A Tangled Web (Post-DH)

Chapter 19: Start of Term

Severus had awoken early, after a night of fitful sleep brought on, he knew, by the uncertainty recent events had thrown into his life. He was not, as he had for over a decade, doing a final run-though of the Potions classes he would be teaching that day. Instead, he was failing to prepare adequately for Defense Against the Dark Arts classes as he focused on other problems.

He'd had satisfactory interviews with Miss Greengrass and Crabbe last night. Mr. Filch would not be complaining of them again, Severus felt confident, and once word got out, likely not of any other Slytherins, either. His chat with Urquhart likewise went well. He was eager to take up his duties as Quidditch Captain, and would shortly be letting Severus know when he needed to reserve the pitch for tryouts.

No, the interview that had not happened was the one that distracted him from his preparations. Draco had disregarded his invitation to show up. There had been no sign of the hostility he had displayed at the end of the last year in his demeanor, yet he had not, after all, come. Had his casual agreement leaving the feast been for the benefit of his friends, hiding a continuing resentment regarding Lucius's imprisonment? Or were those friends, not seen for a summer, the reason that had kept Draco away? He would be seeing Draco again at breakfast, when he must distribute schedules to his Slytherins, and discuss NEWT class schedules with the sixth years, he reminded himself, picking up the pile of blank schedules as he left the office to go to breakfast in the Great Hall.

The staff table was emptier than it had been the previous night. Albus was not in evidence; nor were Professors Sinistra, Slughorn, and Trelawney. The former frequently missed breakfast, as the night courses she taught meant she was not obliged to rise in time for first period. Horace was likely eating in his quarters. Trelawney, Severus would have wagered based on the smell of cooking sherry that had wafted off her the previous night, was somewhere dosing herself with a hangover potion.

Minerva looked up at him as he approached the table, and they exchanged greetings as he sat down beside her.

"What is the news on Montague?" she asked once he had filled a cup of tea and put food on his plate.

"He's out of St. Mungo's, but not returning to school," Severus answered her, "so I have named Urquhart to replace him at Captain."

"I'm glad to hear it," Minerva replied. "A new Captain, it will be interesting to see what he does."

"I have complete confidence in his ability," Severus replied.

"Well, may the best team win!" Minerva said.

"That'll be Gryffindor, with our Harry as Captain!" Hagrid opined from Minerva's other side. "No offense to yer team," he added as an afterthought.

"You'd best not count us out," Snape replied. "The core of our team is very experienced."

"Your two teams had best keep in mind there are two other Houses at Hogwarts," Filius chimed in from the other side of the table. "Our new captain plans to implement sophisticated new strategies, and she'll have the personnel to do it with. I was most impressed with her ideas."

Pomona looked up from her eggs and toast. "Well said, Filius! Neither should anyone count out Hufflepuff. Though, it matters little which team wins. Quidditch is a fine way for active youngsters to learn teamwork, fair play, and the value of hard work."

The Heads of House all nodded their heads at Pomona's comment, but Snape could not resist a glance in Minerva's direction, and met her challenging glance. He looked back at her, unperturbed by her sharp glance, his lip curling slightly. One thing, it appeared, remained unchanged this year - their annual competition to beat the other in Quidditch was still on. Privately, Severus wondered how the team's chances would be affected by Draco's extracurricular challenges, for it was unthinkable that Montague would name anyone else Seeker. Draco was a natural flyer. If there were a better among the youngest Slytherins, the edge in experience would still tip the balance heavily in Draco's favor...

Severus looked out at the Slytherin table and found Draco, surrounded by his group of friends. He appeared to be joking easily with them, provoking a high-pitched giggle from Parkinson with some remark he had just made. He certainly did not look like a man under threat of death...it seemed that Narcissa had not shared her fears with him, and he still looked on his assignment as the honor his aunt termed it.

Hagrid excused himself, and left with a cheery wave in the direction of the Gryffindor table. Severus poured himself a second cup of tea and glanced at the newspaper Filius had open. No new developments, he saw - the front-page articles were yet another fluff piece from the Ministry providing citizens with worthless advice on coping with the dangers posed by the Dark Lord's resurgence, and another on the start of term at Hogwarts that focused on the new security measures put in place by the Ministry. As he finished his tea, Minerva excused herself to distribute her schedules, and Severus followed her example.

With a pair of quick flicks of his wand, the schedules of his first through fifth years landed in front of them, showing the classes for which they had signed up. They took their papers and trooped out. He briefly discussed with a few seventh years who wished to drop NEWT classes, convincing a pair to stay on for Defense Against the Dark Arts, and allowing a third who had barely scraped an Acceptable from Minerva the previous year to drop Transfiguration. He would doubtless be unable to handle the coursework in the seventh year, with that grade.

Which left the sixth years - he would need to check they had the necessary OWL grades to continue in their chosen subjects. He swiftly approved Millicent's three selections; she had obviously heeded her results in choosing her classes. Then came Crabbe, who had only managed a single OWL, in Charms. "Professor Flitwick will take you with an A," Snape told him. "You'd do well to pick up another OWL, though. I suggest you and Goyle retake Defense Against Dark Arts." Crabbe looked sullen, but nodded his agreement. Goyle, who would continue in Herbology with an Acceptable OWL result, likewise agreed.

Daphne Greengrass needed to be talked out of Divination, for which she did not have the grades. Trelawney expected at least an E from her students. But Severus approved her other selections.

Next was Draco Malfoy. "I was surprised not to see you last night," Severus commented.

"I was planning to come, Sir" Draco replied smoothly. "But Urquhart mentioned he had Quidditch business with you, and by the time Urquhart got back to the Common Room, it seemed late."

Since he had no legitimate reason to demand Draco's presence, Severus demurred. "Very well, Draco. I am sure there will be another occasion for us to chat. So, let me see your proposed class list."

Draco handed it over. He had asked to sign up for DADA, Charms, Herbology, Arithmancy, and Potions.

Severus nodded as he compared each class with the requisite test result. An O in Potions, no surprise there...

"But I see you have several more high passing grades, Draco!" Severus observed. "Outstanding in History of Magic and Runes, as well as Exceeds Expectations in Transfiguration and Astronomy. You would be welcome to take any of those classes with those grades."

"I don't want to continue in those subjects, Professor," Draco replied. "Five NEWT classes will take a lot of time," he added.

Time, yes. He'd really much rather Draco had no free time at all, but he could hardly say that.

"Last Spring we spoke concerning your career ambitions," Severus essayed. "You'd not made a definite choice at that time. Continuing more classes at the NEWT level will keep your options open."

"There's plenty I could do with those NEWTs, Sir" Draco said. "I'm not too worried about a career, anyway."

"I am well aware of your parents' financial situation," Severus replied, 'just as I am aware that they quite rightly have higher expectations for you than to leave school having achieved average qualifications."

"But I did not bring textbooks for any other classes, Sir," Draco objected.

Did not bring, Severus noted. There'd been no mention of not buying those texts. Now certain of his advantage, Severus pressed on. "That will not be a problem. I shall Owl your mother, asking her to send the books along to you. In the meantime, I feel sure that your professors or classmates can loan you the texts."

Draco's pale face reddened perceptibly. "But History of Magic is a complete waste of time! Even Mother agrees, and Astronomy-"

Severus tapped Draco's empty schedule with his wand, and the five classes Draco had requested appeared, along with Runes, Astronomy, and Transfiguration.

"Ancient Runes meets first period Mondays, Draco," Severus commented as he handed the paper over. "You'd better get going if you don't want to be late."

"Thank you, Professor," Draco replied, his lip curling.

Severus acknowledged the less than sincere thanks with a nod and turned to Theo Nott. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw as Draco waved in a peremptory manner at Crabbe and Goyle, who had been waiting for him, and departed with them at his heels. He shot one backwards glance at Severus as he left the Great Hall.

***

The first period of the morning was his class for second-year Hufflepuffs. Severus found them standing around outside the classroom door and let them in. They filed in quickly and fairly quietly, and proceeded to take out their textbooks as he strode towards the front of the class.

"Books away," Severus announced as he turned to face them. Students hastily put their books back and turned to look at him.

"I have something important to say to you," he began, "and I would like your undivided attention."

"The Dark Arts can be sudden or insidious, brutal or subtle," Severus said, pacing along the front row of desks. Their eyes were following him, he noted with satisfaction. He did have their attention.

"Success in fighting them, therefore," he continued, turning to walk along one of the side walls, "depends on alertness to the dangers they pose and quick thinking to respond to those dangers. Whether you in the future face human opponents threatening you with Dark spells-" Here he stopped to indicate the picture of a witch suffering the Cruciatus curse. Miss Cleary, the student sitting closest to the picture, paled visibly. "-or Dark creatures," he continued, indicating a picture depicting the soulless victim of a Dementor, "or other threats," his hand wave encompassed a pair of pictures depicting victims of curses, "awareness of your surroundings, and of all options available to you, will be the key to survival."

Severus paused again to survey their reaction. A bit scared, alas. Better that they have warning of the terrors that existed in the world outside the school, because it seemed very likely some of them might encounter such things in the flesh in the not-too-distant future.

"You are, I believe, novices in the art of defensive spell casting. How would you defend against a jinx?" he asked.

Severus swept the room with his eyes, and students turned away. Nobody was willing to risk an answer.

"Stebbins?" Severus asked of a boy sitting in the back row. He was, in Potions, an uninspired student whose greatest strength was the precise (if incredibly slow) following of directions.

"Sir?" the boy said hesitantly.

"Stand up for a moment. You may pick up your wand," Severus said.

Stebbins, his face betraying some trepidation, did as Severus had ordered.

"Very well. Now, please demonstrate how you would prevent me from jinxing you."

"Umm, Sir. I would smile, and address you politely and, umm, negotiate," the boy replied hesitantly.

Severus resisted an urge to swear, loudly and colorfully. The second years would be the worst, he reminded himself; they were the ones who had only had Umbridge. Everyone else would at least have had a year with Crouch, or have nothing to unlearn... Instead, he drew his wand swiftly and pointed it directly at Stebbins, who flinched.

"Yes? Proceed with your demonstration, Mr. Stebbins," Severus said quietly.

Stebbins paled and swallowed nervously. He contorted his face into a grimace, and said in a hesitant voice, "Please, Professor Snape, Sir, there is no need to jinx me."

Keeping his wand trained steadily on Stebbins, Severus asked. "Do I look convinced?"

Stebbins shook his head. "No, Sir," he said in a whisper.

"Perceptive," Severus said, and was rewarded by a couple of quiet titters coming from behind him. "Have you any alternative ideas?"

Stebbins shook his head, his face reddening.

"Very well. You may sit down," Severus told him, lowering his wand as he did so.

"Anyone else?"

Leah Abbot, a student seated in the first row, raised her hand hesitantly.

"Miss Abbot?" he asked.

"A jinx could be prevented by a defensive spell, Sir?" she ventured, her inflection making her statement a question.

"Do you have a particular spell in mind, Miss Abbot?" he asked.

"Expelliarmus?" she replied in the same questioning tone.

Well, though she lacked conviction, Miss Abbot did appear to be catching on, Severus was pleased to note.

"Would you care to demonstrate it, Miss Abbot?" he asked.

"It has a characteristic across and down wand motion which ends with the tip of the wand pointed forcefully at the target," she said with more confidence.

Aha, and she had also read ahead. Apparently, she had more interest in this subject than in Potions, he noted. She'd rarely bothered to do so last year....

"Please rise, Miss Abbot," he instructed her.

As she did, he took aim at her, holding his wand loosely in his hand. She raised her wand and gripped it tightly, her knuckles whitening. With a nod of his head, he invited her to attempt the spell.

With a hesitant, jerky motion, she executed the wave and shouted "Expelliarmus!" as she stabbed her wand in his direction. As he had known it would before she completed her motion, his wand did not even wiggle. Slowly, with exaggerated motions, Severus began to cast a Jelly-Legs jinx at her head. As the orange jet of light left his wand, she squeaked and dove sideways to avoid it, and the jinx missed her, hitting a picture of a man mauled by an Inferius that hung on the far wall. He cast a nonverbal "Reparo" before the shattered glass inside the frame even began to fall, earning an admiring gasp from the nervously giggling crowd.

Miss Abbot straightened up, looking very frightened.

"Thank you, Miss Abbot. You may sit down," he told her. "That was a workmanlike demonstration of avoiding a hostile jinx."

She looked at him uncertainly, decided he was being serious, and sat down looking almost pleased with herself.

"Have you any other suggestions?" he asked the class.

A couple of hands went up this time.

"Yes, Mr. Fellowes?"

"Run away?" he ventured.

"Would you care to try it?" Severus asked, his lip curling.

"Sir, I didn't mean here, in class. You'd be able to hit me in the back and I couldn't see what you were trying. I meant, if I saw a Death Eater or something coming from far away..."

"Yes, under some circumstances, your approach would work," Severus agreed. "Miss Binns?"

"How about deflecting the spell with something solid, like my book bag, Professor?" she ventured.

"That would work against the Jelly-Legs Jinx I aimed at Miss Abbot. I would not recommend it against a Reductor Curse cast by a powerful opponent. However, as this is a course on defensive magic, we shall begin with the spell suggested by Miss Abbot, the Disarming Charm. As she, and Chapter 1 of the text, suggest, the wand motion for this spell goes across, then down, ending in a forceful thrust in the direction of the opponent. It is most important not to stop at any point in the motion prior to its end; this was Miss Abbot's mistake. Like so."

Severus slowly demonstrated the proper motion, and led the class through a few repetitions of it.

"You will now pair up, and attempt to disarm your partner," he ordered.

Much scraping of chairs ensued as the students followed his instructions, and he stepped back to watch. What he saw did not inspire good feelings about the coming year. As he would have expected from a class of Hufflepuffs, they were quite persistent. Unfortunately, this mostly took the form of a willingness to persist in making the same mistake, over and over again. Severus walked around the class, making corrections and repeating his demonstration of the proper motion, without once receiving the reward of success by a student, though a couple looked as though they might be coming close. The lack of practice last year was very telling. If he was going to bring them up to an acceptable standard by the end of the year, they would need a lot more practice.

"Homework for the next class is to practice the Disarming Charm," Severus announced. "We'll see if anyone has better luck preventing my jinx next time."

From the ripple of consternation that accompanied the latter portion of his announcement, Severus decided with a smile that this group would find the time for some practice. Once his students picked up their things and left to go to their next class, Severus strode to the door to open it and admit the sixth year NEWT class, who were waiting in the corridor.

Author's Note: I would like to thank my beta, coffeecupcakegirl, for her help with this chapter. She helped me catch two canon errors, one of which would have come back to bite me in a later installment.