Life Begins Anew

The Headmaster approached the podium and addressed the Great Hall. “Classes are dismissed for the day. You will go to your common rooms and stay there until you are called. I need to see the following students immediately after breakfast in my office.” The Headmaster began to read out the names.
Hermione looked to her bonded in fear as she realized all the names were muggle-born witches and wizards and she knew that he had been summoned. Her potions master displayed no emotion, his eyes unreadable.
“….And Miss. Granger.” The Headmaster ended his list.
Harry looked to his friend with worry. He knew the headmaster publicly announcing this brooked an ill wind.
The Great Hall went quiet. The students had noticed that none of the owls delivered mail this morning as they normally did.
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Hermione made her way to the Headmaster’s office with fear. She noticed that the gargoyle allowed entrance without asking for a password. She knew that brooked ill news.
The door to the Headmaster’s door was open and she immediately noticed every professor was standing behind the Headmaster’s chair.
“Miss. Granger, please close the door as you are the last.” The Headmaster quietly asked.
She closed the door and took the only open seat available and looked to her Headmaster.
“Students, Lord Voldemort ordered a series of attacks last night. There is really no way to gently tell you this, which is why I have brought you together. The news has been all over the muggle newspapers and the Daily Prophet.
The students looked to their Headmaster with fear in their eyes.
“Lord Voldemort has killed your parents and siblings if you had them.” The Headmaster sadly told the assembled students.
The first and second years immediately began to cry as the older students continued to wait, fighting the tears. They knew of He Who Must Not Be Named hatred towards them.
“Madame Pomphrey! Professor Sprout! Professor McGonagall! Please take our younger students and talk to them.” The witches gently gathered the younger students, hugging them and guided them out of the Headmaster’s office and toward the infirmary.
Justin Finch-Fletchley, a Hufflepuff shouted out. “Why Headmaster? My parents are non magical! What threat could they have been?” Holding back the urge he felt to cry.
The Headmaster went to the Hufflepuff and wrapped his arms around him, consoling the wizard.
Albus looked to the witches and wizards in his presence. “Lord Voldemort’s actions were targeted to send a message to the Ministry. I will tell you all that you have a home here and you will never be turned away. You have a decision to make. We can release you back to the muggle world where you will not be safe, or you can remain here. The choice to remain applies to those that are of age. Those under age will have to submit to the decisions of their next of kin.”
Sixth Year Colin Creevey, holding his brother’s hand quietly asked “Did they die quickly Headmaster?”
“No Mister. Creevey, they did not.” The Headmaster sadly replied. “Soon you will see the news that the Daily Prophet and the muggle news report. I tell you this now to spare you additional pain.”
“Professor Sara Snape, you can leave us and patrol the castle and make sure that some of our more wayward students are obeying my directive.” The Headmaster stated, dismissing her.

“As you wish, Headmaster.” Sara softly replied as she exited the office.

Albus addressed the students. “Do not be affronted at my dismissal of Professor Snape. Her views of death are well known and she probably would not be the best to console you.”

The students nodded in understanding. Their professor was obsessed with death and would probably tell them their parents loved going to the Veil, no matter what, and spout on about destiny.

“Under age students will go to Professor Vector. Your next of kin is waiting in her office. It is up to you to talk to them and decide what is best for you.” The Headmaster told the stricken students.

The Headmaster paired off the of age students with teaching staff until the potions master and the head girl remained.

“Miss. Granger, you are of age because of the time tuner. It would do you well to talk to Professor Snape as your current liaison with a certain group leave no one else. I hope that you remain with us but the decision is entirely yours.” The Headmaster told the stricken witch.

Hermione nodded and grabbed Professor Snape’s offered hand, immediately feeling the soothing effect of the bond to her twirling emotions. Professor Snape escorted her out of the office as Albus looked to them thoughtfully. The Headmaster thought that the Head Girl looked at peace for a moment.

Meanwhile, Sara started her patrol in the hall leading to the Headmaster’s office and paused as she noticed a slight fluttering and saw what looked like student’s footwear. She pointed her wand and silently sent out a stinging hex and heard the muffled groans of pain as two students appeared out of nowhere.

“Mr Potter! And Mr. Weasley?” Sara sneered out as she lifted off the hex and restored them. “Disobeying the Headmaster? Why bring disgrace to your house?” She asked as she bent down to pick up what was cloaking them. “What do we have here? An Invisibility Cloak?” She looked to the students for an answer.

Both wizards looked to her and said nothing.

Sara reduced the cloak and put it in her pockets. “I shall turn this into the Headmaster and he will decide what to do with it. Now answer me young wizards before I decide to make you the test subjects for your next Defense class!” Her voice brooking one to be immediately answered.

Ron immediately answered “We’re worried about Hermione, Professor Snape! We have been friends since our first year and we wanted to find out what was happening.” Harry was nodding in agreement to his friends answer
.
Sara silently slipped into the red head’s mind and felt the remorse at his actions toward Hermione. She also felt his concern for the witch as well. She slipped out.

“I’m sure everyone in this castle will know the reason shortly. It is up to Hermione to tell you, if she decides to. I give you the advice to remain strong and true to her, as well as to each other as we are about to enter dark times.” Their professor replied cryptically.

“How convienenant I am on my way to Gryffindor! Care to escort me wizards?” Sara asked.

Harry and Ronald did not bother a reply as they knew who was escorting whom and silently followed their professor up to their House.

As she left Gryffindor to continue her patrol she heard sniffling and crying coming from one of the main bathrooms. She sounded out “A female professor is at the door! Make sure you are presentable, as I am coming through!” She waited a few moments and entered noticing the Creevey boys on the floor.

“Professor Snape!” They struggled to stand up. This was one professor they did not want to see.

“So, I take it that you are leaving Hogwarts, but to not wish to leave?” She asked the question void of emotion. “Was the danger told what will happen if they decided to take you out of the school?”

Colin looked to his defense professor and decided that he would answer honestly. Maybe she could help them.

“Yes Professor Snape, along with everyone else that was not of age. If only I had another year, I could have decided for both of us!” Indicating his brother.

“Do you wish to enlist my help?” She asked.

“Anything Professor! I am old enough to know what will happen and I am not fully trained to overcome more! All of the next of kin had not ever heard of our world until they were brought here. They do not understand that they are committing themselves to their own deaths!” Colin miserably replied.

“Very well, Mr. Creevey. Take your brother and wait in the Defense classroom. I am not promising anything mind you, but I will make an attempt.”

Sara exited the bathroom and made her way to an unused classroom with a floo and called Professor Vector. “Professor Vector, may I have a quick word?” She asked.

Professor Vector excused herself and entered the flames as the muggles gasped in shock at the professor entered the fire and disappeared.

“Professor Snape, this had better be good!” Professor Vector exclaimed. “All those in there are muggles that have no idea of what our world is like!”

Sara explained her plan as Professor Vector’s frown turned to one of thoughtfulness. “I need to clear this with the Headmaster first.”

“There is no time! Get the students and the muggles and meet me in my Defense room. I’ll take the grilling from the Headmaster. Just do it if you want to save these lives!”

The Arithmancy professor looked at her colleague. “You know Sara; even though you were sorted in Gryffindor you certainly have Slytherin traits.”

“I really do not believe in Houses!” Sara rolled her eyes. “I told you I attended Beaubatons and we had no House. Now hurry!” Sara pushed the witch to the floo.

Sara walked to the unused desk and tapped her wand to access the tracking spell placed on Miss. Granger. It showed her with her brother just outside his chambers.

She accessed her brother’s mind as she was already attuned to it from placing the false memories. ***Brother, if you want to save the lives of some muggle-born witches and wizards and their families, I suggest you escort Miss. Granger to my classroom and wait for me outside. I am working with Septima.*** She cut the connection without waiting for a reply.

***Hades, I need you to retrieve Mister Potter and deposit him outside my classroom. Instruct him not to enter until I arrive! ***

Sara transfigured her robes to a less severe one colored charcoal grey. She made sure that it would resemble something closer to the business attire that most muggles were used to.

She soon found herself at the entrance to her classroom with Miss. Granger, Mr. Potter, and her brother waiting outside.
She pulled her brother and quickly explained her plan. He began to ask her of her motivations and Sara hissed “No time!” opening the door and finding the assembled muggle born guardians and under age students waiting.

“Thank you for coming to my classroom, as I understand all this is hard to take in. I am Professor Snape and I teach Defense here.” The muggles noticed her robes and relaxed. This was more what they were accustomed to seeing.

Dan Creevey asked “Why are we here Professor Snape? We have already made our decision.”

Sara smoothly replied. “Colin Creevey is a very smart wizard and he realizes that he does not have the schooling to protect you. He cares for you and asked me to try to change your mind.”

Sara heard the muggles grumble. “I have here our Head Girl, Miss Hermione Granger, and she has experienced the same loss that you have. Miss Granger, if you please?” She asked softly.

Hermione slowly replied, as she already knew her decision. “I am muggle born, just like everyone here and my parents died last night because a foul wizard decided their lives to be forfeit because they gave birth to me. They were dentist, and had no power. They were innocent, just like all the parents and siblings that were slaughtered for a point! I am of age as seventeen is the age of adulthood in the Wizarding world. I am staying because I am best protected here, and I can learn the skills to protect my remaining loved ones. If I go back and live with those that I love I will be dead in a heartbeat, along with them! I will not allow that foul wizard to have power over me! My parents would not have wanted that!” She spat.

Sara noticed the skeptical looks from the guardians. “The Wizarding world protects its secrets and prevented your loved ones from telling you the truth. I am going to show you why!”

“Mister Potter, I have called you here to make a point. Are you willing to be a guinea pig?” Using the phrase that she knew the muggles understood.

Harry understood what was required of him and unhesitatingly answered. “Professor, if it can sway the minds of those assembled and keep them here ensuring everyone is safe; throw your worst hexes at me. I’ll not defend.” He simply stated

Hermione rushed to Harry, hugging and thanking him. Even if the guardians did not understand, she did.

“Thank you Mister Potter! You are a credit to your House!” Sara replied.

She had noticed the Headmaster slip in and was watching.

Sara directed that Harry move ten paces away from her. Harry stood and waited, resisting the need to put up the defense shields that his Defense Professor always insisted on.

“We will start with the simple and move forward” She stated.
And so she did. The hexes got worse and Mister Potter did not once try to defend himself, taking every one. Soon she stopped and put Mister Potter to rights.

“Do you understand why your loved one’s need to remain here?” Sara asked the assembled group.

“Illusion!” One guardian grumbled.

“So, I have not changed anyone’s mind?” Sara asked.

“Changing a person’s color, showing boils! Even David Copperfield could do that, and I know that is illusion!” Grumbled one of the guardians.

“Very well! This is my last exercise, and I will leave it up to you.” Sara replied as she cast the spell to prevent the ministry from tracking unforgivables.

“Do you love and care for the students placed under your care, and would never harm them?” Sara asked.

All answered that they would protect them.

“So, a wizard or witch with ill intention is close to you and they will impose their will upon you. Do you think that could happen? You could easily kill those you love and not have a memory of it! They would place evidence against you and even the brightest barrister that you could hire could not place fault with the evidence!” Sara warned them.

“Dan Creevey! You love your nephews with all of your heart and would not do ill will?” She asked the muggle.

“I would swear it Professor Snape! The boys has always been loved and welcomed. I cannot believe in all this, despite what you have shown me.” Mr. Creevey replied.

Sara conjured up a very wicked knife and held it up to the assembled muggles and placed it on a table.

Sara pointed her wand to Dan Creevey and uttered “Imperio!”

The assembled watched Dan Creevey walk forward and grab the knife from the table then walk over to his nephew and grab him, exposing the young wizard neck as he placed the knife upon his nephew’s neck.

Sara released the spell and noticed Mr. Creevey’s confusion as he noticed the knife at his nephew’s neck and immediately dropped it. “Now do you see why it is important that he stays here?” She asked

“Professor Vector and the Headmaster are here! If your wards remain at this school, I promise that I will teach them well! But I cannot do that if you pull them out!” Sara started to leave the classroom as she stated “The decision is yours and I wash my hands of any blood that might occur if you do not! And there will be blood if you do not choose correctly!” The doors banged shut at her departure.