Author's Note: Hello everyone! I know it has been quite some time since I have last updated this story, but I did not realize how long it had been until I logged on today. I am truly sorry for this delay, I have been rather busy with my schoolwork this semester. Since this week was my spring break I found some time to write more so in addition to this chapter I have two more that I am in the process of editing which should be posted soon!

Tartan Tabby 85: Thank you so much for your review! We shall see how Minerva's room is decorated next chapter, the wait should not be too much longer!

Disclaimer: The plot in this story belongs to me but I have just borrowed the characters from J.K. Rowling and added a little bit of myself to them.

Severus had been at the school exactly three days, in that time he had managed to prepare lesson plans for half of the year. He had also prepared sample potions for his first through fifth year classes. He would begin brewing the potions for the advanced classes later in the day as they would require more of his attention. With only three days left until the start of term he wanted everything to be ready for his classes.

Severus Snape was a man that liked to have everything organized and planned out ahead of time, in other words he liked to have all of his ducks in a row. His reasons for preparing everything so far in advance were not solely based upon this preference of his however. One of the main reasons for this was to be sure that things were in order already so that his duties as a double spy did not interfere with his classes. If everything was prepared in advance he would be able to focus on both his teaching and other duties more. His duties to the Order would be no excuse for putting off his work.

Secondly, although he would never admit it he was secretly very excited at the prospect of this job, and he wanted to make a good impression. It had always been his dream to return to Hogwarts as a professor. This was the place he had always considered his home. If at all possible he would like for this job to be a permanent one.

As he was finishing preparing ingredients for a potion he was planning on using in his 6th year potions class his house elf, Abner, came in with his lunch on a tray. Severus quickly washed his hands and took the tray from the elf setting it on the table beside him. Once he had done this Abner handed him a sealed envelope with the Hogwarts crest on it.

"What is this Abner?" asked Severus kindly.

"It's a message from Professor Dumbledore sir." said Abner proudly. It was a great honor for him to carry a message from the headmaster.

"Thank you very much, I will be sure to open this immediately." Severus said to the elf. "Will that be all?"

"Yes sir! Abner will return to the kitchens now, but if master needs Abner all he has to do is call and Abner will be right here." squeaked the little elf happily before bowing and scampering off.

Severus could not help but smile at the little elf, Abner had grown on him over the last few little elf was so eager to please, and to help his new master in any way he could. He had always disliked how some wizarding families treated their house elves, how they would abuse them and treat them as if they were the dirt beneath their feet. The world could be an incredibly unfair place, for humans and other beings alike.

He felt like a hypocrite for thinking that, as a Death Eater he had made the world all the worse. Many of those he had associated with had committed unspeakable atrocities. He had been involved with some of their darker activities. No matter what he did he would never be able to escape his past.

He had spent far too much time this week contemplating the errors he had made. Keeping busy had allowed him some solace, but there was only so much he could do to distract himself. Unless he was doing something that required a good deal of concentration that horrible feeling would come rushing back in. Visions of his past would come back, he kept replaying parts of his life he would rather change. Things he could have changed, times he should have spoken up, times he should have kept his mouth shut.

That had caused him the most trouble; it was his inability to keep silent that put him here today. As much as he liked his job and his second chance, he was filled with guilt. The only reason he was able to get this job was because he had put someone he loved and cared about in danger. Had he been able to keep his mouth shut she would be safe right now. If anything happened to her now he knew that he would never be able to forgive himself. At this point there was not much he could do for her but pray.

Reaching into the pouch at his waist he pulled out a well used rosary. It had been given to him by his mother as a Confirmation gift many years ago. Ever since then he had always kept it on his person. He used to pray the rosary once or twice every day, but during his time as a death eater he had fallen away from that practice. It had been a dark time in his life one which he was very much ashamed of. In the recent weeks he had returned to his daily prayer. Rosary in hand he knelt down on the cold stone floor and began to pray, leaving his meal untouched until he finished.

After quickly eating his meal Severus turned to the envelope Abner had brought him earlier. He gently broke the seal and opened it to find a small note tucked inside. Upon reading the note Severus groaned loudly. There was to be a staff meeting before dinner in Dumbledore's office. That should prove to be an interesting experience; Severus had been dreading this first meeting since he got the job. It was not that he did not want to meet the rest of the staff, it was not that at all. He was not ready to face the looks of disapproval that would surely be on their faces once they saw him.

Many of the staff members had been there when he had attended Hogwarts. What would they say about Dumbledore hiring an ex-death eater to be the school's new potions master? If they did not already know they would find out soon enough.

There was no way he could get out of it, even if he could he would still have to face the other members of the staff later on. It was better to get this over with sooner rather than later, if it went too much longer he knew it would be even harder to deal with. So he resigned himself to his fate and continued with his work.

So that was the end of chapter 3...

Remember to leave a review if you liked it!