XXXXXX

As the students were getting off the train and filing into the school, the new defense teacher was standing in Dumbledore's office going over the meeting he attended at Azkaban. Not a lot of things surprised Snape now a days, but Percy Weasley joining the dark side certainly did.

"Should the Weasley family be told?"

"We can't risk blowing your cover, Severus." Dumbledore answered. "They will need to find out for themselves."

"They're planning to kill you, Albus. I'm not aware of all the details of the plan, but I think the Dark Lord believes with you out of the way, Potter will be helpless."

"Which is why you need to help him get ready to face him."

"He isn't ready and we have such little time."

"I know." Dumbledore sadly responded. "But there is no one else."

"If that is the case than I'm afraid we're all doomed. The boy is still is arrogant and lazy as his father."

"He just needs guidance, someone to teach him."

"I tried to teach him." Snape almost snapped. "Things didn't work out too well."

"Harry is going to need someone to look after him when I am gone." Dumbledore said, looking him right in the eye.

Immediately, Snape got up from his seat and shook his head. He knew what Dumbledore wanted and he wasn't going to do it.

"No, absolutely not. He is not my problem and this is not my burden. Let someone else deal with him."

For a moment, Dumbledore looked at the floor, exhaling loudly through his nose. When he finally looked back up, his eyes are clouded with disappointment.

"Do you remember when you were brought to me, Severus?"

"My situation could not be anymore different from Potter's."

"That is not what I'm saying. I just mean that when I am no longer around, Harry will someone to guide him…someone to confide in. Perhaps that person could be you. I am not saying for certain, but it wouldn't hurt to try."

Snape continued to look at Dumbledore, but didn't answer.

"For Lily?"

That was it...Dumbledore's magic card. Just one mention of her name and Snape would do just about anything. After about a minute, Snape shook his head and finally gave in.

"Alright, Albus." He sighed. "I will do my best."

A smile then came over the older wizards face.

"Thank you."

The two of them then left the office to head to the great hall where all the students were packed into. Harry and Hermione were sitting at the Gryffindor table with Ron sitting a few seats down away from them, still talking with Seamus. The two of them then looked at each other, wondering how long their friend was going to avoid them. They started eating and talked a little about their classes when ten minutes in Harry looked over to the stage where the professors sat, seeing Dumbledore on his feet and approaching the podium.

"May I have your attention please?" He began.

All of the students then quieted down as they paid attention to the headmaster of Hogwarts.

"Let me begin by introducing you all to the newest member of our staff, Horace Slughorn."

They all began clapping as Slughorn stood up and bowed his head.

"Professor Slughorn has agreed to resume his old position of potion's master. Meanwhile, the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, will be taken by Professor Snape."

Most of the students gasped in surprise when they heard that, only the Slytherins began clapping and cheering while the Gryffindors looked at each other in shock, all except for Harry who had already been told the news back at headquarters.

"Now, on a serious note I'm sure you all are aware of the dark forces that are currently at large outside of this school. But let me assure all of you, that the protection spells that have been placed on this castle are impenetrable. I urge all of you, to go about your school year like normal. The worst thing we can do, is to show these forces that we are afraid."

Once Dumbledore finished his speech the feast went on until it was time for the students to head up to their respective house common rooms. Ginny was one of the first ones to get up, wanting to get some sleep and the whole confrontation with Malfoy out of her mind. Just as she began walking, a leg was then stuck out and Ginny tripped over it, hitting the side of her face against the stone floor.

She groaned in pain as she touched the side of her face before hearing the sound of laughter. Ginny whipped her head around as she glared at Malfoy and his cronies as they continued mocking as she got to her feet.

"What is your problem?" She demanded. "You know, I really could have gotten hurt."

"That was the whole point, Weaselette." Malfoy responded.

A look of outrage then appeared on her face as Ginny made a move to slap him but Malfoy caught her wrist and narrowed his eyes.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you."

Ginny pulled her arm from his grip and took a step back. But before she could turn around to leave Malfoy spoke up again.

"You tell your brother, Potter, and the mudblood that they're off the hook. I've got myself a new slave this year."

He then laughed as Ginny finally spun around and exited the hall with everyone else. She didn't say a word to anyone, not wanting to let them know what had just happened. At the Gryffindor tower, Harry and Hermione said good night to each other before Hermione headed off to bed. Some of the other boys decided to hang out in the common room, Harry glanced over at Ron who caught his eye for a moment before continuing his way up to the stairs to his bed.

XXXXXX

The next morning, Snape stood in front of the desk of his new classroom as students walked in and took their seats. Once everyone had arrived he used his wand to slam the door shut before beginning to address them.

"Welcome to your sixth year of Defense Against the Dark Arts." Snape began. "My job is teach you exactly that, defense. I'm sure you're all aware of the dangers out there, and you will all need to know how to probably defend yourselves."

He then began walking in between the rows of desks as he continued to speaking.

"Hogwarts has had a string of bad luck with defense teachers over the past few years, but I assure you I will be different from the others. I see many familiar faces, and all I can say is that I hope that some of you are better at this than you were at potions."

He stopped short of where Neville was sitting and found that the young boy couldn't meet his stare, Neville swallowed nervously and continued to stare at his hands before Snape walked back up to the front.

"Very well, let's begin."

Taking his wand, Snape pointed it at a large free area away from all the desks and yelled;

"Adstrepo!"

The entire class then jumped in surprise when a loud bang went off. Snape smirked as he turned back to them.

"The spell I just used is very useful when it comes to distracting someone." He explained.

'No kidding.' Harry thought.

He then brought up groups to the front to try the spell out for themselves. Everyone was able to cast it successfully. Harry and Neville were the last two to try it out, after they did Harry was about to make his way back to his seat when Snape pointed his wand at the ground and said;

"Lubricus Humi."

Harry then slipped and fell straight on his backside, causing several of classmates, namely the Slytherins to bust out in laughter as Hermione glared at Snape.

"That spell that Mr. Potter so nicely demonstrated for us makes the floor very slippery, very hard to remain standing."

"Happy to help." Harry muttered as he got back up and went to his seat.

As the rest of the hour went by, Snape taught the class how to perform several more useful spells. 'Fumeus Nebula', which created a smoke screen, useful for escape. 'Aegis Ultimo', an advanced shield spell, and lastly 'Episkey' a charm that healed minor injuries.

As much as Harry hated to admit it, Snape was doing a good job today with teaching and he could have sworn that when he looked at him a few times Snape actually looked like he was enjoying himself as well. He wasn't nearly as rude, sarcastic, and impatient as he was when he was teaching potions. Maybe teaching spells was really the right job for him all along, it certainly appeared so.

He then remembered how Dumbledore had told him that Snape was going to be training him this year. He was sure the headmaster had gone over it with him first, but he wondered if Snape was going to make him come to him and ask anyway.

When classes ended, Snape dismissed them all. But as everyone else went to leave Harry stayed right where he was. Overcoming his uneasiness, he cleared his throat and spoke up.

"Professor."

"Class is dismissed, Mr. Potter." Snape responded, not even bothering to look back up at him.

"I need your help, Professor."

Snape sighed as he finally faced the younger wizard.

"Help with what?"

"We both know that I'm the only one who can stop him." Harry began again. "But I can't do that unless I get better."

Snape continued to stare at him. They both were thinking the same thing…the last time the professor had attempted to teach him something in private lessons things didn't exactly go so well.

"I know I could have done better at Occlumency." Harry admitted. "I'll do better at this."

He meant it. Last year, his unwillingness to train ended up getting someone he deeply cared about killed. He didn't want that to happen this time. The stakes were much too high, especially now that Hermione and him were together. Snape shook his head, he was going to regret this but he made a promise to Dumbledore…and he was going to keep it.

"You will take this seriously." Snape finally spoke. "No Quidditch, no wandering around the castle late at night, no screwing around. And the minute you decide otherwise-"

"I promise."

Snape turned around and headed to his desk.

"Come back at six o'clock tonight."

"Tonight?"

The professor narrowed his eyes at him.

"I'll be here." Harry assured.