Hermione waited until Harry had left the common room before finally releasing the Leg-Locker Curse on Neville. Neville stretched his legs, incredibly grateful. "Thank you, Hermione, I—"
"Don't mention it, Neville. It's late. You should head back to your dormitory and rest." Hermione cut him off, too worried about Harry to chat.
Neville awkwardly rubbed his nose. "Uh, alright then. Goodnight."
As Neville walked away, Hermione felt a pang of guilt and called out, "I'm sorry, Neville, I didn't mean it like that, I just—"
"I know," Neville replied. "You're worried about Harry. I clearly heard him say 'duel,' not 'dual.' Everyone thinks I'm a fool, but fools sometimes see things more clearly than anyone." He gave a self-deprecating laugh. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. And I'm grateful you helped me find my toad on the Hogwarts Express. Also, I'm really sorry I didn't stand up to Malfoy that day." Neville then turned and left the common room.
Hermione stood there, whispering, "I'm sorry."
---
Meanwhile, Dumbledore was leisurely sipping tea in his office. (Don't ask why Dumbledore would be having tea so late at night.) Suddenly, a portrait on the wall spoke, "Albus, a ghost is looking for you."
Dumbledore glanced at the clock, curious why a ghost would be seeking him out at such an hour.
Nearly Headless Nick burst into the Headmaster's office, shouting, "Headmaster Dumbledore! Something terrible has happened!"
"Oh, Nick, calm down, no need to rush," Dumbledore said, taking another sip of tea.
"Professor Snape and Harry Potter are fighting in the Trophy Room!"
"Nonsense. I don't believe either of them would do such a thing. You must have seen wrong."
"No, I'm telling the truth! When I arrived, Harry Potter had already set the Trophy Room on fire!"
"What?!" Dumbledore immediately put down his tea and strode out of his office.
---
The common room gradually emptied out. Hermione felt uneasy; a lot of time had passed, and Harry still hadn't returned. Suddenly, she thought she heard loud shouts echoing through the castle. She rushed to the window but saw nothing.
Then, she heard voices in the common room corridor.
"George, I think Peeves has finally lost it."
"He's always been a bit unhinged, Fred."
It was the Weasley twins, back from their nighttime wanderings.
"Don't forget, George, Peeves never lies. And the map shows Snape, Harry, and even Malfoy in the Trophy Room."
"That's odd. What are those three doing there? They couldn't really be fighting, could they?"
"If I hadn't seen Professor McGonagall hurrying over, I'd definitely go have a look."
"Me too—Hey, Hermione! Still up reading in the common room at this hour?"
Hermione ignored the twins. She quickly muttered the password and rushed out of Gryffindor Tower, heading straight for the Trophy Room.
---
By the time Dumbledore arrived, he saw Snape and Harry facing each other, wands raised. "Finite Incantatem!" Without a second thought, he whipped out his wand and extinguished the flames.
Harry, overjoyed to see Dumbledore, quickly blurted out, "Professor Dumbledore, you're just in time! Please save Humphrey, it's dying!"
Dumbledore didn't move but turned to look at Snape. Snape, now calmer, knelt to check on Draco. "Clearly, your 'Chosen One' Potter has lost his mind."
"You're lying! If it weren't for Humphrey, you would've split me in half!" Harry retorted furiously.
"Perhaps someone forgot who cast the first spell," Snape said coldly.
Harry didn't want to argue with him anymore. He pleaded with Dumbledore, "Professor, please save it! I'll give you all the money in my vault. Humphrey just saved me; without it, I'd be the one on the ground."
Only then did Dumbledore notice Harry's shoulder was bleeding. "Harry, your shoulder is bleeding—"
"Save it first!"
Dumbledore couldn't help but sigh. He looked down; the Runespoor's body was nearly severed in two, blood gushing from the wound. Both outer heads were still, but the middle head twitched slightly. Dumbledore pulled a crystal vial from his robes and poured some Phoenix tears onto the Runespoor's wound. Humphrey's condition visibly improved, but the wound wouldn't close.
"This is a dark magic wound, Harry. I'm afraid only the caster can undo its effects."
"Professor, you're the greatest—"
"I need time to research the counter-curse, but it won't last, Harry. The Phoenix tears are only keeping it alive." Dumbledore cut Harry off.
"Then make Snape—"
"I am not obligated to save an animal," Snape said without looking up, currently extracting dark smoke from Malfoy's nose with his wand.
Harry immediately fell silent.
Dumbledore sighed again. "Harry, let me tend to your wound."
Harry stood numbly as Dumbledore treated his injury. Strangely, he felt the wound heal very quickly. "Why did my wound heal?"
"I'm sorry, Harry. I'm afraid Severus's spell struck it first, and then rebounded onto you."
"Albus, what happened here?" Professor McGonagall arrived just then.
"You've come at a good time, Minerva. I'll take Severus and Harry to my office. You take Mr. Malfoy to the infirmary—"
Snape had already stood up, preparing to leave with Dumbledore. Harry suddenly grabbed Snape's arm and said, every word deliberate, "On Sorting Day, your eyes were filled with guilt, remembrance, bitterness, and anger. That look, I've seen it in a man whose girlfriend was stolen—"
"Enough!" Snape's face began to tremble.
"You still love my mother? Everyone says my eyes are like hers—"
"Enough!!" Snape began to use Occlumency.
"If you want one, I can give you one, so you—"
"I said ENOUGH!!!" Snape roared, tearing his arm from Harry's grasp, breathing heavily as he stared at him.
They stood there, locked in a gaze, until Harry suddenly took off his glasses. Snape looked directly into those familiar green eyes, and it was as if he was back in Cokeworth, England. He violently shoved Harry away, pulled out his wand, healed the wound caused by the Sectumsempra curse, and left without looking back.
Dumbledore opened his mouth, but only a sigh escaped him.
(Snape's fantasy of him and Lily)
---