HP: At the beginning, I influenced Snape's childhood.

"Mr. Lin is actually back. I thought he was going to flee to escape punishment." Snape snorted.

If someone else had said this to Lin Mo, Lin Mo would have definitely asked: "Do you even know how to speak?"

However, since this person was Snape, Lin Mo had no choice but to silently place the dishes on the plate on the table next to Snape.

"What, Mr. Lin wants to have dinner at your poor professor's place?" Snape thought for a moment, guessing that Lin Mo hadn't eaten properly either, and continued, "You know, in previous years, the banquet wouldn't be over by this time, and Mr. Lin could have easily gone over to eat there."

Lin Mo almost laughed. He wasn't stupid; he could hear the concern in Snape's words. But couldn't his Headmaster take a closer look? These were all his favorite dishes.

Without responding to Snape's words, Lin Mo placed the cutlery in front of Snape and shrugged helplessly, as if to indicate that he wasn't that bold.

Snape looked down at the food on the table, a little puzzled. When did this little troll know what he liked to eat? Did he investigate him?

The last question filled him with a sense of rage, as if he had been seen through. He didn't understand why Lin Mo was investigating his lifestyle, but it was enough to ignite his fury.

This emotion gradually overwhelmed his reason, and he felt just like when he was pleading with Dumbledore, with no privacy left.

No spy wants to be intimately familiar with, no matter who the other person is; they simply cannot tolerate it. Lin Mo was no exception, which is why he wouldn't be foolish enough to cross Snape's bottom line, which was also his own.

However, Snape's only guess completely overlooked the possibility that the other party was observing him very closely. Perhaps it was because in his eyes, his disguise was not perfect enough and he didn't want to admit it, or perhaps it was because he believed that no one would pay close attention to him.

Snape lowered his head, his expression somewhat gloomy. From Lin Mo's angle, he couldn't see Snape's reaction, but he keenly sensed Snape's emotions.

As someone of Snape's kind, Lin Mo understood Snape's thoughts without much thought. He inwardly cursed; he didn't want to provoke Snape on such a private matter, as they would consider it extremely disrespectful.

"Sir..." Lin Mo wanted to explain.

Snape suddenly looked up, staring fiercely at Lin Mo's face, interrupting him: "Mr. Lin, do you know what your poor professor is trying to do? Who did you consult about me?"

He didn't actually want to hear Lin Mo's answer, so before Lin Mo could reply, he dragged Lin Mo to the door, intending to throw him out.

He could have used his wand, which would have been much easier, but he gave up on that idea. He thought to himself that he was already used to being abandoned or used, but he didn't want to break his promise.

Lin Mo knew that Snape had completely misunderstood. He stopped walking in the direction Snape was pushing. Although he usually went along with Snape in this situation because he didn't want to make the other person work too hard and get even angrier.

After all, if he didn't want to leave, Snape couldn't have pulled him away. But now the situation is different; if he continues like this, he'll really be thrown out, which would be hard to explain.

Snape was pulling on someone who felt it was too easy for him to pull over when suddenly the person stopped moving. He pulled hard on Lin Mo, but it was still ineffective.

He turned his head angrily, his anger rising even more. Investigating him was completely different from caring for him. Although he never needed anyone's care, what he found truly unacceptable was that a kid could investigate him in such detail.

It felt like everyone could spy on his life, like he was a clown with no privacy or self.

"I'm sorry, sir, I didn't mean to upset you. I swear to you, I absolutely did not investigate you. We've eaten together many times, and I know these things don't need to be investigated at all." Lin Mo let Snape pull his robe, looking at Snape seriously and firmly.

Snape wanted to ask Lin Mo how he could trust his oath. Because an oath without any binding force was not trustworthy.

In the end, however, he didn't ask. Looking at Lin Mo's still somewhat immature face, Snape couldn't bring himself to convey the darker aspects of his own humanity to Lin Mo.

Ultimately, what right did I have to question this little monster's unwavering promise? It was just my own dark side; I couldn't stand others getting close or showing concern, so why should I wrong others?

Snape stood in the shadows. The already somewhat dark cellar was further darkened by the light shining on him, which was blocked by Lin Mo. A self-deprecating and ironic bitter smile appeared on his face. The darkness concealed his self-loathing. He loosened Lin Mo's robe.

The expression on his face vanished, and a distinct emptiness flashed in Snape's eyes. He walked to the sofa where he had been sitting, and stood there, somewhat dazed, in front of the dinner still protected by the thermal charm.

No matter how well Snape hid, Lin Mo still managed to catch all of his expressions in the darkness, including his Occlumency.

The two were now back to back. Lin Mo turned around and looked at Snape, the professor he had known in two lifetimes and was so familiar with that he couldn't be more familiar with him. Why did he always like to stand in the dark?

Clad in a black robe, exuding xenophobia, indifference, and loneliness... A look of confusion flashed in his blue eyes. Severus, was I wrong? I thought that when I woke up in the middle of the night, the clear, bright moonlight would flood in, and I would hold you tightly in my arms.

But even if the moonlight shines down on you, will you really open your guard and the darkness to allow that equal and pure white radiance to enter your world?

I don't want to be a spendthrift; I don't deserve it, and I don't want to. Can I really break down the two high walls of defense that have been erected between us? I've only just realized that even sticking together for warmth can be so difficult.

Snape was in low spirits, and Lin Mo felt bad because of Snape's mood. But Lin Mo didn't remain silent any longer, because there was another awkward person in front of him.

Lin Mo took a few steps forward and walked behind Snape. The highly vigilant Potions Master refrained from interrupting Snape's approach, but remained silent.

The gentle tug at his wrist snapped Snape out of his daze. Just now, Lin Mo's right hand had slowly moved closer to Snape's sleeve, carefully pinching the fabric and gently pulling at him.

Feeling something was still missing, Lin Mo waved his left hand, and the cellar was finally fully illuminated. He looked at Snape standing under the lamplight, and then at the two distinct shadows on the ground that had merged as his hands approached.

Snape looked exceptionally dazzling in the light, and Lin Mo quietly watched Snape, who was even taller than him.

I want to protect you from behind, to be a proud prince.

After what seemed like a long time, Lin Mo finally spoke, his voice muffled: "Sir, I was wrong, please don't be angry."

Hearing Lin Mo's pitiful voice, Snape became angry, this time angry at himself.

He turned around, and Lin Mo loosened his right sleeve as he turned. He felt a strange emptiness in his right hand, as if something should have been holding him there.

"I've misunderstood you. Your gloomy professor doesn't know where Mr. Lin went wrong," Snape said coldly.

There was still a hint of icy coldness in his words, but Lin Mo clearly sensed what Snape meant... his proud professor was apologizing to him.

But why apologize like that? It's an awkward apology that no one else would want to accept. Lin Mo wondered to himself, wondering if everyone had been pushed away like that by Snape.

Feeling a pang of sadness, Lin Mo pursed his lips, feigning a wronged expression, his blue eyes seemingly silently accusing Snape.

What a troublesome little monster! Snape had never met a student who could talk back to him like that after he had said such harsh things.

Even if he was genuinely expressing remorse, for over a decade, no one has been able to understand him, or rather, no one has been able to accept it.

Seeing Lin Mo's aggrieved expression, Snape knew it was his fault. He sighed inwardly and lowered his voice, "Mo, it's not your fault... it's my fault."

Hearing the long-awaited title, Lin Mo's eyes lit up, but he suppressed his joy because he also heard the second half of Snape's sentence after a slight pause.

"No, no. It's not your fault, sir; I didn't explain myself clearly," Lin Mo said, seeing Snape about to retort, but immediately changed the subject, "Sir, did you just call me 'Mo'?"

"...Get out." Snape knew how attached Lin Mo was to this title, but he was afraid that he would mistake the brat in front of him for an old friend. He didn't want Lin Mo to become someone else, but this time, his apology to Lin Mo was sincere.

"No way, the master scolded me. I have to stay here and watch him finish his dinner properly, otherwise I'll be at a loss." Lin Mo plopped down on the chair next to Snape's sofa.

Snape couldn't connect his eating with whether Lin Mo had lost out, but he still sat down to eat and didn't kick Lin Mo out.

Fortunately, Lin Mo had the foresight to have his house-elves cast a warming spell, so Snape's food is still lukewarm.

Years of ingrained habits made Snape eat quickly, but elegantly. Although Lin Mo said he only knew Snape's tastes because they had eaten together many times.

But Snape knew perfectly well that he always hid these little details very well; he would take a little of almost every dish. Unless someone was constantly paying attention to themselves, they would never know their own tastes.

Snape suddenly realized very clearly that Lin Mo cared about him, but he kept it to himself and said nothing.

Author's rambling: Stealing half a day of leisure from a busy life. ◟(░´㉨`░)◜