"NO GREATER MAGIC THAN LOVE" A Severus Snape Love Story

DARK TIMES

The train left at exactly 11:00am. We took our seat in the furthermost compartment, since it was the only one empty by the time we boarded the train. As usual I was sitting with Sean, and there were three other students who joined us after around fifteen minutes. From the corner of my eyes, I thought I saw Sean shift rather uncomfortably when they appeared. I didn't pay much attention to it because I am sure that my best friend will share it with me, whatever it is.

"So are you going to try for Chaser or Beater this year?" Sean spoke after sometime

"No not beater, maybe for Chaser, if only they ask. But I don't think that will happen. Jones sisters and Oscar Taylor are quite the good Chasers. I don't think they should be changed. What about you? You are not going to try for Quidditch this year?"

"I don't think so. I don't want to end up in the hospital wing."

"Not everyone ends up in the hospital wing playing Quidditch; I didn't!"

"Most of them do."

"That's not a reason enough. Do you want to try?"

"No never thought about it. I was thinking about trying Gobstones or Chess maybe."

After about a few minutes silence, I asked "what do you think is going to happen with dark wizard rising and all? I followed the Daily Prophet throughout summer and I am scared."

"What are you scared off?" he asked absentmindedly, looking out the window. "You are a pure blood like me and above all you are Slytherin, you should be relaxed."

 I felt the taunt in his voice. It was not his fault. Some students in Slytherin have been saying these nasty things throughout the years. But that was not the case for Sean. His family is aristocrat purebloods. He hated these conversations with his family. And this summer has not been great for him. He got into fights with his parents' quite often and well those fights did not end up very well. Plus our other friend Maya, who was with us till 3rd year got transferred to Ilvermony this year, she did not want to but her father saw this as the best option given the situation. We missed her a lot; Sean is more sensitive about friends.

I placed my hand over his knee and said "Hey at least you don't say like that now." He looked up and I could say he was really sorry that he said that.

"I am sorry I didn't mean it. I was just so pissed off. Everything is so bad right now, people are dying every day and some people are happy about it, especially my parents, I am just not like them. But I have to play along." The last part he nearly whispered into my ear so that others' could not hear.

"I know buddy. But you are in Hogwarts now. You can be yourself here. You don't have to play along."

At last he smiled. And then we talked about other things to get our mind off the ongoing situation and it felt better.

Finally we changed into our robes as Hogwarts came into view. The castle was always a sight of peace for me. It was like my second home. The boundaries felt so safe. I wish my family could stay here with me. Then it would have been a complete home. 

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The grand hall was as usual decorated with floating candles and bewitched sky. We took our places according to our houses. This is the part where I hate it. Sean is in Ravenclaw so we get separated and above all Maya was not here anymore with us anymore so I was kind of alone in the Slytherine; Not long before I noticed my team mates from Quidditch team and I thought it's time I play along with them if I have to survive boredom.