Genesis
xoXOXox
Severus watched as the graduates made their way around the room. It had been a grueling last few months of teaching, correcting, and ensuring that his returning eighth year’s were prepared to take their NEWTs and move on into the world beyond. He had made surprising leaps not only with his own Slytherins, but with several students from the other houses.
Potter… Harry could be seen entering his office several nights a week. Some nights they talked about potions and the practical versus the written portions of the tests. Some nights, they talked about James and Lily and Sirius and the years that brought his best friend and him together and the mistakes made that pulled them apart. For the first time in more years than he cared to think about, one drop from Harry’s eyes became two and then three until Severus found the sleep deprived wizard in his arms and tears falling from his own eyes. The very first cleansing of the last bit of pain and guilt was washed away not on the death of the monster that killed his best friend but with the forgiveness of her son.
Miss Lovegood made appearances and they talked about students that she could see needed extra tutelage or a helping hand up from the dregs of the aftermath. He passed on the ones he couldn’t help to the other Heads of House and though their surprise rubbed him the wrong way, he let it go. No use holding on to emotions that really had no bearing on his current trajectory in life. She was both insightful and inquisitive. With a little nudge from him, she found her way to an apprenticeship with Headmistress McGonagall. She would make an excellent teacher one day.
Mr. Longbottom was the most surprising of all. Severus asked him to stay behind during the next potions class that followed his conversation with Miss Lovegood. Though the boy seemed terrified, just saying his name seemed to break the spell the old Severus had over him. They talked about his issues in potions, his ability with it, and then his parents. Severus took Mr. Longbottom with him twice a week to gain entry to the Longbottoms and though the process was grueling on his mental well being, he felt that he might be that much closer to coming up with a solution to hopefully start restoring their minds.
Now, as he watched not only his seventh years mingle and celebrate but his eighth, a strong sense of loss and nostalgia washed over him. He had never been allowed to be the teacher he knew he could be for any of his students. The risk had been too great. But this year, he had been given a new chance at it. At life. Even at being himself. Many of his students had promised to send him owls with how their interviews or further education courses were going and he believed them. It would be the first time he had ever received correspondence from students who left his tutelage.
He was as shocked as anyone else would be when he realized… he would truly miss some of them. Harry promised to come by for a drink and their usual Thursday chat at least twice a month. Neville would still be meeting him during the summer at St. Mungo’s twice a week until he had all he needed and would be at the school next year as Pomona’s apprentice. He knew he would see Miss Lovegood since she and Neville were a very serious item. Draco was going to be back next year as well, apprenticing under Black of all people. Though, if Severus really considered it, DADA would call to the young wizard after everything he had seen and been through.
“Knut for your thoughts, Severus.”
He was so lost in his own thoughts that Minerva’s voice had him jumping slightly in place.
“For an old woman, you are surprisingly light on your feet.”
She laughed, eyes twinkling with warmth.
“Maybe you were just too far gone in your own mind to hear them shuffle towards you, my boy.”
His lips tipped up in a slight smile, nodding at her deduction of his preoccupation.
“Perhaps. I was just ruminating on the fact that this is the first year I find I will miss some of my students when they go. It is… an uncomfortable realization.”
The look she gave him was one of understanding.
“Welcome to being a teacher and mentor, Severus. It gets easier with time but I fear since it is new to you, it will take a bit before you get there.”
He sighed, casting his eyes back over them all once more. No wonder the others looked bittersweet at the end of each school year if this is how they felt. It was, to say the least, inconvenient.
"When does your new apprentice sign her contract?"
The melancholy melted away to a spreading warmth as he set his eyes on her. His apprentice. If he had his way, his witch, his future wife. His Hermione. She looked like a vision in her emerald green gown. Her hair cascading down her back and shoulders in soft ringlets. She looked the very part of a Slytherin princess. Well, until you got to her feet.
He snorted, shaking his head at her lack of fucks to give when all she cared to do was have fun. Her look was completed with a pair on black trainers stitched in silver. She couldn't be more obvious than if she came out and said she was a muggleborn claimed by a Slytherin. He felt his heart trip another step towards being irrevocably in love with her. He could only pray to any old god listening that Miss Lovegood was correct in her assessment.
"Tonight. Just after the party concludes. It was the only way for her to be able to stay with me through the summer."
Minnie frowned slightly before humming.
"Is that wise?"
He snorted again, turning to fully face her with his infamous smirk.
"Do you think I had a say in the matter?"
At that, she laughed, the sound ringing along the wall and pulling his lips into a full smile.
"Touche, my dear boy. You have your hands full with that one."
He turned back to look at Hermione, her smile lighting up the room to him as she danced with Miss Weasley and Miss Brown.
"Yes. I do."
And I cannot wait.
xoXOXox