Severus kept reminding himself that he was going to ask of Peter Pettigrew's request only due of his duty as the Head Boy, not because he actually sympathized with the cowardly pudgy teen. Why should he? Pettigrew could be just as vicious as James Potter and Sirius Black if he wanted to, but that scared glint in his eyes made Severus reconsider his choice.
Was this even worth it? Sighing, he muttered, "Acid Pops," to the gargoyle guarding the Headmaster's office and climbed up the stairs to the room.
He pursed his lips as soon as he saw Albus Dumbledore's smile when the man greeted, "Ah, Mr. Snape; to what do I owe this occasion? Would you like a lemon drop?"
Severus' fingers twitched in miniscule anger as he tried to suppress the horrible recollections of the headmaster forced his silence about Remus Lupin's condition about two years ago. Shaking his head before sitting down on the velvet armchair, he then told the old coot about Pettigrew's dilemma.
"He came to me in hopes to gain my vote of confidence about him to be re-Sorted, sir," he concluded with steeple fingers.
The damned wizened wizard stroked his long silver beard thoughtfully, "…I am surprised that Mr. Pettigrew went to you instead of Miss Evans."
Severus only shrugged. "Pretty sure it's merely a coincidence we met each other in the library." He then raised his eyebrow in silent question whether the man would agree to it or not.
"I will see Mr. Pettigrew personally and discuss more about this, Mr. Snape," Dumbledore said with a wave of his hand, signing his dismissal. "Thank you for bringing forth this issue to me, you've done well."
Just before Severus fully stepped out of the room, he heard the elderly man mutter, "Perhaps I had judged you too harshly."
The re-Sorting of Peter Pettigrew happened in mid-November, and the Great Hall was filled with hubbub of voices wondering what could be the reason. As the Head Boy, Severus was given the Sorting Hat and he went to the front of the hall to begin the quick ceremony after breakfast.
…Was this even an act? Pettigrew was already on the stool, his beady eyes continued to trail after Severus and he really wished the boy turned to somewhere else; he was just doing his job! More often than not, Severus cursed his naivety as he passed the Sorting Hat to the pudgy boy. "Remember, clear your mind," he grouched and went to stand next to the Head Girl.
And they waited while Pettigrew's mind was being perused by the Hat's ancient magic. Severus noticed how James Potter and Sirius Black were frowning as they whispered to each other while Remus Lupin was staring at his rat friend hopefully.
Did Lupin honestly believe Pettigrew was a Hufflepuff material? Severus almost barked into laughter right there.
"GRYFFINDOR!" the Hat finally announced after about five minutes, to which the crowd only applauded politely and Severus mildly looked at Pettigrew's pleading eyes in disinterest.
As he took the Hat, he whispered, "Don't be too sad; I'm sure there will be a time that calls for your bravery instead of others. Hell, if anything, I'd say you venturing into somewhere else to map the secret routes were brave enough."
Severus immediately regretted his words upon seeing Pettigrew beamed in gratitude at him. "Thanks, Snape!" the boy said, shaking his hands, "I do think you'll be the best Head Boy Hogwarts ever had!" He then joined Potter and Black at the Lions' table who high-fived him.
As the crowd began heading to their respective classes, Severus joined his friends in climbing the stairs to the Charms' classroom, only to be stopped by the damned Head Girl. "Why did you do that?" she asked, green eyes scanned his onyx ones.
"I do believe it's the Head Boy's duties to listen to the students' problems in behalf of the teachers," he hissed, "Move along, will you?" He then snickered along with his friends, talking about the upcoming lessons.
Francesca Zabini loved her apprenticeship with the renowned Potions Master, Vindictus Viridian.
The old man was quite lenient in her studies to become a Potions Mistress and as long as she had done the potions requested as closely perfect as possible, she enjoyed the whole process. She was especially intrigued with making poisons and their antidotes, delighting in the fact that every ingredient played a part in the concoctions.
As November neared its end, she smiled when looking at the calendar before Apparating to the edges of Hogsmeade Village in hopes to see her supposed boyfriend. …Oh, she still couldn't believe she managed to ensnare his beautiful soul; that was both stoic and loving in one gaze.
"Severus!" she grinned before engulfing the boy into a sudden embrace, relishing in his astounded expression. His friends snickered at the sight and took their leave afterward. The two only rolled their eyes before producing their Patronus, smiled upon seeing the silver bird and spider were playing with each other before disappearing.
Francesca then led Severus to the Three Broomsticks and he went to the counter to order two bottles of Butterbeer while she chose a table to sit.
"I got something for you," she said as soon as Severus returned and took out a small package from her satchel before handing it to him, sincerely hoping he would like it. Her eyes lit up the moment Severus held a silver necklace in his hand, his onyx eyes went wide as he stared at the spider-shaped amethyst stone adorned the item.
"I- I…" he muttered in utter disbelief, to which Francesca simply cherished his adorable reactions, "…Thank you for this. I… don't have anything for you at the moment, though."
"Hmm, this was what Evans failed to teach you," she said, mentally smiling at his clueless expression. "Friends don't have to oblige in giving gifts. And it's not a duty; you just have to feel like it. For example, I merely passed by a shop when I saw that pendant and I want you to remember me; that's why I bought it."
Severus only blinked. Francesca laughed softly, "Just take your time to… return the gesture, hmm?"
"Oh," he said before wearing the necklace, "Um… on Christmas, then."
They then sipped their Butterbeers contently and talked about her apprentice lessons until she saw a man was approaching their table with a suitcase in hand.
"Mr. Malfoy," she greeted to which the blond man nodded in response. Taking in the discreet look Severus and Lucius Malfoy shared, she then made her leave, to which Severus gave her a quick peck on the cheek and a wave before Malfoy took her previous seat.
She briefly wondered why Severus Snape was more relaxed and seemed happier to see the man. Perhaps he needed a different kind of approach? Oh, she couldn't wait to experiment all sorts of affections he would like.
With a smile, Francesca Zabini then returned to her apprenticeship cottage in Yorkshire.
December came by, and Severus had finished making a piece of parchment as the placeholder for Professor Slughorn's memory. Taking the entrusted glass vial, he then transferred the silver strand onto the parchment, to which it briefly glowed before doodles began to appear on them. His eyes bulge in utter disbelief upon seeing the drawings of a younger Marvolo was talking to the professor and intrigued, he listened to the conversation.
…After watching the whole memory, Severus couldn't help but to wonder if Lord Voldemort was still sane after breaking his soul several times already. But the man had been kind, indulging in his whims and even kept close contact with Petunia Evans and Vernon Dursley on a regular basis.
Their shared project of making a magnificent armor for the basilisk was progressing rather well, with the Dark Lord was currently experimenting on the different combinations of metals to be used for the armor.
Severus held out the necklace Francesca had given him; already put the Gaunt family ring next to the purple spider which glinted under the light in his room. Tracing the carvings of the Peverell coat of arms on the black stone, he wondered if Marvolo had gifted the ring in attempt to hide one of his Horcruxes but there hadn't been any trace of Dark Magic on the item, unlike the black notebook he still had. Had the man repented his mistake over killing whoever it was?
Severus supposed he had to give credit where it's due.
Speaking of Petunia and Vernon, Severus couldn't decide whether to stay at Hogwarts or going to Prince Manor for Christmas break. Petunia in particular had sent him a letter, inviting him to her engagement dinner during the holidays. On one hand, it was his last chance to celebrate Yule in the school; he even heard there was a talk about the Yule Ball being held for the seventh-years. On the other hand, Petunia would need him to discuss more of her heritage.
Severus sighed as he reluctantly made up his mind, and grabbed the Secrets of the Darkest Arts book Regulus Black had gifted him a year ago before flicking it open, dimly remembering there was a mention of Horcruxes in the ancient tome.
He soured upon sensing the telltale chill of Death's arrival in his room.
"Ah, it sure is interesting to see what you lot came up with extending one's own life," the Grim Reaper spoke, trailing one of its bony fingers onto the texts in the book.
"I assume the resurrection potion was not the greatest," Severus quirked his eyebrow in slight interest and discomfort, holding Rogue's black feather tightly in his hand.
The cloaked figure chuckled, "No, but it sure suits your need, hmm? And as long as either of you had the will to live; I won't be taking your life. An inferior version of the Horcrux, that potion was, but sometimes the less flashy it was, the better, don't you think so?"
Severus frowned as he remembered Marvolo's conversation with Professor Slughorn, "Then… you feel nothing about those souls you collected? Even the innocent ones?"
At that, the Grim Reaper laughed, "I'm merely a psychopomp to those wayward souls; not the one to decide the way they die. You being the so-called 'Master of Death' were nothing but a pretentious title."
"Then take the Elder Wand," Severus said, waving his hand nonchalantly. "I don't really have the use of it."
He reflexively flinched when Death glided over to him; its red eyes gleamed in interest as it stared into his onyx ones. "Oh, I assure you will find it important to have someday. Never hurts to be careful, hmm?" the Grim Reaper grinned knowingly at him before leaving the place with a dramatic flourish of its black robes.
Severus really wished the damned Dark Angel would stop talking in riddles.
Death watched as the boy – the supposed Master – went to sleep afterward, huddling the black feather close to him. Oh, it never left, merely being invisible to the boy's eyes. It narrowed its red eyes upon gazing at his chest and remembered their first encounter, back in the dirty shack where the werewolf would hide himself whenever his inflictions came up.
The Grim Reaper had seen many deaths, but the boy's near demise was the most vivid of them all. It had witnessed when his onyx eyes widened in both terror and acceptance as he stared at the beast in front of him, merely missing the clawed swipe that brought his end due to James Potter's meddling.
It had spared his knowledge of being at its door, but the damage was done.
Sometimes the best way to live was to die.
Sometimes the best way to die was to live.
Severus Snape – Severus Septimus Prince – had been both ever since he was fifteen years old.