Another Dark Star

Chapter 33 – Auror School


Severus schooled his features into his usual mask of indifference as he sat with the staff at breakfast that day. That idiot Lockhart was already getting on is nerves and... Wait, wasn’t that Sadie’s owl? He ignored the curious looks of the other teachers as, for the first time ever, he was the only person to get mail; before term had even started no less! He pocketed the letter and returned to his breakfast.
When he returned to the privacy of his office he opened the letter, written in the familiar untidy scrawl.

‘Dearest Severus,
Auror School is challenging, but thanks to you I am ahead of the syllabus already. Nymphadora Tonks is here also, so I have a friend of sorts already. We seem to work well together in any case. I am missing you terribly already. Every time I go over something we covered together I think of you and smile. Good luck with the new term. Try not to poison any of the students, especially my cousins; I am rather fond of them. Looking forward to your letter.
All my love,
Sadie. X’

He smiled to himself then put the letter in a well warded drawer in his desk, lifting out a photograph of Sadira as he did so. He had taken it early on in their relationship. She was sat in her uniform, perched on her workbench in his classroom, twirling her hair round her finger absently, occasionally waving coyly at him with a small smile playing on her face.

Loath to admit it as he was, he was beginning to miss her. It had been a refreshing change the last few months, spending all that time in the presence of someone who thought he was the most wonderful person in the world. It had been a nasty shock to the system to return to a place where nearly everyone despised, feared or simply mistrusted him. And to find that foppish charlatan Lockhart in his coveted DADA position! Was Dumbledore really that cruel to taunt him so? Still, worse was yet to come. Students return to the castle tomorrow and won’t that just be lovely?


Sadira and Tonks had been paired again, identifying poisons and matching them to their antidotes in a brief practice exam. She chuckled to herself, remembering what Severus had said when reviewing this module last year. ‘Just shove a Bezoar down their throat.’

Tonks seemed to have improved under Sadie’s tutelage which gave her a jolt of pride, which was quickly quashed when she reasoned that her performance may have only improved because Snape wasn’t around to intimidate her.

Much as she loved him, she had to admit he had a mean sense of humour; terrifying students for fun! When the results were checked they found once again the girls had beaten the boys. Mr Anderson was impressed. This seemed to give the boys the incentive they needed to take things seriously. When they came to the Advanced Charms test the boys and girls were tied. Clearly despite their rambunctious natures the two were not to be trifled with. ‘Just like the twins.’ She thought.

They were leaving for the day when Mason called Sadie back.

“Say, Prewett, you did really well today. Fancy joining us for a drink?” he asked hopefully. She looked over his shoulder at Taylor, who was still giving her evils.

“I don’t think your boyfriend would be too thrilled at that.” She replied drily. He chuckled lightly.

“How about just you and me then?” he pressed. Her eyes widened when she caught his drift.

“Oh! Um, James, you’re nice and all but I have a boyfriend.” she said kindly.

“Oh really? What’s his name?” he teased. Sadie’s heart stopped as she wondered what to say to that.

“If you don’t want to go out with me, you could just be honest, you don’t need to invent a bloke to save my feelings you know.” He added softly when she wasn’t forthcoming.

“No! I do like you, but I really do have a boyfriend. I’m just not allowed to talk about him. He’s quite a bit older than me and if people found out he’d been dating a schoolgirl, even one who’s of age, he could lose his position. You know how people like to gossip. The scandal could ruin him.” She defended.

“Relax, I believe you. Just ... tell him from me how lucky he is.” Mason said wistfully.

“Thanks James, I will. By the way, you are now officially mothered! I’m going to find you a nice girlfriend, count on that!” she grinned.


When she got back to the flat, there was a letter lying on the table. Recognising the untidy, cramped scrawl of her lover she eagerly tore it open. Diving into the nearest chair and Accio-ing a can of Coke from the fridge, (god it was good to be a witch sometimes.) she unfolded the parchment eagerly.

‘My Dear Sadie,
If you have read the Evening Prophet, you will undoubtedly be aware of the reasons this term has begun with a monumental headache. Firstly, the Defence position has been filled by that posturing popinjay Gilderoy Lockhart. The man’s ego is bigger than Greenland and I should be very much surprised if he has done half the things he alleges. He is also unbearably chirpy and insists on sticking his nose into other people’s business, claiming he knows our jobs better than we do. After 12 years, I would think I am more than capable of teaching Potions to these lackwits, thank you very much.
To make my day even better, your brainless cousin Ronald and His Royal Highness Harry Potter, also known as the Boy-Who-Lives-To-Be-A-Pain-In-My-Arse, decided it would be terribly droll to forgo the use of the Hogwarts Express with the rest of the students and made their own way to school in a flying car in full view of half the Muggles in Britain. Bad enough that it was a clapped out piece of shit; I mean why would anyone put a flying charm on that? But I digress.
They ended up crashing said worthless heap of scrap metal into the Whomping Willow which, I am sure I do not need to tell you, is a very rare and valuable specimen. The whole incident was brushed off by McGonagall and instead of being expelled which they deserved, they got away with mere detention and loss of points. Both problems have caused an immense stress headache and I find myself wishing you were here to help ease it. (Possibly involving use of your ingenious Potion invention?)
Yours,
Severus.
P.S. You were surprisingly reticent about your new course of study. I expected you to be gushing with enthusiasm. What happened?’


Sadie chuckled at his hint about going down on him again to relieve stress, but was uncomfortable when she read his post-script. She knew he was perceptive, more so than most men, but she hadn’t expected him to figure out something was wrong so quickly.

Should she tell him the truth? She supposed he would realise if she were holding something back, even in a letter, so prepared to reply, hoping he wouldn’t be too hurt by her confession.

‘Dearest Severus,
I was so happy to receive a reply so promptly. I miss you so much, but having your letters reminds me that I am still in your thoughts, though we are miles apart. As for your suggestion regarding stress relief; I should be very happy to make a trip to Scotland as soon as you think it appropriate. I will start brewing PPPP as soon as possible in preparation!
Auror school is quite boring really, mostly covering what we did at NEWT level and practicing its practical uses in the job. You are right though. There was something wrong. I didn’t want to tell you because I didn’t want you to be concerned. However, as you have asked me outright, I feel it would be deceitful to keep it from you. I had a few altercations with a classmate; Antony Taylor, remember him? Firstly about my former House and reputation. It seems the rumours about you and I have followed me here, but that doesn’t bother me. What did bother me, I am regretful to have to tell you, especially in writing. We were reading over old case studies from the war with You-Know-Who and I was given the folder holding your case notes and details of your trial. I didn’t open it and refused to work on it. I also insisted it be removed from public record you will be pleased to know. Unfortunately, by showing loyalty to you, I got into another fight with Taylor and now everyone knows you told me a bit about your role in the war.
On a brighter note, James Mason is partnered with him and seems to be doing a good job of keeping him on a leash. He also told me to tell my boyfriend, whomever he might be, that he is a very lucky man. So here I am passing on the message as promised! I want you to know that although I didn’t read the evidence of your crimes, I am aware that you did commit some horrible deeds at one time and that I love you regardless. I know you spend every day trying to make amends and you are no longer the person you once were. I still long to see you again and will be counting the days to the holidays, unless I can see you before then?
Faithfully yours always,
Sadie. XX’


When Snape read her letter, he felt his whole world go colder. She knew. Not details, but she had held in black and white in her beautiful soft hands the dossier of his crimes and misdeeds. He was sure it was a sizeable file also. This day was bound to come, he told himself. How could he have imagined a trainee Auror would remain oblivious to his past? She was sure to have come across it sooner or later. It was time to do something he should have done a long time ago, had he been man enough to accept the consequences. Sadira would have to be told the truth. All of it!