It was a busy day around the castle preparing for the arrival of students. With every passing hour, the tension in Severus Snape's shoulders was growing. How could Dumbledore possibly think that it was a good idea to offer a faculty position to a known conspirator of Black's, let alone a werewolf. Of course, Dumbledore had asked him not to mention either of those facts to the students. Snape felt that they had a right to know, but it wasn't his call to make.
He could still fantasize about being the one to catch Black. He would try to bring him in peacefully so as not to disappoint Dumbledore, but if he put up a fight… God please, try to put up a fight. Snape's twisted mind was a master of curses and had dreamt up a few originals for the occasion.
It was customary to wear one's finest robes to the sorting, but Severus found that he was spending more time preparing his appearance than usual. Upon arriving at the Great Hall, he started involuntarily scanning the crowd when his eyes found what they were searching for. Evelyn flew in clasping a letter.
"Minerva," she hailed, out of breath, "We've had an owl from the new professor that's riding the Hogwarts Express."
Minerva McGonagall's eyes moved over the note. Dementors had accosted the Hogwarts express, students and all. "I'll handle this," she reassured. "Filius, could you manage the first years and the Sorting?"
"I'm on it, Minnie," he called across the hall.
Evelyn barely had time to dress for the occasion and make it to the Great Hall before the students started to pour in. She was able to snag a seat next to her favorite potions professor. He looked up to see who had taken the adjacent seat, and she tried not to melt when she met his intense black eyes. A warm, shy smile spread across her face. A secret smile that only the adept could see touched his as well. Snape always displayed an outer composure, but inwardly he felt nervous butterflies along with the relief of being together.
After the cold rain and the hectic schedule, Evelyn was basking in the glow of the candles and the comfort of having a friend close by. The Sorting had been full of cheer, and she could sense Severus appraising the future students of his house.
Dumbledore was just starting on his announcements, which ought to have been mundane, but with the introduction of Professor Lupin, rage with hints of embarrassment and self loathing were palpably seething out of Severus Snape. Evelyn reached over and squeezed his hand with hers. He looked down at the unexpected contact and then up at her face slightly disoriented. I'm here for you, she thought with a gentle smile. His shoulders started to relax, and his breathing was slowing.
The food appeared, and the hall filled with the sounds of the feast. "I'm sorry." He pitched his voice low so that only she would hear him.
"It's alright Severus," she soothed, running her thumb across his fingers. You don't need to explain.
Her touch felt electric. "It's just that Remus Lupin and I attended school together," he started. "I guess it wasn't even him, so much as his friends that I wasn't on good terms with."
There was more, but this wasn't the time or place. They enjoyed the feast and turned the conversation onto lighter topics. Tonight, at least, Severus Snape wouldn't be tortured by his past.