The Return Of Snape [Voldemort X Severus Snape]

chapter 18

Severus had not been expecting a warm reception, when he got back to Hogwarts on the first of September. Miverva simply ignored him, pursing her lips tightly together. Flitwick was looking at him sadly, muttering things to himself. Slughorn shook his head in disappointment. This, he supposed, was better treatment than what the Carrow's were getting. Minerva completely ignored them. In fact, everyone ignored them. Severus could tell this was going to be a hard year.

They were sat along the top table, the Carrow's either side of him as he sat in his Throne like chair. He watched through narrowed eyes as his students filed into the room, most glaring up at him, the Slytherin's smiling. He made eye contact with Draco for the merest of seconds, nodding briefly, and then looking away. Minerva entered the hall at last, followed by all the new students, the ones from Wizarding families looking suspiciously up at him. Severus noted that there were not as many students in the hall now as there had been in the past. He was barely concentrating through the Sorting Ceremony, and ate little throughout the feast, hardly speaking to the Carrow's.

Everyone of importance had returned, except for Ron, Hermione and Harry. That was expected, but he would have to tell Voldemort all the same.

Severus suddenly noticed the plates clearing, and hastily stood up to make his speech. The hall was silenced. Three quarters of the school glared up at him. "The Ministry for Magic has made some new rules for the school," he began, softly, knowing full well it would carry to the very back of the hall. Voldemort shared this talent with him. "A full list can be found on the second floor corridor." He paused. "And as you may have noticed, we have two new Professors... Alecto Carrow for Muggle Studies, and her brother Amycus Carrow for Defence Against the Dark Arts." He gestured to each as he spoke their names. "Slytherin's, Professor Slughorn will be replacing me as Head of Slytherin House." He paused, waiting for the lukewarm applause to fade back into a stony silence. "As always, the Forbidden Forest is prohibited. Your new timetables will be handed out tomorrow at breakfast by your Head of House. Now, to bed, you have lessons first thing." He seated himself back down, ignoring the obvious hatred the vast majority of students felt for him. The worst thing was, Voldemort couldn't make it to Hogwarts that night, and Severus wasn't going to leave the castle in a hurry too soon, just in case there were to be any start of year pranks played on him, or any other teacher. He waited for the room to empty, before he took the door at the back of the Great Hall, through a tapestry in the corridor and up a flight of stairs, which brought him straight to his rooms. He spoke the password to his door, and entered.

He sighed. His bed was going to be very lonely tonight.

He reached for the bottle of brandy, ad poured himself a glass. He kicked off his shoes, and walked slowly into his bedroom, setting the glass down after taking a sip, and unbuttoning his robes. Severus pulled them off, and threw them onto the bed, and then noticed a familiar figure sitting on the window sill, looking at Severus with an amused expression on his face.

"I didn't think you were coming!" Severus cried, and ran towards his lover, and kissed him hard on the lips.

The Dark Lord held Severus tightly to him, and kissed his hair. "I could not leave you alone, especially on a night like this one... I thought you would be upset..."

Severus nodded. "I need you more then ever," he murmured.

"I know... I feel the same way... You are truly part of me now, Sev," Voldemort responded. "My lover, my best friend... My soon to be husband..." His smile grew. "Let's make love on Dumbledore's bed!" he said.

"You are sick," Severus replied, pulling away and sitting down, though still he felt much better, just from those few words of comfort, and from the Dark Lord's childish wit.