Vindication
As soon as Pettigrew was called, Sev read James' immediate thoughts. He's going to approach me, great. Instantly he did so.
"Good morning, Prince, good morning, Stevens."
In front of Anthony he called me Prince, keeping up appearances, Sev thought.
"Good morning, Potter," Anthony greeted.
"Good morning, Potter," Sev said.
"Do you mind chatting with me for a moment, Prince, in private?" James asked. "I know it's your turn soon, maybe you need to concentrate."
"Not at all, Potter. It's your turn even before mine, if you need to do it, I'm willing. Anthony, can you excuse us for a moment?"
"Of course," said his friend, and went to sit where Lauren had been.
"Tell me, James."
"You see, it is a somewhat delicate topic that worries me."
"Get to the point, James, we have little time."
"Okay. Know that I feel bad for telling you something like that, maybe it will upset you right before the exam."
"Get to the point, James, we have little time," laughing. "I assure you that whatever it is, I'm going to take it well."
"Okay. Yesterday Evans and Sirius spent the entire afternoon studying together. Even after dinner they did not go down with everyone to the Library, when we returned they continued alone and when they finished they spent a lot of time laughing together in the Common Room at home, with that spell that you taught us so that we would not hear what they were laughing about."
"And what's the problem with that, James?" patient.
"You don't know Sirius well, he's into what he likes with girls and I'm afraid he might be thinking about having something with Evans."
"Well... Do you remember that yesterday we were alone for a while after the three of us chatted, which I asked him to do?"
"Yes, of course," Potter replied.
"Well, I asked him precisely to talk about the subject. He's befriending Evans with the goal of helping me out to maybe get her back one day. You know, intercede for me."
"Oh..." understanding.
"Of course, I asked him," Sev lied.
"And why didn't you ask Remus?"
"I also asked Remus, of course."
"Sure. And do you trust Sirius?" James asked.
"Of course I do. You could also see how sorry he is, long before you."
"True. Even so, I think she could fall in love with him, all the girls fall at his feet."
"Well, I don't think Evans will do it so quickly," Sev disagreed. "On Saturday I had them fight together and Sirius's attitude was one of respect and admiration towards her, and the same thing yesterday when we spoke, he is not going to try anything behind my back. I trust him completely."
"But she could be tempted, even more so if he treats her so well."
"Well, if it happen like that, nothing would happen either. I would be glad if she had found a person who can give her what I still can't and that he isn't at constant risk of death like I will be for years."
"How generous you are, with how much you love her," Potter valued.
"That is precisely what love is, James. Being able to give up your own happiness in exchange for that of the other person, as you are also doing with respect to her." Sev began to cry.
"Booff… I've already upset you anyway."
"Don't worry, I'll get over it soon." Sev wiped away his tears and fought not to cry any more. He continued, "I also already told you that I have a relationship with a girl from my House, Evans is also within her right to have it."
"Sure…"
"Are you more calm?"
"Of course, if you are, I am."
Sev read him and assessed it as they continued talking. He's no longer going to tell Sirius off, he's not going to put him in that predicament, he no longer believes that he wants to betray me, and he thinks that even if Lily falls in love with him, he won't have anything to do with her, he won't play tricks on me, just likehe hasn't tried to have anything all these years, she being a true beauty and talented, so as not to get between the two of them.He trusts more in Sirius's loyalty as a friend than in his desire to accumulate conquests, because he knows that he has plenty of girls.Great, we got rid of the problem in five minutes. "It worries me that you have spent all this waiting time thinking about the issue. We should have discussed it yesterday in front of you, so you wouldn't worry."
"Well, well, don't worry about me. I know how to disconnect and I handle the subject very well, I never had any problems with Charms, and I haven't spent the whole morning thinking about it either. Was it your idea to suggest to Dumbledore that they change the lunch schedule so that we would have more time to take the exams?"
"Yes it was. In fact, I tried to get it moved from morning to afternoon but it couldn't be done, the court had already been summoned."
"Thank you very much for the effort," said Potter. "I see that you are worrying about everyone even though it would be worse for you, much more waiting time. Every time I talk to you or think about you, slowly discovering what you really are, I realize more and more that you are an exceptional person, the best of all of us."
"Well, James, it's not that big of a deal. I simply do not put myself ahead of others and I am the first to want all of us who are trying to get Defense to achieve it, it is essential for the Army."
"Do you want me to leave you alone now, so you can relax a little before the exam?"
"As you wish, James. Chatting with you is doing me very well, let's chat if you want until they call you."
"I would love to, we will have very few opportunities to do it between now and the end of the term. I'm going to miss you in the summer."
Sev looked at him appreciatively. He's also looking forward to having more good friends. "Me too, James. We will do our best to have more contact when we return in September. Talk to me about whatever you want."
"How are you getting on with the theory?"
"Great. And you?"
"Very good, I have a very good memory," Potter replied.
"Not me, and I hate studying by memorizing."
"Oh... Well, now we have alternate days for the next two, Herbology and Potions, and in Potions I imagine you won't have any problems. Needing an Exceed Expectations you will get Outstanding."
"You're wrong, I also need Outstanding in Herbology and Potions and an Acceptable tomorrow morning, Runes," Sev corrected.
"And so?" surprised.
"I am going to take two NEWTs, Medimagic and Defense."
"What are you saying?" James asked very amazed. "The two most difficult."
"That's how it is. I had already spent the whole year preparing Potions, because Slughorn discouraged me from preparing Defense at the beginning of the school year, and I only needed to add Arithmancy, which I am great at, I always get Outstanding."
"So, what notes do you need? Lots of Outstandings."
"Six: Charms, Herbology, Potions, Arithmancy, Defense and Transfiguration, and an Acceptable, Runes, but I think I'll also get the Outstanding," Sev answered.
"You're leaving me stunned. You are the best wizard in school."
"Thanks James. It's true, I have a lot of talent, but I've also had to work hard since I entered Hogwarts. You know, I'm Sly, very ambitious, and with a lot of urgency to get out of the misery in which I lived until recently. But that's over, starting this summer I'm going to start earning a living. They are going to give me a scholarship to research Medimagic, specifically in Potions, at St. Mungo's, as a result of having invented the potion you slept with yesterday. Let Remus or Sirius tell you how I got it, it was thanks to the broken arm."
"You don't know how much I admire you," said Potter. "You've made yourself, since you were eleven."
"Well yes."
"And at the same time enduring us and the malefics. You are, you are exceptional."
"Thank you very much, James."
"The best thing that had happened to me in a long time, meeting someone like you. I no longer feel sorry for giving up Evans, it more than makes up for having gained you as a friend. Do you consider me your friend? Really? Are you no longer resentful of me?"
"Not at all, James, I'm not at all. Give me a hug, come on."
They embraced.
Sev thought, I'm going to avoid, as much as possible, reading him again, and the same Lily and the Gryffs.It's over.
"Wooow… you hug like Sirius," James told him.
Sev laughed. "I learned from him yesterday."
"Excellent. I have to learn too."
"Of course, James, and you will be irresistible too."
They called James. They separated.
"See you on Saturday."
"See you on Saturday, James, good luck."
"Good luck to you too."
"Come on, don't make them wait for you."
James hurried out.
Sev approached Anthony, who stood up.
"Stop, stop, stay seated."
"No, let's go and sit together in those two, now there is room for everyone," said his friend.
"Let's go."
They went to two seats that were close together and sat down.
"How about Potter? Did you solve the problem?" Anthony asked.
"You've already seen that I did."
"You're the rock, man. I don't know how you manage to fix everyone's life."
They laughed.
"Me neither, I find it amazing," Sev said.
"Maybe they will call you immediately, have your nerves gone?"
"Yes, it felt great to chat with him."
"Who could have said it? Your worst enemy," his friend commented.
"He hasn't been one for a long time. You already know who my worst enemy is, everyone's."
"Booff… let's not talk about that, Prince. I've had nightmares about what we saw in the Mirror."
"Ugh... sorry for bringing up the subject, forget it."
"Of course, of course, now to what we are."
They chatted until five minutes later when they called whoever was between James and Sev.
"Booff… he hasn't changed my name…" Sev said.
"Yeah... I've been thinking about it while you were talking to Potter. I think he didn't do it so that your new name won't get out and you'll be safe in St. Mungo's."
"Sure…"
"You've gotten nervous again, haven't you?" Anthony asked.
"Yeah."
"Come on, give me a hug."
They got up and hugged each other.
"Nothing is going to happen," said his friend. "They are professionals, they will do their job well, they will give you the grade you deserve."
"I don't know, Anthony."
"And if they don't, the old man will talk to the teachers and they will let you take your NEWTs anyway. You won't lose St. Mungo's, you've already won over the investigator."
"But maybe the Dueling Chair, living at Hogwarts with Lily," Sev guessed.
"Don't think about that now, Prince, don't anticipate events. Each thing, in its own time."
"I'm going to spend half the summer worried until the grades arrive."
"Well, well... In summer you're going to be so busy working and enjoying yourself that you're not going to remember any of that," Anthony encouraged him.
"I hope so."
"Hold me tight, go ahead, try to relax and not think about anything."
Sev didn't do that, he tried to imbue himself with the feeling that Anthony needed so as not to get nervous. I have given my all, I am giving more than anyone else.If I don't get it, it won't be my fault, I've done my best.Even if I do not immediately achieve my future goals, I will continue fighting with all the means at my disposal, I still have two years of school left, with exams from the teachers, they will give me the grades I deserve.
And if necessary, if they don't accept me for the NEWTs, I will repeat fifth grade, and next year, when things have calmed down, I will get the grades I need. I don't mind losing a year, that's nothing in a lifetime.
And now that I think about it, not all of the Court has to be against the little they know we are doing here, just like Damocles, who was proud and satisfied and did it for himself, regardless of what he was told by Poppy. They won't be unfair, they weren't even with the malefics, Lucius got very good grades in his OWL, they will give me what I deserve.
"I'm better now, Anthony."
"That's how I like it. As Jack says, you're made of very stern stuff."
"You too friend. Thank you very much, you have helped me a lot."
"You don't know how happy I am, after everything you have done for me," said his friend. "I will continue doing it in all the exams, luckily my turn is after yours."
They continued hugging until they called him, while he repeated his reflection like a mantra.
"Snape, Severus."
He separated from Anthony. "I'm going there."
"Come on, show them what you're worth."
He went out to the Great Hall, which was completely clear. The five members of the court, two wizards and three witches, were seated on the professors' stand, with the president in the center.
They all have a grave and serious attitude, none of them show by their gesture that for them I am a different student from the rest, Sev thought, Well… He stood in front of the president. "Good morning, ladies, gentlemen."
"Good morning," the president greeted. "Are you Mr. Severus Snape?"
"Yes sir."
"Slytherin?"
"That's right, sir," Sev replied.
"Which NEWT are you planning to take?"
"Two, sir. Medimagic and Defense Against the Dark Arts."
"Wow… incredible. This is turning out to be an exceptional promotion," said the man. "You are the fourth person who aspires to take two NEWTs, one of them also the two most difficult, like you. None of us members of the Court had heard of cases like this in our entire career."
The others have been Lily, Potions and Defense, Lauren, Herbology and Defense, and Spencer, the Rave, Medimagic and Defense, Sev realized. He is speaking with admiration, I have already won them over.Furthermore, studying Medimagic gives a lot of prestige, aspiring to be a Healer.
The president continued, "What do you think is the reason for this new interest in training in more than one profession?"
Incredible, he is asking my opinion, this man admires me.I will be honest. "Did the other three people also want to take Defense Against the Dark Arts, sir?"
"Yes that's how it is."
"Then it's more than obvious, don't you think?" Sev asked. "We want to prepare for the impending war while training in another profession more suitable in peacetime."
"Of course, that is also our opinion. Defense Against the Dark Arts is the most in-demand NEWT for years."
They are going to make it easy for us to achieve it, for a reason they are taking all the time they have for each one, they have not rushed at all.
The president continued, "In that case, you need to obtain Outstanding to take Defense Against the Dark Arts. Each member of the Court will ask you to perform two spells, which will be graded by that member. The grade is out of ten, to obtain Outstanding you must perform at least nine of the ten spells perfectly."
"Okay, sir. Can I ask you a question?"
"Of course."
"Can I perform non-verbal spells?" Sev asked.
"Oh, you too, another thing that has caught our attention and that denotes the high level of this promotion. We have already lost count of the number of students who have performed non-verbal spells."
Of course, the four Gryffs, Lily, Cecile, Remus and Sirius, the three Slys, Heather, Fiona and Lauren, and probably more members of the Army, who having learned to cast non-verbal Defense spells have also practiced the Charms ones, which are easier. And all thanks to me.
"If it is your wish, you can, but know that your grade will not be raised if you do not perform them perfectly, since it is something that is not required at this level," the president went on. "So I advise you that if you have any doubt that you will be able to do them perfectly by doing them non-verbally, it is better not to take the risk and do them verbally. Either way you have three tries with each one."
"Thank you for the advice, sir."
"Let's begin."
The president gave way to the rest of the members of the Court, each of whom asked him to perform two spells on the syllabus, the last being the president himself. To carry out some of them, various objects were arranged at the foot of the stage. Sev did it all non-verbally, first time and in his own opinion, perfectly, ten out of ten.
The president said goodbye, "That's all, Mr. Snape. As you must already know, you will receive the grades at your home at the end of July. I hope you do as well in the rest of your subjects as you did in this one and that you achieve all your goals."
Take that!In my pocket! "Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen. Good morning."
He left the Great Hall through the door through which the teachers usually left. As he advanced through the narrow corridor that led to the entry hall he was jumping out of joy. I will achieve it.The Wizarding World is more on my side than on the side of the Daily Prophet and the Ministry.I have not become famous in a bad way, but in a good way.I already have those thousands of friends that Lauren said, many more than enemies, and Albus must suspect it too, which is why he hasn't changed my name.My fame has benefited me and not harmed me.