The weekend in Hogsmeade Village came to an end.
After that, the Head Boy who had been sent flying by Draco surprisingly made no move to retaliate.
Draco, however, didn't pay him any special attention. His focus had shifted elsewhere—to Snape.
Ever since the start of term, Draco had wanted to speak with Snape and clarify a few things. It wasn't until after returning from Hogsmeade that he finally found an opportunity.
Snape had no classes today. According to the information Draco had gathered, his godfather had locked himself in his office all day, not stepping out once. As for what he was busy with, no one knew.
Now, Draco was making his way toward Snape's office.
"At this hour, he should still be inside."
"Mm… but how are you planning to bring it up? That's Snape we're talking about. I doubt he'll tell you anything easily."
Astoria walked beside him as she spoke.
Because her Blood Curse required Snape, a Potions Master, to brew the necessary potion, she had a fair understanding of his temperament.
He wasn't just difficult. He was notoriously so.
As for Pansy and the others, the recent string of bad news had put pressure on them as well. Unwilling to hide behind Draco's protection, they had begun dedicating more time to improving their magic.
They had even given up time they would normally spend with Draco, choosing instead to train at night.
Astoria's presence here wasn't due to a lack of awareness of the situation. She was here for the new potion.
"How have you been feeling lately?" Draco asked suddenly.
"......"
The question caught Astoria off guard.
If someone else had asked it like that, she might have thought he lacked tact.
But since it was Draco, she merely rolled her eyes lightly before answering.
"For now, as long as I take the potion regularly and on schedule, there's no problem."
"But last time—"
"Last time was an accident!"
To be honest, she could now face the topic quite calmly. And she knew perfectly well that this change in attitude had come because of Draco.
As she spoke, she looked up at him. There was something unreadable in her gaze, and a faint blush spread across her delicate features.
It was the quiet stirrings of a girl's heart.
...
Snape's office was located in the underground levels of Hogwarts, not far from the Potions classroom—just around a corner.
Two figures walked one after the other down the long corridor.
Their footsteps echoed through the stone passageway, candle flames flickering along the walls. The underground air carried an eerie chill.
Perhaps that was why Slytherin, housed beneath the castle for years, always seemed to carry such a dark reputation.
And their Head of House was Snape.
Just as Draco and Astoria reached the door to his office, the heavy wooden door carved with a serpent was suddenly shoved open from within.
Voices drifted out.
Bang!
"Before you sleep every night, clear your mind of all emotion. Keep it empty and calm. Do you understand?"
"Understood."
"Be careful, Potter. I'll know whether you've been practicing."
Bang!
The door shut again.
Harry Potter stepped out, his movements unsteady.
His face was pale, as if he had just recovered from a serious illness, and his eyes looked dull and drained—like someone who had endured something deeply unpleasant.
Draco paused instinctively and stepped aside. If he hadn't moved, he had a feeling Harry would have walked straight into him.
Astoria, meanwhile, regarded Harry with quiet curiosity.
"…Hm?"
Only then did Harry seem to notice them. He looked up.
The moment he saw Draco and Astoria standing there, his steps faltered, and a flicker of panic flashed through his eyes.
Whether he didn't want anyone to see how wretched he looked, or simply didn't want Draco to know what he had been doing in Snape's office every night, Harry's behavior had been unusually strange.
Whichever the reason, one thing was certain—Harry Potter had no intention of letting Draco learn his secret.
Given their relationship, the two of them merely exchanged a brief glance before pretending the other didn't exist and walking past.
And that was exactly what happened.
After watching Harry's retreating figure, Astoria, who had been quiet until now, blinked with interest.
"What do you think Snape's been teaching Harry Potter?"
"No idea. But one thing's clear—their lessons don't look like they're going well."
"Mm… but what kind of spell could leave him looking like that?"
"Dark magic. Or something meant to counter dark magic. Something along those lines."
Either way, it wasn't the sort of magic Harry Potter should be exposed to at this stage. Nor was it something Snape would teach him privately without reason.
Unless Dumbledore had personally asked him to.
...
As the uneven footsteps faded into the distance, Draco withdrew his thoughts and stepped forward again toward Snape's office.
Astoria, still not fully prepared, followed a few paces behind.
They stopped.
Draco raised his hand.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
The rhythmic sound echoed through the corridor.
But instead of Snape's voice, the door flew open as if blasted apart by magic, just as it had moments earlier.
Bang!
"I've had enough, Potter! Your weakness can no longer withstand—"
Snape's scolding cut off abruptly the moment he saw who stood outside.
It clearly hadn't been the person he expected.
A strange silence fell.
"…"
"…"
"Good evening, Mr. Malfoy," Snape said slowly. "Uninvited, as usual. And you… Miss Astoria. If I recall correctly, the potion is scheduled for tomorrow."
Each word was spoken with deliberate emphasis, his displeasure unmistakable.
Yet despite the clear rejection in his tone, Snape did not close the door when he turned away.
As expected of him.