Harry Potter: I became Snape

The first rays of morning sunlight had just slipped through the gaps in the curtains when Severus Snape was jolted awake by a rapid knock at the door.

"Sev, get up!" Eileen's voice came through the wooden door. "Jorkins says the flying carpet will be here in five minutes."

At the tavern's entrance, the Weasley family was already packed and ready to go. Bertha Jorkins was waving a piece of parchment, excitedly outlining the itinerary: "First stop is Butrint, an ancient city from over a dozen centuries ago. They say some of the ancient wizards' magical wards are still active—imagine, magic from a thousand years ago!"

Snape frowned, glancing at the sky where a colorful speck was growing larger. "A flying carpet?" His voice dripped with skepticism. "Isn't that banned back home?"

"Oh, don't be so rigid, Severus!" Bertha clapped him on the shoulder with enthusiasm. "It's perfectly legal here. Albanian Axminster tufted carpets are the best in all of Europe."

Lowering her voice, she added with a conspiratorial air, "I've heard the Crouch family still keeps one hidden away. Of course, they'd never use it, though I've always thought the ban on flying carpets is utterly ridiculous…"

When the carpet landed in the clearing outside the tavern, Snape's frown deepened.

This so-called "top-tier flying carpet" looked like it was handwoven from some coarse plant fiber, its edges frayed and worn. Golden runes embroidered on it glimmered faintly in the sunlight, resembling nothing so much as the Weasleys' overworked, exhausted old owl, Errol.

"Is this thing actually safe?" Lily asked under her breath, her eyes nervously scanning the suspicious loose threads at the carpet's edges.

"Absolutely fine!" Bertha leapt aboard, the carpet dipping slightly before springing back up. "See? Steady as the staircases at Hogwarts."

Bill and Charlie scrambled onto the carpet, claiming the front spots and eagerly pointing at the distant mountains, arguing about something. Arthur Weasley carefully helped Molly aboard, who was cradling a yawning Percy in her arms.

Snape was the last to step onto the carpet, feeling the fabric sink slightly under his weight.

As the carpet wobbled into the air, a teeth-grinding scraping sound came from its edges.

"No worries," the red-nosed guide wizard at the front said in heavily accented English, his goatee bobbing with each word. "Only crashed once last week. The Ministry reinforced all carpets' levitation charms right after."

"That's very reassuring," Snape muttered sarcastically, gripping a tuft of fringe at the carpet's edge.

"I still think this is a terrible idea," Molly said, one hand clutching a raised seam on the carpet, the other holding Percy tightly. "Oh—Charlie! Bill! Pull your legs in! Arthur, keep an eye on them!"

"Relax, Molly!" Bertha called back from her spot beside the guide, her curly hair whipping in the wind, her round face beaming. "Andrea just told me this carpet's been in use for over a century without a single accident!"

"A century?" Molly's voice was practically a hiss. "It's older than our entire family combined."

The morning mist gradually cleared, revealing the landscape below. Lush forests spread like a vast green blanket, dotted with silver lakes and winding rivers, where unfamiliar waterbirds circled above.

Andrea muttered a spell that sounded like he had something stuck in his throat, and the carpet suddenly accelerated, the wind roaring past their ears.

"Look over there!" Charlie shouted, pointing excitedly and nearly tumbling off the edge before Arthur yanked him back. "Is that where we're going?"

Snape tore his gaze from the swaying carpet's edge to see a vast gray-brown marsh stretching into the distance, its surface speckled with scattered trees and reeds.

In the distance, the ruins of an ancient city came into view, half-submerged in water, with crumbling stone walls and semicircular arches faintly visible.

"That's Butrint," Andrea announced. "First built before the Illyrian era, later occupied by Greeks, Romans, and Venetians. It still holds traces of ancient Albanian wizards' magic." He lowered his voice mysteriously. "Legend has it, dark wizards conducted forbidden experiments here in the Middle Ages…"

The carpet began its descent, the damp scent of the marsh rising to meet them.

Lily seemed to regain some of her spark. She leaned forward, her red hair dancing like flames in the wind.

"Hold on tight!" Andrea called out. The carpet suddenly dove at a perilous angle, prompting a scream from Molly and a wail from Percy.

Just as it seemed the carpet would hit the water, it jerked to a stop, sending up a spray of droplets.

"Welcome to Butrint!" Amid the chaos, a local guide in a deep green robe approached, followed by a few other tourists. "I'm Gjin. I'll be leading you through this historic city today."

Snape stepped off the carpet onto a stone slab hovering above the water, surprised to find it unexpectedly stable despite its apparent precariousness.

"Follow my steps carefully," Gjin said, gesturing politely. "We stick to the magically fixed stone path. There are Grindylows in the marsh—mostly cleared out, but some slip through. Just last week, a German tourist was pulled under. Luckily, we got him out in time."

They followed Gjin toward the ruins' entrance. The marsh's edge was lined with a row of magically suspended stone slabs, each about three feet square, floating a few inches above the water.

"These carvings depict spells invented by ancient Albanian wizards," Gjin explained, pointing to a moss-covered relief. With a tap of his wand, the moss peeled away, revealing rough carvings beneath. "This magic blends structures with water elements, allowing the city to adapt to floods."

Snape walked in the middle of the group, closely studying the half-submerged city.

Butrint's ruins were even more striking up close.

Massive stone pillars tilted into the water, some snapped in half; eroded carvings on arches still bore legible runes; submerged stone steps led to unknown depths, with schools of silver fish darting through.

"This was once a thriving city," Gjin said as they walked, his voice echoing faintly in the open marsh. "It's said to have housed an ancient Albanian wizarding academy, but a disastrous dark magic experiment sank the city into the swamp, killing everyone…"

They pressed on through a collapsed archway. The underwater structures created an eerie scene—some buildings had only their roofs above water, while others sat half-submerged, their windows staring like hollow eyes.

The Weasley boys darted about excitedly, earning constant scolding from Molly: "Stay away from the water's edge! Don't touch those stones!"

Snape noticed odd scratches on some walls, not the work of natural erosion.

"These marks…" He touched a stone wall, feeling a faint pulse of residual magic.

"Could be from ancient magical tools," Gjin offered, "or claw marks from magical creatures. This marsh is home to many unique beasts, some unregistered by the Ministry."

As Gjin spoke, Snape caught a rustling from the distant forest, like a large creature moving through the underbrush.

He turned sharply but saw only the dense foliage swaying slightly.

"What's wrong?" Lily whispered, noticing his unease.

Before Snape could answer, a distinct splash came from the water.

All eyes turned to see ripples spreading from a spot about twenty yards away.

"Probably an otter or a tortoise, they often—" Gjin raised his wand, his voice tight with unease. "Back up! Everyone, slowly back up!"

His words cut off as the water churned violently, a massive green shape flickering beneath the surface.

"Merlin's beard!" Molly gasped, clutching Percy tighter.

A giant green viper reared from the water, sending up a cascade of droplets. Its body was at least twelve feet long, water sliding off its gleaming scales. It snapped its jaws, snatching a low-flying waterbird, its green slit-pupils coldly eyeing the intruders before it crashed back into the water.

"Don't move. Everyone, back away slowly…" Gjin whispered. "It's just hunting. It won't attack us unprovoked…"

The serpent seemed uninterested in the group, gliding slowly through the water to savor its prey.

But a wizard in a purple robe suddenly raised his wand, greed glinting in his eyes.

"That's no ordinary snake!" he hissed excitedly. "Its venom, scales, even its eyes—prime potion ingredients…"

"Stop!" Gjin barked, but it was too late.

A red jet shot from the wizard's wand, striking the serpent and sending a spray of water over the group.

The snake thrashed, then surged from the water, its jaws wide, emitting a metallic screech. Its green eyes turned blood-red.

"You idiot!" Snape roared, his wand already in hand.

The purple-robed wizard paid dearly for his mistake. The serpent's tail lashed out like a whip, striking his chest.

"Ah—!" His scream was cut short as he was dragged under.

The water churned violently, and seconds later, a vivid red stain spread across the surface.

The serpent wasn't done. It writhed angrily in the water.

"Run!" Arthur shouted, drawing his wand and herding his family back. "Everyone, to the shore! Now!"

The group scrambled toward the bank, the stone slabs trembling under their hurried steps.

As Snape reached the final slab, he felt a tight grip around his waist.

Looking down, he saw the serpent's tail coiled around him, its slick scales chilling through his robes.

"Relashio!" Snape jabbed his wand at the tail, but the spell had no effect.

With a yank, the serpent lifted him off the ground, dangling him in the air.

"Severus!" Eileen and Lily's terrified screams rang in his ears.

Through blurred vision, he saw them draw their wands, hesitating to cast for fear of enraging the beast further.

Snape's ribs ached under the crushing pressure, his breath shallow. "Don't!" he gasped instinctively.

The serpent froze, its slit-pupils locking onto his. It seemed to pause, as if considering something, slightly loosening its grip to let him breathe.

An odd connection sparked between them. Snape's panic ebbed, replaced by a strange familiarity. He could almost sense the emotions in those slit eyes—pain, rage, and an eerie trace of delight.

An unnatural silence fell over the marsh. The birds and insects went quiet, the wind itself seeming to still.

Everyone stared at Snape, stunned. The sound from his mouth wasn't English but a hissing, rhythmic cadence.

The Weasleys instinctively shielded their children, their faces a mix of fear and confusion. Bertha Jorkins stumbled back, mouth agape, her gaze darting between Snape and the serpent. Gjin's face was ashen, his lips moving silently as if in prayer.

Eileen and Lily froze for a moment before realization hit. They raised their wands, firing spells at the serpent.

But the creature whipped around, its tail lashing. Before anyone could react, it dove back into the marsh, dragging Snape with it.

"Severus!" Eileen's desperate scream echoed as she fired spells that missed their mark.

Without hesitation, she plunged into the murky water, Lily diving in after her, their figures quickly swallowed by the dark marsh.

They swam frantically toward the serpent, but it was too fast. All they saw was a green shadow vanishing into the depths, leaving a trail of bubbles.

Minutes later, Eileen refused to give up, but pale green Grindylows with horned heads began circling, their webbed fingers reaching for their ankles, yellow eyes glowing in the dim water.

Lily struggled to pull Eileen to the surface. Arthur and Gjin hauled them onto the slabs.

Soaked and shivering, Eileen sat on the stone, her face streaked with water or tears. Her lips trembled, but no sound came as she stared at the water.

"He's a Parselmouth…" Bertha murmured, her voice shaking with shock. "How is that possible…?"

The water grew still, the last ripples fading away.

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