Angels in Heaven - Sirius Black¹

iv. sectumsempra

·

Severus Snape couldn't help but stare at his brother as he sat at the Ravenclaw table in the Great Hall, alone. It has been around a week since Lily came back to Hogwarts and Severus couldn't be more surprised at how it all unraveled.

He expected his brother and his new friends to be more insufferable than ever, but as shocking as it was, he didn't catch Sebastian talking with anyone from the group at all, not even Lily.

Severus didn't care if it was wrong to think so, but he was happy that Sebastian didn't surround himself with the people that made Severus' life a living hell. He felt a small bit of hope bloom inside his chest. He thought that he may have just the chance to get his brother back to himself again.

Neither of the two were happy, so it would be a good thing right? The whole summer that they spent in absolute silence was torture for the both of them.

Severus' mind didn't shut up about making things right with Sebastian. He was consumed by guilt. And the guilt slowly turned into irrational anger.

Sectumsempra, the imperfect spell, needed many corrections and improvements. It could prove to be extremely powerful and useful, yet after one misfortune, Severus promised himself to never use it again.

·

On the 3rd of June 1976, the first part of the OWL exams took place. Severus was pretty satisfied with how he did, so he decided to take a break for the afternoon. He sat under a tree by the Black Lake, reading a book about potions.

For the first few minutes, it was peaceful, just like he wanted. But it didn't last long and what was supposed to be a calm evening turned into a nightmare in only a few seconds.

Severus heard voices coming his way, laughing and talking fairly loudly, making him recognize their owners immediately. He closed his book shut, putting it in his bag, and tried to leave the place as fast and as quiet as he could.

He wasn't quick enough though and right after he stood up, the loud group of Gryffindors stood before him. Their faces carried smirks and disgusted expressions.

Severus put his hand in his right pocket. He carried his wand there and though he hoped he wouldn't have to use it, he doubted it.

"Hello Snivellus! We're sorry to disturb you from sniffing those books of yours but we have some unfinished business, don't we?" The first one to speak was James Potter, his so-called arch-enemy.

Severus of course knew what the business was. A few days back, he had a really rough day and took it out with a few insults and threats on Peter Pettigrew, a very good friend of Potter. Back then, Severus didn't think of the consequences, but he didn't mind. He wasn't afraid of James. After all, he didn't have the reputation of "knowing more hexes and curses than most seventh year students at just eleven" for nothing.

"You know that we don't like when you Slytherins think you can mess with our friends," spoke James' best friend, Sirius. Severus didn't hate him as much, but that didn't mean that he had any sort of sympathy for him.

He scanned the rest of the group who was obviously there only to watch the argument unfold. Severus fought the urge to roll his eyes at that and instead he spoke back to them. "Cowardly of you to bring so many friends, Potter. Or is the gossip too hard to resist for you Gryffindors?"

James scoffed and pulled out his wand, Severus immediately doing the same. The Gryffindor students behind him started cheering and shouting, whilst a few glanced at them disapprovingly.

Everything happened too quickly. Before Severus could even think of a spell to use that wouldn't kill Potter on the spot, James disarmed him and Severus was hanging upside down in the air, slowly raising higher and higher.