"I get the logic, but why you?"
"I told you, Dumbledore has other things to do. Even as powerful as he is, he can't split himself into two people."
"Then what about Professor McGonagall? Isn't she the Deputy Headmistress?"
"She needs to handle matters regarding the new students. You have a lot of questions, Willy. Also, from your words, I sense you seem very dissatisfied with this meeting."
"No, Severus, I'm happy to see you. But I have another question: Why did you think of finding me?"
This time, Snape didn't answer. Faced with another of Willy's pressing questions, he simply kept a cold face, pulled a newspaper that still smelled of ink from his black robes, and slapped it onto the table in front of Willy with a smack.
"This is today's Evening Prophet, printed in a rush, several hours earlier than usual."
Willy raised an eyebrow and picked up the newspaper. The front page featured a striking headline in bold black letters:
[High-Ranking Ministry Officials Come to Blows! One Official Resigns! Two Officials Left Hanging from Ceiling for Hours!]
Below the headline was a moving black-and-white photograph. In it, Fudge and Umbridge looked like two giant clothed balloons, floating helplessly beneath the ceiling, their limbs paddling chaotically—a scene so comical it induced laughter.
Willy glanced at the photo, the corners of his mouth curling into a pleased arc, and tossed the newspaper back to Snape.
"It seems you care quite a bit about me, Severus. I just resigned on this end, and you came looking for me on the other."
"Don't flatter yourself. I hold no such deep affection for you." Snape curled his lip, pushing the newspaper aside with a look of disdain. "Dumbledore sent a letter naming you specifically after getting the news. I am merely the messenger."
In a dim corner of the Leaky Cauldron, candlelight flickered.
Willy had originally been sitting here alone, enjoying his first drink after resigning. Then Snape had descended like a giant bat, asking straight away if he was willing to return to Hogwarts as the Alchemy Professor, leading to the conversation just now.
Willy lifted the goblet before him, taking an elegant sip of amber sherry, his gaze scrutinizing the man opposite him without restraint.
At this moment, Snape looked like a gloomy statue, his black robes almost blending into the shadows, with only his black eyes seeming to flicker with impatience.
"To be honest, Severus, you seem to have aged a bit."
Snape raised his eyes, his gaze suddenly turning dangerous.
But Willy acted as if he hadn't seen it. He put down his glass, and using the slightly greasy reflection of the pub window, he looked at his own chiseled profile and meticulous hairstyle. He adjusted his collar slightly and added:
"But I still look as dashing as ever."
Snape's fingers tightened around his glass, and a muscle in his face twitched unnaturally.
"Hmph. I know why your political career came to a screeching halt, Willy." Snape let out a cold sneer squeezed from the depths of his nasal cavity, mocking him mercilessly. "The once proud, talented student is now so down and out he has to rely on admiring his own reflection in dirty glass, using that pitiful appearance to maintain the last shred of pathetic self-esteem. Truly regrettable."
Facing Snape's verbal attack, Willy didn't look angry at all. He simply waved his hand lightly, as if shooing away an annoying fly.
"Don't be so angry, Severus, or you'll age even faster. Our relationship used to be quite good. Although we lost contact a bit after graduation, that shouldn't be a reason for you to attack me."
Willy felt it was normal that they had drifted apart; he had joined the Ministry, while Snape had joined the Death Eaters—two completely opposite paths.
However, Willy mused that if he had accepted Barty's invitation to become an Auror back then, the chances of meeting Snape would have actually been much higher.
Hearing the words "used to," Snape's originally mocking expression froze for a second.
His gaze deepened, as if looking through Willy's still-handsome face to see that not-so-wonderful school era.
After a moment of silence, Snape spoke slowly, his voice low: "But we could have gone further. Our relationship—you know that, Willy."
Willy certainly knew what he was talking about. Although he was eventually sorted into Ravenclaw, due to family connections, he maintained friendly relations with many pure-blood wizards in Slytherin, and thus got to know Severus Snape.
Because of their shared amazing talent and interest in researching magic, Willy and Snape had a reasonably close relationship. Snape had always hoped Willy would stand more clearly on his side—that is, the side opposing the Marauders quartet.
"But I had no such obligation, Severus." Willy sighed helplessly, toying with the glass in his hand. "I didn't have any deep-seated hatred for James Potter."
Hearing that name, Snape's pupils contracted violently. His hand under the table unconsciously clenched into a fist, and his tone became agitated. "Didn't have? Back then, because of Potter and Black, you were put in detention for a whole semester after a duel! You were even stripped of your Prefect title because of it!"
"That was the Quidditch final; both sides were playing rather aggressively," Willy recalled calmly. "James and I spotted the Snitch at the same time. It was the critical moment to decide the winner. While chasing it together, everyone was flying at high speeds; bumping into each other was inevitable."
"I admit, I couldn't hold back my temper at the time. When changing direction, I slammed my elbow hard into James's face, nearly knocking him off his broom."
Speaking of this, Willy shrugged. "Although it gave him a nosebleed and deformed his face, it wasn't enough to forge a blood feud. It was just that while James was being treated in the Hospital Wing, Black drew his wand and fought me in the corridor to stand up for his friend. That's what blew things up."
Willy paused, looking at Snape with clear eyes, and said seriously, "We had a good relationship, Severus, because we had many common topics in studying magic. But that doesn't mean I have to share your enemies."
"I don't like James Potter's arrogance, nor Sirius Black's recklessness, but that doesn't mean I have to treat them as lifelong enemies..."
"Enough."
Before Willy could finish, Snape stood up abruptly.
Clearly, bringing up these old matters, especially regarding Potter, made him extremely unpleasant. Impatience was written all over his sallow face, his black eyes staring coldly at Willy.
"We've strayed too far, and I have no interest in listening to you reminisce about your 'rational' youth."
Snape looked down at him. "I have just one question now, Willy Shafiq. Are you willing to take the post of Alchemy Professor or not? I need to go back and report to Dumbledore."
Willy smiled and drained the last of the sherry in his glass.
"Of course. Why not?"
"Good."
After getting the affirmative answer, Snape didn't want to stay a moment longer. He whipped his black robes around like a large bird that had been disturbed, kicking up a cold wind, and strode away without looking back.