Fire in The Dungeon

Ch 1 Three New Professors

Pickled pumpkin," Severus Snape muttered sharply, his patience wearing thin as the stone gargoyle creaked to life, revealing the staircase to Dumbledore's office. He ascended swiftly, his dark robes swirling behind him, his mind already anticipating the conversation to come.

Without knocking, Snape pushed open the heavy oak door and strode into the warmly lit office. Dumbledore sat behind his desk, bathed in the flicker of candlelight, his eyes twinkling with that infuriating mix of serenity and mystery. At the other side of the room, Minerva McGonagall, her arms crossed and her brow furrowed, was already seated, a stern expression on her face.

"Ah, Severus," Dumbledore greeted, his voice calm and welcoming. "Please, take a seat."

Snape moved to the chair, though his posture remained tense as he sat. His dark eyes fixed on Dumbledore, barely concealing his impatience. "This is about the Defense Against the Dark Arts position, I presume?"

Dumbledore nodded, the smile never leaving his face. "Indeed, Severus. The position has been filled, as I'm sure you've suspected. Your former classmate, Remus Lupin, will be joining us this year."

A shadow passed over Snape's face, his expression hardening. "Lupin?" he repeated, his voice dripping with disdain. "Headmaster, surely you cannot be serious. The man is a werewolf. Have you forgotten how dangerous he is to those around him? Or have you forgotten what happened when we were students—how he nearly killed me?"

McGonagall arched an eyebrow, her tone brisk. "Now, now, Severus, let's not get carried away. You've survived worse than a werewolf, haven't you? Besides, the Wolfsbane Potion is quite effective in managing such... predicaments."

Dumbledore's gaze softened, but there was a firmness behind his twinkling eyes. "I have not forgotten, Severus. But you must understand, Remus is capable of managing his condition. He has since learned to control it with the aid of Wolfsbane Potion."

Snape's lip curled. "Control it?" he echoed bitterly. "No potion can truly control what he is. A werewolf remains a werewolf. What happens if he forgets to take it, or worse, if he can't? You're inviting a dangerous creature into the castle, Headmaster, and it's only a matter of time before he slips. You're risking the lives of every student."

McGonagall leaned forward, her expression stern but understanding. "And you, Severus, must learn to trust in the safeguards we've established. I assure you, we will not allow any incidents to occur. We're not in Hogwarts' past anymore, and you're not a boy waiting to be saved by Potter." Her eyes flashed with authority, silencing Snape's objections.

Dumbledore leaned forward slightly, his expression kind but resolute. "I trust Remus completely, Severus. He will take every precaution, as will I. And you will ensure that he has the Wolfsbane Potion each month. I have no doubt you will be meticulous in your brewing."

Snape's hands tightened on the armrests of the chair, his jaw clenching as he stared coldly at the headmaster. "And what if he forgets to take it, or chooses not to? Have you considered the consequences? We nearly had one incident when we were students—an incident that could have killed me, if not for James Potter's interference. And now, you expect me to trust that he's changed?"

Dumbledore's expression remained patient, though his tone grew firmer. "I understand your concerns, Severus, and I do not dismiss them lightly. But Remus is not the boy he once was. He has lived with this burden for many years and has proven himself time and again. I believe he will be an excellent teacher, and I ask that you give him the same opportunity."

Snape glared, the reminder of that night stirring his anger. His memory of being led to the Shrieking Shack, unaware that he was walking into a trap with Lupin in his werewolf form, had never left him. The indignity of being saved by James Potter, of all people, only deepened his resentment.