"I understand the reasoning, but why you?"
"I told you, Dumbledore has other things to attend to. No matter how powerful he is, he cannot be in two places at once."
"And what about Professor McGonagall? Isn't she the Deputy Headmistress?"
"She needs to deal with matters concerning the new students. You ask too many questions, William. Also, from your tone, you seem rather dissatisfied with this meeting."
"No, Severus, I am not dissatisfied. I'm glad to see an old school acquaintance, even if it's unexpected. I simply have one more question. Why did you think of coming to me?"
This time, Snape did not answer.
Faced with yet another question from William, he maintained his cold expression, reached into his black robes, pulled out a newspaper that still smelled of fresh ink, and slapped it onto the table in front of William with a sharp thud.
"This is today's Evening Prophet, a rush print. It was released several hours earlier than usual."
William raised an eyebrow and picked up the newspaper. The front page headline was printed in large, bold black letters:
"High-ranking Ministry of Magic Officials Come to Blows. One Official Resigns. Two Officials Hung from the Ceiling for Hours."
Beneath the headline was a moving black-and-white photograph.
In it, Fudge and Umbridge looked like two enormous, fully clothed balloons, floating helplessly beneath the ceiling, their limbs flailing in a manner that was absurdly ridiculous.
William glanced at the photograph, a faint smile forming at the corners of his mouth. He casually tossed the newspaper back to Snape.
"It seems news of my resignation spread faster than I expected. You've already found me with an offer in hand."
"Do not flatter yourself. I do not harbour any particular concern for you." Snape curled his lip and pushed the newspaper aside with obvious disdain. "Dumbledore was the one who sent a letter specifically asking me to locate you after hearing the news. I am merely the messenger."
Candlelight flickered in a dim corner of the Leaky Cauldron.
William had been sitting there alone, enjoying his first drink after resigning, when Snape had suddenly appeared like an enormous bat and bluntly asked whether he was willing to return to Hogwarts as the Professor of Alchemy.
That question had led to the conversation they had just finished.
William picked up the goblet in front of him, took an elegant sip of the amber sherry, and gave Snape a quick, appraising look.
At that moment, Snape resembled his usual self: a tall, sallow figure half-lost in shadow, black eyes glinting with impatience.
"To be honest, Severus, you look like you have aged a lot in these past few years."
Snape lifted his head, his gaze turning sharp.
William, however, paid it no mind. He set his glass down and, using the slightly greasy reflection in the bar window, checked his collar out of habit and added calmly,
"While I, thankfully, have held up rather well. Heh~"
Snape's fingers tightened around his glass, and the muscles in his face twitched.
Pfft~ teasing Snape was always funny, even now. The man rose to it so predictably.
"Hmph. Now I understand why your political career came to such an abrupt end, William."
Snape let out a cold sneer, his words dripping with merciless mockery.
"How pitiful. The once proud and talented student has fallen so far that he can only indulge in narcissistic self-admiration in a filthy pane of glass, clinging to that miserable scrap of appearance to preserve the last remnants of his wretched self-esteem."
Faced with Snape's verbal assault, William showed no sign of anger. He merely waved a hand lightly, as though brushing away an irritating fly.
"Haha~ Do not be so angry, Severus, or you will age even faster. We were never particularly close, but we did speak often enough about magic back then. Even if our contact dwindled after graduation, that's hardly a reason to attack me like this."
William found their drifting apart entirely logical. He had entered the Ministry of Magic, while Snape had taken a very different path. Different allegiances, different worlds.
Still, William could not help thinking that if he had accepted Barty's invitation to become an Auror back then, he might have run into Snape more often in the line of duty.
At the casual mention of their past, Snape's mocking expression tightened for a moment.
His gaze darkened slightly, though whether from memory or irritation was unclear.
After a brief silence, Snape spoke slowly, his voice low. "You always stayed neutral. You could have chosen a side more decisively."
William understood what he meant. Although sorted into Ravenclaw, his family background had allowed him to converse freely with many in Slytherin.
That was how he had come to know Severus Snape at all—through shared interest in obscure branches of magic, potions theory, advanced charms. Nothing deeper than occasional discussions in the library or corridor debates.
Snape had wanted him to align more firmly against certain Gryffindors.
"But I was never obliged to pick sides, Severus." William sighed softly, idly turning the glass in his hand. "I do not harbour any deep hatred for James Potter."
At the sound of that name, Snape's pupils contracted sharply.
His hand beneath the table clenched unconsciously into a fist, and his tone grew noticeably agitated. "None? Back then, because of Potter and Black, you were given an entire term of detention after a duel, and you even lost your prefect badge because of it."
"That was the Quidditch final. Both sides were playing very aggressively."
William recalled the incident calmly. "At the time, James and I spotted the Snitch at the same moment. It was the deciding point of the match. We were both flying at full speed while chasing it, so a collision was inevitable."
"I will admit that I lost my temper then. When I changed direction, I drove my elbow into James's face and nearly knocked him off his broom."
As he spoke, William shrugged. "I gave him a nosebleed and left his face bruised, but that hardly qualifies as grounds for a blood feud. While James was being treated in the Hospital Wing, Black tried to stand up for his friend and pulled his wand on me in the corridor. That was what escalated the matter."
William paused and met Snape's gaze, his eyes clear and steady. "Our conversations were good because we shared many common interests in the study of magic. That does not mean I, a Ravenclaw, was required to share your personal enemies in the Gryffindor."
"I do not like James Potter's arrogance, nor do I like Black's recklessness, but that does not mean I would treat them as lifelong enemies."
"Enough."
Before William could finish, Snape abruptly stood up.
It was clear that dredging up these old matters, especially anything involving Potter, made him deeply uncomfortable. His sallow face was tight with impatience, and his black eyes fixed on William with a cold stare.
"We have strayed too far from the point. I have no interest in listening to you reminisce about your so-called rational youth."
Snape looked down at him. "I have only one question now, William Shafik. Are you willing to serve as the Professor of Alchemy, or not? I need to return and report to Dumbledore."
William smiled and finished the last sip of sherry in his glass.
"Of course. Why not?"
"Very well."
Having received the answer he wanted, Snape had no desire to remain any longer. He swept his black robes around him like a startled great bird, stirring a chill in the air, and strode away without a backward glance.