Summary: Acclimating to classes and a conversation with another of the Golden Trio.

A/N: Thanks for reading! Severus gets a little more used to his new present in this chapter.

Chapter 4

Severus was eating breakfast and reading his Transfiguration text when the owls came. He was surprised to see a small missive dropped at him, barely missing his porridge. He stared at it as if it was poisoned. He never got Owl mail. Then again, he'd never been in this future before.

He unfolded it and read the parchment quickly.

Meet me in the Room of Requirement at lunchtime. -HG

He arched a brow, not sure what Granger wanted from him. He made the note disappear and went back to his book and breakfast. Once he was done eating, he rose and headed to his first class… Defense Against the Dark Arts.

When he got to the classroom, he noted that they were combined with the Gryffindors. Well, at least that would give him an opportunity to talk to them if he needed to. Right now, he didn't need to, so he ignored everyone and took a seat at an empty desk. He noted the trio off in the corner talking. Every now and then Granger would glance over at him. He frowned. He hated being talked about.

He faced the front of the class and ignored the three. Blaise Zabini sat next to him.

"Hi, Severus. How's everything going? Are you acclimating to school?"

He shrugged. "It's only been a day," he said.

"Still."

"Yes, I seem to know my way around better than I thought I would," Severus fibbed.

Soon the instructor–a woman named Felicity Bower–entered the room and had them magically move their desks to the sides of the room.

"Class, we are going to duel today with an emphasis on non-verbal spells. I'd also like you to work on your wandless magic. Everyone pair up and begin."

Severus and Blaise nodded at each other and got into their stances. Soon they were shooting silent spells at one another. Zabini was pretty good, but Severus was better. He shielded himself wandlessly as he shot a stunner at Zabini. Blaise blocked it and sent his own at Severus.

Severus noted that Hermione and Harry had paired off. They were both pretty good. Weasley was with a girl with long curly hair. She didn't seem to be as skilled as Weasley and was almost defeated.

He quickly came back to his own battle and sent a hex at Zabini instantly followed up by a wandless, silent Expelliarmus. Zabini flew against the wall and Severus stood there holding his wand with a smirk on his face.

"Damn, Severus, you can really fight!" Blaise said as he shook his head and stood again. He held his hand out to receive his wand, which Severus gave back to him.

"You are not bad yourself," Severus replied.

"All Slytherins are skilled at fighting. Professor Slughorn, as Head of House, demands excellence from all of us, and our parents do the same. Most of us have been dueling with our families since we were old enough to hold a wand."

Severus knew all too well about Slytherins and their training outside the school. The trace was ignored when it came to Pureblood families.

"Having been taught at home, you can imagine that I could practice any time I pleased," Severus explained.

Zabini nodded. "You're really good. I think you're the best in our year. Probably better than Draco."

At that moment, Malfoy wandered up.

"Let's see how good you are, Snape," he challenged.

Blaise gave a quick nod and began dueling with Malfoy's partner, Theodore Knott. Malfoy readied himself, as did Severus. Severus had dueled with Lucius repeatedly, so he figured that Malfoy would attack before the countdown. He shielded himself as Draco shot a hex at him. Taking Draco by surprise, he shot his own hex and grazed Malfoy's shoulder before he could shield his move.

Severus and Draco shot spell after spell at one another, but neither got the upper hand. Professor Bower called a halt to the students' battles. Both men raised their wands up to show they were finished. Each pocketed their wand and Draco extended his hand to Severus.

"That was fun!" he said as he shook Severus' hand. "It's nice to battle someone with skills."

"Same," Severus agreed.

Per Professor Bower's instruction, they spent the rest of the class solitarily, working on silent and wandless spells. The class went by quickly, and before Severus knew it, he was on to his next class.

oooOOOooo

Severus saw the door as he approached the Room of Requirement. Evidently, Granger had beaten him there. Turning the knob, he entered. He was surprised to see the Slytherin Common Room once again.

"Potter told you the room I created," he stated with a frown.

Hermione turned and smiled at him.

"No, actually, he didn't. I just thought this might be comfortable for you."

He gave a quick nod and stood in front of her.

"Do you want to sit?"

"I'll stand," he advised.

"Okay. I just wanted…"

"Before you start, I want to let you know I don't appreciate you talking about me in class earlier today."

"What are you talking about?"

"I saw you in the corner before Defense started. You were looking at me and obviously talking about me."

Hermione's eyebrows knit together. "We weren't talking about you at all. Harry and Ron were talking about Quidditch, and I was bored."

"If you weren't talking about me, why did you keep looking at me?"

Hermione folded her arms in front of her. "I was bored and my mind was wandering. I did glance at you a couple of times, but it meant nothing."

Severus regarded her intently, trying to determine if she was being forthcoming or not. She had no reason to lie and seemed to be sincere.

"I apologize, then," he said. "You all were so intense in your conversation, it seemed that you were gossiping about me."

"I guess I can see how you would think that especially since I glanced at you a few times. Apology accepted. Now, will you sit down?"

"All right."

Severus took his favorite reading chair, and Hermione sat where Potter had been the night before.

"Thanks for meeting me. I just wanted to get to know you a little bit. I also wanted to talk about Harry."

"What about him?"

"From what you said last night, it sounds like his father wasn't the paragon of virtue we all thought he was as a student. At least towards you."

"He was a bully. We fought multiple times every year because he sought me out."

"That's so strange," Hermione said as she looked off, deep in thought. "Professor Lupin always had great things to say about him, as did Sirius Black."

Severus waved his hand at her in dismissal. "Of course they did. They saw nothing wrong with Potter's behavior because they were in on everything, either casting hexes themselves or laughing in the background. And I wasn't the only one they went after."

Hermione frowned. "I'm sorry to hear that. He sounds like Malfoy."

"Draco?"

Hermione nodded.

"Interesting. Of course, his father was very proud in my day. He's probably passed along that haughtiness. I haven't spent enough time with him to notice."

"Well, he's awful. He says terrible things to people. He doesn't attack people though. It's so strange that Harry's dad did. Harry is the exact opposite of him."

Severus snorted.

"He is! He only says nasty things if someone instigates something. He… Well, he grew up in a horrible situation. Maybe that's why he doesn't go around making fun of people."

"What kind of horrible situation?"

Hermione sat back. "He was raised by his aunt and uncle. They resented him and his magic. They made him sleep in a cubby under the stairs for years."

"Wait, he lived with Petunia Evans?"

"You know her?"

"Lily and I were from the same town. We were friends. Her sister was… difficult… to say the least. She hated that Lily had magic. She called her freakish, but secretly she wished she had magic too. She wanted the attention that Lily got because of it."

"So, she's always been horrid. That makes sense. Anyway, once Harry got to Hogwarts, they gave him a regular room, but he was treated like an indentured servant. The whole family treated him like an outcast. He knows what it's like to be made fun of and to be bullied and oppressed. He would never do such a thing to someone else."

Severus mulled all of that over. "That's interesting, and it makes sense, but I will make my own assessment of Harry Potter."

"Of course, Severus. I just wanted you to know a little about him. He would never say any of this to you."

"Why do you care what I think?"

"Well, the Prophecy talks about you helping Harry. I know you don't have to be friends, but wouldn't it be better if you were? Wouldn't it be best if you both knew each other well so you could anticipate each other's moves?"

Severus thought about that. "That does make sense."

"I watched you in class. You are amazing with a wand. Harry could use that strength. We all could. Maybe we can practice together."

"I am amenable to doing that."

"This room turns into a great dueling practice area. Let's meet here on Saturday afternoons and… maybe Wednesdays?"

Severus nodded. "That would be beneficial, I think."

Hermione smiled. "Good, then it's settled."

They stared at each other for a couple of minutes.

"So, what do you like to do?" Hermione asked awkwardly.

Severus rolled his eyes. "I am not the Quidditch type if that's what you're asking. I like to read and research."

Hermione's eyes lit up. "You do? I love doing that too. I mean, Quidditch is okay, but it seems like it's all the guys can talk about."

"Yes, it definitely is something everyone speaks of. That and world domination. At least among the Slytherins."

Hermione laughed. "What are your favorite subjects?"

"Hmmm, well, I would have to say Defense and Potions. There's something about a slowly simmering cauldron that is captivating to me."

"Brilliant. I like Potions, but I am much better at Arithmancy and Transfiguration."

"I'm all right with both of those." He looked at her warily. "From what you said last night, I would imagine you aren't into Divination. Is that true?"

She laughed heartily. "That is absolutely true. It's ridiculous."

"I agree." He gave her a small smirk. "So, what's your worst subject?" he asked.

She shrugged. "I do pretty well in everything, not to be boastful. If I had to pick one, I'd say Herbology. It's interesting, but I don't have a big interest in plants."

"Mine would have to be History of Magic. Is Binns still teaching that?"

Hermione nodded and rolled her eyes. "Of course he is. He'll be teaching that into the eternities. I just study by myself and tune him out."

Severus laughed. "I do too. Like you, I do pretty well with everything."

"What was it like being at the school in the seventies?"

"Similar to being here now. House rivalries, good students and imbeciles. Not much has changed really, except the faces."

"Well, there's probably one thing that's different. We are much more fixated on the war."

"I would agree. There was a carefree feeling back then that I don't feel now. Everyone is serious. It seems either they're working toward following the Dark Lord or fighting against him."

Hermione nodded. "Things have been happening to Harry, Ron, and me since our first year here."

"That must have been difficult."

"I think you probably had some challenges too, especially with Harry's dad and his friends always pursuing you."

"It gives me an edge, I'd think. Hopefully, my experiences will help in the war."

"I'm sure they will."

Severus looked over at Hermione. She seemed like someone he could be friends with. Maybe the others would be, too. He stood, finally, giving Hermione a nod.

"I'd best go. Our next class is about to start, and I want to knick something from the Great Hall so I'm not starving for the rest of the day."

Hermione stood and reached into her bag, producing a couple of sandwiches. "I'd come prepared, but forgot completely that these were in my bag." She handed one to Severus. "Thank you for meeting with me."

Taking the sandwich, he gave her a quick nod. "It was… enlightening."

Hermione arched a brow at him. "I think so, too."

oooOOOooo

Severus sat on the couch in the Dungeons staring into the fire. His first few days had been good ones. Everyone seemed to accept him, and there were no Marauders to bully him. He also found that because he was older, the Slytherins seemed to be more accepting as well.

Looking to his left, he saw Malfoy sit down next to him.

"Snape," he greeted.

"Malfoy," Severus responded.

Draco was giving him a measured look, and he wondered what this conversation was going to be about. Malfoy had been relatively pleasant to him so far, but he was looking at him suspiciously now.

"I got a letter from my father, Snape."

"Oh?"

"Yes. You see, I'd mentioned we had a new seventh-year. Odd that it seems he went to school with a Severus Snape who disappeared… right around this time in his seventh year."

Severus hid his surprise. After all, he knew this might become a topic of conversation with Draco.

"Oh, that's probably my father. Interesting that our fathers knew one another."

"You're named after your father?"

"Yes."

"So, what's his story?" Draco asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Why did he disappear?"

Severus shrugged. "His family relocated to Germany. They gave him the option to stay at Hogwarts, but he wanted a change of scenery. He also wanted the opportunity to live in another country, so he moved with them."

"Why didn't he tell anyone anything?" Draco asked.

"I honestly don't know. He doesn't talk much of that time, just that he moved in his last year of school. I didn't know he didn't tell anyone anything."

"You know about the Dark Lord, right? Crabbe and Goyle filled you in."

Severus nodded.

"Well, your father was supposed to join him," he said caustically.

"Oh, really?"

"Yes, really. So why would he run from that?"

"Honestly, I don't know. As I said, he doesn't talk about that time much."

"Do you know what I think, Snape? I think he chickened out, and your grandparents moving was the perfect way for him to sneak out on the Dark Lord."

Severus knit his eyebrows together and looked away with a show of concern.

"I… I honestly don't know. I mean, I love my dad, and I don't think he's a coward, but if he was supposed to join Voldemort, then disappeared… that does sound suspect."

Malfoy's eyes narrowed at him.

"So, the question is: are you going to be a coward too and run when the time comes to join?"

"Draco, I am no coward."

Malfoy straightened. "I hope not, Severus."

"Look, I'm not my father. Whatever his reason was for leaving here, it doesn't matter. I am my own man and make my own decisions. I stand with you and my House… and with the Dark Lord."

"Good, because we need you, Snape. The Dark Lord, he's counting on you."

Severus gave a quick nod. "I understand."

"Good."

With that, Draco nodded and stood, leaving the sofa area and moving over to Pansy Parkinson. He sat down next to her and took her hand as he talked with her.

Severus was glad that conversation was over, but he'd really need to watch his back now. Malfoy would be keeping an eye on him. He'd definitely need to not be seen in the company of Potter and his Gryffindor friends. Luckily, they had the Room of Requirement.

The three Gryffindors and he were going to meet together the next morning. He'd need to let them know he was under scrutiny and that they'd need to be even more careful. With that thought, he stood. He no longer felt like hanging around in the Common room, where anyone could watch him and judge him. He left and went to his bed, spending the evening studying and reading.