The Teacher

The Smiles

It was the first day of the new school year. Severus sat in the staff room waiting for the feast to start, minding his own business and sulking over the fact that Albus had found yet another fool to teach DADA instead of himself, when the door opened and in came... Lupin?

It was indeed the werewolf accompanying Albus into the room to be introduced to the other staff cheerfully, looking older with his grey hair, unhealthily thin and pale and much shabbier in his threadbare, patched robes but it was definitely him. It was a shock. And judging by the behaviour of the other teachers Severus was the only one who was not in the picture, that must be part of Albus's evil plan, he was convinced.

Severus got up from his chair and made for the newly arrived pair, shoving some of his colleagues out of the way, while the anger inside him grew with each step.

"Ah, Severus! May I present you with our new Defence Against the -" Albus began but was run over by Severus's angrily raised voice.

"Are you serious, Headmaster? You prefer him over me?"

Lupin raised an eyebrow and glanced at Albus. "You told me that Severus had been informed, Professor Dumbledore," he said in a hoarse voice. He sounded much older, too.

"Informed? I was informed?" Severus cried throwing his hands up in exasperation.

Albus chuckled. "Well, Remus, you wouldn't have agreed on taking the post had you known of my little, um, let's call it warping the facts. And, Severus, I thought it was better to confront you with a fixed situation instead of asking you for permission."

The other Professors all backed off, knowing how Severus could explode, and pretended not to be there at all.

And then it struck Severus. He remembered a rather casual conversation between the Headmaster and himself when they had been on their way into the summer holidays.

"Severus? Do you think you're capable of brewing that new potion? The one that prevents werewolves from going savage?"

"I can brew every potion."

"Of course you can..."

Now Severus cursed his big mouth and wished he had realised why the Headmaster had asked that question. Because he had already found a new possible candidate for the DADA job. A werewolf. The werewolf. The one that would almost have eaten Severus years ago.

Lupin stepped forward. "Listen, Severus, I didn't know you disag -"

"How dumb must you be if you think I would ever agree to you being employed?" Severus snapped at the smaller man who raised his eyebrows but didn't respond.

"Severus," Albus said in a warning tone.

"And you tricked me! How could you keep such an important fact from me? You know about our past! You know I would never have agreed and I'm astounded that you even considered this -"

"Severus!" Albus interrupted him impatiently and this time it silenced the Slytherin. "I took the one man that I thought best for the job. It was my decision and if I remember correctly I am the Headmaster of this school and that is why you will respect my choice of staff! And now enough of your complaints!"

Severus crossed his arms over his chest; he hated being treated like a mere boy by the old man but he said no more word. Albus stepped closer to him and said quietly, "I told Remus that you would brew the Wolfsbane Potion for him, that is why he agreed to come here, and I have full trust and confidence in your abilities. That is why I also have full trust and confidence in Remus's abilities to teach at this school. I will supply you with all the ingredients you need so, please, Severus, do not disappoint me."

He said it calmly but Severus got the threat and glanced angrily at the werewolf who stood opposite him with an embarrassed and apologetic expression. His sight made him sick. How could he dare come here, steal his job and spoil his mood? And how did Albus think would this work? Did he really believe that Severus would tolerate the man? After all that had happened in the past. And why did the look on Lupin's face make him feel so fuzzy in the stomach? Had he finally grown daft?

"I'll do my best, Headmaster," Severus hissed and Albus nodded, obviously satisfied.

"I never doubted that, Severus."

At this Lupin smiled which sent a strange tingling sensation through Severus's treacherous body.

"Well, then... Thank you very much, Severus," Lupin said cheerfully and Severus wrinkled his nose.

"I don't do this for you. And why do you think you can call me by my first name?" he snarled but it didn't have the expected effect on the werewolf who only frowned and replied, "Well, I can't remember ever having called you any differently at school. It would feel strange to call you Professor Snape now. And I thank you never the less."

Why was the man so relaxed? It annoyed Severus that he didn't have any effect on Lupin like on everyone else.

"I heard about the Dementor on the train. You fended it off?" Dumbledore said with a proud twinkle in his eyes.

Lupin nodded and his face darkened. "It is irresponsible to let them run wild. Poor Harry fainted. I gave him a big piece of chocolate."

"Very well done, Remus! Good you were with the children. This is going to be a hard time for all of us, I'm afraid. But for the safety of the students -"

"Student," Severus interrupted and earned himself a disapproving look from Albus.

"Well, now that everything is settled, let's proceed to the feast," the Headmaster said and led the way into the Great Hall followed by the rest of the staff. Lupin gave Severus a little smile and then made for the door.

"Aren't you feeling ashamed of your looks?" Severus said loudly, stopping Lupin in the doorway. "I would if I were you. Those robes of yours..." he trailed off. He just couldn't resist the urge to make Lupin feel bad, insult him, have some effect on him that would make his annoying smile peel off his face.

Lupin turned round and met Severus's look with his amber eyes. Yes, amber, indeed, not merely usual brown... but what did it matter? There was something in them that almost made Severus step backwards. "I've got used to it. I don't really notice it anymore. If I let it get to me, I wouldn't have the self-confidence to do something like taking this job. But you should know best that bullying people for their appearance is completely unfounded. We both know I'm not a bad wizard."

And with that and another annoyingly genuine smile he left Severus standing alone in the staff room, fuming with anger.

The feast was like any other one, the Sorting Hat singing his song and then sending the first years into their Houses, then Dumbledore's announcements, staff etc., but tonight Severus just couldn't help staring down the table loathingly at Lupin who seemed far to cheerful for his taste.

When the feast was finally over Severus returned to his quarters, shed his robes on the way into his bedroom and fell into the sheets with a frustrated exhale. This year would be even worse than the last and the year before that and... every other year, actually. And with Lupin's old friend Black trying to get into the castle, how could Albus trust the blasted werewolf? Severus would need to have a word with Dumbledore first thing in the morning.

He heaved a sigh and as he pulled the covers over his body, Lupin's face came to his mind, bringing the fuzzy feeling back into his stomach and the anger. He hated the fact his body reacted to the dunderhead like that. Like the schoolboy he used to be, he thought he had left that behind. He hated the man, he loathed him for it. And now he had to bear his terribly relaxed behaviour and his annoying smiles. The smiles.

It was early in the morning when Severus left his quarters to talk to Albus about his mistrust for Lupin. He didn't encounter anyone on his way to the Headmaster's office and when he uttered the password ("Chocolate Frog") the gargoyle in front of the winding steps which led up to Dumbledore's quarters hopped aside and let Severus pass.

As he knocked on the door he heard some shuffling noise behind it and it swung open to reveal a cheerful Albus Dumbledore beckoning him inside with a broad smile.

"Yes, my boy, I thought you'd come to see me. Sit down," he said, when Severus glided into the room.

"Headmaster," he said walking over to Dumbledore's desk but not sitting down. "I wanted to inform you of my concerns about Lupin."

Albus tapped a teakettle with his wand and set two cups onto the table. "Have a seat, Severus. Lemon drop?" he asked, holding out a tin full of sweets to the Potions master.

"No," Severus growled and remained standing, looking down at the older wizard with narrowed eyes. "Please, listen, Headmaster, I really think that you should reconsider his employment."

"Really?" Dumbledore said, paying only little attention and seeming entirely uninterested.

"Yes," Severus replied forcefully. "There are many reasons for you not to let him teach here. First off, he is a werewolf -"

"I believe we have overcome that obstacle, haven't we Severus? Or do you feel incapable of brewing the potion, after all?" Albus interrupted him in a pleasant voice.

Severus wished his ego were only half as big, maybe then it would have been possible for him to just say that he did feel incapable. But he couldn't. Because he wanted the old man to know exactly right that he was one of the few potioneers who could indeed brew that potion. And somehow it was a good feeling to have Lupin depend on him.

"I am capable of it but -"

"Well, then it's no problem, is it? Cup of tea? And please do sit down, Severus."

"Headmaster," Severus said with knitted brows, already losing his patience. "I still think that letting a werewolf live in the castle is not wise. What if the parents find out? They'll -"

"Well, they won't, will they? Absolute secrecy is what I made the staff swear. And you. Years ago. I expect you to keep to it," Dumbledore interrupted again and Severus's face darkened. "And with your skill in potion-making, I am sure you will provide safety for all of us."

"Making compliments will not convince me to change my opinion, Headmaster," Severus snarled. "Apart from his being a werewolf, he is Black's old friend, too. So how do you know he won't help him accomplish his mission?"

Dumbledore looked up, a dangerous gleam in his bright blue eyes. "I have full trust in the man, Severus. And I have learnt from the past that trusting Sirius Black and not Remus Lupin was a mistake. I won't make it twice."

"But, Headmaster, I still think we shouldn't just trust him blindly. What if he was Black's partner all along and just wasn't caught?"

Albus smiled a little. "Isn't that very constructed, Severus? Maybe you should finally let go of your old grudge."

Severus grew angry at that. "This has nothing to do with my -"

"Severus," Dumbledore said dangerously and the younger wizard flinched, "sit down." And this time Severus did. "Listen closely now, my boy, because I will only say it once: I invited Remus Lupin here because I think that he is the best man to protect Harry and the one man that I trust not to help Black. Let me finish," Albus said when Severus opened his mouth to contradict him. "Yes, he was Sirius Black's friend but you forget that he also was James and Lily's and of course Peter Pettigrew's and because of that I am sure he will do all he can to help us protect the Potters' son, whom he held when he was still just a baby. To him it is an obligation and an honour and he assured me he would take the task seriously. Apart from that he's always been good at teaching," he paused to sip on his tea but Severus didn't dare speak again. "And have you never looked at it from this point of view: Remus knows Black well which means that he might foresee his steps or at least provide us with some useful information about him. So you see, I've thought it through quite thoroughly."

Severus kept quiet for a while, took a gulp of the much too sweet tea and reached for the lemon drops, taking one. "Yes, Headmaster, I see," he said, rolling the lemon drop around between his fingers. "I still have my doubts and I'm not sure if Lupin will survive this year, but... I respect your decision."

Albus beamed. "I knew you'd understand, Severus!" he said choosing to ignore Severus's obvious threat against Lupin's life. "Why don't you have some more tea?"

"Thank you, Headmaster..." Severus muttered and stuck the lemon drop into his mouth.

The rest of their meeting was mostly filled with silence and meaningless conversations until they took off to breakfast in the Great Hall together. When they sat down at the High Table Dumbledore nodded and smiled at Lupin who was already seated beside Flitwick and the werewolf returned the gesture with a grin. Severus rolled his eyes and Albus leant over to him. "Try not to be too mean to him, alright, Severus?"

Severus glared at him. "Do not demand too much, Albus, I'm warning you."

Albus turned away with a chuckle.

The day was quiet, only disturbed by the news of Harry Potter having been told he'd die soon by Professor Trelawney and Malfoy's accident with Hagrid's favourite Hippogriff. The first was brought to the staff room by Minerva McGonagall sitting down beside Lupin to tell him about her last Transfiguration class with the Gryffindor third-years.

"They were distracted all lesson and when they didn't applaud at my Animagi-Transformation I knew something was wrong."

Lupin, sitting with folded hands opposite of Severus at the table, listened carefully and Severus thought that he'd seen the werewolf flinch a little at the word Animagi, though he couldn't figure out why. Maybe he had just remembered their own Transfiguration classes when McGonagall had transformed into a cat and Black had stormed in much too late, treading on her tail. Severus smirked at the image of Black in his head, being screamed at and sentenced to a week's detention.

"Then Hermione Granger told me that they had had their first Divination class and of course I knew what was wrong. Sybill had predicted another death. Does that every year you see. It's kind of a ritual of hers by which she greets her new classes."

Lupin chuckled lightly and his husky voice sent a thrill up Severus's spine, annoying him once more.

"Anyway, can you guess who it is this time? That boy has all the bad luck in this world," McGonagall continued and Lupin frowned.

"Not Harry?" he asked and Severus raised his head, looking over to the pair, suddenly interested.

"Of course," the woman cried throwing up her arms in frustration. "Sometimes I wonder why I am surprised that she doesn't have any sense in her, what with Black being after the boy not to speak of the other dark wizards he has to fear. Why couldn't she have picked someone else?"

"I wouldn't be so displeased if this time she were right with her prediction," Severus said, causing the other two to look at him disbelievingly.

"Severus!" Minerva snapped. "Don't say such things, you don't mean that."

Severus heaved a sigh. "Well, maybe just a little. Maybe he could just almost die. Good riddance..." he added, muttering under his breath. Lupin turned to Minerva again without commenting Severus's words. He was lucky he didn't.

"And how did Professor Trelawney arrive at the conclusion that Harry will die?" he asked with a worried expression on his face.

"Well," McGonagall sighed. "She saw the Grim in his tealeaves. Or that's what she says."

"The Grim?" Lupin muttered in a strangely distant voice. "You mean that... that black dog?"

McGonagall nodded with a roll of her eyes. "Yes, yes... the worst omen of death, haunting churchyards etc., etc.," she trailed off when she saw Lupin's sorrowful expression. Or rather upset than sorrowful, Severus thought and sat up straighter in his chair.

"You don't believe in that, do you, Remus?" the Transfiguration Professor asked and Lupin's head shot up, his face brightening immediately.

"Oh, no, of course not, I um... was just thinking about the shock poor Harry must've had. Excuse me, please," and with that he got up and left, making the same upset face again. Severus and McGonagall exchanged surprised looks and the Potions master leant back in his chair again propping his chin up on his fist. Did Lupin really believe what that fraud Trelawney had predicted? Or was it something else?

But there wasn't much time to ponder since a short time after that Flitwick stormed in, bringing the news that Draco Malfoy had been attacked by the Hippogriff Buckbeak, Hagrid's favourite. Severus buried his face in his hands. Couldn't the fool do anything right? And in his first lesson, too. Somehow it was hard not to feel any sympathy for the half-giant. And Draco, Severus supposed, had probably provoked the accident. What a good start into the year, Severus thought, when he walked back to his quarters that evening. He had left dinner early to be able to test a new potion and therefore didn't expect to meet anyone on his way into the dungeons, so it surprised him when a hoarse voice called his name and fast footsteps approached him from behind. Severus whirled round to see the blasted werewolf coming his way, obviously determined to spoil his quiet evening.

"Severus," Lupin said with a smile that Severus answered with a loathing glare, to show him how unwelcome he was. But it didn't work. "The Headmaster sends me. He said you wanted to see me about the potion."

Severus's glare darkened even more. The old man really had to watch his step. "Did he, now?" he growled and Lupin nodded, raising an eyebrow.

"I hope he told me the truth?"

Severus rolled his eyes and said in his most disinterested voice, "As a matter of fact I do have some configurations to make, so the potion will work properly for you. Why not gather the information for them now. We don't want any accidents, do we?"

Lupin nodded in agreement and gave him another smile. "Follow me," Severus snarled and turned round walking into the direction of his office, Lupin following at his heels. When they had arrived at their destination, Severus held the door open for Lupin and stepped inside after him. He lit a fire in the grate and sat down behind his desk taking out quill, ink and parchment to take notes. He didn't offer Lupin a chair so the werewolf remained standing in front of him.

"Your weight?" he snapped and Lupin looked bewildered for a moment before he answered.

"Um... I think... about 55 or 60 kilos?"

Severus looked up at him. Was the man really that thin? He couldn't see it with the wide robes. It didn't matter anyway, he thought, so he just copied down the numbers.

"Height?"

"5.8'"

"Age, 33..." he muttered and wrote it on the parchment. "Allergies or sicknesses?"

"No and no," Remus smiled and watched Severus write it down.

"That should be it," the Slytherin said, getting up from the desk.

"Really?" Lupin asked pleasantly, looking around at the many jars with for him obviously disturbing contents. "There won't be any of that in the potion, will there?"

Severus raised an eyebrow. "Would you refuse to drink it if it were so?" he asked hoping the answer would be yes. But no such luck.

"Oh, I would but... it's disgusting," the werewolf chuckled uneasily and Severus was taken aback by the pleasant sensation it incited in his stomach. He glared at Lupin for doing that to him and walked over to the door to throw him out. "Don't worry there'll be nothing like that in your potion and now leave! I want to try and spend the rest of my day in a useful way, which I can't while you are here."

Lupin turned towards the door, smiling still. "Okay, I get it. If you need any further information, you know where to find me," he said and left.

"Be careful the Grim doesn't catch you!" Severus called after him and was delighted to see him flinch. Then he slammed the door shut and stormed into his quarters, cursing under his breath. He had again had such strange feelings and it made him angry, furious. Very furious. He hated the man, so why did his body think that it needed to get in the way? Was the werewolf that attractive? He had never really paid attention to the man. But that was a lie. He had looked at him, watched him before. At school. As a boy. Before he had almost been eaten by the other. But now everything was different. He shouldn't shiver when Lupin laughed or feel fuzzy when he smiled. He should hate him with every ounce of his body.

Severus couldn't concentrate on brewing anymore so he decided to call it a day and retire to his bedroom. When he lay down he thought he heard his husky laugh and sat upright again in a split second. But then he realised it had only been in his imagination and started glowering. Now that man even followed him to bed. The werewolf really had to watch out, otherwise Severus couldn't guarantee for his safety. He wanted him gone. Needed him gone. And he would do his best to make him leave. When he drifted off to sleep his dreams were filled with his husky laugh and annoying smile. His laugh. So husky.