HP: Those Years Sleeping with the Half-Blood Prince

There was a hidden meaning in his words, and Ian understood.

OWLs are not just exams, but also watershed moments. Choosing which NEWT courses to take, to some extent, means choosing your future path, or rather, choosing which side you can see more clearly from.

"Aris wrote," Ian changed the subject. "He and Kevin went to France, and Kevin was almost scared to tears by the goblin statue in the garden. Aris said he finally found something that Kevin fears more than potions."

Severus's lips seemed to twitch slightly.

"Kevin replied that Aris was chased for three blocks by a civet cat because he wanted to study the principles behind its fur color changes."

This time, Severus gave a very soft hum, like a breath from his nose, but Ian knew that was how he laughed.

The fire in the stove was warm and cozy.

Ian sank into the sofa, his leg accidentally bumping into Severus's.

Both of them paused for a moment.

Severus didn't move, and neither did Ian.

The temperature is transmitted through the fabric, it feels very real.

"After we got back," Ian said, his voice relaxed as he looked at the leaping flames, "the lab can get an upgrade, and my parents agreed."

"……Um."

"With the increased space, we can set up two worktables."

"it is good."

The conversation was brief, but it settled something.

During the last week of their vacation, Uncle Duffy still hadn't returned. They decided to go to the only decent town nearby to buy some necessities and dispose of the accumulated trash.

The town is small, and Muggles and wizards live together with blurred lines.

They encountered an unexpected person in front of a general store that also sold owl food and Muggle stamps.

Sirius Black and James Porter.

The two appeared to be shopping as well, carrying several paper bags. They were standing in front of the window of a magic pet shop across the street, pointing at a furious, ever-changing-color Puffy inside.

Sirius said something, and James burst into laughter, patting Sirius hard on the back.

Then Sirius turned around and saw them.

The smile froze on his face, turning into a slightly arrogant scrutiny.

James also looked over, raising his eyebrows with a "what bad luck" expression.

The air froze for a few seconds.

Ian moved first, turning to Severus with remarkable ease, and said, "I remember we were short of black pepper, not white pepper, right?"

Severus's gaze swept over the two people opposite him without lingering, landing on Ian's face. "Hmm, dark-skinned."

They turned and went into the grocery store, shutting out the street and those two gazes.

As I checked out, I could still see Sirius and James standing in the same spot through the shop window. They hadn't left, nor had they moved closer; they were just separated by a narrow street, forming a silent standoff.

"It's haunting," Ian said softly, placing a few silver coins on the counter.

"They might be around here too." Severus took the paper bag full of spices. "The Potters have property up north."

"What a coincidence." Ian pushed open the door, and the bell rang.

Stepping out of the store, the area across the street was already empty.

On the way back, the two barely spoke. It wasn't until the stone house came into view again that Ian spoke, his voice slightly muffled by the sea breeze.

"They seem...unaffected."

Severus walked silently, his footsteps echoing across the gravel path. "They're used to it."

They are used to adventure, used to hiding, and used to turning huge secrets into another exciting game.

This is the Gryffindor way, or rather, the way Potter and Black did.

"School's about to start," Ian changed the subject, pushing open the creaking wooden door of the stone house.

The sea breeze blew in, ruffling the notes spread out on the table. Severus walked over and pressed the pages down with his hand.

"Um."

That evening, they packed their bags.

A few pieces of clothing, a biological encyclopedia marked by Severus, and those increasingly thick shared notebooks.

On the morning before I left, the weather unexpectedly cleared up.

The seawater was a calm blue-gray, and the sky was high and distant.

They walked a long way along the coast one last time, without going to the shell cave, just walking.

"It's time to go back," Ian said, looking at the horizon.

"Hmm." Severus stood half a step away from him.

The return ride on the Knight Bus was just as bumpy, but the feeling was different.

The view outside the window changed from a desolate coastline to rolling hills, and finally to the familiar city skyline.

The warm lights of the Bock house shone in the night.

Leah hugged them and said she had made stew and apple pie.

John asked Duffy if he had caused any more trouble.

Everything seemed normal, yet something was different.

That evening, Severus stood at the door of his room, holding the old leather suitcase he was going to take back to Spider's End the next day.

He looked at Ian, who was leaning against the door frame at the other end of the corridor.

"I'm going to Spinner's End tomorrow," he said. "I need to take care of something."

"Do you need to come together?"

"No need. It'll be quick."

Ian nodded. "Then I'll go to Diagon Alley tomorrow to get some more materials. The lab should be ready by next week."

"it is good."

Severus turned and went into the room.

Ian heard a very soft sound before the door closed.

"Ian."

"Um?"

"...Thanks."

The door closed.

Ian stared at the closed door, stood in the hallway for a while, and then went back to his room.

……

The Hogwarts Express was still bustling in early September, but the atmosphere in the fifth-years' compartments was noticeably different.

The pressure from OWLs weighed heavily on everyone. Even Kevin temporarily put down his snacks and frowned as he flipped through "Common Spells, Level 5".

"I bet Flitwick will quiz you on the theory of silent spells in the first class." Aris gripped his quill and scribbled something rapidly on parchment. "Kevin, if you don't want to be the first one called on, you'd better read Chapter Three again."

"I'm reading!" Kevin wailed, burying his face in the book.

Ian and Severus sat in a row, discussing quietly while looking at their notes.

In the evening, the Great Hall was packed with returning students. Severus and his friends sat quietly at the Slytherin table in the middle.

Dumbledore stood up from the teachers' table, and the Great Hall gradually quieted down.

As usual, the old principal made some witty remarks to welcome the new students, and then began to announce the new list of class leaders.

The names of Gryffindor were no surprise: Lily Evans and Remus Lupin. Lily blushed slightly amidst the applause, while Lupin still looked somewhat pale, but his expression was gentle and resolute.

When it was Slytherin's turn, Dumbledore cleared his throat.

"The Slytherin prefect," his blue eyes swept across the long table through his half-moon lenses, "the prefectress Cassandra Shafik."

A tall, somewhat aloof sixth-grade girl stood up, nodded slightly toward the teachers' table, and polite applause rang out from the Slytherin table.

The Shafiq family is neutral and moderate, so this choice is not surprising.

Dumbledore paused, his gaze seemingly searching for something in the crowd, "And the prefects—"