Early the next morning, as the air in the dormitory gave a faint shimmer, Zayn raised his wand and dispelled the layers of magical protection he'd cast over his four-poster bed—Protego Totalum, Salvio Hexia, and Homenum Revelio.
Today was another bright, cloudless day. In the Great Hall, the enchanted ceiling gleamed with the pure, cornflower-blue of a summer sky.
Zayn decided he would enjoy this rare Sunday—the first day of peace after the stress of O.W.L. exams.
And of course, every good day should begin with a proper meal.
He'd piled his plate high with crispy bacon, honey-glazed ham, and thick sausages, ready to indulge, when Patrick Abbot sat across from him.
"You need vegetables too," Abbot said casually, as he added a scoop of steamed broccoli and cabbage to his own plate.
"Mary told me about it—Muggles have a whole subject on nutrition. They say eating only meat messes with your body."
Zayn blinked. In all of fifth year, Patrick had probably spoken fewer words to him than he had just now.
"I—uh—thanks," he muttered.
He'd forgotten all about balance, obsessed with eating protein to bulk up.
"You—"
"—Mary also said what happened yesterday was surprising," Abbot cut in, lifting his fork as he added.
"I mean, no offense, but it didn't seem like something you'd do."
Zayn cursed inwardly. Why was everyone so observant? Why couldn't there be one blissfully oblivious idiot?
Setting down his knife, he said flatly, "You've heard what happened by the lake the day before yesterday, I'm sure."
Abbot nodded.
"It wasn't pleasant," Zayn continued. His expression stayed unreadable. "I've thought about it since. I can't allow something worse to happen—
"Not to me. Not to anyone else."
He flipped his palm upward.
"I've made mistakes. I don't want to keep making them. I want to change."
"Sure…" Patrick said awkwardly. "Severus, I mean, yeah. That's good. I was just surprised, that's all."
"But tell me, Abbot," Zayn added, helping himself to some greens, "You and Mary seem close. Why do you care about all this?"
Patrick flushed slightly. "Oh—we're friends, that's all…"
Zayn took a long sip of pumpkin juice and allowed a small smile.
"She's a kind girl."
After breakfast, he decided to head outside for a walk.
Since Avery and Mulciber were clearly no longer companions he could rely on, he looked to Abbot instead.
"Want to come down to the grounds with me? On a day like this, we should be outside."
The sunlight warmed the rolling lawns, where students lounged in clusters—some basking in the sun, others chatting in small groups, or reading under trees.
Smoke curled lazily from Hagrid's hut, fading over the deep green silhouette of the Forbidden Forest.
Zayn and Abbot walked slowly down the slope, blades of grass parting gently beneath their feet.
"Severus…"
Abbot had noticed the way Zayn's path veered away from the lake.
"I mean, since you're… well, different now… maybe you could try making peace with Potter and the others—"
"No."
Zayn stopped and turned to face him.
"No, Abbot.
"I can choose to change. But that doesn't mean I have to excuse other people's sins."
His eyes didn't waver.
"No one deserves what they did—what Potter did. Not me. Not anyone.
"Tell me, would you ask Mary to forgive the ones who hexed her?"
Abbot looked flustered, his words stammering. "N-no, of course not, Severus. I didn't mean—I just—"
Zayn turned abruptly and headed toward the lake.
Abbot hesitated, then hurried to follow.
The lake and sky melted together in a sheen of violet-blue.
The Giant Squid dozed in the shallows, sun-warmed and motionless, while a few students swam nearby, laughing under its lazy watch.
Zayn kept walking, speaking without turning his head.
"Let's sit by the lake a while."
He knelt beside the water, brushing the squid's lazy tentacle with his fingers before glancing at Patrick.
"Why are you in Slytherin, Abbot? You don't act like one."
"Oh," Patrick said, crouching beside him. "We're pure-bloods. All my family are.
"My father and grandfather always said I belonged in Slytherin.
"The Sorting Hat did suggest other Houses, but I asked for Slytherin… and it respected that."
"Was that your choice?"
Abbot sighed. "I get what you're asking. Maybe not…
"But the Hat didn't suggest Gryffindor, and I didn't have the nerve to go anywhere else…"
They fell silent, staring out at the sparkling water.
Then, unbidden, an image flashed into Zayn's mind:
Professor McGonagall standing at the head of the Sorting line, reading aloud from a parchment scroll:
"Hannah Abbot!"
A blonde girl with twin braids stumbled out of the line and sat on the tall stool.
The patched old Sorting Hat dropped onto her head—and after a pause, it bellowed:
"Hufflepuff!"
For the first time in what felt like ages, Zayn smiled without bitterness. He chuckled.
"If you ever have a daughter, make sure you let her choose for herself."
"I think I will," said Abbot, before glancing over with confusion. "But… why daughter?"
"Who knows?" Zayn grinned, standing. "By the way, I think you'd be better suited to Hufflepuff."
He added casually, "And by the way—the spell that lifts someone upside down is Levicorpus. The counter-spell's Liberacorpus. It's a non-verbal."
Abbot groaned as he stood—his legs had gone numb.
"Ow… why are you telling me this?"
"Just in case."
Another cryptic answer.
"Come on," Zayn said. "Let's head back. It's nearly time for supper."