Year 3 Part 5 (chapter 15)

Word count: 1.5k

Warning: Alcohol and mentions of death and execution

It's Christmas - great. Severus sighs. Minerva and Albus convinced him to join the Christmas dinner. He really doesn't want to, he just wants to eat in peace.

However, that's not going to happen - he's doomed to sit in the Great Hall, surrounded by his fellow colleagues and the few students who are staying during the holidays.

As he arrives in the Great Hall, he curses under his breath. He either has to sit next to a student - Longbottom, by the way, or next to Lupin...

Severus then notices there's a seat left next to Y/L/N - she's the only Slytherin student.

To her right is Granger sitting, which means he has to be close to Potter and Weasley... He would rather do that than sitting next to the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher or Longbottom.

He's sure that the boy would run away from fear, anyway.

Sighing once more, he hurries to sit next to Y/L/N.

The girl shyly smiles at him. "Hello, professor. Happy Christmas" she says.

Severus nods. "Happy Christmas, Y/L/N" he replies, quickly taking a sip of his drink.

If it was any other student, he would have ignored them. He won't ignore Y/L/N, of course.

Before the feast is served, the students receive packages as well as letters from their families. Severus notices that Y/L/N's letter is rather short - he can't help but take a peak without her noticing.

--

"My dearest daughter,

Happy Christmas, Y/N. I'm sorry that I have to work once again. I hope you understand.

I love you so much.

Love,

Your father"

--

Severus huffs. The man sure loves his daughter - he only sent a short letter, no package. That's quite strange for a Pureblood family. Perhaps he was too busy to buy her a present...

He notices that Potter has gotten a package. He raises an eyebrow at that - who in Merlin's name has sent Potter something?

Severus can't believe his own eyes when the boy opens it. It's a broom.

Minerva's wish came true, then. That must be a Christmas miracle for her - the boy can play Quidditch again.

Speaking of the Head of Gryffindor, she looks just as surprised as Severus. He wonders who bought it, then.

--

Two months later, Severus can't sleep. Like always. He turns around in his bed, but to no avail.

Sighing, he gets up and leaves his private chambers. He's in his teaching robes - there's no need to wear something different if you aren't going to be sleeping anyway, right?

He decides to go for a stroll and see if he can catch any students awake at this time.

To his luck, he does indeed find a student out of bed - it's Potter.

Just as Severus is about to approach, the boy turns off the light from his wand. Nice try, Potter.

Severus quickly strolls towards him, pointing his illuminated wand at the boy.

"Potter! What are you doing wandering in the corridors at night?" he questions, raising an eyebrow as he waits for an explanation.

"I was sleepwalking" Potter quickly says.

Right, did he actually expect him to believe that?

"Extraordinary like your father, you are, Potter. He too was exceedingly arrogant. Strutting about the castle" Severus harshly says, gritting his teeth as he thinks of the boy's father.

"My dad didn't strut, and neither do I. Now, if you don't mind, I would appreciate it if you could lower your wand" the boy says, looking at the illuminated wand in his professor's hand.

Severus looks at him for a few seconds before doing so, pointing it at his pockets.

"Turn out your pockets" the Potions Master demands.

As the boy doesn't do as he says, he loses his patience.

"Turn out... your pockets!" he repeats, more harshly this time so he finally gets it.

At last, the boy does so as he retrieves some sort of parchment.

"What's this?" Severus asks, looking at the parchment in the boy's hand.

"It's an abandoned parchment" Potter simply says.

"Really? Open it" he orders.

The boy does as he says. Severus puts the tip of the wand on the opened, blank parchment.

"Reveal your secrets" he says out loud as words start to form.

"Read it" the Potions Master demands, raising an eyebrow as the boy just stands there.

Potter hesitates before finally doing as he says. "Messrs Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs. Off of their compliments to Professor Snape, and..." he reads, suddenly stopping.

"Go on" Severus tells him.

"And request that he keeps his abnormally large nose out of other people's business" the boy dares to say, looking directly at his professor in front of him.

Fury runs through Severus' veins. The Boy Who Lived might not live much longer.

"Why, you insolent, little-!" he snaps, looking furious just as he's interrupted.

"Professor!" Lupin says as he greets him, stopping him from possibly strangling the boy.

Severus quickly spins on his heels and turns around, facing the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher.

"Well, well, Lupin. Out for a little walk... in the moonlight, are we?" he questions him tauntingly.

Lupin ignores his question as he gives the boy a concerned look. "Harry, are you all right?" he asks him gently.

"That remains to be seen" Severus says as he grabs the parchment out of Potter's hand, showing it to his colleague.

"I have just confiscated a rather curious artefact from Mr. Potter. Take a look, Lupin. It's supposed to be your area of expertise. Clearly, it's full of dark magic" he says as he hands the other professor the parchment.

"I seriously doubt that, Severus. It looks to me as if it's merely a parchment designed to insult anyone who tries to read it" Lupin states, chuckling.

Meanwhile, Severus is glaring at Potter.

"I suspect it's a Zonko product" he continues, making sure Severus doesn't get it as he tries to grab it from Lupin.

"Nevertheless, I shall investigate the hidden qualities it may possess. It is after all, as you said, my area of expertise. Harry, would you come with me?" Lupin asks, gesturing for the boy to follow him.

"Professor, good night" he says as he bids the Potions Master goodbye. Lupin and Potter then leave.

As they do so, Severus is in deep thought. Did Lupin know exactly what the parchment was? He most likely did... The Potions Master did recognise the names on the map. Lupin, Pettigrew, Black and Potter...

His train of thought is interrupted by one of the paintings.

"Are you deaf? Put that light out!" the man demands, looking annoyed as the light is interrupting his sleep.

Scowling, Severus does as he says as he turns off the light from his wand. After that, he walks towards the dungeons, returning to his private chambers for yet another sleepless night.

--

A few months after his approach with Potter and Lupin, it's the day before the last day of school. Severus is in his private chambers, enjoying a glass of firewhiskey.

He wonders how everything will go - today is the day where Rubeus' hippogriff will get executed. He's sure that the half-giant will be in tears.

There's suddenly a loud knock on his door. Whoever is on the other side seems furious.

Severus rises from the couch to open the door. He's met by an angry-looking Lucius Malfoy.

"I just received a letter - the blasted hippogriff was suddenly gone, it didn't get executed! It was there when Fudge and Dumbledore arrived, but gone when they went to execute it. I am sure the Potter boy has something to do with this!" the blonde-haired man exclaims, swinging his cane furiously.

Severus raises an eyebrow. "If you are done waving that thing, I suggest you sit down. A glass of firewhiskey?" he offers.

Lucius immediately sits down on the couch as he sighs deeply. "... Make that two. With extra ice" he demands.

Rolling his eyes, Severus levitates two glasses of firewhiskey with extra ice to his guest. Lucius takes a sip of his drink, sighing in pleasure.

"Thank you, Severus. I truly needed this" he says, closing his eyes as he enjoys the burning sensation of the alcoholic drink.

"You are welcome. So, the hippogriff got away, huh?" Severus questions.

He agrees with Lucius - Potter and his friends must have something to do with this.

Lucius is looking irritated as he nods. "It did. They better find it soon so it can get what it deserves" he says as he huffs.

Waiting a moment, Severus decides to get some answers to his question.

"By the way, Lucius... You never revealed how Ms. Y/L/N's mother died. Her father told her it was an accident" he states.

Lucius almost chokes on his firewhiskey at that.

"You truly can't remember, Severus? Like I told you last time, you were there. So were Cissy and I. And it wasn't an accident, it was-" he starts to explain before they are interrupted.

There's a loud knock on the door. None of them even get to answer as the door immediately opens.

"Father, you are here!" Draco exclaims, looking happy as he approaches his father and Godfather.

Severus sighs, looking frustrated that the boy bursted into his private chambers and interrupted his conversation with Lucius.

Will he ever know what happened that night?

Well, at least he now knows one thing for sure - the death of Y/N Y/L/N's mother was no accident.