Ad Vitam

A/N: Huge thank you and bunch of cookies to the ones who reviewed this story so far. I really appreciate your good words, SORRY it took so long to update…..Lisa, skye, sharkdiver, B,eli, Megan Consoer

P.S. Anybody watched "Perfume:Story of a Murderer"? simply amazing movie with Alan Rickman....


* * *


When the students reached the castle the doors to the Great Hall hung open, ready for their admittance.

Being one of the first off the train, Severus Snape had had first pick of the carriages and then of the seats at the Slytherin table.

He chose one in the middle and on the far side of the table, as always. He preferred the far side so that he might put his back to the wall; he wasn't fond of the idea of someone sneaking up behind him. Not after what had happened his first year. And he did not want something to happen where he wouldn't be able to see it and react properly, which was why he was in the middle, where the view stretched across the Hall in all directions.

Once settled, Severus turned his face to the doors.

Ah, so she has finally given in. She's not as strong as I had thought. Or hoped.

His thoughts were tinged with hate and anger at the sight that he was first greeted with.

Lily Evans, the girl he had fancied since first year, was hung on the arm of one of his greatest enemies, James Potter. As the slim beauty threw her head back in laughter Severus let his anger consume him.

How could she? How could she, intelligent and witty and perfect as she was, have settled for someone like Potter? It was inconceivable.

She was supposed to have been meant for him, he was the one who appreciated her. Her perfect blend of humor and brains, compassion and kindness, and that lithe body, flowing red hair that always made him think of a waterfall of blood, and eyes that sparkled like emeralds when she was happy and burned grass green when she was incensed.

But deep down, if he cared to admit it to himself (which he didn't), Severus had always known that she would eventually say yes to Potter. Wanker.

If his hatred of James Potter hadn't already swallowed him in previous years, he was sure it would have then.

And to add insult to injury, Potter had stolen the Head position from him, the rightful Head Boy, the one with the grades and without the tendency to break rules (where anyone could catch him doing so), the one who was Qualified for the position.

A red haze settled over Severus's vision and only one thing was clear: James Potter would have to pay.

He knew he shouldn't have changed his routine this morning. He knew he shouldn't have put forth the extra effort to look presentable. All of his saved money had gone to new, crisp black robes that swooshed when he walked and shiny new leather shoes.

He had even spent some time on his hair, pulling it back into with a thong at the back of his neck with a few stray pieces of hair falling in front of his eyes.

He knew he would never be anyone's Prince Charming, but he had tried to at least look as though he was someone important, someone people should take note of.

Someone she should have taken note of. But for her choice she would share in the pain he would inflict on her chosen.

He scowled in their general direction, uninterrupted plans of revenge chasing each other at lightning speed… until an elbow found a home in his stomach.

Glancing to his left Severus followed the elbow up the arm to the head it was attached to.

"What the hell Rosier?!"

Evan Rosier, Severus's year-mate and current bench-mate, gave him an inscrutable look and then shot a quick glace up at the Head Table, running his hand through his curly brown hair. After another look at the teachers he turned to Severus.

"If mine eyes do not deceive, we have a new Defense Professor… again."

When Rosier looked at the Head table again, Severus followed his gaze.

"What happened to the one we had last year? Rosenberg?"

"Who cares?"

And as Severus turned to study his new professor more closely, he began to agree.

----------(*)----------

At the nearby Gryffindor table the air was abuzz with tales of what they had all done the past summer.

Sirius Black, proudly holding the title of 'Womanizer of Hogwarts', grinned proudly as he told of his most recent conquests and his and James's most recent prank (which they had pulled only that morning on James's neighbor).

His bright blue eyes and devilish smile had all the girls swooning around him, as his broad shoulders and strong arms and back kept them from falling on the floor at his feet. The shaggy black hair that fell in his eyes completed the "Bad Boy" image.

Boyish in comparison, James Potter, Sirius's best friend, lacked the polished features that Black had, though he was certainly much taller. Lean rather than built, Potter gave off a sense of control and confidence that was hard to ignore. There was an air about him that drew people to him, especially the females of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

One of the said females was sitting by his side. The beautiful Miss Lily Evans. She had resisted his charms for years, but he had finally won her over, just that very day in fact. He grinned at her as she slipped her hand into his beneath the table.

"That was stupid," a voice was heard saying as Sirius finished the slightly embellished tale of their morning escapades. "Someone could have gotten hurt."

Such a sense of reason could have only come from one seventh year Gryffindor, Remus Lupin. Werewolf, Marauder and Prefect extraordinaire.

"Couldn't you have at least used the cloak, even if it was just not to give Ms Anderson a heart attack? Why did you have to break in?"

"Adrenaline, my friend," Sirius replied with a smile. "It's the best feeling in the world and you don't even need to light anything to get it… most of the time. Maybe we'll have to try it someday"

Lily rolled her eyes at the bickering boys. "It had better be a natural buzz," she told them. "If I hear of one of you doing any sort of drugs I'll have McGonagall on you faster than you can say Quidditch."

"It's all right, Lil," James said, seeking to placate his witch. "It was just a bit of fun. Besides, Sirius tried some newt eyes once and was sick for days afterwards. None of us will go near the stuff since."

Sirius rolled his shoulders as if easing some ache. "Yeah, Evans, after what I went through then I'll never look to repeat the experience. But James and I needed some fun today, and that old spinster had it coming, the way she treated us all summer."

Remus shook his head at them. Adrenaline junkies: that was just what the already intemperate troublemakers needed to be.

Though they were his friends, Remus didn't get into nearly as much trouble as Sirius and James did. Built like James, Remus was the second tallest of their group, and the most mature. His sandy blonde hair was cut short this year and as he ran his hand through it, he tried to adjust to its new length.

Shifting his tired grey eyes to the crowd in the Great Hall, Remus hoped to see something interesting. The full moon had only been a few days ago and he was still regaining his strength, but he hadn't regained enough to deal with Sirius when he got an idea in his head.

"What did she do?" asked a somewhat timid voice.

Small and scrawny, with mousy brown hair, a small nose and beady black eyes, Peter Pettigrew, the fourth and final member of the group known as the Marauders, was no where near as attractive as the other three. He lacked the confidence of the others, always worried about what others might thing of him.

His deep set eyes glanced fitfully around the Great Hall, landing on the Slytherin table only once he was sure his friends looked elsewhere.

He caught LeStrange's eye. Eight o'clock. Be alone.

Peter nodded. He could do that. He could slip his friends at eight. He could do it right this time.

Lily flashed a smile at Peter as he turned his back to their table, oblivious to the meeting he had just scheduled.

He's always so nervous, she thought. I wonder how he can go through with any of their pranks.

She tried to ignore all of the evil looks she had been getting since boarding the train that morning. She had thought she had been prepared to face the hatred of almost all of the other girls in the school, but she supposed she could have been wrong.

Trying not to make eye contact with any of the students, Lily looked up to the Head table to see if she could spot their new professor.

A woman, young from what she could gather, with brown hair that looked red in the candle light and black in the shadows.

In all honesty, Lily's eyes weren't much better than James's, though she only wore her glasses for reading.

----------(*)----------

From her seat at the High table Hermione had an uninterrupted view of the Great Hall. She studied the four house tables and their entering occupants carefully. These would be her students in the morning.

Once the Hall was filled she gave each table a once over, searching for anyone else she might know or know of in the future. Her gaze lingered on two tables in particular, Slytherin and Gryffindor.

Once she spotted him, through a gap in the monstrous bulk of some of the Slytherins', Snape was easy to recognize. Looks like his hair has always been greasy…

The Gryffindors were easier to find, but much more difficult to look at.

Peter Pettigrew… there were no words. Conniving bastard, I’ll deal with you later.

Upon seeing James, Hermione had to fight to stay in her seat, wanting nothing more than to run over screaming "Harry! Harry!"

He's not Harry. You must remember that. He is James. James Potter. There is a difference between them. There must be, for your sake and theirs.

The red head next to him unsettled her for two reasons. The first, her shining locks reminded her of Ginny Weasley as she had last seen her, lying in a pool of her own blood. The second, Harry's eyes were only to be seen on Harry's face. Seeing them on Lily Evans's decidedly more delicate and feminine face was unnerving. As was the look she was now getting from those eyes.

Shifting her gaze slowly enough that it would seem as though she was just moving on, Hermione focused on Remus Lupin and Sirius Black. The sight of them was almost too much.

Pettigrew she had only known personally for a short while, about two hours. Lily and James were just stories she had been told. But Remus and Sirius… she tried to hold back the tears that threatened when she thought of all she had been through with them.

They looked so young here, unburdened by the things that would etch lines into their familiar faces, and so healthy. Sirius wasn't gaunt now like he was when she had known him. And Remus, though he looked tired, didn't seem to be even a fourth as weary now as he would be in the future.

This is what they should have looked like. They shouldn't have been hardened the way they had. They shouldn't have been shades of these teenage boys.

Remus had been her favorite Defense professor, his classes had been the most interesting she had ever been in aside from Sanpe's. She hoped that she would be even half as good as a teacher to him as he was to her. She would do her best not to let him down, not to let Dumbledore down.

She turned her eyes from the Gryffindor table with a mix a of regret and hope, tuning back into the conversation being held at the Staff table

"Oh thank you my dear, I do so appreciate it, you really have no idea," Slughorn's voice praised her as his large, sweaty hands gripped one of hers.

Oh shit.

"You just saved my life, my dear. No! Scratch that, you've just given me my life back. I really cannot thatnk you enough."

What the hell had she gotten into?

She nodded at him, a false little unsure smile playing about her mouth. There was no turning back now.

"Of course, Horace. It isn't a problem."

Politely slipping her hand from his, she turned to Dumbledore, her eyes bordering on panicked.

"What did I…?" she began.

"Shh, my dear, it's alright. You've just agreed to fill in for Horace as Head of Slytherin during the weekends." He smiled benevolently at her though his eyes twinkled with mischief. "He's been trying to find someone to do this for a few years now. I believe you are the first to agree."

"Why? He spends all year at the school just like all of the other teachers. Why should he get weekends off when others don't?" she whispered heatedly.

"Clam yourself, my dear. Horace is one of our older professors and has been thinking of retiring for some time now. As a Potion's Master he spent many weekends at conferences and symposiums before he began to teach and would like to do so again. He's been teaching here for ten years now and feels though he has become a bit "out-of-touch" with the new discoveries being made in the field. You are the first to give him a chance to return to the conferences."

Wonderful. Bloody wonderful. I'm stuck babysitting the Slytherins every weekend for the rest of the year… But perhaps it won't be so bad. It's the perfect opportunity to turn them – destroy those who won't. Though I can't really see Snape knocking on my door at two in the morning to spill his soul to me.

She smiled internally at the thought.

His nightie would be long and gray, no, black, but dingy with age…

Hermione's musings were interrupted Professor McGonagall – Minerva's – entrance into the Hall. She carried a three legged stool and a beat-up old wizard's hat and was followed by a string of young children.

I don't remember being so small when I was a first year…

The eleven year olds looked around the Hall in awe, amazed by the floating candles and night sky above them.

"Lovely," the Headmaster chuckled, rubbing his hands together like a maniac. "My favorite part of the feast, the Sorting." He leaned over to her and whispered conspiratorially, "The faculty always has a friendly bet on the Sorting, how many students to each house, who will be put in what House based on their family history and all that. Would you like to join? "

Hermione smiled at him. She would win, they both knew it. In her time this had already happened and she already knew most of the answers.

Minerva cleared her throat and Hermione turned her attention back to the entertainment at hand. Minerva opened the scroll and began to read off names.

Ten minutes later Hermione had won seven bets, having correctly placed three in Hufflepuff, two in Ravenclaw, one in Slytherin and one in Gryffindor – Kingsley Shacklebolt.

Why didn't Kingsley ever tell Harry that he knew his parents?

A few minutes more and the Sorting was finished. Dumbledore stood to make his beginning of term speech.

"Welcome to our new students and welcome back to those of you who are returning. A few announcements before our feast begins: the name of the Forbidden Forest is quite apropos, for it is quite forbidden. A list of forbidden items can be found tacked to Mr. Filch's office door… And this year our Head Boy and Girl are Mr. James Potter and Miss Lily Evans, respectively…"

After a few more general announcements she was introduced.

"Now please join me in welcoming our new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor -" Hermione stood "- Ms Hermione Grimaldi."

She fought to keep a calm expression on her face as she glanced around the Hall. It would have been so much easier if… she hadn't been hearing catcalls from the – Ravenclaw Table?

----------(*)----------

Since turning away from the Gryffindors, Severus had been trying to see the new professor. He finally got his chance when she stood to be introduced.

When she did he took the opportunity to take her in, raking his eyes up and down her form and then back again. And he wasn't the only one. It seemed as though every other teen red-blooded male in the Hall did the same.

No one could blame them either. Not when a woman who looked like that showed up at a boarding school.

She couldn't have been more than twenty Severus decided, perhaps twenty-one. Her hair, brown with red, blonde and black highlights, was pulled away from her face in a sophisticated French twist, though a few strands had freed themselves to frame her face attractively.

And her robes flattered her figure. A wide black belt that stretched from just below her breast to just above her hips was strapped over a pale gray dress with long, flowing sleeves and a leather vest in the same shade of gray. Looped around her waist and hips was a thinner black belt, this one with runes stamped into the leather and gilded in silver.

The thick belt around her abdomen showed off her slender waist and ample breasts while the long graceful skirt and sleeves gave her the look of a medieval sorceress, gentle and fragile. But one look into her eyes showed that she was nothing of the sort. The stories her eyes told to any willing to look hard enough were of growing up hard and fast because death was an ever present companion. They told tales of battles and blood baths, hatred and ridicule.

She was no gentle lady to be protected. If anything, she would be the one doing the protecting.

Like males all across the Hall, Sirius Black was having a hard time tearing his eyes away from the new teacher.

"Damn," he muttered. "I'd do her – Ow! What the hell was that for Moony?" he exclaimed, rubbing the back of his head where Remus' hand had made contact.

"She's your professor, you dolt! You can't do her!"

"Oh please, like the same idea didn't cross your mind."

"Oh but it didn't, dear Padfoot," James grinned. "You know our Moony, he would never betray his precious books for a taste of physical pleasure – Ow! What the hell was that for Lily?"

Lily rolled her eyes at the pair of boys rubbing the backs of their scalps. "I'm dating an idiot," she muttered.

James just smiled and leaned in and kissed her cheek. "But I'm a cute idiot."

She smiled ruefully.

Remus' eyes lingered on Professor Grimaldi for a few moments more, watching her as she sat down. His eyes locked with hers once she was settled. He couldn’t hold the contact for more than a second before he felt a blush rise to his cheeks.

Padfoot was right, she was attractive.

With a sigh he turned his attention back to his house-mates and the food that had appeared before them.

The Feast had begun.
* * *

The Feast was almost over when Dumbledore remembered to tell Hermione that as the professor with the closest quarters to theirs, it was her duty to show the Head Boy and Girl their new dormitories.

"They are located in the Egypt Hall, behind the portrait of the Sphinx, and they are to set the password themselves. Please remind them that it must be something others will not think of try if attempting to get in. Hurry now, they've just walked out the door."


* * *

"Well, well, well, lookie who we have here Wormtail! Snivellus, ol'mate!"

Severus stopped his trek to the dungeons. Black. Trust him to cause trouble the first night.

"Such a pity I cannot say the same to you, Black."

"Aww, you disappoint me, Sevvie," Sirius pouted.

"Don't get too upset Black, you do have hands. I'm sure the thought of me will help you along if you just use your hands." Severus smirked at Sirius from across the Entrance Hall.

Sirius gave a silent snarl and stalked across the Hall, drawing his wand.

Lily, James, and Remus appeared just as he reached him.

"Would the two of you stop it?!" Lily cried, looking back and forth between the two of them. "Hasn't this gone on long enough?!"

Hermione exited the Great Hall in time to hear Sirius' first comment and had stopped in the shadows once she heard Lily's anguished cry Perhaps Lily would be able to sort this out.

On second thought… Snape and Sirius stood no more than a few inches apart, each with their wand drawn and pointed at the other's heart. And a crowd had begun to gather, a few older Slytherins stood behind her former Potions professor while the Marauders and a few other Gryffindors had taken their place behind Sirius. The Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws in the audience were scattered around the sides.

The air seemed to crackle with magic and hate the longer the murderous pair stood there. This had gone on long enough, someone might get hurt.

"Enough," she stated clearly, her skirt flowing about her ankles as she exited the shadows. "Put your wands away."

Neither moved.

"Do not make me draw mine, I promise you will not like the consequences."

As if mirroring each other they slowly lowered their wands.

"Better. I had hoped my first point deduction would come after the term had begun. You have exactly two minutes to get to your dorms before I lose my wish and take ten points from everyone in this hall."

The crowd scattered.

"Mr. Potter, Miss Evans," she called as they too began to retreat, "if you would follow me please. I am to show you your new quarters for the term."


A/N:I know that in cannon Sirius was taller than James and had grey eyes and not blue...but let's not stick in that...I may rewrite it later....but for now, let's leave as it is.

Next chapter is on the way….This story will be updated once in two weeks, maybe even faster…who knows…but I will definetly finish it.
Your reviews - means faster updates:-) I just love to hear from you...