After buying his new wand and returning home, Snape sat staring up at the bright red banner hanging above the dining table, feeling the pulse throb painfully at his temples.
The banner was inscribed in ornate golden letters with, "Warmest Congratulations to Severus and Lily on Being Elected Student Council Presidents," each letter edged with tiny sparkling stars.
With a flick of her wand, Eileen sent the stars bursting into a shower of miniature fireworks that sprinkled down over Snape and Lily's heads.
"For Merlin's sake," Snape grumbled, brushing the glitter off his shoulders, "this is way over the top!"
"It's a joyous occasion!" Eileen was already pouring him a cup of hot tea from a silver teapot. "Tomorrow, I plan to invite the neighbors over."
After dozens of Snape's protests, Eileen reluctantly agreed to take down the banner before the neighbors arrived, but she insisted that Snape wear his badge properly as a condition.
All through August, Snape found himself trapped in a tangle of conflicted feelings.
The summer had ended far too quickly, and part of him resisted returning to Hogwarts, knowing this next meeting marked the start of the countdown to goodbye.
Though he might remain at school in some other role—perhaps as a professor—the closing of his student days left a bitter mix of emotions.
On September first, heavy rains that had lasted nearly a week still pounded the windows, shrouding the house in the dull gloom of the school year's approach.
Snape sat quietly at the table. Outside, the rain's steady rhythm mingled with the sizzling sound of Eileen frying breakfast, forming an oddly comforting lull. He wished this moment could stretch longer.
"Why don't you just Apparate directly to Hogwarts' gates?" Eileen suddenly asked near the end of breakfast. "That way, you'd get to stay home a little longer."
"This is the last year," Snape set down his pumpkin juice, pausing thoughtfully. "No need to save a few minutes now. We'll Apparate near King's Cross Station."
"Who knows where we'll be this time next year…" Lily said wistfully. "If only we could go back to when we were eleven—if I hadn't boarded that train…"
Back then, the Evans couple and Petunia had accompanied her to King's Cross.
For a while, the three were silent.
Lily's words sent Snape's thoughts spiraling back to that distant time: her bright eyes at the Hogwarts Express, Petunia's sharp sneers on the platform…
Though he was a completely different person then, the memories remained vivid.
At least, he thought, these memories needn't be shared with some scar-faced boy.
"Come on," Eileen broke the silence with a flick of her wand, sending plates to line up toward the sink. "It's about time to leave."
In a blink, they passed through the solid metal barrier onto Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.
Looking up, a bright red steam engine puffed clouds of smoke while stationed at the tracks.
The platform was more crowded than Snape ever remembered—students jostling alongside witches and wizards seeing off their children. Cats meowed from cradled arms, owls flapped in cages, and toads croaked nearby.
Snape's gaze drifted to the far end of the platform—Sirius lounging lazily by the train, black hair fluttering in the white steam; beside him stood James, perpetually tidying his unruly hair, flanked by his parents.
Surprisingly, amid such tension, seeing these two rivals triggered a fleeting surge of warmth in Snape's chest.
Of course, he knew James wouldn't be pleased if he saw Lily beside Snape—unless, perhaps, he had a very particular kink.
Boarding the train, Snape made his way instinctively to the last carriage.
Before reaching the door, he heard Aberforth's exaggerated voice.
"You really passed all twelve O.W.L.s! Barty, you've got to help me with this year's N.E.W.T.s!"
Pushing open the sliding door, Snape spotted Pandora leaning against the window. Sunlight filtered through clouds and glass, casting a honeyed glow over her freshly trimmed golden hair.
Since summer's end, Pandora's hair seemed smoother than ever; her usual carrot-shaped earrings had been replaced by shimmering silver Mooncalf pendants.
"Sev," Pandora turned, a faint smile playing on her lips, her pale eyes brightening at his arrival.
She gestured for Snape to sit beside her.
He noticed the opal bracelet on her right wrist—the very one he had given her last year. It had taken him a month in the library researching ancient texts to combine opal with protective enchantments.
When gifted, the bracelet had felt rough; now, the carved patterns were exquisitely smooth.
Just as Snape moved to sit, the compartment door opened again.
"Severus," Lily stood at the threshold, the shining Head Girl badge pinned to her chest, red hair cascading over her shoulders. "I think you forgot you're Head Boy."
Snape's heart jumped, his knee banging against the small table. Flustered, he stood as he heard Pandora chuckle softly.
"We're supposed to be in the Heads' and Prefects' compartment," Lily continued, briefly glancing at Pandora. "The prefects will join us later, waiting for instructions from the student council."
"Oh, I was never a prefect," Snape said dryly, feeling his ears flush. "I mean, of course, we'll head there now."
"Well then—" he added nervously, glancing about the compartment. Barty watched the scene with interest, while Aberforth was struggling not to laugh. "I—guess I won't be staying there the whole time. See you soon."
"Wait," Pandora suddenly stood and pulled from her pocket a handkerchief embroidered with strange runes. "Sev, you have something on your nose."
"What?" Snape asked, puzzled, instinctively touching his nose.
Before he could react, Pandora leaned in and gently wiped the tip of his nose.
"Oh… thanks," Snape said, feeling the compartment heat spike by at least ten degrees. "Thank you, Pandora. See you later."
Hurriedly leaving the compartment, he could still hear Aberforth erupting into laughter inside.