Chapter - 8
Severus P.O.V
I wanted to murder someone. Preferably somebody like Remus Lupin, or Sirius Black. Or even James Potter, if the former two weren't available. I should be surprised that I was ranking Potter at third, but right now, I'm extremely irritated with Lupin and Black.
After the heist, which happened over three weeks ago, the six of us had gone through the books and found out a little bit more about Horcruxes. The books however, had such sparse information on the topic that the most we learned was that someone would have to commit murder in cold blood to create a horcrux, and there was a ritual to complete as well. Which was information that was practically common knowledge. Not to mention the detentions we all had ended up in, thanks to the animal prank.
So, that was a complete bust. On the plus side, Potter finally understood the problem with splitting someone's soul. Apparently, murder was the way to his brain, and Black and Lupin were pleased with their progress. On the other hand, Lily was still sceptical about the entire thing, but she seemed to have enjoyed the heist a lot and refused to tell me how everything went. I think that Lily found something of interest, or someone, and was now contemplating contacting them. I know her well enough to know what she's thinking most of the time. Also, I'm a Slytherin and well, most Gryffindors are easy to read.
Either way, I am now stuck with an ecstatic Lupin, who hid away last week, and came back with a brand-new scar on his hand; a hyper Black, who seemed way too happy; a confused Potter, who is now planning on pranking everybody again; and a sullen Lily who was back to moping. To be honest, I do not need this, and I did nothing, absolutely nothing, to deserve this mess.
Stalking into the Slytherin common room in such a tangent, I hardly noticed the whispers at first. Unfortunately, trying to complete my homework surrounded by whispers was a little difficult and it wasn't long before I was utterly frustrated with them.
Calmly closing my books, I packed my bag and looked around the common room. Everything seemed normal. Cyad and Anderson were giving out homework, neither of them were good at anything but transfiguration and arithmancy respectively. But their side business was making them pretty successful.
"Snape." Ah yes, speaking of side businesses. I looked to my left, unsurprised to find Avery.
"Avery." I looked at him impassively. "Need something?"
He almost snorted at that. Even I knew that he was only here for me to complete his homework, especially in potions and defence. "Come on Snape. You know very well why I'm here. You do my essay on the importance of colour changes in potions, and I'll tell you what's going around."
I didn't bother to insult his intelligence by acting surprised. Despite thoughts to the contrary, most of Slytherin house was made up of competent students. If not traditionally smart, everyone could conduct a perfectly legal business with completely illegal substances and not get caught. Not that any of that had occurred here before.
"I'll need more than that Avery." I said instead. "I can get information for free; you know?"
He probably did, but that didn't particularly bother me.
"Five galleons and information. That good enough, Snape."
Even if they were competent, that didn't mean they were good at bartering. And well, five galleons was a massive amount for a simple essay.
I smirked. "Information first. You can give me the money after I complete the essay."
"Of course." Avery said, perfectly politely. Another misconception was that Slytherins were nothing more than animals. Though that was more likely the Gryffindors.
"Everyone received letters from home." He started, and I resisted the urge to say 'obviously'.
"Obviously, Avery. Even an incompetent Gryffindor would have noticed that." The voice was ten times posher and more stuck up that everyone else's in the room. Regulus Black was looking at Avery with disdain.
It was not a secret that they disliked each other. At least not to anyone in the room. And Regulus Black was currently the most important person here, so if he said something, it would happen. He usually didn't say much, unless it had something to do with Avery.
"Right." Avery said, voice clipped. "The Dark Lord has been asking questions. Something has changed and the Dark Lord wants to know what. He seems to think that the enemies have got some new information that he wants."
Regulus grinned sharply. "What he's not saying is that the Dark Lord suspects anyone and everyone. Including people in this room."
I winced. He definitely said that looking right at me. Just like the Black-Avery problem was well known, so was my friendship with Lily Evans – the most Gryffindor muggle born to ever exist. And if the pureblood and more prominent half-blood Slytherins were also under suspicion, I was probably their top suspect.
"And what Black won't say out loud, is that he suspects all of us." Avery said softly.
Of course, Black and Avery weren't suspects. They were the two leaders vying for top position in Slytherin. The entire house was waiting for the leader. Ever since Nott graduated, it's been a toss up between the older, more experienced Avery and the smarter, more renowned Black. And the established Slytherin hierarchy was struggling. You can't disobey a Black, but Avery was definitely going to be the prince of Slytherin until Black challenged him. And neither would co-exist or co-rule, so every Slytherin was using their cunning to the fullest in a deadly balancing act.
I did not want to get stuck in the middle of this mess. Especially because I believe the letter Lily received is the information the Dark Lord wants. And so, I very politely extricated myself from the situation.
"Black, Avery. Thank you for the information." Ignore the entire suspect thing and move on. "I'll have your essay for you tomorrow morning Avery. Have a pleasant night."
I ignored the whispers that probably included my name and exited the common room. Curfew was honestly the least of my problems.
