Chapter 15: Know Thee Shakespeare

Words: 4,058

Recap: Our relationship (if I could even call that) with the Quartet Gryffindors worsen because of Severus's misguided attempt of prank that could have made me proud but instead led to our first fight which ended as bad as anyone would have guessed. The Lost Treasure became a back burner, but trust me that no one had given up anytime soon.

"I'm surrounded by idiots," said Lily, both her hands were at the side of her head. Massaging the growing headache from my explanation.

"Now that's a bit harsh, I say they're more misguided-ow!" I was given a harsh slap on the arm by one miffed ginger.

"Don't think you're not one of them. I told you that giving in this pranking war was a bad idea, but did you listen? No. Now Sev has his mind set on that giving payback is a good idea!"

"It's not like we're the only one."

"Doesn't matter, what matter is that you were a poor example to Severus so now he has worse habit than before."

"You're being unreasonable, are you saying it's my fault?"

"I'm not saying it's your fault, I'm saying it's partially your fault. If this feud drags on until...until...until it becomes some sort of family feud then I'm holding you responsible to it."

I had a brief image of a couple of families composed James and Sev's look-alikes while glaring daggers at one another as they compete in a game show with Steve Harvey hosting. I shook off the image quickly, "Okay, now you're just being overdramatic."

"Sev hasn't talked with us for weeks. Weeks! How could I not be dramatic? He's your best friend, and not talking to us at all is just so… wrong." Then she turned to glare back at me, "And you've been holding this back from me," she rightfully accused.

"To be fair, he would have talked to you if you weren't hanging around me."

"Don't be ridiculous, either I have both of you with me or none at all."

"So… does that mean you don't want me here? If so, I'm pretty sure Myrtle would appreciate my company more."

She snorted, and pulled my sleeve, forcing me to her side before I could move away. Not like I was fighting it, "Don't be a smartarse Percy"

"Oi, language Miss Evans."

"I learn it from you, see how bad of an influence you've been."

"Oh sure, blame it all on me, why don't you?"

Lily winced, "Sorry, I'm… stressed enough as it is, the fact midterms are closing in, doesn't help my case."

I nodded, "Understandable, I usually have Sev helping me with this so I'm riding this exam mostly through luck."

"Is that wise?"

"Nope."

"Are you going to crash and burn?"

I nodded solemnly, "Most likely."

She didn't deem me with her usual rolled eyes, "Why am I not surprise?"

"Because you know me so well. By the way, you know I'm always open to help you right? Including finishing your food." I pointed at her plate of half-eaten pancakes, and Lily sighed before pushing it toward me. I happily dig in which made Lily eyed me unhappily.

"Aren't you the least worried about him, what if Sev never talks to us again?"

"Nyomp," I said between bites before swallowing, "Nope, Sev is just angry but that doesn't change the fact he's our friend. Sure, he's being a bit bratty now, but he's still one of the most mature kids I know, he won't abandon us that easily."

"How can you be so sure?" Her tone was more demanding than questioning.

I shrugged, "Faith, what else?"

Lily kept her gaze locked at me even when I got up and ushered out of the Great Hall, ready for the next lesson that day. It's not like I don't have my own worries on how Sev would continue to act with us, or specifically me, but it wouldn't do to have Lily worry as much as she did and I do have faith in Severus. Maybe I was being unreasonably optimistic about all this, for all I know he could be doing unsupervised rituals using McDonald's just to get back at me.

Still, what's done is done. Sev isn't even the talking-type-about-mushy-feelings kind of guy so forcing him to talk would only make things worse. What I can do is give the space he wanted and talk to him when he's ready.

I went to class for DADA and felt disturbed from the class. Oh, it's not like Professor Heckler did anything new or made my life harder or anything, I wouldn't be surprised if he did. No, what was puzzling was the fact he was in a good mood. As if I had returned his precious book back, and washed his hand from the problem. Unfortunately, his good mood made the student nauseous at the visible sight of his crooked yellow teeth.

Despite the raise suspicion I had of him, there was nothing I could do about it so I shoved it at the back of my mind to dwell on it later. Not the wisest decision with me having a short attention span.

It was when the class was barely finished when Professor McGonagall, Sprout, and Slughorn barge into the room. Their appearance was unexpected to both students and teacher, and a sudden hushed fell in the class.

"Pardon us, Professor Heckler," McGonagall didn't sound at all "pardon", "But we like to borrow Mr Jackson's time from out of your hand."

It said something that I wasn't even fazed by all the eyes that turn to gaze at me, just this sudden urge to cry out, "Why me?"

Nevertheless, I swallowed that urge and followed them out. I was sure I hadn't had cause problem other than the expected spell mishap. So the whys are completely obscure to me."

"Is there a problem Professor?" I asked, genuinely perplexed at the odd yet tense air surrounding the pair of teachers.

"You are close friends with Mr Snape, correct?" Professor McGonagall queried, which already raise warning bells from her misplaced question coming from a teacher. Well, misplaced if nothing was wrong.

The ringing was still there even as I nod in reply, even when my gut churn while she kept asking, "When was the last time you saw him?"

My lips felt strangely dry from her insistent reminder of him. I thought Sev had just been avoiding me, but I also haven't seen any sign of his hide anywhere, "I...I'm not sure...few days maybe? We...we weren't really talking these days...what happened?"

For a split second, there was a flash of alarm on her face before she quickly schooled into her usual neutral look that I would have missed if I hadn't been paying close attention. "Nothing, we'll continue this another time but if you find Severus please notify one of the Professors immediately." She turned away, and my nose flared at the clear act of dismissal she made.

One of the downsides of being young again is that you rarely were taken seriously. Your words won't have the same weight of concern as from an adult, and they would usually found ways more to keep you in the dark and play stupid when usually we're usually anything but, and I had enough of that.

"No," I told her. The professors all turned in surprise by my steely tone and the hard glare I gave with my arms crossed, "You don't get to ask me for answers and then ignore one of my own, I deserve at least a proper explanation."

"Mr Jackson this isn't any of your concern—"

"The hell is not," I snapped, not caring of how rude I sounded in front of the teachers and ignored the indignant call of "Mr Jackson!" from Professor Sprout, "You're asking about my best friend. If you don't start answering some questions then I'll find it myself."

"You don't have to involve yourself, Percy. This case is irrelevant to you and frankly, I had enough of your inappropriate behaviour." McGonagall sounded strained, and it pushed all kind of button inside me to be treated like I'm some clueless kid.

"So? I'm a child, not an idiot. I can decide for myself whether it's irrelevant to me or not."

Our eyes met and we matched our pointed gaze with one another as if it could prove a point, neither of us willing to back down. Professor Sprout was too flustered by the situation, while Professor Slughorn tried to sooth the Transfiguration Professor into calming down her rising blood pressure but it'd seem to fall deaf to her ears.

"It's fine Minerva, you can tell him." We broke off from our glaring contest when a smooth solid voice cut through the tense air as easily as butter. Not surprised it came from Dumbledore, that man could cut into any conversation. "Severus, while a bright child you would know, is someone who has trouble associating with people yet held close to the one dearest to him. He deserved to know as the few people that child trusted completely."

Her hawk nose flared but said nothing, even when she was standing like the primp and proper teacher she is, dissatisfaction was oozing around her. Had she continued her way, she might have prepared to pull on my ear and flashed me with her set of fang teeth on my face, clawing at my throat and—oh wait, my bad, I mixed her with Ms Dodds.

"It's been three days we've seen Severus Snape has not been present in any classes, nor by his fellow housemates in his common room." I should feel more surprise, but this only confirms one of the worst case theories in my head. All I could think was Sev's face and cursed at him for the kind of trouble he got himself into.

"We've been searching for his whereabouts but found no clue as of yet, not even with some of the searching spells used to this point which concerns us greatly."

"Is there anything I could help with?" The simultaneous stare they were giving me was one I was indignant with, the looked at me as if thinking "What could this child possibly do for us that we adults couldn't?" All except Dumbledore off course.

"Not today Percy, though we appreciate your concern over your friend. We promise to inform you of the latest news regarding his whereabouts."

But not as soon as you are informed, I noted. While his words could mean a number of things, it didn't escape my attention that he didn't say when he'd be informing me. I didn't think Dumbledore would deliberately delay any update on Severus to me, but the idea passed my mind nonetheless.

With a wave of his hand, the professors turned their back and walked away, but not before Dumbledore made a slight paused in his step that took my notice.

"It's a lovely day outside, isn't?" he said thoughtfully, "While pursuing knowledge is a valiant and honourable effort to spend your time, perhaps going out for a fresh air outside could help clear your mind. I hear the lake is a good place to start."

I eyed him quizzically at his words but he continued onwards as if he had said nothing. Taking on his suggestion, I soon found myself at the edge of the Black Lake.

I blew out frustratingly as I looked upon the expanse lake stretching out from Hogsmeade. The close presence of water cooled my head down but I roughed up my hair, not seeing anything that would help out Sev's situation I assumed Dumbledore hinted. Maybe the Old Wizard really wanted me to get some fresh air.

There was an itch creeping inside me. I rolled the heel of my balls and dig through the wet soil. My fingers twitched from every blow of the wind that sent the smell of water. It took me a while complementing the pro and cons, but my feet had succumbed to the water before I could decide and I was submerged fully under it.

The last time I was here, I had just escaped being possessed by a giant blob of blue fire and met a weird mysterious lady who gave me her weird jewel stone that I kept alongside with my own collection of gods' stuff.

I forgot the lake, is the epitome of its namesake, that it wasn't as pitch black as the surface had been. Heck, it was actually almost as clear as daylight. As if the surface water had taken all the darkness in place for it. Last time I hadn't got the chance to examine the place underwater and took an eyeful.

It was like looking at a forest, a forest of seaweed perhaps but a forest in its own right. Waverly stretching tall, hiding most creatures who would live underneath a literal magical lake beside a magical castle. Truly, something out of a fairy tale.

Well, I say fairy tale but that sounded overrated when I see nothing but seaweeds, sand, coral, and rocks.

Then a large shadow slightly dampened the light, I looked up to find a large tentacle above. It twisted and turned and coiled around me like how dogs would nestle against their owner's warmth.

"Good day My Lord, what brings you here today?"

Greg, the Giant Squid appeared before me with all his wide bobbly eyes glory. I smiled and couldn't help but have my hand reached out to caress him.

"I'm doing fine Greg. Well...in the loosest term of fine."

"May I inquire you on what ails your mind?"

I laughed, resulting bubbles of water blew out from my mouth, "All you need is thou and thee and you master Shakespearean."

"Doubt thou the stars are fire, doubt the sun doth move, doubt truth to be a liar, but never doubt I love."

Silent stretched as I stared blankly at him, ignoring the bubbles that came out like a drool because I couldn't hold my jaw up.

"I have lived for a long time you know, I picked up a hobby or two, and I am a fan of the man's work."

Words still couldn't found me, or is it I couldn't find any words? Either way, it is almost felt surreal when a squid knows more about literature than me, I feel like an uncultured swine.

I shook my head, and changed the subject, "By the way, you don't happen to see Severus, do you? You know, the little guy from the same boat as me last year. Skinny. Pale skin. Droopy eyes. Hair that looks like he washes with grease."

Greg blinked in thought, no answer came but seeing it was no confirmation or denial, I was feeling optimist, or maybe hopeful would be the right term.

"Ah, the Pale Child, I remember to come across his path around three days ago."

"Really, where was he? What was he doing here? Was he okay?"

"Calm down My Lord. As for your questions...well...oddly enough he was in the pipes Sire."

"Pipes?"

"Yes, I spotted him venturing in it from the Slug Pit."

I blinked as the words registered in my head, " There's a Slug Pit?" Why on Gae's name would Hogwarts need a Slug Pit?

"At the lowest level of the castle, you would the pit there and Young Severus had ventured."

"Underneath the–how would you know that? You live in a lake!"

Greg shifted side to side, looking down almost embarrassingly and...is he blushing? Do squid even blushes? "I...eh...sometimes I visit the school through the pipes and see all the changes they may have."

"You mean you sneaked in," I pointed out with a teasing grin.

"Now, now, My Lord. Please be reasonable, you make me sound like a prude. Besides, where else would I've met the man of action?"

"I never guessed...anything else you could tell me of Severus? Anything at all that comes to mind?"

"I'm not sure My lord, though I have a high suspicion he was onto me. He kept inspecting the inner pipes and almost spotted me."

That was all I needed to know before I gave my thanks and sped out of the lake. I made to run back to school when I trip over nothing and glanced back at the lake with shock as I reeled back our conversation.

"Wait...Shakespear a wizard?"

. . .

I found Lily was using her free time hanging out with her friends on the courtyard.

I felt almost bad breaking her peace like this. Almost. "Lily!" She stopped laughing and turned questioningly at me, "We've got a problem, it's Severus."

Already she went flying out the chair, giving apologetic glances to her two girlfriends, before she followed me down the hallways at the same hasty pace as me.

"What happened?"

"Sev's gone. The teachers are searching, but judging on how they questioned me, they were going nowhere in finding him. "

She sucked a deep breath, eyes blown in worry and fear before she forcefully calmed herself. "Okay...okay, what are we going to do then?"

It was a testament of her that she expected the two of us to act together and pictured the kind of life we lived in.

"Talk to a guy, said he spotted him in the Slug Pit–"

Predictably, Lily scrunched her nose, "Slug Pit?"

"Don't ask. Severus is there so it's our job to save his butt from whatever trouble he got himself in."

"That's a change for you, usually it's the other way around," she smirked.

"It's about time then that I even the score then, don't you think?"

It was easier said than done though. Knowing there's a Slug Pit and actually finding said Slug Pitt was a different matter altogether. It made me wonder where Sev even got the idea.

"Should we check the dungeons? You did say it was underground," Lily suggested.

I was about to say yes until I thought back of the many pickled jars and gruesome ingredients during potion class, one of which was the endless supply of slugs.

I wonder…

. . .

There weren't any potion classes at the moment, but there were still Slytherins crawling around the woodwork. Considering the gloomy atmosphere any respectful dungeon would have, it's no wonder most of the Snake House had a stick in their butts. Who in the right mind would put their dormitory next to where they kept their prisoners? That surely would have gone well.

There weren't any students in class but there was a person of interest we were looking.

Professor Slughorn was humming cheerily of the tune "Broom to You" as he organized the halved ingredients my hand. I don't know much about wizards music taste, from what the girls in class told me is that the song is the equivalent of a boy band song written for the young witches. So it was a surprise for us both to hear him sing it.

It was awkward for the three of us when I cleared my throat, surprising the professor. His back went ramrod straight and juggled the glass jar in hand before it could fell. He turned to face us, his plump cheeks flushed.

"Ah Percy Jackson and...my, my, Lily Evans, my favorite student, welcome! This is an odd time for you to come by, what can I do for you?"

His act was oddly more joyful than usual, and I decided it was not my place to judge a man's taste of music. Luckily, I have Lily to set the subject straight without getting distracted.

"Professor Slughorn, we came wondering where you got your slugs?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"You know, the slugs you used in your potions."

There was a pause before comprehension dawn on the Slytherin Professor, "Why yes. Of course. Silly me, I knew that. What else could you have meant."

He was acting shifty but none of us commented on it. "Professor, the slugs?"

"Yes, yes, sorry, you caught me off guard with that peculiar question. Why do you ask this?"

I wasn't sure how to answer and was running out of excuse, or worse I might blurt out that we had a thing for escargot.

Thankfully, Lily was already prepared for this, "Both of us had been talking about the splendour of the Hogwarts castle and how many secrets it contains. We thought if you knew the something as the Slug Pit, you would know more secrets hidden here. After all, you're one of the oldest teachers in the faculty, second to Professor Dumbledore. I had confidence that your unparalleled wisdom would surely uncover most of the secrets here."

There was a brief thought that Lily was laying the compliment a little too thick, but from the pleased smile Slughorn had, I say he ate up every word of it.

"A remarkable assessment Miss Evans, as expected of my Star Pupil. Indeed, Hogwarts do have many secrets that even Professor Dumbledore has a hard time to uncover. The Slug Pit is one of the kept secret dungeon room, but the story is actually quite funny.".

"Really? Do tell."

"Well, the school once had an ugly case of Slug Infestation you see. One bad enough that they had to keep in under wraps in one of their unused dungeon room, and it soon became their personal breeding grounds. Though I have no doubt, Potion teachers for generations, have been more than happy to have one ingredient free for the taking."

"Does the room connects to the Hogwarts plumbing, or maybe the sewers by any chance?"

Slughorn blinked a few times before he answered, "That's a... queer question you have, but yes. The slugs flooded the place with slime so we had to arrange the pipes to drain them out, but it was plugged in, no one had ever tried to fix it since."

Talk about lazy management, well I suppose with magic, you could be lazy with certain things.

"Do you think we can go there and observe where the slugs live?"

"We want to see the slugs very much."

Slughorn pinned us in a scrutinized gaze, probably wondering if he should believe a couple of kids would eagerly want to see slugs like it was the next fidget spinner.

"While I do believe you have your academic interest at heart Miss Evans, I'm not quite sure if this was truly your idea or you've been coaxed by your friend."

He didn't turn to look at me, but he might as well have when he was blatantly saying I'm a bad influence on her on my face. Not that I mind, some part of me was secretly agreeing with him. What kind of sane kid would drag his friend to an underground adventure filled with slime and danger?

Ignore that, it was a rhetorical question.

Lily did not look like she thinks the same and held back the fumed she almost let loose, "As a matter of fact Professor, this was purely my idea and Percy was so kind to accompany me in my curious academical venture."

"I see." Slughorn was smiling but there was still a dubious tone coating the two words of his. "While your enthusiasm is much appreciated, the lower dungeons are restricted for a reason and I advise you seek them no longer."

I waited for Lily's sharp retort but was slightly surprised to find her shoulder and head slumped in defeat. "I understand," she said almost sincerely, "but would it mind you to tell us where we would find the entrance to it? Just in case we accidentally found and could avoid it."

Slughorn tapped his chin in thought before shrugging, "Why not, it's locked anyway. You could find the Slug Pit next to the storeroom by the end of the hall."

"Thank you so much for your time spend with is Professor Slughorn, good day to you." She answered in that dutiful vein she had when being the proper student of Hogwarts before dragging me out of from the Potion Class and whispered, "We'll have to sneak in there tonight, meet up after curfew."

"I assume you have an idea to get us passing that locked door."

"You can still pick the locked door, right?"

I couldn't help the raised eyebrow at that, " I know it's for a good cause, but the sound of Lily Evans encouraging me to do illegal act never ceased to amaze me"

"Sod off Percy or I'll look up whether raising you as a slug is illegal or not, " she threatened, and it would have rightfully scared me to compile, but the slight curved of her lips betrayed her words and making me chuckled instead.

"As you wish, Lily."

AN: I LIIIIIIIIIIIIIIVVVEEEEEEEEEEEDD!

Sorry everyone for putting this for too long, I'm honestly confused on what to write for this chapter and I honestly still not satisfied with it yet couldn't think of a better way to write the next step for this chapter. I will probably have plot holes or just skewed logic but hope you could bear with me here so I could finally move on with the plot while still enjoying.

And Yes, it is my Headcanon that Greg the Squid likes to slither his way inside Hogwarts through the big ass pipes that could let a damn BASILISK slither through the wall of Hogwarts. I thought it'd be funny since I find few couples of stories of the intelligence of Octopus in escaping tanks, posing for pictures, or even trolling their caretaker.

Hmm, what did you say? Greg's a squid, not an octopus? Well, my dear readers, Greg here is not just your ordinary squid, he is a magical giant squid so I say "SCREW LOGIC, IDO WHAT I WANT, THIS IS WIZARDRY NOT SCIENCE!"

Anyway, hope you enjoyed it. Please review what you think, I'll be looking forward to it.