A Suitable Arrangement

Three: Return To Hogwarts Pt. 2

Severus

Severus,

I am delighted to have heard that you survived your gruesome attack by that insane despot and his snake. But as Hogwarts has yet to hire a competent Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher, I would like to personally invite you to return to Hogwarts. I must also take the time to write that I have found a most capable Potions Mistress to teach Potions classes for the foreseeable future.

Severus, I know that we have not always seen eye to eye, you and I, but I would imagine that you not being employed is taking a toll on you. I would like to personally extend this invitation, and I ardently hope that you return to Hogwarts, if only to acquire gainful employment in a skill set appropriate to you alone as a wizard.

Sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall
Headmistress

The black haired wizard who resided at a much renovated Spinners End, crumpled up Minerva McGonagall's letter and threw it in the trash in his anger. Potions Mistress?? What witch was qualified enough to even attain that title? The answer was not too many people.

He crossed the few steps it took to reach his favorite burgundy leather wingbacked chair and slumped in it. His obsidian eyes stared at nothing but the dancing flames in the fireplace. A smile curved his lips in amusement at not being employed. The Ministry of Magic had restored his family fortunes and prestige to him for his 'heroic deeds,' in the last war. Fine, the government could call the restoration of what rightfully belonged to him by birth, a 'reward.' He called it by its rightful word, bribery, plain and simple. He didn't need to be employed, he had been severely frugal his entire life, even before the Prince family vaults at Gringotts were restored to him. If he wanted, he could climb inside his expensive bottles of liquor and drink himself to death, preferably in bed with an attractive witch who he just fucked six ways from Sunday; it would certainly be a pleasant way to die.

After he drank the anti-venom potions he had hidden away on his person in the boathouse, he was too weak to fight. He barely managed to disapparate away from the battle, because his blood loss had been so severe. He eventually healed up, and he traveled the world seeing the sights, and seeing just how many witches and muggle women he could lay with while using up boxes of condoms. Eventually, he tired of his libertine lifestyle, and now alcohol was more his vice of choice these days. He never thought of Lily Evans Potter these days, that part of his life was over. But he drank now, because what did he have to live for now? The war was over, Harry Potter was dead, and the light side had won. Ding dong, the wicked wizard is dead, huzzah.

Severus touched the thin, pale scar along the hollow of his throat. The wound healed, but it was a sensitive area on his neck that he was forever conscious of. He was conscious of it in the same way as he was conscious of the presence of his Dark Mark tattoo that branded him forever as a deatheater. The dark magic had long since ceased to operate it, but it was forever imprinted in his flesh for life. The St. Mungos curse breakers had informed him of this, but they had been unable to remove it. He told them that it was of no importance, it was his relic of the war, and nothing else now.

He drained his glass of gin, and set it aside on the side table beside him. Potions Mistress. Hm..that could be interesting. Knowing Minerva as he did, she was likely as ancient as her, and probably just as droll in her personality. A smile curved his lips.

He acciod a quill and parchment to him, and wrote on his side table:

Minerva,

I write this in acceptance of your offer of employment. Please expect me at the start of term.

Severus Prince

He sealed it and took off his signet ring. He grinned in amusement at the look on McGonagall's face when the owl arrived, sealed with the Prince family crest. By legal necessity, he had to change his legal surname to that of his mother's maiden name. He had no issues with that, it was the final nail in the coffin to the abusive piece of shit that was his muggle father. He got up and went to his desk. He picked up the heating blob of green sealing wax and poured a small bit of wax on the back of the envelope, and addressed it accordingly. Green wax like the good little Slytherin that he was. He thought that red would have been too contrite of a gesture on his part.

He put the sealing wax pan back on its burner, and blew out the candle underneath. He took the envelope, and left his study. He found a barn owl and gave it an owl treat before tying it to its leg. The owl went flying off, and Severus resigned himself to his fate. For better or for worse, he would be returning to Hogwarts. Merlin help him...