Standing Against the Tides

Last time I looked at my driver’s license, it did not say J. K. Rowling. Yep, it’s just me, an unpaid and unknown aspiring writer. The characters of the Potterverse do not belong to me and I am making no money from this endeavor.

A/N: Spoilers through OotP. As I am still in denial, I refuse to acknowledge the events of HBP or DH at this point.

Unbeta’d as BabyGurl is busy with her own life.





Chapter 30 Everything Changes

Harry and Severus awoke the next morning to find themselves still entwined around each other. Harry smiled shyly up at his lover, only to receive a slight uplifting of a corner of the mouth in return. Well, Harry supposed that would have to do as a smile coming from the taciturn man he was now bonded with.

Stretching lazily, Harry was pleasantly surprised to find that his body felt strangely invigorated and his mind relaxed. As his mate ran his fingers through Harry’s unruly hair, the young wizard allowed himself a moment to savor the experience. Harry hoped to awaken each and every day from now on in just such a way.

Unfortunately for him, this moment was not to last. A sudden, sharp rapping was heard throughout the chambers and the two men groaned. Grousing as his comfortable pillow removed itself from his grasp, Harry nevertheless enjoyed the view as his mate gathered his clothing and crossed the room to see who had disturbed them.


With a muttered oath promising painful dismemberment to the idiot who had dared interrupt his peaceful morning, Severus forcefully flung open the door only to find himself face to face with the Deputy-Headmistress.

Smiling smugly at the irate man, Minerva greeted her colleague. “Good morning, Severus. I do trust you had a good night?”

The Potions master narrowed his eyes as he warily regarded the knowing look the older witch was giving him. He spoke tersely, “Minerva, to what do I owe the pleasure of your company this morning?” His tone of voice left no room for misinterpretation. If there was any pleasure here, it was definitely not coming from him at the moment.

Minerva, however, was unperturbed by her acerbic colleague’s demeanor. “Might I come in? I don’t believe we want to discuss this out in the corridor.” Once they were safely ensconced in the privacy of the Potions master’s rooms, the witch turned and said, “Really, Severus. After last night, I would think that you would be in a better mood.” A knowing smile accompanied this statement, making Severus more than just a little nervous about the reason for this unexpected visit. As his friend, Minerva was normally understanding about his reluctance to share information about his personal life. Indeed, it was rare that she pressed the matter at all.

Seeing that her friend would offer nothing more than a raised eyebrow, Minerva sighed before continuing, “The wash of magic over the castle and its inhabitants last night was unusual, and given the recent developments, quite easy to pinpoint. I merely employed logic to determine that you and Harry have formalized the bond between yourselves.” Wanting to tease her reclusive colleague a bit more, she added, “Of course, if I had any doubts remaining, they promptly disappeared once this scroll arrived this morning.”

Severus hesitantly took the scroll and unrolled the official papers. After reading the first few lines, he raised his head and looked enquiringly at his long-time friend.

“Yes, Severus. Apparently, Hogwarts has decided that Harry is to formally take over the role of Headmaster starting today. As I said earlier, the wash of magic was rather intense, and impossible to ignore. I do believe that the time has come for us to acknowledge that Albus is no longer leading us. We must, of course, make a plausible excuse for his absence, but I think we can ride out any possible repercussions we might encounter.”

Harry chose that moment to enter the room; his robes clean and unwrinkled, thanks to the help from a hyper house-elf who had popped into the bedroom after Severus had left to greet their visitor. A smile automatically came to his face when he saw who had come to see them. “Professor McGonagall,” he said, “how are you this morning?”

“Fine, Mr. Potter. I have come to discuss certain matters with you and Severus,” the witch answered.

Shaking his head at the fact that his lover had not even offered their guest a seat, let alone a cuppa, Harry immediately set about rectifying that oversight. Once the three were comfortably situated, Minerva filled Harry in on what she had already told the Potions master.

Harry was glad he was sitting down already once he heard the news. “Now?” he asked incredulously. “But I haven’t even graduated yet. How can I go before everyone and announce to my schoolmates that I am now their Headmaster? Why now?” he continued to whinge in his agitation.

The Deputy-Headmistress sighed as she accepted her duty to the school and her young employer. “Mr. Potter, you have no choice in this matter, so I suggest you buck up and accept your responsibility. Hogwarts itself decided that you were ready and ready you must be,” Minerva said in her usual no nonsense way. There was no need to embarrass the young man by mentioning the activity that had spurred the castle to act at this time.

“B-buck up, ma’am?” Harry stalled.

“Precisely, Mr. Potter,” the witch replied. “As the Ministry and the Board of Governors have been contacted, the time for the announcement is now. At breakfast today you will be introduced as the new Headmaster, chosen by Hogwarts itself. From this moment on you will actively and openly run the school.” Kindly looking upon the young man who once more had had too many responsibilities thrust upon him, she continued in a softer voice, “I know that we had hoped for more time, but Kingsley and Remus have informed me that Dumbledore’s state of mind is rapidly deteriorating. Without the ability to siphon magic from both Hogwarts and the students, he is losing strength, both magically and physically. I wouldn’t hesitate to say that Miss Granger’s special touches to his cell have helped matters along as well.”

Sensing his mate’s continued trepidation, Severus interjected, “Harry, it is not as if you will be standing alone. You will have Minerva to help and guide you, along with the rest of the staff. Remember, we have yet to fully realize the scope of manipulations and deceit that Albus had woven. If he had wronged us, then it is likely that he also worked against the other teachers here. I believe that you will find that the staff will support you.”

Minerva nodded at her colleague’s words. “Now, Mr. Potter, it would behoove you to get cleaned up and wear your best dress robes. The Minister of Magic, along with some of his staff, has already arrived. In addition, I have received an owl stating that the members of the Board of Governors are en route even as we speak. By the time you are ready to report to the Great Hall, all interested parties will be in place.” The witch stopped speaking and pulled an object out of her robes. Silently casting the spell to return the object to its correct size, she handed the book to Harry. “As the new official Headmaster of Hogwarts, you will do well to thoroughly read and understand the contents of this book, Mr. Potter.”

Harry looked down at the weighty tome in his hands and groaned. Great, his very own copy of ‘Hogwarts, A History’. Just what he had never wanted, he thought in disgust.

“Now, gentlemen, I will leave you to prepare for Mr. Potter’s introduction as the new Headmaster.” The Deputy-Headmistress gave Harry one last encouraging smile before turning on her heel and leaving the room.

As soon as the stern witch left, Harry laid the book down and sank down onto the sofa. Putting his head in his hands, he groaned, “Sev, I don’t think I am ready for this.” Soft green eyes turned upward to regard his lover.

Sighing as he resigned himself to the unfamiliar role of comforting another person, Severus sat down beside the young man and awkwardly patted Harry’s shoulder. “I am certain that you will weather this as you have everything else in life. You seem to have a knack for coming out on top, despite the odds.”

Smiling wryly at the older wizard, Harry silently acknowledged the effort it had taken for Severus to reach out to him. Though the young Headmaster had learned many things recently about his soul mate, one truth held fast: Severus Snape was still the same reserved and aloof man he had come to respect as his professor. And don’t you know that at that moment in time, Harry couldn’t have been happier to see such a personal side to the private and retiring man.


Freshly showered and in his fussy dress robes that Mrs. Weasley had insisted he buy during his yearly trip to Diagon Alley this summer, Harry felt as ready as he would ever be to face the school and its visitors. Of course, the fact that his lover was striding along beside him as they traversed the long corridors of the castle did a great deal to ease his discomfort. Nodding to the older man, Harry stopped outside the teachers’ entrance to the Great Hall while Severus continued inside. He knew that his former Head of House would be making the announcement soon and then he would have to step into the Great Hall to take his new place as Headmaster.

Much too soon the dreaded words were said and the door to the Great Hall opened before him. Nervously smoothing down the front of his dress robes, Harry swallowed and stepped into the room. Walking across the raised platform, he stopped when he stood next to the Deputy-Headmistress. Harry nodded at the witch before turning to address those assembled.

His words were cut off as an enraged Minister of Magic jumped to his feet and began ranting. “Just what is the meaning of this?” Cornelius Fudge roared. “Mr. Potter is a student. He cannot be the new Headmaster!”

Having heard more than enough from the irritating politician, Severus cast a silencing spell on the still screaming Fudge. Smirking, he pocketed his wand before nodding to an amused Minerva and stunned Harry.

Minerva straightened her hat and glared over her glasses at all present before speaking. “As anyone who has actually read ‘Hogwarts, A History’ would know, the castle actually chooses the person and the timing for a new Headmaster to be named. Granted, it is not common for a student to be named Headmaster before even graduating, but it is certainly not unheard of. In fact, the last time such an occurrence took place was in the year 1734, when the then current Headmaster fell down one of the moving stairs and was unable to continue in his duties.” Leveling another stern look around the room, the Deputy-Headmistress continued, “For reasons known only to Hogwarts, the school has chosen Mr. Potter as the next Headmaster and I expect everyone here to grant him the respect due to him and his position.”

Motioning to the young man next to her, Minerva stepped aside so that Harry could speak. Clearing his throat, Harry began. Surprising even himself, his voice was strong and his feelings genuine. In these past few days he had made a decision, which he now intended to carry out. “Friends,” he said, “I know that this news comes as a shock to you. I know I was surprised to hear that I had been chosen to succeed Professor Dumbledore as Headmaster. Many of you are probably wondering ‘Why now, why him?’ As many of you have already heard, Hogwarts and its students have long been affected by a curse. Once this curse was discovered, Professor Dumbledore sacrificed much in order to break it so that the castle and the students could recover. I am sad to say that Professor Dumbledore did not come out unharmed from the attempt to destroy the curse. So, it was decided that he would step down as Headmaster and a new Headmaster would be chosen.” Looking carefully around the Great Hall, Harry smiled tightly, “I am sure you will all understand Professor Dumbledore’s wish to be left alone at this time. Thank you.” So saying, Harry nodded to Professor McGonagall and took his seat at the center of the platform.

Minerva once again addressed the large group, “As Mr. Potter is now the Headmaster, it will not be advisable for the Professors to continue to teach him. So that no conflicts of interest can arise or allegations of wrongdoing may be levied against either the Headmaster or the teachers, independent instructors have been obtained for Mr. Potter. Remus Lupin will instruct our Headmaster in Charms and Defense Against the Dark Arts, while Auror Kingsley Shacklebolt will teach Mr. Potter Transfiguration and Potions. Both men are eminently qualified and Mr. Potter will be ready to sit for his N.E.W.T.s in a few months. Again, independent testers will be brought in to administer the tests in an effort to avoid problems. Now, this is still a school and all students are to report to their first classes. Good day, all.”

Having summarily dismissed the Ministry and the Board of Governors, Minerva turned and smiled at her new employer. She was quite proud of the young man for his kind words regarding Albus Dumbledore. True, the man did not deserve such words, but she knew that Harry felt it was the right thing to do.

Schooling his face into a neutral mask, Severus Snape wondered nonetheless at his mate’s insistence on keeping Albus’ status as a hero. As Minerva dismissed the witches and wizards present, Severus briefly considered lifting the silencing spell he had placed on the Minister of Magic. Having considered, the Potions master stood and descended to his dungeon classroom without releasing the spell. Suddenly the day looked a bit brighter for the taciturn Professor.