Harry Potter: I became Snape

After purchasing his wand and returning home, Severus Snape stared at the bright red banner above the dining table, his temples throbbing.

The banner, adorned with ornate golden lettering, proclaimed, "Warmest Congratulations, Severus and Lily, Elected Head Boy and Head Girl," each letter edged with tiny, twinkling stars.

With a flick of Eileen's wand, the stars on the banner burst, transforming into a cascade of tiny fireworks that showered over Severus and Lily.

"For Merlin's sake," Severus muttered, brushing the glittering confetti from his shoulders, "this is absurdly over-the-top!"

"It's a momentous occasion!" Eileen said, directing a silver teapot to pour him a steaming cup of tea. "Tomorrow, I'm inviting the neighbors over."

After Severus's repeated protests, Eileen reluctantly agreed to take down the banner before the guests arrived, but only on the condition that he wear his Head Boy badge prominently.

Throughout August, Severus was caught in a swirl of conflicting emotions.

The summer holiday had ended too quickly, and part of him dreaded returning to Hogwarts. This time, going back meant the start of a countdown to farewell.

Though he might one day return in another role—perhaps as a professor—the end of his student days left a bittersweet taste.

On September 1st, the rain, which had been pelting the windows for nearly a week, continued its relentless patter. The house was steeped in the heavy atmosphere of a holiday's end.

Severus sat silently at the table. The sound of rain outside mingled with the sizzle of Eileen's frying pan, creating an oddly serene harmony. He wished this moment could linger.

"Why don't you just Apparate straight to Hogwarts?" Eileen asked suddenly as brunch neared its end. "That way, you could stay home a bit longer."

"It's our final year," Severus said, setting down his pumpkin juice and pausing. "There's no need to pinch every second. We'll Apparate to near King's Cross Station."

"This time next year, who knows where we'll be," Lily said, her voice tinged with unmistakable melancholy. "If only we could go back to when we were eleven… if I hadn't boarded that train…"

Back then, the Evans family, along with Petunia, had seen her off at King's Cross.

For a moment, the three of them fell silent.

Lily's words pulled Severus's thoughts back to that distant time: Lily's eyes sparkling at the sight of the Hogwarts Express, Petunia's sharp, mocking jibes from the platform…

Though he was an entirely different person then, those memories remained vivid in his mind.

The upside, he thought, was that those memories didn't need to be shown to a certain scar-headed boy.

"Let's go," Eileen said, breaking the silence. With a wave of her wand, the plates marched in an orderly line to the sink. "It's about time."

In the blink of an eye, they passed through the solid metal wall and arrived at Platform 9¾.

Looking up, Severus saw a scarlet steam engine puffing clouds of white smoke, stationed on the tracks.

The platform was more crowded than he'd ever seen, packed with students and the witches and wizards seeing their children off. Cats meowed in their owners' arms, owls flapped in their cages, and a few toads croaked noisily.

Severus's gaze drifted to the other end of the platform—Sirius Black leaned lazily against a carriage, his long black hair drifting in the white steam. Beside him stood James, fussing with his perpetually messy hair, and James's parents.

To his own surprise, in this bustling atmosphere, seeing his old rivals stirred a fleeting sense of familiarity in Severus.

Of course, he doubted James would feel anything but displeasure at seeing Lily by his side—unless James had some peculiar fetish.

Boarding the train, Severus instinctively headed for the last compartment.

Before he reached the door, he heard Patrick Abbott's exaggerated voice from within.

"You really passed all twelve O.W.L.s, Barty? You've got to help me with N.E.W.T.s this year!"

Pushing open the sliding door, Severus saw Pandora leaning against the window. Sunlight filtered through the clouds and glass, casting a mead-like glow on her freshly trimmed blonde hair.

After the summer, Pandora's golden locks seemed softer than ever. The carrot earrings she often wore had been replaced with a pair of silver Crumple-Horned Snorkack-shaped studs, glinting in the sunlight.

"Severus," Pandora said, turning her head. A faint, enigmatic smile played on her lips, her pale eyes brightening slightly as they met his.

She gestured for him to sit.

Severus noticed the opal bracelet he'd given her last year gleaming on her right wrist. He'd spent an entire month scouring ancient texts in the library to uncover the old craft of infusing opals with protective charms.

When he'd given it to her, the bracelet had been somewhat rough. Now, its carved patterns were smooth and refined, not a trace of crudeness left.

As Severus moved to sit beside her, the compartment door slid open again.

"Severus," Lily said, standing in the doorway, her Head Girl badge gleaming on her chest, her red hair cascading lightly over her shoulders. "I think you forgot you're Head Boy."

Severus's heart skipped a beat, and his knee knocked against the small table. As he scrambled to his feet, he heard Pandora let out a soft chuckle.

"We should head to the Head Boy and Head Girl compartment," Lily continued, her gaze lingering on Pandora for half a second. "The prefects will be there soon, waiting for instructions."

"Oh, I've never been a prefect," Severus said dryly, his ears burning. "I mean, of course, let's go."

"Well, then—" He cast a nervous, fleeting glance around the compartment. Barty was watching the scene with keen interest, while Patrick was visibly struggling to suppress a laugh. "Right, then… I suppose I won't be here the whole journey. See you later."

"Wait," Pandora said, standing abruptly. She pulled a handkerchief embroidered with strange runes from her pocket. "Severus, there's something on your nose."

"What?" Severus asked, bewildered, touching his nose instinctively.

Before he could react, Pandora leaned in close, gently wiping the tip of his nose.

"Oh… right," Severus stammered, feeling the compartment's temperature rise by at least ten degrees. "Thanks, Pandora. See you later."

As he hurriedly fled the compartment, he could still hear Patrick's burst of laughter echoing behind him.

————

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