After a thorough wash, Severus Snape returned to his dormitory.
Avery and Mulciber were sprawled across their beds, limbs dangling from under their blankets, mouths slightly open, snoring in chorus.
"Idiots," Snape muttered under his breath, pulling out his wand and giving it a flick toward his four-poster bed.
"Muffliato."
It was amusing, in a way, to think that the original reason he had invented the spell was so he could sleep through snoring.
He tossed his dirty clothes into the empty laundry bin and sank into the pillow.
"Sigh… I still have to go to the Hog's Head tomorrow for the Walpurgis gathering," he muttered after a moment of digging through his memories. "Isn't that just a Death Eater orientation meeting?"
He stared at the dark green and silver-striped bed curtains, barely visible in the dim light, while a faint buzzing filled his ears.
He tried summoning the "system" and "old man" in both English and Chinese a few times, but when there was no response, he finally drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, Snape woke early.
After a brief moment of thought, he pulled his trunk from under the bed.
There weren't many clothes inside, just an old set of school robes and a few worn books passed down from his mother.
One of them was Advanced Potion-Making by Libatius Borage. It was filthy, the corners of the pages curled from frequent reading.
Snape pulled out an ill-fitting pair of shabby Muggle jeans and slipped them on under his robes.
Normally, he'd never wear these ugly things at Hogwarts, but given the current climate, a little extra cover might come in handy if they were attacked by the Marauders.
The rustling of fabric stirred the others awake.
Avery gaped at him in surprise, rubbed his eyes, and shook his head in disbelief.
"Get dressed, let's go to breakfast," Snape said, noticing Avery's curiosity but unwilling to discuss it.
Along the way, students pointed, whispered, and stifled laughter as they passed.
Snape was sorely tempted to cast a few Avada Kedavra spells just to make their noses bleed.
Instead, under the cover of his robes, he flicked his wand at the surrounding students and muttered:
"Langlock."
The whispers choked off mid-sentence.
Several classmates clutched their throats, their tongues magically glued to the roofs of their mouths.
Finally—peace.
At the Slytherin table, Snape piled pork chops, beef steaks, and lamb onto his plate.
As he chewed, he mulled things over.
"The house-elves really are talented. I need to eat more meat, find ways to toughen up a bit. But first, I need to get off Tom's sinking ship. Whether it's double agents or spies playing both sides—none of them end well. And I'll be damned if I spend seven years babysitting a boy, only to have him shout my secrets in front of the entire school after I'm dead. These 'Death Eater interns'… surely they aren't as trapped as the full-fledged ones, right? That would be a problem. Voldemort should only have five Horcruxes at this point—diary, ring, locket, cup, diadem. Nagini and Harry haven't joined the list yet."
He chewed slowly, his gaze drifting toward the staff table.
Behind his half-moon spectacles, a pair of piercing blue eyes met his for the briefest second.
Snape froze, cold sweat breaking out across his back.
He quickly looked down, focusing on his plate, grabbing his knife, pretending to slice his steak.
"Bloody hell. I nearly forgot about that. Good thing I should know Occlumency. Just not sure if last night's little episode compromised anything. I'd better test it soon…"
Outside the castle, the crimson sun cast warm light over the grounds.
A breeze rustled the treetops of the Forbidden Forest, scattering flickers of deep green light.
Argus Filch stood inside the front doors, holding a long list, checking every student's face with suspicion, making sure no one slipped out who shouldn't.
Snape and the others stepped through the gate, passing between the tall stone pillars crowned with winged boars, turning left toward the road to Hogsmeade.
They walked along the main road. When they passed Zonko's Joke Shop, Mulciber decided to stock up on dungbombs and prank supplies.
Snape wasn't interested, but he thought it safer not to wander off alone.
He stood in the shop's shaded doorway, watching flocks of owls of all shapes and colors flying in and out of the post office.
"Look who it is," Mulciber said, stepping out with a large paper bag, Avery trailing behind.
Lily Evans and her roommate Mary Macdonald were walking along the path, chatting happily.
"Perfect time to try this baby out," Mulciber grinned, reaching into his bag and pulling out a dungbomb.
Just as he raised it to throw, Snape instinctively drew his wand.
"Protego!"
An invisible shield sprang to life, sending Mulciber and Avery flying backward onto their backs.
Dungbombs, stink pellets, and belch candies spilled everywhere.
Snape stood still, staring at his own hand, as if unsure it had moved of its own accord.
Well, there was no turning back now.
"What the hell is wrong with you?!"
The two scrambled to their feet, brushing off dust and glaring at Snape through the shield.
"Severus, are you mad?"
"Don't touch them, alright?" Snape said quietly but firmly.
"What? You're standing up for those two Mudb—"
"Don't use that word!" Snape shouted, wand arm raised again, his eyes locked on the pair.
Avery and Mulciber drew their own wands.
Two against one. But neither of them moved.
"Remember who you are, Severus," Mulciber said coldly.
"I don't need you to remind me," Snape snapped back.
The sun was nearing its peak, the heat heavy in the air, clinging to skin like syrup.
A soft breeze brushed past, and a familiar figure stepped up beside Snape.
Mary Macdonald.
He hadn't expected anyone to stand beside him—especially not Mary.
What a good girl, Snape thought. Even after all the times we've hexed her with dark magic, she still helped me pass messages to Lily… and now, here she is.
Lily stepped forward too, standing next to Mary.
Snape instinctively avoided looking at her.
"Mulciber," he said, "Are you sure you want to duel me here?"
He didn't want to turn them into enemies—not yet. He lowered his wand slightly in a gesture of peace.
Mulciber gave him a hateful look, grabbed Avery, and started gathering their scattered supplies.
Then, they left in a hurry.
"Thanks, Mary," Snape said awkwardly.
Mary nodded and turned to walk away.
Snape remained in place even after she and Lily were gone.
The Hog's Head… should I go or not?That is the question.