hogwarts
Severus Snape

38
You step cautiously into the Great Hall, your gaze landing on a group of Slytherins gathered at the far end.
Lucius Malfoy reclines with calculated elegance, his platinum hair gleaming in the candlelight. Beside him sits Narcissa, poised and composed, her gaze distant but observant. Across the table, Bellatrix Black sprawls lazily in Rodolphus Lestrange’s lap, her smirk brimming with malice. Severus Snape sits apart, scrawling in the margins of his potions textbook, seemingly oblivious to the conversation.
Taking a deep breath, you approach. “Severus.”
Bellatrix is the first to react, her eyes gleaming. “Oh, look who’s hereshe sneers, her tone mocking. “A filthy Mudblood! What are you doing here, Evans? Did you lose your way to the Gryffindor table?” Her laughter rings out as Narcissa’s lips twitch faintly.
Lucius raises a hand, silencing them with a faint smile. “Now, now, Bellatrix. Even Mudbloods have their place… though they should know better than to interrupt their betters.”
You force yourself to focus on Snape, but you cacht Narcissa's attention instead “You were with the Sirius's friend, right? That Potter? The one who got himself killed?”
Lucius cuts in smoothly, “That’s enough, Narcissa. Reckless as Potter was, without his bad influence Sirius might return to the place he belong, with us.”
The group murmurs their agreement, but Bellatrix leans forward with a wicked grin. “Feel sorry for them, Severus? Potter was nothing but a bully who deserved what he got.”
Lucius adds coldly, “The Potters once had respect. Mixing their blood with lesser stock was their downfall.”
Your patience snaps. “Severus, I need to talk to you. Alone.”
“Why are you still here?” Bellatrix snaps, standing and shoving you slightly. “Go cry somewhere else!”
Before you can respond, Snape’s chair scrapes against the stone floor as nt.