"I understand the reasoning, but why you?"
"I told you, Dumbledore has other things to do. No matter how powerful he is, he can't split himself in two."
"And what about Professor McGonagall? Isn't she the Deputy Headmaster?"
"She needs to handle matters regarding the new students. You ask too many questions, Willy. Also, from your words, I sense that you seem quite dissatisfied with this meeting."
"No, Severus, I'm glad to see you. However, I have one more question: why did you think of looking for me?"
This time Snape didn't answer. Facing another of Willy's inquiries, he just kept a cold face, pulled a newspaper still smelling of ink from his Black robes, and slapped it in front of Willy with a 'thwack.'
"This is today's Evening Prophet, a rush print. It's out several hours earlier than usual."
Willy raised an eyebrow and picked up the newspaper. The front-page headline was written in bold Black font:
"[High-ranking Ministry of Magic Officials Come to Blows! One Official Resigns! Two Officials Hung from the Ceiling for Hours!]"
Below the headline was a moving Black-and-white photo. In the photo, Fudge and Umbridge looked like two giant clothed balloons, floating helplessly under the ceiling, their limbs flailing about in a laughably ridiculous manner.
Willy glanced at the photo, a pleasant curve forming at the corners of his mouth. He casually tossed the newspaper back to Snape.
"It seems you're quite concerned about me, Severus. I've only just resigned, and you've already tracked me down."
"Don't overthink it; I don't have such deep feelings for you." Snape curled his lip and pushed the newspaper aside with a look of disdain. "It was Dumbledore who sent a letter specifically asking for you after hearing the news. I'm just the messenger."
Candlelight flickered in a dim corner of the Leaky Cauldron.
Willy had been sitting here alone enjoying his first drink after resigning, when Snape suddenly descended like a giant bat and asked him point-blank if he'd be willing to return to Hogwarts to serve as the Professor of Alchemy. That led to the conversation they just had.
Willy picked up the goblet in front of him, took an elegant sip of the amber Sherry, and looked Snape over with an unabashed gaze.
At this moment, Snape was like a gloomy statue, his Black robes almost merging into the shadows, only his Black eyes seemed to flicker with impatience.
"To be honest, Severus, you seem to have aged a bit."
Snape looked up, his gaze suddenly becoming dangerous.
But Willy acted as if he hadn't noticed. He set down his glass and, using the slightly greasy reflection in the bar window, looked at his own well-defined profile and meticulous hairstyle. He adjusted his collar slightly and added another sentence.
"But I'm still as dashing as ever."
Snape's fingers tightened around his glass, and his facial muscles twitched unnaturally.
"Hmph, I know why your political career came to a screeching halt, Willy." Snape let out a cold sneer from deep within his nose, mocking him mercilessly. "It's truly a pity that the once proud and talented student has now fallen so low that he can only rely on narcissistically admiring himself in dirty glass, clinging to that pathetic bit of appearance to maintain his last shred of miserable self-esteem."
Facing Snape's verbal assault, Willy didn't look angry at all. He just waved his hand lightly, as if shooing away an annoying fly.
"Don't be so angry, Severus, or you'll age even faster. Our relationship used to be quite good. Although contact dwindled after graduation, that shouldn't be a reason for you to attack me."
Willy felt it was natural for them to have lost touch, as he had joined the Ministry of Magic while Snape had joined the Death Eaters, taking two completely opposite paths.
However, Willy mused that if he had accepted Barty's invitation to become an Auror back then, he would have had many more opportunities to meet Snape.
Hearing the words 'used to be,' Snape's mocking expression froze for a moment.
His gaze deepened slightly, as if he were seeing that less-than-pleasant school time through Willy's still-handsome face.
After a moment of silence, Snape spoke slowly, his voice low: "But it could have gone a step further—our relationship. You know that, Willy."
Willy knew what he was talking about, of course. Although he had eventually been sorted into Ravenclaw House, he had maintained friendly relations with many pure-blood Wizards in Slytherin due to his family background, which was how he met Severus Snape.
Because of their shared amazing talent and interest in magic, Willy and Snape had once had a fairly close relationship. Snape had always hoped Willy would take his side more clearly—that is, the side against The Marauders.
"But I didn't have that obligation, Severus." Willy sighed helplessly, toying with the glass in his hand. "I don't have any deep-seated hatred for James Potter."
Hearing that name, Snape's pupils contracted sharply. His hand under the table unconsciously clenched into a fist, and his tone became somewhat agitated: "None? Back then, because of Potter and Black, you were given a whole semester of detention after a duel, and you even lost your prefect badge because of it!"
"That was the Quidditch final; both sides were playing quite aggressively."
Willy recalled calmly, "At that time, James and I spotted the Snitch simultaneously. It was the crucial moment that would decide the match. While pursuing it together, we were both flying at high speeds, so bumping into each other was inevitable."
"I admit, I couldn't hold my temper then. When I changed direction, I slammed my elbow hard into James's face, nearly knocking him off his broom."
Speaking of this, Willy shrugged. "Even though I made his nose bleed and his face was bruised, it wasn't enough to start a blood feud. It's just that while James was being treated in the Hospital Wing, Black, in an attempt to stand up for his friend, pulled out his wand and got into a fight with me in the corridor. That's what blew the whole thing out of proportion."
Willy paused and looked at Snape with clear eyes, saying seriously: "Our relationship is good, Severus, because we share many topics of interest in the study of magic, but that doesn't mean I have to share your enemies."
"I don't like James Potter's arrogance, nor do I like Black's recklessness, but that doesn't mean I'm going to treat them as lifelong enemies..."
"Enough."
Before Willy could finish, Snape had already abruptly stood up.
Clearly, bringing up these old stories, especially the topic of Potter, made him extremely unpleasant. His sallow face was full of impatience, and his Black eyes stared coldly at Willy.
"We've strayed too far. I'm not interested in hearing you reminisce about your 'rational' youth."
Snape looked down at him, "I have only one question now, Willy Shafik: are you willing to serve as the Professor of Alchemy or not? I need to go back and report to Dumbledore."
Willy smiled and finished the last sip of Sherry in his glass.
"Of course, why not?"
"Very well."
Having received an affirmative answer, Snape didn't want to stay a moment longer. He whipped his Black robes around like a startled large bird, kicking up a cold wind, and strode away without looking back.