Chapter 19

The feast was an awkward disaster. The old students didn't know how to react with each other; should they be happy to see their friends or sad that their friends were dead? Students were forcing small talk among themselves and other students cried quietly to themself, still in mourning of family and friends. The Slytherin table had their heads buried in shame and guilt with food hardly touched. All students that remain in Slytherin besides the new comers were forced to side with Voldemort and most had the mark. The atmosphere was grim and the teachers did their best to lead by example as what the norm should be and forced smiles and talk, all but Professor Snape who though didn't have his head down like his other students, was still quiet and only answered with few words. Professor Snape was setting an example for his own, that times ahead are tough for the house of serpents but that shouldn't stop them from moving forward and keeping their chins up with what little pride they had left.

Eventually, The Headmistress wished everyone a good evening and the Head of Houses approached their students and led them to their dormitories.

Harry waved and hugged his friends and caught up to Professor Snape. During dinner, Harry had decided that it was his turn to also lead by example as did his teachers. Harry approached Professor Snape and greeted him with a large, friendly grin and a soft slap on the back, a gesture Harry received many times over the years by his own friends.

"Professor! Nice to see you again! How was your dinner? I don't know about you but those potatoes were amazing!"

Ignoring the bewilderment on all the students faces, Snape snapped out of his millisecond startlement of a greeting and went along with Harry, though not with a big goofy grin like him.

"I found the dinner adequate. The cranberry sauce was rich and the wine was satisfactory. I am not too sure of the potatoes but the students seem to have fancied them." He spoke while leading his students, old and new to the dungeons.

"Isn't it wonderful to be back at Hogwarts? I almost missed the Giant Squid. You reckon we'll see him swim by the dorm room?"

The mention of the Giant Squid swimming by the dorm caught the attention of all three newest students. They ran up and attempted to keep up the pace with Harry Potter and Severus Snape. A small girl with black bouncing curls was the first to speak.

"The Giant Squid?! Here?! In our rooms?! Are we sleeping outside?!" The poor child was so worried about such an innocent misunderstanding, it was a breath of fresh air to Severus Snape. Keeping his straight face and eyes in front he answered flatly.

"The Slytherin dormitory is under the castle, in the dungeons. The windows are also underwater where you will see from time to time the occasional merperson. What Mister Potter is hoping for is a rare view of the Giant Squid from the windows."

Another student; Harry recognized to be a second- or third-year chimed in. "I saw him once! I was studying and I spilled ink all over my uniform! It was scary! One minute it's just water and fish and the next! BOOM! Big creepy eye at the window!"

Harry laughed at the story and before he knew it, Severus was once again leading his snakes while they laughed and spoke among themselves. Severus looked at Harry from the corner of his eyes and smiled faintly. Within minutes, Harry Potter had his house talking and being happy. The rest of the walk to the dungeons was enjoyable for everybody.

Severus let his students settle down in the communal room before beginning his speech.

"Good evening students…" Severus begun with his smooth and velvety voice. Harry found a nearby seat and made himself comfortable. The students turn to their head of house and the sound of chatter died down almost in an instant. Afterall, it was only 3 students who didn't know that when Professor Snape speaks, it's wise to be silent.

"Obviously, only the blind or new would have failed to notice that dining in the Great Hall tonight was different than last year."

The students looked down as they did at dinner earlier. The shame, the guilt, the humiliation was strong in the house of Slytherin. Harry patted the back of the new students to comfort and encouraged them to look up to Professor Snape.

"We made choices these last few years, choices which no longer matter if they were forced or voluntary, to the world it is all the same. If you have the Dark Mark, you were on the side of evil and you have lost."

Most of the older students instinctively acknowledged their arms. Some gripping on their sleeves and others hiding their arm.

"You will be looked at or avoided. You will be talked about and you will be harassed one way or another and while you are at Hogwarts, each staff member still has the responsibility to each of its students but don't be surprised if they turn the other way. This is our punishment and it will be our children's punishment and even our grandchildren."

Some of the girls had begun to sob quietly while some of the boys turn their heads away from the cruel and honest words from their professor.

"But hope is not lost. Slytherins have always stuck together, Slytherins are cunning, sly and not to be underestimated. Students and teachers will be wary of us and those with lessor intelligence will try to harm us but as long as you stand with your fellow peers, as long as you look at trouble in the eyes and keep your head up, as long as you show no fear, you will conquer this. You will be stronger and wiser and, in the end, well respected."

Some heads started to turn back to their professor and some chins begun to rise up. Eyes, one by one started looking up again to their wise Head of House.

"So, when a student challenges you, do not be afraid to turn and walk away with your head held high, be courageous. When someone insults you, you best be quick and clever with your retorts, have the intellect and wit and when you see your fellow classmate in trouble, you best stand by their side and be loyal but most importantly, you look at your rival in the eye with the determination and confidence of Slytherin."

There was no clapping but every pair of eyes were looking up at Severus Snape in awe. Harry was wondering if he was the only one who had gooseflesh in the room. Smiles were on the faces of most students.

"If you need assistance with anything, the Head boy and Girl will be more than happy to help as will myself and Mister Potter who has decided to take residence in the dungeons across from my office."

Snape had managed to mention Harry Potter now living in the dungeons with them with absolute casualty in hopes that no one makes a big deal of the situation but it still managed to turn heads and start whispers.

"And with that, I wish you all a good night and Welcome back to another year at Hogwarts." Snape bowed to his students before turning onto his heels and walking out of the common room with Harry following behind him.