HP: Those Years Sleeping with the Half-Blood Prince

Severus stared at the note for a long time, the edges of the parchment wrinkling slightly from his grip.

Outside the curtain, Ian was talking to Kevin, who had just returned from his shower, about Quidditch training. Kevin's loud voice and Ian's cheerful response drifted over indistinctly.

Severus carefully folded the letter and, along with the receipt, put it into a compartment in his old suitcase.

The following Slug Club gathering was exceptionally lively.

Professor Slughorn, beaming and with a voice three octaves louder than usual, practically dragged Severus to the center of the crowd and announced this "exciting news" to all the invitees.

"...I knew it! From the first time I saw Severus handle Sleepy Beans, I knew this kid had something extraordinary about him! Not just skill, but talent, that intuition that truly understands the soul of potions!"

Slughorn waved his chubby arms, nearly spilling the mead in his glass.

"The recognition from the International Potions Society is an honor that not just anyone can receive! Not to mention the research funding. Oh, and of course, as your professor and the provider of your small suggestions, I am also honored. Furthermore, Hogwarts will provide matching funds to support our future Potions Masters in their continued exploration!"

Applause and compliments rang out from the surrounding area.

Several upperclassmen exchanged cryptic glances. Regulus Black stood a little further away, holding a glass of juice, and raised it towards Severus with a polite, almost textbook congratulatory expression.

Severus, with Slughorn's arm around his shoulder, was a little stiff and expressionless. He only nodded briefly or uttered a few syllables amidst the waves of praise and questions.

Ian leaned against the long table where the cakes were displayed, looking at Severus, who was surrounded in the center.

Under the warm yellow light, Severus's pale face was almost bloodless, his thin lips were tightly pressed together, and his dark eyes were lowered, avoiding those overly eager gazes.

But he stood tall, neither flinching nor trying to break free from Slughorn's overly forceful embrace.

Ian took a sip of his drink, which was still cloyingly sweet, but the corners of his mouth curved slightly.

After the party ended, the two walked silently back to the cellar.

The corridor was quiet, with only the sound of their own footsteps.

Severus spoke suddenly as they approached the entrance to the common room, his voice ringing out clearly against the stone walls.

"The money has arrived."

"Hmm," Ian responded without asking any further questions.

"The matching funds from Professor Slughorn will also be included," Severus added, without stopping.

"That's good," Ian said. "Looks like you're going to be busy this summer."

Severus did not respond.

After walking a while longer, he spoke again, a little faster than usual: "Sunday, to Hogsmeade."

The weather in Hogsmeade was lovely on Sunday. The sun was shining, and a gentle breeze carried the sweet aroma of Bee Duke Candy Shop and the faint malty scent of Pighead Beer through the village lanes.

Students, in twos and threes, crowded into the various shops.

Ian assumed Severus was there to purchase expensive and hard-to-find potion ingredients.

But Severus first went to the Wenrenju quill pen shop, and came out carrying two cardboard boxes.

Then he went into the Devis and Bans store, and came out a while later with a small bag in his hand.

Finally, he went to the pharmacy, but only bought some common basic materials; the Gringotts receipt was clearly far from being used up.

Severus remained silent on the way back to the castle. Only when he entered the empty foyer did he stop and turn to Ian.

He took out a box and handed it to Ian.

Ian took it, somewhat surprised, and opened it to find a notebook inside.

The laptop isn't thick, but it's well-made, with every detail exuding understated practicality and high price.

"Here you go," Severus said, his gaze falling on the notebook's silver clasp. "The old one, it's almost full."

Ian does indeed carry around a notebook to record various miscellaneous items and ideas; it has been used for a long time, and the edges are worn frayed.

He stroked the dragon-skin cover of the brand-new notebook in his hand and looked up at Severus.

Severus, however, had already looked away and took another book out of his bag, handing it to Ian.

"For Aris, it's a rare book, not available at Flourish and Blotts, Professor Torslaghorn found it."

Next was the last package, wrapped in kraft paper and tied with a rope.

"Here's a new edition of the International Quidditch Almanac for Kevin, and a pair of protective wristbands made of a blend of dragon and salamander skin—lightweight and won't hinder your agility."

Ian held the three items and remained silent for a moment.

Severus waited a few seconds, and seeing that Ian did not react, he pursed his lips, reached into the inner pocket of his robe, took out a small, square bag made of ordinary parchment, and stuffed it on top of the pile of gifts that Ian was holding.

"The rest," he said, his voice low but clear, "the patent fees, the research funding Slughorn gave me, minus what I just mentioned, and a little money I kept for materials—you can have that."

Ian looked down at the parchment package.

This was no small sum; it far exceeded the total cost of all the materials Severus had ever needed in the past.

"For me?" Ian asked, his voice steady.

"Hmm." Severus nodded, turning his gaze to Ian. "You got the materials, many times. The channels are yours, the protection..."

He paused for a moment, then changed his words, "You're the one who shielded us from trouble. Investing in future projects, what you're talking about, these are... follow-up funds for the projects."

He spoke somewhat haltingly, but his meaning was clear.

This money is a reward, a sign of trust, and a bond that will bind us together even more deeply.

Ian looked at Severus, whose pale face appeared somewhat blurry in the dappled light and shadow, but whose eyes were clear.

He suddenly smiled, not his usual casual or teasing smile, but a shallow, faint smile that reached his eyes.

"Okay," Ian said, carefully holding the parchment package along with the other gifts. "I'll manage the accounts. From now on, you won't need to submit reports when buying materials. My future Potions Master."

Severus let out a barely perceptible sigh of relief, his shoulders relaxing slightly.

He nodded and turned to walk down the stairs.

Ian followed behind, his brow relaxed.

Back in his dorm, Kevin received the yearbook and wristband. He was stunned for a moment, then burst into cheers, almost knocking Ian over. He was frozen in place by a look from Severus, but still held the gifts with a wide smile and immediately tried on the wristband.

Severus simply nodded, then returned to his chair, picked up a book, and acted as if he hadn't been the one who had just given out those gifts.

But Ian noticed that while Kevin was excitedly showing off his new wristband and Aris was engrossed in his book, Severus's fingers paused for a moment as he turned the pages, and there seemed to be a barely perceptible twitch at the corner of his lips.