Professor

{19}

{19~Oh?}

"How was your holiday?" Gilda Lockhart asked the couple as they settled into the staff table for breakfast, a new day of term commencing. Hermione was on Severus's right that day, between her wizard and the blonde witch that hadn't been around much before the holiday.

"Wonderful, actually..." Hermione led on quietly, looking at Severus who looked mildly annoyed at having to speak to anyone.

"We took in Felix Haar."

The Muggle-studies professor opened her eyes widely, surprise obvious in the way she heard the information. Severus hadn't spared her his blunt nature that morning. In truth, he was rather regretting being back-- his being the Headmaster regardless.

"Why ever so? His parents are muggles, aren't they?" She inquired.

"Yes," Hermione replied, "Yet they were abusing him, it wasn't healthy... though I don't think he'd appreciate much if we spoke of it too in-depth."

"Understood," Gilda said with a nod, her blonde bob of hair bouncing with her.

"He's promised not to cause anymore trouble, however, and I am very sure that will result in a wonder of improvement."

"Good morning!" More teachers chorused, happy to see the Headmaster and Transfiguration professor returned to the castle. A teacher even walked up to Hermione and insisted that after breakfast she come with them and tend to a banister in the Ravenclaw common room, that had been transfigured into a large paper airplane, back to its original state. She had giggled and agreed to do so after breakfast, Severus left beside her wondering how much trouble the school had gotten into without him there.

"Hogwarts went to hell without me here," he muttered, looming over his meal.

"I doubt it, Severus. There are many capable professors here to have handled such a novelty. Like Carthenius! You did leave him charge." Hermione then gestured to the wizard who made his way down the Great Hall.

"How was your holiday?" She chirped at him when he'd bent down to place a kiss on her cheek, nodding at the Headmaster who would seemingly be talked over for the remainder of the meal. Oh, he most definitely regretted coming back.

"Wonderful, and yours?"

"Quidditch is going splendidly! Each team practiced multiple times, from what I am aware, but I was in my office most of the time, grading papers students wrote before break, handling anything the students brought to me. Being Headmaster is hard," he said flatly.

Hermione cringed. She felt bad that he'd had to do that, but the wizard looked impressed, so she need not ask if he was.

"Oh, well, as long as you enjoyed your days."

"I'll be excusing myself." Severus stood up and left the table, his meal finished to Hermione's surprise. When had he eaten?

Ignoring it, she shifted over and animatedly continued her talk with Carthenius, mostly about Felix.

Severus, however, went to speak to the boy directly who sat at the end of Slytherin table enjoying a meal alone.

"Are you alright?" He asked him, placing a stagnate hand on the young wizard's shoulder.

"Yeah, feels weird to be back, Sir."

Severus agreed, after the multiple days he'd spent with Hermione and Felix alone, the commotion was hard to acclimate to. It was like thrusting yourself into the summer water after not swimming for nine months of school and winter. Definitely a shock.