Chapter 137

September 1, 1977. Hogwarts Express.

It was his last year of study, and on the advice of McMillan Jr., Severus nevertheless decided to take a train ride for the last time, and he even somehow liked such quiet trips, he experienced the same relaxing feeling that time when he was flying on a plane to Brazil and back, and a small barrier muffling sounds from outside easily separated Severus from the hubbub outside, and so that no one would disturb him.

Snape created two illusions opposite himself, and put a pointed hat in the next place, pretending that the place was occupied, and anyway it was not difficult to come to an agreement with the headman, who knew each student by sight.

Severus promised to make him one potion, the ingredients for which, the guy would provide.

Gradually, the train was filled with more and more students, some were happy about the start of the new academic year, while others, mostly fifth- and seventh-year students, on the contrary, were upset, because some had an OWL on their nose, and others had a TOAD, two exams on which would depend the further fate of the wizards.

And so, within a few minutes, loud beeps were heard, making it clear to all those seeing them off that the train would soon start moving. 

Another small wave of students entered the carriages and quickly began to look for seats. 

"I thought that you would immediately move to Hogwarts as usual," said the slightly surprised voice of Regulus, who looked curiously at the two guys sitting opposite "Severus," "And this...?" 

"Don't pay attention," Snape raised his hat and the next moment one of the two illusions disappeared, and then reappeared, but next to Severus this time, "Sit down."

"It's an illusion," the young man immediately understood, and then, he sat down opposite Severus who was calmly sipping tea and stared at him unblinkingly. "I can't teach you this, you don't have the necessary personal qualities, attacking magic is more suitable for you." 

"You told me about this and you know what I want to ask you." 

"You yourself know the answer."

 "So, this is your doing," Black muttered, smiling nervously, tremblingly remembering how furious his mother was when the Lestranges came to her and offered to terminate the marriage contract, although they rather presented her with a fait accompli.

After all, it was a real shame for any aristocratic family, and only the fact that both sides agreed to this could ease the tension between the two families a little, but the former good relations will definitely not be returned, "And what are you going to do, are you really going to ask for my cousin's hand in marriage?" 

"No," Severus shook his head softly, snapping his fingers and a cup appeared in front of Regulus, and in the centre of the table was a simple, white teapot with two saucers, one containing sugar and the other jam.

 "Even though I don't care about the opinions of others, Bellatrix , like your entire family will say no, if I immediately go to ask for her hand, then gossip will start again, let everything settle down first, I think a year should be enough, and after that I will openly start courting her," using telekinesis, Severus raised the kettle and filled the cup, "Sugar?" 

"No, thank you and am glad that you understand the whole situation, because this is exactly what my mother feared, but I can make you happy." Regulus replied.

"Hm?" 

"Father has recently returned and he has nothing against your marriage, even though you are a half-breed."

"Is it true?"although Grid knew about his return because of the seals inside the younger Blacks, but recently, he didn't particularly follow them, because he had too much work, so he missed this moment, and the surprise on his face was not feigned , Severus believed that the head of the clan and his wife shared the same opinion about the purity of blood, and would never pass off their niece to a half-breed. 

"You probably thought that my parents think alike?" Regulus immediately understood what "Severus" was thinking by his reaction. 

"Isn't that so?"

 "Not at all," Regulus said with a smile. shook his head, "They may be similar, but my mother was raised by my grandmother, and if she had been alive at that time, she would definitely have fought in the forefront on the side of the Dark Lord, and my father's parents were much more loyal in this regard, although he also supports ideology of blood purity."

"And then why do you say that he doesn't mind?"

"You have a lot of positive qualities."

 "That's it, it makes me happy, thanks for the information," Snape winked at him, grinning, and a folded parchment appeared in his hand, which he handed to Regulus. 

"I was glad to help," looking at its contents, he nodded contentedly and carefully folded it, put it in his artifact with the charm of invisible expansion, and then took a sip from the cup. 

"You're selling your own cousin," Grid looked at him with "condemnation." 

"No, I'm leaving her in good hands, and if she finds a guy for herself, then maybe she'll leave me alone, you just don't know how cruel she becomes when she picks up a wand," a shiver ran through Regulus' body again, "All women in our family are real beasts and these are not my words, but those of my father and grandfather, with whom I completely agree."

 "Merlin, let them not hear this, they'll definitely kill you." 

"Do you think I'm an idiot to say something like that in front of them?" Black's gaze fell on the muzzle of the snake poking out from under "Severus's" robe.

"Did you get a new snake?" Regulus asked in surprise, remembering with what tenderness and trepidation Snape treated the past.

 "You could say that," smiling softly, Severus stroked her on the top of her head, and then took out a small saucer into which he poured some milk. 

In response, she nodded gratefully and slid off his neck, under the slightly nervous gaze of Regulus, who almost immediately realised that this snake was much more dangerous than the last one, and when their eyes met, the young man heard a familiar hiss, somewhat reminiscent of a snort, and after that she began to drink the milk, no longer deigning to look at him, causing Black's left eye to tremble.

 "Why don't any snakes like me?" Of course, Regulus didn't even suspect that it was Nagini, because she couldn't have changed so much in just three months. 

"How about playing cards?" 

"Totally agree!"

A few hours later.

Gloomy Regulus looked at his hand full of cards, and then at the snake, in front of which only one was hovering and at that moment it was its move. 

"But how?! How could I lose to a snake thirty times in a row?! What the hell?!" not a trace remained of his former cheerful mood and aristocratic behaviour, "Severus, admit it, this is your doing?!"

 "She's just very smart, that's all," Severus answered calmly, while having difficulty holding back his laughter; he still liked to throw people off balance, and especially aristocrats, because their reactions were the most vivid. 

"Smart?! Thirty times in a row?!" 

"Regulus, look around, we are in a magical world, anything is possible here, even very smart snakes."

" Well, not so much!"  Throwing the cards on the table, the young man was sincerely indignant.

"This is magic, Regulus, ma-gi-ca..." Severus drawled with a grin, rising to his feet and looking out the window, through which one could already see the outlines of the castle.

 "Okay, let's get ready, we're already getting there," and as if to confirm his words, several beeps were heard, "Get in," he extended his hand to Nagini, who finally threw a contemptuous look in Black's direction, from which the young man's eyelid twitched again, she climbed under Snape's robe and wrapped herself around his neck. 

"She definitely doesn't like me, but... what did I do to her?! We just met for the first time!"

"Forget it, you  won't understand," Severus waved it off weakly, putting the cards and the tray with dishes back into his wallet, "Let's go..."

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After getting off the train, all the students from the second to the seventh year were put into carriages and taken to the castle, where, after the arrival of new first-year students, a real feast began, compared to what was served last year and even on new tables and chairs, instead of those already darkened, long benches and tables that seemed to have been made by a drunken carpenter five hundred years ago.

 In addition to this, Grid also noticed some changes in the castle itself, many charms were updated, some non-working, moving stairs began to work again, and even a small renovation was made on the first floor, he did not look further, but Snape had no doubt that good work was done there.

All the students, especially starting from the second year, were, to put it mildly, surprised by such a change, but also very glad that finally at least someone took up this matter.

 And there was no need to guess who was so good and decided to help the school; right in the hall, where all the announcements were usually posted, there was a huge poster with the signature of the head of the "Board of Trustees", Abraxas Malfoy, and how good they are, how they care about the future of the Magic and almost every single Galleons were invested in making it comfortable for the children to study, in general, everything was in the style of the Malfoys and the Prince.

" I had to admit, it's not for nothing that Tom calls their family "slippery friends", it all had to be turned out so beautifully. But the main thing is that he still did it," and Severus didn't care much about the rest, these were already Dumbledore's affairs, and he had already helped in any way he could, and he already had to prepare for tomorrow's classes, therefore, saying goodbye to Regulus, who was still gloomily looking at the place where Nagini was, he headed to his room…

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