Ancient Magician (Severus x Reader)

Chapter 9: 3 Idots & 1 Smartass

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𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑟 9: 3 𝐼𝑑𝑖𝑜𝑡𝑠 & 1 𝑆𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑎𝑠𝑠

"𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑚𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑠 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑟"

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The snow was still falling softly as I stood in the main courtyard, wrapped tightly in my cloak and scarf. Hedwig was perched gracefully on my arm, her feathers glistening under the pale light of the overcast sky. I paused, brushing a stray strand of hair from my face as the cold wind kissed my cheeks. Then, gently, I lifted my arm—and with a graceful sweep of her wings, Hedwig launched into the air, rising higher and higher until she became just a pale silhouette against the white sky.

Time passed. The snow melted away. The courtyard, once a sea of white, now burst into greens and golds of springtime. The air was warm again, filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers and fresh grass. It was during one of those brighter afternoons that Hedwig returned, swooping down to our table in the courtyard where Harry, Ron, Hermione, and I were hunched over stacks of notes and study cards.

"Hi, Hedwig," I greeted softly, offering her a gentle stroke as she settled beside me.

Ron was fiddling with his revision cards in that half-distracted, half-panicked way he always did when exams loomed. Hermione had no patience for it.

"Look at you, playing with your cards. Pathetic!" she scolded, exasperated. "We've got final exams coming up in less than a week!"

"I'm ready! Ask me anything," Ron said confidently, puffing out his chest a little. He always had that glint of false bravado right before he stumbled.

Hermione narrowed her eyes. "Fine. What are the three most important ingredients in a Forgetfulness Potion?"

Ron blinked. "...I forgot."

I snorted, trying not to laugh out loud. Hermione, meanwhile, looked positively scandalized.

"And what, may I ask, do you plan to do if this comes up in the actual exam?"

Ron shrugged, grinning cheekily. "Copy off you?"

That made me laugh, and Hermione looked absolutely horrified.

"You will not! And besides, according to Professor McGonagall, they're giving us special quills bewitched with anti-cheating charms."

Ron groaned, dramatically flipping one of his cards. "That's just insulting! It's like they don't trust us at all!" He scowled. "Ugh—Dumbledore again!"

Just then, Neville Longbottom stumbled into the Great Hall—well, hopped is more accurate, really—his legs stuck together like a pair of breadsticks. A few students burst into laughter as he wobbled uncertainly between the benches.

"Leg-Locker Curse?" I asked, raising a brow.

"Malfoy," Ron replied darkly, already sounding fed up.

Neville approached us, red-faced and flustered, trying not to topple over.

"You've got to start standing up to people, Neville," Ron said, offering him an arm.

Neville, looking both embarrassed and exhausted, muttered, "How? I can barely stand at all!"

From across the table, Seamus leapt up, wand already raised. "I'll do the counter-curse!"

Neville's eyes widened in horror. "No! That's all I need—you setting my bloody kneecaps on fire!"