Chapter Text
Chapter one: Back Again
Harry found himself once again wondering like so many times before since he started his journey, why he was standing at the gates of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in wet and dreary North Scotland at the start of the summer holidays, when he should be busy working with his partner in hot, sunny Egypt locating and breaking dark curses in old tombs.
It had been 12 years, 12 long years since he had last seen the school and castle he first found a home in. 12 years since he fought and won the war at the Battle of Hogwarts as it was now being called, and 12 years since he had last been seen.
Walking up through the grounds towards the castle he could still see feint scars the battle had inflicted upon the school. Whole walls that had now been rebuilt, the front of the castle looked the same, as did the towers that the Ravenclaw’s and Gryffindor’s called home for 9 months of the year but if you looked closely like Harry was now you could see the rebuilt sections of the Great Hall.
Sighing he walked up the front steps and walked in straight into someone.
“I’m sorry my mind was where.” Mumbled Harry to his feet, distractedly trying to reclaim his balance.
“I see. Who are you and what is your business here?” Came the voice of a man who sounded familiar to him. He only hoped that the drawl dripping with venom did not belong to who he thought it did.
Looking up he saw who he had walked into for the first time. His stomach plummeted faster than he thought possible at the sight of the man dressed in long flowing black robes. He was Tall and thin but not overly so, his face revealed a hooked nose that looked like it had been broken once too many times and left to heal by itself. His face was framed with long shoulder length hair black hair that looked greasy to the eye at first look, but upon closer inspection you could class it as oily. The bane of his school life was now standing in front of him, looking thankfully and if his question was anything to go by, like he had no clue who he was. The Potions Professor and dungeon bat of Hogwarts Severus Snape. Nonplussed at how he could still be alive after being bitten by Voldemort’s bloody snake.
“I’m sorry, my name is Hiroshi” He replied more confident now that he knew Snape did not recognise him even if he was still confused. He was happy that his voice was steady and did not show his shock. “I was asked here by the Headmistress, could you tell me where her office is please?”
At this moment Severus was standing looking down at the stranger who introduced himself as Hiroshi, examining him as he would a potion he had never seen, meaning with great interest. He had been minding he own business walking up from his dungeons happy that the last of the little brats had left so that he had time to relax before he went home for the summer when he had been walked into by a man who had been too lazy to look where he was going. Realising that he had been asked a question he answered
“It would be easier to show you the way. Follow me.” And with that he swept away looking very much like his name sake.
Hurrying to keep up with the man, Harry followed. Of course he already knew the way to the heads office, he knew the ins and outs of the castle better than the back of his own hand. However it would not be wise to been seen knowing his was around when he was ‘new’ to the school.
They stopped in front of a stone gargoyle that Harry recognised to be the same gargoyle he had last seen lying on its side after the battle. Snape muttered the password and the stone guardian jumped aside.
“Up there” he turned to walk away but Harry called him back.
“I never did get your name.” Not really expecting him to give it but was pleasantly surprised when he answered.
“Severus Snape” This time he walked way before he could call him back.
Sighing he stepped onto the staircase and began to walk up it stopping at a large wooden door with a brass phoenix knocker. Smiling at the sight of the bird he took a deep breath and knocked on the door.