Finding What Is Lost. SnapeXReader

Dumbledore's Welcome

Being a teacher, you are one of the first people off. Thankfully, you get to skip out on waiting behind the grumpy sixth year students and rambunctious first years. Stepping off the train, you take a deep inhale. The air at Hogwarts is so unique. It brings back a flood of memories. It has been only three years since you finished your seventh year here and moved out into the "real world". You shudder at the memory of what that was like.

It is not the time to think about such things. Dumbledore has given you a great gift by allowing you to work here and you were not going to abuse that. Shaking it off you begin your ascension up the hill to the main building. You were told to meet Dumbledore in his office as soon as you had arrived. So that is what you are going to do.

It isn't long before you make it to Dumbledore office. A cloud threatens to overtake you once again as you remember the last time you had been in this room. It hadn't been good. Stop it! You tell yourself. You will not dwell on such things. You will not waste the gift that has been given to you.

"Stella," A warm voice invites you farther into the room. Dumbledore has risen from his chair and walks closer to you. The cloud fades away and you cannot help but smile at your old mentors welcome. He embraces you in a tight hug. You didn't realize how badly you had missed hugs until now. "It is so good to have you back, sweet child," Dumbledore says realising your embrace but places his large hands onto your shoulders. "No! Not child," he corrects himself, looking at your clean uplifted face, "Stella Rose you are a woman now. My have you grown!"

You laugh at his kind words. He has always been a father figure to you ever since you first came to Hogwarts as a student. Being a grown up in his eyes was a huge compliment. "It is wonderful to be back, my friend," you say looking at his face. You notice his crease lines are just a little bit deeper, his beard a little bit longer, and his hair a tad more greyer. You're not the only one who has aged.

"How are you, my dear girl? How was the train?"

"Very pleasant!" You answer enthusiastically, "very pleasant indeed."

"I am pleased to here that. I'm very glad this children weren't too much for you on the way here."

"Not at all. I was prepared for it to be quite rowdy, but I was in my own compartment and was near the prefects. They are quite respectful and responsible this year, you picked a great bunch." Dumbledore goes behind his desk to grab something while you talk though he is intently listening. His happiness that you are here radiates throughout the room.

"Oh I do hope so. It is one of my greatest troubles I have."

"I know it is," you reply, your voice a little graver than you expected. Thankfully, Dumbledore doesn't seem to notice.

"Now I have arranged for one of the teachers to take you to your classroom. You chambers are linked right next to the class so it works out quite well," he tells you still trying to find the thing he went behind his desk for, "unfortunately I am not able to take you. I have some business to attend to."
You want to ask what the business is but before you can the door opens behind you, you instinctively grab your wand. "Ah Severus! Perfect timing!"

Your heart stops. In walks the man who used to be your potions professor.  The same man you have always had secret feelings for. The same man you pretty much confessed your love to the day you left school. You had completely forgot about this until you see him standing before you now. Did he remember? Did the memory of you giving him a great big hug to while saying goodbye before leaving pop into his head as well? Did the awkward feeling from that day make his body cringe this very moment? Your head began to pound almost as hard as your heart was.

His eyes are on you hand that is gripping your wand. He has always been super aware. You stared at him waiting for the moment of recognition to come from his still attractive as ever face.

It never came. Instead he walks briskly passed you and goes up to Dumbledore. "You needed to see me, Sir," His deep, destinctive voice asks the Headmaster.

"Yes, Severus, I would like you to take our dear Stella Rose down to the Defense Against the Dark Arts room please and show her to her chambers," Dumbledore asked Snape. If you weren't mistake, you could barely see Snape's jaw clench as he began to grimace. You also notice that his long fingers were now clenched into balls.

It just now dawned on you. Professor Severus Snape, the potions professor, has always wanted one job above his current one. For as long as you have known, Snape had always saught after each year:Defense Against the Dark Arts.

Your heart sinks. This was only getting worse.