For Old Time's Sake

by Geri ([email protected])

Rating: PG-13

Pairing: SS/RL

Author's note: {} Indicates character's unspoken thoughts

Disclaimer: Characters belong to J.K. Rowling; no money is being made off this story; consider it a little wish fulfillment on my part.

Sequel to: Always and Summer Vacation

Summary: A retelling of Goblet of Fire, with some original characters added: Dylan Rosier and the Donner family; the Donners are very loosely based on characters from Welsh legends in The Mabinogion. Snape is asked to help out the son of an old friend.
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Snape returned from his Japanese vacation feeling relaxed and refreshed. He felt quite satisfied about having improved the Wolfsbane Potion, and he still had a few weeks to prepare for the coming school year and spend some time with Lupin. He had enjoyed their stay with the Kamiyama family, but he was happy to have some time alone with Lupin. It was nice to be able to wake up next to Lupin in the morning, to share meals with him, to be able to kiss or touch him anytime he wanted without worrying that someone might be watching, and there was no need for silence spells! Lupin's cottage was located more-or-less in the middle of nowhere, and they could make as much noise as they pleased.

He was a little sad, though, that their time together would soon be over. He cursed himself for what was probably the thousandth time for losing his temper and exposing Lupin as a werewolf, causing him to lose his job. He sighed as he looked down at the lesson plan he was preparing for his fourth-year classes.

"What's wrong, Severus?" Lupin asked, as he kissed Snape's cheek and set a cup of tea down on the table.

Snape smiled, cheered slightly. He rather liked it when Lupin acted domestic, although he would never admit it out loud, of course. It reminded him of the little fantasies they'd spun about living together back when they were teenagers. "Oh, nothing," he said. "I'm just not looking forward to leaving you and dealing with all the brats again."

Lupin pulled up a chair beside him and grinned. "I know you'll miss me, Severus, but I also know you love teaching, however much you complain about it."

Snape gave him a sour look, but talk about school reminded him of something he had wanted to discuss with Lupin, but had forgotten about when he had gotten wrapped up in working on the Wolfsbane Potion and enjoying his holiday with Lupin. "I need your advice, Lupin. I don't know what to do about Draco Malfoy."

Lupin raised an eyebrow. "He could use a good dressing-down and several weeks in detention, but you usually don't need my help in disciplining your students, Severus."

Snape sighed. "I can't punish him too much without offending his father, and for the sake of my cover, I need Lucius to think I'm still under his thumb. But that's not really what I meant. Draco is set to follow in his father's footsteps; I want to stop him from becoming a Death Eater, but I don't know if that's even possible. He might be too far down that road already."

"He's an unpleasant child, Severus, but he is still a child, after all. Many people thought you were on the road to becoming a Dark Wizard when we were in school, but you did find your way back, eventually. If you reach out to him--"

"The problem is not that he's a child, but that he's Lucius Malfoy's child," Snape interrupted. "He's a brat, but he's still soft; Lucius has allowed Narcissa to indulge him too much. I think I might be able to save him, but I don't know how to do it without making Lucius suspicious."

"Ah, I see," Lupin said, understanding Snape's dilemma. He smiled gently at his lover. "Most people wouldn't even try to save such an unpleasant child."

"I was an unpleasant child, too," Snape said gruffly.

Lupin kissed him on the cheek again. "But you did have your redeeming qualities, though not many people noticed them." Lupin had noticed very little that was redeeming about Draco, but he agreed that it would be wrong to simply give up on him. Lupin said in a more serious tone, "It still bothers you, doesn't it? Those Death Eater friends of yours who died...Rosier and Wilkes."

"They weren't really my friends," Snape said. "Not like Potter and Black were your friends. More associates and allies, really. But still..." He sighed unhappily. "I suppose they were the closest thing to friends I had, after I lost you. Wilkes was a decent sort, not your typical Slytherin. He wasn't smart enough for Ravenclaw, but he would have done all right in Hufflepuff, maybe even Gryffindor. I don't know why the Hat put him in our House; perhaps because his family were all Slytherins, or maybe because he let people talk him into doing things without stopping to think about right or wrong. It was Rosier's fault that he became a Death Eater, you know. He looked up to Evan; if Evan said becoming a Death Eater was a good idea, then Lyall believed him. As for Evan...he had a sadistic streak; he liked hunting Muggles and Muggle-born for Voldemort, but I identified with him, somehow. Because like me, he carried on a secret affair with someone from another House." Snape smiled bitterly.

"Ariane Donner," Lupin murmured.

"Yes. It was for her sake, that he joined the Death Eaters. When her family threatened to separate them, Malfoy told him that the Dark Lord would give him enough power 'to win his lady fair'." Snape grimaced. "Fool. But then, I was just as foolish, I suppose."

"Why did you join, Severus?" Lupin asked quietly. It was a question he had always wondered about but had never asked, because he feared hearing the answer. He had long suspected it was his fault Severus had gone over to Voldemort.

"I was angry," Snape admitted, looking shamefaced. "Lucius didn't really know why, but he could see how much I hated Potter and Black. He offered me revenge, and that combined with the lure of learning the Dark Arts that had always been prohibited at Hogwarts was too much for me to resist. I had associated with Malfoy's group since my first year, but something always held me back from getting too close to them. I'm not exactly sure what." But he knew that was a lie. "No, I know what it was--I didn't want to disappoint Dumbledore. And I didn't trust Malfoy; I didn't want to give him too much power over me. And..." He hesitated. "And you would never have associated with the likes of Lucius, and part of me secretly hoped you and I might become friends one day, even though I knew it was impossible."

"Oh, Severus..." Lupin whispered sadly.

"And then, after we broke up, I no longer cared what anyone thought of me. The Dark Lord offered me power, and I resolved to become powerful enough that I would never need to rely on anyone again. Not you, not Dumbledore, not my parents." Snape sighed wearily. "But it was a lie, of course. Whatever trappings of power he gave us, we were in reality his slaves."

"Severus," Lupin whispered again, his eyes filled with guilt and sorrow. "If only I'd--"

Snape reached out and gently stroked his cheek. "Don't blame yourself, Remus. It's not your fault. I was the one who made the decision, not you. I knew the first time I let Malfoy take me to one of their secret meetings that I was making a mistake, but I was too proud to admit it. And I was too proud to trust you, to listen to your apologies. It was only when I saw my first execution, on the night the Dark Lord put his Mark on me, that I came to my senses and realized what I had done. I went to Dumbledore the very next day and became his spy."

Lupin trembled slightly. This was the first time he had heard the full story of how Severus had joined the Death Eaters. "I would have saved you if I could," he whispered. "After I found out, I could never quite forgive Sirius for breaking us up, because I thought I could have saved you."

"You ARE my salvation, Remus," Snape whispered, reaching out and pulling him close. They held each other in silence for a long time. Finally Snape's grip loosened, and he pulled away from Lupin a little. "As you said, eventually I found my way back. But Evan and Lyall never did. Evan was even more stubborn than I, but I always thought I might have been able to talk some sense into Lyall. But if I had done that, word would have gotten back to Evan, and in turn to Voldemort. So I did nothing, and they both died."

"You're not responsible for that, Severus."

"I could have saved Lyall Wilkes," Snape said, as if he hadn't heard Lupin. "But it would have destroyed my cover and put my life at risk. I didn't really care much about dying," Snape said in such a hollow, indifferent voice that it sent chills down Lupin's spine, "but if I died, or even if I were simply cast out of the Death Eaters, there would be no one to feed information to Dumbledore, and more innocents would have been killed. So tell me, Lupin, was it a moral choice to let one man die in order to save the lives of many? But those many were mostly strangers to me, so should I have sacrificed them in order to save someone who was my friend?"

"You did what you had to do, Severus," Lupin said firmly, compassionately. "Don't torture yourself over it. You saved countless lives. And Rosier and Wilkes--I'm truly sorry for their deaths, Severus, but they had the same choices available to them as you did, and they chose to remain with Voldemort. And..." Lupin hesitated. "This will sound selfish, but I'm glad you didn't risk your life to save Wilkes. I love you, Severus; I couldn't bear to lose you. If you had died, a part of me would have died as well. As horrible as it sounds, I would trade his life, trade a hundred lives, for yours."

Snape gently kissed him on the forehead. "My noble little Gryffindor werewolf," he murmured. "You shock me." His lips curved in a very faint smile, although his eyes were still serious. "As horrible as it sounds, it makes me happy to hear that."

"You want to save Draco because you couldn't save Lyall," Lupin said softly.

"Yes," sighed Snape. "As foolish as that sounds, I do. And attempting to save Draco will be even more dangerous than trying to save Wilkes would have been."

"I think you can do it," Lupin said thoughtfully. "But you must be subtle."

"Subtle will probably fly right over his pointy little head," Snape said, sounding more like his usual cranky self. Lupin smiled to hear it.

"Try to get Draco and the other Slytherins to think for themselves, Severus. You don't have to hit them over the head with lectures about the evils of the Dark Arts, but try and get them to question their world view just a little. And try to be a friend to them."

Snape groaned. "I don't know how to befriend children! You're the one who's good at that!"

"Well, I won't be there, Severus," Lupin pointed out. "So you'll have to do it, if you want to save them. Besides, Draco Malfoy is much more likely to listen to what you have to say than to some impoverished Gryffindor werewolf."

Snape couldn't argue with that, and anyway, it was his own fault that Lupin wouldn't be there to minister to the brats.

Lupin took pity on Snape, seeing how worried and haunted his eyes were. He pushed aside Snape's lesson plans and took him by the hand, pulling him to his feet. "Come," he said firmly.

"Where are we going?" Snape asked, a little startled.

"To bed," Lupin replied. "The wolf is...hungry."

Snape began to smile, despite his worries. "It's still a couple of weeks till the full moon."

"The wolf likes making love more than one week per month, Severus," Lupin said dryly. "But if you're not in the mood..."

"Well, this could be a possible side effect of the new potion," Snape said hastily. "It would be irresponsible not to conduct further research. For the sake of science. And of course it's my duty to, ah, provide therapeutic treatment in order to keep the wolf at bay."

{It will be therapeutic for both of us, my love,} Lupin thought, but he just smiled and led Snape to the bedroom.
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"This just came for you by owl, Severus," said Lupin a week later, handing Snape a letter.

Startled, Snape accepted the envelope, which was stamped with the Hogwarts seal. Inside was another envelope and a brief note from Dumbledore which read: "I'm sorry to interrupt your vacation, Severus, but I thought it was important to forward this to you right away. Please contact me after you read it." He read the return address on the second letter, and was surprised to see that it was from Ariane Donner. He had not seen or spoken to her in thirteen years, since her trial and acquittal. He tore open the envelope and read:


Dear Severus,

I imagine you realize I have not written to you just to inquire about your health or chat about old times, so I will dispense with formalities. I have always been a proud woman, but I am begging you now for your help. As I believe you know, I have been unofficially exiled by my family to our estate in Wales. I have accepted my fate; it is the price I must pay for my foolishness and Evan's. Evan, as much as I loved him, was too proud--he should have been practical like you and Lucius, and done whatever was necessary to save his life. I hold no grudge against you for saving yourself; I remember that you testified on my behalf at my trial. But I will not stand by and see my son condemned to share my imprisonment. He was not yet born when the Dark Lord fell, and he should not be punished for whatever crimes his parents may have committed. I have been teaching him wizardry, and my uncle Mathias and his wife Goewin have taken pity on Dylan and been tutoring him as well. But I wish for my son to have a proper education; I want him to be schooled at Hogwarts, as have all the Rosiers and Donners that have come before him. My uncle, as you may remember, is a mage of no small power, perhaps second only to Dumbledore, so I do not think you will find Dylan's education lacking: he is skilled in all the spells a wizard of his age should know; he has also been tutored in history and mathematics, and is able to converse fluently in four different languages. I am sure he can easily catch up to his yearmates if he enters Hogwarts. But my mother and brothers, who hated his father, strongly oppose this, preferring to leave him to rot here in exile with me. But I will not allow this--my son shall claim the place that is rightfully his! Fortunately, Mathias and Goewin are fond of Dylan, and have agreed to back me up, but we have been informed that 'it is most unprecedented' to have a child enter Hogwarts so late. Of course it is my mother's fault that he was not allowed to enter in his first year as he should have, and I suspect she is trying to influence the school governors to keep him out, although my uncle is now trying to counter that.

So what I am asking of you, Severus, is that you use your influence to persuade your Headmaster to admit Dylan. You are a respected member of the staff, and I have heard that Albus Dumbledore is a firm believer in second chances. And since this is actually Dylan's first chance, I hope he will be sympathetic. I beg of you, for the sake of the friendship you and Evan shared, please help our son!

And finally, I suspect if Dylan is admitted, he will be sorted into Slytherin House, and if that is so, as Head of Slytherin, I ask you to look after my son while he is at Hogwarts. I know I am asking a great deal of you, but you will have my eternal gratitude, and more importantly, my uncle's as well--and he is a very influential wizard. You may be sure that if ever you need a favor in return, we will not forget the debt we owe you.

Sincerely,
Ariane Donner


Snape groaned and rubbed his temples, fighting off a headache. Just what he needed! As if trying to keep Potter alive wasn't bad enough, as if he didn't have enough on his plate worrying over whether he could keep Draco Malfoy from going over to Voldemort like his father, he now had yet another brat to worry about! "I'm a wizard, dammit, not a baby-sitter!" he shouted. "Why don't I just post a sign on the dungeon door that says 'Nursery'?!"

"What's wrong, Severus?" Lupin asked, looking concerned. In reply, Snape just handed him the letter. Lupin read it and said, "I see...so what are you going to do?"

"'For the sake of the friendship you and Evan shared'--as if we were actually friends!" Snape grumbled. "And if the child is anything like his father, he's probably a little Death Eater in waiting. Another little lamb who will walk right up to the altar of his own free will and offer himself up to Voldemort! And what the hell are you smirking about?!"

Lupin was smiling gently at his lover. "You're only complaining because you already know what you intend do; you will do what you can to help the boy, whether because of or in spite of, who his father was." He kissed Snape on the cheek, and began massaging his shoulders. "Because you are a man of honor." {And because, despite all your Slytherin bluster, you're a soft touch, Severus Snape,} Lupin added silently. {You protect Harry even though you claim to hate him, you worry about Draco even though his father was the one that led you into Voldemort's service, and I know you're only mean to Hermione because you don't want anyone to see how proud you are of a Gryffindor student. You're even concerned about Neville Longbottom, in your own way; you terrorize him because you want to toughen him up, although I don't think your methods are very effective.} Fortunately, since Lupin was standing behind Snape, the Potions Master could not see the werewolf's amused smile. {Sirius thinks you're such a fiend; if only he could see what a marshmallow you really are!} But he would hurt his lover's pride if he said any of this aloud, so all Lupin said was, "I love you, Severus," as he kissed Snape's cheek again.

"Hmmph," Snape grunted, relaxing as the tension drained out of his body, thanks to his lover's skilled touch. "How did you get so good at this, Lupin?"

"Practice, Severus," Lupin replied, a hint of laughter in his voice.

Snape turned around briefly to give him a suspicious look. "Well, you had better not 'practice' on anyone but me from now on, understand?" he said, in the same voice he used to intimidate the most unruly of his students.

"Yes, love," said Lupin meekly, his blue eyes the very picture of innocence and obedience, and kissed Snape lightly on the lips.

Snape snorted; Lupin was about as meek as the wolf whose form he took every month, but he let the remark pass unchallenged. "And by the way, Lupin...?"

"Yes, Severus?"

Snape blushed and mumbled, "I love you, too."

Lupin's hands drifted from Snape's shoulders down across his chest as he nuzzled the nape of his lover's neck, and Snape gasped with pleasure. "Perhaps we could go to the bedroom and...practice...in more depth?" Lupin murmured.

"That time of the month, is it?" Snape said with a grin. Meekness had its place, but so did the feral hunger of the wolf.

Lupin grinned, unabashed, exposing his sharp canines, and his pale blue eyes had a slightly wild look in them that made Snape shiver with anticipation. "Yes, Severus, and you know how I get when the full moon is close..." He gently nipped at Snape's neck.

Snape felt his blood heat, but forced himself to remain calm. He lifted one of Lupin's hands to his mouth and kissed each fingertip, one at a time: "Well..." Kiss. "Since it is part of your treatment..." Another kiss. "I suppose..." Kiss. "I should indulge you." He kissed the last fingertip. "Just to protect people from such a dangerous beast." Never mind that the nearest village was several miles away... He planted a final kiss in the center of Lupin's palm, allowing his tongue to dart out from between his lips, and was rewarded with the sound of a low groan.

"Bedroom," Lupin growled. "Now!"

"I love it when you go feral on me, Lupin," Snape purred, but Lupin just growled again and silenced him with a fierce kiss. Snape allowed his lover to drag him into the bedroom, the letter and the children of Death Eaters temporarily forgotten.
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Dear Ariane,

I was most surprised to receive your letter, but I will do what I can for your son, for the sake of my old classmates, and in the name of fairness. Many who have committed worse crimes than being born the son of a Death Eater were given second chances, so I see no reason why your son should not be given the same consideration. The Headmaster is, as you said, a firm believer in second chances; some would even call him softhearted. Therefore, I believe he will sympathetic to Dylan's plight. A special hearing has been called to discuss the matter, at which I will speak on your son's behalf.

If Dylan is sorted into Slytherin, I will of course look after his education and well-being, as I would any student of my House.

Sincerely,
Severus Snape
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Ariane laughed as she finished reading the letter. "As snotty and priggish as ever, Severus," she murmured, more to herself than to the dark-haired boy anxiously hovering over her. But she felt quite pleased; Snape had come through as she had hoped he would. As much as he had tried to disguise it, Snape had always possessed a conscience and a sense of honor, rather unusual qualities for a Slytherin. Severus had always been an odd one...he and Evan had been friends--or least had shared membership in Malfoy's gang--since their first year, but for some reason had grown closer after she and Evan began seeing each other. There were even times when he had covered up for Evan before Malfoy had condescended to grant his approval to their relationship. Severus had always treated her with a strange mixture of sympathy and resentment...she idly wondered if it had something to do with the pack of Gryffindor boys he used to follow around. Ariane knew as well as anyone how the heat of anger could turn into quite a different kind of heat altogether...she smiled at the memory of how she and Evan had been arguing over who deserved the credit for their successful school project one moment, and kissing passionately the next. Could Severus have suffered from unrequited love for one of the Gryffindor boys? He did have quite a fierce rivalry with James Potter...or perhaps it was shy little Remus Lupin he had fancied; she seemed to recall that he had been obsessed with Lupin's frequent illnesses and absences. And come to think of it...gossip had it that Lupin had been teaching at Hogwarts recently, but was forced to resign after Snape had revealed he was a werewolf... Ariane mentally filed away that information; one never knew when such things might turn out to be useful--

"Mother!" Dylan exclaimed impatiently, interrupting her thoughts. "What does it say? Is he going to help us?"

Ariane smiled fondly at her son. He was a very handsome boy; his hair was coal-black like his father's, but long and straight like hers instead of curly like Evan's. He also had her gray eyes, but his father's full, sensual lips. He was beautiful, maybe even more beautiful than his father had been, and she didn't think that motherly love had clouded her judgment. Everyone who met him said he was a handsome, charming, intelligent lad--except, of course, for her mother and brothers. She stroked his cheek and said, "I'm sure you will break a great many hearts when you go to Hogwarts, my son."

His eyes lit up. "Really? I'm going to Hogwarts?" He grabbed the letter and read it, and his enthusiasm dimmed slightly. "This just says he'll speak on my behalf, not that it's certain I'll get in."

Ariane laughed. "You must learn to read between the lines, my son. Severus Snape never promises anything he doesn't think he can deliver."

"Do you really know him so well, Mother? After all, you haven't seen him in thirteen years."

Ariane made a dismissive gesture with her hand. "People rarely change much over the years, Dylan. And judging by the gossip I've heard and this letter, Severus is still as I remember him. Albus Dumbledore has always been a bit of a soft touch, and with Severus on your side as well, your admission is all but ensured." Dylan still seemed somewhat skeptical, and she continued, "After all, he gave that idiot Hagrid a job after he supposedly opened the Chamber of Secrets and got a student killed, and he forgave Severus as well."

"But I thought your friend Professor Snape never stood trial--"

"That's correct, but Dumbledore isn't stupid; he must have known Severus was a Death Eater. Of course, Snape was always a practical man--I'm sure he must have changed sides after the Dark Lord fell."

"He saved himself, when my father died for their cause--" Dylan said heatedly, but Ariane cut him off sharply.

"If your father had been more practical, he would be alive and here with us today!" Then her expression softened, and she pulled her son close and planted a gentle kiss on his forehead. "It is not cowardly, but practical, to surrender in the face of insurmountable odds, and bide your time till another opportunity comes along. 'He who fights and runs away, lives to fight another day,' as the saying goes."

"I suppose," Dylan mumbled.

"I am grateful to Severus," said Ariane. "He was the only one of your father's friends who spoke on my behalf. He testified that he never saw me with Voldemort, or at any of the Death Eaters' meetings." Her lovely face contorted in an ugly sneer as she said contemptuously, "Evan's dear friend Lucius Malfoy didn't lift one finger to help me, when it was he who talked Evan and the others into joining the Dark Lord in the first place. No, he claimed the devil made him do it, and returned to a life of luxury while you and I have languished in exile."

Dylan bowed his head. "Then I will be grateful to Professor Snape for your sake, Mother, and for mine, if he can help me get into Hogwarts."

Ariane smiled and caressed his cheek again. "Treat him with respect, Dylan. He can be a powerful ally--or a dangerous enemy. Trust him, but not too far; he is a man of honor, but his main concern is for his own safety and ambition. He is not overly sentimental, and will not go out on a limb for you just because your father was an old schoolmate. As for Lucius Malfoy--you must never let him see how much we hate him. He is a very powerful man, and much more dangerous than Snape. His son Draco is in Slytherin, a year ahead of you. It would behoove you to try and befriend him if you are sorted into that House, but don't trust him any farther than you can throw him."

"Yes, Mother," Dylan murmured obediently, and listened attentively as his mother described the various teachers and students he would meet at Hogwarts, and how he should deal with them.

"And one last thing," Ariane said as she wrapped up her lecture, taking a quick look around as if to make sure no one could overhear them. "You must never reveal to anyone the...special...spells I have taught you. Not to Professor Snape, certainly not to Malfoy, and not to any of your friends, even those you think you can trust. I don't ever want to hear that you've been using them as parlor tricks to show off to the other students, do you understand me, Dylan? Such things can get you expelled, and you are essentially going into Hogwarts on probation as it is."

"I understand, Mother. But what was the point of learning those spells in the first place, if I can never use them?"

"Patience, my son. Timing is everything; we must wait for the proper moment. Besides, no knowledge is ever wasted..."
___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Snape and the other staff members took seats in the conference room, facing the Headmaster and the school governors, who were seated at a long table at the head of the room. He felt oddly like a student in class once again...no, more like a student sitting in the Headmaster's office waiting to be punished.

Dumbledore cleared his throat and said, "As you are all aware, the purpose of this meeting is to discuss whether or not we should admit Dylan Rosier to Hogwarts as a third-year student this coming term."

"I am firmly against it," said one of the governors. "His father was a Death Eater, and probably his mother as well."

"Here now!" said Flitwick indignantly. "Ariane was always a headstrong girl, but that doesn't mean she was a Dark Wizard! She was found innocent of all charges."

"She was found 'not guilty'," corrected the governor. "There is a difference between the two terms; just because no evidence could be found against her doesn't mean that she was innocent." There were murmurs of agreement in the room among some of the other governors and staff members.

Snape stood up. "Whatever Ariane Donner did or did not do is irrelevant. Dylan Rosier was not yet born when Vol--"

A loud commotion arose: a number of frightened squeals and exclamations of dismay. Snape paused, rolled his eyes, then continued, "Dylan was not yet born when He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named fell. Thus, he can hardly be a Death Eater."

"Bad blood," muttered Hagrid balefully. "Likely he'll turn out the same as his father."

"I'm surprised at you, Hagrid," Snape said pointedly. "I thought you agreed with the Headmaster's policy of second chances."

The Gamekeeper flushed and glared at Snape. But Dumbledore gently said, "I agree with Severus, Hagrid. I think it is important to set aside our prejudices, and judge each person fairly as an individual."

Hagrid looked shamefaced, and mumbled, "Yes, Headmaster," staring down at his feet. A few of the governors and the other teachers also looked embarrassed, but others still looked skeptical.

"High principles are all well and good," said the first governor, "but the fact remains that Evan Rosier was a Death Eater--"

"If we ban all the children of those who once supported Vol--ahem, the Dark Lord, then you would have to expel half the students at Hogwarts," Snape said in a caustic tone.

"Speak for yourself, Snape!" Professor Sprout said sharply. "No one from Hufflepuff was ever convicted as a Death Eater!"

"Half the students, hah!" said Hagrid. "More like all of Slytherin!"

"Enough!" said the Headmaster impatiently. "This petty sniping is getting us nowhere!" The arguments subsided, but Sprout still looked indignant. "However, Severus does have a point. Many who were...misled...by Voldemort--" He ignored the alarmed protests that arose. "--were granted second chances. Can we show any less mercy to one whose only crime was to be born to the wrong parents?"

"The child should be granted the same chance as any other," said Madam Pomfrey quietly. "If he has committed no crime, then he should be allowed to attend Hogwarts, as is his right."

There arose another murmur in the room, this time one that sounded more sympathetic. "But it is most unusual," protested another governor, "to admit a child as a third-year--"

"If you had admitted him as a first-year, we would not be having this problem now," Snape pointed out impatiently.

"Well, but--" protested the governor.

"Perhaps he should be admitted as a first-year, then?" a third governor suggested.

"I have been assured by his great-uncle, Mathias Donner, that Dylan's knowledge is on par with that of other children his age," said Dumbledore. "Old Math has personally seen to the boy's education."

There were more murmurs of approval; Mathias Donner was a very wise and respected wizard. The first governor said sourly, "If his education is on par with Hogwarts, then I don't see why the child can't continue to be tutored at home."

"Do you intend to keep him in exile for the rest of his life?" Snape asked in an equally acid tone. "What happens when he becomes an adult and wants to leave the family estate? Will you keep him chained up? Throw him in Azkaban?"

"Dylan Rosier has committed no crime," Dumbledore said gravely. "As yet. But if he grows up in exile through no fault of his own, will he not come to resent us? You may create the very problem you fear, and turn the boy into a Dark Wizard by driving him away from those who would teach him wisdom and compassion. You fear his mother's influence may have corrupted him? Well then, let him come and spend some time away from his mother, here among wizards of different families and Houses. You fear he will become a Death Eater? Then let us teach him a better way, and ensure that does not happen."


There was some grumbling, but Dumbledore's speech appeared to have turned the tide; the staff threw their support behind him--although a few did so reluctantly--and the governors voted 8-4 to admit Dylan Rosier. After the governors had left, McGonagall said hesitantly, "I agree that the boy should not be condemned simply because of his parentage, but are you really sure this is a wise decision, Albus? Considering who the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher is...?"

"What do you mean?" asked Snape sharply. "Who is the new teacher?"

"Ah, that's right; you have not yet heard, Severus, since you have been away," said Dumbledore. "The new DADA teacher is Alastor Moody."

"WHAT?!" exclaimed Snape. "Mad-Eye Moody?!"

"Yeh got only yerself to blame, Snape," Hagrid said, a look of dark satisfaction on his face. "Seeing as how it's yer fault Professor Lupin's gone."

Snape glowered at Hagrid for a moment, then turned back to Dumbledore. "But Moody killed Dylan Rosier's father!"

"I hired Alastor before Ariane submitted Dylan's application," the Headmaster said. "I admit that makes for an awkward situation--"

"I'd say that's something of an understatement, Headmaster!"

"--But no one knows more about fighting the Dark Arts than Moody," Dumbledore continued. "He can teach the children what they need to know to defend themselves--and I fear they will need that knowledge before long, Severus."

"But Moody?" wailed Snape. "The man is paranoid! He's likely to kill the students if they look at him the wrong way!" And besides Moody had always hated Snape, and never really believed that he had switched sides; he was just itching for an opportunity to kill Snape or send him to Azkaban. The loathing was mutual on both sides.

"Alastor is a bit nervous, with good reason," said Dumbledore. His expression was grave, but there was a twinkle of mischief in his eyes. "But I'm sure he will do nothing to endanger the students."

"Maybe the other students will be safe from him," Snape said dubiously. "But what about Dylan? Moody still holds a grudge against his father." Because Evan Rosier had not gone down without a fight; he had taken part of Moody along with him, including a large chunk of his nose...

"I will speak to Alastor about Dylan," said Dumbledore, "and make sure that he...keeps his temper under control. I'll make it clear that he is to treat Dylan no differently than any other student." Snape snorted, but made no other protest. "And I will assign you the task of warning Ariane and Dylan who the new teacher is; it will be difficult, and the boy should have time to prepare himself. He will need guidance, and I hope you will look after Dylan and provide a sympathetic ear if he needs one."

A "why me?" expression appeared on Snape's face, and he mumbled something about how he was a Potions Master, not a baby-sitter. But the Headmaster looked at him expectantly, and he sighed, "Oh, very well!" in a rather disgruntled tone.

Dumbledore smiled and patted him on the shoulder, saying, "Thank you. I knew I could count on you, Severus." That brief gesture of affection awoke conflicting emotions in Snape; resentment in the former Death Eater-turned-Professor who felt underappreciated and put-upon, and a brief surge of happiness in the small part of him who was still a schoolboy craving the Headmaster's approval. He gave the Headmaster a curt nod and left the room.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Snape intended to leave the school grounds and Apparate back to Lupin's cottage. However, before he could make it out of the castle, he was intercepted by an owl bearing a message from Lucius Malfoy. It read: "Meet me at The Three Broomsticks. Lucius." Snape groaned, and set off for Hogsmeade, his mood growing blacker by the minute.


He found Lucius Malfoy seated at a booth in the corner, nursing a glass of wine. Snape ordered a tankard of butterbeer but didn't touch it. "What do you want, Lucius?" he asked abruptly.

"Is that any way to greet an old friend, Sev?" Malfoy replied.

"Don't call me 'Sev'," Snape growled automatically.

"I beg your pardon, Severus," said Malfoy with a smile. He knew how much Snape hated that old nickname, of course, but used it on occasion just to remind the other man who was in charge. "I simply wanted to discuss my concerns as a parent," he continued in a silky voice. "Have you heard who the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher is?"

"Yes, I just found out," Snape said with a scowl. "It's Moody."

"Who would've thought Dumbledore would put an Auror on the staff?"

"Perhaps it's because Sirius Black is still running loose," said Snape, looking more surly and sullen with each passing second.

"I hate to say it," sighed Malfoy. "But perhaps we would have been better off with the werewolf."

"Now you tell me," muttered Snape.

"As I recall, Severus, you got rid of Lupin on your own," Malfoy reminded him. "Although I did approve of your actions at the time."

"Perhaps," Snape said reluctantly, "I could persuade Dumbledore to reinstate Lupin..."

"I'm afraid it's too late for that," said Malfoy. "He's pulled a great many strings to get Moody on the staff, and I don't think he'll change his mind now."

Snape took a sip from his tankard and muttered something about Aurors and werewolves.

"Keep a close eye on Moody," Lucius warned. "I don't want him getting...jumpy, particularly around my son."

"I'll watch out for Draco," said Snape, a little impatiently. "Don't I always?"

"Of course, my old friend," Malfoy said smoothly. "But as a father, I can't help but be concerned. Especially since Moody still holds a grudge against us."

He was pleased that Snape picked up on the subtle note of warning in his voice and said in a more respectful tone, "I'll watch Moody carefully. And I hope you will warn Draco to be wary of him as well."

"Of course."

"I think, though, that Moody will be more focused on me than the students. It still burns him that I was never convicted and that Dumbledore hired me."

"Yes, he has always had a particular dislike for you, Severus. I wonder why?" Malfoy chuckled, and Snape smiled grimly. "And I suppose he will have another target for his rage besides you and Draco--I hear Ariane Donner asked you to get her son admitted."

"I just came from the hearing. Dumbledore has persuaded the governors to let Dylan Rosier into Hogwarts."

"It will be interesting to see how the boy has turned out," said Malfoy, a speculative look in his eyes. "Keep a close eye on him as well."

"Of course, Lucius. Ariane has asked me to look after him...'for old time's sake'."

"Do you think he will be a Slytherin?"

Snape shrugged. "Ariane seems to think so."

"Then I shall tell Draco to take the boy the under his wing."

Some unreadable emotion glittered in Snape's black eyes, then he smiled and lifted his tankard in a mock salute. "Just like old times."

Malfoy laughed and raised his glass. "To old times!" he said, and they drank to that toast.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Snape Apparated back into Lupin's cottage, took off his outer robe, and flung it down on the floor, cursing Malfoy under his breath.

"Severus?" said a sleepy voice.

Snape turned to see Lupin, who had apparently fallen asleep in a chair by the fireplace. Lupin yawned and stretched, and a book that had been lying forgotten on his lap tumbled to the floor. Snape picked it up and set it down on the table, then leaned over brushed his lips against Lupin's cheek, saying contritely, "Sorry I'm late. I didn't think you'd wait up for me."

Lupin smiled. "It's all right. But I didn't expect the hearing to take so long." Snape scowled, looking extremely vexed, and Lupin said in a concerned voice, "What's wrong? Was there a problem at the hearing?"

"No," said Snape, still scowling. "There was a lot of grumbling, but eventually everyone gave in and let Dumbledore get his way, as usual."

"So Dylan Rosier will be admitted to Hogwarts?"

"Yes."

"Then why are you so upset?" Lupin asked patiently.

"Two things. First of all, I just found out who your replacement is." Lupin looked at him expectantly, and Snape continued, "Alastor Moody."

"Mad-Eye Moody?" Lupin asked, startled. "That's an...unusual...choice. But I suppose he knows a lot about fighting the Dark Arts..."

Lupin sounded doubtful, and Snape considered that a bad sign. When even Remus Lupin--who gave almost everyone the benefit of the doubt--had reservations, it was a sign that things were looking very dark indeed. "Just lovely," Snape muttered. "I'm supposed to look after Rosier, who will be taught by the man who killed his father, and at the same time I'll have to watch my own back, because Moody has never believed that I really left the Death Eaters."

"Poor Severus," Lupin said sympathetically, stroking Snape's hand, but there was just a hint of laughter in his blue eyes.

"Go ahead and say it," sighed Snape.

"Say what, Severus?" Lupin asked, his eyes round and wide with an look of innocence that did not fool Snape for one second.

"It's my own fault that Moody's coming to Hogwarts," Snape growled, sounding both irritated and guilty at the same time. "If I hadn't forced you to leave--"

"What's done is done, Severus," Lupin said gently, with real sympathy this time. "I don't hold it against you."

"You should," Snape said gruffly. "I don't deserve you."

"No you don't," Lupin agreed in an amiable tone, laughing at his lover's offended look. He rose to his feet and put his arms around Snape. "But I love you anyway, so you're stuck with me."

Snape returned the embrace, burying his face in Lupin's hair as he mumbled, "I love you, Remus."

Lupin grinned. Whenever Severus said those words, he always spoke in a halting, slightly embarrassed voice, like that of an awkward schoolboy, but Lupin found it quite adorable. They held each other contentedly for a long moment, then something occurred to Lupin. "Er...Severus?"

"Hmm?"

"You said there were two things that were bothering you..."

"Oh." Snape pulled away slightly so he could look at Lupin. He frowned, but didn't look nearly as upset as he had a few minutes ago. "I was on my way back home when I received a summons from Lucius Malfoy. In his usual high-handed manner, of course, as if I were his personal errand boy." He was starting to scowl again.

"What did he want?"

"Just to warn me about Moody and to tell me to protect Draco from him. And to find out what happened at the hearing of course. He seemed pleased Rosier was admitted; said he was going to tell Draco 'to take the boy under his wing'. Just like old times." Snape was beginning to get agitated again. "Have you noticed, Lupin, that history seems to be repeating itself? We have a young Potter at Hogwarts, and a pack of junior Death Eaters--"

"They're not Death Eaters yet, Severus--"

Snape didn't seem to hear him. "I don't know how much longer I can take this, Lupin! How long until the Dark Lord makes his move? How long until Potter is strong enough to defeat him? God, I almost wish he would attack now and get it over with! I don't think I can stand another thirteen years of kissing up to Lucius Malfoy!"

"You had better be speaking figuratively, Severus," Lupin warned, attempting to lighten the mood. "I'm the only one you're allowed to kiss!"

Snape managed a weak smile. "Of course, Lupin. I'm not fool enough to make a werewolf jealous."

"Good. Because I'm very possessive. It brings out the beast in me." Lupin growled playfully, and Snape gave him a real smile this time.

"Ah, that's right...the full moon is tomorrow night, isn't it?"

"Yes." Lupin titled his head back, exposing his throat, knowing how much that always excited Severus. His lover didn't disappoint him; Snape immediately pressed his lips to the hollow of Lupin's throat, then bit down on the skin there, gently at first, then harder, as his hands began to caress Lupin's body. He had started this in an attempt to distract Severus from his troubles, but now the wolf was aroused, and Lupin moaned eagerly. Like a strong wine, the sweet, heady rush of desire heated his blood and clouded his thoughts. They didn't even make it to the bedroom; they sank to the floor right there in front of the fireplace, as Snape murmured something about how beautiful Lupin looked in the firelight.

All thoughts of school, Aurors, and Death Eaters completely vanished from the minds of both men as they made love in front of the fire, warmed not so much by the flames as they were by each other.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Harry, Ron, and Hermione were standing on platform nine and three-quarters. As they waited for the Hogwarts Express to arrive, they happened to notice a boy about their age standing a few yards away from them, saying goodbye to his family. He was tall and fair-skinned, with gray eyes and shoulder-length black hair pulled back into a neat ponytail. He was embracing an elderly wizard who had long gray hair and an equally long beard. The beard and the kindly look in the old wizard's eyes reminded them a little of Dumbledore.

"I will miss you, Dylan," said the old wizard. "But I am happy for you as well. I am not so old that I cannot remember what a great adventure it was, attending school at Hogwarts! I am sure you will get into mischief, as boys do, but make sure to work hard as well, and bring honor to us and to your mother."

"Yes, Great-Uncle Math," Dylan said. "I promise won't let you down."

A beautiful young woman standing next to them laughed and held her arms open. "Come give me a hug before you go, Dylan, but don't you dare call me 'Great-Aunt'!" She had long dark hair and blue eyes, and looked to be about the same age as Sirius and Professor Lupin.

"Yes, Aunt Goewin," the boy said with a grin, and gave her the hug she requested. "Give my love to Mother."

"I will, dear," she said, kissing him on the cheek. "Take care of yourself, and don't forget to write!"

"Yes, Aunt Goewin," Dylan said dutifully.

"Did you hear that?" Ron hissed incredulously. "Is that beautiful woman really married to that old geezer?!"

"Shhh!" Hermione said. "They might hear you! And anyway, it's none of your business!"

"I wonder who he is?" Harry said curiously. "He looks like he's about our age, but I've never seen him before. I suppose he might be younger than us, but he's too old to be a first-year."

Hermione looked at the boy again. "You're right; I don't recognize him either."

"Who's THAT?" exclaimed an eager voice behind them. It was their classmate, Parvati Patil.

"He's so handsome," sighed her twin sister Padma.

"We don't recognize him, either," said Hermione.

"He's too old to be a first-year," said Parvati.

"Maybe he's transferring from a different school?" suggested Harry.

"No one enters Hogwarts after the first year," Parvati said, a shocked look on her face. "It just isn't done!"

Hermione shrugged. "Well, there's only one way to find out," she said. The boy's aunt and uncle were gone, leaving him standing alone on the platform, except for a small brown-and-white barn owl in a cage at his feet. He opened the cage and let bird fly out and perch on his shoulder. Hermione walked up to the boy as Parvati and Padma squealed in shock. "Hello," she said, holding out her hand. "I'm Hermione Granger."

The boy gave her a friendly smile. "Pleased to meet you, Hermione. I'm Dylan Rosier," he said, shaking her hand. He spoke in a slight accent that gave his voice a pleasant, almost musical lilt. He wore a black Hogwarts robe, but wasn't wearing the colors of any particular House. "And this is Blodwen," he added, motioning to his owl.

"Hello, Blodwen," said Hermione. She heard a mew, and something furry brushed against her leg. "This is Crookshanks."

"Hello, Crookshanks." Dylan knelt down and reached out to pet the cat, but Crookshanks hissed and gave him a suspicious look.

"Sorry," said Hermione, looking embarrassed. "He's not usually like that..."

Dylan just laughed as he stood up again. "It's all right, cats are very temperamental. They only say hello when they want, to whom they want."

Hermione smiled, relieved that he wasn't offended. "I don't mean to be rude, but I've never seen you at Hogwarts before..."

"And I'm too old to be a first-year," Dylan finished. "My family situation is a bit...complicated. I was tutored at home up until now, but I'll be entering Hogwarts as a third-year student, although technically it's my first year here."

"Oh," said Hermione. "I see." She didn't really see, but was too polite to press for more information. "I'm a fourth-year," she said, a little disappointed that the boy wasn't going to be sharing classes with them. "You've still to be sorted into a House, then?" He nodded. "I'm in Gryffindor; perhaps you'll join our House."

Dylan smiled, looking amused. "Perhaps. But perhaps not. My mother was a Ravenclaw, and my father--"

Parvati, with Padma in tow, had drifted up and said in exaggerated surprise, "Why hello, Hermione! Aren't you going to introduce us to your friend?"

Hermione forced herself not to roll her eyes, and said politely. "Dylan, this is Parvati Patil, my housemate, and her sister Padma. Parvati, Padma, this is Dylan Rosier."

The girls blushed and fluttered their eyelashes at Dylan as he turned his charming smile on them and shook their hands. Hermione shook her head slightly, disgusted with the girls for acting so silly, and saw that Harry and Ron had come over as well. When Padma reluctantly let go of Dylan's hand, Hermione said, "Dylan, these are my friends, Harry Potter and Ron Weasley."

Dylan's eyes went wide, and Harry grimaced; he was used to receiving that reaction from strangers, but he still didn't like it. But the boy quickly composed himself and extended his hand politely, if a bit cautiously, and said, "I'm Dylan Rosier."

"Hi," said Harry, shaking the other boy's hand. "Nice to meet you."

Dylan extended his hand to Ron, who just ignored it and scowled at him.

"Ron!" Hermione exclaimed in outrage, but Dylan didn't seem to be particularly perturbed. He just gave Ron a cool, appraising look.

Just then, the train pulled up. Hermione glared at Ron, then asked, "Would you like to share a compartment with us?" in an attempt to make up for Ron's rudeness.

Dylan smiled. "Thank you, Hermione," he said politely. "But I think perhaps it would be better if I didn't." His eyes slid over to Ron, who was still scowling at him unrepentantly. "I'll see you at school. It was nice meeting all of you."

Padma and Parvati looked like they both wanted to strangle Ron, and started to go after Dylan as he turned away, but just then Draco Malfoy and his cronies sauntered up to him. "Are you Dylan Rosier?" Malfoy asked in his usual imperious way.

"Yes."

"I'm Draco Malfoy, and this is Crabbe and Goyle. Our fathers went to school together."

"Yes," said Dylan quietly. "My mother has told me a great deal about your father."

"Well, my dad asked me to look after you," continued Draco, slipping an arm around Dylan's shoulders. "And a good thing too! You don't want to be caught hanging around with the riffraff," he said, sneering at Harry and his friends.

"Why you--" Ron began angrily, but Malfoy was already walking away and stepping aboard the train. Dylan followed Malfoy without resistance, but he threw Hermione and the others a quick smile and a wink over his shoulder when Malfoy wasn't looking.


"I can't believe you were so rude, Ron Weasley!" said Hermione as they boarded the train.

"I can't believe YOU were chatting up the son of a Death Eater!" retorted Ron.

"What?!" squealed Padma and Parvati.

"What are you talking about?" Hermione asked impatiently.

"There was a Death Eater named Rosier who was killed during the war shortly before You-Know-Who fell. I'm pretty sure your precious Dylan is his son."

"Maybe it's not the same Rosier," said Parvati hopefully.

"How can it be?" Hermione said impatiently. "Dylan said he's entering as a third-year, so that makes him about thirteen--"

"Too bad he's younger than us," said Parvati, pouting slightly.

"There's nothing wrong with younger men!" giggled Padma.

"--and Harry was only a baby when..." Hermione hesitated, as Harry's eyes clouded. "When all that happened. Surely Dylan's too young to be that other Rosier's son."

"I heard Mum and Dad talking one night when they thought we kids were asleep," said Ron. "The Rosier who got killed, he left behind a pregnant girlfriend, some Ravenclaw girl--"

"Dylan said his mother was a Ravenclaw," said Hermione slowly.

"So the Death Eater Rosier died before his son was born," Ron finished.

"How tragic," sighed Parvati dramatically.

Ron gave her a disgusted look. "I was wondering why they were talking about old history," he said. "They must've heard that his son was going to be entering Hogwarts this year. Did he say why he's only entering school now?"

"He said...he said his family situation was complicated," Hermione said, sounding worried. "But that doesn't necessarily mean--"

Ron snorted. "They probably wouldn't let him into the school 'cause of who his dad was. I wonder why Dumbledore changed his mind."

"But that's not really fair, is it?" protested Hermione. "I mean, it's not his fault if his dad was a criminal! He wasn't even born when that happened." Parvati and Padma nodded in agreement.

Harry looked troubled and said, "I wouldn't want people judging me by my relatives--look at the Dursleys! But on the other hand, look at Draco--he's turned out just as rotten as his father!"

"But Dylan never knew his father, poor thing!" said Parvati. "So maybe he's turned out okay."

"I hope he ends up in Ravenclaw!" said Padma eagerly. "After all, you said his mother was a Ravenclaw, right, Hermione?"

"He'll wind up in Slytherin," Ron said darkly. "Mark my words!"
___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Ron was right. Dylan was sorted along with the first-years, and the hat paused briefly before shouting, "SLYTHERIN!" Malfoy welcomed him to the Slytherin table with a smug smile, and Parvati sighed in disappointment.

"Too bad," said Harry. "He seemed a like a decent sort."

"Well, maybe he still is," Hermione said a little dubiously; the Slytherins were for the most part a pretty disagreeable lot, but it was only fair to give him the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise.

"Oh, come on!" snorted Ron. "Can you name even one Slytherin who's not mean, stupid, or both?"

However, they soon forgot about the new student in all the excitement that followed Mad-Eye Moody's arrival and the Headmaster's announcement about the Triwizard Tournament. Thus, none of them saw Dylan's face when Moody entered the hall: his face turned white and his gray eyes narrowed as he stared intently at Moody, as if trying to burn that image--the image of the man who killed his father--into his mind. Then Malfoy cracked a joke, and Dylan's features quickly rearranged themselves into a polite mask of respectful attentiveness, and he laughed at Draco's joke. It all happened so quickly that not even the Slytherin children sitting at the table with him seemed to notice.

But Snape, from his seat at the staff table, did. And it disturbed him deeply, perhaps because he used to wear that same mask around Draco Malfoy's father. He remembered how careful he had been never to let that mask slip around his housemates, and he wondered what secrets Dylan Rosier might be hiding...

As soon as Dumbledore dismissed the students, Snape rose from his seat--he felt no desire to linger at the table, not with Moody rolling that blue eye in his direction--and swept by the Slytherin table. Without breaking stride, he said, "I wish to see you in my office, Mr. Rosier."

He heard the scrape of a chair being pushed back followed by footsteps as the boy hastened to catch up with him, ignoring his housemates' calls of, "Better you than me, mate," "What did you do to get in trouble your first day, Rosier?" and "Don't worry, we'll give you a splendid funeral!" That was, come to think of it, the sort of thing Snape and his housemates would say to each other whenever Blackmore summoned one of them into her office for punishment. It rather pleased him to be thought of as intimidating as his old Professor. However, Snape and his friends would never have dared to say such things within Blackmore's hearing, and he frowned, resolving to be more strict with his students from now on. One couldn't really be considered intimidating unless the children quivered in fear at the mere thought of his displeasure, after all.

Fortunately for Dylan, he was staring at his teacher's back and couldn't see the smile spreading across Snape's face, or he would have felt more nervous than he already was.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Snape sat behind his desk and motioned for the boy to take a seat. He did, watching Snape warily. His face was still arranged in that polite mask, but he looked a little pale, and his gray eyes were anxious. "Oh, don't look at me that way, boy!" Snape said irritably. "I just wanted to talk to you in private before classes started." He wondered what the students--and Ariane--had told Dylan about him.

"Yes, sir," said Dylan, relaxing slightly. "I'm glad to have the chance to talk to you. I wanted to thank you for speaking on my behalf, and helping me get admitted to Hogwarts. My mother sends her regards as well."

The boy's tone was as respectful as one could wish, but something about it bothered Snape slightly. He seemed just a little too smooth and self-possessed for a thirteen-year old boy who had grown up in isolation. Then again, Ariane had always carried herself with an air of dignity bordering on arrogance, so perhaps he had learned it from his mother. Well, it was too late to change his mind now; the boy was enrolled at Hogwarts, for good or for ill, and Snape would have to keep a close eye on him. Aloud, he said, "Many of the staff members and governors had reservations about admitting you, Mr. Rosier; if you truly wish to thank me, you may do so by proving me right and them wrong."

"Yes, Professor Snape. I'm very grateful to you, and I promise I won't let you down."

"I'm glad to hear it," said Snape. "But I must warn you to be very careful. No doubt some of the other boys will try to lead you into mischief on occasion, particularly Mr. Malfoy. Our Headmaster is rather lenient, and believes that a certain amount of...youthful exuberance..." Snape mouth twisted in distaste as they formed those words. "...is to be expected. But what applies to other students does not necessarily apply to you--you are here only on sufferance, and what might be dismissed as a harmless prank in another student could get you expelled. It may not be fair, but that is the way things are. Do you understand me, Mr. Rosier?"

"Yes, Professor Snape," Dylan said quietly. "I will be careful. My mother, and my aunt and uncle have already advised me so as well. I do not wish to bring shame upon my family, particularly my mother, who has suffered so much already."

Snape was relieved to see a hint of genuine emotion in the boy's eyes. "Good. One more thing--you must be even more careful around Professor Moody." He saw the boy tense, and Dylan could not quite keep the hatred from showing in his gray eyes. "No matter how you feel, you must not give him any reason--any excuse--to find fault with you. Moody is, to be quite frank, extremely paranoid and will see Dark Magic in the smallest hex, particularly coming from you. He will have you expelled or worse on the slightest pretext, considering who your father was."

"Yes, Professor," Dylan said through gritted teeth. "Mother has already warned me. But it's so hard, seeing him in person, knowing that he killed my father--"

"I know," Snape said quietly. "But your father would not wish to see you expelled or even arrested, should you lose your temper and do something foolish." The boy nodded reluctantly, and Snape smiled sardonically. "If it's any consolation, I'm sure Moody finds your presence to be equally disturbing. Don't give him the satisfaction of letting him be rid of you. Stay, and be a thorn in his side." The boy perked up slightly at that. "Be polite--or at least, don't be rude. In fact, be as quiet and unnoticeable as you can in his class."

"Yes, Professor," Dylan said obediently.

"I know it will be difficult--"

"I can do it," Dylan said, a look of steely determination in his eyes.

"Yes, I believe you can," Snape murmured. The boy seemed to have inherited both Ariane's and Evan's stubbornness; he wasn't sure if that was an entirely good thing... "Very well; you may go now."

"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir." Dylan started to leave, then paused in the doorway. "Professor Snape?"

"Yes?" The boy hesitated for a moment, not replying. "Well, what is it?" Snape asked impatiently.

"I was just wondering..." Dylan's earlier aloof self-assurance was gone; he was suddenly shy and anxious, making him seem much more like the child he really was. "You knew my father...you were friends in school..."

It wasn't quite a question, but Snape answered, a little evasively, "We were yearmates and housemates, yes."

"I was just wondering if..." Dylan took a deep breath, and said quickly, as if rushing to get the words out, "If maybe I could come back to your office and you could tell me about him sometime?"

Snape was taken aback, but silently cursed himself for being taken by surprise; he should have expected this.

"Please? I mean, sometime when you're not too busy, of course," Dylan said hastily. "I mean, Mother's told me about him, of course, but she only got to know him in their fifth year, so you've known him longer..." His voice trailed off, and he stared at Snape with pleading eyes.

Snape groaned inwardly. The very last thing he wanted to do was talk about old times and deceased Death Eaters. But the boy was staring at him with what Snape had come to think of as "the puppy-dog look" because Lupin used it on him all the time, and he found himself saying, "Very well."

It came out sounding more grudging than gracious, but Dylan's face lit up and he said, "Thank you, Professor! Thank you so much!"

"Yes, yes," Snape grumbled. "Now run along and go to bed; you start classes early tomorrow morning."

"Yes, sir! And thank you again!"

The door slammed shut behind the boy, and Snape groaned out loud this time, holding his head between his hands. {I must be going soft!} he thought. {And it's all Lupin's fault!} The werewolf was a very bad influence. Death Eaters' children, an Auror with a grudge, and no Lupin to console him or share his bed; it was going to be a very long school year...
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The door to Snape's office slammed open without warning, causing Snape to jump up from his desk with a start. It was Mad-Eye Moody dragging Draco Malfoy by one arm. The boy's pale face was flushed red, his normally neatly combed hair was in disarray and falling into his eyes, and those pale eyes were staring at Moody with a combined look of terror and resentment. Then he turned his gaze to Snape, staring at him pleadingly. Snape groaned silently, {Oh lovely! Just how I wanted to start off the school year!} "Don't you know how to knock, Moody?" he asked sourly.

Moody ignored him and gave Malfoy a shake. "I don't like people who attack when their opponent's back is turned!"

"Professor, I didn't--" wailed Malfoy.

"I don't like liars, either!" growled Moody, giving the boy another shake.

"Stop manhandling my student, Moody," Snape said coldly. "I'm the Head of Slytherin House, and if there's a problem with one of my students, I'LL deal with it."

Moody shoved Malfoy away from him, and the boy scuttled around the desk, hiding behind Snape. "He attacked Harry Potter--"

"Knowing Potter, I'm sure he did something to provoke Malfoy--"

"He insulted my mother!" Malfoy piped up, braver now that he had Snape between him and Moody.

"He attacked when Potter's back was turned," Moody said. "But I suppose cowardice is a Slytherin trait, eh?"

Now Snape's face went red as well, and he gave Moody a murderous glare. "Evan Rosier and Lyall Wilkes weren't cowards," he said, pointedly looking at the missing chunk in Moody's nose. "Whatever their other faults might have been," he added silkily as Moody's face went dark with rage.

"Just like old times, eh Snape?" snarled Moody. "There's you, there's Malfoy here, Crabbe and Goyle, and I hear Rosier's son just started here as well. I'll be keeping my eye on you--on all of you. If you put one foot out of line...well, there's plenty of room in Azkaban, and I'm sure your old friends would be happy to see you."

"Paranoid as always, Moody," Snape spat. "You're creating a conspiracy out of a simple schoolboy quarrel."

"Just remember what I said, Snape," Moody growled. His blue eye rolled in Malfoy's direction. "And you too, boy! Tell your father what I said." He turned and lurched out of the office, his wooden leg making a clunking sound that echoed in the dungeon corridor.


As soon as Moody was gone, Malfoy turned to Snape and spluttered hysterically, "You've got to do something about that madman, Professor! A ferret! He turned me into a ferret!"

Snape frowned. "Sit down and calm yourself, Mr. Malfoy." The boy obediently dropped into a chair, but was still babbling incoherently about ferrets. His face was now sheet-white instead of red, and he was trembling violently. Snape sighed; Lupin was the one who knew how to comfort distraught children, not him. {But Lupin's not here now, is he? Thanks to you,} Snape's inner voice reminded him. He stopped to ponder what Lupin might have done, then remembered that he used to talk to Potter over a cup of tea. Snape shrugged; that was as a good a place as any to start. He fixed a cup of tea, then did something Lupin would not have done--he took a dusty bottle of brandy down from a shelf and stirred a large dollop of it into the tea. Snape rarely drank, except for the occasional glass of wine with dinner, and never to excess; he hated losing control of himself for any reason. But the parents of his students often gave him expensive gifts--including bottles of liquor--for Christmas. He kept the brandy in his office because it could occasionally be used as an ingredient in certain potions, and now possibly to revive students in shock. He handed the cup to Malfoy and said gruffly, "Drink this."

Malfoy gave him a startled look, but accepted the cup and took a sip. He grimaced slightly at the taste, but started to relax as the alcohol kicked in. By the time he finished the last of the tea-and-brandy mixture, the color had returned to his face and he had stopped trembling. "Thank you, Professor," he said, sounding grateful and almost meek.

Snape blinked. A humbled and chastened Malfoy--would miracles never cease? "You're welcome," he said, surprising both himself and Malfoy. He cleared his throat and returned to his usual severe, intimidating tone of voice. "Now, tell me what happened. From the beginning."

"Well, like I said Potter was insulting my mother--"

"I said, from the beginning, Mr. Malfoy!" Snape said sharply. Malfoy gave him another startled look; he wasn't used to Professor Snape speaking to him that way. {Well get used to it, boy,} he thought darkly. He had clearly indulged Draco too much--keeping on the good side of Lucius Malfoy was one thing, but it went too far when the boy brought a trigger-happy former Auror to his door.

Malfoy was still too cowed to object. "I was just showing Potter and Weasley this article from the Daily Prophet," he whined. "It's not my fault Weasley's father is so incompetent that he got written up by Rita Skeeter. They got mad and started insulting my mother, and I just threw a little curse at Potter--" Snape glared at him, raising an eyebrow. "Okay, maybe it was more than a little curse, but--Moody turned me into a ferret! A FERRET! He BOUNCED me across the hall! Merlin knows what he'd have done to me if McGonagall hadn't shown up!"

"Use some common sense, Malfoy!" Snape said impatiently, and Draco gave him a wounded look. Snape ignored him. "Learn to pick and choose your battles, boy! Is some foolish quarrel worth getting turned into a ferret?"

"But Professor--"

"At the very least, don't be stupid enough to pick a fight with Potter in front of a teacher, particularly one who used to be an Auror! A very paranoid Auror at that, might I remind you? The man is not entirely sane, Malfoy; how do you think he got the nickname 'Mad-Eye'? As an Auror, he had the authority to use the Unforgivable Curses on Death Eaters, and he used them quite frequently, I assure you! Have you forgotten that he's killed at least two of your father's friends?" {"Friends,"} Snape thought scornfully. {At least, that's what Lucius calls the people he uses--until they are of no more use to him.}

"Rosier and Wilkes," Draco mumbled, sounding much more subdued. "Dylan's dad. But--surely he's not allowed to use them anymore, not on a student--"

"Don't you get it, Malfoy?" Snape asked in frustration. "Haven't you noticed yet that Moody doesn't much care about the rules? Oh, if he maimed or killed you, no doubt your father would have him thrown into Azkaban, maybe even executed. But that wouldn't do your corpse much good, now would it?" Malfoy was staring at him in horror; Snape smiled grimly. {Ah, nothing like a good dose of reality to shake one's sense of complacency; it's high time you realized there are situations that your father's influence can't get you out of.} Aloud, he said, "Moody doesn't see you and the other Slytherins as children, Mr. Malfoy. To him you are all budding Dark Wizards, and if it were up to him, he would destroy you all, as one would destroy a nest of vipers." Perhaps he was laying it on a bit thick, but anything less wouldn't get through to the boy. Hmm...this might be an opportunity to plant a small seed of thought in Draco without too much risk to his cover. "You wish to become a powerful wizard like your father," he said in a smooth, silky voice. "But power does not come without a price, Draco. The more powerful you are, the more enemies you will make, and the more dangerous those enemies become. Look what happened to Dylan's father, after all...that might have been me or your father, under different circumstances. Look what happened to Dylan--a child who had done nothing wrong save be born to the wrong parents, consigned to exile for thirteen years..."

"That's not fair!" Malfoy protested, but he still looked pale and subdued.

"Surely, Draco," Snape said with a cynical smile, "your father must have taught you by now that the world is not fair." Draco reluctantly nodded, and Snape decided that was enough for one day. If he pushed too hard, the boy would not be able to handle it, and would simply reject everything Snape told him. "Just be more careful in the future," he said in an almost kindly voice. "Especially around Moody. And remember, it doesn't hurt to present a respectable face to the outside world."

"Yes, sir," mumbled Draco. "My father says that, too."

Snape fought back a scowl; he didn't like being compared to Lucius Malfoy, but he supposed the boy meant well. "Well, run along then, and stay out of trouble--I don't want to see Moody in my office again, is that clear, Malfoy?"

"Yes, Professor." The boy got up, then paused at the door. "Er...Professor?"

"Yes?" Snape asked, a little irritably.

"Thanks for the tea."

Snape looked up in astonishment, but Draco was already gone.
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