The dungeon office remained as pitch-black as ever. Only the torches burning silently on the walls illuminated the countless bottles and jars scattered throughout. The small, high window could never be opened—beyond it lay the murky green waters of the Black Lake, with ghostly light rippling through the depths.
Snape sat behind his desk, eyes half-closed, deep in contemplation. Just then, several crisp knocks echoed from outside.
"Enter."
The door opened to reveal Orli Waters—the person he'd most wanted to see these past few days, yet also the one he most dreaded facing.
"You shouldn't have come," he said with cool detachment.
"Professor, I didn't come alone." Orli pulled a small glass vial from her pocket and placed it on Snape's desk. "This is Rita Skeeter—an unregistered, illegal Animagus."
"So you and Potter have been sneaking out for evening rendezvous by the lake for this?" Snape's gaze fixed on the beetle inside the vial, which cowered beneath a leaf fragment, trembling.
"Professor?" Orli was startled that Snape knew about her and Harry's meetings by the Black Lake.
"What do you intend to do with her?" A glint of lethal intent flickered in Snape's eyes. "I could handle her for you."
"Professor, she's still useful." Orli said firmly. "I plan to make her write a retraction. And I intend to keep her employed long-term—now that we have leverage over her, her pen can serve our purposes. This might prove invaluable in the future."
"You do want to stay alive, don't you, Skeeter?" Orli glanced at the vial. The beetle began nodding frantically, but the movement was so minute it started bouncing up and down desperately.
"...Gryffindor." Snape gave Orli a measured look before leaning back in his chair. He flicked his wand toward the vial, casting Muffliato.
"If you've made your decision, keep her for now—but there's no need for her to write the retraction."
Orli looked at him questioningly.
"This weekend, The Wizarding Weekly will publish a special edition with a public apology. Last week's issue is already being recalled by specialized personnel. Their editorial board has promised that every single copy sold will be recovered without exception—wizards are far more capable of such feats than Muggles, as you well know." Snape spoke with calm authority. After a brief pause, he added, "However, the matter of your research paper will be more complicated—they're organizing a review panel that will arrive at Hogwarts today or tomorrow to examine and assess you in person."
"That's perfectly fine, Professor." Orli replied with unwavering confidence. Potions were, after all, her greatest strength.
The office fell into momentary silence. For a while, neither spoke. Then, almost simultaneously, they both began to speak.
"This situation arose from my negligence."
"I'm sorry for dragging you into this."
"You needn't apologize for this." Snape shook his head, his voice dropping to a low rumble. "I bear primary responsibility for how this has developed."
"Professor?!" Orli wanted to protest, but he cut her off.
"From now on, you'd do well to maintain your distance from me." Snape stared down at his desk.
"People will forget this trivial gossip soon enough!" Orli said urgently.
"It's not solely about this incident." Snape still refused to meet her eyes. "If you continue to associate closely with me, Potter and the others will only drift further away from you."
"Professor..." Orli felt her voice waver, but her resolve remained unshakeable. "If I must choose between Harry and you, I will always choose you."
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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