HP: Wormwood and Lightning Wood

"You insane troll."

Snape, unable to contain himself any longer, took a few steps closer, his long, slender fingers gripping West's collar like iron clamps, glaring at him fiercely.

"How dare you hang out with a fugitive? Commendable courage, do I need to praise you? I see not a trace of Somerset wisdom in you, but rather the Porter family's inherited stupidity."

West's Adam's apple bobbed beneath the other's knuckles. The magnified face of his beloved at such close range made his heart pound uncontrollably.

His gaze fell on Snape's trembling eyelashes.

So cute. Severus.

"You've been poisoned and rendered mute? Speak!" Snape asked in a deep voice.

West snapped out of his daze and replied in a hoarse voice, "Don't worry, Dean."

"He poses no threat to me, and there's more to the story."

West recounted what had happened to Snape, his gaze fixed on Snape's dark pupils throughout.

When West mentioned the name Sirius Black, a deep look of disgust crossed Snape's face.

"You two foolish Potters, trusting such a cunning, dirty dog," he said, emphasizing each word, clearly displeased.

"Perhaps you already know, he is your godfather? This fact has already made you disregard your lives?"

West said quietly, "Dean, I'm well past the age where I need a guardian."

"Dean, you hate Blake?" The tone was certain.

Snape scoffed and nodded without hesitation, "Yes."

"Fine, then I hate him too." West smiled, and mustered his courage to take Snape's hand, which was hanging by his side.

Snape jerked his hand back as if electrocuted, "How dare you!"

If he could ignore West's feelings before because West was still young and wouldn't do anything too outrageous, now he could no longer pretend to be indifferent.

"I like you, Severus." West pressed closer, cornering him against the wall. "I thought I could endure it a little longer, but this is just too unbearable..."

Snape, his lower back pressed against the wall, was on the verge of collapse. "How dare you call me by my given name..." he gritted his teeth, pressing his wand against the young man's chest. "Get out of my way!"

Snape was at a loss.

In his short life of just over thirty years, he had never accepted a confession of love more than a few times, and the only girl he loved left him because of his mistakes.

Now, the most absurd thing has happened. Lily's child is professing his love to her.

"You're insane," Snape said with a complicated expression.

West stared into Snape's eyes. "You always knew."

"Ha, spare your old professor, if you can remember how much older he is than you," Snape sneered.

"Severus..." Wester's eyes widened. "You didn't reject me."

Snape's eyes widened. "Your comprehension is so poor..."

West's expression was inscrutable. "Severus, I've lived almost thirty years in total across both my lifetimes. Stop treating me like a child."

"Please...give me a chance to prove myself."

"Severus, I'd do anything for you."

Snape looked into the pleading eyes of the young man, was deeply moved, and fell silent.

Such an absurd reality made his temples throb.

"Someone like me has no future; you don't need to waste your time on me."

West, like a puppy rewarded with a prize, suddenly brightened up. "How could that be? So, Severus, you agree to let me pursue you?"

Snape: "...You stupid Potter, did you even hear what I said?"

Wester circled Snape's hand holding the wand, smiling broadly. "There will always be a future, Severus."

He whispered, "I will make you happy. Anyone who dares to stand in my way, I will kill them."

"Including Voldemort. Of course, he has to die."

The young man had an innocent look on his face.

Snape waved his wand, creating a massive obstacle to knock West away. West was knocked back a few steps, looking at him with a pitiful expression.

"You arrogant troll!" Snape roared.

His ear tips turned slightly red, and he rubbed his clothes several times to get rid of the tingling sensation on the back of his hands.

"Killed Voldemort, what a boastful tone." Snape flicked his robes, clearly intending to get rid of West. "Get out, I don't want to see you right now."

West scratched his head, wanting to tell Snape that he wasn't joking, but Snape seemed to have a deep misunderstanding of him.

"Severus, don't you want to catch the real traitor?" West said. "The Weasleys will be back in a few days."

"Catch that rat, and the truth will come out."

"Severus, you really want to kill the traitor yourself, don't you?"

Snape's pupils contracted sharply.

"Why don't you come stay at my place tonight? I've connected to both of our Filo networks, so we can go directly to Potter's old house tomorrow to discuss tactics," West said excitedly.

"……roll."

"Severus, you know my mother is Demmar Somerset, right?"

"..." How could I not know? A famous potion master, a model figure who appears in textbooks.

"My mother left behind a lot of potion notes... Do you want to see them...?" West whispered the devil in Snape's ear.

"..."

Ten minutes later, Snape stood in the Great Hall of Somerset Manor, next to West, who looked like he had "planned it all."

West led Snape to a room that had been prepared beforehand; his room was next door.

"Get some rest, Siever."

"...Where's the Potions Notebook?" Snape couldn't help but ask.

"Well...we'll have to wait until tomorrow," West said.

If we give it to Sievery now, he won't sleep tonight. This is unacceptable.

Snape couldn't help but scoff, "If your mother knew that her son had used her own notebook as bait..."

"She'll understand," West said, his eyes crinkling, "for her son's lifelong happiness."

Snape's eyes twitched, he shoved West out, and slammed the door shut.

West laughed out loud.

He turned around, humming a little tune, his gaze falling on the window in the corridor.

The bright moonlight shone through the rose-carved window and fell on the ground, like a clear spring.

West pulled a necklace from his pocket; it was a birthday present Harry had given him.

The necklace is strung with a silver box that can be opened, inside which is a miniature family photo of the Potters.

Lily and James each held him and Harry, smiling brightly as they stared at the camera.

The other side features a family photo of the Somerset family.

Dema gently kissed his forehead, and Orlando embraced them both, a happy smile on his usually stern face.

West turned the silver box thoughtfully, stroking the blank last page.

When will I be able to hang up a photo of myself and Siever here?