A New Story

Chapter 21

They both spent some time in silence. 

'Severus.'

'What?'

'It's going to be okay.' Regulus slid his hand over and ran his thumb over Severus's knuckle.

Severus sighed in reply.

'I'm here for you whenever you need me, you know that right?'

He didn't give any response.

Regulus hugged him tightly, 'I missed you during those thirteen years. You were the only person that understood me. You weren't trying to use me to get connections like some of our schoolmates were. You are the only person I trust with my life.'

Severus began breaking down, he couldn't do this anymore, he let his emotions run free. The guy hadn't cried once since Lily's death and this seemed like a good time to do so. 'I missed you too, Reg.' he quietly sobbed, 'Don't ever leave me again. Please.' 

'I won't, promise.'

'Maybe it would be okay.'

'Of course it will. You're Severus Snape, nothing can ever stop you. Now, tell me, how the hell do I speak to the seventh years? They look the same age I am.' Regulus said, trying to make him distracted.

'It was worse when I started. I was twenty-one, I was just a few years older than them and they had absolutely no respect whatsoever. That's why I was tough on my students, to prevent any misbehavior or accidents during Potions. I couldn't even count how many cauldrons I had to replace because of mistakes and accidents during the first year I started teaching. Harry brought to my attention, being overtly strict with children isn't the best teaching method though, so I'm trying to be more patient with them, no matter their insolence or ignorance and it is not easy.' he said, 'What I'm trying to say is be nice but not too nice and help you students.'

'Understood. I still can't believe Dumbledore would hire me in a day's notice.'

'He's desperate to get rid of Binns. No student picks history as one of their N.E.W.T.s subjects because of that old ghost. And you are a young, energetic, smart young person, so I doubt Dumbledore would have passed over you.'

'Oh my gosh, you said I'm smart, that was the first time you gave me a compliment.'

'Don't get too used to it.'

Regulus rolled his eyes while smiling. 

They both sat in comfortable silence for the rest of the trip as one planned his first class and the other read.

The train came to a stop and the two went off board.

'Dad, Ben, what were you doing on the train?' Harry asked when he saw them walking to one of the Thestrals.

'Hello, Harry. Nice to see you again.' Ben said, 'Severus was accompanying me because I really wanted to ride the train. It was always one of the best parts about going to Hogwarts for me.'

'Oh cool, why didn't you tell me, Dad? I could gone to your compartment and rode with you guys.'

'I just thought that you would prefer to sit with your friends.' Severus answered Harry.

'Well, I'm gonna sit with you for the Thestral ride. I am so thrilled for it, Hermione told me that they're invisible to people that haven't seen death. Do you think I can see them?'

'Umm, maybe. Let us see.' Severus replied thinking about the moment when he saw Lily's body laying on the floor, lifeless and limp.

Regulus had read the news about the Potters, he knew that Severus had adored Lily Potter nee Evans and he knew Severus was devasted when he received the news. He didn't understand how the older man still loved the woman after she refused his apologies and married his bully, that always made Regulus so fucking mad and he also felt another emotion he couldn't name, it was like a burning desire to kill anyone that hurt Severus.

Emotions are confusing. Life is confusing.

Anyways, Harry told his friends that he was going to sit with his guardian and new professor and Harry, Severus and Regulus went to the Thestrals ride. Harry found out he couldn't see the Thestrals and was a bit disappointed, Regulus couldn't either but he wasn't surprised. Severus though, could see the creatures. 

'They are so beautiful, aren't they?' Severus said as he petted the being softly.

'I can't see them, Dad. Who did you see die?'

'You cannot see them, huh? That's good.' Severus said, trying to avoid answering the second part of Harry's question.

'I suppose.'

Regulus stepped onto the carriage and Harry followed, Regulus pulled Severus up and they had quite a bumpy ride to Hogwarts. When the ride ended, Severus ran out and threw up in a bush. Most of the students whispered and murmured and Regulus held back the man's hair and patted him on the back. Severus finally stopped and Regulus, being the gentleman he was, handed him a handkerchief. 

'Thanks.' Severus stumbled a bit.

'Hey, take it easy.' Regulus supported him by his arm and walked back to Hogwarts.

Severus told him how to get inside by the teacher's entrance and they sat down at the teacher's table, the other teachers were concerned and Madame Pomfrey was insistent on getting him checked up. 

'For god's sake, Poppy shut up or I am going to barf when the children come in.' Severus face turned paler than normal. He corked open a potion he had in his pocket and gulped it down. He looked a little better then. 

'So, it is true. The Prophet wasn't lying.' Lockhart who was sitting at the farthest end of the table next to Severus.

'Can you shut your trashy dustbin please?' Regulus snapped at Lockhart.

'Now, now boys. We cannot act like immature children, can we?' Dumbledore said with a twinkle in his blue eyes. 'Severus, are you fine?'

'Yes, Headmaster, I just got carsick. Nothing more.'

'We all know there's another reason.' Lockhart muttered.

'Do you want to switch seats, Severus?' Regulus asked, glaring daggers at the dumb blonde.

'No, I would not wish this misfortune even on my enemies.'

That earned a few snickers from the staff table. Then, the door of the Great Hall opened to reveal second to seventh years ready for their new year of learning. 

They all went to their respective house tables and began chatting with their friends. Some were gossiping about the teachers.

'Hey, did you read in the Daily Prophet that Snape...'

'Who's that man over there? He's good-looking. Oh and look there's Gilderoy Lockhart.'

'Why does Hogwarts hire so many handsome male teachers? Girls are going to be swooning left and right. Professor Snape was already enough. Ugh.'

'Silence!' came the loud thundering sound of Dumbledore, 'The first years are going to be coming in to get sorted. Everyone, please, keep quiet.'

A group of first years led by Professor McGonagall shuffled through the Hall and one by one students got sorted by the hat. This year, there were significantly less Slytherins but that was fine for Severus, he already had enough on his plate.

He saw Harry roaring with his housemates every time a child gets sorted into Gryffindor, for some reason that filled him up with joy and proudness, not of himself but of the progress Harry had made from a shy, introverted boy to a loud, outgoing and friendly kid. At that moment, he truly loved his life for once.