September 1st 2010

Hogwarts

Welcoming feast

Sitting at the Slytherin table, Stephen Snape anxiously watched as the double doors of the Great Hall were opened, and the first years walked into the room.

"Why is your brother leading the Sorting Ceremony?" asked Charles Abbott, a friend of Stephen's.

"Father said McGonagall didn't want to deal with the first years, so my brother offered to do it," Stephen replied, but didn't turn to face his friend, his eyes fixed on the newcomers, finding the three of them that he recognised: Gianah Weasley, Teddy Lupin and Sirius Potter. He focused on the ginger girl, watching her as she walked towards the Sorting Hat with the others.

Even though the Great Hall was full of students, Gianah seemed to sense he was staring at her and was able to find him within seconds, shooting a glare right at him.

"Who's that ginger? Is that-" asked Charles.

"Gianah Weasley," Stephen muttered, his eyes still on her; the group of first years had stopped in front of the high table.

She has to be a Slytherin. Stephen thought, looking intently at the Sorting Hat, as if the thing could hear him across the Hall, Please, put her in Slytherin.

The Sorting Hat didn't give him any sign of having heard his plea – obviously.

"Draco Malfoy's half-sister?" asked Sam O'Brien, another of Stephen's friends.

"The Minister of Magic's daughter?" asked Charles.

"Yes and yes," Stephen turned to face them, "Why?"

"She's pretty, and filthy rich," said Sam.

"So?" Stephen snarled.

Both Charles and Sam looked at him with surprise, not having expected his sudden anger.

"Nothing, mate," Sam said raising his hands in a sign of peace, "I'm just pointing out that she's basically Wizarding royalty."

"What?" Stephen scoffed, "Why would you say that?"

"She's directly connected to three Sacred Twenty-Eight families," explained Charles, "Black and Weasley by blood, Malfoy by relations."

"Make it four," Stephen added, keeping his eyes on the first years, seeing that Nicholas had tapped the Hat with his wand, starting the Ceremony, "My mother is her godmother, and she's a Gaunt by blood."

"See?" nodded Sam, as if he had just confirmed his point: "Wizarding royalty."

Stephen shrugged, grimacing as the Sorting Hat began singing his ever-changing yearly song – that year being about the importance of being true to oneself and to others.

"As if it knows what that means," Stephen rolled his eyes, "Since when do Hats have friends?"

"Exactly," agreed Charles.

Once the song was blessedly over, Nicholas started calling the students' names.

"Your celebrity friends are finally here," said Charles in a teasing tone.

"Don't call them that," said Stephen.

"Where do you take they'll end up?"

"Gryffindor, both of them."

"And the princess?"

Stephen shot his friend a glare, knowing he meant Gianah, "Slytherin."

"Nice," said Sam, smiling.

"LUPIN, EDWARD!" called Nicholas.

The Great Hall fell silent, waiting to see where the son of two great war heroes, one a Gryffindor and the other a Hufflepuff, would end up. Stephen looked at Lily, seeing she was nervous – her purple eyes met his and he smiled at her, trying to reassure her.

"He's a Gryffindor", he mouthed, "Don't worry."

Lily-Rose returned his smile and nodded once, mouthing "Thank you," to let him know she had understood his message.

"GRYFFINDOR!" shouted the Sorting Hat.

And the Gryffindor table exploded in claps and the loud chant of: "We got Lupin! We got Lupin!"

A lot of students from the other three houses rolled their eyes at their silly display of house pride.

Stephen watched his friend run towards his sister, being received by her and Lynne with hugs and smiles.

As the Sorting continued, Stephen recognised the name of a dark-haired, blue-eyed girl, Tiana Nott; he had heard Gianah and Lynne talking about her and knew they were good friends. The girl was sorted into Slytherin, so his housemates and he clapped as she joined their table.

"Wouldn't it be awesome if we got Potter?" commented Charles as he saw that the boy was next.

Stephen snorted: "Not happening; Sirius, Teddy and Lily would never be sorted into different houses."

"Why is that?" asked Sam, curious.

"Your sister fancy him?" asked Charles.

"Them both?" asked Sam with a smirk.

"Do you want to get punched O'Brien?" Stephen snarled, not liking the way his friend was talking about his sister.

"Easy, mate!" interfered Charles, "What's got your wand in a knot today?"

Stephen didn't reply for Nicholas called:

"POTTER, SIRIUS!"

And the Hat didn't need more than seconds to declare what everyone already knew: the boy was a Gryffindor.

Once again, the Gryffindor table exploded in shouts and claps: "We got Potter! We got Potter!"

Stephen saw his friend run to Lily, who hugged him as tightly as she had hugged Teddy.

More names were called, and he felt like that Ceremony would never be over, that her name would never be called, and he'd never know.

But then...

"WEASLEY, GIANAH," called Nicholas.

And Stephen watched with bated breath as the ugly old Hat touched her head and seconds – that felt more like minutes – passed.

Until the Hat shouted: "SLYTHERIN!"

Gianah walked happily to his table, sitting beside Tiana Nott and sending him an annoyed glare.

And Stephen felt like he could breathe again.

During dinner, at the high table

"I've never dreamed I'd be sitting here one day," said Neville Longbottom, smiling at Florence, who sat beside him.

"We're happy to have you here, Neville," she said, "When I sent you the letter, I feared you wouldn't like the idea of coming to teach here."

"I'd never say no to a request of yours, Madam Snape," Neville said with a sweet smile, "After all you did for my parents-"

Florence shook her head, "I did it for my friends, Neville, there's no need to thank me," she patted his forearm, "I must admit I shed some tears myself whenever I see Alice and Frank walking around the village," she got tear-eyed at the thought and felt her husband pick up her left hand and kiss her knuckles.

"All thanks to your brilliant brain," Severus softly said, "Longbottom is right in his gratefulness to you," he glanced at the man sitting on the other side of his wife, taking great pleasure in seeing the boy still trembled under his stern stare.

Stop it, Severus! Florence admonished him. He's not a boy anymore. He's a war hero!

Exactly. He beheaded Nagini and still I can make him cower. He replied with clear pride.

Florence rolled her eyes and shook her head, turning to Neville again, "Talking about Alice... she's trying to marry you off, did you know that?"

"Oh, yes," Neville chuckled, "This past month, mum set me up on dates nearly every night! But I'm just glad to have her back; I'd go out with the Giant Squid if that would make her happy."

"You're a good son," Florence patted his arm again.

"I'm doing all I can," Neville replied with a shrug, "I didn't have them with me growing up, but my kids will have them as grandparents – and I know they'll be the best."

"No doubt about that," Florence chuckled, "Alice may have already bought some onesies, you know."

Neville laughed, "I'm aware."

Meanwhile at the Ravenclaw table

Sophie Snape couldn't tear her eyes away from the new Herbology teacher; Neville Longbottom was not at all what she had been expecting him to be.

"He looks young, doesn't he?" asked her sister, Lily-Rose, suddenly sitting beside her.

Sophie glanced at her and them looked back at the high table, "Yes, I thought he would be old, ugly-"

"He's fit," nodded Lily, "He is the one who killed grandfather's pet snake in the Final Battle, right?"

"Yes, he killed Nagini; also he was essential in keeping the students safe during the Dark Regime."

Lily seemed impressed, "So he's brave, strong, has travelled the world, is not bad on the eyes- I'll finally enjoy Herbology classes."

Sophie snorted: "Two boyfriends aren't enough for you?" making her sister blush and glance at the Gryffindor table.

Sophie narrowed her eyes at her, "Why are you here, sis? Sirius and Teddy are sitting at your table and yet you came here to talk to me about the handsome teacher."

"Handsome, eh?" said Lily, smirking.

"Don't try to change the subject," Sophie rolled her eyes, fighting to stop the blushing of her own cheeks, "Aren't you happy they're here?"

"Yes, I am but..." she looked at the Gryffindor table again and Sophie followed her gaze then, seeing that there was a small crowd around the two boys, "Ah," Sophie said, nodding in understanding, "You're jealous. A Lupin and a Potter have arrived, and everyone wants a piece of them."

Lily crossed her arms, looking almost exactly like their older sister, Elizabeth, all but for the purple eyes – their grandmother's veela eyes.

Sophie snorted, "No wonder you have two boyfriends if you'll be that high-maintenance."

The purple eyes glared at her.

Sophie continued: "Speaking of love-interests, I've noticed our lovely niece is looking a lot at the Slytherin table... care to share?"

"Tiana Nott," Lily replied, motioning the pretty dark-haired girl with bright blue eyes sitting beside Gianah, "Lynne met her at Gigi's and is obsessed with the girl."

"Really?" Sophie tilted her head, "Well, they do make a pretty couple."

Lily nodded and opened her mouth but, before she could say anything, they heard shouts and screams coming from the far left of the Great Hall – something had exploded at the Slytherin table.

"Don't even need to look to know who the culprits of that mess are," said Sophie, shaking her head.

"Can you imagine those two sharing a common room?" asked Lily, looking at her twin brother and Gianah Weasley, who it seemed had caused an innocent lemon tart to explode, covering herself, Stephen and their nearby housemates in lemon filling and pie crust, "They'll kill each other."

"No," replied Sophie, "Mum is the Head of Slytherin, they'll have to deal with her if they take things too far."

They looked at the high table again, seeing their mother glaring at the Slytherin table.

Sophie's eyes travelled from her mum to the handsome new teacher again – their eyes meeting for the first time.

Something unexpectedly clicked, Sophie felt her heart race, her breath hitch and butterflies flutter in her stomach, making her unable to focus on anything but the intense blue of his eyes.

Florence slowly sipped from her wine goblet as she felt the subtle and unexpected – yet powerful – magical exchange between her Ravenclaw daughter and the new Herbology teacher.

Could that have been their magic recognising one another? Florence wondered, recalling her own theory about the Enchantment: Magic chooses to bless couples that would have very little chances of ending up together without its help.

Sophie hadn't had any official boyfriends so far – being the daughter of the headmaster sure made it very difficult for boys to approach her (even more so when said headmaster was Severus Snape). Also the girl had never shown interest in one boy for more than one or two dates.

If the small burst of energy Florence had felt between them was the recognition of one another's magic, then her theory would prove to be, once more, correct; for the chances of thirty-year-old Neville Longbottom asking Severus Snape's permission to date his fifteen-year-younger daughter were little to none.

Severus startled her by making a disapproving sound beside her, and she feared he had caught some of her thoughts.

"What's wrong, Severus?" she asked.

"Lupin and Potter," he growled low, "And Lily."

"Ah," Florence exhaled, relieved, "You've had more than enough time to get used to the three of them, Sev. Since they were in nappies we knew they would end up together."

"I don't want to hear about it, wife," he glared at the Gryffindor table – something he hadn't done in a while – making the two aforementioned boys shiver and his daughter roll her eyes.

"Leave them be, husband," continued Florence, "We have Gianah here now, sharing a common room with Stephen," And a new blessed couple, it seems. She added just for herself.

Severus grimaced, glancing at the Slytherin table, seeing his son narrowing his eyes at the beautiful redheaded girl across from him.

Confirming Florence's words, minutes after the welcoming feast, there were frantic knocks on the door of the Headmaster's quarters.

"That was quick," muttered Severus, going to open the door, "We usually start having problems the next morning."

"I fear," added Florence, already putting her coat back on, "We already know who is causing the first problem of the term."

Severus widened his eyes, realising what she meant: "Stephen and Gianah."

"Yep."

He opened the door, not exactly surprised as he found the Slytherin Prefect at their door.

"Mr Wainworth, what brings you here?"

"I'm sorry to bother you, Headmaster, but there's a situation in the Slytherin common room and I need Madam Snape to sort it out."

Florence walked out of the room, "What is wrong, Mr Wainworth?"

"It's Stephen and a first year, ma'am. I believe her name's Gianah Weasley."

"Yes, I believe it is so," whispered Florence.

"Excuse me, ma'am?" asked the Slytherin Prefect, a bit surprised with her reply.

"Brace yourself, dear," she sighed, "whatever has happened tonight, it will only get worse."

Slytherin Common Room

"You ruin everything!" shouted Gianah.

"I got here first, Weasley!" replied Stephen arrogantly, "If you can't handle a simple prank, leave; perhaps Beauxbatons will still have you!"

Her blue eyes sparkled with fury and she growled: "I'm not going anywhere, Snape! I'll show you what a good prank is-" and her wand was pointed at him.

Stephen quickly raised his on her direction, "As if, Weasley."

Then they heard a voice that had them immediately lowering their wands: "What on Earth is going on here?" it was Florence, entering the Common Room and glaring at all the students still hanging around the lounge area.

Both Stephen and Gianah began talking at the same time, making it impossible for Florence to discern any full sentences and comprehend what had happened.

Suddenly, Gianah cast a strong silencing spell on the boy, speaking accusingly: "Snape charmed the staircase to the girls' dorm to turn into a slide every time I'm on the sixth step!" she pointed down, at her torn tights.

Florence could see both Gianah's knees were bleeding, and her hands were red and scraped.

"Stephen, explain yourself!" she demanded, glaring at her son.

The boy pointed to his own mouth and angrily hummed, but not a word could be discerned.

"What?" Florence frowned, "What is it? Why can't you speak?"

The boy stamped his foot and pointed at his mouth.

"I've removed his tongue," Gianah explained.

And a soft collective gasp was heard in the quiet common room.

Florence looked at her for a few seconds, "You've removed his tongue," she repeated, feeling a headache starting, "I see," she drawled in great similarity to her husband, "Well, it seems the Slytherin House will begin the term in the negative- something never seen before. Twenty points from Slytherin!"

Then she pointed her wand at her son and restored his tongue, but stopped him from speaking: "Not a word, Stephen! I don't want to hear it! You're not at home, this is a school! Bringing your squabbles here will only get both of you expelled!" she glared at the two tweens.

Both Stephen and Gianah looked at her in fear.

Florence continued: "I want you two avoiding each other like the other one has Dragon Pox! Understood?"

Both nodded.

"Go to your dorm, Stephen," Florence ordered.

And the boy shot an ugly eye at Gianah on his way up the stairs that led to the boys' dorm, not saying a word, he wasn't mad to disobey his mother.

Florence approached Gianah then, "Let me take a look at your injuries, dear."

"They're not that bad," said the girl in a small voice, "just sore from when I fell."

"Sit," Florence ordered, guiding her to the sofa, sitting beside her to clean and heal her wounds, "He shouldn't have done that, Gigi, it was a cruel prank thought out to humiliate you on your first day," she finished healing the wounds and fixed the girl's tights, "Now, go to your dorm," she kissed Gianah's forehead, "I want to see you with your head high, proudly dressed in in Slytherin uniform, tomorrow morning."

"Thank you, godmother; you will," Gianah stood up and kissed her cheek, adding excitedly: "I can't wait! I might sleep in my uniform!"

"Good night, dear," Florence stood up and watched her walk to the girls' dormitories, letting out a sigh.

"Is this," asked Wainworth, who had watched the whole scene like many other students, "Is this going to be the norm, Madam Snape?"

"Yes, Wainworth. Unfortunately, you'd better be prepared to stop fights and arguments between those two on a daily basis. Feel free to give them detentions. And call me when things get out of hand."

"I will, ma'am," the sixth-year nervously replied.

Meanwhile, somewhere around the castle

After the welcoming feast, Neville Longbottom had lain in bed in his quarters only to find sleep eluding him.

He was too excited about teaching to simply close his eyes and allow his body to rest.

He was happy to be back at the school; watching the Sorting Ceremony, the Great Hall packed with loud teenagers – all free to do as they wanted, knowing they were safe inside those grounds.

Despite not seeing one single stone out of place since he'd arrived – not that he'd been expecting to see any debris, he knew it had all long been fixed – Neville was still plagued by memories; he could still see, in his mind, the rubble-filled entrance courtyard, the destroyed Great Hall with the dead bodies of his friends and classmates, the destruction of the seventh floor, where the entrance to the room of requirement usually appeared, the dungeons where he was dragged to several times during the Dark Regime to be tortured by the Carrow twins, the broken Entrance Hall, where he himself beheaded Nagini at the bottom of the marble staircase.

No, there would be no restorative sleep for him that night.

So, Neville transfigurated his pyjamas into jeans and a jumper and walked out of his quarters, cruising around the empty silent corridors, finding himself at the library door, even though he hadn't consciously planned to go that way.

Well, since I'm here, I'll check the Herbology books the school library carries.

Madam Snape had said that the castle would allow him access to all the facilities, recognising his magic as one of the teachers', so he touched his wand to the heavy door of the library and smiled as the place recognised him and allowed him to enter after hours.

He softly closed the library door and looked around the familiar large dark room, taking a deep breath and his smile broadened.

No matter how many years passed and tragedies happened, the Hogwarts Library always smelled the same: a mix of old parchment, decaying leather, wood and something citrus-y.

Neville walked straight to the Herbology section, a path he could do with his eyes closed.

Five copies of Herbert's Herbiary.

Three copies of Wild or Worthy?

Eight copies of One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi.

Seven copies of his own Advanced Herbology book.

He paused to caress the spine of one of his books, feeling proud at the sight of them beside the books that made him love Herbology enough to devote his life to studying and improving it.

THUD!

The unexpected sound of something hitting the wooden floors startled him.

Neville held his wand tightly and walked towards the side of the library that had the most windows, the moonlight filtered through the stained glass, reinforcing the ghostly feel that the castle always had at night.

Then a shadow caught his attention and he moved towards it, lowering his wand and stilling as he realised there was a student there, fast asleep curled up in one of the roomier window seats, a heavy book on the floor by their shoes.

That was the thudding I heard. He thought.

Neville slowly approached them but suddenly stopped two feet away.

It was her – the Ravenclaw student he hadn't been able to not notice during the feast.

He picked her book from the floor, checking the title: Advanced Herbology – his book.

He looked at her again; during the feast he had found her exceptionally beautiful, but under the moonlight she was mesmerising.

Neville suddenly shook his head as if he had felt a Nargle enter his ear.

What in the bloody hell is wrong with me? He asked himself, I'm ogling a student!

He was aghast with his own behaviour.

He took a deep breath – and immediately regretted it, for he could detect a sweet flowery perfume that had to be hers. It was delicious, making him think of wildflowers and herbal tea and slow kisses–

What the fuck?

He was tired, it had to be it.

He had never in his life been attracted to younger women – and that in front of him wasn't even a woman! She was a teenager!

His longest relationship of three years had been to Luna Lovegood and she was just a year younger.

Neville shook his head again – Bloody nargles! – and cleared his throat, "Miss?" he called, reaching a hand to touch her shoulder and recoiling as his fingers warmed up when they made contact with her jumper.

What the fuck's going on?

He stared at her in bafflement, a little voice in his head telling him he should run away from her, that he should feel ashamed by his inexcusable (and uncharacteristic) attraction to a girl half his age.

He put the book she had been reading on the cushion beside her and was about to leave when the student suddenly inhaled, startling him out of his shame-filled musings.

A pair of emerald-green eyes blinked at him, and she seemed to slowly recognise him.

"Professor?" she whispered.

"Hey there, Miss," Neville replied courteously, "May I ask how do you got yourself locked into the library? I honestly don't see Madam Pince allowing a student to stay in here after hours."

The beautiful student looked at him with a tilt of her head, as if the answer to his question was obvious: "My dad gave me permission, professor."

Neville shook his head, "That still doesn't explain it, no student is allowed here past curfew – parents' permission or not."

She widened her eyes, as if realising something he hadn't, a slow smirk forming on her lips – then Neville understood: recognising that smirk almost at the same time she verbally confirmed his sudden realisation: "My father is the headmaster, professor."

Godric's bollocks!

He recoiled as if she had physically slapped him.

He was not only inexplicably attracted to a teenager who was about to become his student, no – he was in fact inappropriately thirsting after Severus Snape's teenage daughter!

He stared at her for a second, admitting that her resemblance to her mother was uncanny, being right in front of his face the entire time.

"Are you alright, Prof. Longbottom?" she asked with innocent concern.

"What? Y-yes, of course, Miss Snape I- I'll just go. Have a good night."

And he nearly ran out of the library, feeling terrified (on top of disgusted with himself).

Snape will kill me if he learns I looked at his daughter! Neville thought as he walked back to his quarters on the third floor, his heart pounding in fear, his mind in a whirlwind of confused thoughts, hating how his body was in a strange, heightened state of alertness and troubling desires.

I guess coming to Hogwarts wasn't my best decision.

He opened his door with a tap of his wand, locked it on his way in, and sat on the sofa in his living space.

This can't go on. I can't think of a student like that – and most certainly not Snape's daughter!

Wait.

Isn't Snape a Legilimens?

Fuck.

Maybe my fate has always been to die in the school grounds after all.