledore-like manner. "You should try not to cripple people who may want to work here. You'll put them off and then where will we be?"

His eyes flicked to mine; the light-blue smiling. I had never felt comfortable when Dumbledore looked at me. He always gave the impression that he could see clear into your mind and I had never liked people knowing my secrets…even those people who I trusted.

"I have to say, I was surprised when I received your letter," Dumbledore told me with an amused smile. "I never put you down as a 'people person', Severus. Do you really think you have the patience to work with young persons, most of whom seem to take an innate delight in aggravating their professors?" A contemplative look crossed the older wizard's face. "I seem to remember," he continued, "you telling Professor Slughorn during careers advice, that if you ever had to work with children, you'd turn the killing curse on yourself."

I remembered saying that too…

"Certain incidents have altered my opinion," I replied with a slight scowl. "I seem to have changed considerably since I was fifteen."

"Which is why," Dumbledore said thoughtfully as Slughorn nodded understandingly. "I have never left school. I still have the same ideals as I did when I was eleven…not that I can remember when exactly I was eleven…But anyway," He clapped his hands suddenly as though he had suddenly woken up. "Down to business I think! Excuse us please, Horace."

"Yup yup. Say no more. Drop in when Albus is done with you, if you want Severus. I want to hear everything that my potions prodigy has been up to." He winked at me before meandering away out the door.

"Well," said Dumbledore as we sat down at his desk. "Now we can get to the point." He clasped his long fingers before him on the desk, suddenly serious. "I'll tell you now that you definitely have a job, as there has been a minor change to plan and somebody has dropped out." He watched me closely, waiting for my response.

"Umm…great? Why are you looking at me like that?"

Dumbledore shifted, looking somewhat guilty. "Well, it isn't exactly the job you applied for but, after much deliberation and checking of NEWT results and general opinion, we decided it would be best if…" He paused, then said very fast, "Ifyoutookthepotionsmaster'sjobinstead. And, if you're willing, we wondered if you would also take up the responsibility of becoming the new head-of-house for Slytherin." He scratched his nose, looking decidedly awkward.

"You want me to do potions," I repeated flatly, feeling most unamused. "Might I ask how you have reached that conclusion?"

"You may."

"I am."

"Oh, yes. Well…for one thing, your NEWT result in potions is equally remarkable as that of 'Defense' and you'd have far more creative licence in potions…"

"Tell me the truth."

"And…somebody else has been after the job longer…"

'Surprise surprise…' I sat back in my chair and folded my arms across my chest.

"You see," Dumbledore tried to explain. "Professor Quirrell, who usually teaches muggles-studies, has been asking for that job for a rather extensive period of time, so it was only fair really…and Professor Slughorn recommended you specifically when he informed me that he was retiring."

"Potions isn't considered proper magic by students, you know that." I said flatly. "They won't take it seriously."

"Which is why you'd suit the job perfectly." Dumbledore's voice suddenly cheered up as though he'd solved all the problems of the world.

How that worked I wasn't sure, but I really couldn't be bothered to argue. True enough, potions had been my strong point…but (and I know this sounds terribly superficial) 'Defence' was so much more fun!

"Fine," I muttered in a tortured sort of way. "I'll do potions."

"And the head-of-house…?" Dumbledore pressed hopefully.

"Yes, I'll do that too."

After all, how hard could it be to mind a group of Slytherins who were brought up to be relatively independent anyway? Easy money.

"Stupendipidous!" stated the renowned wizard delightedly. "If I could just ask you to fill in these unbearably dull forms, legal things which are pointless yet necessary…quite similar to brushing one's teeth in the morning actually." He thought about this deeply for a moment then, remembering what he was supposed to be doing, he conjured a sheet of parchment and a pen and pushed them towards me.

"I do apologise for my mood," said Dumbledore as I signed my name at the bottom of the form. "I'm quite sure that the house-elves slipped something into my rice-crispies this morning…"

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"…It's all your fault!" I sat with my legs folded beneath me, feeling sulky and hard-done-by. "If you hadn't recommended me, I would be teaching something interesting instead of the magical equivalent of home-economics!"

Slughorn sighed a long, deep sigh, looking very much like a slowly deflating balloon as his moustache rustled like a small furry creature .

"You appear," he said shortly, giving me a very 'teacher-ish' look, "to have forgotten how much pleasure you once took in designing perfect concoction and the thrill in creating something completely flawless." He scowled, sitting even further back in his purple velvet armchair as he continued his lecture.

"You could never achieve such a feeling by waving around a silly piece of wood and muttering something in latin! Anyone can cast a spell, but it takes a certain type of person to create something so beautiful and intoxicating that it can control the mind with a single drop and seduce the senses into thinking what you want them to in a way that magic never could." A blissful look came into the professor's copper coloured eyes.

The amount of times that I had heard this speech before meant that I was now immune to it, however hearing it again did make me think twice about the attitude with which I was approaching this situation. Truth be told, potions had been the subject that I had enjoyed the most; mainly because it was the single time in the day when I least likely to be hexed by certain people and also because…

"Wasn't it a shame about dear old Lily?"

My whole being suddenly froze and my throat constricted unpleasantly. "Mmm…"

"James too," Slughorn continued thoughtfully. "But their boy survived. Harry, wasn't it? Harry Potter…he's going to do well. Shame I won't be around to nurture his natural talent…" He grinned at me, completely disregarding the way my hands were knotting together and my jaw was clenched so tightly I thought it was going to break, "But you'll have the pleasure of teaching him won't you?"

"Mmm…"

"Rumour has it that he's the spitting image of James but he's got Lily's eyes. Exactly her eyes-"

"Stop it! Shut up shut up!" My hands- white knuckled- gripped the arms of the chair as I stood up and glared at my former mentor. I couldn't stand even thinking about her, especially in relation to him or their son. I had barely even thought about them in the last few years and I did not need this to be brought up now!

It was all in the past and I had made a pact with myself never to concern myself with the past.

Slughorn stared at me, silenced and surprised by my outburst.

"Forgive me," I murmured, lowering myself back down as I regained control of myself. "I don't like to…I don't like to talk about it…or them."

"Yes, I understand. It was insensitive to mention it considering how close the two of you were…"

We sat in a contemplative silence for a while; the awkwardness, whilst it wasn't stifling, was still relatively uncomfortable.

But then a voice, an oddly familiar one, spoke up above the quietness, "Hullo, is that Severus I can hear? What's he doing here, Horace?"

"Ah!" Slughorn smiled to himself and levered his round body out of his deep chair. Curious and convinced that my ears were playing tricks on me, I followed. "Good afternoon Andrea."

The portrait of Andrea Malfoy beamed down at me in greeting. "I did think it was you," she laughed. "But I wasn't entirely sure…Horace does seem to like to surprise people although sometimes, "she cast him a rather austere look, "it doesn't always go to plan, does it Horace?"

Slughorn made a half protesting, have agreeing sort of snuffling noise.

"So…" I said slowly, trying to regain my bearings. "Why have you got a portrait here?"

"Umm…let me think about that." Her pretty face creased slightly into a frown as she struggled to recall her memory. "Oh yes, I think it was because…oh I can't remember!" she stamped her painted feet moodily beneath the frame. "I can't stand this!" Andrea pouted, "I know something and I know exactly how I want to say, but when it comes to opening my mouth it just disappears. I suppose it's what comes of being superficial…"

"You aren't superficial my dear," Slughorn tried to comfort her.

"Oh but I am," she assured him sincerely. "Paintings are superficial therefore, I am also superficial. Not that I mind, I actually rather enjoy not having to do anything especially clever or interesting. So what are you doing here, Severus? I don't recall you being here before?"

"I was dragged here against my will," I told her seriously. "Kicking and screaming, in fact."

"Really?" concern radiated from her painting. "Oh Horace, you really shouldn't do that to people, it isn't polite! You must let him go at once or I shall never ever tell you anything again as long as you live in these rooms!"

"So you're his source?" The realisation hit me suddenly. "You're the one who told him what happened between Lucius and me?"

Andrea bit her painted lip, looking quite abashed. "It was only once and it was quite a frightening episode…anyway," she raised her chin, "you needn't worry Severus, I shan't ever speak another word to him because of the horrible things he has done to you."

"I didn't mean it! I wasn't really kidnapped!" I almost laughed, but I sensed that would just make everything much worse,

Andrea glared at me. "Well then, I am not going to speak to you either. You men and your tricks. Go away, both of you!" She sniffed, her Malfoy side coming through, and promptly turned her back on the both of us.

Slughorn shrugged, and waved for us to sit down once more. "She'll be fine in an hour or two. But anyway, Tell me what you've been up to since I last laid eyes upon you?"

"Me?" I fiddled with a loose thread on the velvet arm. "Oh, not a great deal. Nothing interesting anyway."

"Come now, I'm not falling for that. Andrea tells me that you've been causing quite a bit of trouble in Wiltshire…"

"Yes, I suppose that's true…" I muttered. "Lucius and I seem disagree strongly on a lot of things and sometimes it ends up in a bit of a situation."

"Shame…" the professor mused. "You two used to get along so well and, apparently, Lucius came away with a broken nose from it?"

"Really?" Now that pleased me a great deal. "I didn't know that."

"Seriously, Severus, what possessed you?" He looked genuinely concerned. "Do you realise how much danger you could have put yourself in from doing something so stupid?"

"You don't know the full story," I said, waving his concerns aside. "It was completely worth it."

"Hmm…I hope it was. What are you doing with yourself at the moment?"

"I've ended up back home," I replied with an edge of bitterness. "Looking after Lucius' son, falling out with my mother and ignoring my father. The usual, basically."

"Lucius' son?" repeated Slughorn with a frown. "Why is he staying at Spinner's End? You didn't kidnap him out of spite, do you?"

"Don't be ridiculous!" I snapped, feeling considerably annoyed that people kept assuming that. "I'm surprised your source didn't tell you, actually. Draco was…hurt by a man and Lucius can't cope with looking after him at the moment, so he's staying with us."

" 'Hurt' as in?"

"Please don't make me say it out loud," I pleaded. "It's just not safe for him to go home yet; Lucius might be a top class business man but when it comes to Draco…well, let's just say that were we under muggle law, he's be in prison by now and Draco would be in care. But he's doing alright. Better than I would've expected, anyway, especially for an eight year-old. I think you'd like him, actually," I said thoughtfully. "He's very bright and surprisingly good company."

"Coming from somebody who has openly stated he doesn't like people, he must be!" Slughorn laughed. "Does Draco like ice-cream?"

"Oh umm…yes. Who doesn't?"

"Fair point. I'd like to meet this boy. He can be my last conquest before I retire!" He clapped his large hands excitedly together as though he was a child who had been promised a new broomstick. "Well that's settled then! We shall meet at one o'clock tomorrow in Diagon Alley and I will buy us ice cream! You may leave now. Good bye!"

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"Did you get it did you get it did you get it?" Draco bounced up to me no sooner had I shut the front door behind me. His clothes, face and hands were smeared with earth and his hair was sticking up at unnatural angles. Draco had obviously caught the sun as his face was flushed from the heat and the tip of his nose looked very burnt.

"What on earth have you been doing?"

"Gardening!" Draco stated proudly. "I picked all the weeds out, then I dug holes in the ground with a fork and I planted sunflowers! Loads of them! And your father says they're gonna grow a hundred feet tall!"

"So you're getting along with my father as well?" It was impossible to mask my surprise at this; my mother having a change of heart was one thing but my father? I swear I had been taken to a parallel universe in my sleep!

"Yup! He's nice and he showed me how to plant seeds so they'll grow tall!" He jumped as high as he could, holding onto my hands. "Tell. Me. About. Hogwarts!" he said with each bounce.

"If you stop acting like a hyper-active kangaroo, then I might."

Draco stood still instantly, although he was still swinging my arm up and down.

"Well, I got a job-"

"Yay!"

"-even though it wasn't the one I wanted-"

"Oohh…"

"-and then I caught up with one of my old teachers and we talked about things and I told him about you-"

Draco looked at me curiously. "Me? Why?"

"Because, my small friend, you have been a rather prominent factor in my life in recent years, have you not?"

Suddenly anxious, Draco asked quietly, "Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"

"A…mostly good thing."

The grin returned, as did the bounces. "Yay!"

"And now he wants to meet you so, how do you feel about ice cream tomorrow?"

"I like ice cream!" Draco exclaimed delightedly. "And your friend sounds nice!" He suddenly let out a very long, high-pitched squeak of happiness and hugged me tightly around the middle. "I like it here! I like it lots and I want to stay for always! Do you think Father would let me stay? At least 'til my flowers grow? I can't leave 'til they grow a hundred feet tall 'else I wouldn't see them…"

Draco smiled up in the coy way that children do when they're in a toyshop and they say 'I really like this one…'

"Would you please ask Father?" he asked sweetly.

I hesitated. "I promise to try, but it's unlikely that it'll get anywhere. But even if you have to go home, I'm sure it would be okay if you came to visit your flowers to see how they're doing."

"Yeah, I suppose that'll be okay. I'm going to go see if they've grown any more now," He tugged on my hand. "Come see with me?"

"I'm coming."

Hope you liked the chapter and I apologise for Slughorn, I haven't written him before, so I'm afraid he isn't very good :P OMG!! They've finished filming HBP!! And Narcissa looks great!! And they're focusing on Draco's character!! EEEEEPPP!! I'm soooo excited!! Bouncebouncebounce!!

Good luck to everyone who's doing their GCSEs at the moment!

Thankyou to all the bumblebees who review! Honey cakes to you all!!

Love Lily xxxx