HP: Wormwood and Lightning Wood

The next day, when Snape got up, West was lying beside him, staring at him.

West brushed Snape's dark hair that had fallen across his cheek behind his ear. "Good morning, Severus."

Snape noticed the bruises under West's eyes. "...When did you get back? Is everything resolved?"

West: "It was probably early morning. It's resolved."

Snape asked, "You really...killed them?"

West looked Snape in the eye and answered seriously, "Yes, Severus. I won't show any mercy in these matters."

"If you still understand that murder can split a person's soul..." Snape's tone was cold and hard, but the worry in his eyes was obvious.

West smiled. "For me, no. Severus, my use of dark magic has no side effects—and besides, it wasn't actually me who did it."

West yawned, leaned against Snape, and put his arm around Snape's waist. "Don't worry about me—it's only seven o'clock. Stay with me and get some sleep."

Snape relaxed slightly, speechless. "If you still remember I have class?"

He nudged West's arm, and West regretfully pulled his hand away. "Okay."

Snape got up, threw the blanket at West's face, and went into the bathroom without looking back.

When Snape emerged from the bathroom, he saw West already fast asleep. His disheveled red hair lay scattered across the snow-white sheets, like a blooming datura.

Snape tiptoed out of the cellar.

After class, Harry caught up with Snape. "Professor, is West in the dungeons?"

Snape looked down at Harry and noticed that Harry had grown up to his chin, which made him grit his teeth in frustration.

He thought of West, who was half a head taller than him, and cursed inwardly—are all Potters trolls?!

Harry's gaze was firm, and when he looked at Snape, his eyes were full of respect.

He straightened his back slightly, his tone respectful and steady: "I have something to discuss with him, Professor Snape."

"Perhaps you could come in the afternoon?" Snape replied in his usual cold tone. "He's still asleep."

Harry looked puzzled and stammered, "But it's already noon..."

Snape shot Harry a glare, and Harry gave an awkward smile. "Alright, I'll come back this afternoon. Goodbye, Professor!"

When he returned to the cellar, West was lounging on the sofa, leisurely sipping tea.

"Is the head of the family completely unharmed?" Snape asked.

West pushed a cup of brewed tea toward Snape. "I'm certainly got some free time."

He winked at Snape. "I wonder if Severus could find me something to do?"

Snape took a sip of tea, raising an eyebrow in confusion: "For example?"

"For example..." West took the teacup from Snape's hand, placed it on the table, and kissed his lips. "For example, like this."

Snape shoved him hard. "You deserve a beating!"

"Really not going to kiss me?" West leaned in fearlessly. "I thought we were already together."

Snape coughed awkwardly, remembering the long kiss under the mistletoe.

"Ah...doesn't Christmas night count?" West feigned grievance.

Snape hesitated for a long time before finally managing to utter, "...No, it counts."

West clutched his chest. "Even Severus won't kiss me. Sigh, it's always me..."

Snape, unable to bear it any longer, grabbed West by the chin and kissed him.

Okay, actually it was a crash.

The two bumped into each other, and Snape felt his lips go numb from the impact. He stood up awkwardly.

Unexpectedly, West chuckled and pulled Snape down from his seat. Snape fell into West's arms, stiffening involuntarily, his nose filled with the faint scent of cedar.

West kissed Snape on the lips.

The bitter aftertaste of the tea leaves spread between our lips and teeth, and a subtle vibration spread from our skin to our fingertips. The moist aroma fermented in the small space, entwining into an impenetrable net.

Snape couldn't help but grab West's red hair, his knuckles turning white. West's calloused palm covered Snape's hand, forcing him to let go, and then held his palm.

My heart was pounding like a drum, my pulse was pounding.

It felt like an eternity; Snape almost thought he was going to suffocate before West finally released him.

"Breathe." West chuckled softly, his lips parting Snape's trembling lips, before burying his face in Snape's shoulder.

Snape, slightly out of breath and annoyed, pinched West, who was secretly laughing.

"Hiss." West raised his face, his expression upright and calm. "I wasn't laughing, really."

West stared at Snape's moist lips, his gaze deepening. "We..." He moved closer again.

Snape stood up, trying to appear calm. "I want to eat lunch."

West paused for a moment, then chuckled, "Okay."

He needs to give Siever some time, right? It wouldn't be good to scare Siever.

After the two finished lunch and rested for a while, Harry arrived at the door as promised.

The cellar door opened, and Harry's eyes lit up the moment he saw West, exclaiming eagerly, "I've solved the clue to the golden egg!"

After listening to Harry's account, West seemed thoughtful. "So Diggory just told you the clue like that?"

Harry scratched his head. "Maybe it's because I gave him a clue for the first level?"

West nodded casually. "Alright. The second challenge is indeed as you guessed: you need to dive into the Black Lake and rescue the most important person in your life."

"The most important person?" Harry repeated, "Isn't that you?"

Vester: "...Seriously?"

Harry smiled sheepishly. "Um... I don't know either."

West: "...I won't go. I must stay ashore. This choice is not up to you, so you don't need to worry."

"You should be thinking about how to breathe underwater."

"The Bubble Head Curse?" Harry pondered for a moment.

"Yes, but with your current magic power, it might not last long," West said.

"Let me think..." Harry smiled. "I remember now! I saw it in Draco's herbalism notes—there's a herb that allows people to breathe underwater like fish, what's it called? Fish gill grass?"

Snape, who was sitting to the side grading papers, paused, his quill spreading ink on the parchment, and said in a low voice, "...Gillbagilium."

"Yes! That's it!" Harry clapped his hands excitedly, then blinked and looked pitifully at Snape, "Professor, do you have any?"

Finally, Harry carefully carried the two gill stalks and left the office with light steps.

Snape handed Harry some gill sac grass, then frowned as he counted the herbs in the cupboard, his face so dark it seemed like it could drip water. "Just how many herbs is Crouch trying to steal from me? And now I have to pretend to be out, deliberately giving him time to steal my treasures?!"

West hugged Snape from behind and whispered in his ear, "It's alright, we'll make him pay soon enough, Severus..."