~ Support & Read 20 Advanced Chapters Available now on my Patreon!
————
Severus Snape and Patrick Abbott left the castle together, crossing the lush vegetable patches toward the greenhouses, where magical plants were nurtured.
As they approached, clusters of students were already gathered on the lawn, waiting for Professor Sprout in small groups.
From a distance, Snape spotted the Whomping Willow. Its branches swayed lazily in the breeze, new leaves nearly translucent in the sunlight.
His thoughts drifted back to a full moon night from the previous term.
Egged on by Sirius Black's malicious "prank," Snape had prodded the knot on the Whomping Willow's trunk with a long stick, opening the passage to the Shrieking Shack.
At the tunnel's end, he caught a fleeting glimpse of a werewolf, fangs bared, brimming with feral intensity.
Just as the creature lunged, James Potter had rushed in, yanking him back to safety.
In that moment, James had saved his life.
But Snape vividly recalled what Dumbledore had told Harry afterward: "When one wizard saves another's life, it creates a certain bond between them."
Later, Peter Pettigrew, in his panicked escape, had been strangled by his own silver hand in a bizarre, gruesome twist before Harry's eyes.
A ripple of unease stirred in Snape's chest. He couldn't help but wonder if this bond might one day unleash consequences—unpredictable, uncontrollable.
"What's got you so lost in thought?" Abbott nudged him with an elbow.
"Nothing."
Snapping back to the present, Snape scanned the crowd.
Remus Lupin—human, for now—stood there, his face pale and haggard.
Snape mused silently that it must be the aftereffects of the recent full moon, Lupin's transformation likely leaving him drained.
As Snape's mind wandered, Professor Sprout strode across the lawn.
She was a squat witch, her flyaway hair tucked under a patched hat, her clothes perpetually dusted with soil, always beaming at her students.
"Today, we're heading to Greenhouse Three," Professor Sprout announced cheerfully. "From now on, we'll be studying some truly fascinating plants there."
The students buzzed with excitement. Before their sixth year, they'd only been to Greenhouse Three once.
Compared to the familiar Greenhouse One, the plants in Greenhouse Three were far more intriguing—and dangerous.
Sprout pulled a large key from her belt and unlocked the door to Greenhouse Three.
Snape inhaled the damp scent of earth and fertilizer, laced with the heady fragrance of flowers. Some blooms, as large as Hagrid's umbrella, hung from the ceiling.
Sprout positioned herself behind a trestle table in the center of the greenhouse, where a dozen pairs of variously colored earmuffs were neatly arranged.
Once the students had filed in, she cleared her throat. "Today, we'll be repotting Mandrakes. Now, who can remind me of the Mandrake's properties?"
After two weeks of classes, Snape noticed that students from every house had stopped bothering to raise their hands—someone always jumped in to answer.
"The Mandrake, or Mandragora, is a powerful restorative," a voice piped up. "It's a key ingredient in most antidotes, but it's also dangerous…"
"Exactly," Snape muttered under his breath. "Spot on. Ten points to Gryffindor."
"Very good," Sprout said, as expected. "Ten points to Gryffindor. It seems you haven't forgotten what I taught you in second year."
But as Snape eyed the hundred or so purplish-green seedlings before them, he decided it was best to wait until this batch of Mandrakes matured before considering any ventures into the Chamber of Secrets.
"The Mandrakes we're handling today still need time to grow," Sprout said, gesturing to a row of deep trays. "Their cries, at this stage, might only land you in the hospital wing for a memorable Christmas."
"Here, take this." Abbott snatched two pairs of fluffy pink earmuffs and handed one to Snape with a smug grin.
"Why in Merlin's name did you pick these?" Snape asked, bewildered. "Why?!"
"They're stylish," Abbott replied, unbothered, slipping his pair on. "I think they suit us."
Snape glanced desperately at the table—all the other colors had been snatched up.
"You're insufferable," Snape groaned. "How did I not see through you sooner—"
"What's that?" Abbott tapped his earmuffs. "Can't hear you!"
"~! @#¥%..."
"Like a married couple bickering," a soft voice chimed in.
A girl with wild, waist-length blonde hair, streaked with dirt, stood beside them. Around her neck hung a necklace strung with Butterbeer corks.
Her pale eyes and faint eyebrows framed a dreamy smile, and an unmistakable air of eccentricity clung to her.
Luna?
Snape's mind conjured the image of a sprightly, elf-like figure.
He'd never noticed her before.
Then again, back then, his eyes had only ever followed a certain pair of bright green ones.
"You're Loony Pandora Flaherty," Abbott declared loudly.
The earmuffs clearly threw off his volume control.
Pandora didn't take offense.
She merely blinked her large eyes and said gently, "You call me Loony too?"
With that, she turned toward an empty table on the other side.
"Wait," Snape called, smacking Abbott on the back of the head. "This one's got a few screws loose—ignore him."
"There's space here," he added. "Why don't you sit with us?"
"Alright," Pandora said brightly, taking a seat across from Snape.
"Did you know," she said in a conspiratorial whisper, "the Mandrake's cry is actually a form of healing magic? Pair it with a Carthaginian incantation, and it can work wonders."
"Three hundred years ago, a witch named Elfrida used a Mandrake's wail to cure a vampire's sunlight allergy…"
As her whimsical words spilled out, Snape was certain: this girl was undoubtedly Luna's mother.
At nine, Luna would lose her to a tragic magical experiment gone wrong.
Yet here she was, vibrant and animated, sharing her boundless ideas.
From the joy in her expression, Snape suspected few had ever listened to her ramble so patiently.
Sunlight streamed through the greenhouse glass, illuminating her profile.
The day was bright.
————
Supporting me on Patreon to gain early access to advanced chapters and enjoy expedited updates. Your support is greatly appreciated.
pat-reon .com/Dragonhair
(Just remove the hyphen - and space, to access Patreon normally.)