Severus Snape and the Last Year

Level 3.6: The Winter

The weather had begun to right itself. November had grown cold.

"Severus?" Persephone said as she hovered nervously in the door to his office. He motioned for her to come inside, and she stepped in far enough to close the door. "Draco says you can't write me anymore. Pansy recognized your handwriting, and he--he explained it to her somehow. But he's afraid someone else will figure it out."

Severus came around to the front of his desk and stopped to recline against it. He felt very foolish for having neglected to disguise the handwriting and did not like being at the mercy of Pansy Parkinson. "How did he explain it?"

"Pansy said everyone knew I had been spending time in your office." She lowered her head as though embarrassed but peaked up to check his reaction. "I told her I was taking remedial potions, but she didn't believe it so Draco told her that I had a traumatic experience and you were talking me through it."

His clever ally. "It's close enough to the truth."

Persephone smiled and for some reason a touch of pink was creeping onto her cheeks. "That's what I said. But Draco, he um--he thought we had been snogging." The pink on her cheeks grew more pronounced.

Severus raised an eyebrow but made no other moves. "You corrected him?"

She nodded vigorously and reached a hand up to twist her purl hair around her fingers, still watching him. He understood how Draco's teenage mind had come to that conclusion. He wanted to cross the room and snog her, but clearly that was not something they would be able to keep private.

"No more letters, then," he said.

Persephone nodded again, though he caught the hint of disappointment. She shuffled her feet awkwardly and dropped her hand from her hair to adjust her school bag. "You know Daphne has a crush on you too."

Severus rolled his eyes, lip curling with distaste. "Too?"

She pursed her lips. "Well, you're um--fanciable. Several of the girls think you have presence."

Severus twitched. He always felt defensive when someone complimented his appearance, too many years of insults to the contrary. Persephone was not one to insult or use false flattery, exaggerated perhaps, but she had a curious view of the world. He slowly registered that she had called him fanciable and could find no response.

"I should probably go," she said. "We're um...we're going to try to come up with a new school song."

"Much needed."

She grinned and quickly dodged out the door to hide her pink face.

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

"You look good," she had told him once, when Lucius had drafted him to play Seeker for a summer practice and loaned him an old Quidditch uniform he had outgrown. Severus had assumed she was teasing him. He had a thinner frame than Lucius and the green robes had drooped oddly.

Since he was smaller than the others, Lucius had assigned Severus the role of Seeker. During a one-sided practice this mainly involved him flying around and trying not to crash into the other players or get hit by the single Bludger the Beaters were trying to control. In theory, he was chasing the Snitch too, but since practice was not determined by how soon or often he caught it, he spent most of his time making a wide circle around the other players and enjoying the rush of flight.

He had disappointed Lucius by not trying out for the team, but he knew it was better than disappointing him during an actual match. He had no illusions about his skill. Besides, since nearly everyone but Persephone went to watch the games, this bought him a few hours alone with her. She was glad for the company. They usually did homework, but sometimes they explored the empty castle.

James Potter had changed positions on the Gryffindor team. Some kid named Quigley replaced him as Seeker, and James became a Chaser. This had turned out to be a good move for the Gryffindors. James had only been a fair Seeker, but he was an exceptional Chaser. James hit new heights in arrogance and popularity, but this helped Severus slip a little further off his radar.

It was a good year for Severus, but a hard year for Persephone. Narcissa had convinced her to take Divination as an elective, and she had been looking forward to a year of inventing stories for the teacher and giggle over palm lines like the other girls did. The problem was that Persephone actually saw things, and what she saw was not pretty.

She came back from her first lesson white and trembling because she had been partnered with Sirius's little brother Regulus and seen a death omen in his tea cup. Regulus was not too bothered by it. The Divination Master Ignatius Fancourt had not seen anything. They reassured her it was her first day and she was simply reading the cup wrong. Severus, whose precise mother held Divination in contempt, told her the whole fortunetelling business was rot anyway.

It helped that Regulus survived the year, but Severus could not help noticing that several of her minor predictions and off-hand comments were coming to pass. Lucius had picked up the habit of reading the Daily Prophet in the mornings and passing it down the table to Severus when he had finished. In an attempt to sound grown up, he asked her what she thought about the Crouch case. "Oh, he was Imperiused," she said without looking up from her eggs.

"What about Starkey?"

"She's dead. They'll find her soon."

Severus found the statement odd, because she was so dispassionate about it. On impulse, he took out his self-inking quill and wrote Imperiused by Crouch's picture and Dead by Starkey's. Persephone rubbed her temple and asked if he would help her with Arithmancy later.

The following Friday, Elaine Starkey's body was found. "She's dead," said Severus incredulously as he read the headline.

Persephone nodded. "It's a shame about her mother." And took a sip of orange juice. This was too much for Severus. He had the paper angled up and doubted she could even have read the headline.

"How did you know?" he asked.

"Know what?"

He spent the next few weeks watching his friend very closely and questioning his own sanity. He made notes when she complained about her Divination classes, copied her homework for that subject, and wrote down offhand comments that he might have previously dismissed, anything that sounded like it might be a prediction. Some things were impossible to know any time soon. Whether Narcissa's first born would be a boy or Jeffrey Jakes would live to be one hundred, were too far in the future to test his theory. Other offhand comments were hard to classify as predictions, James will be unbearable after Gryffindor wins this game, only counted by it's lack of an if, and since the match was against Hufflepuff may have just been a statement of the obvious. Her insistence that Lucius would make an 'E' on his Transfiguration essay may simply have been encouragement, though Lucius preferred 'O's. He's going to fall, shortly before the tall Hufflepuff boy she had been looking at tripped over his own shoelaces, drove Severus to distraction, because she denied having said any such thing.

Still the little evidences that his friend might be a True Seer were adding up. Casper Crouch was acquitted due to testimony from his grandson that he had been acting like someone under an enchantment, and a long list of character witnesses who insisted Casper would never do such a thing. Casper Crouch maintained that he had felt funny after passing a particular ally, and that he had not been in control of his own actions. He held onto his freedom, but as a precaution he was removed from his post in the International Magical Office of Law. Elaine Starkey's mother died from heart failure.

Severus bought a blank journal on their first Hogsmeade weekend, so he could keep track of her predictions. At first he had been determined to use it as evidence, since she either did not remember or dismissed most of things he determined were predictions. But the more it developed, the more her ability seemed to upset her. She returned from her Divination classes in a deep melancholy and recounted the things she had seen in a piteous voice.

A few other people picked up that she had a talent for the subject, though Severus doubted they grasped the extent. Lucius asked her for Quidditch predictions, and Fancourt called her his star pupil.

Witch Weekly made things worse. They had done an article on the Silver Child's birth and wanted to do a follow up. Lucius and Narcissa encouraged her to agree to it, so she did. The reporter interviewed her, her friends, and a couple teachers and took a lot of pictures. Severus did his best to stay out of the photographs, but her third year friends were happy to crowd in with her. She had a few days of minor celebrity when the article appeared. Lucius declared it a nice piece, but Persephone was troubled by it. The reporter had implied the song spell was partly responsible for her popularity, and this idea did not sit well with her.

"I don't see why it should bother you," said Lucius. "Likeability is hardly a curse."

Severus understood. He seemed to have powers of dislikeability and found them equally annoying.

James was completely unbearable. He caught them in the hall with a copy of the article. "Isn't it sweet, Hissy? Everyone loves you."

"Leave her alone," Severus growled at him.

"I'm her brother, Snivellus," James said in arrogant tone. "You're just a little greasy rat she took pity on." Sirius, who was always with him, snickered.

"Fine," said Severus, hoping to get away before this turned into a fight. He placed a protective hand on Persephone's shoulder, hoping to steer her away like he had in Knockturn Ally.

"I believe I said 'no touching', Snivellus," James continued in the same overly proper style. Resisting the urge to punch James in the nose, Severus made a show of removing his hand. Persephone was already depressed, and he hoped humoring James might save her some grief. James had a flicker of uncertainty over this new tactic but soon regained his air of superiority. "That's better. I am your brother, Sephi. Why didn't they interview me?"

"I ask them not to," Persephone answered.

"Why?"

"Because you're a toadwart?"

Severus snickered.

Sirius glowered at them. "She just doesn't want you telling the paper what a little freak she really is." Persephone pushed past James, and Severus followed her.

"Quite likely, Sirius," James continued at a volume they would be sure to hear. "You know I can't even have an owl because of her. Sometimes I think animals are smarter than people."

"I believe they call it animal intuition," Sirius bantered back.

"Explains why you're so clever," Severus shot over his shoulder. Luckily they had turned a corner and dodged through a secret passage, before the other boys sorted out what he had said. Away from the crowd, Persephone could no longer hold in her tears. Severus put an arm around her, and she clung to him and cried into his shoulder. She cried on his shoulder several times that year, usually over things she saw in Divination. Crystal balls were worse than tea leaves, the images she saw in them were so much more clear. She stopped wanting to talk about what she saw, and he was not cruel enough to coax her. He was sorry to see her sad but enjoyed that she turned to him for comfort. He tried not to feel jealous when she sought comforting hugs from Lucius too, though he did find it curious that Lucius was more willing to be publicly familiar with her than any of his girlfriends.

Severus tried to tell himself that Lucius thought of her like a kitten or a child, but she was looking less like a child each day. Not all her experiences in Divination class were deaths and horrors. She came back to the common room from her first day with crystal balls blushing furiously and gnawing on some secret. After dodging a few general questions, Lucius asked directly what she saw, and she shot forward to whisper in his ear. Lucius laughed loudly, while Persephone anxiously watched him for some guidance. "But I don't know what to do with it," she whimpered.

"Don't worry about it," Lucius told her between snickers. "If it's meant to happen it will, and if it won't, it won't. No sense fretting over it. Divination is an entertaining, but rather useless discipline."

"I should have taken Ancient Runes," Persephone muttered as she sat down a little further from Severus than usual and look embarrassed.

"See, if you were a True Seer, you should have known that," Lucius teased her.

Persephone hid her pink face.

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

"Professor, I'd like to have a word with you," Pansy Parkinson said as she interrupted his Monday morning planning period.

Professor Snape had been dreading this but did his best not to betray that to Ms. Parkinson. He gestured for her to take a seat. Pansy sat with a stiff grace as though settling in for a job interview or negotiation. He could feel his own shoulders sag with guilt and had to fight the impulse to hide behind his hair like he had in his youth. He leaned back in his seat, propping his elbows on the arms to force his shoulders up and lifted his chin.

Sixteen years of teaching and eleven years as the Head of Slytherin House had taught him that bribery and blackmail were not tactics limited to Slytherin, but Slytherins were generally better at them. He kept his expression blank, while Ms. Parkinson gave him an assessing look.

"Draco explained those letters from Oliver are a counseling technique," she said briskly. "But I'm concerned, Professor. If Pea really went through all that shouldn't she be at St. Mungo's or staying with relatives?"

Professor Snape blinked. "She wanted to continue her education."

"I understand," Pansy continued uncertainly. "But if she's unstable...I mean people don't always know what's best for them when they're rattled. And honestly, please don't take this the wrong way, Professor, but aren't you worried she might misinterpret the letters? If she's really lost everyone, she might just cling to whomever's available. I know she's wearing Draco out with her hysterics, and she seems to be demanding a lot of your time as well. And you have so many other students. I realize you have a duty as Head of House, but girls her age can get very silly ideas into their heads."

Professor Snape moved his elbow to his desk and spread his thumb and index finger across his cheekbones in a gesture of thoughtful consideration that also hid the amused twist of his lips. "You raise good points, Ms. Parkinson. If she had elsewhere to go, I might consider that option, though I don't think she's quite bad enough for St. Mungo's. Poppy was able to look after her injuries." All true enough.

Pansy frowned thoughtfully. "And you're talking her through the rest?"

"Yes."

"With packages and letters?"

Severus shifted uncomfortably. He hated lying to his students. Pansy deserved an explanation. Gratingly, he suspected she would be very understanding if he told her the truth, but that option was not open to him. "I knew her parents." True. "I've been acting as a family friend as well as her Head of House, but I did not want to draw undo attention to her situation. That was the main reason for the pseudonym, to avoid confusion." Almost true. "I apologize if it caused you distress."

Pansy pursed her lips and considered him. "I'm sure you meant well, Professor," she said, which he took as her acceptance of the apology.

He had not noticed the box she was holding in her lap until she placed it on his desk. "If you're counseling students, can you please talk to Indigo? I'm a little worried about her as well. I found those in her dresser."

Severus inspected the box and decided not to ask why she was in the other girl's dresser. Prefects were allowed to take a few liberties if they had good reason to suspect rules were being broken. "Puking Pastilles? You were right to confiscate them. The Weasley products are all banned. However, I fear Ms. Stump is far from the first person to use them to skive off classes."

"That's just it, Professor," Pansy said apprehensively. "Indigo never skips class, so what is she doing with them?"

Professor Snape had no answer for her but promised to have a word with Indigo about them.

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

"Oh," a furiously blushing, unnaturally blonde Indigo squeaked when confronted with the box. "Am I in trouble? I don't use them anymore."

"I should hope not," Professor Snape said, resisting the urge to use Legilimency on her for confirmation. "Why were you using them in the first place?"

She went a little pinker. "I was trying to lose weight."

Professor Snape was completely at a loss. "That's a foolish way to go about it," he said, trying to sound more concerned than intimidating.

"I know," Indigo sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. Distress and embarrassment warred in her expression. "Blaise told me. He caught me...I tried more normal ways. I was simply eating less. That's how I lost weight this summer. But the other girls said I wasn't eating enough and were making me, and I didn't want to get fat again."

Severus really was not cut out to deal with teenage girls, or the very silly ideas they got in their heads. "Ms. Stump, I doubt you have ever been fat, certainly not in the years I've known you." He rubbed his temples. He had been a rather skinny youth himself, though not by deliberation. He had no idea where the line between thin and too thin was supposed to be. "I would like you to talk to Madam Pomfrey."

Indigo whimpered. "I'm fine. Why can't everyone leave it alone?"

Professor Snape shot her an irritated look. "I suppose you'll have to endure the hardship of friends and adults that care more about your well being than your vanity. You're lucky Mr. Zabini caught you and had the presence of mind to say something."

Her expression soften. "Blaise was sweet about it."

"Take him with you to see Madam Pomfrey if you like, but go see her."

Pomfrey worked her magic. Always the picture of discretion she told Severus only that she had ordered Ms. Stump to check in with her once a month. Ravenclaw bested Slytherin in Quidditch. This only bothered Severus because he realized Draco was buying Pansy's silence with his attention, and he would have liked his clever ally to have a victory.

November faded into December. Gladrags sent him Persephone's dress in orange rather than peach, and he sent it back with a note and a color swatch. Figuring he was unlikely to get it back in time for Christmas, he slipped away during the next Hogsmeade weekend and bought her a Charles Dickens novel from a used book shop in a nearby Muggle town. She preferred old books to new ones.

December also brought news of the Americans' intention to start a wizarding college called Moonstone University. They sent him a formal announcement and requested him to recommend a student for their Potions Program. The scholarship they offered would cover four years of study. He thought instantly of Draco. It might be a blatant display of favoritism, but they had given him no specific instructions for his selection. Besides his clever ally was very good at the subject with only Hermione Granger as a rival, and he suspected Ms. Granger was the one who allowed Harry Potter to taste Polyjuice. He owed Draco a favor and wanted him far away from the war. This could get him out of the country for a few years without arousing suspicions or making an enemy of Lucius.

But he had underestimated Draco's fear. "No," his pupil said, after a full minute's consideration. "I appreciate the offer, but I think I'm going to travel after I leave Hogwarts."

Severus understood. Draco was planning to run just like Karkaroff had, which was nearly as dangerous as staying. "There are other options," he said carefully.

Draco shook his head. "Not for me," he said, before bolting out of the office. Severus wished he could tell Draco there was nothing to be scared of, but he hated lying to his students.

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

Naturally the dress arrived four days after he had bought the book. Severus supposed this was just as well. Oliver's letters were still fresh on Ms. Parkinson's mind, and she would find a book a more appropriate gift from a teacher than a dress. To avoid attention at breakfast, he had the house-elves leave the dress on Persephone's bed without a note. Hopefully it would be a nice surprise. But their missed dance seemed to stir strong melancholy in her, and he thought she might prefer the privacy offered by bed curtains if such feelings overwhelmed her.

Severus had a full day of classes and almost forgotten the gift by the time he dismissed his second year students. He lingered in the classroom, carefully securing their vials into the tray he would carry back to his office and tucking their written homework under his arm.

Persephone met him in the hall. Her smile was bright, and her eyes brimming with delight. She seemed too happy to speak, walking on her toes, and he realized his gift had had the desired effect. He feigned innocence, lifting his eyebrow to give her a questioning look.

She beckoned him closer with her finger, and expecting her usual hug or whispered thanks, he shifted his arm load and bent forward to accommodate. Her fingers slipped around his neck, and her soft lips pressed his. He was too surprised to respond but far from displeased. She was as inexperienced at this sort of thing as he was, but her lips lingered far longer than was necessary for a quick peck of gratitude.

Her fingers caressed his jaw line as she released him, still grinning brightly. His mouth worked in a few futile attempts at speech as he straightened up. "I hardly think that's appropriate," he managed softly. "...while I'm your teacher. You'll get in trouble if you do it again." He might have sounded more convincing if he could stop smiling.

She simply smiled at him and gave a soundless chuckle. He nodded towards his office, and she held the door open for him. He tried to collect himself as he set his load down on his desk, but the blissful happiness erupting in his chest made not smiling impossible. She was still there when he turned back around, looking up at him with a mix of fondness, admiration, and a little hunger. The doubts were all gone.

She stepped closer, and he stretched his hand out to stroke her silver hair. "You know we can't," he said gently. "I have rules to follow too."

She gave him a curious look. "You're always so proper."

"Is that problem?"

"No," she said. Her bright smile had settled into a shy grin. "It's one of the things I like about you."

Propriety demanded he let go of her hair too. He did, but it was difficult.

"You won't always be my teacher, you know," she said, as he moved to put the desk between them. He knew it. He was counting the days.

They made no major variation to their routine. Exams allowed little time in their schedules, but there was a change between them. Her hand settled comfortably in his the next time she came to his office. She stole shy looks at him and smiled more while they traded stories about their classes. Teaching her class was not as awkward as he thought it might be. He could play a part for an hour or so. Besides he felt peaceful now, energized but peaceful.

He was looking forward to the Christmas holidays for a change. Neither of them had anywhere else to be, and they would have no classes to distract them

In the staff room, Minerva told him about some fresh almost-incident between Harry and Draco that she had broken up, but Severus was only half listening. No one had been injured. He had never expected Draco's rescue of Harry's aunt to smooth things over between them. Draco held onto too many secrets.

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

"But he did have a dragon, sir!" an eleven year old Draco kept insisting, after a furious Professor McGonagall had left them alone in Snape's office. It was well after midnight, and Severus was fighting drowsiness. He did not consider wandering the halls after hours to be the crime Minerva did. A broken rule certainly, but she had not caught Draco in the act of vandalism or in a restricted area of the castle. Severus thought Minerva was a little too quick to dismiss the boy's story about Potter having dragon, though he did have to agree it was a poor excuse to be out of bed.

She had agreed to investigate, while Severus dealt with his own first year. He sat behind his desk, trying to disguise his sleepiness as deep contemplation. Draco misinterpreted his silence as disbelief. "I saw it!"

Severus raised an eyebrow. "When did you see it?"

Draco clamped his mouth shut as though realizing he had said too much and looked guilty. "A few weeks ago," he said in a very small voice. He continued more quickly. "That gamekeeper's hatched it in his hut. Isn't that illegal, keeping a baby dragon?"

"Yes," Severus answered. "It strikes me as curious that Hagrid would show it to you."

Pink crept across Draco's pale cheek. "I saw it through the window. I overheard Potter and his friends say the Hagrid was doing something that would get them in trouble, and I wanted to know what."

"Naturally," Severus drawled. Curiosity was an impulse he could understand, though he wondered if an inexperienced young Draco had mistaken an overlarge lizard or fiery salamander for a newborn dragon. Hagrid did keep an odd assortment of pets, and Kettleburn often got him to tend ailing creatures. "What made you think they would have it inside the castle tonight?"

Draco hesitated again. Reluctantly he reached into his pocket. "This," he said, handing over the letter. Severus unfolded it and read. It was a reply from Charlie Weasley, telling his brother to have the illegal dragon up on the astronomy tower at midnight for pick up. It was damning evidence, and Severus found himself fully awake now. "Why didn't you report this?" he asked Draco slowly.

The pink flush grew darker, and Draco sagged down into an empty chair. "Potter doesn't like me," he said, staring down at his shoes.

"And...?"

"I thought maybe if I kept his secret..." Draco twisted as though something was warring inside him. "He'd give me another chance and..."

"Be your friend?" Severus supplied, not without a hint of annoyance. He had hoped Draco would not suffer from the same mindless Potter worship that had effected many of his classmates.

Draco nodded, looking miserable, and Severus understood the boy realized that he had just undone weeks of ground work. "I just wanted to see it, before it was gone. I thought...I thought they might want some help since Weasley was in the hospital wing."

"If that was a Ridgeback bite, Weasley will be lucky to keep his hand. You should have come to me when you first saw it," Severus said sternly.

"Yes, sir," Draco murmured.

Severus looked up at the clock on the mantle. "If Charlie Weasley's friends were on time, the dragon is long gone now. After I see you to the dorms, I'll find out if Minerva discovered anything."

"She gave me detention," Draco said, glancing at the letter with a hopeful note.

"Which you will serve and be glad she didn't catch you with a dragon."

Draco slumped but nodded. He glanced at the letter again. "Sir, what will you do about that gamekeeper?"

"I'll see that the matter is properly dealt with," said Severus. He walked Draco to the common room entrance and returned to his office. After a few minutes consideration, he threw the letter in the fire and decided to speak to Minerva in the morning.

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

He was having a more difficult time than he expected giving away the American scholarship. He decided, since Draco had turned it down, it was only fair to offer it to Hermione Granger. Despite the irritation she had given him over the years, she did have the highest marks in the year both in and out of Potions class. He expected her to turn it down. Four years away from Harry Potter probably would not sit well with her, though he thought it might do her some good and intended to give her the holiday to think it over. At the very least, he had expected her to allow him to make the offer.

She glared at him when she turned in the final draft of her proposal and during the exam instructions. He dismissed this as concern over the test or perhaps a reaction to the constructive criticism he had given her the week before. She attacked her exam with intensity, which again was not unusual. Many students had a similar expression, though Draco looked deceptively relaxed as he filled in answers, paying as much attention to his penmanship as the words. Harry Potter alternated between frowning in confusion and quickly filling chunks of parchment with his untidy scrawl. Neville Longbottom was working steadily, his round face tight with concentration.

Professor Snape glanced over the final drafts while the advanced students worked on their exams. Potter had abandoned Polyjuice for Memory Potions, which was far more suited to his limited talent. Longbottom's proposal had changed little from his initial attempt, but he had expanded it with further research. It was the only one among the batch that truly impressed him. There was something snippy about Granger's attempt to integrate his suggestions. Her goal was clear, but she had too many conflicting ideas on how to go about it. Pansy Parkinson had managed to settle on a Beautifying Potion that modified hair color. Severus was tempted to assign her Potter's Polyjuice idea just to see her make use of her intellect, but the month long brewing time made it impractical for a school assignment.

"Time's up," Professor Snape told his students. He flicked his wand, and their exams flew to his desk. "I will have some final notes for you when you return next term to start the practical portion of your experiments. Make sure you have thoroughly read chapter fifteen in your text before you return from holiday, and I would like you to see me in my office after class, Ms. Granger."

"No!" Hermione yelped.

Severus tried to spot something that might explain her startled expression. He saw nothing and decided to give her a chance to clarify or amend. "What did you say?"

"No," she repeated defiantly. "I'm not staying after class." The defiance both annoyed and perplexed him. He could not think of anything he had done lately to incite her ire, except perhaps critique her proposal at a professional rather than student level, but that had been intended as a compliment. He would be well within his rights to dock points or assign detention, but he decided on a more direct penalty.

"Very well, then. Mr. Longbottom, you will stay."

He had the satisfaction of watching confusion flicker across Granger's features before she stalked out with Potter close behind her.

An apprehensive Neville Longbottom followed him into his office. "I enjoyed your theories regarding Dentatus Pelargonium. Professor Sprout is optimistic about your chances at a successful grafting."

Longbottom visibly sagged with relief and collapsed into the chair facing his desk. Professor Snape gave him a tight smile. Was he really that terrifying?

He explained the scholarship and told Neville he could take the holiday to think it over. "Any questions?"

"Yes, sir," Longbottom had finally found his voice. "Why me? I know Hermione..."

"I was going to offer it to Ms. Granger, but she didn't seem to want it." Severus doubted she knew why he was calling her into his office, but he had no patience for whatever wrong conclusion she had jumped to this time. Mr. Longbottom looked uncomfortable at his reason, so he continued. "Besides, your proposal was brilliant. It showed good use of integrating material from other disciplines. Ms. Granger has higher marks, but you demonstrate a better understanding of how to blend methodology with the necessary amount of creativity without needlessly complicating the process. And that will take you further in the Potions field."

"I was hoping to be a healer," Longbottom told him nervously.

"You can consult with St. Mungo's," Severus suggested. "But I suspect the extra study and specialization will help you stand out when you apply to their training and apprentice programs."

Longbottom frowned thoughtfully but had no other questions. Professor Snape waved him out of his office.

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

The train left on Saturday morning, taking most of the Hogwarts population home for the holidays. Persephone caught his eye at breakfast. Intense little Victoria sat across from her. Persephone had practically adopted the Deys. She seemed to have an affinity for Death Eater children. Severus suspected she wanted to rescue them.

Draco had signed up to stay at Hogwarts over holidays as well, which Severus doubted would go over well with his parents but it was probably wiser. Daphne Greengrass was the only other Slytherin to stay over Christmas. Potter and several of his D.A. friends had stayed as well. He had some hope that Draco would be able to speak more freely without so many Slytherin eyes on him.

Minerva was talking to Pomona about the Forum's contest for a new school song. The idea had been generated by Ms. Parkinson, who Severus was starting to wonder if he had been too quick to dismiss. Most of the teachers were very supportive, though Noachian and Dumbledore had expressed a fondness for the old tuneless scolion. Binns, who had encyclopedic knowledge of history, had completely forgotten that Hogwarts had a school song.

He had died during Severus's fourth year. Persephone's class had been the first one he had floated into, giving his students a bit of a shock. It had been a rough year for her.

He slipped away from the Great Hall as soon as he was able and met her down in his office. She hugged him with a "Happy Christmas!", and he decided the holiday spirit allowed him to return the squeeze. He promised her a walk around the lake that afternoon. He had bought a green sweater and pair of black trousers during his stop in the Muggle village, mainly because he thought the outfit might amuse her. It was so cold he had to cover it with his heavy winter cloak, but he wore it all the same. They met just outside the entry hall and walked down to the lake. They were bundled in gloves and scarves. Their breath made white puffs of mist in the air. Within a minute his nose was raw and dry, but still, it was blissful.

He told her about a horribly unsuccessful attempt to search the lake for her. He had had some small fear of the giant squid having taken her. But he could not swim and, in the end, had to rely on Dumbledore's interviews with the merpeople. She placed her gloved hand on his arm and gave it a light squeeze before slipping her hand back in her pocket. It began to snow lightly, and she caught flakes on her tongue.

They managed to return to the castle without meeting anyone except Hagrid, who gave them a jovial wave. Severus gave him a nod, while Persephone returned his wave with a bright smile.

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

Far more puzzling to Severus than the animosity between Persephone and her bother were the sudden, inexplicable truces. James had stopped by the Slytherin table on the way out of the Great Hall one day and asked, "Hey, Sephi, we're going down to see Hagrid. Want to come?"

"Sure," she had said without a second thought and hopped up to join him, leaving Severus sitting at the table with Avery. Avery developed the habit of sitting near Severus that year, because he was one of the few who would put up with him. He was not a friend, but their mutual unpopularity gave them common ground. Persephone was not fond of Avery, but she was patient with him.

He thought it curious that she got on so well with the groundskeeper when animals reacted so badly to her, but they were both kind hearted people. Lucius had detached from his cloud of Quidditch players and pretty girls long enough to ask where she had gone. He sniffed when Severus mentioned Hagrid. "You know, I caught her chatting with my house-elves once?"

Severus tried to look surprised, even though he was not in the least bit. Lucius seemed to be trying to understand a concept that was beyond him. "She's a bit of child still."

"She's only thirteen," said Severus.

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

She took a detour to speak to the house-elves in the Hogwarts kitchen while he returned to his office, lit a fire, and arranged two chairs beside it. By the time she joined him, a tray with hot chocolate and a selection of pastries had appeared. Severus remembered the trouble Lucius had had with his own house-elf and smiled to himself. He might have commanded more loyalty from the creatures if he took the trouble to talk to them like Persephone did.

They warmed themselves by the fire, sipping hot chocolate, and laughing over nothing in particular. It took her half an hour to notice his sweater. She reminded him of an old promise to go on a Muggle outing with her, and he told her that was why he had invested in the outfit. That and a desire to expand his wardrobe. She suggested he show up to class one day in lavender robes just to see the students reaction. It was amusing to think about. He would sooner saw off his right arm, but he doubted she was making a serious suggestion.

When her laughter settled, she began a more serious contemplation of what colors might complement his skin tone, which became a reflection that she was completely out of touch with modern fashion, and asked if they had changed that much. He could only admit that he paid no more attention to style now than he had during their student days. However if she wanted to know about advances in potion making, and with that they moved from fashion to Wolfsbane to Remus Lupin to the Order of the Phoenix to Phoenixes to Fawkes to Dumbledore.

"Is he the one who suggested you try teaching?"

"No, not originally," Severus admitted. "The Dark Lord wanted a man at Hogwarts. Lucius recommended me for the job. I was single and reasonably competent. When the Dark Lord was defeated, I thought I might try another trade, but Professor Dumbledore thought it best if I carried on as ordered. He believed the Dark Lord would return, and it kept me in a useful position for both of them. Besides it would allow me to stay close and protect Harry when he was away from the shielding of the blood magic."

Persephone narrowed her eyes at him. "Is that why you resent Harry so much? He kept you here."

Severus opened his mouth but closed it again without speaking. It was too true to deny. Her eyes had not narrowed in anger or annoyance. She was simply seeing through him, inside him, making sense of the tangled briars of his mind. A strange sense of clarity settled over him. Hogwarts had been his home for well over a decade, two if you counted his student career. But it was also his prison. Harry Potter his unwitting jailor. Dumbledore had done enough to earn his loyalty over the years, but Harry had spent a decade as a phantom concept. He had shown up at Hogwarts with James' face and the credit for Lily's sacrifice.

"Do you think you would have become an Auror if not for Harry?"

"I think my involvement with the Death Eaters would have precluded any chance of my being accepted by the Auror's office," Severus sighed. "I don't think I really knew what I wanted to do with myself at that point. Hogwarts was somewhere to go. It was a place to work off my debt."

"Harry is leaving school this year," said Persephone. She took a sip of her second cup of hot chocolate and watched him over the rim.

"I understand he's applying to the Auror's office," said Severus, knowing that was not what she wanted to discuss, but she allowed him the distraction.

"Really?" She grinned. "So Harry wants to be an Auror too?"

Severus shrugged. "Have you forgiven him yet?"

"I suppose," she yawned. "He didn't tell anyone about the boggart, and that's something. James would have told the whole school. And Sirius..." She trailed off looking grim and thoughtful. Severus checked the clock and shooed her off to dinner.

Persephone had a little trouble dodging Daphne and Victoria the next few days. Daphne liked to sleep late, so she came to see him in the mornings. Draco knocked on his door to gain access to the Potions lab, claiming he was getting a head start on his experiment. Severus let him, figuring it was the least he could do. He spent his free time grading exam papers.

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

Monday morning brought a letter from Narcissa. He opened it at the breakfast table.

Dear Severus,

I am sorry you couldn't join us for Christmas this year. Uncle Lazarus is still continuing with his experiments. You remember the one you helped him with? He's very determined. I'm sure he'll be successful before the year is out, despite the new obstacles.

I suppose Draco is working hard. I'm rather wounded he didn't come home for Christmas, but I hope he'll keep you company at least. Please, Severus, I'm worried about him. Studiousness is all well and good, but he needs to have a life as well.

Begonia's daughter has come home with all sorts of curious stories Draco told her about witch hunters in Canada, and some boy named Oliver who writes your new silver child. We've advised her to keep these stories between us, because I think Draco may be having a go at her. Boys can be cruel sometimes.

I hope you're taking good care of yourself and him. It's so easy to catch cold in this weather. Hogwarts has always been a horribly drafty place. I am very sorry I can't secret you all away for a happy Christmas. Deeply sorry, and hope you understand my regrets.

Sincerely,

N.M.

Severus spent a large portion of the day trying to interpret the letter. The back of his mind kept turning it over even while he graded essays on the hazards of substitute ingredients.

Lord Voldemort was continuing his weather experiments. Narcissa was one of the few people, if not the only person other than Persephone, aware that he had adopted the name Oliver as part of an initials game during his student career. He did not know what Pansy had told them or what Narcissa had told Pansy, but either way, she knew he was Oliver. However she was offering to keep that information to herself. He did not doubt her concern for Draco.

But there was something else in the letter that sounded half like a warning and half like an apology. He had occasionally visited Lucius during the holiday season or attended a party, but the Malfoys usually reserved Christmas Day for family. So he had never received or expected an invitation. And Narcissa rarely apologized for anything...something boded ill.

He had the letter open on his desk when Persephone next came to visit. She discovered it, eyes no doubt drawn to Narcissa's name and scowled as she read. "She's lying," the Silver Child declared. "He stopped those experiments."

"Why would she lie about that?" Severus asked.

Persephone continued to frown thoughtfully and sank down in his chair still holding the letter. "She's trying to lure you back and warn you away at the same time." Persephone dropped the letter back on his desk and rubbed her temples. "There's going to be trouble."

"Anything specific?"

"What?"

Severus bit back a sigh. "Persephone, who took you? Was it Sirius Black?"

Her scowl deepened. "No, and stop asking."

He shrugged. "It was worth a try. He was my top suspect until Draco rescued you, but I thought maybe he had hidden you with the Blacks. Bella..."

"He hated Bella even more than you did," Persephone pointed out.

Severus sat down in the guest chair. "He was far too chipper after you were gone."

"Probably happy to have James all to himself," said Persephone. "No one else was happy when I was gone?"

"Not that I recall," said Severus, memories of that time were a confused blur. "Narcissa was nearly as distraught as I was. Lucius was furious. No one else was handy so he blamed Dumbledore, even considered sending Draco to Durmstrang to avoid him."

Persephone gave him a bewildered look. "But that's ridiculous. Dumbledore?"

"I don't mean he thought he took you," Severus explained. "But he thought the Headmaster had been negligent to let a student vanish under his watch."

"That's a bit unfair. He's not omniscient," said Persephone.

"He was too quick to write you off as a victim of the Death Eaters," Severus watched her carefully for a reaction, but she caught on and shot him an annoyed look instead. "I'll stop asking when you tell me."

"I want to tell you," she murmured softly, but she did not. He let it go for more pleasant subjects.

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

Severus rarely looked forward to Christmas, but this year was an exception. He found himself humming as he wrapped her present. His students skipped breakfast to spend the morning in the dormitory, but Severus still had a nice conversation with the venerable headmaster over the morning meal. Dumbledore loved Christmas, and he was pleased to find Severus in an uncommonly good mood. They went into a review of Christmas legends. Severus only had a passing familiarity with them, but the headmaster enjoyed the audience.

They were at it so long, it was nearly time for lunch when they left the Great Hall. Severus had sworn off work for the day, so he spent the next hour digging out the Muggle Chess set Persephone had bought him years ago. The Wizard's Chess pieces would never listen to her, so it was the only way they could play. He set it up on his desk, lit a fire, and reviewed the rules, which were essentially the same but did not take into consideration stubborn pieces.

Persephone knocked on the door to his office with anxious eyes and wringing hands. "We have a problem," she said, before he could ask what the matter was. "Promise you won't be angry with me."

"A promise always asked for when hardest kept."

"It's something Harry's friend, Hermione Granger said...she, um, she made a sort of veiled reference to Lolita and um..." Persephone was shifting from white to pink while she cringed.

Severus blinked. "Lolita?"

"Oh, it's, uh...it's a Muggle book," Persephone explained. "It, um, well, oh mon. I think she thinks there's something rather sinister going on with us, and I'm worried it's my fault. Draco keeps saying it's my fault she doesn't trust him, and now..."

"Well, I'm sure it's a little hard for her to believe you're Harry's aunt," said Severus, trying to sort things out in his mind. "I assume he told her."

Persephone cringed again. "I'm sure he would it's just...I haven't--I haven't exactly told Harry who I am yet."

Severus stared at her. "Persephone?!?"

"I know! I know I was supposed to. I just...it never seemed like the right time, and I wanted more time with you." She looked up at him apologetically, hoping the last bit might sooth some of his irritation with her. She was a Slytherin.

But so was Severus. While some small part of him purred contently, he refused to let her see it. He allowed the excuse to boil up some disappointment and stepped into his Head of House role. Professor Snape was not pleased. "We're going to see the headmaster, now."

Persephone nodded guiltily and followed him out of the office. He walked quickly, forcing her to jog to keep up. He was not truly angry, but he knew Albus would be displeased. Potter and his friends had a bad habit of jumping to conclusions when they lacked facts.

In minutes they were at Dumbledore's door. The headmaster welcomed them inside. "Happy Christmas, Severus, Persephone. What brings you to my office?"

Persephone hung back nervously, so Severus answered for her. "Persephone just confessed to me that she has yet to properly introduce herself to Harry. I believe this may have lead to some wild speculations on the part of Potter and his friends and might explain a bit of rudeness I received from Ms. Granger last week. I think as long as this has dragged out. We might need you to clear things up with Mr. Potter."

A cloud settled over Dumbledore's expression. Persephone shuffled uncomfortably under his sharp gaze. Instead of rebuking her further, the headmaster walked over to his fireplace and used a pinch of floo powder to call down to McGonagall. "Minerva, please send Potter, Weasley, and Granger up to my office." After Professor McGonagall had acknowledged him, Dumbledore conjured five chairs in a line before his desk and asked them to sit down. Severus settled into the chair at the left end of the row. Persephone sat beside him.

"Are you angry with me, Headmaster?" Persephone asked.

"I'm not pleased," said Dumbledore. "Toffee? But hopefully no true harm has been done. I should have called a meeting like this when I discovered you had not revealed yourself to Harry right away. I suppose secrets can be addicting, but I do wonder what prompted today's confession. Christmas spirit?"

Persephone winced. Her hand trembled as she reached into the candy bowl. "Not exactly, sir. Hermione Granger said..." She glanced anxiously at Severus. "Well, she said something not so nice."

"Apparently, Mr. Malfoy thinks Persephone's lack of communication has bred some distrust," Severus explained. "Should I call him up here too?"

"No," Dumbledore said. "I think we'll be giving Harry quite enough to consider for one day, and I want to speak freely with him."

They waited a few minutes for the Gryffindors to arrive. Severus contemplated whether he should say anything more than vouch for Persephone's identity, while she played nervously with her fingers. Dumbledore directed the three students into seats when they appeared and settled into the high backed chair behind his desk. "I am disappointed in you three," he began.

"In us?" Granger gawked.

The headmaster gave her admonishing glance. "Yes, Ms. Granger, in you." Severus wondered what Dumbledore's favorites had done to upset him and soon got his answer. "Harry, I do not completely understand your reasons for lying to me, but I hope we will be able to set everything right. Ms. Granger you have been unduly rude to Professor Snape. I'm sure you also had your reasons, but you are still a student and bound by the protocols of this school."

Granger swelled as though planning a rebuttal, but a stern look silenced her.

Weasley coughed. "And, what did I do, sir?"

The headmaster gave him a tight smile. "Nothing, as far as I know, Mr. Weasley, but it seemed more efficient to include you."

"Right."

Dumbledore folded his hands. "Before we get started, I think you should apologize to Professor Snape, Ms. Granger, and I understand you said something rather upsetting to Persephone as well."

"Me?! Apologize?!"

Severus felt he had already punished Ms. Granger enough for that incident, and preferred to skip on to the explanation. "Headmaster, I don't think-"

"Quiet, Severus," Dumbledore said gently. Disrespect to staff members was a pet peeve of his. "Ms. Granger, I understand you have been under a great deal of pressure lately but that does not excuse rudeness. I would like for you to calm down."

"Calm down?" fumed Granger, who was doing the opposite. "Do you know-"

The headmaster spoke evenly. "Right, now I need you to listen-"

"I will not!"

Severus kept his expression bland. He was both bemused and somewhat gratified to see Granger unleash her temper on the headmaster. It was nice for Albus to see proof that he was not exaggerating.

Dumbledore stood up. "Ms. Granger, I expected better of you, but if-"

"I saw him kiss her!"

Severus felt his elbow slip off the arm of the chair, as a stream of profanity ran through his mind. Ms. Granger was glaring accusations at him. He understood exactly what she had seen and the course her imagination had run. She must have walked up from behind him and found an incriminating scene before her. He had bent forward, which may have looked like anticipation rather than surprise from her angle, and she would have seen him follow up by inviting the girl into his office. This he could understand. What flabbergasted and disgusted him was that she must of thought he was offering a similar invitation to her.

Before he could form words or fully coherent thoughts. Persephone jumped to his defense. "He did not!" Granger was steadfast, so Persephone appealed to Dumbledore. "I kissed him, Professor. He had done something very nice for me, and I was grateful. I know I shouldn't have, but you know my situation."

Severus sank into his own embarrassment as they argued. This was not the way he would have liked to introduce the concept to Persephone's only remaining relative. He was disturbed that such things could be believed of him and that he had provided the evidence for it to be believed. Granger was bad enough, but if some younger student had rounded the corner, or Ms. Parkinson or Ms. Greengrass...poor little Victoria who was so dependent on the both of them. He stomach churned.

"Persephone, that's enough," Dumbledore said gently. "This is all making a little more sense now." The headmaster glanced his direction, and Severus wished he could sink through the earth. "I think we can clear much of it up with a simple introduction."

"An introduction?" Again it was Granger that spoke. Potter had been uncommonly quiet.

"Persephone, if you would introduce yourself properly."

She did. Potter stayed silent though his friends reacted with the expected surprise.

"What's this got to do with, Snape?" asked Weasley.

"Severus was my best friend when I was at Hogwarts before."

"You're kidding." Weasley again.

"I'm afraid she's not," said Dumbledore and told them the story of Persephone's disappearance. They were reasonably skeptical.

"How do you know she is who she says she is?" asked Granger, calm now but still wary.

"I certainly considered the possibility that Voldemort might be trying to reach Harry by resurrecting a dead family member," said Dumbledore. "I had Madam Pomfrey employ a number of tests to verify her identity. Beyond that however, it would be very difficult for someone to reproduce all the effects of Persephone's condition."

Severus only half listened to their hare brained theory that Persephone was capable of mental manipulation, though he was a little surprised Dumbledore did not entirely dismiss it.

"It is my belief that Persephone has the effect of a living, breathing Cheering Charm," the headmaster explained. "And whether by intent or instinct she uses this ability to her full advantage. But I have seen no evidence to support that she can convince anyone to do something against their will." Severus turned this theory over in his mind. It was not inconsistent with what he observed and felt, but like Persephone, he found it distasteful to dismiss her charms as purely magical in nature. She was kind. She listened. Sometimes she understood him better than he understood himself. He knew Dumbledore's words had hurt her, but given the earlier accusation, he did not dare make any gesture to comfort her.

"Now, if you four would step outside for a moment and get reacquainted, I would like to have a word with Professor Snape." With a flick of his wand, Dumbledore sent their chairs out the door, and the four students followed behind them.

Severus wanted to disapparate, but he was trapped.

Albus folded his hands and gave him an assessing look. "I would have an easier time accepting your innocence if you didn't look so guilty, Severus." He spoke gently, but Severus did feel guilty.

"I love her," he admitted.

"I know," Dumbledore said softly. "But I also need to know how my teachers are conducting themselves. I've been placing a lot of trust in you by not interfering with these office visits."

"It was an isolated incident," Severus reassured him. "And I did tell her not to do it again."

"But you want her to?"

Severus's heart twisted in his chest. "Of course I--twenty years, Albus! Twenty! And to have her so close now...what do you expect of us?"

There was pity in Dumbledore's eyes but no sympathy. "I expect her to act like a teenage girl, who has lost her parents and wants to cling to the last friend from her old life. I expect you to act like a Hogwarts teacher."

Severus shifted uncomfortably in his chair. His inside were writhing in protest. "It's not fair."

Dumbledore's beard twitched and not with amusement. "She's sixteen, Severus."

"She was born only a year after I was," he countered petulantly. "You could just as easily argue that she's thirty-six."

"I understand why you want her to be," Dumbledore was still speaking calmly, though he looked stern. Severus could hear the exasperation crawling underneath. "She should be. But the Ministry, all the magical measures..."

"Her body is sixteen," Severus conceded. "But her mind--it kept going. She was trapped in a painting for twenty years. How can a sixteen-year-old be anywhere for twenty years?"

"I'm not so sure she was," Dumbledore sighed, and Severus looked at him incredulously. "I've been studying her enchantment, that is to say the magic I believe was used to preserve her. The painting was intended to keep objects preserved from the ravages of time. I don't believe she experienced a full twenty years. If she had, she should be quite mad now."

"So she has a stronger mind than most...She had dreams, conversations, she told me she could move inside it," Severus spoke quickly, trying to lay out all the evidence. "Some time, something like time passed for her. She's more mature now."

"Perhaps..."

Severus clenched his fists to hold back his anger. "She thinks of herself as thirty-six, Professor. She..."

"Is a student."

Severus could not argue that. He slouched miserably. "I haven't forgotten."

"You say you love her. Severus, have you thought, really thought about what a relationship with her now would mean?" Dumbledore's blue eyes pierced him. "Not just for you. For the school? The Order? For her? I can't ignore a relationship between a teacher and a student."

"We haven't broken any rules."

"But you're on the verge."

Severus scowled at him. "She'll be seventeen soon, even by Ministry standards. I can wait."

"And what then?" Dumbledore asked him, brow furrowed with concern. "Being frank, Severus, Persephone's always looked young. You may see a woman, but she could pass as a fourth year. And you...well, one of the reasons I was comfortable letting you take a teaching position so young is that aura of maturity that's well beyond your years. Ten years from now it won't make such a difference, but at the moment you're more likely to be taken for her father than her husband. I wish I could say society would be kind to you, but few will give you time to explain yourself."

Severus felt his face flush as anger coursed through him. It was chased by a cold rush of despair, and he hid his face in hands while he tried to find some balance. For a few days, he had managed to forget the rest of the world, and the future had seemed so perfect. He dropped his hands to clutch the arms of the chair. "I still love her," he said helplessly. Albus Dumbledore was such a champion of love. Why could he not understand?

There was sympathy is Dumbledore's eyes now. "Then do what's best for her," he said softly.

Severus said nothing. Dumbledore flicked the door open with his wand. "Persephone, please come in here." She did, and her chair followed her. He continued once the door had closed. "Persephone, you've put Professor Snape in a very awkward position. You don't want to cause him trouble, do you?"

"No," she said intently.

"I understand Professor Snape was your friend. But you must understand you are in a new situation now. He is a teacher and your head of house, and if you are to remain at Hogwarts, you must treat him as such. You were lucky it was Ms. Granger and not another student who saw you, but you should not have given her anything to see. Gossip flies faster than lightning at Hogwarts and can leave lasting damage to a man's reputation. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir. I'm sorry, sir."

"I'm glad to hear that. Severus cares very deeply about you, and I believe that leaves him more vulnerable to that natural manipulation I spoke of earlier. So you need to think more carefully about the consequences before you act, for him as well as yourself."

"Yes, sir." Severus did not dare look at her, but there was a different note in her voice he could not interpret.

"Very well, I think we've been neglecting Harry too long. You're free to go, Severus. Please think about what I said."

Severus did not dare speak. He stalked out with as much dignity as he could muster past the Gryffindors in the hall. Embarrassment and indignation were threatening to overwhelm him. Not wanting to face anyone else, he returned to his apartment, jabbed his wand at the fire place to set it ablaze, and collapsed into his arm chair. He put his wand out of easy reach and watched the flames eat through the logs and kindling. He hated Christmas.