"Who would have thought the person in this news article would actually be Severus?"
In the professors' common room at Hogwarts, Pomona Sprout, the Herbology Professor and Head of Hufflepuff House, had just returned from the greenhouse and was staring at the latest issue of the Daily Prophet with an expression of utter disbelief.
"To be honest, though I know there are tis when I shouldn't think this way, and I often teach my students not to be prejudiced, my previous impression of Severus has always been hard to shake."
Sitting in the common room as well, Minerva McGonagall sipped her tea with a complicated look on her face.
She had already read this morning's news, but even though she knew so of the details behind Severus's current situation, she was still shocked by what he had accomplished in just half a month.
'Had it really only been a few days?'
'He had already completely overturned the public's long-held perceptions of him and reversed his reputation?'
Moreover, as one of the first to witness Severus's overnight transformation, McGonagall had initially been wary and displeased with this new Severus Snape after seeing him retrieve Harry Potter from the Dursleys on that rainy night.
No matter how unlikable the old Snape had been, at least he had been a known quantity to Hogwarts.
And after working together for so many years, even if their interactions had been limited, there had still been so camaraderie between them.
But now, Severus had beco a completely different person… so what had happened to the old Snape?
Then there was the matter of taking Harry from his aunt's house.
McGonagall had no issue with the act itself, since Dumbledore had already given his permission. But she strongly disapproved of Severus revealing the deep-seated hatred between himself and Harry's parents to a child who hadn't even turned nine yet.
Though she was a strict professor, McGonagall had always cared deeply about her students' emotional and ntal well-being.
Still, this was rely a difference in teaching philosophy and didn't significantly worsen her opinion of him.
Then ca the events of the past few days.
When Dumbledore wrote that letter asking Severus to invite Slughorn back to Hogwarts as his replacent, McGonagall had been present.
At the ti, she hadn't understood Dumbledore's intentions. But when she saw in the newspaper that this new Severus Snape had kidnapped the supposed Muggle victim and fled, becoming a wanted criminal by the Ministry, she was horrified.
After all, Harry was still with him!
Even though Dumbledore had publicly declared to the reporters that Hogwarts would always stand by Severus on the day the Ministry issued the warrant, McGonagall had practically stord into the Headmaster's office every half-day, urging Dumbledore to find a way to bring Harry back imdiately.
That boy's family had already sacrificed so much, so no matter what Harry might achieve in the future, he couldn't be allowed to suffer any more harm!
But Dumbledore had simply reassured her calmly, insisting that Harry would be perfectly safe… until The Quibbler's special edition was released.
Only then did McGonagall finally begin to grasp the truth behind it all.
Dumbledore had allowed this new Severus Snape to act so recklessly because he already knew the truth: that this so-called Muggle poisoning case had no real perpetrator or victim.
So, the fact that Severus chose to do that actually proved that he was indeed doing the right thing.
Even if doing the right thing ant temporarily staining his reputation and making him a fugitive from the Ministry, he had done it anyway.
After that, McGonagall's feelings toward Severus shifted from disapproval to sothing far more complicated.
Then ca his speech during the trial.
When he spoke openly through the Wizarding Wireless Network, repenting and apologizing for his past in front of Dumbledore and the Minister for Magic, addressing the entire British wizarding community… McGonagall's emotions beca even more tangled.
She realized she couldn't bring herself to dislike this version of Severus Snape at all.
The only thing that still unsettled her was the uncertainty of what had happened to the original bitter, sharp-tongued Severus Snape.
And then there was today's report about the Crouch Family and the werewolf case.
If Severus's confession at the courtroom had made McGonagall feel that he wasn't just shalessly enjoying the benefits of his old identity while shirking its responsibilities, that he might actually be a decent person, then the werewolf case showed her that he wasn't just paying lip service.
He wasn't just using the vampire incident to placate Dumbledore, he was genuinely trying to sever ties with his past.
To live in this world under this identity with a clear conscience.
"Severus's change is a good thing," McGonagall said, though her voice still carried traces of concern, "At least for the Wizarding World as a whole, it seems like a very positive developnt."
Sprout didn't quite understand what she was worried about.
Only Dumbledore and McGonagall knew that this Severus might not be the original Snape at all.
"Ahaha, everyone, look who's here!"
A warm, jovial voice suddenly rang out in the professors' common room.
Filius Flitwick, the Head of Ravenclaw House and Charms Professor, entered the room with a portly, walrus-mustached old man in tow.
Though it had been eight years since he last taught at Hogwarts, the professors gathered here had worked alongside Slughorn for far longer than they had been apart.
Sprout and McGonagall greeted him warmly.
"Long ti no see, Horace."
"I heard your club is doing better than ever."
Slughorn patted his belly and chuckled.
"Thanks to my forr student Eldred and his vampire friend, the Slug Club has indeed been quite lively lately. Many people I could never manage to invite before are now writing to on their own, asking when the next gathering will be… they all want to et these two legendary figures."
Flitwick, who was so short that he needed several books stacked under his feet to reach the podium during class, also chid in about recent events.
"I haven't seen Severus since sumr break started. Who would have thought he'd already done so much out there? And even more surprising… he actually managed to bring you back."
At Flitwick's words, Slughorn laughed to cover his awkwardness.
Of course, he wouldn't ntion that the only reason he agreed to return was because Severus had taken the bla for him in the first place.
Just as the professors and heads of houses chatted in the common room, marveling at the recent events in the Wizarding World and Severus's transformation, the Fat Friar, Hufflepuff's resident ghost, floated in with a ssage from Dumbledore for McGonagall.
"Professor Dumbledore says today's guests will be arriving at the school gates soon. He'd like Professor McGonagall to help welco them."
After all, Severus had publicly announced his resignation as both Head of House and professor. Harry, who was accompanying him, hadn't officially enrolled yet, and Lupin had long since graduated from Hogwarts… this visit was purely by Dumbledore's private invitation.
So, proper courtesy was still in order.
Just as McGonagall was about to stand, Flitwick spoke up eagerly.
"Let's all go together! I can't wait to see what Severus looks like now!"
Sprout and Slughorn naturally had no objections.
Thus, the four current heads of houses left the common room and made their way to the gates of Hogwarts to welco their forr colleague.
When Severus and Lupin, who had just arrived from Hogsade with Harry in tow, saw such a reception, they exchanged a glance.
'This was quite the grand welco!'
'The only thing missing was Dumbledore himself coming out to greet us!'
Even when he had still been Head of Slytherin, Severus had always been the junior among these professors. After all, he was still young, not even thirty yet.
But now, just returning to Hogwarts for a al, everything felt different.
"Professor McGonagall, even though I've temporarily left Hogwarts, there's no need for such a grand reception. I haven't even finished moving out of my office yet."
Yet the mont he spoke, Flitwick and Sprout imdiately sensed that he was like a completely different person… the old Snape would never have joked so warmly and casually!
McGonagall looked at Severus, her usually stern face softening into a smile.
"Everyone's just curious about the man who's been making waves in the Wizarding World these past few days."
As she spoke, her gaze unconsciously drifted to Harry, who was standing slightly behind Severus, before shifting to Lupin.
"You two used to be sworn enemies. It seems you're getting along quite well now."
Lupin didn't respond to that. He just shook his head with a wry smile.
Ever since following Severus around, he felt like all his smiles had turned bitter.
Flitwick, however, had already exclaid in delight and hurried over to Severus, patting his arm enthusiastically.
"Your new look is fantastic, Severus! Did you secretly use that shampoo I recomnded before? I always told you to take better care of yourself and mind your image in front of the students! You're finally listening!"
Professor Flitwick was a kind-hearted man, and compared to the old Snape, he was an exemplary professor and Head of House.
In response, Severus just grinned and flicked his ponytail.
"This is a recipe I developed myself! It's much better than the one you recomnded to . Do you want to secretly write the recipe for you? It's an exclusive."
"Are the ingredients rare?"
"You can get them all from Professor Sprout's greenhouses. And if brewing it seems too troubleso, you can always ask Professor Slughorn for help later."
"You've got us all figured out." Sprout teased sly.
Everyone present burst into laughter.
Even without students around during the sumr break, this day at Hogwarts was a pleasant one.
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