[Chapter Size: 3200 Words.]
Third Person POV
Scotland.
...
...
"So… is it really you?"
Severus was watching Newt Scamander taking care of some mooncalves nearby when he heard the young female voice beside him.
He turned his face and looked at the Hufflepuff girl. She was tall, about one meter seventy, slim, with blue eyes and golden hair — quite beautiful by Hogwarts standards.
Iris Scamander.
Severus remembered her well, but they had never interacted. In fact, he had never cared much. She was known for belonging to the family of the greatest magizoologist ever to appear in the wizarding world, and her fame was justified. She was friendly and always surrounded by friends, always smiling.
The former Severus never cared about that kind of thing. He always found groups like that annoying — although he himself was also someone difficult to deal with.
He observed her for a moment, with an intense gaze, as if analyzing her.
"That different?", he asked, showing a slight smile.
She huffed. "I still can't believe it's you. When we sat down for dinner a few days ago, my grandfather simply mentioned that he had met a boy named Severus Snape, while he was listening to him talk about the dragons in the reserve. Can you imagine my reaction when I heard that? I thought he was joking, I spat out my pumpkin juice I was drinking at the time..."
Severus only tilted his head slightly forward, while watching Newt Scamander in the background, talking to his son and asking him to write down a few things about the mooncalf, while Iris's grandmother stroked the creature.
"I asked about twice if it was really you… because the Severus Snape I knew…", she began.
"I don't remember us knowing each other", Severus interrupted her.
"Maybe we never talked, but I know who you are at Hogwarts. And you must know who I am."
He didn't respond, but looked at her in silence. She continued, also looking at the mooncalf with her relatives.
"Anyway, that gloomy Slytherin boy doesn't match the description my grandfather gave when he talked about you. A cheerful boy, extremely capable and talented, taking care of dragons… someone who can talk to them. He said he could see a magizoologist who might even surpass him..." She turned her gaze directly to him.
"If you really are you… you're not just physically different. Even your personality has changed."
Severus raised an eyebrow, without looking away. "Well… I fixed my nose, my teeth… cut my hair. And my skin got more tanned. I'm out in the sun every day, at the dragon reserve. So it's normal for some change, don't you think?", he replied naturally.
"I'm not just talking about that", she retorted, huffing again. "You didn't like anyone at school, from what I remember. Only that Gryffindor girl and those Slytherin friends of yours that everyone talks badly about… well, you hardly had many others..."
She paused, analyzing him. "But now… even your gaze has changed. You seem much more… friendly. I still can't believe you are the Severus Snape I knew."
"Whether you want to believe my words or not, it doesn't matter. I'm not going to make any magical oath to prove that I am Severus Snape, if you want something like that." Severus shrugged.
Even if he had been a bit rude, what else could he do? He certainly wasn't going to beg for her to believe him.
"I believe you." She admitted after a few seconds of silence. "As bizarre as it is, I can say that, after the fight with that Lily Evans, you decided to change — and you changed for the better," she said, with a smile. "You love her, don't you? Is this change because of her?", she suddenly asked.
"Well… the old Severus did love her, yes. But not anymore...", he replied.
"Really? So this change isn't because of her?"
"No."
"Well… does that mean you're single?"
Severus looked at her. "Does that matter?"
"Of course it matters," she shot back. "My father was quite fascinated by my grandfather's story. Someone who can speak the language of dragons… that's revolutionary. So he asked me to get closer to you. You can imagine I wasn't very excited about that at first, but still, he wanted me to draw my own conclusions. After all, my grandfather said you weren't an ugly boy."
"So you're here to try to secure a marriage or engagement? Sounds kind of sad," he said, mocking her.
"Hey!" she retorted. "Well, I already have an engagement with an idiot. Edmure Caster, a pureblood from the Durmstrang Institute. My father knows very well that I don't like him. And knowing that, maybe, being even greedier, he wants grandchildren who speak the language of dragons."
Severus heard that without surprise or irritation. In fact, that was common to him. In his past life, marriages were often arranged for power, lineage, or political interest.
He himself had carefully considered the best matches for his children. He didn't ignore their wishes, but he knew very well the weight of alliances and legacy.
"So you're willing to get to know an unpleasant Slytherin just to escape your fiancé?", he provoked.
She smiled, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "You're much better than my fiancé, you can be sure of that. It's already decided."
"It's already decided?", he narrowed his eyes, while she placed her hands on her hips, with a mischievous smile.
"It's obvious. You're going out with me. Since my father wants me to get to know you better, then we're going to get to know each other better."
"I haven't decided anything," he replied, in a dry tone.
She seemed offended for a moment, but soon smiled again. "You're going out with me, Snape. That will be our first date."
"I haven't decided anything." He repeated.
"There's no way to escape me. I already have my eye on you, Snape. And I'm willing to go to Hogsmeade with you, but there's one condition. After all, you have to win over a girl besides showing that pretty new face of yours," she said.
Severus just looked at her, without answering for a few seconds. She was smiling and showing a presumptuous look. She seemed to be enjoying that.
"And what would that be?" he asked with a monotonous expression.
"First... is it really true that you get close to dragons and can touch them?", she asked, full of expectation.
"Yes. It's my job at the reserve," he replied.
"So.... You… can you show me? Take me to see the dragons?! I love those creatures, they're my favorites in the magical world! But I've only ever seen them from afar… I'd love to see someone touching them, like grandpa said!"
Severus looked at her. She was clearly excited about the idea. He stayed silent for a few seconds before answering. "Alright."
"Really?!", she exclaimed. "Dad! Severus said he's going to take me to see the dragons! Can I go with him, please, please!?", she asked excitedly.
The three of them looked at Iris and then at Severus, who certainly had not arranged that like this.
"Only if he really wants to do it, daughter. Don't be so pushy," said the man, already seeming to know her personality well.
Severus simply nodded. "Alright. I can take her now." In the end, there was no reason to refuse.
The girl gave a small jump, moving closer to him and grabbing his arm.
"Stop being so bold, Iris," reprimanded Porpentina Scamander, the grandmother, casting a firm look as she saw her clinging to Severus's arm.
"Grandma, don't worry! He's single, he doesn't even mind that. I even thought he'd be more shy," she replied carefreely.
"Let's go," said Severus, shaking his head, not wanting to understand that strange conversation.
She was too cheerful… and too clingy for someone he had just spoken to for the first time in all those years at Hogwarts.
Even so, he took her to the dragon area, apparating to a certain distance.
"Wait… you just apparated? I thought you could only do that in sixth year and with ministry registration!", she said, surprised.
"You just need to obey. Don't ask that kind of question, understood?", he replied in a serious tone.
She looked at him for a moment… and then smiled. "Of course, of course, mister mysterious," she said, letting out a small laugh. "I figured. I mean… you were quite mysterious before, but you were also grumpy. That made you kind of… ugly."
She quickly analyzed him and opened another teasing smile. "Now you're much better."
"Just obey me. Gods, since when can badgers be so annoying...?", Severus muttered, walking ahead.
She nodded, but didn't stop looking around with shining eyes as she saw the reserve — several dragons scattered across the place.
"Aren't we going there?", she asked, seeing that he was moving away from one of the areas.
"It's easier to call a dragon than to invade their territory. They'll get bothered by you. If it were just me, it would be fine since they're used to me, but your scent will irritate them...", he explained.
"You're going to call a dragon?", she asked, curious.
Before he answered, a roar echoed through the sky. A dragon began to approach, descending toward them.
"Wait… when you called me, did it sense that you were here?", she asked immediately, watching the creature with wide eyes.
"You could say that," Severus replied.
He had no intention of revealing that he could call them through a warg connection.
"And it's not a he… it's a she!", she said, explaining that the green dragon was female.
"A female," Iris murmured.
The dragon landed right in front of them. Severus showed no discomfort, while the creature stretched its neck, allowing him to touch it with a ease she had never seen even her own grandfather demonstrate.
Automatically, Iris stepped forward, her eyes shining with admiration for the creature.
But at the same instant, the dragon raised its head and let out a low growl.
Severus touched her snout and spoke a few words in the language of dragons. The creature immediately calmed down.
He then turned his gaze to Iris. "You seem more like a Gryffindor than a Hufflepuff, coming in so recklessly. You need to wait for me to say when you can approach," he muttered.
But she barely seemed to hear him. She was completely fascinated, watching the creature, until she slowly extended her hand, trying to touch it. Then she looked at Severus, blinking a few times.
"Sorry… I got ahead of myself," she murmured awkwardly.
"It's fine. Come here." He said this while speaking again in the language of dragons. Iris couldn't hide her fascination at hearing those sounds.
She approached carefully.
"Stay by my side," he asked.
She obeyed, walking without taking her eyes off the dragon, until she stood beside him. The creature watched them attentively.
"Can I touch it?", she asked, her voice full of anxiety.
"Yes. Let me help." Severus took her hand calmly, guiding it to the dragon's scales.
Iris didn't stop looking at him for a moment — a little different from before. It was no longer just teasing or provocation. There was something more… hesitation, perhaps. And a warmth spread across her cheeks as she saw him so serious, guiding her hand to the dragon's skin.
But as soon as she touched the dragon and felt the heat beneath her hand, her eyes shone again, returning her attention to the dragon.
"What's her name?", she asked, fascinated, even forgetting to breathe at that moment.
"Belarus.", Severus replied.
"Belarus! She's incredible… I always heard stories about dragons in my childhood... I dreamed that one day I could ride them, do you think that's a silly dream?", she said, as if it were a distant dream.
Severus left her hand resting on the dragon before pulling his own away. "No... But a very dangerous dream." he replied.
They stayed there for a while, listening to the creature's breathing while Iris kept her hand on it.
"She liked you..." Severus said after some time, while he knew what Belarus was feeling.
"So everything they said about you is true…", she said after a moment of contemplation. "Grandpa never let anyone get this close to a dragon before when he managed to get close to one. But you did it so easily…" She then turned her gaze back to him.
"Tell me… can you also kill dragons? Few can do that. You… certainly can, can't you?", she asked, full of expectation.
"Yes," Severus replied.
In fact, he had fought a lot over the past month at the reserve, especially with Belarus, who demanded his constant presence. The connection between them had grown to the point where he could take over her in warg form instinctively — something he hadn't intended at first, but that happened naturally.
There were stronger dragons than her in the reserve, indeed. However, Belarus held special value for Severus. She was the first dragon in the world he had come to know.
"Could you take me flying?", Iris asked, her eyes almost pleading.
"No. That's dangerous," he replied.
"Oh, come on… please, please, please!", she began to beg like a little girl, even though she was seventeen years old and already an adult witch.
Even a low growl came from the dragon, as if agreeing with her. Iris broke into an excited smile. "See? Even she wants to!"
Severus shook his head.
"She just wants me to fly with her. Sorry, but I'm not going to do something that dangerous with someone I just met," he replied, completely ignoring her dramatic display.
Even so, Severus asked her to approach calmly, while the dragon settled more comfortably on the grass. They stayed there for a while, and Iris gradually gained confidence. The creature eventually got used to her presence, no longer reacting aggressively, no matter where she touched.
She seemed like a child at that moment, running around the dragon with enthusiasm, trying to study and memorize every part of its body.
"You'll take me flying later, right?", she insisted. "Belarus! Tell him!"
Before he could respond, Newt Scamander appeared with his wife and son, along with Mianna. When they saw the scene — Iris was happily running over the resting dragon, while it didn't seem bothered at all. Severus was sitting beside it, using its head as a backrest. All the newcomers were surprised.
"Dad! Take a picture! Please, take a picture of us!", she exclaimed.
"You'll have to stand still on the other side of her then," said Severus, already warning Belarus about the flash before she complained.
Her father took a camera out of his bag and began to get ready. Iris positioned herself excitedly, posing beside the dragon.
Severus remained where he was, sitting with his arms crossed, leaning against the creature's snout. He assumed the photo would be only of her, so he didn't mind.
The flash went off. The dragon only moved her head slightly, but didn't react aggressively, with Severus telling her to calm down.
After that, Severus asked Belarus to leave and followed them to show other areas of the reserve. They passed through a few more places he knew and, at the end of the day, everyone said their goodbyes.
Not before Iris ran up to him one more time.
"Thank you for today! This was the best day of my life!", she said, laughing, before stepping closer and giving him a quick kiss on the cheek. Then she ran off toward the Floo fireplace, without looking back.
Severus simply shook his head, finding her behavior somewhat foolish.
"Hm… so you and Scamander's granddaughter are like that?", Mianna teased beside him, while Alastair and Cedric laughed behind them.
Severus merely looked at them with a bored expression, completely ignoring the comment, and went on to prepare for work.
When he arrived at the pub, he found Mr. Wick waiting for him. Since they hadn't been able to talk earlier — as Severus had disappeared for… other matters —, the man seemed impatient.
"We need to talk," he said, in a serious tone.
Severus let out a light sigh. That man had never been easy to deal with, but he was quite calm, and now, with jealousy, he was even worse.
"Let's go," he replied.
They went to a more secluded corner of the place.
"Look, Mr. Snape… I need to tell you something. You won't need to work here anymore," the man said. "And don't worry, I already got someone to cover your shift today."
"So that's how it is… alright. There's no problem," he said, his voice calm. "I just want the payment for the past weeks."
The man shook his head. "I'm not going to pay you."
"May I know the reason?", Severus asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Because you're underage. And if you insist on this, I can report you to the police."
"Are you serious, Mr. Wick? You know that will look quite suspicious, also for harboring and exploiting minors. Just look at me — it's obvious anyone would notice. Are you going to say you didn't know that too?"
For a moment, the man hesitated, but soon hardened again. "Listen here, you brat…"
"Let's be honest. You're like this because Vanessa wants to take me to bed. But I'll make it clear: I'm not that stupid. And I don't say that for my sake… I say it because of the disease she carries."
It took a few seconds, but Wick looked at him, confused.
"W-what do you mean?", he asked, stammering.
"You don't know? I've been hearing some things. She's been getting involved with Victor, you know, the band's vocalist, for weeks. Victor is diagnosed with AIDS, and it's very likely Vanessa has it too. If you've been sleeping with her during this time… well, I'm sorry."
Severus turned his back. "If you'll excuse me."
He took a few steps, took his wand, murmuring a few quiet enchantment words, before putting the wand away again.
The money wasn't much — about ten dollars per week. In total, it would only be a few galleons. He was already earning much more at the reserve, so he didn't care that much.
But still… he left a small "reminder".
Severus didn't say goodbye to anyone. He simply left that night.
For someone who was already in a complicated situation because of jealousy like Mr. Wick, hearing Severus only made it worse.
Venereal diseases at that time were difficult to treat — some, practically incurable. AIDS didn't even have treatment in that era of the 70s...
And, as if that weren't enough, that same night, the pub ended up catching fire. One of the electrical boxes in the ceiling simply went into combustion.
It could be said that it was the worst night of Mr. Wick's life.
The place was not completely destroyed, the fire ended up being controlled, but the damage was significant — losses far greater than any amount he had refused to pay.
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