Beyond Magic: A Tale of Two Brothers

◇THE INTERUPTION◇

Severus stood at the front of his Potions classroom, his long black robes billowing as he strode purposefully between the rows of students. His dark, penetrating gaze swept across their faces, each one frozen in a mixture of fear and anticipation. The flickering light of the dungeon cast long, ominous shadows across his face as he spoke, his voice soft but powerful, as if daring anyone to interrupt.

"I can teach you how to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses," he began, his tone laced with authority, his eyes narrowing as he continued, "I can tell you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even put a stopper in—"

Suddenly, the door to the classroom swung open with a loud bang, cutting Severus off mid-sentence. Every head snapped toward the doorway in alarm.

There, leaning casually against the doorframe, stood Sebastian Snape. Unlike his austere brother, Sebastian wore an air of irreverence, with a slightly crooked smile that seemed almost too at ease for the setting. The class stared in disbelief at the man who had the audacity to interrupt the terrifying Potions Master mid-lecture.

With a wide grin, Sebastian pushed himself off the doorframe and sauntered in, making a theatrical entrance. "Ooohhh!" he exclaimed, waving his hands in mock amazement as if conducting an invisible orchestra. "Listen to the drama! 'Bewitch the mind, ensnare the senses,'" he mimicked Severus's tone, his voice dripping with exaggerated awe. He even added a dramatic swoosh of his arms, jazz hands included, as if he were performing on stage.

The students blinked in confusion, unsure of what was happening. Some exchanged nervous glances, while others fought back smiles at the absurdity of the situation.

"Are we in a classroom or a Shakespearian play?!" Sebastian continued, winking at one of the first-year students who stared wide-eyed at the scene. "What's next? 'To brew or not to brew, that is the question!'"

He walked up to an empty chair at the side of the classroom, dramatically brushing it off as if it were covered in dust before sitting down and folding his arms across his chest. "Carry on, Professor," he added, raising his eyebrows with a playful smirk. 

Severus's face was a mask of barely restrained fury, his cold glare narrowing on his brother. "What are you doing here?" he asked icily, his voice low and threatening.

Sebastian didn't miss a beat. "Oh, just checking in on the ol' teaching methods, you know. Dumbledore's orders. Making sure you're still... enchanting young minds," he said, barely suppressing a laugh.

The students, assuming Sebastian was someone from the Ministry, sat even straighter, their quills poised nervously above their parchment. No one dared to utter a word, not wanting to catch Severus's ire. His gaze flicked from Sebastian to the students, seething.

Severus's lips curled in disdain. "You. Will. Leave."

"Ah, but I was told to observe, Professor" Sebastian replied with exaggerated innocence, gesturing to the class. "Don't worry, I won't interrupt your little performance again. Carry on."

Severus, his face a mask of fury, turned back to the class, clearly humiliated but determined to get through the rest of the lesson. He finished his lecture as quickly as possible, though the usual air of menace was slightly undermined by the unwanted presence in the room.

The moment the students were dismissed and hurried out of the classroom, Severus spun around, his voice dripping with venom. "Get. Out."