In a Lifetime

In A Lifetime
Chapter 16: Winds of Change

Disclaimer: I own nothing of what you’re about to read, with the possible exception of the plot, although I’m sure it’s been done before. The places, characters, etc. belong to JK Rowling. Thanks.

Severus sat at his desk in the potions classroom, awaiting the current bane of his existence; Hufflepuff/Ravenclaw 3rd years. One would think that by the third year, the students would have some idea what he expected from them. The potions master sighed as the students funneled in, none of them wishing to be late. At least they still knew how many points he would delight in removing for lateness. They all took their seats, Severus surveying the room to note the two empty seats that he recalled were usually containing the dense bums of Winifred Cinquefoil-Smythe and Laurel Bellweather. Severus fixed a glare on the nearest Hufflepuff.

“Where, pray tell,” he said in his softly menacing voice, “Are Miss Cinquefoil-Smythe and Miss Bellweather?”

His answer was a blank look and a shrug from Damian Styrax, “Don’t know, Professor Snape.”

Well, Mr Styrax,” sneered Severus, “if you have no idea, do not waste my time by speaking. 10 points from Hufflepuff.” He looked around the room, “Does anyone else feel like wasting my time?”

He heard the soft opening of the potions classroom door just behind him and the sound of two pairs of feet attempting to sneak into the room. He whirled around and affixed the two late students with a withering scowl, “10 points from Hufflepuff for lateness – both. And an additional 10 points each for attempting to sneak into the classroom. While I’m at it, another 5 points each for thinking me inattentive enough to not notice your absence and yet another 5 points each for staring at me with your mouths agape and wasting the class’s time.”

“Professor Snape,” whined Cecelia Agrimony, “that’s something like 40 points from our house.”

Severus sighed, running a hand through his hair, “Add 5 points for not knowing that I deducted 70 points in total from Hufflepuff, counting the 10 points from Mr. Styrax. With your horrid math skills, Miss Agrimony, Hufflepuff has lost 75 points thus far. That might be a new record for most points removed in the first 5 minutes of a potions class by a single house in which no Weasleys, Potters, or Grangers reside. Now, we are brewing the Draught of Eternal Dream, which is quite the misnomer as it is neither eternal nor has it anything to do with dreaming. Can someone tell me what it does do?”

Silence met his question until a soft voice from the doorway answered the question.

“It is a less potent formDreaDreamless Sleep.”

“Professor Granger, must you continue to know everything, even at your advanced age?”

“Advanced age?” said Hermione, a smile dancing about her brown eyes, “Nice to see you in such a pleasant mood, Professor Snape.”

“Was there a reason for you being here or have you determined that it is your turn to aggravate me o eno end?”

“Professor Dumbledore would like to see you and no, it cannot wait. I’m here to cover your class until you return.”

“Fine,” he said, turning on his heel and departing the classroom, flashing Hermione a smile that only she could see on his way out.

“Now,” said Hermione, “How many points is Hufflepuff down and how many times did he compare you all to my friends and I as students?”

Severus smiled as he headed to the Headmaster’s office. It never failed to amaze him how with just a look in her eyes, Hermione could put him completely at ease. He knew that if he had one weakness, it was Hermione Granger. He gave the password to the gargoyle, stepped on the moving staircase, and was greeted by the open door to Albus Dumbledore’s office.

“Come in, come in, Severus,” said Albus with a smile.

“Why do I not trust you when you smile and what couldn’t wait for the end of my class?” asked Severus with a grin masquerading as a sneer.

“I would like your honest opinion about something.”

“You know I never give you anything other than my honest opinion,” stated Severus, giving Albus a sidelong look, “even when you fail to ask for it.”

“Stephan Scattershot.”

“Dunderhead.”

“Milton Furulia.”

“Ineffective.”

“Frieda Coltswood.”

“Surely you jest.”

“Rowan Cascara.”

“Potential. Are we almost done with this free association test?”

“I just now received a resignation letter from Larina Lysamova.”

“DADA will be vacant again?” sighed Severus.

“It would appear that she wishes to return to the motherland.”

“Ah yes, the lure of the Steppe in winter, the call of the frozen tundra…”

“Severus, could you rein in the contempt?” asked Albus, his sparkling eyes belying his words.

“I could try, but you know I cannot promise anything, Albus. So are you asking me to help you decide on Madame Lysamova’s replacement?”

“I’m asking for your opinion.”

“Of those you mentioned?”

“Those are the frontrunners, unless you’re interested in DADA or if you think Remus is ready to return to that position…”

Severus took a lemon drop and sat down across from the headmaster, “My desire to teach DADA is lobatebated, Albus. I am satisfied with my lot in life and perfectly content to remain in the potions position. As you informed me long ago, I am a Potions Master. It is part of me. To take on another position not in the potions f wou would, in the long run, prove most unsatisfying to me.”

Albus smiled at the younger wizard, “To hear Severus Snape proclaim that he is content does my old heart good, especially in my waning years. You will make a wonderful headmaster in the future.”

“Back to the task at hand,” said Severus, looking less than comfortable at the turn of subject. The truth of the matter was that Severus did not wish to imagine a Hogwarts without Albus Dumbledore as Headmaster, “I think asking Lupin to take the position might be too taxing on him. He has been gone ten years with no memory and no magic. He needs to be brought back slowly into the fray, in my opinion. Care of Magical Creatures suits him at this moment. And we could always suggest that he take some of the darker creatures on. I think the Grindylowe tank is still in storage.”

“Brilliant idea. I would like him to some day return to the DADA position.”

“One step at a time,” said Severus, looking at Albus seriously, “of those you mentioned, I would say that Rowan Cascara would be your best bet. She’s strong, a bit serious, and adept at defense. She’s not seasoned, but the potential is great. And she has a strong background in Arithmancy and Transfiguration as well and if I remember correctly, is qualified to teach those subjects.”

“A boon if we wish to shuffle Remus back into DADA in the future.”

“My thoughts exactly.”

“So, you’ll do it?” asked Albus, gazing pointedly at Severus.

“Do what?” Severus gave Albus a look of sheer confusion, which was almost a foreign expression on his face.

“Take on the position of Deputy Headmaster?”

Severus stared at Albus. “That’s Minerva’s position.”

“Yes it is. But it can also be yours.”

“I’m afraid I don’t understand. You’re the Headmaster. Minerva is the Deputy Headmistress. I am the Potions Master.”

“Excellent, excellent,” stated Albus, taking a sip of tea, “now that we are all acquainted with what we each do here, we can get down to brass tacks. Minerva?”

Severus gave up trying to figure out what was going on and thus was not surprised when Minerva’s tabby cat form jumped up onto the chair next to him and transfigured back into the Deputy Headmistress. “I don’t suppose I am ever going to understand what is going on in this office.”

“Let me clear it up somewhat,” said Albus, smiling broadly, “Professor Lysamova is departing Hogwarts for her homeland. You wish to remain in the potions position. Remus is not quite ready to return to the DADA position, but eventually, that is where we would all like to see him. Hence, we need a candidate for the DADA position who would be able to slip into the Transfiguration position when I retire and Minerva takes over as Headmistress. You have made a brilliant decision where Rowan Cascara is concerned. Young, unseasoned, but talented and diverse. When Minerva becomes Headmistress, she will need a Deputy. That, if you choose to accept, will be you. Minerva and I have talked…”

“At great length,” said Minerva, rolling her eyes.

“…and we have decided that it makes sense to promote you now. Give you some time to learn the position as Minerva takes the time to learn my position and I can begin to phase myself out as Headmaster slowly, to make the transition almost seamless for the students and the staff. There is, of course,” continued Albus, “a pay increase which will come in handy st Hst Hermione is still an unpaid intern should you wish to marry sooner rather than later.”

“Nothing gets past you, does it Albus?” said Severus.

“A lovely ring like Professor Granger is sporting would hardly go unnoticed by me, Severus,” smiled Albus, “and of course, you will continue to serve as the head of Slytherin.”

Severus sat back in his seat, looks of confusion and shock battling for control of his normally impassive face. While he normally was fairly quick on the uptake, he was still trying to sort what Albus was saying to him.

Minerva smiled gently at Severus and patted his hand, “Would you like a promotion, Severus?” she asked patiently, a hint of condescendence in her voice.

“For Merlin’s sake Minerva, you don’t have to speak slowly to me. I’m not a damned Hufflepuff,” seethed Severus, “I am just trying to take this all in.”

“I know, dear,” comforted Minerva, “but between Albus’ potential retirement and the expansion of Hogwarts, we really do require another Deputy Headmaster.”

“EXPANSION OF HOGWARTS?” shouted Severus, standing up, “I have finally reached my breaking point. Are the two of you trying to do me in? In my former life, Voldemort never managed to do what you two have just done – thoroughly confuse me past the point of no return. If you’ll excuse me, I am heading back down to the potions lab to take a heavy dose of arsenic, cyanide, and belladonna. Death would be sweet bliss compared to the turmoil of this office.”

“Ah yes, you’ll also haveargearger office,” remembered Albus, his eyes shooting sparks of mischief.

“And no more hall duty,” added Minerva, enjoying the look on the Potion Master’s face.

“Will you accept?” asked Albus.

“Will you both stop talking and let me leave if I do?”

“Of course we will, dear.”

“Fine,” huffed Severus, “I accept.” And with that, he stormed out of the office and headed back down to his classrooakinaking 10 points off a Gryffindor for being in his way and 5 points off a Slytherin for asking him how he was. All he wanted to do was go back to the sanctity of his dungeons.

He entered his classroom, where Hermione was finishing some cleaning up after the last class of the day, shut the door behind him, and proceeded to put up the heaviest wards Hermione had even witnessed. With a look of great concern, she put down the vial she was labeling and carefully approached her fiancé.

“What is it?” she asked, “have the Aurors discovered something? Is Voldemort still alive? Are rogue death eaters attacking Muggleborns again?”

“No, it’s worse” stated Severus, rubbing his temples against the onslaught of a massive headache, “I’ve just been promoted.”