Death Whispers

Chapter Seven - Lessons

November 12th 1981

Severus stared around the empty dungeon classroom. It was exactly as he had remembered it. His stomach gave a gentle growl as he swallowed a potion from his pocket. It was just nerves and the potion took off some of the edge. Dumbledore had wanted him to start teaching straight away.

He walked around the room again. Pacing, checking everything three times over. He had gone over lesson plans that evening. He was immaculate and organised yet strangely fearful. Children could do that. He tried to push away the memories of teaching Potions to other Death Eaters. They were a stupid lot. He hoped he could mold the students into fine brewers.

He had returned to the front desk when the second years started filing in. He drew himself up tall and stood with a deep practiced scowl on his face. He would not let them think he would be soft just because he was young. He was glad he started with second years, as tomorrow when he taught seventh years, he realised he would only be three years older than them. They would have even been at Hogwarts with him. Not that most of them remembered the quiet Slytherin, who had since changed to a barely recognisable man.

These students entered the room chatting but with one look at his brooding figure, they found their seats and sat quietly. The students appraised him nervously.

"I am Professor Snape," he started, and turned to write his name on the blackboard like he had seen teachers do.

As soon as his back was turned, talking broke out.

He spun around quickly and quelled them with a glare. This is interesting, he thought.

As he took the attendance, the class sat quietly. He hovered for a moment on the last name 'Charles Weasley' and assessed the small redhead in front of him.

"Today we will be brewing a Shrinking Solution. The main ingredient in this is Daisy Roots, can anyone tell me the properties of Daisy Roots?" he asked.

The class stared at him blankly.

"Well, what is Shrivelfig used for?"

Still no answer.

"What about Leech Juice?"

The small redhead raised his hand, "Isn't it a thickener?"

"Is that an answer or a question, Mr. Weasley?" Severus demanded.

The boy squirmed and the class started laughing.

"Silence!" Severus yelled, and his wand emitted a loud bang.

Twenty small faces looked nervously at him. Charles nearly fell off his chair, struck by the fear of God.

"Do you dunderheads know anything! Leech Juice is a thickener, as it 'sucks' the non-vital elements from potions. It also erodes the acidic properties of a potion so should be used with precision. To little or too much can render a potion useless or dangerous," he sneered on the word 'dangerous' and the class gasped in horror.

"Why aren't you all writing this down?" he demanded and the class scrambled to get their books and quills.

*****

He entered the Great Hall for lunch with a scowl on his face. This look helped and as he approached the table, he noticed students staring at him and diving out of his way. He smiled inwardly, tell your friends, he thought, let them know who is in charge.

The staff table was fuller this time yet Severus didn't bother introducing himself to the new faces, instead he sat at the end of the table and looked around for Hagrid.

Hagrid walked in with Dumbledore and McGonagall, looking grim as they took their seats.

"What's happened?" Severus asked Hagrid as the large man sat beside him.

"Finally got that Sirius Black," he said, his beady eyes lost and Severus stiffened beside him, "he got trapped by the small lad Pettigrew. Sirius killed him he did, one curse, blew apart the whole street, killed thirteen Muggles, too," Hagrid added, poking the food on the table.

Severus was shocked, yet oddly satisfied. He never liked Sirius Black. The boy was rash and stupid. Throw him to the Dementors, give him the kiss, he thought. After all, he knew what Black was capable of as Black had tried to kill him once before. He looked down toward the Headmaster with triumph look on his face but the old man was comforting McGonagall, who was whispering in shock, "I was so hard on the boy, nothing left of him."

Severus returned to his meal, as far as first days went, this one was not so bad.

"It's been a hard time for everyone, the Ministry is in a mess, but I can't let you avoid trial," Albus said to the younger man later that evening, "I have vouched for you. I'm confident Severus, I can convince them of your uses to us, and your help during the war can come to light with the Minister, we can keep you out of Azkaban I'm sure of it."

"What if it gets out?" Severus scowled. "We have to think of your reputation, not to mention the risk this will put me in."

"No one will know aside from myself and the Minister," he smiled, "Oh, and the Order."

Severus rolled his eyes. "What's left of them. Look Professor, don't be stupid, of course this is going to get out. There are people pointing fingers everywhere, I bear the Dark Mark!"

"Contact your old friends first then. Let them know what is going on," Albus urged, his eyes smiling, "That way you can tell them that you tricked the old doddery Dumbledore into protecting you. We can keep ourselves covered for his return."

"I can't keep playing both sides. Dumbledore, I'm tired," Severus complained. It was a dangerous line as it was, the war was over shouldn't he get some peace? Did he even deserve it?

"You're a young man Severus, and I have full confidence in you. We can hide you safely here and in a position ready to return," Albus said with a note of finality.

"So how are classes going, Severus?" he asked after a pause, shrewdly changing the subject.

"They know nothing. There is hope for the early years but fifth and up, nothing. Old Bunthorne was more of a fool that I thought as a student. Looking over his notes, and looking at the students he's 'taught', I can only name him a complete idiot."

Albus laughed, "Don't denigrate Hogwarts' teachers, Severus, he was a Professor and a Potions Master."

"No one respects me!" Severus complained.

"The students do," Dumbledore argued, "the teachers will warm up to you, Hagrid has certainly taken to you."

Severus scowled, "They fear me, it's not the same thing."

"I hear you keep an organised class," Albus said, glaring over his half-moon spectacles.

"At least I can get them to keep quiet. The lower years are quite on track. It's very different from the way I imagined it, not that I knew what I to expect," Severus replied earnestly.

"Try not to scare them, Minerva tells me you have been making the first years cry and she's calling foul play with house points. She feels you're favouring the Slytherins," Albus said.

"Have you noticed how very quickly the Sorting Hat recognises Slytherins? You and I know that they don't respond to mere Lemon Drops," Severus said. "They are a repressed group, suffer from the prejudices they are hated for. It isolates them, endangers them," he trailed off almost saying 'like it did me.'

Albus merely nodded in a sad understanding.

"Can you blame me for favouring them?" he asked trying to keep the bitterness from his voice, "They need some unconditional approval, and if I keep them winning I could reduce their excuses for bitterness. Believe me, Albus, you will find no better ally against the dark forces than the Slytherin who turns out well. Theirs is a hard-won virtue. They can't pretend that evil is somewhere out there. They understand what they're up against. I'm trying not to speak for myself here; Decency and kindness and all those virtues you Gryffindors take for granted in yourselves didn't come as fairy gifts at my christening."

"Oh, Severus," Dumbledore smiled, reflectively thinking he would make a good Head of House, Severus didn't want them to have no option, or have their Head of House be oblivious to their problems and needs, as had been his experience. "Just don't curse anyone, for heaven's sake."

Snape laughed, "That's a hard task. The Gryffindors are a complete bunch of dunderheads who can't even stand a cauldron up the right way."

Dumbledore frowned, "But do you need to be so harsh? If you perhaps wear something other than black it might seem less threatening. Maybe you could let some fresh air in the dungeons?"

Severus rolled his eyes, "Perhaps I could give out sweets for correct answers," he said.

"That's the trick!" Dumbledore smiled and nodded, missing the sarcasm.