Chapter Text
Severus had been quite meticulous with his works as a professional within Hogwarts for many years. As a professor; he believed love was merely a concept, an idea of hope. However, beside himself in a heap of loneliness; Severus began to focus deeply as opposed to why he ever chose to ingratiate within the hypocrisy of love. Heartbreak was his only finding, and the wits of his thinking led him into trite tragedy. He had loved before in the past, but viewed it as a nonsensical crush and at the base of his house of cards; he found himself homeless. It was a very typical romantic readiness. The story of a young man, naive and very unbothered by the depths of possibile failure. But you know the dangers in gambling. Severus found it rather effortless to fall captive within the strings of a true puppet master. Lily, a beautiful woman lost in an untimely world of tranquil thoughts and a still calmness that could permeate the stability of steady, or in a way, redefine it, destroyed the objectivity of his mind many years ago, and he had been unable to mend.
Generally, the healing process of heart break took weeks, maybe even months, depending on the severity of one's attatchmemt, but for Severus; it seemed like an eternity. To keep himself occupied; The Professor decided in teaching the younger generation of the wizardry world defensive and self offensive tactics with the use of potion making. He would like to think that he had mastered the artful plan of magic, but even he had much to learn. Smug and very reserved were adjectives that could be used when describing Severus, but inwardly he was quite the opposition. He suppressed his burning desires for passion and romance remarkably to the public eye. Others would state inately, that he was: callous, indelicate, abrupt and very contemptuous, but the infathomable honesty of it all was that Severus had been unfairly misunderstood.
It was easy to unknowingly write him off as inconsiderate by glace. His favorite color was black; he wore it everyday and seldomly smiled. He considered students to be daft, unappreciative, exasperating, and a mild irritant. Although, there were times when his job rather impressed him. Severus enjoyed spectating the growth of other human beings and naturally viewed himself to be a people watcher. His eyes were dark brown, almost black, but piercing. He neatly wore noir black hair, mid legnth and slightly layered. It coupled nicely with his unique size. His shoulders were above average and very broad. Although, his figure was skinny. His stance was rather haulking to most, but didn't appear this way at first glance. He stood stoutly, but resounded the room in stride as if his walk could be greatly heard. Serverus never liked being the center of attention, but always seemed to stand out above the crowd. Students and other teachers alike described him to be frightening and almost unapproachable. However, he chose to mask himself in such a way because he preferred to be hidden. It didn't exactly make him feel confident, but allowed him to experience life as if he could blend in, even if he never actually did.
Today was a day of new beginnings. The house of Hogwarts would be sorting students in to their predetermined houses in which they would represent the school in. There were four: Slytherin, Griffindoor, Hufflepuff, and, Ravenclaw. Years ago, naturally, Severus Snape found himself being placed in the house of Slytherin. He was the main professor and leader of the clan and had took the house to multiple victories of the yearly House Cup. Last year made it two in a row. He also, took pride in that. However, being placed as a Slytherin marked the first day of his separation from his once lost love, Lily. This gravely effected Serverus' outlook on the world. He felt as if they would always be together, inseparable, but he was wrong, and even years later; he couldn't seem to let go. Hogwarts was a school of wonder and had been an active academy for centuries. As a stay-in dormitory; Severus found himself basking within past memories of his own childhood repeatedly. It was hard not to. He lived there, and had done so his entire life, so it only seemed fitting.
Students began making their way in to their seats, expecting their names to be called. At Hogwarts to house the student to its proper domain; the sorting hat was used: a magical talking hat that had been around since Severus was a boy and would most certainly remain beyond his years. He began to reminisce on the day when he was housed to Slytherin. As a boy, he was shy and very quiet, so he didn't feel as if he had been placed properly: only years later did he realize that he was. The hat was almost never wrong, but the bittersweet irony of it all is that Lily had been placed in Griffindoor; A house known for honor and loyalty. Slytherin had always been shown to be sleezy: a house of liars and thieves and a lot of evil wizards ended up there, but not all of them were bad. He wasn't. Although, Lily could sense as much, most couldn't. Severus knew the separation between the two could be mended, and it was for the most part. Well, until, she met another wizard. His names was James Potter. She fell in love, had a magical child, and eventually lost touch with Severus. This stamped the end of happy days for Snape. His heart was left shattered and his soul broken. He always wanted to marry Lily. He thought she was his soul mate, but once given the news of her pregnancy; he eventually came to terms with the impossibility of love, so he quietly moved on. Although, it changed him and not for the better.
Earlier this week, he had been given a list. The assortment read names of new students introduced to the School Of Hogwarts. (None in which had been given classes yet.) So, he didn't know exactly who he would be teaching this semester. Usually, schedules were given out after students were housed. When reading the list; Severus came across a familiar name: Potter. A student by the name of Harry Potter had just been enrolled, and shortly after he had been equipped with the information that it indeed was Lily and James' son. A prophecy years ago foretold a story about a boy born at the end of July who possessed abilities so formidable that he would be magically capable in defeating the dark lord, Voldemort. Severus had began wondering if it were the boy himself. However, he would know immediately if Potter was truly the son of Lily once he laid eyes on him.
Names continued to be called as students were being placed in their proper houses. Snape sat complacently towards the back row just adjacent to a much smaller table that had a stool nudged up against the side of it. He placed his fingers to his face, allowing his chin to slightly rest upon them as he watched the ceremony take place. As usual, it was awkwardly boring. However, he was interested in one name that would eventually be called on: Harry Potter. Severus eventually leaned back within his seat, attempting to look involved, but was only fascinated in meeting the boy: her son, Harry. He wanted to know just exactly what he had looked like and if he harbored more traits of Lily or his father, James. Severus very much disliked James, not for one reason, but two. One: He could tell that Snape had a deeper affection for Lily as opposed to just being friends, and secondly; he thought Severus was weird. At the times of adolescence; James had been the better wizard and a bully. He was arrogant and a know-it-all who had no respect for the art of Magic. He was only interested in power and how he could use it to whipe out the obstacles in his path.
Severus continued watching the ceremony, scanning his eyes to the flooded tables of students down below in search for the boy. He locked eyes with a brown haired teen with glasses and a small scar located just at the very top of his forhead. He wouldn't have been so quick to believe that the boy he had been staring at were Harry Potter if his eyes didn't match his mother's emphatically. Although, his hair and cheek bones resembled more of his father, James. The boy froze. He diligently, looked up to Severus and began to stare back with wide blue eyes, slightly panicking. Harry was very timid by nature and had been taken a back as he began to wonder just why he had been being singled out by the Professor in all black. The entire room had been very busy and boisterous, but this man only seemed to have noticed him. Severus slightly gasped. He wasn't one to abuse his abilities in magic, but attempted to just this once. Invading people's minds and extracting information was just one of his specialties and he chose to use it on Harry. Although, he had to be very careful and conscientious as he did not want to be caught. By the rules of Hogwarts; this action would be deemed an illegal one, but he needed to know if the boy understood his past, what he knew exactly about his mother and father, and how he got here. His next question would be why, so Snape chose to tap in.
Dark eyes were met even deeply with bright blue ones as Harry winced ever so slightly in pain. He inherently tried to block Severus from infiltrating his mind, but was unsuccessful. The proffessor chose in slightly looking away as the boy groaned. Potter twitched his eyes, turning his head attempting to refocus his attention elsewhere, but before he could fully do so; he shot a defensive almost pleading look of fear back to Severus. He felt as if the man in black had been trying to hurt him, but he couldn't know for sure as he was told he would be safe here at Hogwarts. Harry just felt confusion swell across his face. He blushed in embarrasment, but strangely, looked intrigued in knowing more. Severus tried his best in looking innocent in hopes the boy wasn't strong enough to sense the connection came from him, so he allowed his resting fingers to uncoil from his face and away from his chin. Severus then entangled them collectively at the ends of his hair, softly playing at each strand, releasing his hold against Harry. After breaking contact with the boy; he began to wonder just why he could not penetrate Potter's mind. Naturally, most subjects are much more simple to incept the mind of, but not the boy. Snape needed to know why.
Severus then leaned back within his chair for comfort, but was very much nervous. He began studying his colleagues for information. He hadn't been sure if anyone had noticed, so he began sparking up conversations with the other professors around him. He talked about scheduling, newer students, and subjects that would be taught in his potions class, but continued to keep glancing back at Potter as he did so. The boy linked eyes with Severus once more, for a short second as he had been speaking with another teacher, but immediately, Harry looked away in what looked like fear, but was unmistakably shock. This bothered Snape. He always seemed to be so misunderstood.
Potter began talking to a gingerly hair colored boy with hazel eyes and a brunette. She was a girl. Severus smiled to himself. The boy had already made friends and that seemed to settle his mind a bit more. He didn't mean to scare Harry and judging by Potter's reaction he had zero recollection as to whom the professor was, but its not as if he expected him to.
As Harry began babbling onwardly with his friends; his name was called. In mid conversation, Severus turned his attention to the boy. Potter apprehensively then pulled free the stool qnd began sitting in it. To proffessor Snape his actions seemed mildly scattered. He seemed to be shy, greatful and at the same, puzzled. The boy definitely had been taught mannerisms at an early age because he displayed respect.
He's nothing like his father. Harry moved very subtly and was kind. Snape began to wonder if there were hope for the boy in totality. He reminded Serverus of Lily. So, he watched him diligently, but never wavered any kind of raw emotion.
Potter began to shake ever so slightly and began muttering words silently to himself. He was told all Slytherin were bad and knew no matter what that he did not want to be one. He then remebered the man in black. He wanted to look back to him, but due to his current predicament; he could not. He noticed at first glance the man had a Slytherin patch plastered upon the right shoulder of his outfit. He definitely wasn't sure if he had been of liking to the man in black, so he felt as if Slytherin had completely been put of the question for him. Harry quickly realized as he began to think back that Severus had probably been head of Slytherin house and he wasn't sure if he had somehow already been at the mercy of the man's bad side. He continued to mutter on.
"Not Slytherin..." He uttered over and over again. Severus frowned slightly because he wished that the sorting hat would place him in his house. In order to figure the boy out he would need to be closer to him and he couldn't think of a better way in doing such feat, then the boy being placed in Slytherin.
Harry continued on. "Not Slytherin." He repeated. The hat then smiled as Severus continued to frown. "Not Slytherin, Ehh?" The hat spoke out rather loudly, teasing the boy as he continued to chant the same words over and over again. The entire room of students and some teachers began laughing in unison.
"You could do really big things in Slytherin... You could be great." The sorting hat answered back. Severus then looked to the boy again, but this time his face had contorted in disgust. Not that he didn't agree with the hat, but his mutterings being broadcasted were quite embarrassing and he could feel the boy's discomfort. It bothered him as he had been at the hand of humiliation far too many times in his own life, both as a young wizard and as a professor.
Harry tightly closed his eyes and began shaking even more. "Not Slytherin," he repeated, almost beggingly.
"Not Slytherin ehh," the hat paused before excitedly shouting.
Harry continued on. "Not Slytherin."
The hat smiled.
"Better it be, Griffindoor!"
Severus sucked his teeth in dissapointedly, but never stopped staring at Potter as he made sure his action went completely unnoticed. He was lucky. Both of his friends he had been conversing with were also placed in Griffindoor...
And so was his mother, Lily.