Chương 59: Chapter 58 - Care of Magical Creatures.

[Chapter Size: 4100 Words.]

Third Person POV

Hogwarts.

...

...

The group gathered again by the Black Lake, in the same spot where they had spent the previous day, while other students also came together to enjoy lunch before the afternoon classes. Some of them wouldn't even have any more classes that day.

Heloísa, for example, wouldn't have any, just like the rest of the first-year students. As freshmen, their course load wasn't as heavy as the others', allowing them to gradually adapt to the school's seven years of magical education.

"Ah! I don't think I've introduced myself yet. I'm Xenophilius Lovegood, and this is Pandora," the sixth-year boy said to those who hadn't been introduced yet.

"Hello, Xenophilius," Iris said.

Severus let them talk, even though they had clearly crossed paths before. At the same time, he couldn't help but notice someone else approaching them. One look at her face was enough to tell she was coming straight toward him.

"Snape," she said.

"Miss Bones," he replied to the Hufflepuff girl who had attended class with him the previous day.

While everyone's eyes were on her, the sixth-year student looked only at Severus at first. "May I ask you a few questions? How are you taking care of your plant?" she asked curiously.

Judging by the way she had left class the previous day after trying to overhear what he had said to Professor Sprout, it was obvious she had plenty of questions. Probably as many as Greengrass, who had approached him the previous night trying to buy the spell—or rather, pay him to teach it to her.

"Of course. Try to have a seat here as well," Severus said with a shrug.

No one said anything after his approval, since he was the reason everyone there had gathered.

"Alright," Bones said, finally looking at the rest of the group and greeting them with a nod, although some of them clearly already knew her.

"Hello, Roberta, Iris..." she said at last, after all, the three of them were among the most popular girls in Hufflepuff.

She stepped closer while Severus conjured an armchair so she could sit by the lakeshore.

"Hey, make one for me too," Heloísa asked.

Severus flicked his wand and created another armchair for her, while she let out a cheerful little giggle, thinking the chair was incredibly comfortable.

"That seems pretty useful. Could I ask for one too?" Xenophilius asked happily. "And another one for Pandora?"

The girl was a little shy and looked on with curiosity.

"Are you two dating, by any chance?" Severus asked, showing them a small smile. Xenophilius seemed eager to take care of the girl.

"No, we're not. We're friends," Xenophilius replied calmly.

Severus had his doubts as the girl turned as red as a tomato, but he created armchairs for both of them. He then took the opportunity to conjure seats for everyone else as the group settled in.

"Hey, where did you see these armchairs? I've never sat in anything this comfortable!" Roberta exclaimed, and her friend Iris had to agree with her.

"I saw them in a Muggle shop..." Severus replied, though those armchairs had never existed in this world, being made from a material only he could create. Since he had been the king of the richest and most powerful kingdom in the world, it was only natural that he had enjoyed the greatest luxuries in his former world, and he could replicate them here, which worked wonderfully with Transfiguration to create a more comfortable life.

Amelia's questions came immediately afterward. She took out a small notebook and a quill, beginning to write down every answer Severus gave about how to care for his plant. There was nothing particularly surprising, but he knew things that couldn't be found in books, such as how to properly care for a plant, the exact amount of time it should spend in the sun, and how often it should be watered—better than Professor Sprout's explanations, it should be said.

"Can't you teach me that growth spell?" she asked, sounding a little disappointed.

"Greengrass asked me the same thing last night. Obviously not. It comes from the natural power that dwells within me, something like a genetic trait that can't simply be passed on. It's something possessed by those who have a connection with nature," Severus explained.

After hearing that, the group also began asking him a few questions, extremely curious about what he could do with those druidic powers.

As he spoke, his eyes shifted toward the sky when he noticed a small bird flying toward the group. He recognized that it was heading straight for him. He quickly accessed its mind and memories to find out who the sender was, and couldn't help but smile.

"It looks like he replied pretty quickly," he said, interrupting his conversation with Amelia as everyone else also watched the owl approach.

"Wait... that's Grandpa's owl!" Iris exclaimed, recognizing Scamander's owl.

"I sent him a message this morning. It looks like he answered rather quickly," Severus said, raising his arm so the owl could land gently.

"What did you write to him?" Iris asked, curious and excited.

"Ah, I described Articuno. Speaking of which, why are you hiding? You can show yourself in front of everyone..." Severus said in a louder voice.

Articuno appeared a moment later, leaving its invisible form and Heloísa's shoulder as it descended onto Severus's lap, catching several people by surprise as they watched the blue phoenix appear out of nowhere.

Rumors of its existence had already spread throughout the school, as many students had seen the two phoenixes the previous day near the Black Lake and during Potions class. Even the villagers could spot them from afar, and many eyes were fixed on the group at that moment.

Articuno landed on Severus's shoulder a moment later. "He wants to see you," he said while Iris read the letter.

It wasn't surprising that Scamander was curious after hearing about the blue phoenix for the first time.

"I wouldn't be surprised if he shows up at the school this very afternoon, making up some excuse just to meet you. I don't understand why you still haven't shown him this phoenix," Iris said at last.

"You already know your grandfather," Severus replied calmly with a laugh. "I already knew how long I could end up trapped with him when I had to catch the Hogwarts Express the next day. Showing Articuno on the last day before coming to school wasn't an option." Severus laughed.

"You're different from how you used to be... Snape..." Amelia commented.

Severus stopped laughing and turned his attention to her. "Everyone's been saying that lately. Don't worry too much about it. By the way, you can just call me Severus..." Severus merely shrugged, making Amelia smile.

"Alright, just Severus then."

A few seventh-year students walked past them, greeting Iris and Roberta. The two greeted them back naturally, receiving surprised looks as they noticed so many students gathered together, with members from all four Houses.

Severus also noticed Heloísa's gaze following a girl about her age who was passing by at that moment, clutching her books to her chest as she hurried along. The girl also cast them a quick glance.

Heloísa kept watching the girl. Severus noticed everything and turned his eyes toward her.

She wasn't the only first-year child suffering from bullying. And among the boys, the situation seemed to be even worse.

"Do you want to talk to her?" Severus asked Heloísa.

Heloísa looked at him in surprise before blinking a few times. "How did you notice?" she asked, pausing before continuing in a more cautious tone. "I do... but I don't know what to say. She's doing everything those two horrible girls tell her to," Heloísa murmured with a hint of sorrow.

Severus simply nodded. Although he was immersed in his own thoughts, he couldn't just stand by and watch children being bullied without doing anything. He was already at risk of being expelled anyway, so he would do something if he had the chance.

"I heard you're also having some problems within your own House. Life hasn't exactly been easy since you came back, has it, Mr. Snape?" Amelia murmured as she watched the conversation between him and the first-year girl.

Iris and the others had already asked about what had happened the previous night as soon as they gathered for lunch. Of course, Severus hadn't told them anything about his adventure. He had only said that he went into the forest to relax for a while, and everyone accepted his answer, even though he had spent the entire night away from his bed.

"Fighting with the Marauders, insulting the professor, and clashing with the Slytherin students... to me, that all seems pretty normal," Severus said with a smile to Amelia.

"You say that so calmly. Honestly, if it were anyone else in your place... they'd be losing their mind... But you seem perfectly normal..." Roberta murmured.

"Severus knows how to take care of himself, but he still needs to be careful," Iris added.

"You should have seen what he did in Defense Against the Dark Arts. He blasted the dummy into the wall, then summoned a shield, and after that created a sword right in the middle of the Ancient Runes classroom to test his spell!" Xenophilius began recounting the events, while everyone looked at Severus with a certain amount of horror.

"A sword? Seriously? In Ancient Runes?" Iris started laughing.

Severus merely shrugged.

Even so, he couldn't help but look around and enjoy what he saw as the people around him chatted. The old Severus Snape had only ever had Lily as a friend or spent time with a few Slytherins. Now, on only his second day, he was surrounded by several people. It felt like a much better life than the one he had before.

Time passed until it was finally time to head back. He left Articuno with Heloísa, who would spend the rest of the afternoon studying in the library, while he headed off to the first class of the afternoon: Care of Magical Creatures.

The class took place in a corner of the castle, near a huge shed. There were several magical creatures inside fenced enclosures, not far from Hagrid's hut, the gamekeeper who also took care of the magical creatures.

Severus hadn't had much contact with the man. Perhaps he should seek him out later. He wanted to get to know him better than his former self ever had, since the old Severus had held a certain prejudice against the half-giant. But he put the thought aside and simply headed to class.

Severus approached while chatting with Amelia, who was talking about her life living in a simple house in a rural part of England, despite being a pure-blood.

Lily also attended that class alongside Mary Macdonald and several others.

Potter and Black were there as well, glaring daggers at Severus from the moment they saw him.

He simply ignored them. That was until the Marauders realized they couldn't quite adapt to the fact that someone was simply ignoring them, despite all their efforts with those intimidating stares.

"I thought you'd be heading home with your bags packed, Snivellus..." Potter taunted openly.

All the students gathering for class immediately turned to look at Severus.

This time, he didn't answer with a growl, as he would have until last year. He merely smiled. A smile he never would have given before.

"From what I can see, nothing's happened to me yet. Not after I beat the four of you near the Slytherin entrance. Even if I do get expelled, I don't regret doing something like that. It was worth putting you cowards in your place," he said, maintaining his calm smile.

The Marauders still seemed to be trying to get used to this new Severus, because they simply stared at him in complete surprise without getting the reaction they had expected from last year.

Peter trembled slightly upon hearing that. Severus hadn't even noticed him until he stepped out from behind Black. They still had several injuries that the ointments hadn't been able to heal completely. Purple bruises surrounded their eyes, there were bruises scattered across their faces, and especially on Peter's nose after Severus had broken it.

"Now do everyone a favor, shut up, and try to learn something in this class," he added in a sleepy tone.

Amelia couldn't help but laugh. Some of the students also looked back and forth between Severus and the Marauders, whispering among themselves.

"You shouldn't be here!" Black said angrily.

"Then go complain to the Headmaster," Severus replied with a shrug. "If you don't like his answer, complain to the Minister of Magic... or to the Pope."

Several people laughed more openly after that, especially those who knew who the Pope was.

Black didn't like the response. Lupin tried to calm them down. "Arrogant," was the only thing they muttered. But Severus no longer got irritated by that. He was someone completely different from them.

Soon, the professor arrived. He was a tall, slender man with a calm smile. His name was Alistair Hawthorne.

"Hello, sixth-years!" he said before looking at Severus. "And you, Mr. Snape. It seems Professor Slughorn also asked me to let you attend my class. Well, the more, the merrier."

Severus simply nodded, ignoring Lily's gaze and the others', since that answer was enough for him.

Lily watched him more intently than before, while he completely ignored her gaze. She was certainly beginning to realize the enormous impact of his personality change. Severus had no doubt she would start investigating him, especially since she might consider the possibility that he was someone else.

And that was perfectly normal, given the difference in personality, and Severus wasn't exactly being discreet...

In any case, the professor stepped into the center of the group carrying a large covered cage. He removed the cloth, revealing a small bird to everyone.

"This is a Golden Snidget!" he announced.

"Its feathers are quite valuable," Severus murmured, looking at the creature with interest. It was the first time he had ever seen a Golden Snidget in person, although he had recognized it the moment he had seen it in Scamander's book.

"I know what it is! It's a Golden Snidget! Its tail feathers are used to make Golden Snitches!" Potter answered excitedly. Of course he would know something like that...

"That's correct, Mr. Potter..."

"They say it's worth more than gold..." Amelia quietly commented beside him.

At that moment, Xenophilius finally arrived. "Sorry I'm late. I went to the bathroom," he said. "What did I miss?"

"Nothing much. Class hasn't really started yet," Severus replied.

Meanwhile, the professor began explaining everything about the bird in front of the class, repeating practically the same information that was written in Scamander's books.

At one point, the professor stepped away for a few moments. He wanted to fetch some kind of food for the Golden Snidget.

Potter and the others exchanged glances before raising their wands. They seemed determined to approach the bird and pluck one of its feathers as a souvenir, after all, they were completely obsessed with Quidditch.

Severus said nothing.

"Hey, what are you doing?!" Lily said warningly.

"Relax, Evans, we're just going to take a closer look. It's a Golden Snidget, after all!" Potter said with a laugh.

The two Marauders clearly wanted to open the cage, and they did.

"You're frightening the bird," Severus said with a serious look. It was a warning.

It wasn't an exaggeration. The animal began backing away from their approach, which wasn't subtle in the slightest. It was possible to feel its panic growing as it prepared to thrash around inside the cage and attack any hand that tried to reach it.

"Mind your own business, Snape!" Black growled, stepping in front of him with his wand in hand and a defiant look.

Severus didn't hesitate for even a second. He wasn't about to let the bird be tormented like that.

His wand wasn't secured in the holster on his arm, but in the ring instead. That made it easy to summon it instantly into his hand. He pointed it forward and cast a disarming spell at Black, catching him completely off guard.

Before Potter could react by reaching his hand through the opening of the cage, another spell shot toward it. He jumped in fright and even let out a somewhat girlish scream, but he didn't have time to do anything else. The cage vanished, and the bird immediately gained its freedom, flying away from Potter.

"Snape!" Potter shouted.

Severus didn't even pay attention to him. While Black was still trying to retrieve his fallen wand, Severus simply raised his arm, and the bird naturally flew toward him, landing on his forearm.

He looked at the animal with satisfaction.

"Wow... how did you do that? Why won't it come to us?" Xenophilius asked, completely thrilled.

Even Amelia looked impressed. The surrounding students also watched the scene in surprise, while Black and Potter were humiliated once again.

"Maybe it just likes me," Severus replied, gently stroking the creature's feathers, which seemed to enjoy his touch.

Potter, who still had his wand raised, pointed it at Severus and cast a spell.

A shield appeared instantly, blocking the attack, and the students angrily shouted at Potter, since Severus was standing right among them.

"Hey! Hey! What are you doing?!" Amelia shouted angrily as she drew her wand.

Severus remained calm while soothing the bird. Then he swiftly moved his wand and pointed it toward the ground where Potter and Black were standing, just as the two of them were preparing to attack him.

The next instant, a massive root burst through the ground. The two of them widened their eyes in shock at the sound beneath their feet.

They didn't even have time to react before the root coiled around their bodies. Moments later, an enormous tree began growing around them, covered in branches and leaves. Only the roots remained visible, binding them and lifting them several inches off the ground.

Everyone around them was utterly astonished and stepped back, staring at that magic in disbelief.

Xenophilius couldn't help but applaud. He had already seen that very same magic used against a training dummy, but seeing it used on real people was even more impressive.

Potter and Black remained suspended, trapped among the roots.

"Hey! What's going on here?" It was at that moment that the professor appeared.

Severus kept his attention on the bird perched on his arm the entire time, remaining completely relaxed.

Before leaving, the creature plucked a few of its own feathers after Severus asked the bird for permission, and he handed the Golden Snidget over to the stunned professor.

Those feathers would be extremely useful in some of his new potions.

The professor listened to the explanation and couldn't help but frown as he looked at the Marauders with obvious displeasure, taking points from them and explaining how a Golden Snidget could become frightened. It would only offer its feathers willingly; they could never be taken by force.

He was also impressed with Severus after seeing the Golden Snidget resting naturally in his arms. Even Amelia and Xenophilius were allowed to pet the bird, much to everyone else's envy.

Even so, Severus lost ten points for Slytherin and received punishment for the violent response of the tree that had trapped Potter and Black. The professor wouldn't tolerate any kind of fighting. Black and Potter, however, each lost thirty points.

Severus dispelled the spell while the two of them walked away shooting murderous glares at him, as though to say it wasn't over yet.

Severus merely shook his head. 'You can keep trying for the rest of the year. You'll still be just as disappointing,' he thought without saying a word.

At least the professor hadn't placed him on the same level as the Marauders, as Dumbledore had done before.

The class continued, and the professor demonstrated a few tricks with the trained Golden Snidget.

In any case, after class, Severus had the rest of the afternoon free. He took the opportunity to go to the library, read a few books, and then headed to his Music class.

There, he found students from several different years, each with their favorite instrument.

The professor, however, had been staring at him ever since he entered. "It seems Hogwarts' most famous student at the moment has decided to join us," she remarked in a displeased tone, which was only natural.

"Thank you for allowing me to participate, Professor," Severus replied calmly.

"Tell me, what instruments do you know how to play?" she asked.

He thought for a moment. "I know how to play the guitar and the acoustic guitar, but that's not the instrument I want to learn here."

"And what would that be?" the professor asked.

"I'd like to learn the piano."

"The piano? Then show me what you can do with the instruments you already know. A Muggle electric guitar isn't something you could use here, after all. Electronic devices don't work at Hogwarts."

Severus simply nodded. Even so, he saw that limitation as a challenge. He wanted to make electronic devices function despite the magical currents in the environment interfering with them. He would still try to find a solution to that problem.

In any case, he picked up an acoustic guitar and began playing a melody while singing as well. When he finished, the words came...

The professor looked surprised. "I had no idea you had such a beautiful singing voice, Mr. Snape."

And she wasn't the only one impressed. Every student stared at him in surprise. No one had ever imagined hearing Severus Snape sing—and that he would be so... good?

Some of the girls even began looking at him with a different sparkle in their eyes after hearing his voice.

Well, it wasn't exactly a secret that Bard, in his other world, had been smooth-talking and had an extraordinary talent for winning women over.

Even princesses had fallen in love with bards. Princess Gael was a famous example from his former world.

Severus could possess that same gift, since he had inherited his father's talent from his previous life. After all, wasn't that how he had met his mother as well, making her cry when she heard him sing before that tournament?

In any case, the professor liked it very much. She was quite strict, but Severus learned quickly. Before long, he was already able to play his first notes on the piano. He understood melodies very well; he simply still needed to develop dexterity with his fingers.

After Music class, he headed to the Room of Requirement. The first thing he did was create a piano, which the room itself summoned for him. Then he began practicing until dinner time.

Before that, however, he summoned one of his house-elves.

"Nime, are you there?" he asked.

The elf appeared immediately.

"Master, the task you gave me is done," Nime said.

"Excellent. Let me see the parchment." The elf nodded before handing over the map.

Severus could have obtained it through a bird, as he had almost done that very day after discovering its existence. But why would he do that when he could rely on house-elves? They could enter practically anywhere in Hogwarts.

All it had taken was a simple request for one of them to retrieve the map from the Marauders' dormitory and leave without being seen.

It had been easy. He had simply called one of the elves aside discreetly and asked him not to mention it to anyone else, not even the other house-elves.

The task was completed, and Nime disappeared, leaving Severus alone in the Room of Requirement with the map.

While continuing to practice the piano, he looked over the parchment.

"Messrs. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs are proud to present the Marauder's Map."

Severus read those words and shook his head. "So those fools were so arrogant they didn't even bother hiding their own identities. A rookie mistake," he murmured, looking at the map with a hint of disappointment.

In any case, he now possessed yet another piece of evidence against them, especially with their nicknames displayed right on the map. All that remained was to uncover the secrets hidden within it.

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