Life Begins Anew

I do not own Harry Potter! JK does and I make no money from this.

Chapter 43 Return to Hogwarts

Sunday evening found most of the students eating dinner in the Great Hall. They noticed the absence of the Snapes once again. The volume in the hall increased as the students expressed their joy to one another that there would be another week without them. Christmas had indeed come early.

At the Gryffindor table the animated chat was much louder. No one missed the potions master, and their house had not taken a hit in points in the last week. It actually increased with the absence of their teacher.

Hermione turned to Harry and Ron. “I would not get my hopes up that the Snapes will not be present for the next week. I have a feeling that they will be making an appearance shortly.”

“Care to make a wager Hermione?” Ron asked. “I’ve got a Galleon. All the professors are required to attend dinner on Sundays, and yet he is not here.”

“Done!” Laughed Hermione, shaking Ron’s hand.

Harry leaned over and whispered to Hermione. “Is your bond to the professor telling you something Hermione?”

“Something like that Harry.” Hermione mysteriously whispered back.

***Severus, the conversation is interesting in the Great Hall this evening. Everyone is happy that you are yet absent again. *** She sent along the bond.

***I am so happy to disappoint them Hermione! I am just outside the staff entrance. You will have to let me see the shocked faces of your fellow lions later***

She felt the glee and amusement along their bond. She knew that he had purposely not arrived for dinner until midway through it for maximum shock. He really was the epitome of a Slytherin. No one would get a good night’s sleep now before classes resumed tomorrow. They would be too worried about their potions classes.

The door to the staff entrance banged open a black clad figured enter the room as a figure dressed in midnight blue robes followed behind him. The forms took their seats at the Head Table as the room became silent, every student looking to the Head Table.

The potions master glared down at the room until it buzzed with conversation, this time with a resigned note.

Sara looked to her brother. “I wonder which Professor Snape they are upset at seeing the most.”

“Me of course Professor Snape! Look to the House glasses. Gryffindor is actually even with Slytherin, a fact that I will soon rectify. And as you never give points…” He darkly chuckled. Monday was going to be interesting.

Back at Gryffindor table Hermione looked to Ron holding out her hand. Ron cursed as he dug into his robes and handed Hermione the coin. Damn! He had been saving it for Honey Dukes.

“Are you a Seer Hermione?” Ron growled at her, upset that he had lost.

Hermione spat out her pumpkin juice she had been sipping. “Really Ronald, you know how I feel about Divination! It is a slippery subject at best. I just had a feeling.” She calmly replied.

Harry looked to her. She was hiding something and he would find out.

&&&&&&

Defense classes came on Monday and the students quietly entered looking to their professor warily. They had noticed that she had changed during her absence.

She looked to them as they sat down. She suddenly pulled out her wand sending a steady stream of different hexes towards the students, the room exploding into complete chaos. Groans were heard across the room as she accounted for the students. It seems three were missing. She pointed her wand over her shoulder sending a stinging hex out, hearing the groans from the three missing students.

She turned around and pointed her wand at the groans intoning “Finite Incantatum.” The disillusionment spell ended, revealing Harry, Hermione, and Ron.

“Nice try Golden Trio! What were you waiting for? The perfect moment to subdue me or was it Gryffindor honor not to attack someone while their back is turned?” She coldly asked them. “A perfect moment never arrives and your enemy will not think twice about killing you when your back is turned!”

She put the room back in order and motioned the students to sit. She observed her handy work.

Most of the snakes were unscathed and most of the lions were showing the result of her hexing.

“Well, I see that half of you have been enjoying your vacation. Detention for Gryffindor tonight 7 p.m for some remedial training!” She snarled out.

“So class, what have we been learning while I was away?” She called out.

No one dared replied and she noticed there was a textbook open on her desk with Bootstray’s notes to one side.

“I take it the subject was how to protect one’s self from magical creatures?” She asked them. She saw the students nod their heads.

“Okay, let’s see if you can dazzle me with your knowledge on the subject. Starting from the left, name a creature, what it is, and how to defend yourself from it. And do not read from your book!”

She made the motions, nodding her head when needed and not really listening to her students as they told her what she requested of them. She really could not blame Bootstray as he had already told her what he had covered and that if he had to be a professor again, then to please kill him to put him out of his misery.

Soon the bell rang and the students gathered up their bags. “Gryffindors here at 7 p.m. and I hoped you enjoyed your vacation from me as it ends today! Now get out!”

Severus revealed himself as he walked up to Sara’s desk. “Most impressive comeback Sara. Your hexes were interesting! But you let three get behind you.”

Sara coldly chuckled. “I am sure that Miss. Granger is behind that. She has the ability to think and act on her feet. I wonder if they will be able to do what is required of them in the end.”

She looked to him. “And, dear Brother! What evilness have you planned for your advanced snakes and lions potions class today?”

He grinned evilly. “A pop quiz.”

She looked back in disbelief. “A pop quiz? That’s all?!”

“Yes.” He replied back. “I know how Albus teaches, and he will not have covered any serious potions during my absence, even if they are on the curriculum I am required to submit. And my pop quizzes are feared by all. Too bad you have class. It is really quite refreshing to see the looks of dismay on their faces when I say those two simple words.”

He pulled out a pepper up potion, seeing the sweat that had appeared on her face. “Take it, and try not to tax yourself too much.”

She drank the potion down and handed him back the empty phial. “I am thinking that you are beginning to care for me Professor Snape.”

“Just protecting an investment Professor Snape.” He coldly told her as he left her classroom.

He stood outside the Defense classroom for a moment. Damn Bond! It was going to be very hard to surprise or hide anything from her as both their thoughts and feelings were sent to one another.

***Hermione, you better not breathe a word out to your fellow lions about my plans. **** He sent out.

***What difference will it make? We all will fail anyway! *** She lightly sent back.

He silently chuckled as he went to his classroom. She knew him too well.
&&&&&

Soon it was time for Severus’s double potions class with the snakes and lions. He sat at his desk observing the students as they came in and silently took their seats. They looked up to him as he glared down at them for a good five minutes, watching the students fidget in their seats.

***You are truly evil Professor Snape! *** Hermione sent along the bond.

He stood up and passed the parchments out. “A pop quiz class! The parchment contains questions about potions that were supposed to be covered during the week that I was absent. I expect you to do well as I understand the Headmaster covered my classes. Get to work! You have 45 minutes.” He snarled at them. He conjured up a time piece that counted down the time.

Hermione happily started to work on her test as the other students looked down in disbelief. There was no doubt that the greasy git of the dungeons was back.

He watched over his class as they took their test. It was obvious that most did not know any of the answers even on the Slytherin side.

Soon the time piece flared up and disappeared. “Bring your papers forward.” He coldly commanded.

The students slowly approached and handed in their papers. He just took the test from them not bothering to look at them. He straightened them and placed them neatly on his desk.

“Now, as we have an hour left and I am feeling most charitable.” He began as he heard a snort of disbelief from Mr. Weasley.

“Mr. Weasley, it is very rude to interrupt a professor while they are lecturing. Fifty points from Gryffindor!” He called out.

“Now, as I was saying. Much of the potions that are handed in during regular potions classes are tossed away as this is a school, and while viable, cannot be consumed by the Wizarding world at large as you are not certified as a Potions Master or Mistress. However, the advanced potions classes are different. Today you are going to brew a neo natal vitamin potion for pregnant witches. What you brew will go to St. Mungo’s for destitute witches that cannot afford them. I check them over, so it is MY NAME that will be attached to them along with yours! It would do you well to remember that.”

He pointed his wand at the chalkboard and listed the instructions and ingredients on the board. “Remember, there is life that depends on this. It is a rather simple potion. Do not screw it up! Begin!” He snarled out.

He watched as the students carefully wrote down the instructions instead of heading pell mell to the ingredient storeroom. There might be hope fort them yet.

He began grading the student’s test while keeping a watchful eye out to his class. He was not about to walk around and harass them. He got to the Golden Trio. Surprisingly Potter and Weasley passed.

***I made them study! *** Hermione sent along the bond.

He looked up and noticed her smug look and glared back at her. She quickly looked back to her notes.

Soon the potions were complete and turned in. “You have fifteen minutes left in this class. Your tests are pitiful Gryffindor! As I have already heard about your disaster in Defense today, you have detention tomorrow at 7 pm with me. 100 points from Gryffindor for the lack of studying while I was away. 100 points to Slytherin as you all passed. I suggest everyone use the time left wisely!”

The bell rang and all the students quickly gathered their things.

“Miss. Granger, I require a word with you.” He called out.

Harry looked to his friend as he left. He knew that something was going on between the two and he would corner her tonight.

Professor Snape waited until the classroom was empty and warded the door. It was lunch time and he had no classes.

He handed her five phials of potion. “This is enough for fifteen days Hermione. You need to start taking a third each day when you get up in the morning. I will be brewing your potions after this.”

“Severus, Harry is becoming suspicious! He knows about the bond, but not what it means. I am going to tell him tonight about us. I hate hiding secrets from him!”

He sighed. “And the dunderhead Weasley?” He spat out.

“Ron would not understand, so I will leave him out. Besides Severus, if Harry does not take the truth well I will Obliviate him.” She told him.

“Such a Slytherin tactic coming from a Gryffindor Miss. Granger!” He replied as he hugged her for a moment before letting go. “Go on to lunch Hermione before you are missed. And promise me that you will take your potion.”

“Of course Severus!” She replied as she brushed her lips against his before leaving the classroom.

He looked to her as she left. Gods his life had become so complicated.

&&&&&&

The seventh year Gryffindors gathered outside the defense classroom for detention. They had no doubt that the professor inside was waiting to attack them.

“So we need a sacrificial lion.” Ron spoke up.

“Don’t look at me Ronald Weasley! There is no way that I am about to walk in there on my own!” Hermione growled as she saw her fellow seventh years look up to her.

“But Hermione! You are Head Girl after all. Supposed to look after us and all that!” Ron told her.

“Ron!” She hissed. “You really are a chickenshit! Fine! I’ll go first if we have a plan.” She snarled to him.

Ron told them of his plan. They all agreed that it was a good one and looked to Hermione.

She silently cast Protego, ensuring she was protected. Everyone else disillusioned themselves, wand at the ready. She was not going to remind them of a shield. Hell’s, they were all willing to have her at the brunt of the Defense professor’s hexes then so be it on them if they do not remember.

She entered the classroom, noticing her professor idly twirling her wand. She sat down and silently stated “Point me Professor Snape!” Holding her wand underneath the desk. She gasped out in surprise as her wand pointed to a dark alcove to the left.

By then her fellow Gryffindors had come in disillusioned, firing hexes at the desk where the Defense professor was sitting, revealing their positions as the hexes left their wands. Hermione ducked under the desk disillusioning her.

She watched as the string of hexes shot out from the dark alcove to the left, giving no one a chance, incapacitating her fellow students.

She snuck out and made her way to the dark alcove. She felt the hair of their Defense professor. She yanked back on that shouting “Finite Incantatum!” As she held her wand to Professor Snape’s throat.

Sara gently pulled Hermione’s arm with her wand away. “Very well done Miss. Granger. I take it you were the sacrifice?”

Hermione spat out. “Yes, as I was reminded that as Head Girl, I am supposed to sally forth to protect!”

Sara coldly laughed as she revealed Seamus, Harry, Ron, Dean, Neville, Patil, and Lavender moaning on the floor.

“Well you would be alive as these would be dead!” She stated.

“Sit students! Nice try! We will be working on non verbal spells, as verbal was your downfall.”

“Don’t get cocky Miss. Granger! If it was a true battle, I would be bald. As you can see long hair is a disadvantage to battle, as well as robes!” Professor Snape snarled to her.

“To your desk students!” She snarled. “Detention begins!”

&&&&&&

Harry caught up to Hermione as she left the Defense classroom. “Hermione! We need to talk about your bond to Professor Snape! I know there is more going on there then you let out!”

Hermione sighed and led Harry to the Astronomy tower. She always liked to see the stars when she had a difficult subject to think about. She conjured up two chairs and indicated that Harry should take one.

She told him everything about her and Professor Snape.

He stood up and walked to the edge of the tower, looking up at the stars.

Harry noticed that Hermione had joined him and he grabbed her hand. “You are with child Hermione? His child?” He placed his hand upon her stomach.

“Yes Harry I am.” She whispered to him.

“If what you tell me is true, it is unlikely that Professor Snape will survive.” Harry told her.

Why had she not seen that before!

“Do not say that!” Hermione whispered to him.

“Regardless, if we survive this mess and he does not, I will not allow your child to be illegitimate. You know that stigma Hermione! I will not allow that to happen. I will claim the child as my own! “

“And what of Ginny Harry?” She asked him.

He looked to Hermione. “She will have to understand.” He simply replied as he wrapped his arms around her.

“After all, we survived a Troll together!” Harry softly chuckled.

“Harry, you’re the best!” Hermione replied hugging him. Harry chuckled as he hugged her back.

Down in the potions master chamber, a dark wizard reflected. Maybe Harry Potter was not his father after all.