The Professor

Severus sat by the fire sipping wine. He would return to teaching his classes in the morning. Beside him sat an envelope, addressed to Harry Potter.

This was his final act as a member of the Order of the Phoenix. After this, he would step back completely. But he couldn’t without, at least, aiding in capturing Bellatrix Lestrange. After all, he had saved Potter and his little gang of followers before. Right before the fall of Voldemort, he was able to show his true oyalties and help Potter along the path to defeating the Dark Lord. Of course, Potter didn’t know it was him helping, no way. He would never have accepted help from his nemesis Professor Snape. So Severus became a confidential informant. It was only later that Potter found out who it was who wrote those letters to him, that ultimately saved everyone with the information he shared. So here he was sending Potter yet another letter to save the day. He knew Potter would use it, because his information had always been useful before, hadn’t it?

Inside of the envelope, he had written instructions to Potter. He had worked out what he thought was the best way to perform this spell. His one worry as that Potter was never any good at nonverbal spells.

He hoped that that had changed.

Severus watched Chloe sleep on the couch. They had taken dinner in her rooms. He was busy working, and so was she. They didn’t even talk very much this evening. It was comfortable and familiar.

He had no idea sharing his life with someone could be this…right. He was eagerly looking forward to his life after this chapter was over. In the envelope sat his last scene on the stage. The last act for his character.

As his eyes fell on Chloe’s sleeping form, he felt a weight he had never known he carried, lifted from his shoulders.

He was finished.

And he was happy about it.

********************

The other staff members whispered behind closed doors about the apparent change in their colleague Professor Snape. The once snarky, irritable and plain mean man was now…simply different.

He was still rude and crass, but he had lost the hardness to his eyes. He no longer snarled after every word. He even took to greeting other teachers in the halls. Most of them knew it was because of his and Chloe’s relationship. Minerva had the unfortunate luck to walk in on them in Severus’ office one afternoon. Chloe was draped across Severus’ lap and they were necking in his chair. Minerva tried very hard to forget that moment. But she managed to share it with a few close colleagues before she did.

Albus watched as Severus Snape transformed into something resembling a gentleman. The power of love. He had known it, long ago, that Chloe loved him. But he saw it now, that Severus loved her in return.

A few of the house elves reported that Severus had not slept in his own rooms in over two weeks. He and Chloe kept up appearances in front of the students, but late in the evening, they could be seen strolling towards the lake, hand in hand.

Hagrid had told him so.

Albus chuckled and looked over at Fawkes.

“What do you think of this Fawkes? Severus and Chloe?” Fawkes let out a soothing note that made tears of happiness well in the old man’s eyes. Yes…it was a good thing for Severus.

**********************************

One more chapter to go. I will post it soon.