Harry Potter: I became Snape

Severus Snape returned to the dueling stage, his gaze sweeping over the students below as he twirled his wand deftly between his fingers.

His most pressing task was to continue the evening's Dueling Club activities. He couldn't disappoint the eager young witches and wizards waiting expectantly.

"It seems our Professor Malfoy has more urgent matters to attend to," Snape said, feeling the weight of hundreds of eyes upon him. "Shall I take over and teach you some dueling techniques? Any objections?"

A murmur rippled through the crowd, the students clearly puzzled by the night's developments.

"The world outside is far from peaceful," Snape said, raising his voice to cut through the whispers. "Death Eaters are wreaking havoc across the land, and the walls of Hogwarts won't protect us forever."

"When the time comes to defend yourselves, what spells will you use? A Hover Charm? A Color-Changing Charm? Or—" His eyes scanned each face before his wand snapped toward a training dummy in the corner. "—something like this?"

A flash of red light erupted, and the dummy exploded into several wooden fragments, scattering across the floor.

"Ah!" a few first-years gasped in shock.

With an impassive expression, Snape flicked his wand. "Reparo."

The pieces reassembled, and the dummy stood whole once more.

"Dummies can be repaired," Snape said softly, "but if you're struck by a dark curse, recovery may not be so simple. For many, surviving long enough to reach St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries is a luxury. If you're unfamiliar with St. Mungo's, feel free to ask your peers."

As the students' murmurs subsided, Snape continued, "You must take practice seriously to protect yourselves effectively when the need arises. For instance, a reliable defensive spell like the Shield Charm—its incantation is Protego—is essential to master."

"Miss Mary Macdonald," Snape called suddenly. Mary looked up, startled. "Would you kindly come up and demonstrate the Shield Charm for us?"

Mary hesitated but stepped onto the stage.

"Raise your wrist a bit higher," Snape instructed curtly, using his wand to adjust her stance gently. "Like so. Remember, the spell's power stems from a firm will."

"Let's try it. No silent casting," he said, stepping back. "Ready—Rictusempra!"

"Protego!" Mary shouted.

A burst of heat shot from her wand, forming a translucent barrier before her.

Snape's spell struck the shield and dissipated like raindrops on a lake.

The crowd below erupted in enthusiastic applause.

"Very well done," Snape said, clapping lightly. "As you all saw, Mary effectively blocked my Tickling Charm."

"Next, I'll demonstrate the Disarming Charm," he said, pointing his wand at the dummy. "Accio dummy!"

The dummy soared onto the stage.

"For the first-years, the incantation for the Disarming Charm is Expelliarmus," Snape said, casting the spell on the dummy.

The wooden stick in the dummy's hand flew into the air, and Snape caught it lightly.

"Now," he said, "pair up and practice the Disarming Charm. Other spells are fine, too, but do not cause lasting harm to your classmates. If you have questions, come to me."

For the next hour, the Great Hall transformed into a vast practice arena.

Snape wove through the crowd, lingering briefly near where Professor Malfoy had fallen earlier. He corrected students' wand grips and patiently demonstrated proper incantations. With his guidance, even Quirrell nervously managed his first successful Disarming Charm.

"No dark curses on your classmates," Snape warned as he passed two Gryffindors practicing together, "unless you fancy spending your weekend with Madam Pomfrey."

As the session neared its end, Snape noticed a shift in the hall's atmosphere. Even the shyest students were now boldly reciting spells.

"How does it feel?" Snape asked, stepping back onto the dueling stage and tapping his throat with his wand to amplify his voice with a Sonorus Charm.

"Brilliant!" shouted Bertram Aubrey from Hufflepuff.

"Loads better than Malfoy's teaching!" Quirrell added, then shrank back, realizing what he'd said.

Snape's lips twitched upward briefly before his expression returned to its usual severity.

"I'm sure Professor Malfoy also taught you something else today—about the superiority of pure-bloods," he said, pausing as his dark eyes swept the room. "Mary, who just demonstrated an excellent Shield Charm, hails from a Muggle family."

"And, as you all saw, the esteemed head of the noble Malfoy family, a paragon of pure-blood pride, couldn't last two moves against me. In fact, it was one. And he still had to run to the headmaster to complain."

Laughter filled the hall.

"Clearly, his claims hold little weight. But there's one point of his worth considering—" Snape raised a hand for silence. "We need unity."

"Not unity around some pure-blood wizard, but unity among all four houses. Regardless of blood status, house, or skill, as Hogwarts students, we face the same threats. We must stand together, as we did at the school's founding."

"Therefore, I propose forming a society," Snape continued. "If you agree with this vision, you're welcome to join. We'll call it the Order of the One. Within this group, we'll support each other and absolutely prohibit discrimination or bullying, both internally and externally."

"Why should we unite around you?" a defiant voice called from the crowd. "Why should we 'stand together' with Slytherin? How many dark wizards has your house produced?"

The hall fell silent.

Snape didn't flinch. He recognized Sirius Black's voice but remained unfazed.

"That's precisely the problem," he said calmly. "I wouldn't ask such a question. I don't care which house you're from, what your background is, or how strong or weak you are. We are all equal."

Sirius opened his mouth to retort, but Remus Lupin tugged at his sleeve.

Then, to everyone's surprise, Lily Evans raised her hand.

"Miss Evans?" Snape said.

"I'd like to join," Lily said clearly. "Lily Evans, Gryffindor."

"Very well," Snape said, pulling a roll of parchment and a quill from his robes to note her name.

More hands shot up. "Pandora Florahos, Ravenclaw," called another.

The quill automatically recorded each volunteer's name.

At the hall's edge, Sirius grumbled to Remus and Peter, "Let's go! This is ridiculous—"

"Actually, I think Snape has a point," Remus said quietly, head bowed. "The divisions between houses have caused too much unnecessary conflict. No one's ever done something like this before…"

Sirius stared at him, incredulous. "You're siding with Snivellus?"

"I…" Remus hesitated. "I just…"

Sirius's face darkened, and he stormed toward the exit.

Peter hurried after him. Remus cast a complicated glance at Snape before following.

As they neared the hall's doors, they ran into Dumbledore.

"Finished already, Mr. Black?" the headmaster asked kindly.

Sirius nodded stiffly, brushing past him.

Dumbledore stepped aside but called after Remus. "Remus, your actions tonight surprised me. Standing by your convictions in front of your friends takes great courage. Well done."

Remus flushed, muttering, "Thank you, Professor," before hurrying off.

Dumbledore approached the dueling stage, students parting to make way.

Snape was reviewing the list of names when the surrounding silence caught his attention.

He looked up, pausing briefly when he saw Dumbledore.

"Ah, Professor," Snape said, quickly regaining his composure. "Are you joining our student society as well?"

"Well taught, Severus," Dumbledore said, a glint of amusement in his eyes. He turned to the students. "Joining a society is a significant decision that will shape your time at Hogwarts. There's no need to decide tonight—think it over and speak with Severus later."

"That's all for today's dueling lesson," he added. "You may return to your dormitories."

The students began packing up, buzzing with excitement about the evening's practice.

Dumbledore turned to Snape. "Come to my office. We have matters to discuss."

On the way to the headmaster's office, Snape couldn't help but grumble, "I'm walking this path far too often, Professor. I'd prefer fewer visits."

"If you stayed out of trouble," Dumbledore replied mildly.

"I've always been this way, Professor," Snape said with a shrug. "You know I prefer a quiet life."

Dumbledore chuckled, shaking his head.

The stone gargoyle leapt aside, and the spiral staircase carried them upward.

When they entered the circular office, Abraxas Malfoy was pacing restlessly.

"Finally!" Malfoy's complaint burst out. "Dumbledore, I thought you'd keep me waiting until dawn!"

"We couldn't interrupt the young witches and wizards' practice, Abraxas," Dumbledore said calmly, gesturing for Snape to sit. "A worthwhile dueling lesson is worth a short wait."

"What's more important—me, or those brats' silly games?" Malfoy demanded, fuming.

Dumbledore and Snape exchanged a glance, both wisely staying silent.

Malfoy launched into a tirade, accusing Snape of disrespecting his authority and demanding severe punishment.

"I was following your instructions for the dueling demonstration, Professor," Snape said calmly. "If you couldn't keep up, that's hardly my fault."

"Dumbledore, look at this!" Malfoy's face twisted almost unrecognizably. "This is the kind of student you're raising!"

"I'd hoped you'd be calmer, Abraxas," Dumbledore said, conjuring a tray of pastries and a bottle of wine. "Try these. They might soothe your temper."

Malfoy grabbed a biscuit, took a bite, and spat it out. "Too sweet! Utterly inedible!"

"Dobby!" he bellowed.

With a loud crack, a house-elf in a filthy pillowcase appeared in the office's center.

"Master called Dobby?" he squeaked, ears trembling nervously.

"Fetch some proper pastries!" Malfoy ordered. "Now!"

Another crack, and the elf vanished.

Moments later, Dobby returned with a tray of delicate cakes, standing respectfully by his master.

"Behavior like this," Malfoy said, waving a waffle, "demands severe punishment for this insolent boy!"

"Very well," Dumbledore said. "Perhaps we should bar Severus from attending Defense Against the Dark Arts classes."

"No classes? That'd save me time," Snape thought, his gaze drifting to Dobby. The elf stood trembling, ears drooping, his thin frame covered in scars. "But couldn't Malfoy free Dobby? If he's humiliated here, he'll likely take it out on the elf."

"No classes?" Malfoy's voice snapped Snape back to reality. "Detention's not enough! We need old-fashioned punishment—hang him by his wrists from the ceiling for days!"

"What about the Imperius Curse…" Snape mused, considering ways to free Dobby. "If I used it to make Malfoy give Dobby clothes, would that work? It's uncertain. Lucius gave Dobby a sock without intent, but it was still his action. If the master's under the Imperius Curse, the act isn't free will, and the magical contract might not recognize it."

"Besides," Snape thought, glancing at Dumbledore, "he'd never let me do it."

He half-listened to Malfoy and Dumbledore's exchange, his fingers discreetly brushing his sock. The Imperius Curse was risky and unreliable, but Transfiguration… A robe wouldn't do, nor trousers…

After some thought, a sock seemed the most practical choice—no wonder Harry had done the same.

Recalling techniques from Advanced Transfiguration, Snape seized a moment while Dumbledore placated Malfoy. He slipped off one sock, hid his wand's tip, and tapped it lightly.

The sock writhed in his palm, transforming into a small, dark red snake with black-spotted scales.

"Professor Malfoy," Snape said, standing abruptly and cutting off the endless complaints, his voice unusually humble. "I recognize the error in my actions and sincerely apologize for earlier."

He extended his hand as if to shake, and as Malfoy, confused, grasped it, Snape slipped the tiny snake into his palm.

————

Supporting me on Patreon to gain early access to advanced chapters and enjoy expedited updates. Your support is greatly appreciated.

pat-reon .com/Dragonhair

(Just remove the hyphen - and space, to access Patreon normally.)