บท 30: When Snape Snaps (2)

"30 POINTS FROM GRYFFINDOR!"

A bolt of lightning surged from Snape's wand, drawing the irritating spores into its center like metal shavings to a magnet. I turned to see everyone scratching their heads mostly, seriously if the twins wanted a Prank War they were gonna get one and I wasn't going to lose of that I was sure.

While scratching my arm, I burst through the door after the twins, my whole body itching like I'd rolled in a patch of poison ivy. Two redheads were sprinting down the corridor, trying to turn at the end to find a safe spot, I simply raised my hand, taking aim through watering eyes.

"You want itchiness?" I muttered, channeling my own discomfort into the spell. "I'll show you itchiness. I Cast Itchy Bones!"

Light flashed from my hand in two distinct beams. One of the twins turned, his eyes widening as he started a wand movement, but my spell struck them both before he could finish. They stumbled, falling forward and beginning to scratch frantically at their skin.

I smiled at my handiwork, yeah that's what they deserve yet as I stood there I felt a presence at my side that made me look up - Snape stood there, with pure unbridled anger, I mean sure it was a mean prank but I didn't think it was that bad besides payback had already been given, so I began.

"Professor don't worry I already-"

My words caught in my throat as I felt it in the air, his magic angrier than I had ever felt it, besides Dumbledore himself I had never felt a person's magic without touching them (pause) and for a moment, I genuinely thought he might curse the twins.

Then I felt something pulse from my pocket - the map's own magic was reacting to Snape making me wonder if he was one of these Marauders. The sensation collided with Snape's magical signature in my head like cymbals crashing together, and everything went black.

When my awareness returned, I found myself floating beside a young boy with greasy black hair, a crooked nose and black eyes. A younger version of my Potions professor as he walked across the Hogwarts grounds.

Was this another vision? I had never had a vision of the past. Was this the past? I turned my head but I could recognize no students walking across the castle grounds.

The Great Lake stretched before us, and I suddenly had a very bad feeling. It wasn't long before that bad feeling turned very real.

Four boys approached - the first with messy black hair and glasses, carrying himself with unmistakable confidence. Another dark-haired boy flanked him, aristocratic features set in a mocking smile.

A third hung back, looking uncomfortable yet somehow eager, while the fourth seemed to fade into the background despite his physical presence.

"Out of my way, blood traitor," young Snape snarled at the dark haired boy, his fingers tightening around his wand.

"Make us, Snivellus," the second boy taunted. "Or are you too busy wiping your nose on your secondhand robes?"

The messy-haired boy's wand flicked upward with practiced ease. "Levicorpus!"

Snape went up by his ankle, robes falling over his face, but I remained floating at ground level, watching the scene unfold. The crowd's laughter seemed to physically pain young Snape - I could see it in the way his face contorted, the way his fingers clenched around his wand, I mean seriously wasn't this a bit much.

"Who wants to see me take off Snivelly's pants?" the boy with glasses called out. The crowd's jeering grew louder.

Were these people fucking mental. Like bloody hell, was no one going to stop this. Yet as soon as I thought that-

"LEAVE HIM ALONE!"

A girl with dark red hair stormed toward the scene, her green eyes furious, thank god someone with common decency. Something about this girl changed the boy's and even Snape's attitude - the messy-haired boy's posture immediately shifted, one hand jumping to his hair.

"What's he done to you?" she demanded.

"Well," the boy with glasses said, trying and failing to sound casual, "it's more the fact that he exists, if you know what I mean..."

"You think you're so funny, James," the redheaded girl snapped. "But you're just an arrogant, bullying toerag, Potter."

Potter. The surname was familiar, yeah wasn't Potter the family name of the Boy Who Lived. I looked at James Potter once more, if the Boy Who Lived was anything like his dad I would be seriously disappointed. But before I could think about it longer, the scene continued to unfold.

"Let him down!"

"Certainly," Potter said, flicking his wand. Snape crashed to the ground, scrambling for his fallen wand.

"Petrificus Totalus!" the second boy shouted - someone called him "Sirius."

"Sectumsempra!" Snape bellowed, slashing his wand through the air. The spell that erupted from his wand carried visible malice - a gash appeared across Potter's face, blood spattering his robes.

"Leave him ALONE!"

The redhead drew her own wand. Again I ask, common decency, teachers, hello! How were you letting this happen.

"Evans, don't make me hex you," Potter said earnestly, even as blood dripped down his cheek.

"Take the curse off him, then!"

Potter sighed deeply, then turned and muttered the counter-curse. "There you go," he said as Snape struggled to his feet. "You're lucky Evans was here, Snivellus—"

"I don't need help from filthy little Mudbloods like her!"

And he fucked it, I couldn't help but think. Seriously racial slurs at the one girl who was trying to help you, come on Professor, be better.

The words seemed to freeze the very air. I saw the instant regret flash across Snape's face, but it was too late. Tears began to well up in the girl's eyes but she fought them down.

"Fine," she said coolly. "I won't bother in future. And I'd wash your pants if I were you, Snape."

"Lily, wait—" But she was already walking away. "I didn't mean—"

"Save your breath, Snape" she cut him off without looking back.

The scene blurred and shifted. Now we stood outside the Gryffindor common room entrance, the Fat Lady watching with poorly concealed interest as Snape pleaded with a girl to get "Lily." His desperation was palpable in every line of his body.

"She doesn't want to talk to you," the girl said flatly. "She told me what you called her."

Hours seemed to pass in moments. Finally, Lily emerged, her posture rigid, eyes carefully avoiding Snape's pleading gaze.

The scene shifted again, more violently this time, I felt a splitting migraine in my head, seriously when I got out of here, the migraine would be the worst yet. We were in a dimly lit manor house that seemed to just shout out, come in here if you wish to die. Snape knelt in the center of a circle formed by masked figures.

A tall, pale man stood before him - and for the first time in the vision, I felt magic from someone other than Snape. It was worse than anything I'd ever sensed, darker even than the deadly energy I'd felt from Dumbledore's wand, denser than even Dumbledore's own. This magic was wrong, broken, fractured as if the magic in him had been split into an eldritch monstrosity.

"Your talents are... impressive," the pale man said, his voice unnaturally soft. His features were strange, almost serpentine, and his eyes glowed an unnatural red. "But serving me requires more than mere skill. Show me your commitment."

One of the masked figures dragged forward a struggling Muggle. I wanted to look away, but I was still tethered to Snape as he raised his wand.

"Kill him."

"Avada Kedavra."

Green light flashed, and the man crumpled. The pale man smiled, raising his wand. "Welcome, Severus, to my loyal servants."

A mark was burned into Snape's flesh, binding him to this terrible figure. The pain was excruciating, but Snape didn't scream. His face remained impassive even as tears leaked from the corners of his eyes.

I could feel his thoughts however, whatever he was doing now, he wasn't going to turn back, of that I was sure.