48. Happy & Snape

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Snape kept looking at Happy's face, contemplating his options. He asked himself why he should be bothered with the boy. By now, he knew Happy wasn't some spy of the Dark Lord, nor was he an important man to him. Instead, the boy was wanted by the Death Eaters so the Dark Lord could benefit.

Logically, his benefit was in handing the boy over to Lucius Malfoy, who had already asked him to do so. But, by angering Malfoy, he was taking a risk on his own life. So, his logic and his pragmatic mind only allowed him to go against Happy.

But when he looked at Happy's face, he remembered his own life from childhood until now. He had an abusive father and an ignorant mother—what did Happy have? Worse, probably. Family under the servitude of a Dark Lord who gave nothing but took everything. Family in Azkaban, while he himself remained under constant moral scrutiny for his name.

There stood a boy, trying to make the best of what he had been given. And then there he was, an adult, master potioneer, teacher, with everything a wizard could desire, yet he wasn't fulfilled.

"As you can see, I am busy preparing materials to cure the petrified students. I do not have the time to help you, Mr. Lestrange. As per the previous agreement, I will see you on Sunday," Snape said and returned to work as if forcing himself not to look at Happy.

Happy just looked at the man, wondering what to do next. He did expect some pushback but had no idea how to move forward from there.

"Then... Can I at least have some potions to replenish my blood and heal my injuries?" Happy asked.

"This is not a shop, nor a charity, Mr. Lestrange. Go to…" Snape suddenly stopped in the middle of his usual scolding. He paused what he was doing, walked over to a side shelf to take two bottles, and shoved them into Happy's hands. "Now leave."

Happy sighed, as there was no way to force Snape to do something he didn't want to do. So, he decided to double down and tell the man an even bigger secret.

"It's a Basilisk, professor!" Happy exclaimed. "It's a Basilisk that's causing everything. It was hibernating in the Chamber of Secrets."

Snape, of course, didn't take his words seriously. Saying it was a Basilisk was as ludicrous to wizards as telling a muggle that unicorns are real. Of course, they are real, but they don't know, just like in Basilisk's case.

"Mr. Lestrange, go read more about history. Basilisks went extinct centuries ago, and their breeding is strictly prohibited."

"Professor, a Basilisk can live for centuries—not all Basilisks have to die to disappear. Some can lay dormant for centuries. Besides, it's all done by Tom Riddle—the same man who opened the Chamber of Secrets and began a reign of terror on this very school fifty years ago when he was a student. Back then, Hagrid was blamed as he had Aragog, the Acromantula, as a pet. While in reality, it was him! My father, Lestrange Senior, was there, by his side all along!"

Of course, Happy utilized his family name to his own advantage. He was finally beginning to understand why he was fortunate to have it. His words carried more weight because of it.

Snape looked back, finding the story somewhat credible with all that background information. Naturally, being a professor and taking pride in his knowledge, he had learned about the incident years ago.

"Professor, I heard the hisses, as did Harry—I would have been a victim too, if not for my magical goose crowing like a rooster. The Basilisk travels through the school pipes!" Happy continued to explain.

However, there was a significant loophole that Happy could not explain or disclose. And that was how the chamber opened, and who opened it?

"You're saying Tom Riddle returned to open the chamber?" Snape asked, as expected.

Happy shook his head. "I have no idea, professor. There is only one heir of Slytherin known to me, and that is Gaunt's bloodline. Tom was the sole remaining Gaunt—even if you don't believe me, professor, don't you want to ensure the Dark Lord does not return? Do you not despise him after what he did to you? When he took her away?"

Woosh!

All of a sudden, Snape's wand appeared in his hand, and Happy was lifted into the air, but unhurt. Snape's gaze turned cold as he spoke in a calm yet angry voice. "What do you know about her?"

'Frick it! Grandpa God, I hope you didn't give me fake luck—I need this brooding man on my side.' Happy prayed and decided to let everything out from the depths of his heart.

"LILY POTTER!" Happy roared with great effort, instantly making the man flinch. "What did you gain after serving the Dark Lord? Respect? Recognition? Protection? Money? NOTHING! All you received was their limited respect. All they valued was your talent, not you! All you received was pain and an ugly mark that haunts you! All you received was... loss!

"Professor... all I ask of you is to help me at least earn a chance to live! A chance before those beasts come hunting for me!"

"I do not believe you, Lestrange!"

"Then seek, and you will believe! Fight for your honor! Fight for justice, for her! As long as that vile creature remains alive, none of the souls he defiled will find peace!" Happy continued, knowing the game was not over until Snape released him from the spell.

As if broken and grieving, Snape walked to the side and sat down on the chair. His head hung low enough for his hair to cover his face. "Why are you doing this, Lestrange? Don't think I can't see that you, too, are trying to use me! Like they all did!"

Happy softly replied, his voice becoming shaky, masterful acting on his part. "Professor... We're both the same. If the Dark Lord returns to life, you will be forced into servitude again. And as a Lestrange, I carry my bloodline's inheritance, which is nothing but unquestioned servitude to the Dark Lord—I will be used as a tool for murder and my blood for him and his army. So in the end, both of us will do what we do not wish to do."

Thud!

The binding spell dissipated, and Happy fell to the floor with a thud, hurting his back slightly. But he didn't make a sound and quickly wiped his eyes. Enjoying food was his dream, but uprooting all those who tried to suppress that dream was his responsibility, no matter the cost.

He stood up and walked toward the exit. "I'm going back to the common room to prepare."

"Who else?!"

Snape exclaimed suddenly. His head slowly rose up, and his face came into view. His eyes appeared bloodshot red, as if a mix of holding back tears and genuine anger, since the veins on the forehead didn't lie.

"Who else is going with you into that chamber?"

Happy's heart nearly skipped a beat. "It's Harry, most likely."

"Of course, who if not Potter," Snape said with a hint of ridicule.

But he didn't remain sitting and stood up to pick a few potions from the shelf. He took a clean cauldron and quickly began to brew new potions.

Happy's heart sank again, and he asked directly, "Professor, won't you teach me?"

"Then what?" Snape asked. "You wish to kill a centuries-old Basilisk with your meager magic? None of the spells taught in school will let you kill such a beast."

"Then... What should I do? No other adult would believe me. The Headmaster is removed from his position. The Ministry is full of ignorant politicians. There are no adults who can help me."

Snape continued to brew the potions. "Indeed, no sane adult would believe you. Now come here and put a drop of your blood in this cauldron."

Snape's order was absolute, and Happy knew that his luck was likely at work. The sudden shift in demeanor and the way Snape suggested he couldn't kill the snake were some signs. The man was likely brewing something so he could fight the Basilisk better.

So Happy went ahead and poured a drop of his blood into the cauldron, using a small knife nearby. The potion in the cauldron was originally red, but once his blood mixed, it turned shining golden.

Snape stirred the pot for a good while, and then put a strange feather into it, which vanished almost instantly. Once done, the brooding professor poured the content into four vials the size of pinky fingers.

"Drink it." Snape handed him one and ordered.

Happy followed the order and went with his fate. It was extremely bitter, and he stuck out his tongue in response. But almost instantly, he could feel something was different. The world seemed to slow down in front of his eyes. His eyes were able to focus on things much more efficiently, and his range of vision had increased.

"P-Professor! With this, I can fight it!" Happy exclaimed with delight.

Woosh!

Snape donned his long, oversized black robes. He picked a leather pouch from the table and then checked his wand once before glaring at Happy.

"As the acting Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Wizardry and Witchcraft, I cannot allow a student to harm themselves," Snape said as he walked toward the office exit, passing by Happy.

Beaming with a big smile, Happy followed excitedly. "You're coming with me?"

Snape stopped and looked back, his face as plain as ever, and his tone also the same."No, Lestrange—You're coming with me."

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Special thanks to *phong thanh nguyen* *andy cohen* *Martin Bosley*