The sun sparkled on the gently-rippling lake. A few courageous ducks paddled their webbed feet in the greenish waters, then waddled up the bank and shook their feathers at each other. The Whomping Willow viciously attacked any curious squirrel or finch or sparrow that crossed its precarious path. And Neville Longbottom had lost his toad.

If anyone asked, you could easily say that Hogwarts was back to normal.

Severus Snape, a wicked grin on his usually stoic face, added a dash of habañero juice to his cauldron. Just for taste. Tucking a lock of greasy hair behind his ear, he straightened up and looked around for his jar of plimpy eggs.

With a crash, his workroom door burst open behind him. Whirling around, Severus found himself looking across the room into the frightened eyes of the new Herbology professor.

He snarled. "What do you think you're doing, Longbottom? It should be obvious by now that no potion is safe within a meter of you!"

"Professor, I've –"

"Out!"

"Wait!"

Neville's eyes flickered to the cauldron and shelves of containers behind the Potions Master, in which blobs of liquid and squashed ingredients floated. His eyes widened.

"I've lost my toad."

Severus sniffed. "Well, if you had remembered to ward your chambers, perhaps you wouldn't be so inconvenienced."

Neville bit his lip. He had only moved in yesterday. He'd had no time to set up fancy passwords – and if he had, he was likely to forget them in a day or two.

"Which raises the question—"

Neville's heart sank.

"– of how you were able to enter my workroom."

Neville looked up, confused.

"I generally do not give out my passwords to every new professor that wanders the halls. I greatly doubt you went to the Headmistress for that information."

"It just – let me in."

An uncomfortable silence filled the room.

"You evidently don't have my toad, Professor, so if you'll excuse me…"

The Head of Slytherin cleared his throat. "Yes. I'm sure this delicate mixture is far beyond ruination due to your idiocy."

"I didn't touch anything!" Neville exclaimed.

"I know. Good day, professor."

As it turned out, the batch of Skele-Gro was perfectly unharmed. Smirking, Severus reached for the chili powder.