Professor Granger

Chapter Two

Severus Snape traced his slender fingers across the rosy puncture marks scarring his neck. It had been over three years since he'd received the wounds at the Battle of Hogwarts and nearly lost his life. He remembered with perfect clarity the cold indifference in Lord Voldemort's eyes as he commanded the snake to kill him, all for the allegiance a wand Snape himself didn't actually master. Draco Malfoy, at that time, was the true master of the Elder Wand.

As Nagini lunged at him with lightning speed, Severus knew he'd reached his end. The fangs pierced the flesh of his neck with rough ferocity, yet he only felt the weight of the snake as his consciousness instantly began slipping away. As his vision blurred at the edges, he watched as Voldemort left him to die alone, solely set on finally killing Potter with the Elder Wand he, the Dark Lord, now truly mastered.

Not a minute after, Severus was surprised to hear the creaking of footsteps entering the Shrieking Shack. Suddenly, Harry Potter kneeled beside him, his friends Hermione and Ron watching closely behind.

Barely alive, Severus knew that he needed to take advantage of the boy's arrival. There was still so much Harry needed to know. So many truths Albus Dumbledore had left in mystery. "Take them," Severus whispered through shallow breaths. "Take them to the Pensieve."

Harry quickly understood that his former Professor was referring to the tears trickling down his cheeks. He urgently turned to his friends in search of a flask or anything else capable of capturing and carrying the liquid. Hermione swiftly retrieved a flask from her little beaded handbag and shoved it toward her friend.

"Look at me," Severus croaked as Harry finished collecting the tears. Conflicted sadness tightened the young man's features as he directed his gaze into the eyes of the dying man before him. "You have your mother's eyes."

Darkness consumed Severus's vision as he uttered what be believed to be his final words.

"You guys need to go. I'll stay and help him. Hurry!"

The world around him vanished, but his continued ability to hear told him that he was at least somewhat alive for the time being. Two pairs of rushed footsteps departed the Shrieking Shack, leaving behind a single presence. Hermione Granger.

Severus felt the furious shaking of the young woman as she kneeled beside him to examine his wounds. He didn't know how horribly mangled the snake had left him, but judging by Hermione's flustered mumblings, the damage was quite severe. Listening to her as she considered a variety of healing spells aloud, the man recognized that Hermione Granger was truly the only student he'd ever trust to save his life. She was undoubtedly the brightest witch he'd ever taught, regardless of her know-it-all tendencies.

"Well, this should at least stop the bleeding," Hermione murmured, wand pointed at the bite with feigned confidence. "Vulnera sanentur."

The single spell was enough for Severus to finally slip into complete unconsciousness. One-by-one, each of his remaining senses slowly dissipated until all awareness was gone.

In those moments, his life had been placed in the hands of a 17--year-old witch who believed him to be an enemy. Fortunately, something deep within Hermione had been persuasive enough to compel her to fight for him. He still didn't know what that 'something' was.

"Severus," the familiar voice of Minerva McGonagall called from the office doorway, several pieces of inked parchment clenched at her side. Severus jumped at the sudden interruption, having been deeply entranced by the vivid memory. "Ms. Granger has agreed to an interview."

Severus nodded in acknowledgment, attempting to appear indifferent at the news.

"She specifically asked me to inform you of her immense gratitude," Minerva continued, eyes twinkling with a hint of mischief.

"Thank you, Minerva," Severus snapped dismissively, returning his attention to the book he'd been reading.

Minerva smirked to herself, humored by her colleague's predictability. "We will hold the interview this Friday at 5 o'clock sharp. I expect I'll see you there?"

"Of course," Severus agreed, not trusting the woman to handle the process of hiring new professors on her own. "Good night, then."

"Good night, Severus," Minerva laughed, entertained by the man's characteristic desire to be left alone.

As soon as Minerva exited, Severus shut the book he'd been struggling to read all evening in defeat. It was surely past midnight and he'd failed to achieve a sufficient night of sleep all week. In preparation for the coming school year, he'd been spending countless hours revisiting his old Potions curriculum he'd taught years ago. Much to his pleasure, he would be returning to the position of Potions professor at Hogwarts for the coming year. Apparently it required almost dying for him to realize that he couldn't continue to deny his talent and passion for the subject.

Closing the door behind him, Severus murmured a spell beneath his breath to seal his office shut for the night. Tomorrow he'd be interviewing an older wizard for one of the open teaching positions, followed by another long afternoon of lesson planning and classroom organizing. He hated to admit it, but he really was excited about returning to the normality of teaching young witches and wizards again. "Even those helpless first-years," he chuckled amusedly to himself.

As soon as his head hit the pillow, Severus drifted into a deep sleep that would carry him through the night. This year, life at Hogwarts would return to its old sweet simplicity and he was truly grateful for the peace it would bring. Finally, the conflict and chaos of his life would be put to rest.

Or, so he thought.

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