The Corpse That Lived.

Chapter 28

Severus had imagined, rather foolishly, he supposed, that he might speak with his colleagues before Albus offered his own account of their newest Slytherin. It wasn't distrust so much as an awareness that the Headmaster had a way of shaping a conversation before anyone else quite realized it.

He didn't believe that Dahlia was dangerous like Dumbeldore did but strange none the less. 

That small hope unravelled at the first staff meeting of the year, held Wednesday after dinner.

The Hogwarts staff were assembled in the staff room, prefects patrolling the halls with instructions to alert them only in true emergencies. Severus sat between Filius and Quirinius. Filius was chattering cheerfully about something Severus had long since lost track of, his thoughts drifting instead toward the faint, unsettling wrongness he felt radiating from Quirinius.

Something was different about the stuttering defence teacher this year, and he was determined to find the cause of it.

"Well," Albus said from the front, genially calling for the beginning of the meeting. "I believe you all have now had at least one class with each year."

He gazed around and clasped his hands together when none contradicted his statement.

"Wonderful. How are our students settling in? Any difficulties? Poppy?"

"So far I have had one fifth-year show up with burns on her fingers from a lesson on salamanders–"

Silvanus Kettleburn muttered "silly girl," under his breath.

"-but I fixed her up right as rain." Poppy continued, giving a look of agreement to Silvanus. "I've also had a first year with a bad case of homesickness. And of course, Mister Flint needed a few potions to fix him up from his summer."

Severus held his mask of indifference, but sighed internally. Marcus Flint was one of the students that he has tried carefully, and repeatedly, to have removed from the care of his relatives, to no avail. He simply does not carry the weight, the power, or the credit to sway the Ministry into investigating Marcus' home.

Albus waved off her comments with nothing more than a "very well my dear, it sounds as if you have the situation well in hand."

If that man cared one iota for the Slytherins, as he does his precious Lions, he could prevent a lot of pain and gain powerful loyalty, Severus thought with a sneer. He carries the weight and power to simply sweep in and save some of these kids, if he gave a single damn.

"Has anyone experienced any difficulties with any of our newcomers?" Albus asked, his blue eyes twinkling as he looked around the room.

Aurora, who had previously been slumped over and half-asleep, took a quick sip of her coffee and spoke up.

"Not difficulties Headmaster, but I would like to say that I finally happen to have two prodigies in my class."

"Oh?" Albus inquired, "from your first years?"

She nodded eagerly, her face alive with a rarely seen sense of excitement.

"Oh yes, Misters Zabini and Potter seem to have memorized the entire night sky. It's brilliant! I've recommended further reading for them both so that they are not bored in my class," the witch gushed.

"Ooh, Potter? The child is simply marvellous! You should have seen her charm work. Wandless and silent."

Severus watched Albus' face closely as Filius spouted off Potter's, apparently numerous, charms.

There it is.

Albus' eyes flashed, temporarily losing his customary twinkle to a much darker look of consternation.