Shadow and Light {Severus Snape x OC}

Prologue

The wind whistled through the old windows. Outside, the air was heavy, the birds flew low, and the atmosphere was almost stifling; it was bound to rain soon. The night had plunged the castle into silence, and only the occasional snoring of animated portraits echoed through the corridors of the English school of witchcraft and wizardry.

The only source of activity in the school, now on the verge of summer break, was a tense meeting taking place on the top floor of the immense building. In the headmaster's office, he and three of his teachers were discussing the recent events that had shaken a small part of the wizarding world.

Indeed, in this year of 1995, after hosting the famous Triwizard Tournament, Hogwarts experienced a tragic accident: the death of Cedric Diggory, a student from Hufflepuff who was well-liked by everyone. Although "accident" was the official version, others were convinced it had been murder—an outright assassination orchestrated by none other than the Dark Lord himself, Voldemort.

"Is it wise to leave him there alone?" asked Minerva McGonagall, concerned.

The head of Gryffindor House was visibly troubled by the recent events. Standing with her arms on her hips and her brows furrowed, she questioned the Headmaster. He, in turn, gazed out the window, lost in thought. Uncertain himself, he pondered the situation they were facing.

"For now... I don't think it's necessary to move young Potter..." Dumbledore began. "I dare hope that Tom will lie low for a while... long enough to regroup his forces. Let's not worry too soon, but observe how things unfold." He paused briefly. "But... it would still be wise to increase security around Potter."

He glanced at Mad-Eye Moody, who nodded in agreement. The Auror had been captured by the Death Eater Barty Crouch Jr. and spent much of the year locked inside a cursed trunk. The wizard, who had served many years on the front lines, still felt somewhat ashamed of these events and angry at himself for being unable to prevent the tragedy. However, no one seemed to hold it against him—except perhaps himself. There are certain treacheries one cannot foresee, and Barty Crouch was a man full of guile, whose years in Azkaban had rendered him mentally unstable.

"I suppose, Moody, you won't be staying with us next year..." the bearded headmaster inquired.

"No, I'd rather return to my post as soon as possible. I don't think I'd be of more use to the students here than I could be to the... cause, out there..."

"Very well... I can't argue with that. We will need watchful eyes and ears once again..."

"I'll do what I can with what's left of me! AHAH!" the Auror said, laughing loudly.

Dumbledore cracked a smile, and a soft chuckle escaped him, betraying his amusement. Minerva, on the other hand, rolled her eyes and sat down to relax. Though she didn't particularly appreciate such humor in a moment of great seriousness, she understood the more carefree nature of her two old acquaintances. They had both lived through dark and grim times their entire lives, which had, over time, taught them a sense of detachment.

A fourth person was also present in the room but had not uttered a word since the meeting began. Not much of a talker, the man was more of a sharp observer. Tonight, like the others, he was preoccupied with the recent events, seemingly lost in deep thought, from which no one dared disturb him.

After Moody's humor, a silence settled over the room. But it was short-lived, as a voice began humming in a corner of the office. An old voice, not particularly pleasant to hear, to be honest.

It came from one of the shelves where the headmaster kept his collection of odd trinkets.

Between a clock that showed the wrong time and an unusually ornate globe stood a hat—proud in appearance but worn and shabby. This hat, well-known to anyone who had ever set foot in Hogwarts, wriggled and continued to boast.