Chapter 5.4

The snivelling rat had to burrow deeper in the younger Weasley's robe pocket. Thank goodness for left-over meals and he could happily settle on a day-old mushy pie. Disgusting but it has its purpose, it was soft, and the smell could mask his own. Especially now that he has witnessed a strange display before him. Could it really be? The wolf was consorting with Snivellus! What strange turn of events, when once enemies huddled so closely together it was almost as disgusting as the pie. He guess he can't blame the guy, Remus was always starved for companions and Snape was closest to their age.

The two Professors were hovering about in one of the castle's arched windows. They had the advantage of overlooking one of the more intimate courtyards in the castle. It was mostly visited by puffs since it's closer to their common room and some loitering children trying to find the hidden kitchens. But today, there sat a group of six children. Three blondies and the other half all dark brunettes. Was is it a coincidence, probably. But Snape was just thankful there were no redheads. Not that he has anything against that certain colour, Lily had the most beautiful shade, unlike the unflattering ginger the Weasley brood all have.

How could it be that no one was even batting an eyelid at the strange group. Could it be that the two old Professors were just too bitter by their own past to accept such open displays of inter-house friendship? Not to mention the first year Hufflepuff Albert. Albert Dewberry who was too cute for his own good, and Severus would have believed that image if not for the fact that the boy's great ancestor was once Herbert "Herp" Dewberry. The very same man known amongst the dark arts users as 'Herpo' or that famously coined term 'Herpo the Foul'. The man was a known herpetologist in his time, and could have been a Parselmouth much like Salazar Slytherin, thus the moniker Herp. But he was foul because he ate virgins. A written fact from the Secret's of the Dark Arts. It could have been a sexual innuendo, but it was under the Chapter of 'Feast of Anthropophagites' - which has barely anything to do with anthropology.

"Who is that blonde Snape?" The other man said while chewing thoughtfully on a new bar of chocolate. He should probably thank Harry for this, he really appreciates the generous gesture. He have been running low on supplies, what with Harry fainting most of their private tutoring sessions. Still he was thankful, and it was an expensive brand much to his delight.

"That would be first year Hufflepuff Albert Dew…"

"No, no. Not the little kid. Though he's a surprising addition…" Remus pointed at the swaying blonde, bouncing on her feet rounding on everyone. It looked like they're playing the muggle game duck duck goose, but that was just absurd. Slytherin's don't play muggle kinder games. But then again Slytherin's don't associate with young puffs, muggleborns, and an eccentric dancing girl.

"Ahh… that would be Ms. Lovegood, Xenophilius' daughter."

"What is she doing?"

"Patting everyone's head." Severus shrugged, but still had a niggling feeling at the pit of his stomach. He also feel like a creep stalking the young group. He was an aged man for Salazar's sake, and here he was creeping in the shadows looking at unsuspecting children. He hated the wolf for getting him into this, but he was just as curious.

"Why though?" Remus asked in confusion. He didn't miss the slight twitch of the girls arm as if she's tracing something on their foreheads. Clearly that was not true, she's probably just messing with them. There was nothing baleful with her actions, he reminds himself that they're just children.

"True, but she eerily reminds me too much of Selena." Remus wondered if his companion read his mind, however he must have just voiced out his thoughts.

"Selena who?" Remus asked. Severus took a good look at the man who once tormented him. The man was scarred by years spent fighting his afflicted curse, and it was more obvious now than their teen years.

"Selena Selwyn." The Potion's Professors voice held so much dark emotion in breathing out a name which gave Remus a slight pause. The Marauders were loud menaces who took every opportunity to torture Severus' adolescent self. Nonetheless, it was nothing compared to Selena Selwyn. He just thanked whatever deity that was protecting him during his Hogwarts years that Selena was a good three years ahead of him. He has never breathed more in relief when that witch graduated. He didn't know how and why, but every encounter with her sent his magic reeling. And this was coming from a man who was once under the suffocating magic of the Dark Lord. Selena was in a different level, and he could just feel that whatever sick perversion that witch was onto was probably passed down to his daughter. Xenophilius was no better, he was always like a love sick puppy towards the last Lady of the Selwyn house. And if rumours are true, there's a reason the Lovegoods always held a certain fascination to magical creatures, and all of it has nothing to do with magizoology.