Life Begins Anew

Chapter 18 Preparation for the Start of Term

Severus entered the silent castle and made his way to his chambers, reflecting on the revel. His sister was a bit of work. If given the free hand she now had on one of the Dark Lord’s mission, she could outperform Belletrix in torture. This was not good for the Order as he sensed that she was withholding her true power. The memory of Moody and Albus were no doubt those created by her and she had placed them in his mind without his awareness. And the letter he handed to the Dark Lord had changed color and content, another fact that she was withholding announcement of her true power. He suddenly stopped as he realized that his sister represented what he would have become if not for the fact of Lily’s death.

Merlin! If she still had that supposed “benefactor” that allowed her to cross large distances of time, something that a time tuner could not do, then they were in the proverbial shit if she made the Dark Lord aware of that fact. He changed direction and immediately headed to the Headmaster’s office.

Soon he was at the entrance to the Headmaster’s office with the same disrespectful gargoyle.

“As often as you meet the Headmaster Professor, one would have thought that you would just say the password and not wait!” The gargoyle spoke down to him.

“Reducto!” Severus growled and the gargoyle exploded into large pieces. He didn’t have time for this frivolity. He strode past the pieces as he heard the gargoyle cry out weakly “Stonemason, stat!”

Severus entered the Headmaster’s office. He noticed that Albus was standing off to the side with his wand pointed at him.

“Ah Severus, it is only you!” as he lowered his wand.

“Indeed Headmaster, as you already knew!” Severus growled back to him.

“And why the harsh treatment to my guardian?” the Headmaster inquired.

“It was disrespectful at the wrong time. Besides, I’ve wanted to do that for years. You were overdue a replacement. A fact that I just took care of.” He stated darkly.

“Albus, all that we have worked towards all these years are in danger! My sister! The Dark Lord has a tool now so powerful that it could be our undoing. I am afraid that as her participation in the Death Eater’s will make him aware of her!”

“Surely you are exaggerating Severus!” Said a shocked Headmaster. “All of our actions have been meticusly planned.”

“Be that is it may Albus. I encourage you to start changing your plan!” Severus grabbed out the pensieve and withdrew the memories of the revel and his own thoughts and placed them into it.

The headmaster noticed the state of Severus dress and the smell of blood. “Severus, I suggest you go to your chambers and clean up and get some sleep before breakfast. I am sure that you sister will be returning earlier than I expected as the Revel did not last late into weekend. I will meet with you to discuss this penseive soon. We have time, as I am sure that Tom would not call his newest until she has established herself firmly into the school.”

He grabbed up the floo powder and threw it into the Headmaster’s fireplace. “Professor Snape’s quarters” he growled as he stepped into the green flames and was gone.

Albus sat back into his chair, fearfully eying the penseive.

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Severus stepped out of the fireplace, dusting the ash off of his Death Eater robes. A quick “Scourgify” and he placed them in his wardrobe. As he turned around he noticed Miss. Granger asleep at his desk, her hand clutching Sara’s Dark Arts medallion. He noticed the neatly piled parchments, with one under her chin. He sighed. Figures she would complete this task in less than 48 hours. He pulled out his time piece and looked to the time. 2 am. Too early to roust her and send her to her quarters.

“Dobby!” He snarled out.

Dobby the house elf appeared, ears flattened down. The potions professor never called him.

“You serve Harry Potter and his friends, elf?”

Dobby’s ears flicked up. “Yes, Master Snape, I serves them!”

“Then I need you to take Miss. Granger to her room directly. She has been doing research for me while I was away from the castle.”

Dobby exclaimed “She was here, Master Snape?. After all the rumors, everyone thought that she had left. Dobby gladly does this as bushy haired witch means much to me!”

“What kind of rumors, elf!?” Severus demanded.

Dobby flattened his ears. “Wheasey friend of Potter gets another witch. Bushy haired cared for him. Students think she went away as not seen at meals or room, or in castle all weekend! It is all that the students talk about!”

“And when did these rumors start elf?” He asked.

“Yesterday lunch Master Snape!” Dobby replied sadly.

So, the witch got so caught up in her research and did not make any meals after his 10 am requirement. That means she was unaware of the grapevine.

“Dobby! How long have you known of Mr. Weasly’s infatuation with Miss. Brown?”

The elf started to bang his head into a wall. “Wheesey forbade me to tell! Two years Master Snape!” as the vow to answer any Hogwarts professor truthfully took over.

“I command you to stop elf! Take Miss. Granger to her quarters! Ensure that she is dressed for bed, and make sure that she attends breakfast. You will not tell her of our little chat tonight. All is well, Dobby. I will not tell Mr. Weasly about our little chat. Your secret is safe. Besides, the rumors that have been on the grapevine have nullified your promise. You may tell anyone that asks you, for it is true.”

Dobby went to the sleeping witch and removed the medallion from her hands. He wrapped her arms around his shoulders and was away with a plop.

Severus went to his bath chambers and stripped, entering the shower as he furiously scrubbed his cock of the dried up blood. First he had to sodomize his sister, and then the Dark Lord expected him to fully participate in the Revel with the muggles. He was forced to let his dark side out. It disgusted him as he thoroughly enjoyed the power that he held over the 17 year old girl. A few quick thrust to take her virginity then he killed her quickly, preventing the young girl further abuse. Gods, he was so fucked up to even consider Miss. Granger! Though he had done the victim a mercy, it still repulsed him. He was sure that he was doomed to a horrible afterlife, even if he sided with the Light.

He sighed as he left his bath chambers naked and went to his desk and picked up the parchment that Miss. Granger was sleeping on previously.

In her familiar writing, it stated the apprentice to Damian Selwyn. She wrote out his bloody history. Then in bold scribe her written words where “Danger if true” and “Possibly related to Professor Snape as only apprenticeship referenced in name of Snape.” Also was scribed “No improvements to the Dark Arts during apprenticeship as Master went missing after completing apprenticeship.” Damn the witch was perceptive! He knew that was why he was drawn to her.

He examined Miss. Granger’s other parchments. His sister was associated mostly with healing spells credited to her in one name or another, and that surprised him considering the glee in which she participated in torturing. Even if her other many apprenticeships revealed no improvements by her. It was as if she did them to garner knowledge only and no improvement. Or no notice to her person.

Fuck all! All the apprenticeships were valid! He owed her public acknowledgement as she stated. Shit! Shit! Shit!

He went to his bed chambers and muttered an Awake Me charm so that he could be at breakfast to observe Miss Granger’s reactions to the grapevine.

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Hermione woke to the insistent yelling of a house elf. “Dobby! What are you doing here?!” She asked sleepily.

“Miss has to go to breakfast! Professor orders!” She sighed as she realized that she was in her own room. She knew the identity of the professor that ordered it. She showered up and dressed, making her way to the Great Hall.

As she entered the Great Hall, the conversation grew silent. She made her way to Gryffindor table and noticed that Ron was sitting next to Lavender, allowing her to feed him. She sat down next to Harry.

“Where have you been, Hermione?” Harry asked nervously. “Seamus overheard our conversation about Ron the other night, and it has been all over the school for the past day! Everyone has thought that you left, heartbroken!”

“It’s fine Harry! I’ve been doing a bit of private research. You know how I get. Really! It’s okay! If that is what Ron wants, then he can have her, the slut!” She glared darkly as the witch continued to hand feed Ron.

Hermione glanced to the head table and noticed the potions master staring down at her. She realized that this was the challenge he presented to her to observe life. Fine, she would do that! She knew that she would get no acknowledgement over her meticulous research. She wondered what he would think of her comments on the Dark Arts mastership. Their new Defense against the Dark Arts professor warranted more research.

Harry sighed in relief. Maybe their trio could continue.

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Sara had also arrived in time for breakfast. She was well aware that she had to make her presence as her brother had no doubt told the Headmaster what had conspired. As she made her way down the tables to approach the Great Table, she heard the whispering of her brother catching a couple red handed with the Head Girl. She turned to the Hufflepuff table and addressed the third year wizard. “And whom are you speaking about?” she asked coldly.

“Hermione Granger, Professor! Surely you have been told she is the brightest witch here!”

“Really?” She drawled. “So why is this school so up in arms then?”

“Well, everyone knows that she wants Ron, except him…..” A fellow Hufflepuff painfully elbowed him. “Err nothing Professor!”

“Hmmmm,” She coldly stated. “It is well that my classes have not started yet! Do try not to forward rumors, Mr. ….?”

“Tyedell.” The student miserably replied.

She looked down disapprovingly at the wizard. “I will remember you Mr. Tyedell! I look forward to meeting you in my classes. I do not do well with rumor mongers Mr. Tyedell! I suggest you desist. I always love “volunteers” in my classes. I suggest this would be a rumor most worthy of spreading!” She swept away, robes billowing, leaving the young wizard shaking. The student sank down, hating to be called out by a professor with the last name of Snape. He knew he was doomed as he passed around the tidbit on not to get on the bad side of the Dark Arts professor.

As she made her way down the tables she heard mutterings from the students about the Head Girls disappearance, and reappearance at breakfast.

Sara settled down at the empty seat next to her brother. “It seems that the Head Girl has been missing for the day or so, Severus. I think that would be strange.”

“Indeed, but I care not, as the lives of students do not interest me.” Severus ignored her as he went back to his food.

“Hints of the smartest witch in the school, Severus. I am intrigued. I will be sure to meet up with her.” She poked her fork at the plate that appeared. “It would be wise to acknowledge my masterships at dinner tomorrow and not before, brother! Otherwise it could be most harmful if word gets out from the children of our associates.”

Damn! Severus thought. How could she know that which he just found out?

She finished her breakfast and approached the Headmaster.

“Ah Sara! So delighted you could arrange your matters so quickly! Come! Let me show you to your classroom and quarters. I am sure you will find them most accommodating.”

She exited with the Headmaster. Presently they arrived at the Defense classrooms. “Headmaster, the portraits are breathtaking!” Albus shrugged uncomfortably. “This classroom was left from the previous Professor. You are free to change what you want.”

“No Headmaster, this will suit me just fine.” She unsilenced the portraits and screams resounded throughout the room. She darkly chuckled. “Perfect, Headmaster!” as she silenced the portraits.

He walked to a door in the corner of the classroom. “This is the entrance to your quarters, Sara. Please provide me and the Deputy Headmistress your password, once you set it.” He escorted her into the dreary room. She glanced around. “Thank you Headmaster, these quarters suit me well.”

“Please feel free to alter them as you wish, Sara.”

“I will Headmaster. I understand that I was pressed upon you with no notice. Please know that I will teach the appropriate students on the best ways to defend themselves.” She escorted the Headmaster out so she could unpack.

“Headmaster, here is the course outline for my term. Please review it and let me know of any questions.”

The Headmaster found himself suddenly outside the Defense classroom. He knew that Severus was right in the evaluation of his sister and went to his office to view the pensieve.

A/N So it continues. Is Sara a threat to the Order? And should Severus worry about her mention to know Hermione better? He should……………..