Regrets

"I might as well ask for a night pass considering how much I've been traveling through the nights," Xing mumbled tiredly. "Soon enough, people will spread rumors how there's a new ghost inhabiting the Slytherin Dungeons."

It was currently the hours after dinner, close enough to the curfew for people walking around the halls to be deemed suspicious. Xing knew that the possibility of her getting caught every time she roam around the halls was considerably high, which was why she denied Aella and Dion's insistence of joining her, reminding them of their unfinished homework that was due tomorrow morning, first period to be exact. 

"Ok, but next time, you have to take us with you!"

Aella nodded in agreement. Truthfully, this might be one of the few moments where they agreed on the same thing. "Yeah! After today, you must tell us what happen." To which she dutifully agreed. 

With a massive snake roaming around the school, Xing was not about to put the two in danger. Besides, with events happening so close to each other, Xing fear that they might be connected to each other. 

Unicorn blood, trolls, and the snake. Snake...what type of snake is it?

Before she could think further, Xing stop herself, realizing that she is currently not in the safety of her dorm. 

There is no way she is going to be tangle up with any damn snake. 

Now, she must focus on the matters at hand: meeting with Professor Snape. 

The reason for such an abrupt meeting? Only he would ever know. With that thought in mind, Xing continues her way through the halls. Just for this occasion, Xing have specifically chosen a pin that was basic in both design and its condiments, to minimize the sound she makes around the school. Hopefully, to also prevent Peeves from finding--

"Hello, Xing dear," a voice echoed behind her. 

Speaking of the devil. 

Xing sighed, turning around in a treacherously slow pace, "Hello, Peeves."

The ghost floated towards her, the entire way holding a cheeky smile. Plastering itself on Xing, it attempted to pull information out of her. "What is Xing dear doing at night? Remember, you are still a student, even if you don't think so."

"Is this a warning?"

The ghost only shrug at the question.

"Then what do you need me from me?"

"Ouch! Is that how you think of me, so shallow? I saw you and wanted to say, STUD--"

Xing smirked, expecting what Peeves was about to say. Before he could utter anymore, Xing quickly cast a silencing spell on him. How it works on ghosts, only she would know. 

Caught by surprise, Peeves tried to project sound, even dramatizing everything by coughing and screaming out loud all for it to be in vain. 

Xing smiled, patting its head before turning back, "Goodnight Peeves."

Once she was back on track to Professor Snape's dungeon classroom, Xing intentionally slowed down her pace to prevent echoing of her shoes. Luckily enough, she was not wearing boots or the clattering sound of the base hitting the ground would have echoed until the moon. 

The dungeon hallways was lit with torches, each placed several meters away from each other. As the fire embers flicker, Xing unconsciously match her heartbeats to the rhythm, feeling the warmth of the torch contrast against the coldness of the dungeon walls. 

The further Xing walk through the hallway, it felt as though the torches were becoming farther apart. With the dull illuminated lights, the feeling of walking became more dreadful by the moment. 

Finally approaching her destination, Xing let out a breathe of relief. Knocking into the wooden doors, Xing announced her presence. 

"Come in," soon enough, a voice from behind the doors called her in. 

Entering the room, she expected for there to be one person within the room. Instead, there were two, no three people at once. 

"Professor Snape, Professor Quirell, apologies. Was I interrupting your conversation?" 

There they were, situated in the centre of the room, seated in front of each other. Xing thought it was such a strange sight. 

"Professor Quirell, it is late, let's continue our conversation next time," the poison professor spoke to the defense of the dark arts professor. 

The turban professor nervously stand up, clumsily pushing in the chair, hands practically trembling under Professor Snape's gaze. "Of course, let us continue next time."

The professor was so scared to the point that he did not question why Xing, a student was meeting privately with Professor Snape at night. Instead, he chose the safest option, prompting to launch himself towards the door, almost crashing into Xing if not for her agility kicking in, and dodging in time. 

Xing continued to stare at the professor, especially towards his turban. When they almost bump into each other, Xing sworn that she heard a chuckle, and a voice, far raspier and deeper than Professor Quirrel can every do. 

"Aren't you also leaving?" The remaining professor question, looking towards the figure standing, no, floating in the corner. 

"Bloody Baron, you need to get a tighter grip on Peeves, he's running out of hands," Xing commented as she entered the room. The sight of the Bloody Baron while took some time to adjust, Xing still managed to look at him in the eye.

The ghost looked down at his previous point of focus, placing on his attention on Xing. "Ms. Forest, it's been awhile."

Seeing him float down to greet her, Xing also accepted his greeting, doing a slight curtsy, "Yes, it has been."

"Ms. Forest, however, I suggest you do not act as if you cannot control Peeves."

"Why would I do it when there is already a person with more experience than me here? Besides, Peeves is more obedient with your commands."

The Bloody Baron, nodded, seeming convinced at her answer, "Then I must go now. Where is that ghost?"

Closing the door once the ghost have left, Xing finally let out a sigh. Back leaning against the door, she finally focus her attention on the raven-looking professor. "Severus, thank you for this morning."

Silence continues to echo through the room, leaving nothing but tension behind. 

Waiting for the Professor to make a move, Xing tiredly move her shoulders, stretching out the tired muscle. Closing her eyes, she focus on working out the knots in her muscle. Upon opening them, her eyes was greeted with a potion shoved into her face. 

Chuckling at his antics, Xing gladly accepted the potion, arms cranking up to hold it. Immediately, once she grasped the neck of the flask, Severus Snape's hand snap back, releasing his hold.

"Thank you," without any hesitation, Xing drank the concoction. 

Walking towards the Potions Master desk, she set the flask down. "What was your reason for this meeting?"

Immediately, the mood seemed to darken. 

Severus Snape who was flipping through a few textbooks also stopped himself. "Let's be honest, giving me a healing potion wasn't your only reason for calling me here."

I know you better than that. Or at least, she would like to think so.

Silence echoes through the room, neither of them willing to break the growing tension. 

Xing toyed around with the flask, eyes staring at the potion master. "You know what's been going on recently, don't you, Severus." The flask was placed on the table, clean and sharp gestures were made. 

"The school has been on alert with whatever visitor it had welcomed."

"Do not say presumptuous things, Ms. Forest!" Suddenly, Severus blasted out, looking at Xing, agitated. 

Xing studied his expression until she was standing before him. "The unicorn blood, it has been going around."

Hearing her words, Severus's scrunched up face darkens, "How did you know?"

Xing shrugged, unwilling to answer. "Unicorn blood, as you might have known, had healing properties, so great that it could revive an entire dead person."

The Forbidden Forest, was home to many creatures, ones that interact with humans and tend to live near the border of the forest, while some chose the exact opposite, living in the centre, covered by layers of woods and mist. Unicorns tend to stay deep within the forest, and for one to be in the outcast of it was strange, let alone in the light of day. 

Xing admit that unicorns are magnificent but not enough for them to be killed and used for decoration. The price of killing such a priceless animal merely for decor also came with a hefty price. Therefore, after much deduction, there was only one reason life; their blood. 

Xing contemplated, long before this interaction, whether or not she was going to bring up this topic to the teachers. After much contemplation, it was best to share her opinions with those who share a similar goal. 

"Make sure to tighten Fluffy's defense on whatever thing Hogwarts is trying to hide." Xing took out her wand, whispering a small spell. Seconds later, a newspaper appeared in the air. 

"Especially after it had made the news."

Stepping closer, Xing brings her hand to Severus's cheek, surprising the lad. Jumping slightly from shock, instinctively moving backwards. "Ms. Forest, this is inappropriate."

Xing chuckled, "Says from the person who invited me to his classroom at night...you look pale. Maybe I should've shared half of that potion with you."

Without waiting for his response, Xing turns around, as if scanning the contents of the room. Scanning as if she has not been here for years. 

As they share the moment together, Severus loosen his controlled expression, "The Potter boy. He...happened to appear at the right time."

Without as much as a reaction, Xing walks toward the shelves of books that Severus kept within the classroom, "Of course, the boy was destined to do great things." Touching the spines of each book, Xing admired one book to another until she stopped at a particular object. 

"How are you so sure?"

"Even before he was born, the boy was already destined to attend Hogwarts. Coincidentally, everything started taking shape the moment he came here. Don't you think it's strange too?" Xing pulls the object out of its place on the shelf, patting away the dust that have collected on it. Feeling the familiar weight, Xing smiled. 

Hearing her answer, Severus became agitated, frustrated even. "That boy is no--"

"And how are you so sure? The boy is barely eleven. He will need time and so did you." That statement, while is bitter, was nothing far from the absolute truth.

"Everything started moving again the moment her cam there, as if he was the main character..." the comment made her laugh, "Kind of ironic, isn't it? Having to enter the school that caused the death of his parents." Her laugh was a decrescendo. 

"Luckily, now that I am around, I will be able to teach him properly."

Before Severus had a chance to question her choice, Xing stalked towards the table, setting down the object that she carried with her. After setting up everything, Xing sat down, pointing towards the sit opposite of her. "Care for a game of Chinese chess?"