At exactly six in the evening, I stood on the porch of the Potter house, once again surprising myself with the snake-shaped knocker on the door. The master opened the door. Weasley loomed behind him. With only a nod, I walked into the hallway and almost ran into Mrs. Potter, who flew down the stairs at the speed of a racing broom.

"Hello Professor Snape. Hermione will be downstairs now," she informed me. "We decided that the living room would be the most convenient".

"Good evening, Mrs. Potter. Any place where Mr. Weasley can wave his wand will do".

Weasley chuckled nervously.

"Hermione would add padded walls and boarded up windows. Suddenly, the wand will cause me to be repentant, and I will start banging my head ..."

"Stop it, Ron. It's not funny," his sister snapped.

She entered the room and heard from there:

"Oh, Crooks, you should leave. Ron, help me get him off the sideboard!"

Weasley muttered something unflattering about cats and sisters, and then went to help.

"Mr. Potter, hold on a minute."

Potter leaned against the doorframe and rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"Yes?"

"Your elf. He will have to remove the wand from Weasley as soon as the effect of the potion weakened".

Potter grinned and shook his head.

"It won't work, Professor. I've sent him to another place".

"Call him back".

" No".

" Why?"

"Because Kreacher considered Lestrange his mistress. What happens here will be a difficult test for him".

"Gryffindor nobility comes at a price, Mr. Potter. Is your friend less valuable than an elf? "

Granger's footsteps on the stairs distracted me.

Potter coughed and lowered his eyes.

"Is this her idea?"

Granger descended slowly, and I continued:

"Weasley will take a potion that protects against someone else's mental penetration. Therefore, I will not be able to penetrate his mind or influence him. When the effect of the potion ends, the wand should not be in Weasley's hands. I was counting on an elf. Your suggestions?"

" Good evening, Professor!" Granger greeted as she approached us.

"Good evening, Miss Granger. We'll join you in a minute. Repeat for now with Mr. Weasley his actions".

She nodded and I turned back to Potter. He looked at me suddenly guilty:

"Something else?" I asked. "Did you accidentally break Lestrange's wand? Or Burn a portrait of Dumbledore?"

"You think Ron can't handle it? You don't know him… He killed two Horcruxes…" Potter muttered incoherently. "Besides, sir… When the potion wears off, you can read his mind, right? Yes, yes, I know, this is a very primitive idea of Legilimency. But in essence, it does not change. You give a sign, we will disarm him. And that's it! Where am I wrong?"

I suddenly got tired of arguing. If Potter thinks his friend is safe, why should I be more worried than he is?

"As you wish, Mr. Potter."

"And, sir... Please don't tell Hermione about our pact."

Something collapsed in the other room.

" It's time. Otherwise, your friend will destroy the dining room".

The chairs of the noble Black family, picturesquely scattered near the sideboard, turned out to be the source of the rumble. In the center of the composition, Ron Weasley hugged Granger.

I went to the portrait.

"Let's go, ladies and gentlemen!"

Weasley reluctantly released his lady.

"Let's. Should I drink the potion first?"

"You will drink it later. Albus!"

I don't know what serves as reason for portraits, but today Albus figured out how to do without florid prefaces:

"Good evening! Take it, Severus".

I caught myself trying to catch his attitude to what was happening, and with annoyance drove away this unnecessary thought.

"Mr. Weasley, come here! Mr. Potter, go there. Miss Granger... "

Her mind opened so freely, as if it wasn't Legilimency but light conversation over a cup of tea.

She's nervous.

"Tranquilitas!"

Comfortable. Harmless. Mean.

"Are you ready?"

"Yes, sir".

Weasley approached the table. Hands in pockets, contemptuous expression on his face, his thoughts… What a perfect metaphor, Mr. Weasley! This is exactly what you are.

As he was instructed, his face changed colors in succession and now delighted the eye with shades of young lettuce.

"I feel like a drunkard in advance," he informed everyone, and under this toast he drained the bottle. "How do you know if it's already active?"

I pointed my wand at him.

"Legilimens!"

"What was that for?" Weasley glared back indignantly.

Great counter-curse! This potion is supposed to avoid mental penetration. However, I might as well not try anymore. I sensed Potter's tension, Granger's anxiety, Mrs. Potter's curiosity and slight annoyance. But the Weasley's mind was securely locked down. Zero feedback.

" It works. Get started!"

Weasley took his wand and carefully muttered the formula of possession. Too bad Lestrange doesn't see this picture. Molly wouldn't need to get her hands dirty...

The wand fired red sparks as it recognized its master.

No mental changes.

Priori Incantatem - just a more few actions ... So. Now it's time.

Weasley cast a return spell on Granger. My right wrist ached. I knew that there, under the fabric of the sleeve, a thin silvery tourniquet appeared on the skin. And this was a good sign. But it's too early to relax. Trouble can be expected at any second.

" Check it!" The beaming Weasley lowered his hand.

I fought back the urge to disarm him prophylactically. Not yet: if additional manipulations are needed, he must remain the master of the wand. Granger smiled and waved her wand.

Flying dinner service for twelve people? Definitely impressive.

Weasley looked at what was happening with a benevolent air of a winner. Of course. The hero came and put things in order. Don't care. The main thing is that his mind is closed off.

Meanwhile, Granger changed her wand and looked around for a new target. I knew from previous tests that her gaze could go on indefinitely, so I suggested:

"Try Transfiguration".

With someone else's wand, even the elementary level will be indicative.

Granger frowned familiarly, bit her lip, waved her wand, and—

… transfigured a chair into a book. With text.

Perhaps this was the answer.

What was happening around suddenly seemed like a distant scene from a pool of memory.

Potter and his wife were enthusiastically expressing their delight, Weasley smirked, and Granger ... looked at me. Expecting praise? Yes. On the exam, she would have received an "Outstanding". I nodded to her. She smiled oddly in response. Images flickered: a conversation with Mrs. Potter, a basilisk, for some reason a knight on a chess horse ... And joy. Joy…

"You made her happy, Snape", said an inner voice. "Right now, at this moment, Granger is experiencing an acute attack of euphoria and considers you the cause of her state".

I closed my eyes, banishing unwelcome thoughts. That's it. Her magic is back. It's time to end this party.

"Severus!" - Dumbledore's voice did not lose its power even after death.

I didn't like the look in Weasley's eyes. And the looks he gave Lestrange's wand, too. But he was still closed.

" I think that's enough, Mr. Weasley. Put it in the box and move away," I demanded, trying to break through his mental barrier. The dunderhead will survive the headache, and if this is a joke, he will regret his sense of humor ...

" Hm?" The bastard grinned at me. — " Is that really necessary?"

"What's happening?" Potter's question sounded almost calm.

"I don't know," I answered honestly. - "His mind's blocked. On the count of three…"

"Wait, I'll talk to him."

Potter stepped closer, peering at his friend.

" Ron, don't joke like that. You remember what happened to Hermione?"

A grimace of pleasure spread across Weasley's face.

"Don't be afraid. She can't hurt her master!"

He barely waved his wand, and flames of illusory fire flared up on the curtains.

"Look, how strong and obedient this wand is ".

The flame went out.

Potter mentally swore. This time I agreed with him.

" What should we do, sir?"

Potter and Granger asked the question at the same time. Excellent. How was I to know the answer?

"Wait for the potion to wear off," I told Potter. "Open opposition can deprive the attacker of magic."

Granger received more detailed instructions and immediately rushed to execute it - she spoke to Weasley. Calmly. Openly. With no deception.

Weasley answered her with pleasure, and the block that covered his mind began to reluctantly give way. I increased my mental impact and caught emotions: heady joy, resentment, triumph and fear of possible loss.

Finally.

The disarming charm came out powerful - my hand ached from the recoil, but this did not prevent him from breaking into the shield. Not primitive Protego, but flexible, obedient Armis. The last time I saw this spell in action was at Rudolf Lestrange's home.

Not much good, actually. Unless Armis, unlike Protego, misses mental influences, and Weasley has no idea about Occlumency. He doesn't seem to be bothered by my meddling at all.

" Well, look at all these faces! Do you think poor Ronniekins is in trouble again?" he continued to say. - " I'm fooling around, okay? When else will the opportunity come up? Imagine, she's saying that I could become great, invincible, and ... in general, all sorts of twaddle ".

Where is this beast hiding? In the mental projection there are the same images. No "her" to speak of. Hallucinations? And Bella Lestrange's favorite spells? Looks like "Poor Ronniekins" is really screwed, but he doesn't know it yet. However, the side effects will knock him out in fifteen or twenty minutes. And if everyone behaves sanely...

At that moment, my hopes were dashed:

"She says? Ron, are you mental?"

I never noticed how shrill the voice of Potter's wife is. She rushed to the table...

Weasley disarmed Granger and lured the wands to him from the table so quickly that I could barely follow their trajectories. Judging by the annoyed look he gave me, Ollivander's gift didn't respond to Expelliarmus.

"Stop provoking him, Mrs. Potter!"

The stupid girl just shrugged her shoulders in annoyance.

"Ronald Weasley! Give me back my wand right now!"

"Take it then".

"Ginny, no!" Potter yelled.

I did not notice the Jelly-Legs Curse. But Potter almost sprawled out on the floor, and Ginny Weasley was at the same instant next to her brother.

Silly chit! Who asked her to intervene?

Weasley's voice took on the first drunken tone.

"I've never had such a wand. Harry got the Elder Wand. And I got her. It's fair, isn't it?"

That's what Weasley fell for. Not guilt, but envy. How?

The wands flew under the cupboard. Granger glanced at me with a mixture of hope and despair.

To Merlin with promises. A cold wave of Occlumency washed over my mind, cutting off fear and uncertainty. My thoughts cleared up.

"Don't be stupid, Potter!" I interrupted the hero who was preparing to attack.

"Talk to him", I reminded Granger.

"Mrs. Potter, stop making trouble. Follow my instructions carefully. And for starters…"

She did not brush aside the intervention of the second level. The cry of pain came out rather fake, but Weasley no longer understood the nuances. He turned to his sister.

"Get back against the wall, Ginny! Don't hesitate! I wouldn't want to harm you".

"Accio!"

Potter's wand slipped into my sleeve.

Granger, meanwhile, walked along the razor's edge.

"Can you ask her why she tried to come between us?"

Weasley froze. An even sequence of formalized thoughts gave way to torn images. It took much longer to find the next argument.

"She says it's not true," he said thoughtfully. "She can't lie to her master".

"All right," I said, "go ahead. The impact is waning."

Waning. But where is the impact?

"…she stole my magic, entered my head, and turned me against you. Why is that, Ron?"

Weasley trembled all over. A flash of anger - and then, again, confident, smooth speech:

" You're wrong, Hermione. The wand only stopped listening to you when you betrayed me. You see, she understood everything much earlier than I did, because your thoughts were open to her ..."

"Your thoughts were open…" What an idiot I am! Weasley recognized the wand as his. A wizard's tool is just an extension of himself. Thoughts are open to it, otherwise non-verbal magic will be impossible. There is no external influence. It was a total planning error.

Granger almost begged.

"… Ron, please! I can't cope without you! Tomorrow we were going to break half the laws of wizarding Australia. Don't you remember? Together, like before. Don't leave me again!"

Weasley shook his head and spoke with the same sincerity, and therefore haltingly and hastily:

"I didn't mean to. You just don't realize how lucky you are. Your parents…"

New wave of emotions. Pain. Fear of loss. And again:

"Is that so? Can't cope without me? Maybe. And then what?" A standard scheme - "Help and I sod off"?

His fingers, gripping the hilt of his wand, were white with exertion.

"Stop. Now, keep silent."

Granger gasped in mid-sentence, giving me another desperate look.

Weasley grimaced in disgust.

"Why are you all staring at me like I have the Dark Lord sticking out of the back of my head? Do I look disgusting".

To Merlin's great-grandmother with Legilimency. How inopportunely Ginny Potter is next to him!

I stirred, and Weasley pointed his wand at me with a sharp movement.

"Mr. Weasley suddenly thinks he's Lestrange's heir? An overly sociable thing of a crazy dead witch whispering to him fabulous promises? How delightful", - I tried to put into the phrase all the sarcasm and contempt accumulated at Hogwarts.

Weasley's lips twitched into a grin, and I sensed his excitement and sense of superiority. Defeat Snape here in front of Granger? It's tempting.

Very tempting, Weasley! Come on, come on, take the bait! Move two steps forward! Get away from your sister.

I went to the middle of the room, hitting Potter with my shoulder. The holly wand migrated to its master.

"…I trust Mr. Weasley would be willing to demonstrate his sudden newfound power and wisdom?"

The bastard pretended to be thoughtful and immediately grinned:

" No. Probably not. Why would I need to do that?"

"Let me think…" Forgotten pain slashed my throat. "So that no one will think that you are a coward and a cheap loudmouth?"

"It won't work. That's a cheap", - Weasley parodied my intonation, - "Muggle trick".

"Dumbledore is back," Potter said without looking up.

"Allow me, Mr. Weasley!" Albus spoke in a soft, friendly tone.

Oh yes. The kind Headmaster scolds a delinquent first-year Gryffindor. This will not bring much benefit to the situation, but it will allow me to win a few minutes.

I concentrated on Mrs. Potter.

"Your brother wants to leave. Perhaps he will try to take you hostage. Listen and remember this! .. "

I listed the necessary steps. She frowned.

"Harry didn't want to call Kreacher."

"Which of those present should your brother kill for you to change your mind?" I asked.

"Is the situation that bad?!"

"Get ready. When he sets the portrait on fire…"

"What?!"

"Don't interrupt me. When he sets the portrait on fire, I'll break through his shields. You will retreat and take cover behind the furniture."

Without waiting for an answer, I returned to Weasley. Judging by the voice and the leaping of his thoughts, he was on the verge of losing consciousness.

"…Why should I trust you?"

"That's how the recesses in the portraits are arranged," Dumbledore said placidly. - "The item can be taken only by the one who gave it for safekeeping. Or the one to whom the keeper entrusted it. You don't even have to go beyond this magnificent defensive spell. Just reach out and give me the wand. No trick. Us portraits don't lie".

The trick was obvious. Even to Weasley. It would be better if Albus told him how he earned his death curse in 1996. This would at least be instructive.

Weasley finally focused his thoughts and eyes.

" You're mistaken. Portraits do lie. There is no person in the painting, just their copy is trying to imitate the original. This is a vile lie ".

The portrait lit up. Ginny screamed as Harry Potter lunged forward. It was not easy to intercept him and throw him against the wall.

"Five minutes and he won't be able to cast spells. Wait," I said when he stopped struggling.

"But Ginny is with him!"

"Exactly. Attack only if he tries to leave. After all, there is the Imperius."

Potter nodded and froze against the wall again.

Weasley muttered drunkenly, swaying in time to his words. In his mind, the death of his brother, parting with Granger, resentment at his family, Harry, Albus bizarrely interfered ...

These thoughts had no external source, just as any dark artifact that was not endowed with a soul could not have consciousness. Darkness awakened from within. The wand only found it and pulled it to the surface.

Granger, swallowing back tears, again and again tried to start a conversation.

"He can't hear you. His mind now perceives only one source of arguments".

"But you have to do something!"

"We will do something. We will wait".

" What are we waiting for? Until he starts firing off spells at everyone? Or until he kills himself?"

"Until the side effects of the potion make him weak enough."

"What if by then his brain is destroyed?"

" That is possible."

"But you don't care?"

"Don't get hysterical. Wait for the signal. As soon as Weasley is busy enough, you and Mrs. Potter will leave the room. Block all the entrances and exits in the house and call the house elf. Is that clear?"

"Yes.. sir".

Good. If she promised, then she will fulfill it.

Weasley suddenly laughed.

"Ha! Now I understand! Snape is brainwashing you. There you are, Hermione. You didn't write down his valuable instructions in a notebook! And Ginny argued with him about something. Can you tell me what you didn't share? Harry, why isn't he talking to you, huh? Or are you so quick to agree with him that I can't keep up? I'm tired of you. I'll leave ... Will you take me to the Burrow, sister? I want to ask our mother something".

Here it is. Begin!

"Now!"

Weasley tugged at his sister's elbow. She took a sluggish step and swayed.

"Potter! Aim for the shield! One. Two…"

"Ron, she's unwell. Can't you see that?" Granger screamed.

"On the floor!"

The fall came out louder than natural.

"Three!"

The shield burst with my first blow. Potter did a great job... His wife was only a moment away.

Weasley restored his shields with lightning speed, straightened up and looked around the room with someone else's eyes.

I only knew one person who could fight at that speed.

" Nice try. Do we have news? Now four Gryffindors are attacking one?"

"Perhaps I should be flattered that you assigned me to your house, Weasley?" I answered automatically. "Spare me that honor".

Provoking emotion would have worked with Weasley. Not like this...

"What's the plan?" Potter's panic to me felt better than I'd like.

"Stall for time."

I didn't believe in what I was saying. According to my calculations, by this time, Weasley should have, if not passed out, then lost all combat capability.

"Ron, listen…" Potter began.

" Shut up. With you, everything has been clear to me for a long time. Now I'm talking. And for starters, let's even the odds".

He pointed his wand at his sister.

"Let's say, on the count of three, Ginny will ask you to disarm yourself. One. Two, three!"

Potter dropped his wand to the floor.

"Excellent, mate!" The wand flew into Weasley's hands. "Does the honourable Professor Snape need a separate invitation?"

Magician?

Yes, like that.

The wand without a core - in the right sleeve, a wand from the left sleeve - on the table.

Weasley-not-Weasley turned out to be an inattentive spectator.

" Accio! Thank you sir. Ten, no, five points to Slytherin", he chuckled. - "And now - about the main matter at hand!"

"Stop it, Ron! " Granger screamed. - "That wand is deceiving you. You are not its owner, but... "

With a careless movement, he deprived her of her voice, then again turned the wand on his sister.

Suddenly, I realized that the cat, who had been yowling since the beginning of the evening, had finally stopped. There was silence.

"That's it. Stupid little Ronniekins, who was always pushed around, is gone", - Weasley laughed a disgusting laugh. — "And to prove it — a little performance!"

The world became clear and distinct. I can't shield everyone. Potter can handle himself, his wife is beyond the reach of my shield charms. So Granger is my main concern.

With his left hand, Weasley took a Deluminator from his pocket and raised it above his head. The light is gone. In the darkness, I thought Granger stepped forward. I stopped her which was the first thing that came to mind.

"I wonder who will cast the first spell?" Weasley muttered blankly.

He waved his hand... The shield was gone.

"Stupefy! Protego!"

A heavy body whistled overhead. The wand trembled and the spell went up into the air. A green flash. A scream. a body hitting the floor.

Silence… and a rustle.

"Lumos!"

Granger. Potter...

"Lumos," Ginny Weasley turned on the light almost at the same time as I did. And she screamed.

Ron Weasley lay prone. A red puddle was rapidly spreading under his head.

A little closer to the window stretched out the body of a cat. The ill-fated wand lay nearby.

Without waiting for new cataclysms, I went to the wand.

"Incendio!"

My hand didn't flinch, but Ollivander's gift shook. The beast of a wand resisted. It brought me a strange joy. I directed all the hatred accumulated over the years at it. Pure, white, frenzied hatred, which for too long had to be hidden behind other masks.

Lestrange's wand flared up. In a couple of seconds, all that was left of her was a burnt spot on the floor and a handful of ashes.

" Ron! Ron! Harry, he's not breathing!" Mrs. Potter yelled behind me.

"But your house elf is completely safe," I remarked without turning around. "Isn't that so comforting?"

The words worked as well as a slap in the face, and the room became much quieter.

"Evanesco!"

This time, the coreless wand crackled and split in two. A decent end. And the Potters will deal with the parquet themselves.

That's all. All debts are paid.

My usual wand showed up on the sideboard. I picked it up, removed the spell from the frozen Granger, lit the lamps. And then I walked over to Weasley. However, there was nothing to do there. He was turned over onto his back. Blood poured from a cut eyebrow and a torn arm. There were no other injuries.

"It doesn't seem to be a big deal," Potter muttered as he healed his cuts. "Don't cry, Hermione. See the wounds are already healing? Ron is just unconscious".

"I'm not crying," she answered dully. - "I'm waiting for him to wake up. Now he will come to his senses, and I will kill him".

"All right," he said conciliatory. "Professor, will he wake up soon?"

" Soon. But hardly for long".

After a couple of minutes, Weasley took a deep breath and opened his eyes. He looked from one face to another for a few seconds, then he breathed a sigh of relief.

"You're alive!"

Granger sobbed and threw herself on his chest, smearing tears down her face...

I always admired women's logic.

"I won't hug you, don't even think about it!" Ginny Potter crossed her arms over her chest. "And tomorrow morning we'll talk about why you can't trust anything that can think for itself if you can't see where it keeps its brain!* Someone has a very short memory, Ronald Weasley. You…"

"Let's just be glad it's over!" Potter said soothingly, rising to his feet.

" Where is Crookshanks? " Weasley tried to look around. – "He slashed my whole arm, the bastard! Almost bit off my finger. I'll pay him back for the rest of my life! Hermione, what does he love the most?"

Granger froze, then slowly pulled away.

"It's all my fault, Ron. I was obsessed with this potion, it seemed to me that this way we would definitely protect you, we even got the Plangentines, but it all turned out even worse ..."

She looked pleadingly at me. The farce continued.

"Miss Granger is trying to convey to you the fact that everyone in this room has made a lot of mistakes in the last hour," I explained. - "Formally, the potion was supposed to protect you from any magical effects in general, and dark magic in particular. But it proved useless against the wand you recognized as yours. None of those present were prepared for this".

"And just twist my arm? Only the cat guessed? So where is he? "

Weasley tried to get up, but only managed to sit up.

"He... Ron, he seems to have been hit by... your spell..." Granger whispered.

There was silence.

"What spell?" Weasley tried to get up again. Almost successfully this time. Potter picked him up and sat him on a chair. - "What about Crooks?"

I levitated the limp cat body onto the table.

Weasley covered his face with his hands.

"You don't remember anything?" Granger asked him with sudden hope.

That was an interesting approach.

"In your opinion, amnesia in this case excuses the use of unforgivable spells?" I asked. — "So, Obliviate could become a universal punishment for any crime?"

"Stop it!" Granger asked wearily. "You said yourself that we are all equally guilty. We handed him this abomination of a wand, promised that everything would be fine ... We cannot blame him for giving in ..."

"I didn't cast the Killing Curse!" Weasley looked from Granger to Potter, dumbfounded. "I thought I'd scare everyone and then I'd laugh and break my wand. It always seemed to me that I easily controlled the beast. But in the end, I turned out to be a weakling again and let everyone down. But. I could… Not… Kill! I remember I was about to release fireworks... in memory of Fred. Wait! Use priori incantatem! Let's check! "

"Ron," Potter looked at his friend the way one looks at someone sentenced to death. "Professor Snape has already destroyed the wand. Listen, you're tired. Let's postpone this talk until the morning? "

"Indeed, Mr. Potter. Let your friend fall asleep with the thought that he became a murderer. And you all generously forgave him. Great plan".

Potter clenched his fists and stepped towards me.

I turned away and ran my wand over the animal.

"His life processes are slow, but his heart still beats. His bones are intact. There are no injuries to internal organs. That Kneazle has a chance of surviving if you don't overfeed him with full fat cream, Weasley. And you, Auror Potter," I turned to the disheveled hero, "it would be nice to remember that the Unforgivables are taboo. Do you see the Auror task force here? No? So what's the deal?"

It's amazing how things can change in a matter of seconds.

Granger rushed to the cat with the same expression with which she had just hugged Weasley. Potter picked up and twirled his wife, she laughed and demanded to be put back down.

Weasley staggered over to the table and patted the cat behind the ear.

"Crooks, you are a hero! And I am in your debt! Are you coming to live with me?"

The cat meowed silently, which caused a new storm of enthusiasm.

"Actually, Ron Weasley, that's my cat," Granger protested. "He emigrated for…political reasons, but he'll be happy to come home now, wouldn't you, Crooks?"

"Stop! Someone was going on a voyage to the other end of the earth? Crooksie stays with the Potters, no questions asked!" retorted Mrs. Potter.

Well. Despite my fatal mistakes, everything turned out better than I could have predicted. Now is the time to confess.

Granger suddenly turned in my direction. Her determination was read on her face without any Legilimency.

"Professor, if you turn around and leave now, it'll be disappointing. You've gotten used to us over these months, haven't you? You won't disappear again, will you?"

"Mr. Potter," I called, trying to ignore the smile on Hermione Granger's face. "Do you consider my obligations fulfilled?"

Potter nodded reluctantly. The room became quiet again. Granger's gaze slid down my arm and lingered on my wrist. Good girl. Always quick on the uptake.

"Mr. Potter, I demand that you recite the terms aloud in front of witnesses. Now".

Potter gave me a Hogwarts-era look, but he took out his wand and, touching mine, said:

"I, Harry James Potter, acknowledge that all obligations of Severus Tobias Snape in payment of the Life Debt have been fulfilled."

"More, Mr. Potter!"

The following phrase was spoken through gritted teeth:

"You gave Hermione Granger her magic back, while doing many more wonderful and important things along the way. And now you are absolutely free to forget about all of it".

The silvery cord appeared for the last time on my wrist, appeared over my sleeve and melted away.

Potter removed his wand and looked at Granger.

"It's not what you think, Hermione. I will explain…".

"What are you talking about, Harry?" she replied calmly. - "Everything is fine! Professor Snape helped me. That's so chivalrous of him and you. And I'm immensely grateful... to both of you. It is a pity, of course, that I didn't know the reason for such close concern from the Professor. This would have saved a lot of time and effort".

She bent over Crookshanks.

"He looks like he's thirsty. I will now go get something for him..."

Smiling an unfamiliar smile, she left the room.

"She doesn't know where his bowl is," Mrs. Potter informed us. - "Sorry, I'll help her".

Weasley followed her gaze and shrugged.

"Aguamenti is on the list of banned spells?" And there was no saucer for Crookshanks in the buffet? Or am I missing something again?"

"I won't detain you, ladies and gentlemen. Mr. Potter, tell Miss Granger that she has her wand for as long as she likes".

He nodded hollowly.

"Okay. I don't know what else to say. And was it necessary ... I ... Excuse me".

Weasley waited for the door to close and looked at me puzzled.

"Oh, how absurd. I didn't understand anything that just happened".

"Pay no attention, Mr. Weasley. You will be enlightened in detail later".

"Wait, before you leave." He grimaced and tapped his forehead with a finger. "Is there any way to find out that nothing of this rubbish is left in my head? If I get stuck in Australia... "

"There is some left over. But you feel worse".

" Go ahead!"

It took me two minutes. Weasley was shaking as if he had a fever, but he never looked away. He could no longer sit on a chair, I dragged him back into the chair and announced the diagnosis:

"Live calmly. All the rubbish in your head is your own production. But if you let Granger down again, I'll dig you out of the ground. And it will be absolutely unimportant to me how many dark artifacts you meet on your way. Remember this, Weasley".

He nodded solemnly and closed his eyes.

No one caught up with me in the hallway. I walked to the exit and closed the door behind me with the door knocker in the shape of a snake.

The west wind clung to the lapels of my coat, dragging me into the dark leaden sky. But I just wrapped myself tighter and quickened my pace, leaving the past behind me.

The text marked by * is taken from The Chamber of Secrets.