The next morning, as the air shimmered faintly around them, Severus Snape waved his wand to lift the layers of protective spells from around the four-poster bed—general wards, and the Peaceful Guardian Charm among them.
It was another beautiful, sunny day. The enchanted ceiling in the Great Hall shimmered with a clear blue hue, as brilliant as cornflower petals.
He had decided to thoroughly enjoy this first relaxing Sunday after the O.W.L. exams.
Naturally, a great day should start with great food.
Just as Snape sat down with a plate piled high with smoked bacon, ham, and sausages, Patrick Abbot took the seat opposite him.
"You should eat some vegetables. They're better for your health," said Abbot, helping himself to some broccoli and cabbage.
"That's what Mary told me. She said Muggles have whole fields of study devoted to healthy eating, and eating only meat can make you sick."
Snape was a bit surprised—Abbot had spoken more in this single moment than he had during their entire fifth year.
"I—uh—thank you," he muttered.
He'd actually forgotten all about balanced diets, too focused on eating meat to grow stronger.
"You—"
"—That's also what Mary said. Yesterday was really unexpected."
Abbot was holding a fork and looked over to see Snape's confused expression. He added, "I just wonder why you did it. It didn't seem like you at all."
Snape cursed inwardly. Why were these people so obsessed with details? Why couldn't just one of them be a fool?
He set his knife down and said, "You must've heard about what happened at the lake the day before yesterday."
Seeing Abbot nod, Snape continued, face emotionless, "It wasn't exactly a pleasant experience.
"I thought a lot about it afterward. I realized I couldn't stand for anything more unpleasant to happen—whether to me or to anyone else.
"I've made mistakes in the past. But I want to change, not continue down that path."
He flipped a hand upward in a small gesture toward Abbot.
"I suppose you wouldn't turn down someone trying to be better, would you?"
"Hmm…" Abbot looked a little awkward. "Severus, I guess not. It's a good thing. I was just… surprised."
"But tell me, Abbot," Snape added, picking up some vegetables for his own plate now, "are you and Mary close? Why do you care so much about all this?"
Abbot's face flushed slightly. "Oh… we're friends…"
"Of course," Snape said, taking a long sip of pumpkin juice, a faint smile on his lips. "She's a kind girl."
After the satisfying meal, Snape planned to take a walk across the grounds. Knowing the other two "friends" of his clearly wouldn't be accompanying him anymore, he turned to Abbot.
"Come for a walk with me? On a sunny day like this, we should be outside."
The sun shone gently across the grounds, and students lounged everywhere in a state of bliss.
Some were sunbathing on the grass, some gathered in cheerful groups chatting away, and others sat under trees reading books or newspapers.
Thin wisps of smoke curled from the chimney of a small wooden hut in the distance, drifting over the deep green Forbidden Forest.
The two of them strolled slowly downhill, the grass rippling like waves beneath their feet.
"Severus…"
Abbot couldn't help but speak up after noticing how Snape deliberately avoided walking near the lake.
"I mean… now that you've changed so much… maybe… maybe you could try making peace with Potter and the others—"
"No." Snape halted and turned to face him, voice cold. "No, Abbot.
"I can choose to change myself, but that doesn't mean I need to change for the sake of someone else's mistakes."
His eyes were utterly still.
"No one—myself or anyone else—deserves to be treated like that.
"On that point, Potter is no different from Avery or Mulciber. Would you ask Mary to make peace with them?"
Flustered and anxious, Abbot stammered, "S-sorry, Severus."
"I didn't mean it that way—I just…"
His voice trailed off into a whisper.
Then, to Abbot's surprise, Snape turned and began walking straight toward the lake.
Abbot hurried after him.
The lake and sky seemed to merge into one, both glowing a faint, bluish-purple.
A giant squid lay lazily in the shallow water, basking in the sun, while a few students swam nearby with it as a peaceful companion.
Snape kept his pace, voice drifting back.
"Let's stay by the lake for a bit."
He crouched down and gently nudged one of the squid's tendrils with a fingertip, glancing sideways at his companion.
"Why are you in Slytherin, Abbot? I don't see any Slytherin traits in you."
"Oh," said Abbot, crouching beside him, "I'm a pure-blood. My whole family is."
He stared out across the pearlescent surface of the lake and continued, almost talking to himself. "My grandfather and father both told me I belonged in Slytherin.
"The Sorting Hat actually suggested some other houses, but I told it I wanted Slytherin. It respected that."
"That was your choice?"
Abbot sighed. "I know what you mean… Maybe not.
"But the Sorting Hat didn't offer me Gryffindor, and I didn't have the courage not to choose Slytherin…"
The two of them fell silent, watching the crystal-blue lake shimmer in the light.
A sudden image flashed through Snape's mind:
Professor McGonagall, stern as always, standing with a roll of parchment in her hands. She called out the first name—
"Hannah Abbot!"
A girl with twin golden pigtails stumbled nervously from the line and sat atop the tall four-legged stool.
A patched and frayed old hat was placed on her head. After a moment's pause, the hat shouted—
"Hufflepuff!"
For the first time in ages, Severus Snape felt genuine happiness. He chuckled softly.
"If you ever have a child, make sure to respect her right to choose for herself."
"I think I will," said Abbot, then asked curiously, "But why her?"
"Who knows!" Snape laughed heartily and stood up. "Abbot, I think Hufflepuff would've suited you better.
"By the way, that spell that hangs someone upside-down? It's Levicorpus. The counter-spell is Liberacorpus. It's a nonverbal spell."
Abbot struggled to his feet—his legs had gone completely numb.
"Ow… Why are you telling me that?"
"Just in case."
Another cryptic remark.
"Come on, let's head back. Dinner's soon."