Despicable Swines
“... Can’t do this… is a patient…”
“... Dangerous… Cannot… Unsupervised…”
Severus’ consciousness was slipping back and forth. He could hear the broken sentences the voices said, but he didn’t know where he was or anything that was happening. Maybe he was still at the shrieking shack, waiting for Nagini’s venom to sink in, or maybe he was laying on the ground somewhere near the Forbidden Forest after the Marauders ambushed him.
Wait… the Marauders?
A feeling of fury and anger burst into Severus, and his consciousness was immediately recovered right away. He opened his eyes, and his eyes were met with a bright light that blinded him.
The first thing that he saw was Poppy Pomfrey leaning over him, with her soft hand on his forehead. Noticing the boy was awake, a smile of relief rushed over her. “He’s awake!” she shouted to someone.
Severus was in a daze. Why was he getting treated by Poppy, and who was she talking to? His memory was hazy, and he could barely think for himself.
He rolled his head over to where the person that the healer was talking to. His eyes widened once he realized who it was; an old man with twinkling eyes, Dumbledore.
Severus’ head throbbed once he locked eyes with the mysterious man. The twinkling eyes triggered a flood of memories that spun around his head, making him dizzy.
He now could vividly remember being ambushed by the Marauders, discovering Lily’s betrayal, trampling over his attackers, and staring right at Dumbledore’s twinkling eyes as he sent a deadly spell to James.
“....”
Severus turned his head over and shut his eyes.
“Snape, I know you’re not asleep.”
“... I’m feeling a bit tired…”
“You’ve been sleeping for three days.”
“Some people do say I need tons of beauty sleep.”
Dumbledore kept a smile on his face. “Well, this is no time to be sleeping. You’re at risk of being expelled after all.”
That got Severus to sit up straight. “Expelled?” he said with a gasp.
Dumbledore gave a nod, and took a seat beside his bed. “Are you willing to talk now?”
Severus looked at him thoughtfully. “No. Send me my trunk please, with a ticket home.”
“....”
After Severus had gotten over the initial shock of expulsion, he realized this was the perfect set up for him.
Sure, Severus was getting expelled for beating the Marauders black and blue rightfully, but at least he managed to exact out his 27 years grudge.
He already graduated from Hogwarts with flying colours in his past life anyways, so with his knowledge, he wouldn’t have any issues finding a job. He was an amazing potioneer after all, which meant that if he played his cards right, he would be guaranteed to be drowning in galleons.
Expulsion benefited him in the long run. Severus had planned to run away from the Light and Dark Wizarding War, so this was perfect. The only reason he fought was for fame, and then for love. In this life however, he had a desire for neither. If Severus was expelled, he’d be able to escape. He didn’t want to fight for either side, so might as well just flee when he could.
Dumbledore’s smile faltered as he realized the young Slytherin was eager about expulsion.
“You’re okay with being expelled?” questioned Dumbledore.
“Obviously,” replied Severus, without a hint of hesitation.
Dumbledore had not expected for Severus to agree with the punishment without fighting back. He only said it as a threat, to scare the boy into talking with him.
After all, Severus was overly ambitious, who worked twice as hard to secure his future. Contrary to his expectations, laid another version of him, who was seemingly nonchalant about expulsion, which would crumble everything he built up.
Dumbledore cleared his throat after realizing his plan failed. “I was merely jesting about expulsion.”
Dumbledore looked at Severus to observe what he’d say, and could swear an expression of disappointment flickered across the Slytherin’s face.
Dumbledore was right on point. Severus just felt all his high hopes crash when he heard expulsion was snatched from under his clutch.
“So no expulsion?” asked Severus. “I still don’t want to cooperate with you.”
Severus was purposely trying to rile the usual calm man. But as always, Dumbledore kept the smile on his face, pretending as if he didn’t hear any of the malice that was laced onto his words.
“And why is that?” asked Dumbledore curiously.
“Because no matter what I say, nothing will happen. I’ll be the villain in the end, and those Gryffindors will be held unaccountable,” he responded.
The corner of Dumbledore’s smile twitched. “How am I supposed to hold them accountable, if you don’t tell me what they did?”
“Ask them what they did, and see if they’re able to tell the truth.”
Dumbledore’s patience was thinning out. “Why won’t you just tell me what happened?” he inquired with an edge of annoyance.
Severus stared right into Dumbledore’s eyes. “I guess I just don’t have faith in you to trust my word.”
Dumbledore’s bright expression faded, as the sound of glass shattered, disrupting the two conversing. It was Madam Pomphrey, looking a bit pale as she tried to pick up the glass shards.
“I’m sorry, my hand slipped,” the healer apologized quickly before scurrying away. She had dropped the vial of potion from surprise after hearing what Severus dared to tell the Headmaster of Hogwarts. Her reaction was reasonable, seeing that Dumbledore was surrounded by an icy air.
“I see,” said Dumbledore. “I’ll leave you for now, you don’t seem to be well enough to continue this conversation.”
He turned around with a flick of his robes trailing behind, leaving Severus to stare at his back.
As Severus watched the old wizard leave, he fell back onto his bed with a huge sigh of relief. He didn’t have the nerves to properly face the old man, due to their complicated past. Their past was complex; he had once grovelled at Dumbledore’s feet, and then murdered him in the end.
Although Severus had grown to respect Dumbledore, his feelings for him were as complicated as an ever changing maze. The Headmaster had always turned a blind eye to his suffering during his school days, with a soft spot for the Marauders. He left Severus’ cries unseen, but he also ended up taking Severus under his wing.
In all fairness, Dumbledore had amazing foresight, and must’ve seen how almost all of them had potential to be one of the leading light wizards in the future. Maybe that was why he let their misdeeds slip by, since he had only ever cared for the greater good, with no strings attached.
In this life, Severus would be like him, and have no strings attached to anyone.
⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒
Severus didn’t know how he ended up in Dumbledore’s office, seated alongside the Marauders and Lily. One moment he was lying happily in a hospital bed, having the time of his life, then the next second he was swept by a Gryffindor Prefect and escorted to Dumbledore’s office.
The tension in the air was thick, and no one dared to talk. Everyone sat awkwardly on a large circular table, as if they were in a conference. Other than the five Gryffindors and one Slytherin in the room, no one else was seated there.
Severus felt exhausted as he could feel the flickering eyes that peered at him. He could feel their fears, contempt, and uneasiness.
“Anything you want to say, Potter?” Severus said annoyedly, as he was the first to break the ice. “Or what about you, Black?”
The two boys jerked as their names were called, and gave each other a glance while maintaining the silence.
Severus rolled his eyes. “Come on, don’t ignore me. I can feel you looking holes through me.”
James was the first to open his mouth. “I think we should wait for Dumbledore to come back,” he said without a trace of his usual arrogance.
Severus snorted. “Then stop staring daggers at me. I’m still feeling quite ill after being ganged on by four people.”
“You-” Sirius started.
Before he could continue, a soft voice spoke up. “Severus, just stop,” the girl said.
Lily had intervened, looking extremely stressed. Her usual lively eyes were dulled by her eye bags, as she had a grim expression.
“Oh don’t get your nose into this, Evans. I wasn’t talking to you.” Severus sneered coldly. “You said you wanted nothing to do with me, so keep to your word.”
The colour from Lily’s face drained, and a look of hurt and disbelief flashed across her face.
James loudly banged the table with a hand. “Don’t you dare talk to her like that,” he snarled.
Severus rolled his bleak eyes for the 100th time. “Or what? Are you going to rally some people to beat my miserable, slithery, and disgusting self up? Didn’t you learn the last time?” Severus locked his dark eyes with the Gryffindor. “Or did I hit your head too hard, you forgot?”
James reddened at the memory, but refused to back down. “I was just caught off guard, that’s all. The next time will be different.”
“Next time? Oh, I’m afraid there won’t be a next time,” Severus gave a crooked grin as he whipped out his wand and pointed at the boy. “What’s stopping me from eliminating you right here and now?”
Everyone immediately cowered, looking at him with fear.
Peter started shaking uncontrollably, and held onto Remus’ arm tightly for protection.
Remus had purposely been avoiding eye contact, just staring at his shoes pretending nothing was happening.
Sirius was visibly livid, but didn’t say a word.
James backed down, with fury in his eyes as he clenched his fists tightly.
Lily’s eyes were brimming with tears.
“That’s what I thought,” Severus said with satisfaction as he tucked his wand back into his robes, “Now leave me alone you, despicable swines.”
Just as he finished the sentence, the door flung open, revealing Dumbledore. He waltzed in the room without even glancing at the others, before he took a seat in the table.
An old teacup set appeared out of thin air, and the old wizard immediately began pouring the steaming tea into the seven cups. Everyone paid him close attention, but no one spoke a word.
Unbothered by the intense stares, Dumbledore looked up from the cups with a twinkle in his eyes. “So, what did I miss?”