HP: Wormwood and Lightning Wood

Dumbledore left with Harry, leaving Snape and West staring blankly.

"Why don't you go back and rest for a while, Severus?" West said softly, reaching out to try and smooth Snape's furrowed brow.

Snape brushed West's hand away, his face wary. "What? You're going to sneak off to Malfoy Manor alone while I'm not looking?"

West replied solemnly, "I won't. Since I've already promised you, I won't lie."

He paused, then said, "I just need to go back to the old house to get my wand."

Snape replied quickly, "I'll go with you."

West stared into Snape's dark eyes, seeing his determination, "...Alright."

He threw back the covers, stood up, stretched his limbs, took Snape's hand, and winked playfully. "Let's go, darling."

Snape carried West back to the cellar, then used the Floo network from the fireplace to teleport back to the main hall of the Somerset manor.

West casually cast a cleansing spell, removing the ashes stuck to their clothes.

"Master, Mr. Snape, you're back!" Amy teleported into the hall, her eyes sparkling with joy.

Snape, unsure how to handle an enthusiastic little elf, coughed awkwardly, "...Good evening."

"Good evening, Amy," West said with a smile, trying to avoid embarrassing Snape. "I came back to get something—where did you put my wand?"

Amy shook her head. "Amy has been taking good care of my little master's wand! It's kept in Amy's collection room!"

Vester nodded and sincerely thanked her, "Thank you, Amy."

"Oh! This is what Amy should do!" Amy said excitedly.

West lured Amy away, then pulled Snape along the stairs of the manor to the basement.

They walked down the ornate railing, through a corridor adorned with beautiful landscape paintings, and stopped in front of a metal door engraved with the Somerset family crest.

The bas-relief ink snake slithered on the door. Hearing the noise, it actually poked its head out, tilting its head to examine the two people in front of it, its emerald green eyes bobbing up and down.

Soon, it hissed twice, and the door clicked open.

Snapton remained where he was. "I'll wait for you here." He had no desire to pry too much into the Somerset family's secrets and treasures.

West paused for a moment, then chuckled softly, "I'm completely yours, what are you still hesitating about?"

Snape glared at West, the tips of his ears turning slightly red. "Outrageous!"

Without a word, West led Snape into the collection room, saying, "You are my only privilege, my dear."

Snape struggled a few times but couldn't break free. He wondered what West had eaten to make him so strong!

The black snake flicked its tail behind the two of them and rolled its eyes.

The moment the two stepped into the collection room, the wall lamps hanging on the wall suddenly turned on, illuminating the dim space with warm yellow light.

Somerset's collection room was about the size of a classroom, with specially made crystal cabinets stacked on the cool obsidian floor. Each cabinet held a treasured item, shimmering with a magical protective shield.

Snape glanced at it briefly, and was deeply impressed, once again feeling the immense wealth and influence of the Somerset family.

"Is there anything you want, Severus?" West asked in a low voice.

"...I don't want to," Snape replied stiffly.

A smile appeared in West's eyes. "Let's get married after all this is over."

He looked righteous and awe-inspiring: "Once we get married, all of this will be yours. You can use it however you want."

Snape was truly struggling to keep up with West's leaps of thought. He pulled his hand away from West's grasp and urged, "Go find your wand."

Westermore stroked his knuckles, which still carried the warmth of his lover's touch, and nodded obediently.

He strolled along the crystal display case, following the signs to stop at the counter in the third column of the second row.

Through the crystal-clear mirror, a magic wand lies quietly on the display stand.

The wand is an almost blackish-green color, with fine and dense wood grain, and ancient incantations carved on the shaft.

A green crystal is set at the base of the wand, echoing the wand's color, making it mysterious and noble.

A rare wand made of green sandalwood and black snake nerve, crafted by his father.

West sighed softly and reached out to touch the mirror.

The solid mirror vanished the instant it touched Wester's warm skin, and he passed through the crystal case smoothly, grasping the familiar wand.

"Long time no see, old friend."

A sliver of light flowed across the wand, as if in response to his greeting.

Harry opened his eyes and met Ron and Hermione's worried gazes.

"Harry, are you alright?" Ron asked anxiously. "What happened? We were sent back to our dorms by Dumbledore after you were teleported away by the Portkey! You ran into Voldemort? What did he do to you? You…"

"Enough, Ron!" Hermione complained, finally losing her patience. "Harry needs a rest!"

She and Ron were snuggled up in Harry's bed, having drawn the curtains and cast a soundproofing spell to avoid waking Seamus and Neville.

Harry sat up abruptly, about to get out of bed, but Ron and Hermione together pushed him back into the covers.

"Let me out!" Harry cried out anxiously.

"Where are you going?!" Hermione shouted sharply, putting her hands on her hips to block his way. "I'm sorry, but no matter where you want to go, we won't let you. Dumbledore and West specifically instructed us to keep a close eye on you."

"You don't understand, Hermione! Ron!" Harry gave Ron a look.

Ron pouted regretfully, "Sorry, bro, this time I'm on Hermione's side."

"How are we supposed to understand if you don't tell us what happened?" Hermione said in a low voice, frowning.

Harry took a few deep breaths. "What time is it?"

Hermione raised her wand and cast Time Manifestation, and white numbers appeared in the air—01:36.

Harry breathed a sigh of relief. There was still time.

"Here's the thing, Hermione, Ron, and West will attack Malfoy Manor this morning! To kill Voldemort!"

Ron gasped, and Hermione hissed.

Dumbledore said it would all be over soon, but Hermione never expected to take action so quickly!

A soft thud came from outside the curtain, but the three were so engrossed in their own thoughts that they didn't notice.

Hermione rubbed her forehead. "Tell us what happened tonight first?"

Harry knew he couldn't hide it from Hermione and Ron—these two were more persistent and inquisitive than the Blink-Walker.

He took a deep breath, sorted out his chaotic thoughts, and slowly recounted the ins and outs of the matter.

Hermione and Ron were terrified.

After Harry finished explaining everything, he looked at Hermione expectantly, hoping she would let him go. Unexpectedly, Hermione stared at him intently. "If that's the case, I can't let you leave! You can't go to Malfoy Manor!"

Harry, unable to contain himself any longer, shouted, "Why?! I might be able to help West!"

"Maybe," Hermione scoffed, "you heard what you were saying."

"That prophecy Trelawney made—" Harry gritted his teeth, "that someone between me and West would be able to kill Voldemort, and I still remember her saying in our third year—that West was haunted by the shadow of death—"

"West is my family, and I can't bear the thought of losing him, do you understand? Hermione, Ron."

"Wester can't lose you either, Harry." Hermione said calmly. "I know you always thought of yourself as the savior, taking on a lot of unnecessary responsibilities, but before that identity, you are West's brother, our closest friend—"

Hermione declared: "Therefore, I will not let you take such a risk."

Hermione had an almost blind trust in West. When West told her to watch over Harry, she did so.

Under Ron's unbearable gaze, Hermione cast a quick restraint on Harry and handed Harry's wand to Ron.

"Hermione!" Harry growled.

Ron put away his wand, and Hermione nodded in satisfaction. "Look at him, Ron. You know how serious this is, don't you?"

Before leaving Harry's dormitory, Hermione cast another spatial confinement spell to make sure that none of the four people inside had the ability to break the spell before leaving, planning to come back to open the door the next morning.

Harry struggled, but couldn't free his hands from their restraints, and collapsed helplessly into the pillow.

"Harry, get some sleep—I think you should trust West a little more." Ron lay down next to Harry, using his arm as a pillow.