Mandatory Disclaimer so I do not get sued: I do not own Harry Potter or any of his companions; that honor belongs to J.K. Rowling and whoever she bestowed the rights to [read as: not me]
I do however own the infamous Ambrose Farfade and other unrecognizable characters that may find themselves tumbling about.
Shoutout to:
GeekMom Hope you like this chapter as my meager offering to your enthusiastic review!
Guest, I love that part too! I might include some more Easter eggs for later.
A creature of habit, Severus woke up at six in the morning as usual to the chimes of the school clock announcing it. Even in the dungeon where he couldn't hear it, he found the time perfect for his daily routine before the chaos of students awoke.
He rubbed his right eye to ward off sleepiness to only to see a red and gold tapestry hanging on the wall reminding him of his present predicament at least the Dark mark is gone. That was the only positive thing brought about. Merlin knows how he would face the Dark lord and death eaters in this form.
He got up to see his bunkmates still asleep probably from the pilfered wine somebody sneaked past Filch and his cat last night.
His robes feel weird now after he transfigured it into student robes. No billowing followed his swift movement to the breakfast table to see that it is still empty. He hesitated to enter and decided to sneak into his old self's quarters.
After saying the password he searched for his notes on the subject and the ruined remains of the potions itself which thankfully stayed intact in its stasis after his involuntary spasms while de-aging the other night.
He swiped his books and notes then shrunk them before putting it in a hidden pocket in his robes. Time is of the essence as some Slytherins especially the 6th and 7th years would be wandering around the dungeon in a few moments being used to his former habit of waking up and having it drilled by years of terrorizing them. He never thought it would come bite him back in the arse nevertheless he'd have to make do.
Exiting the dungeons in as much haste as he can without being suspicious, he decided to look for a place to read and see what could have gone wrong.
The room of requirements opened up for him to his surprise and saw the interior much like his study at Prince Manor with a large window facing the forbidden forest and an antique oak captain's desk with some parchment, quill, and ink laid carefully in the center. On the left side is a library with a small collection of books and on the right is a framed blueprint. He sat on the window ledge and began studying his notes and writing down ideas in a spare parchment.
He looked into the books but was rather disappointed at the selection. It was quite diverse but books with titles such as A Knight's Own Book of Chivalry (The Middle Ages Series), Elvish Runes for beginners and The Man who folded himself by Harry August are only good for recreational purposes and not for the thorough research he was hoping to achieve. He sighted there's nothing that can help him here. He was about to grab a ladder to see if he would have a better luck with the books in the upper level when he saw a movement in the blueprint.
He saw a name and a set of footprints walking around in the blueprint. Curiously, he inched towards it to see the name of an insufferable know-it-all walking towards the room he was occupying.
Under normal circumstances, he could have lied and said that he was just wandering around but he knew that she probably know of the room's peculiarity of appearing only when needed and for what he couldn't tell her which may cause her and in extension potter and the red haired boy to be suspicious and snoop around.
He shrunk his items and dashed out of the room and ran towards the nearest corner before he walked in a leisurely manner schooling his face with open curiosity. He couldn't finish his reading so he better know what it is he is disturbed for.
"Oh you're up early" Ms. Granger exclaimed probably surprised that another soul found solace in the early morning
"Yes I couldn't really sleep tight" Severus explains and shrugs looking at the courtyard below as they kept walking.
"I know how you feel... I used to roam these corridors too. Back on my first year when I couldn't sleep and it's Hermione," she offered a hand that he shook absently "Hermione Granger"
So that's why you're always up to something he mused "I'm Sebastian Prince though I hardly need to say that after the announcement last night"
"Yes, the headmaster could be loud like that you'll get used to it" she agreed "So where do you come from?"
"Cokeworth" that was a safe answer he thought to keep the details as general as possible while still telling the truth.
"I haven't heard of that place" She confessed. Strange, there is something she didn't know.
"It's a small town" he explained.
"What's it like there?"
"A bit dismal but fine"
They continued that way with her asking annoying questions and him answering in monosyllabic.
He wanted to tell her to back off and spare the questions to someone who actually cares to answer but he was suddenly struck with a marvelous idea.
"Would you like to be my potions partner?" He blurted awkwardly. It sounded better in his head. "I mean I am aware of being an unexpected addition and you are the first person that actually sounds... competent but if you already have a partner it's alright"
She winced at the thinly veiled insult as Sebastian had been welcomed by the head boy and head girl along with most of the 7th year students the night before but agreed anyway to his proposal.
"Good, but what about Potter and Weasley?"
"I am going to do it for them anyway" she assured but turned a puzzled look at him "but how did you know?" the Golden trio had not been a part of the welcoming committee even if Hermione had been secretly coveting the title for years.
He shrugged "I know that scar on the boy who lived and the hair and worn clothes do give the Weasley boy away from a mile radius"
They entered the great hall to see the Gryffindor table abuzz. Some coins were passed discreetly or as discreetly as a Gryffindor could which was not much.
"Meet my friends Harry Ron and Neville," she said pulling him beside her "this is Sebastian Prince the newest lion cub"
The boys greeted him with Ron giving him the stink eye as Granger invited him nay forced him to sit beside her ordering Ron to move aside.
"Attention, please! I would like to introduce our new Potions master, Professor Ambrose Farfade" The headmaster announced at the podium "Mr. Farfade would also be resuming the curriculum as the new teacher of potions" at his cue, a man in a plain form-fitting black coat and white robe with gold embellishments matching his long golden hair hiding his ears stood up and bowed lightly then rejoined his seat at the table with other professors. The tables are abuzz with the usual chatter and Severus found himself wishing for the lone seat in the teacher's table where he can read his daily prophet in peace.
"A new professor for potions how exciting" Neville exclaimed from across the table.
"As long as it's not Snape then I can see myself actually paying attention instead of walking on eggshells he's quite creepy you know" Harry proclaimed.
"That's bad form badmouthing a man not even here to defend himself and it's Professor Snape" Hermione chided.
"I take it this... professor is not well received?" Sebastian inquired.
"Understatement of the century" Neville declared and the two boys agreed.
Hermione took a look at his timetable and exclaimed that they were to be late for their first class for the day which is Charms with Filius and the Ravenclaws. The first part was mostly boring with the theory being explained to the dunderheads in various levels of success. He decided to use his quill charmed to write his ideas and conclusions in a parchment that is both controlled under his desk nonverbally.
He thought of his research on Chronos or Kronos as some scholars refer to and his role as the embodiment of time itself giving him the moniker as Father Time. He was said to be a member of the first ones. Chronos produced Aether and Chaos, one giving life and the other destroying it. He had found some ancient runes that helped him in his first endeavour but e had no idea on how to reverse it as there were only a limited number of sources that he can get hold of and fewer still available to be viewed anonymously but the allure of the result have spurned him on for months in time and as much as he hated his predicament, he found himself far from giving up.
The second part of the class required him to use the summoning charm on various objects and since he had used Accio for years, he decided to have some fun by making the others fail the summoning. The hairclip that was only a foot from Mr. Potter's hand immediately landed a meter away after he used the charm unsuccessfully with some help from him. At the end of the class, only he, the swot Granger and another Ravenclaw succeeded in summoning and he was giving himself a silent pat on the back for the ludicrous expression on his colleague's face.
In transfiguration, they were partnered up and trained to change the other's appearance in an incomplete animagus form. Granger changed his arms to a raven's wings which he reciprocated by giving her a hairy face, ginger cat's ears and a tail earning them both a scowl from McGonagall but earning them some house points for the perfect form of their work.
Seeing his timetable, he decided to skip Divination and the doom it entails to tell him of deciding instead to talk with the headmaster himself when he ran into him with the new Potion's Master.
"Sebastian I would like you to meet Professor Ambrose Farfade. He will be the new potion's master and teacher of potions" Dumbledore introduced his companion.
"As I am aware Headmaster" Severus answered curtly assessing the tall, lithe man with blue eyes.
"How do you do?" The new teacher inquired graciously too graciously Severus thought suspiciously.
"I'm fine... would you like some help with your belongings?" He inquired politely studying the man's movements and scrutinizing his face that for some reason looked familiar.
The professor declined his offer but invited him to some tea in his room which he agreed to. What better to study the animal in its native surroundings?
"Here" the professor offered the tea while his chest was unpacking itself in a large armoire "Sorry I only have Earl Grey"
"It's fine" Severus answered as he reached for the one without milk and the professor took the other. Severus was still recalling past events that could have made the two of them to cross paths. The man does not look like a death eater but so does Lucius Malfoy to an outsider. His long blonde hair that is not quite attainable aside from natural means and his polished manner can conclude that they were relatives.
"I know you're wondering 'don't I look familiar?' eh?" The new potions master inquired breaking his concentration
"Yes Professor, you do look familiar have we met before?" Severus asked baiting him into thinking of the event then he will use a brief Legilimens to the man.
"You've forgotten me Severus... or shall I call you now as Master Sebastian?" Severus was aghast. Rarely does he meet a competent occlumens who can throw him off much less appear relaxed while doing so.
He expressed the need for utmost privacy of the matter to the Headmaster. He declined the need for the Mediwitch even in his moment of utter pain and even the ever knowing Minerva McGonagall was not informed so how was it that this stranger knows? Who told him and most importantly who had he told?
"I am not aware of what you are talking about. You clearly mistake me for someone else sir" He answered politely wanting to get out of the quarters the pocket watch in his chest decided that it was the right time to announce that he is to be late for his next class "Oh Look at the time! I am so sorry sir but I must go immediately if you can write me an excuse slip sir I will be out of your hair"
He walked into the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom to see it shrouded in utter silence and the students bent over the desk reading while a pompously dressed woman by the name of Dolores Umbridge walked around with a haughty expression.
"You're late!" The woman bellowed while striding towards him like an angry hippogriff swooping for the kill before breaking into a saccharine smile "Would you like to explain Mr.?"
Severus gulped audibly this type of people liked seeing other terrified so why not give her a show "Prince, I am Sebastian Prince Professor" He handed her the detention slip with shaking hands "I was with Professor Farfade"
"SIT DOWN!" She bellowed again showing a grandmotherly grin.
"Now the lesson for today class is conflict avoidance" She intoned in her saccharine voice "Now how does one prevent conflicts?" Her gaze rounded the class.
Hermione raised a hand before standing up and reciting the paragraph as it was written in the book
"I did not remember allowing you to speak." She said sweetly "Five points from Gryffindor for impertinence and disregard of the authority of a teacher" She smiled before continuing "The first thing to avoid conflicts is to respect the betters"
"But Professor-" Harry said.
"The next is to know when to talk and stop" She smiled regarding the whole class before looking at Hermione "That earned a detention for you and that young lady stay after class to discuss your arrangements"
"Well look who we have here" Draco Malfoy sneered as they closed the door leaving Dolores Umbridge to her own sinister devices. "A sniveling Prince and his pathetic cohorts" Crabbe and Goyle snickers behind him.
"What do you want Malfoy?" Hermione asked while Ron held her back.
"Nothing just checking out the fresh blood" Draco answered.
"Leave Malfoy or it will be your blood spilled" Hermione seethed cracking her knuckle "Have you forgotten that incident already?" she threatens.
"Why the Prince make others fight for him and a girl at that how disgusting" Draco challenged ignoring Hermione.
"Why the great and mighty Malfoy afraid of a muggle born and a girl at that. Pity I would have wanted to see your arse be handed back by a girl who was above you in all but your bloody station" Severus finally intervened raising a cultured eyebrow before turning to his companions "Let us leave these gentlemen to lick their wounds" He declared leading the small party towards the Gryffindor tower.