Disclaimer: Let's get this over with. I do not own this Harry Potter. I do not own his alma mater. I do not own the world he walks. I do not own dear Dobby's socks. Of what I own there isn't much: the Hogwart's lounge, and plot as such.

A/N: Ladedahdeedledah....

Black. And black. And some more black, just for effect. In fact, there was only one thing within Severus Snape's closet that wasn't black: the cheery Hawaiian print Dumbledore had insisted on inserting. It, when removed from the closet, immediately sprang to clothe the person removing it--Snape--and, when taken off, sprang right back into the closet.

There was no way to destroy it, short of bringing someone else into his private rooms and forcing them to wear it eternally. That wasn't going to happen. No one entered the rooms of Severus Snape.

* * * * *

The mystery was solved. Hermione was certainly not so fond of criticizing that she could not see how Peter could very easily mistake a spell, but had it had to be this one? One that sapped at the soul of a man, and had done so for some seventeen years--no wonder Bill and Charlie Weasley hadn't had so bad a time of it during Potions; Snape had been a bit more himself. It was slowly becoming apparent that 'himself' was not as bad as they all had though.

The release of the spell, assuming that they could find a way to reverse it, would, by all measures, send the soul matter back into their esteemed potions professor in a great lump. His reaction to it, and there would be a reaction, would be very interesting--not that it was something that she wanted to see. Dumbledore, however, would most likely think differently.

At least we won't have to get his permission to perform the spell... he can't be in his right mind by any wizarding standard, and so we have an obligation to return it to him--bar the arguments of his relatives. For some reason, it was extremely difficult for Hermione to think of Snape having relatives. The idea of other Snape's, terrorizing the magical population, bearing potions and black cloaks... but then, she didn't really know what the estimable man had been like before the terrible tattoo. And I don't really want to find out...

* * * * *

Ron stood next to the fireplace, looking down at the wizard's chess set that he and Harry had sat at so often.

"Ron?" Ginny's voice came down the stairway. "Ron, you've got to go to bed. Hermione will be back soon enough."

He blushed, and looked down at his feet.

"Ron? What's wrong?"

He blushed even more fiercely, reached into his pocket, and pulled out... a pair of socks.

"Here. They're from... Dobby. Mione wouldn't let me burn them... Not even for good luck."

Ginny walked down the stairs, a smile growing as she neared Ron and was more able to see what he was holding. "Oh, my..."

"Yes, well... I figure you should wear them. As a token of Dobby's support, if nothing else." He held them out between his index finger and thumb, turning away from them, and her.

She took them from him, and jumped on him, trading a giant hug for the rather scandalous socks. "Thank you, Ron. I'll tell Harry."

"I thought I would, when I went up to bed... He is in the dorm, isn't he? Isn't he?"

Ginny just giggled.

* * * * *

Lavender Brown, now alone in her Divination devotion, sat peering into the crystal ball.

"Well, my dear? Have you seen anything new?"

"I think... I think I'm picking up on something... It... It looks like.... Snape!" Her eyes lit up in the exhilaration of a sight in sight.

"Yes? What is it?" Trelawney bent over Lavender's shoulder; though she was unable to see what the intent girl saw, she offered 'moral support.'

"I think... There's a cloud coming down upon him... A cloud of pink and red, glitter and shimmer... An odd sort of magic, descending upon him... And he's unaware of it, he doesn't see a thing, just like it's a part of him... It's settling, settling all over him, fading into him..."

"Professor Snape? Severus Snape? Are you sure?" Trelawney was now backing away, an eyebrow raised as far as the cake of magical make-up allowed.

"Yes... and now... he's smiling..."

Lavender sat, still, watching the scene unfold. The Divination professor, however, was digging into a cupboard, shaking her head. "There must be something in the air," she muttered to herself. "Two in one week, I can't imagine. Must be something in the air." Had the goodly professor dared venture from her lair, she doubtless would have heard of the truth to Parvati's vision; however, she had never been a very mobile addition to the Hogwarts staff..

Trelawney pulled out what looked like a Muggle spray bottle, and headed back to where Lavender was detailing more and more of the vision.

"I'm ever so sorry, dear, but you'll have to go... I mean, really, Snape? Smiling? Perhaps you can find Patil, and form a support group of some sort; anyway, you'll have to find a different class. Once again, McGonagall will be glad to help you. Now, move along! I've some cleaning to do." She began attacking the air with whatever was in the spray bottle, apparently trying to rid her room of the demons that were driving so many promising students crazy.

Lavender, her protests ignored, went on to the trapdoor and down the silver stepladder. Hmm... ! Maybe Trelawney really is a fraud, after all, I know that I saw what I saw... She left with designs on forming a group of true seers, to pass on their knowledge to the Hogwarts students supposedly under Trelawney's care--a way to make sure that some; those with the true sight; found the reality of seeing--not the garbage that the professor spewed. Call it an epiphany, of sorts... under any name, it was a truly amazing change of opinion.

* * * * *

Seamus and Dean, carrying as many various prank items as their hard-earned money would buy, snuck carefully past the patrolling prefects as they returned from an illicit trip to Hogsmeade. .

"What do you think... a party so we can splurge, and get them all, or gradual build-up?"

The two took their reputation very seriously; they were the ones who stepped up at the graduation of Fred and George, and they weren't about to let anyone forget it.

"Let's go gradual. A party would be a bit too much of a hint if we gave it with no reason; they'd all be looking out for something."

"Yeah... A party would be fun, though. If we could think of a reason..."

They got past the Fat Lady and collapsed into puffy crimson chairs near the fire.

"Why would we give a party..."

"Besides to prank them all..."

"Yes... That is the question."

* * * * *

Dumbledore sat behind his desk, looking on with interest as Hermione explained her findings and how they could be practically applied.

"Interesting... So, do we know how to reverse it?"

"I've got an idea, sir." She stopped pacing the room, and faced him, accepting the seat that he motioned her into. "It's kind of complicated, but I think that it might just work..."