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As the days goes by, slowly - but surely, it became clear to us Professors that the Death Eater twins are going to be part of the staff as well. It did raise few eyebrows and people became aware how Snape is indeed working for Lord Voldemort. But none of the Professors quit their jobs, since it would automatically mean more Death Eaters would be hired to replace them. Ministry really has us in a choke hold on this one - thanks to Voldemort. The students and their safety are our priority now, and we will do everything that we can to protect them. Even it means loosing our own freedom. The first school day is about to be in two days. No matter what I've tried, the necklace won't come off! 'It won't come off until you have learned how to use it... Properly.' Snape's words echoes in my head everytime I try to figure out how to get this thing off. Merlin..! How in the world did I get in to this situation?
Minerva and I are now walking along Hogsmeade's alleys, doing some final shopping we need for ourselves when the school will start - not alone, of course. There is no way Snape let's us Professors walk around free outside of the castle, since there is the possibility we would run away to help Harry Potter or such. So, the werewolf-man - whose name turned out to be Fenrir Greyback, has been following us whole this time, only three meters behind to keep an eye on us. As expected, people around us are little stunned whenever they recognize the Death Eater behind us and are pretty quick step aside as we walk. It really makes me feel like we are in one of those Muggle fantasy books that tells about mafia or such - and not in a good way... But we have put him in good use; he's carrying some of the bags. Even he is gritting his sharp teeth at us, we are not afraid of him.
Sometimes Minerva and I share the side-eye, both of us knowing we could easily take him down on our own if we wanted to. But... We don't wanna cause any trouble, so we keep on walking like fine ladies ahead of him. Wonder why Snape even ordered Greyback, out of all the Death Eaters to come with us, even he must know we could take him down with one swift of our wands? As we walk past the window of Gladrags, I stop to look inside. Minerva stops too:"Find something you like?". There is this beautiful, soft yellow, flowy, long dress on one of the mannequins. Don't know why, but Dumbledore's words came to my mind immediately when I lay my eyes on the dress. 'You really are... A light in middle of darkness, (Y/N). Remember that.'. For a moment, I keep my gaze before answering to the friend:"Yes. I think I just did...".
The day came - the day when the students comes back from their summer break to Hogwarts. For some of the children this is their very first school day as well. Poor little ten to eleven year olds. They have no idea what Hogwarts used to be. It appears that the students and their parents were in the believe Minerva McGonagall is the new Headmaster instead Snape. Bet if they would have heard a man who's working for Voldemort himself is the new Headmaster, they wouldn't have let their children step their foot in the train. As the students enters the Great Hall in their usual black robes, they get slightly confused. Instead of the warm and welcoming atmosphere in the Great Hall has changed completely. For example, the torches has been replaced by with this greenish-blue light which gives more cold and intense feeling all around. There are no flying candles in the magical ceiling. Only darkness of the sky with few stars, mixed with grey thin clouds. Very gloomy atmosphere indeed all around.
After the students sat down on their seats, they were quickly ordered to stand up to welcome us all Professors like in military. The children are hesitatingly looking around as they stand up, whispering to each other confused what the heck is going on. The new Headmaster is standing hands behind his back in front of the Great Hall where Dumbledore would normally give the welcoming speech. But Snape won't say anything. At least not yet. In middle of this little fuss in the room, he has noticed that one of the Professors is still missing. Me. All of the Professors are standing beside the High Table behind him, all dressed in black, waiting something to happen. They have also noticed I'm not where I should be. My seat is empty. Hagrid bends down to whisper to Minerva:"Where is she?". "She'll be here in a minute." she whispers back. Snape hears this, but won't make any gesture to let them know it.
Soon enough, I appear to the doorway of the Great Hall - hair and makeup done nicely, the necklace dangling around my neck as I'm wearing the soft yellow dress. Immediately Snape sees me. His chest raises, but without changing the cold and calculating expression on his face, he calmly exhales thru his nose while keeping the black eyes on me. Everyone takes a notice where the Headmaster is staring, and they all turn to look at the same direction. The room gets silent. Even all of this makes me little bit nervous, I start walking along the aisle with confidence. Like there is nothing odd about me being the only colorful one in middle of the darkness. The students starts whispering again. "Who's that?" one of the first years dares to ask from one of the prefects. "(Y/N) (Y/L), our History of Magic Professor." the prefect whispers back.
Minerva has this very small, proud smile corner of her lips that she tries to hide as she's watching me from where she stands. We weren't particularly ordered to wear whole black or dark clothes, everyone just felt that was the proper thing to do, considering what times we are living in. The whole time I walk towards the High Table, my (e/c) eyes are narrowed right into Headmaster's black eyes. As soon as I walk past the students tables, I shift my gaze away from him and calmly walk to my seat. It seems that my appearance has messed up the Headmaster's head a bit, since he stares in the distance for a moment longer without a word before starting his speech.
When I come to stand beside my seat, corner of my eye, I can see the Carrow twins. They are looking all smug to be here. Urgh... Heard how Alecto is going to be the new teacher of Muggle Studies and Amycus is going to teach Dark Arts. Not Defence Against the Dark Arts, only Dark Arts. Merlin, if I could just... "Good evening, students and staff... As many of you might already heard the unfortunate news, Albus Dumbledore is no longer... With us. Therefor, I - Severus Snape, former Professor of Potions, am going to be your Headmaster for this upcoming semester. "Snape speaks with the usual monotonic tone while keeping his gaze in the distance. Almost like this is one of the last things he wish to do; speaking to big crowd like this. From where I stand, I can see how his hands are fidgeting as he's holding them behind his back. Why I feel... Almost bad for him? Quickly, I do a small head shake to put my thoughts in order. Can't believe how weak I am for this man. Even after everything... I shouldn't!
As expected, Snape's welcoming speech was short and cold. The whole welcoming ceremony was done pretty quick and soon after, we all got up start head out of the Great Hall. None of the Professors stayed around the High Table to chat how their summer went or any that sort like usually they all do. It was almost like this unspoken rule we have all made. We all wanted to just get back into our chambers as soon as possible. As I'm walking in middle of the sea of the students, I won't look back. But I can just feel how Headmaster's dark eyes are burning right at me. I can feel the burn behind my neck. When I got to the corridors, out of Snape's sight, I let out a quiet and long exhale. Merlin, that was intense.
Our Transfiguration Professor is quick to walk beside me and without stopping the walk, she locks arms with me and we keep on walking among the students. I get little bit surprised by this, but keep on walking with her. "Out of all of the days, you really had to put the dress tonight?" she whispers while keeping her gaze forward. "You have no idea how fast my heart is pounding right now." I whisper back and bring a hand over my chest. It really is. I can just feel how my heart is throbbing hard against the palm. Snape must be fuming how I disrespected the ceremony like that. But... He is the one who loves drama. And I'm ready to give it to him. Minerva gives couple soothing taps with her hand on top of mine as we keep walking with locked arms. "Good girl." she sounds like a proud mother. Small smile appears on my lips, but I quickly press it down and bring up the same cold and cool gaze I had when I walked the aisle.
Soon after, Minerva and I went our own ways. When I got to my chamber and close the door behind me, I get filled with the mix of this sadness and emptiness. Normally, Sniffy would have jumped down from the bed or the sofa and come greet me as soon as I walked in. But not now. Not today. Not... Ever. My breath shudders and tears raises on my eyes, but I quickly push them down and start taking the dress off. It's not as easy task and I start to get impatient. While struggling, all of these things and thoughts once again consumes me. I still have no clue the real reason why Snape killed Albus. Or what really happened to Tonks and Ted after he took them away from Malfoy manor. "Fucking..- Shit..!!" I hiss thru my teeth.
Frustrated, I slam the dress to the floor as soon as I get it to go over my head. The necklace swings among the movement around my neck. "There..." I huff, like I've just did a heavy work out. After that, I hop on the shower. As I'm standing fully naked under the shower, I look down to the necklace. When I walked along the aisle... Snape's eyes did quickly visit on the necklace, and I could have sworn there was hint of disappointment in them for a hot second. Like it got him upset I still have it on me. Why? He's the one who put it on me, for Merlin's sake! To get my thoughts in order, I turn the cold on. Immediately when the cold water hits the bare skin, I flinch and gather arms close to my body:"Oh..-! Merlin!!".