Disclaimer: Same old; same old I do not own HP or sevie-poo [lmao] will still be alive and kicking
This is also Unbeta-ed work so all the mistakes are mine. Apologies in advance.
Note: I do not aim to make Severus a saint. I am aware that he is not and will probably never be one; but I do want to portray him as a mix of the 4 houses so... he will be sort of mean sometimes.
To all the readers, supporters and reviewers; this is for you hope you like this one
Sebastian woke up earlier than usual. His usual at least and walked silently on a deserted corridor listening intently for the squib and his infernal cat.
Upon arriving at a specific yet nondescript part, he immediately paced back and forth three times and entered the wooden door silently.
A full laboratory was inside and he immediately set upon his task of brewing a potion that would surely make those idiots think twice before crossing him again
He is not doing it for her. He is not protecting a gryffindor, merely expanding her usage time
No there is no reason to help her at all. He is just doing it to teach those brats a lesson no more, no less. Getting in touch with his inner slytherin is also a good bonus
"Perfect and just before breakfast" he said holding up a vial filled halfway with dark green liquid as the school clock chimes to announce the time
"Dobby!" He called out and a snap later, a multi hatted elf wearing different socks emerged.
"Put this in the drink of some slytherin and ravenclaw students" He said handing the house elf the container.
"You do know about the Retha Bushman incident don't you?" he inquired
"Dobby is hear about the incident. Bad students hurt Harry's friend" the elf said passionately
"Well this will keep them from repeat performance for a while just add some to their drink and only theirs no others this will be so they will learn to behave" he said in explanation to the elf who usually exaggerated even in helping.
"Of course this will be our secret. No telling anyone until I say so alright? I don't want to get Harry and his friends in danger" he said in a whisper stressing the boy's name. For the first time he would benefit from saying it gently
The elf nodded a bit too enthusiastic. He will be helping Harry Potter and Harry's friend. Harry's protector will keep the bad witches away.
They will never lead it to him. They never check the house elves. He walked to breakfast with a skip in his step that may cause his older self blush with indignation. He continued anyway, being on the favorite side is working on his favor.
True to the elf's word, coffee was waiting for him at the table instead of the too sweet pumpkin juice that is provided to the rest of the students except a few Slytherins namely his godson.
Draco had always been fond of his breakfast tea and his father used his influence and some charity to ensure his heir received the best.
Sebastian sipped his hot drink while looking at the two tables. The fools have already drank their juices. Two is already finished while the rest is just about to.
"What are you smiling for?" Neville asked suspiciously in front of him
"Watch" he whispered with conspiracy as the time sensitive solution started their work.
The girls started throwing things particularly food into the astounded faces of their housemates. Another started screaming bloody murder and one had taken to swearing and what colorful choices of words she spouted.
In a few minutes, the hall was in chaos. One student, a muggle born perhaps yelled 'Food Fight!' and the whole student body took it in stride. Dumbledore even joined in while a flustered Mcgonnagal was splattered with egg in her robes. Silence descended as she stood up menacingly and uttered a cleaning charm. Some hid their hands that still held ammunition behind their school robes until she took a piece of buttered toast and flung it sideways hitting the the charms professor in the face who reciprocated eagerly.
"Who did that?" One of the Weaseley twins asked popping his red head between his ands Ron's shoulder. picking up a jello to smother his brother's face.
Neville pointed Sebastian before ducking a greasy bacon strip and hiding under the table
"That... is amazing"
"Inspired"
"A work of art"
"Astonishing"
"Looks like we have a little trickster here gred" one of the twins said
"Right you are forge... a schemer" the other replied smirking
The good thing about it is that no one questioned why the girls have done their actions. While the rest of the students are having a bout of morning fun and think it was just a silly prank that anyone could come up with, the girls are reliving their own nightmares. There would be no tracks to follow though as he had ensured it to be untraceable and diagnosis will just show it as some inebriated hallucinating except it will continue for a week through waking hours and chase them in their sleep causing what muggles call as paranoia
"How did you do that?" A student who overheard the conversation asked too interested for his own safety
He sipped his coffee smugly "Family secret, all to do with herbs"
The day had started to go bad when he emerged from the great hall to see two female professors sharing a electrifying gaze and meeting halfway in the stairs. Sparks could have gone around the stairs as they heatedly assessed each other silently. The tension filled the room and hearts of the students. Had they both stayed silent, it could have dissolved throughout the day as the past days but fate had another plan as Minerva spoke. Severus immediately placed a long distance hearing charm on the bannister; one that benefited him for years to check on his devilish charges
"Professor Umbridge I was informed of of your uncomely forms of punishment." Minerva Mcgonnagal started as they were walking in the grand staircase. All silliness removed from her voice leaving a calm exterior.
He knew she had been simmering for a while. First the ministry had insinuated of the school and by extension the professors inadequacy then they sent this toad face to teach defense - of all things and then the power to remove professors and put them into probation. Sybil is not the brightest lamp in the room but probation - after teaching for years that is borderline and the thing that snapped her. The Red quill of all things it was surely too savage even for the charlatan to put those into use especially on her esteemed gryffindors.
"Pardon me, professor, but what exactly are you insinuating?" Umbridge gave a fake surprised gasp before a saccharine smile facing her
They both know what the other was insinuating but the toad faced professor seemed to like toying with people
"I am merely requesting that when it comes to my students, you conform to the prescribed disciplinary practices." Professor McGonnagall said sternly as if talking to a rebellous student
"So silly of me but it sounds as if you're questioning my authority in my own classroom..."Umbridge said taking a step up"Minerva."
She threatened. She had the backing of the minister to do what is necessary after all and she is playing to use his fear of Dumbledore uprising to her best interest.
"Not at all... Dolores." Professor McGonnagall eclaimed doing the same"Merely your medieval methods."
He is not to be threatened. Not by the headmaster, not by the school board, not by the ministry and certainly not by this pompous woman before her.
"I am sorry dear, but to question my practices is to question the Ministry and, by extension, the Minister,himself. I am a tolerant woman but the one thing I will not stand for is disloyalty." Umbridge declares standing proudly
"Disloyalty?" Professor McGonnagall asks taking a step down in disbelief
Minerva McGonagall had been called a lot of things in her life and had a bit of scandal in her youth but it was never to be said that she is disloyal.
"Things at Hogwarts are far worse than I feared. Cornelius will want to take immediate action." Umbridge announced to the crowd that had formed at their exchange
Sebastian was appaled at the scene. on all his years at hogwarts teaching or otherwise, Professor Mcgonnagal had been a force to be reconed. Dumbledore may hold the position as the headmaster but it was 'The Mcgonnagal' as the students dubbed her who operates it.
"Mr longbottom would you please help me get acquainted with the school's layout?" Sebastian queries already forming a plan in his head
"but..." the boy started to decline. He had half a mind to use imperio on the chit but used puppy eyes instead clutching his white knuckles under his robes
Uh... Sure" the boy agreed. About time sometimes the idiot have to serve a purpose too.
*This here is the Herbology classroom. The greenhouse was magically erected...*
The boy drawled on pointing to various statues and paintings and spouting off useless information while he was unwittingly being led to a specific corridor that they have to pace three times.
"What room is that?" Sebastian asked innocently. Pointing to a double arched door. He already knew the answer but the dunderheads must not know.
"I- I don't know" The boy stammered in his usual nervous tick
"Then why don't we call on Miss Granger to ask?" He suggested "Better be safe than sorry"
they found the golden trio in the common room. The boys were playing chess and Hermione was looking through piles of books presumably to search for a clue on the location of the room of requirements. He led them to the unmarked door and pretended that he is not aware of the room.
"You've done it, Neville. You found the Room of Requirement." Hermione said jubilantly
After the search through the marauders map had gone futile she was about to do a ungryffindor thing and give up
"The what?" Ron asked flabbergasted
"It's also known as the Come-And-Go Room. The Room of Requirement only appears when a person has real need of it, and is always equipped for the seeker's needs."Hermione explained in her know it all tone
"So, say you really needed the toilet...?"Ron asked looking at the door as if wanting to test the theory
"Yes, that's the idea." Hermione agreed
"It's brilliant! It's like Hogwarts wants us to fight back." Harry beams
Inside the door is a training area. Rubber mats were laid in one corner while another has targets ready to be hexed. The rest of the room is an open area save for some swinging metal and brick pendulums suspended from the ceiling in different lengths.
Ron poked one with his finger and the rest started to move in random places. Swinging to and fro and even grazing the ground up to a centimeter.
"Duck!" Hermione yelled as she too got down before on hit her in the head but was unable to stay crouched as another was threatening to hit her in the ankle.
Harry and Ron moved through the obstacle with little difficulty while Hermione was left in the middle. She tried a couple of freezing and restraining jinxes but a different one is to be used in each pendulum. A frustrating quarter of an hour and hundreds of repeat advanced spells later, she was able to get past the blockage. The pendulums stopped spinning the moment she had got out of its reach
"How did you do that?" Hermione asked as she fixed her messy hair that had stuck at messy angles.
"Quidditch" they both replied in a duh tone. The training that was given to them included the basic on not getting hit by a bludger which sharpened their senses. The only good thing to come out of the bloody sport Sebastian concluded albeit grudgingly.
"And you?" She asked Sebastian who is now beside her
"One of his Princeism" Neville said innocently from across the room as he is wise enough to step back from the carnage
He cocked an eyebrow at the phrase.
*Princeism. Just like lilyism and snapeism. Lily stuff and his stuff *
"Pri-What?" Ron asked bewildered at the title.
"Princeism. Stuff he does like the mind stuff and ninja stuff" Neville explained wringing his hands
Great! now the boy will look at me starry eyed. He thought wryly. Sighing at his misfortune.
"Mr. Longbottom for a young man who does not like being called names please do refrain from giving me one." He stressed in a cold voice that warranted authority. His eyes glinted steely when the boy in question nodded unsure "Shall we call the others?" He asked addressing the room
"Woah! This is amazing" the young miss Weaseley said as they were invited to come in.
Impressive indeed. He could only imagine the possibilities that are swirling in their hormone ridden minds. A perfect snogging place... Passable
A dinner date perhaps... If you don't mind filch popping in mid meal and chasing you around. He himself only used it for potions and a bit of hiding place when the marauders get too much.
The whole group is a small band consisting of some ravenclaw, hupplepuffs and Gryffindor students. The ravenclaws were informed that it is an advanced workshop of some sorts. The hupplepuffs looked like it was the first time they saw such set up and acted the part.
"I think the first test should be passing through those" Sebastian said pointing to the hanging orbs. After all, who could expect to war without the basics of dodging spells especially if it is against death eaters who have a skewed moral compass
The gryffindors true to their brash nature stepped out first before the rest followed. He did not see who have triggered the obstacle but in a few seconds, the small group was being pummeled by the hanging objects
The ravenclaw students tried to get through with hexes applied in the right angle to deflect or freeze the oncoming tried ducking and pulling each other out of harms way albeit with little success while Gryffindors dodged with their athletic abilities and idiotic bravery.
Ginny Weasley is by far proving her innate quidditch star when one poor ravenclaw student, in deflecting a blow, landed one on her backside rendering her off balance. Another blow crushed her ankle cutting her ability to move forward. If she does not move, it will be her head next
Sebastian shouted as he came upon her aid covering her body with his. shielding her from further blows
Two more rained on his back and right leg causing him to stagger and lose his balance but he held on pushing her forward. He dodged three more but one landed on his wand arm. Pushing him off guard. He had two options, balance himself and the girl and try to pit them through the ten feet or so, possibly put them both in more danger or push her forward out of harms way. He did not think further and calculating the best angle, used all of his energy to propel her forward where harry is waiting to catch her.
He rolled on the floor with his arms covering his head to cushion his fall. He staggered on his good feet and inched his way out ducking and dodging the pendulums that came his way.
"Well that is not what I am expecting" he quipped as Hermione started checking on his injuries. Some broken ligaments, torn muscles, dislocated shoulder a hairline fracture on the rib and a splintered leg. Thankfully, nothing that cannot be fixed with some healing spells and rest
Harry on the other hand is acting like a mother hen to the young miss weasley checking on her whole body even on places that are not hit
"This is over" he said silently "it's not supposed to cause any harm but look at these two. They are harmed because of me and my stupid idea" he walked out of the room in another passage created by the room
"Harry please we need you" Hermione pleaded as she and Ron followed.
They continued arguing for a while allowing Sebastian to take inventory of his own and other's injuries in silence. Beyond a few scrapes and bruises that can be easily fixed, the others were thankfully not hurt.
The trio came back after a while with its leader grumbling under his breath.
"Alright." he said "Who can tell me what you did wrong back there?" he asked addressing the group but focusing his glare on the guilty party
"I- I did not look on who will be hit and ended up hurting Ginny... Sorry" the assailant said looking at the victims with contrite
"It's alright I'm not looking at the environment either" she answered truthfully.
The rest of the hour was spent with analysis on their previous actions and how they can improve. The ravenclaws concluded that they relied heavily too on spells while the Gryffindor students admitted to being single minded. The hupplepuffs though commended for teamwork was reminded that the goal is to get out.
By the end of the session, it was unofficially agreed upon that Ron will handle the physical aspects and tactics as he is the best chess player. Hermione will be focusing on healing and defensive spells while Harry will be teaching counter spells and the attacks will be taught by him. His goals was not moving as fast as he hoped but he is confident that it will come eventually.