A Change in Plans

Disclaimer: Do I own HP? Nope. Am I making any money from posting this? Nope. Do I still enjoy writing fanfic? Yes.

A/N: Did you know this story is in the Top 25 Fics based on rating? Thanks to all of those reviewers who helped. As always, reviews are desired but not required.

Chapter 8: A Change in Plans

A few minutes before four o'clock, Severus was climbing the staircase to the headmaster's office when he heard the rise and fall of voices. Upon being admitted, he was mildly surprised to see Callista standing there, hanging her head contritely, face reddened with embarrassment. There had been only one other time he had seen her so chastised.

Callista stormed into the castle slightly ahead of the young Potions professor. She was furious that he had the gall to deduct points from Gryffindor. Since the beginning of the term two weeks ago, she had expressed how much she was beginning to like him, in spite of his grubby appearance and unpleasant demeanor. Miss Hawkins made it very clear that she admired his brilliant mind in the Potions lab and appreciated his helpfulness when she did research. Right now, however, she was fuming over the fact that he had just pulled rank on her. Severus could sense that she was working up the nerve to explode at him when they were met in the Entrance Hall by the headmaster.

Social contact? Callista Hawkins was a student and an assignment, nothing more. He had no intentions of taking things any farther than absolutely necessary. Weaseling information out of the girl was one thing, Dumbledore could explain everythign away after the Dark Lord was defeated. But Severus knew taking advantage of her could land him at the business end of her father's wand, or worse, Bianca's.

Dumbledore was speaking to him. "Severus, I see you are right on time. As I mentioned in my note, there has been a slight change of plans. I have decided that you will no longer be teaching Occlumency to Harry." A slight smile tugged at Snape's lips. "Callista will instruct him from now on."

"Are you sure Miss Hawkins can manage the task?" he asked flatly, making it a point to sound as if she wasn't in the room.

Callista frowned angrily, no doubt ready with a stinging retort, but Dumbledore answered in his usual soothing tone. "I'm sure she is more than capable, after all Professor Hawkins learned from you. Don't look so shocked, Severus, I am well aware that you taught her when... it was necessary. While she is not as skilled as you are, I'm sure she will be able to manage."

Snape smirked. "Will I have anything to do with Potter outside of the classroom setting?"

"Yes," replied Dumbledore softly, "you will be teaching him some of the Dark spells that he is likely to encounter and instructing him on the best means of defending himself."

"I still don't see how this is a good idea at all," Callista said, fighting to keep her voice controlled. "From what you told me, Professor Snape failed to teach Harry Occlumency because he was incapable of controlling his temper with the boy. Yet you feel it would be better for him to be left alone with Harry, completely unsupervised, teaching him--"

Snape whirled on her. "I see you've been drawn into Potter's little fanclub. Perhaps in time you will see him for the insolent brat he is. As for teaching him the Dark Arts, there isn't anyone else."

"Callista, I'm sure that James and Lily would want Harry to be able to defend himself, no matter what," Dumbledore said reassuringly. "Severus, I am trusting you with his safety. Don't let us down."

With a curt nod, Severus swept from the room without waiting for Dumbledore to dismiss him.

As Severus stormed down the second floor hallway, he became aware that the ghost of Sir Nicholas was floating placidly behind him. He couldn't stand the Gryffindor specter, with his unwanted chatter and prying ways. Had Severus known a decent ghost-repelling spell, Sir Nicholas would have been on the receiving end of it.

"Dear me, Severus, where are you off to?"

"I have many important things to do, Sir Nicholas," he snarled without pausing.

"What could possibly be more important than what you have left behind?"

Snape continued on. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Surely, you must be overjoyed to have the lovely Miss Hawkins back. She was more than just a student to you."

Severus stopped dead in his tracks. "What are you insinuating?"

"Nothing that isn't common knowledge among the ghosts. You didn't really think that the Bloody Baron was beyond a bit of gossip, now did you?" The ghost went on with a laugh. "Miss Hawkins was so very infatuated with the young, brilliant Professor Snape, and it was obvious that you were rather taken with her genius and beauty. We may be dead, Severus, but we still remember what love looks like!"

"That is all in the past. She detests me now, and I have long since gotten over my feelings for her. Now excuse me, I have a lot of work to do." Snape started toward the staircase, lost in thought.

A small knot of seventh year students were in the courtyard discussing their future plans. Severus, who was stuck doing yard duty, a very unpleasant part of his teaching responsibilities, listened to them.

Her smile warmed his heart in a way he didn't even know was possible.

Severus wrenched open the door to his office and slammed it behind him. How could things between the two of them have gone so utterly wrong? Pressing his slim hands to his face, he took a few deep breaths. It doesn't matter. What's done is done, and perhaps it's for the best.

Callista turned to the headmaster. "I can't believe you're going to allow this! Why don't you just teach Harry yourself?"

"There are other lessons I must teach him," Dumbledore answered. "Severus knows better than anyone else what Harry could face."

The witch frowned in annoyance. "And the Occlumency lessons with me won't really exist?"

"Of course they will," the headmaster said, as he took a seat behind the massive desk and invited Callista to take the chair opposite. "You will instruct Harry to sufficiently protect his mind."

"But according to you," Callista began, her forehead wrinkling in confusion, "He-Who-- V-Voldemort can't bear the connection between them. If he can no longer invade Harry's mind, then what's the point of continuing with Occlumency?"

"Surely you do realize that there are others among his followers that may try to gain access to Harry's thoughts. According to Severus, Riddle hasn't been eager to share his failure with any of them," replied Dumbledore. "However, there may come a time when Harry may find it necessary to connect his mind to Riddle's, and I want him to be able to do so without detection."

"Long-distance Legilimency?" Her eyes widened in surprise, and Callista felt utterly overwhelmed. "That' completely beyond my skills! The best I can do is teach Harry to detect when his mind is about to be infiltrated and block an attack. With practice on my part, I may be able to show him the basics of decoy images. Perhaps Severus--"

"Severus is a proficient Occlumens, the most practiced one I have ever encountered, but his skills in Legilimency are barely more than rudimentary. He can detect if someone is lying; however, that may have more to do with his experience in the classroom than anything else. "

"But, sir--"

Dumbledore raised a wrinkled hand. "Callista, I'm of the opinion that you are capable of such a skill." He smiled at the dubious look she gave him and went on. "I spoke with your mother after Jarvis Pike informed me you would be willing to interview for a teaching position. She told me that for the last few days she had been experiencing some very vivid dreams about you. In one of them, she described you sitting next to a fountain, staring at a large brick building with white pillars, and a clock tower. Your mother was not exactly surprised by the news that you were alive and well and would soon be returning home."

Callista rubbed at her temples. Shortly after speaking to Jarvis, she had been so agitated that she taken a long walk around the campus and had stopped at her favorite spot, the fountain in front of the Main. Her thoughts had been so focused on her family that it could have been possible that her mother had felt something. Even if she had, the connection likely had more to do with a maternal bond than any special ability of her own. No matter how it had been accomplished--provided it wasn't just a coincidence--it wasn't a conscious act. The chances of Callista being able to do it again were minimal at best, and the possibility of her being able to actually instruct anyone else were laughably slim.

"I'll do my best," Callista promised with forced enthusiasm.

"I ask nothing more," he said kindly. "There is one more thing I do need from you concerning the instruction of another student."

"Oh?" She was instantly wary.

"I would like you to work with Neville Longbottom," Dumbledore replied in a matter-of-fact tone. "He would like toe. continue with Potions but will not be able to take the N.E.W.T. classes."

"But I thought Severus was going to allow students--"

The headmaster broke in with an explanation. "Mr. Longbottom is, according to Severus, 'too dangerous to be allowed in the classroom.' He also only achieved the mark of Acceptable on his O.W.L., which was more of an allowance than Severus was willing to give."

Callista barely restrained herself from rolling her eyes. "So I'm going to be stuck with him."

"You indicated a need for a personal workspace so you could experiment with Healing potions." The old man was smiling at her in the most irritating way. She was cornered and they both knew it. "Surely an assistant would be helpful?"

"Yes," Callista said, suddenly wondering if Severus had made the suggestion in hopes that both she and this Longbottom person would end up a slimy puddle on the floor. "But not one that could land me in St. Mungo's! A potions lab where there are experimental brews involved is no place for incompetence. I don't want to be responsible for any disasters he could create."

"A valid concern, Callista. However, I believe Mr. Longbottom would benefit from tutoring with someone who is patient enough to instruct him in the basics of Potions." The headmaster continued to smile pleasantly at her desperate look. "He has a keen interest in Herbology, and I'm sure he would find accounts of your university work and travels fascinating."

"I don't suppose I have much of a choice in the matter, do I?"

"Of course you do, but I would be much in your debt if you undertook this task."

Her shoulders slumped in resignation. "As you wish, Headmaster. But if his incompetence impedes my progress, I want to have the right to dismiss him."

Dumbledore gave her a twinkling smile that bordered on patronizing. "That sounds quite reasonable. If you have no further questions, you are dismissed to continue with your preparations."

Callista nodded and turned to go. She paused at the door and turned to the headmaster and asked, "That other matter we discussed, the one concerning Severus and Barty Jr.--"

"I have told you what I know," replied Dumbledore repressively. "All of it was made a matter of public record over the summer, Callista. Anything more, you will need to ask Severus, but I'm sure you've deduced that he is unlikely to answer your questions."

"I understand, sir." Callista pushed the door open and made her way down the staircase. More likely than not, Severus indeed had been responsible for Barty's fate. No matter what Barty had become, Callista didn't think she could forgive Severus for having someone Kissed.

A/N: One of my pet theories post GoF, was that Severus Snape had played a part in Fudge's decision to have Barty Kissed instead of just incarcerated. True, Fudge could have been covering his own backside, but Severus also had secrets that only Barty would know, secrets that could have caused difficulties had they made it back to Voldemort's... um, ears. Here's hoping this latest hasn't made me unpopular to the point that my handful of readers ditch me.