Ancient Magician (Severus x Reader)

Chapter 30: Polyjuice Potion

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𝘠𝘦𝘢𝘳 2 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳 30: 𝘗𝘰𝘭𝘺𝘫𝘶𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘯𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘴𝘺𝘮𝘣𝘰𝘭 𝘴𝘭𝘦𝘦𝘬 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘥

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"I always knew Salazar Slytherin was a twisted old loony," Ron blurted, his voice carrying over the crowd as we were jostled through the corridor after class, heading back to the common room to drop our things before dinner. "But I didn't know he was the one who came up with all that pure-blood nonsense. I mean, I wouldn't be in Slytherin if you paid me. If the Sorting Hat had even thought about putting me there, I'd've taken the train home that very second..."

Hermione gave an emphatic nod beside him. "I agree. Honestly, the entire idea of blood status is so archaic. It's absurd that it still holds any weight in the wizarding world."

Ron huffed. "It's Slytherin's fault. That house is crawling with people who think they're better than everyone else. Malfoy, for starters."

I was walking a little behind the three of them, and my steps faltered. I couldn't help but frown at Ron's words. Sev—Severus—was a Slytherin. He'd always been kind to me. Gentle, even. The idea that being in Slytherin made someone bad didn't sit well with me. It never had.

Harry glanced back at me, his brow creasing in concern. "Hey, Y/n, are you okay? You're frowning."

I quickly pasted on a smile, not wanting to start an argument. "It's nothing. Just thinking, that's all."

The corridor was thick with students all heading the same way, shoulder to shoulder. As we turned the corner, I heard a high-pitched voice over the hum of conversation.

"Hiya, Y/n!" Colin Creevey called out, trying to wave while getting pushed along by the sea of taller students.

"Hello, Colin!" I called back automatically, even though he was already being swept past us.

He looked like he was trying to get something out—"Y/n—Y/n—this boy in my class was saying you're—" but he was too small, and the tide of people carried him out of earshot. "See you, Y/n!" was the last thing we heard before he vanished into the crowd.

Hermione raised her eyebrows at me. "What was he trying to say? Did you hear?"

I let out a small sigh. "Probably the same rubbish others have been whispering. That I'm the Heir of Slytherin or something." My stomach twisted just saying it. "Justin Finch-Fletchley wouldn't even look at me during lunch. He dropped his pumpkin juice when I walked past."

Ron made a face. "People around here will believe anything. Honestly, it's pathetic."

We reached a quieter stretch of corridor and finally managed to climb the staircase without being crushed. The chatter faded a little as we moved further from the crowd.

"D'you lot really think there is a Chamber of Secrets?" Ron asked, glancing between Hermione and me.

I shrugged. "I think the Chamber exists, yeah. The school's old, and there are a lot of secrets hidden in these walls."

Hermione looked thoughtful, her brows knitting together. "I'm not sure. But... whatever happened to Mrs. Norris—Dumbledore couldn't fix it. That makes me think it wasn't done by a person. Not exactly, anyway."