Hogwarts, Slytherin Common Room

On any ordinary day, the Slytherin common room exuded an air of quietude, its dim lighting and dark hues contributing to the subdued atmosphere. But today was an exception.

The room filled with flashing lights of different colors, the thump of loud music reverberating off the walls, and students swirling around in dance, lost in the euphoria of the moment. Yet amidst the revelry, one figure remained aloof - Severus. Seated on the couch in the heart of the room, he remained motionless, his gaze fixed ahead, seemingly unaffected by the people swirling around him.

He lifted his drink to his lips, his gaze unwavering as it remained fixed on a spot on the wall. Severus had returned from detention to find the Slytherin common room transformed into what he could only describe as a rave. A drink was thrust into his hand as he navigated through the crowded room. Various individuals approached him, offering pats on the back and congratulations for severing ties with Lily.

As Severus silently observed the chaotic scene unfolding around him, a mix of emotions churned within him. The sound of music and laughter seemed to echo in his mind, contrasting sharply with the turmoil of thoughts swirling in his head.

Despite the outward expressions of celebration, he couldn't shake the gnawing sense of emptiness that had settled in his chest. The weight of his decision to distance himself from Lily hung heavy upon him, leaving him feeling torn between something right and something familiar.

His thoughts were interrupted by something landing in his lap. He glanced down to see Muliber, grinning foolishly up at him.

"What, Bruce?" he said, nudging him off his lap, only for Bruce to bounce back and settle beside him.

Bruce chuckled. "You okay? You don't seem to be enjoying yourself." Severus shrugged, a faint shake of his head accompanying his response. "Just not really my scene," he admitted quietly.

Bruce nodded, shooting Severus a sideways glance. "Sure it's not about carrot top?" he prodded, using the teasing nickname for Lily.

Severus stiffened at the mention of the nickname, a surge of conflicting emotions rising within him. He clenched his jaw, struggling to find the right words to express himself. With a determined exhale, he tossed back his drink, welcoming the burn of whiskey as it coursed down his throat, momentarily calming his nerves.

Bruce interpreted Severus's silence as confirmation and took a sip of his own drink. "You know what you need, Sev?" he declared with a grin. "To relax." He burst into laughter as Severus playfully shoved his head away, the tension of the moment momentarily broken by their banter.

"And how do you suggest I do that?" He grabs two more drinks from a floating tray, handing one to Bruce. Bruce shrugged nonchalantly. "You've just gotta calm down and find the thing." Severus shot him a side glance. "The Thing?"

Bruce glanced around the party before he shot severus a smirk. "Come on, I'll show you." He leaped off the couch and up the stairs to his dorm.

Severus raised an eyebrow but couldn't help but be intrigued by Bruce's antics. He followed him up the stairs, curiosity piqued. As they reached Bruce's dorm, Severus was met with an unexpected sight.

Bruce rummaged through his draws until he found what he was looking for—an odd-looking glass vase. He held it up triumphantly, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"The Thing," he announced dramatically, waving the vase around. "A bong, my friend. The universal relaxer." Severus walked over to where Bruce sat on the ground and joined him, he couldn't help but smirk at Bruce's enthusiasm.

"And what exactly is a bong?"

Bruce grinned, his eyes sparkling with excitement as he held up the glass vase-looking thing for Severus to inspect. "Ah, my dear Severus, you're in for a treat," he began, his tone playful. "A bong is a beautiful muggle device used for smoking stuff, typically marijuana."

Severus raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "Marijuana?" he repeated, shocked Bruce even knew that word.

Bruce nodded eagerly. "Yes, marijuana. It's a plant that, when smoked, induces a state of relaxation and euphoria. It's quite popular among certain muggles," he explained, his grin widening as he watched Severus' reaction.

Severus chuckled. "It's funny how you know more about muggle drugs than any of the shit they teach here." Bruce scoffed and rummaged through his trunk before pulling out a baggie of marijuana and a lighter.

As Bruce lit the marijuana and took a deep inhale, Severus observed closely, committing each step to memory. When it was his turn, he tentatively took the bong from Bruce, feeling a surge of nerves coursing through him.

With Bruce's guidance, Severus placed his lips to the mouthpiece and ignited the lighter, watching as the flame danced before him. As he inhaled, he felt a rush of warmth fill his lungs, followed by a wave of relaxation that washed over him.

Exhaling slowly, Severus looked to Bruce, a smile spreading across his face. "Shit, that's...wow," he admitted, feeling a newfound sense of calm settle over him.

Bruce grinned, clapping Severus on the back. "Told you, mate. Nothing quite like it," he exclaimed, his eyes alight with excitement.

For the next hour, Severus and Bruce passed the bong back and forth, lost in a haze of laughter and camaraderie. And as the room was fully filled with smoke, Bruce handed Severus the bong. "We should get back to the party." Severus took one last hit before putting it out.

Bruce stood up and looked at Severus, who was lying on the bed looking hazed and happy. He lay next to him. "What's up, Sevvy?" Severus glanced at him before rolling onto his back. "Again, just not into parties." Bruce sat up.

"Good thing there's two parts to this relaxing," Severus looked up at him with a raised brow. He reached over to the bedside table, where a brush lay waiting. "Part two: the get laid," Bruce declared, holding up the brush triumphantly.

Severus couldn't help but laugh at Bruce's enthusiasm. "You think of everything, don't you?" he remarked, reaching for the brush.

"We're gonna get you a girl, starting right now," he declared with determination. Severus arched an eyebrow skeptically before sitting up and turning to face Bruce.

With a mischievous grin, Bruce plucked a hair tie from his hand and deftly fashioned Severus's hair into a messy bun. Severus couldn't help but chuckle at the unexpected gesture. "Do you really think this is going to work?" he asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.

Bruce nodded confidently, gesturing towards Severus's tie. "Loosen it," he instructed. Severus complied, loosening his tie as Bruce made a series of subtle adjustments to his appearance. By the time Bruce was done, Severus looked the same, just a lot more relaxed.

Bruce leaned back to admire his handiwork, a satisfied grin spreading across his face. "There you go, Sev," he announced, nodding approvingly at Severus's appearance. "Now you're ready to charm the socks off any girl in this room." Severus scoffed at his friend's words.

"Let's head on back to the party." they both stood up and took a few steps before Bruce fell on his face and Severus tripped over him.

As Bruce picked himself up from the floor, a chorus of laughter erupted from both him and Severus. They couldn't help but find the situation amusing, their earlier 'Smoke Fest' coming back to bite them in the ass.

Once they composed themselves, Severus extended a hand to Bruce, helping him up from the ground. "Smooth moves, Brucey Boy," he teased, a grin playing at the corners of his lips.

Bruce chuckled, brushing himself off as he regained his footing. "Hey, what can I say? I'm a man of many talents," he replied with a wink.

They finally made their way out of Bruce's dorm and back downstairs to the party. Severus grabbed another drink from a floating try and took his seat back on the couch as Bruce patted him on the back.

"You got this Sev," He paused to glance around the party. "I wanna see you go find you a girl and Relax, AKA Fuck." Severus chuckled at Bruce's audacity as he swiped Severus's drink and vanished into the swirling group of dancing students.

He got another drink and threw it back, a sense of ease crept over him. He took a breath and glanced around the lively party, his eyes scanning the faces of those around him.

As Severus scanned the room, his attention was suddenly drawn to a figure approaching him through the sea of dancing bodies.

Theodosia Zabini, her confidence evident in the way she moved, her eyes fixed on him with a curious gleam.

Stopping before him, a coy smirk graced her lips. "Sev," she purred, her voice as smooth as silk. "Mind if I keep you company?"

He cleared his throat, attempting to compose himself as he nodded in response to her request, his pulse quickening with anticipation. "Of course not," he replied smoothly, his voice laced with a hint of flirtation. "I'd be disappointed if you didn't."

With a coy smile, Theodosia settled beside him, her legs casually draped across his lap. Severus couldn't deny the rush of excitement that coursed through him at her bold gesture, his heart pounding in his chest.

Seizing his drink, she took a sip, her gaze locked with his as she maintained eye contact. Severus felt a jolt of surprise at Theodosia's boldness, his breath catching in his throat as her legs rested comfortably on his lap. He shifted slightly, unsure of how to react to her sudden closeness.

She reached out and playfully tugged at his tie before letting out a chuckle. "So, are you having fun?" she inquired, a teasing glint in her eyes. Severus leaned in closer, his voice low and velvety. "Having fun? With you here, how could I not be?" he murmured, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

Somewhere deep under the drunk and still high Severus, you would find the sober Severus shocked to his core by how his drunk self was acting and what he was saying. But Theodosia seemed to be liking this Severus way more.

"Sev, when did you become such a flirt~?" Truth be told, Severus was too preoccupied to fully register her words. Instead, his gaze remained fixed on her lips, captivated by the way they moved when she spoke.

He didn't even notice he was leaning forward until his lips met hers. Their kiss was soft yet intoxicating, a collision of desire and curiosity that left Severus breathless. Time seemed to stand still as he lost himself in the sensation, his mind buzzing with a whirlwind of emotions.

For a fleeting moment, Severus allowed himself to forget about the sober, rational part of him that would undoubtedly question his actions later. In this moment, all that mattered was the beautiful witch in his lap, and the undeniable pull drawing them closer with each passing second.

When they finally pulled away, Severus found himself staring into Theodosia's eyes, a number of emotions reflected in their depths. It was a silent acknowledgment of the unspoken connection that had sparked between them, a shared understanding that transcended words.

Before she could draw him back into another kiss, he gently halted her, his voice low but brimming with desire. "Do you want to go somewhere else?" The words lingered in the air, charged with a newfound boldness that pulsed through him. This was a departure from the old Severus, a transformation from the timid boy who had first stepped onto the Hogwarts Express all those years ago. This was the dawn of a new era, an opportunity for him to seize control of his own life.

Theodosia flashed him a playful grin, her eyes dancing with mischief. "I'll go, but only if you carry me~," she teased, her words a challenge wrapped in a tempting invitation. Severus recognized it as a test.

Ever since the incident with Potter and Black, he had noticed an increase in people asking him to do things he'd never done before. Professors requested his help lifting objects, while Lucius and Regulus had asked him to move their beds on several occasions.

Severus was acutely aware that the only reason he had managed to overpower Potter and Black was because he had been running on pure rage. It wasn't a display of physical strength or skill—it was a surge of emotion that had propelled him forward. But now, instead of rage, he ran on lust.

Sweeping Theodosia into his arms, he skillfully navigated through the crowd, making his way up the stairs towards his dormitory. Each step fueled by a newfound sense of urgency, driven by the intoxicating allure of the moment.

This Was One Hell Of A Party