Chapter 9: Panther

Gestalt watched as the new Snape approached them. He wasn't sure what to make of this newcomer, but he seemed human, unlike whatever the hell Half-Breed was.

"Drink?" Obscurial asked.

"I'll have a butterbeer, if you don't mind," the new Snape said with a warm smile.

Gestalt blinked, confused by the Snape's demeanor. He eyed the basket with the nametags and nudged them toward the man and said, "Put one on."

The new Snape looked down at the nametags before scanning the other Snapes in the room. "Ah, they're enchanted." He took one and stuck it onto his dark burgundy shirt, and the name 'Panther' appeared.

"... 'Panther'?" Healer asked.

Panther looked down at the name. "... hmm," he remarked. "I might know what it means..."

"Let's start with a very basic question," Heartless said. "At what point did your lifepath diverge from Gestalt's."

"Oh, the sorting ceremony," Panther answered.

Gestalt blinked again. "I don't follow."

"Well, I was sorted into Gryffindor-"

"YOU WHAT?!" There was a sudden smashing of glass as Obscurial threw something down on the ground. "FUCKING GRYFFINDOR?!"

"Steady there," Caretaker said, quickly moving behind the counter to stand between Obscurial and Panther.

"What's wrong with him?" Panther asked.

"Look at his nametag," Lycan suggested.

"... ah," Panther said quietly.

All Snapes in the room remained silent as Obscurial slowly calmed down. His eyes darted around the room before he stepped back and grabbed another glass mug. "One butterbeer," he mumbled as he went to fill the mug up.

"Anyway," Heartless said, "what happened after that?"

"Well," Panther answered, "school was a bit rough at the start; imagine having to share a room with Potter and Black. I got along with Remus, though."

"... what did you do when you found out about his secret?" Lycan asked quietly.

"... it wasn't easy," Panther admitted, "but eventually, I helped him find a cure."

"Good," Lycan said with a sigh of relief. "That's good."

"Did you get along with him?"

Lycan went deathly silent before his breathing quickened, and he started crying once more.

"What did I say?" Panther asked in a panic.

"It's not a good subject," Healer said, patting Lycan on the back.

"I'll avoid that topic, then," Panther said with a nod.

Obscurial set a full mug of butterbeer on the counter with a glare before pouring himself some whiskey. "And what about Lily?"

"Oh, we started dating in our fifth year," Panther answered. "I proposed just before graduation... although, I sort of had to, given... never mind. We had three children."

"Two daughters, one son?" Half-Breed asked.

"... how did you know?" Panther asked.

"We're noticing patterns," Healer replied. "I have the same, as does Half-Breed. Can't speak for anyone else."

"I have the same as well," Caretaker said. "Although Lily and I had to be a bit careful, given my job."

"... Alice-Marie?" Gestalt asked.

Caretaker nodded.

"One hell of an Easter holiday," Panther said with a laugh.

"Another commonality, I would wager," Healer added, matching Panther's smile.

"Common for you," Obscurial said quietly as he took a large sip of whiskey.

Gestalt noticed Half-Breed's ears twitch, and he himself felt another presence approaching. "Are you a seer, by any chance?" Gestalt asked.

"I can sense a person's ki," Half-Breed explained.

"What's-?"

Before the question could be asked, another Severus Snape stepped in.