February 14, 1976 - Hogwarts

Severus finished the last stages of his brewing quickly, perhaps paying less attention to the process than he should have. Frankly, he didn't care much - if he finished quickly, he'd have all the time he wanted to prepare for the event taking place later that evening.

Still, the potions turned out well. Not nearly his best, but those without an eye for it would be unlikely to even notice the difference. He decanted his first two cauldrons, before pausing at the third. It was much smaller than the others - the molten liquid inside just enough for a singular dose. A love potion.

Doubt began to creep inside of him. It had been easy to put everything else out of his mind when brewing, thoughts filled only with the ingredients and instructions, but now that his mind was quiet… He would not have hesitated, he thought, were it not for his extensive knowledge of the potion's more destructive uses.

Morality and practicality waged a war inside of him, but from the beginning it was apparent which would win. A single drop of dew water neutralised the effects, while keeping the potion's appearance. His heart lighter, he filled his singular vial with the brew, hoping that his deception would not be discovered immediately. In due time, he would pay the price for his guilty conscience, but he hoped that by then he would be able to counteract its worst effects.

A Ravenclaw prefect, a seventh-year, halted Severus on his way back to the dungeons. "Mr. Snape."

He turned, concealing his worry with a mask of polite disinterest. He'd checked the entire area twice before handing over the potion to Shafiq - it couldn't be that. "Yes?"

"I've been asked to pass on a note," he said neutrally, his dark eyes holding a spark of interest. "From Professor Dumbledore."

Severus' heart sank, but nevertheless he inclined his head in thanks. He took the proffered parchment into his tense hands, barely glancing over it before slipping into his bag. He would not chance that inquiring gaze.

He slipped away from the older boy with no other reply, mind swimming with too many thoughts to truly care about his discourtesy.

His stomach twisted as he moved through the dungeon halls, certain of what he would find once he opened the note. The only revelations would be the date and time, though Severus was almost certain it would be today, and soon. There was no other reason for Dumbledore to change his methods of deliverance.

In safe territory now - as safe as any part of Hogwarts could be, while under Dumbledore's control - Severus opened the note. Its contents were unsurprising, as expected, and it was only its appearance that brought a furrow of confusion to his brow. The penned words were etched so harshly into the vellum, that they had formed ridges against the other side. He traced the indents with his fingertips, apprehension, greater than he had ever felt before, pooling in his stomach. He had a mere five minutes to prepare.

Albus Dumbledore was angry. It was evident in the tension of the room, in the slight crackle of electric-blue magic that seemed to emanate from his skin if one paid close enough attention. He sat rigidly in his high-backed chair, his gaze hard and fixed on Severus as he entered the room - a predator, observing his prey.

He nodded the Slytherin towards the seat. "Tea?"

Their practiced routine came in silence, unfilled by the mindless, dotty chatter which usually accompanied it. The stark difference put Severus ill-at-ease, and his performance of the obliviated, oblivious student was played with perhaps more nervousness than he would have usually allowed.

"Is something wrong, sir?" he asked, the barest of tremors slipping into his voice.

He had grown too used to the character Dumbledore played - even knowing what was behind the mask. To see it stripped away was a stark reminder of the cruelty and brutality that lay just below the surface, and he was certain that the Headmaster's disregard for concealing his true self did not bode well for his own wellbeing.

"We will see," Dumbledore replied with an ominous air, then jerked his head towards the cup imperiously. "Drink."

As he pretended to swallow the potion inside, Dumbledore's sudden, forceful intrusion upon his mind caused a shudder to run through him, the delicate cup shattering at his feet, spilling burning liquid onto the floor.

He paid it little mind, singularly focused instead on the presence just brushing against his mind's walls. Were Dumbledore not so distracted, he was certain they would have been almost immediately detected, the ruse discovered.

"Cassiopeia's Apprenticeship," boomed in his mind, the words' vibration rippling through the entirety of his thoughts. Memories slipped forward unbidden, pulled towards the call, and he fought to keep them suppressed, his physical body shaking with the exertion.

Dumbledore released the pull on his thoughts suddenly, and the action made Severus grow faint, almost losing consciousness. In moments, they had both returned to the physical realm, and Severus jerked away, feeling sick, violated, unclean.

"You are useless," the Headmaster snarled. "Minerva deceives me, teaches the girl to fortify her mind, and you know nothing?"

"I'm sorry, sir," Severus breathed, the pain in his head leaving room for little else.

Dumbledore's face twisted in anger and disgust. "For your sake, I hope that the next time I summon you, there will be useful information to find. Obliviate."

Severus stumbled forward, the spell agony on his already raw and fragile mind. Dumbledore caught his shoulder as he was about to fall, the mask on his face revealing no trace of his emotions just moments prior. "I'm afraid my specialty tea didn't sit right with you, Mr. Snape," he smiled, sending him on his way. "Please, go and get some rest."

Severus stood outside the entrance to Slytherin House, hands twisting with increasing agitation in the soft wool of his robes. Newly bought, the fabric felt foreign against his skin, and it only added to his anxiety as he waited for Cassiopeia- his partner- his date.

They'd agreed to go to Slughorn's event together just two days prior, Severus having finally gathered the courage to ask her himself.

'As friends, right?' she'd clarified, and a strange mixture of disappointment and relief had filled him as he nodded.

Still, the specification, the knowledge that this was decidedly not a date, could not stop his heart from pounding against his chest, decidedly too loudly for his liking in the quiet of the corridor. The aesthetic of dressing up in his finest robes, of waiting for her to meet him, all felt much too real.

The door opened, and he closed his eyes briefly as the pain in his head made itself doubly known at the loud, creaking sound. They flew open, however, as his companion for the night stepped out, utterly radiant in a light, gossamer gown that flared from her body like the rays of the sun. His breath caught in his throat.

She didn't look to him for approval, simply smiled, and tucked his hand into her own. "Let's go?"

They set off, and Severus emanated anxiety as a thousand thoughts swirled through his pounding head. Should he tell her she looked nice? Would that be too much - too little? Would she take it the wrong way?

The decision was taken out of his hands when they arrived at the entrance to Slughorn's office, and she turned to him. "You look wonderful, Severus," she murmured.

Despite his valiant efforts, he could not stop the blood from rushing to his face. "Thanks. You do too."

Inside, the event had already begun. The office had been expanded, its size almost doubling, but even despite this, the sheer number of people in attendance threatened to overwhelm it. Music drifted down from somewhere above him, a backdrop to the murmur of conversation emanating from all sides. The sounds of all of it did not help ease his headache, but compared to the noise of parties he'd attended in the past, it was a relatively quiet affair.

As Cassiopeia and he passed the attendees by, drifting towards the back of the room, he thought he could recognise a few of them as former students, their faces aged and weathered by a few years' time. Most were completely unknown to him, however, clearly much too old to have been attending Hogwarts during his time.

"Would you like something to drink?" he asked his partner, his gaze drifting to a table of refreshments, swathed in striking red tulle. Slughorn did not have the greatest taste, but even his uncoordinated and clashing decorations were a balm on the eyes, compared to the garish, sickness-inducing mess that had been the Great Hall that morning, under Dumbledore's command.

She did not have time to answer, for at that moment Professor Slughorn, dressed in a rich purple waistcoat, stepped up to them with a smile. "Miss Nazyalensky! Mr. Snape! How are you finding my little gathering?"

"It's lovely, Professor," Cassiopeia replied with a servile smile. It always made Severus' stomach turn, but she recognised the importance of remaining in Slughorn's good graces. If not only for herself, then for Severus' sake especially.

"Wonderful!" Slughorn exclaimed, then added with an amiable smile, "It's a little unprecedented, I know. Usually, I prefer to invite my students to these little suppers, to get to know them beforehand, but this just seemed like an opportunity I couldn't let slip by." He snagged a tall, pale man, who was just walking past. "Have you three been introduced, by the way?"

They eyed the wizard, who turned to them slowly, his very movements seemingly mocking them.

"I don't believe we have," he spoke rustily, in a deep voice. "Sanguini."

Slughorn seemed uncomfortable, but obscured this with a beaming smile. "And these are Mr. Severus Snape, and Miss Cassiopeia Nazyalensky. Two of my best students - absolutely fantastic at potions, I'll have you know. Mr. Snape has been making improvements since the very day he arrived."

"... Is that so?" he asked, then turned and walked away, disappearing into the crowd.

"Don't mind him, don't mind him," Slughorn muttered. "Mr. Sanguini is a vampire - odd sort of creature that is."

Vampire? Cassiopeia mouthed to Severus, who shrugged in response. It was something he'd have expected from Dumbledore, but not exactly from their risk-averse professor. Hmm.

Slughorn was saved from further social discomfort when yet another guest made his way to them, this time immediately recognisable by his shining, platinum hair.

"Lucius!" Cassiopeia exclaimed quietly, and as she all-but-ran up to greet him, Slughorn slunk away, with a muttered: "I'll leave you three to be."

"Lucius," Severus greeted more calmly, walking up to the man himself. "How unexpected to see you here."

"Severus," Lucius replied warmly, glancing down to see that Cassie had tucked herself into his side. "I only found out I was going yesterday," he added with an apologetic smile.

"We're glad to see you anyway," Cassiopeia responded, her brow furrowing moments later. "Dumbledore had no problems letting you in?"

Severus' throat went dry, and his gaze flicked to his partner, who seemed oblivious to the reaction her statement had elicited.

"Have I forgotten to inform you?" Lucius tilted his head. "Apologies, then. I was just installed on Hogwarts' Board of Governors last week - I have quite a bit more authority now to visit the school as I please, Dumbledore's opinion notwithstanding."

"That's… wonderful, actually," Severus replied. "Does that mean we'll be seeing you more often?"

"Perhaps," Lucius answered, a shadow passing over his eyes. "The… Mr. Gaunt… has assigned me some operations to undertake, at Hogwarts and beyond. I'll be meeting your Defence professor in a week's time, and following that…" he trailed off. "It's of little importance."

"Professor Sayre?" Cassiopeia asked, no small amount of confusion colouring her tone. "Why would … he... care?"

Lucius did not reply, and instead drew them away to an emptier part of the room, right against a back wall. He glanced at the other occupants of the office, and frowning still, flicked his wand in a complicated pattern around them. Instantly, the space grew quiet, as though all sound had been sucked away. "She is… sympathetic to the cause," he finally replied carefully, his voice ringing oddly as a result of the spell. "Speaking of…"

From the pocket of his dark, luxurious robe, Lucius pulled out a small envelope, staring at it for a few seconds with an unhappy frown before he handed it to Cassiopeia.

"Thank you," she replied thoughtfully, hiding the note away.

Lucius nodded in reply, then paused, seemingly to gather his resolve. "Cassiopeia - "

"Yes?"

"I hope - I simply hope you understand what the risks are, what you're possibly getting yourself into," Lucius said, tightening his arm around her. "I want to - I do trust you, love - but I also worry…" He shook his head. "I just want you to be certain you're making the right choice."

"I understand, Lucius," Cassiopeia replied softly, her tone serious. "I know the risks."

"And still…?"

She nodded. "I still think this is the right choice."

The wizard exhaled heavily, closing his eyes for a brief second. "Very well. I - trust your judgment. Just - please don't get yourself hurt, alright? Both of you."

Knocking on her dormitory room slowly awoke Cassiopeia from her sleep. She glanced blearily at the time - damnit, only ten minutes after she'd collapsed into bed - and yawning widely stood to open the door.

"What is it, Sev?"

"Did I wake you up?" he asked apologetically, eyeing her nightgown. "Sorry."

"It's fine," she waved him off, yawning again. "Come, what is that you needed to tell me?"

They settled onto her bed, in a scene oddly reminiscent of the one which had taken place a month prior. She burrowed her cold, bare feet into her soft throw, and Severus placed his chin against his hands, staring at her for a second before he spoke.

"Dumbledore met with me, again."

"When?" she frowned.

"Today."

He went on to recount the experience, placing as little emphasis as possible on the pain he'd been in - to no effect. Cassiopeia's expression grew thunderous as she listened to the story, and when he told her of the obliviation, she finally interrupted him.

"You told me that the obliviate burns if you fight it. Right?" she asked, flushed with anger.

He nodded reluctantly.

"So Dumbledore gave you a splitting headache, and caused your head to literally feel as though someone were filling it with acid - I'm going to kill him for that, by the way; I really am - and you still went with me? Are you out of your mind, Severus? Why would you ever do that?"

He looked at her with a somewhat lost expression. To be honest, he hadn't even considered not going. "Well, the pain had gotten manageable by the time we actually had to go," he placated. "Besides, you were looking forward to this; I didn't want to ruin it for you."

She stared at him for a second, before placing her head into her hands. "Merlin, Severus. You're an idiot. The most wonderful, caring, idiot friend I could ask for. Please don't ever do something like that again."

"Okay?"

He really didn't know what to make of her declaration, but when she leaned into his arms, and tucked her head against his chest he understood what he could do.

"Hey, it's alright, I'm okay," he murmured, running his hand soothingly down her back. "We'll get rid of Dumbledore together, and you won't have to worry about me ever again."

•••

My greatest apologies for the delay - I've just received the second dose of my Covid-19 vaccine two days prior, and was suffering through the side effects over the weekend. Thank you to SilentMayhem and Stephanie MRV as always, this chapter especially would not be what it is without them. I'll see you all next week :)