HP: Wormwood and Lightning Wood

On the day of their return to school, West and Snape were the first to use the Floo Network to return to Hogwarts.

Green flames suddenly erupted in the fireplace, and two figures stepped out one after the other. Snape habitually dusted off non-existent dust from his black robes.

"This semester is going to be anything but peaceful," West said, waving his wand to put Snape's luggage back in its place.

"The enemy is in the shadows, we are in the light, and the only thing we can do is adapt to the situation," Snape said.

"That's the only way," West replied softly.

West packed his bags, waved his hand, and time appeared in the air. "Harry and the others have probably arrived. Let's go, Severus."

Snape nodded slightly.

West followed behind Snape, his figure gradually changing—his shoulders narrowed, his face became more youthful, and finally he settled into the appearance of a fourteen-year-old boy, only now his height was the same as Snape's.

Snape frowned, his gaze sweeping over West. "What on earth did you eat, you troll?"

She was actually half a head shorter than him before.

West chuckled, revealing two sharp canine teeth. "I made a slight adjustment."

When the two arrived at the auditorium, the sorting ceremony had already begun.

The magic candles on the ceiling cast warm light onto the four long tables, where the silverware glittered.

West watched Snape walk toward the teachers' table.

He could feel the curious glances from several professors in the faculty section, especially Professor McGonagall. She adjusted her glasses and looked him up and down between the two of them.

West had just sat down at the Slytherin table when he heard a murmur around him. He looked up and saw a group of first-year students staring at him with wide eyes.

"That senior is so handsome..." a girl with golden braids whispered.

"They say he's the savior's brother!" the boy next to him added excitedly.

"Cool! He's from Slytherin? Aren't Slytherins supposed to be bad wizards?"

"I want to be in the same house as the Savior! I want to go to Gryffindor!"

"I don't care, I want to go to Slytherin, I want to be in the same house as my senior."

The freshmen whispered among themselves until a single glance from the professor in the black robe sitting in the front row silenced them.

Snape stared at them with a grim face, his black eyes like two bottomless lakes.

"Why is that professor glaring at us?"

"I don't know, shh, don't say anything."

Then, to everyone's astonishment, the number of new Slytherin students this year far exceeded that of previous years.

Snape's face darkened as he looked at the group of freshmen who had been whispering. They had all been assigned to Slytherin! How was he going to deduct points from their classes?!

The small snakes shivered and looked around in confusion.

After everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, Dumbledore said with a smile, "Now I must ask everyone to pay attention, I have a few announcements to make."

Dumbledore first emphasized the school's rules to the new students: "I regret to inform you that the House Cup Quidditch match will not be held this year."

The students below erupted in boos, their faces filled with disbelief.

At the Gryffindor table, Angelina nearly jumped up from her seat; the Slytherin Quidditch captain slammed his fist on the table in anger, and the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw students also voiced their protests.

Dumbledore raised his hand to quell the agitation, and just as he was about to say something, the doors of the Great Hall were slammed open.

A man stood in the doorway, leaning on a cane and wearing a black cloak. The students all turned to look at him.

The man took off his hood, revealing a head of messy gray hair and a scarred face.

West narrowed his eyes. Mad-Eye Moody? He hadn't expected the Ministry of Magic and Dumbledore to invite him.

The students were visibly shocked. The strange man had a terrifying face, a mouth that looked like a large, crooked slit, and a nose that should have been prominent was missing.

One of his eyes was small and black, while the other was large and a bright blue. It was not a normal eye at all. Under everyone's watchful eyes, it flipped over and went into the man's eye, so now all everyone could see was a big white eyeball.

The man walked over to Dumbledore, and they whispered something. Then he sat down in the teachers' seat, but his eyes were still scanning the students present.

West noticed that Moody's gaze had fallen on Harry.

"Please allow me to introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher," Dumbledore said cheerfully, "Professor Moody."

The students remained silent for a while before clapping sparsely.

West turned his gaze back to Snape and noticed that Snape's posture was somewhat stiff, his fingers gripping the wine glass tightly, his knuckles turning white.

Dumbledore cleared his throat. "As I said, we will not be hosting the House Cup Quidditch this term. Instead, we will be honored to host a very exciting event over the next few months. This event has not been held for over a century, and I am delighted to announce that the Triwizard Tournament will be held at Hogwarts this year."

Harry, Draco, Hermione, and Ron remained calm, as they already knew the truth.

"You're kidding!" Fred yelled.

Everyone laughed amicably, breaking the tense atmosphere from before.

Dumbledore then introduced the Triwizard Tournament.

"In October, the headmasters of Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will lead their carefully selected competitors to the selection ceremony, which will take place on Halloween. An impartial referee will decide which students are most qualified to compete for the Triwizard Cup, win honors for their schools, and receive a prize of one thousand Galleons."

The entire hall erupted in excitement, with everyone staring fervently at Dumbledore or whispering amongst themselves.

"I know you all yearn to win the Triwizard Tournament trophy for Hogwarts, but the participating schools and the Ministry of Magic have agreed that there should be an age limit for this year's competitors—only students who are 17 years of age or older will be allowed to register."

The auditorium erupted in noise again, but this time there were many more voices of discontent.

Dumbledore remained unmoved, dismissed the students, and turned to speak to Mad-Eye Moody.

West pushed through the crowd to Snape's side, took his hand, and asked, "What's wrong?"

The students around them pretended not to be looking at them, but Snape could feel countless curious gazes.

Moody's crazy blue eyes were also staring intently at their clasped hands.

Snape pursed his lips and subtly shook off West's hand. "You're getting bolder and bolder."

West noticed Moody's gaze, glancing at him subtly, his eyes dripping with threat. Turning back to Snape, West had regained his docile demeanor. "Let's go back to the dungeons, Severus," he said softly.

Snape really wanted to leave the Great Hall immediately.

The two returned to the cellar, and West closed the door.

"You're very wary, Severus," West asked. "Because of Mad-Eye Moody?"

"As a senior member of the Order of the Phoenix, he has never trusted me," Snape said, feigning nonchalance.

Wester sighed and pressed Snape down onto the sofa. "You don't need his trust anymore, Severus."

"Besides, you know you can't be a spy anymore, so all this maneuvering is unnecessary."

As West spoke, he rolled up Snape's sleeve, his long knuckles rubbing against Snape's smooth wrist.

Snape stared blankly at the skin on his arm, feeling somewhat unaccustomed to it.

That terrifying mark remained on him for over a decade, like a vicious curse that haunted him, reminding him of his past mistakes.

He suffered and blamed himself because of this mark, but he had no choice but to bear it all; it was a fate he could not escape.

But now all of that has vanished.

"Once all this is over, you can do whatever you want, my dear Potions Master," West said with a smile, the firelight from the fireplace dancing in his eyes. "Like, perhaps, take a few Order of Merlin medals?"

Snape's brows relaxed slightly, and the corners of his mouth lifted a little. "You're dreaming more than I am."

West took Snape's hand and kissed it. Feeling Snape's fingertips trembling slightly, West solemnly said, "My Potions Master, you truly deserve the title."