Harry Potter and the Candy Factory

In the corridor outside the Hospital Wing, Severus lowered his gaze, staring blankly at the rough floor beneath his feet, lost in thought. ♦ ♦     ♞ ♦ Google search revealed that the expression on his face remained somber and gloomy, making it impossible to discern what he was thinking.

It wasn't until Charlie emerged from the Hospital Wing that he finally lifted his head and returned to reality.

Looking at his close friend, who, despite his efforts to tidy himself up, still bore traces of disarray on his clothes, Severus opened his mouth and couldn't help but say,

"Are you really… … …"

However, before he could finish his sentence, Charlie interrupted him.

A hint of calm amusement played on Charlie's lips as he gently raised his hand, stopping the words that had yet to be spoken, and then asked,

"Do you have any classes to teach this afternoon?"

Evidently, Severus hadn't expected Charlie to ask such a question. He was momentarily taken aback, but quickly recovered and shook his head, replying,

"No, but… …"

"Excellent!"

Without giving Severus a chance to finish speaking again, Charlie's smile grew even brighter upon receiving the response. He clapped his hands together and made a decision on the spot.

"Let's go! Let's have a drink… I recently found a great place. Their drinks are very unique."

As the words fell, he walked straight towards Severus, and regardless of whether he agreed or not, he put an arm around his shoulders and dragged him towards the staircase at the far end of the corridor.

"Hey, wait… I'm not in the mood right now! I came to ask you something!"

Severus struggled while continuing to speak.

But Charlie ignored his words, simply responding perfunctorily, "We'll talk and drink when we get there." His pace didn't falter as he headed towards the stairwell.

Helpless, Severus could only give up his initial futile struggle and sigh. He chose to match Charlie's pace and walk forward together.

… … … … … … … … … … … … …

In reality, Charlie knew what Severus wanted to say. After all, as one of Voldemort's former right-hand men, perhaps no one's mood was more complex than his at this moment.

And that was why he insisted on taking Severus for a drink, because he knew his friend too well.

Rather than let him bottle it up inside, it would be better to take him out for a good drink and ease his gloomy mood.

Soon, under Charlie's lead, the two of them swaggered out of the gates of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and headed towards Hogsmeade Village not far away.

From the main tower of the castle, Dumbledore walked out of his office and stood at the window, watching the two figures as close as they had been decades ago, and couldn't help but feel a sense of melancholy.

After a moment, he turned his head and looked at Hagrid, who was also watching the two through the window. As if remembering something, he suddenly asked out of the blue,

"If I remember correctly… didn't Snape have a class this morning?"

Hagrid was also taken aback upon hearing this. He looked at Headmaster Dumbledore, blinked, and shrugged. He spread his hands, indicating that he knew nothing… …

… … … …

In the morning, the Three Broomsticks Inn was particularly deserted. It was far from the hustle and bustle of the last time Charlie and Lucius Malfoy had come together.

Bringing Severus inside, there were only a few scattered customers quietly drinking beer, even their voices lowered.

However, when she saw Charlie and his companion walk in, Madam Rosmerta behind the bar was still very happy to receive them.

And as before, she personally chose a corner seat for Charlie and Severus.

After the two were seated, Madam Rosmerta blinked her beautiful eyes, and a beautiful smile appeared on her red and full lips as she softly asked,

"So, Mr. Black, what are you planning to have this time?"

Perhaps because this was Charlie's second visit, Madam Rosmerta's words lacked some of the excitement of their first meeting, but added a bit more overflowing enthusiasm.

It fully demonstrated her amazing thoughtfulness in handling interpersonal relationships.

"Two pitchers of mead! And some redcurrant rum…" Charlie said with a smile, without too much hesitation.

"Give my friend more honey… he likes sweet things."

Severus, who had been sitting on the wooden chair and aimlessly looking around, moved his lips upon hearing this. He seemed to want to argue, but in the end, he didn't say anything and let Charlie make the arrangements.

"Alright… Mr. Black, and… this gentleman."

When Madam Rosmerta's eyes looked at Snape, a hint of surprise flashed across them, as if she was a little curious about who this person accompanying Charlie Black was this time.

But soon, that hint of surprise quietly disappeared, and a professional bright smile covered everything again.

After nodding suggestively, she walked back behind the bar and began preparing drinks for the two of them.

It wasn't until Madam Rosmerta left that Severus retracted his gaze from looking around and looked back at Charlie, who was sitting opposite him, and said quietly,

"When did you start coming here? I remember you only ever went to the Hog's Head."

"It wasn't long ago…"

Charlie lowered his head and touched the trench coat with his fingers, feeling sorry for the marks left by Voldemort's magic, and casually replied,

"Lucius brought me here at the time. We had a drink and chatted for a while."

"Lucius… … …" Severus narrowed his eyes slightly, thoughtfully savoring this familiar name.

Without letting the two wait too long, the mead and redcurrant rum were quickly brought to the table.

Charlie's eyes lit up. He picked up one of the glasses and pushed the other to Severus.

"Come on, let's have a good drink!"

This time, Severus didn't refuse as he had at Hogwarts. He nodded, picked up the glass, and as it collided with Charlie's glass, a crisp sound rang out, and amber-colored, viscous wine splashed out, landing on the wooden table and the floor, turning into spots of wine stains.

"Glug, glug… …"

His Adam's apple moved up and down, and the glass in his hand was almost half empty in the blink of an eye.

"Ha… …"

Severus gasped for breath and licked his lips, which still tasted of honey, as if savoring the flavor. A rare smile finally appeared on his stiff face.

"Not bad."

Seeing that the other person's face was no longer as gloomy and dull as before, Charlie also smiled casually, said nothing, and simply continued to raise his glass to signal to the other person.

… … … … … … … … … … … … …

… … The two of them drank like this, not knowing how long had passed. Only the empty glasses on the side and the faint flush on their faces hinted at the passage of time.

"Want to try some redcurrant rum?" Charlie shook the bottle in his hand at Severus and asked with a hint of laziness.

"No… …" Severus waved his hand and took another sip. "This… is pretty good. At least in my opinion, it suits me a little better than fire whiskey."

"That's because you don't understand…"

Charlie pursed his lips, and while saying this, he turned his head and aimlessly looked at the other guests around him.

It was at this time that Severus finally opened his mouth and brought up the question he had originally wanted to ask.

"So… …" He put the glass down, placed it on the wooden table, then rubbed his cheeks to clear his head a bit, and then continued to say,

"Just like Dumbledore said… you really fought 'him'?"

Charlie retracted his gaze, and a faint light flashed in his eyes.

His eyes met Severus's. After a moment of pause, Charlie nodded.

"Yes."

"… … …" Having received the answer he wanted, Severus didn't show the slightest ripple. Perhaps, in fact, he understood in his heart that this was a meaningless question. Because no matter what Charlie's answer was, even before he had asked the question, he already had the answer in his heart.

"Did you win him?" Severus averted his gaze from Charlie, looked to the side, took another sip of wine, and continued to ask, pretending not to care.

"… … …" Charlie thought about it very seriously for a while, and finally shook his head. "In fact, I can't say that I defeated him."

"It should be said that I relied on a little trick to successfully force back Voldemort, who had not yet recovered to his full strength."

Hearing Charlie's rigorous answer, Severus immediately laughed.

"I never thought that… you would actually say such a thing. It seems that the experiences of the past ten years have indeed made you understand what it means to be humble."

Severus smiled, exhaling a breath of stale air as he laughed.

"… … That still counts as a win." After saying that, he raised his glass and gently tapped it against Charlie's bottle.

A soft "ding" sound, although not loud, became one of the few sounds in the tavern at this time.

"I believe you, if you can defeat him once, you can do it a second time." After saying that, he raised his glass and poured the last bit of amber liquid in the glass into his mouth in one gulp.

Charlie seemed to want to say something. He opened his mouth, but then looked at the wine bottle that had just collided with Severus's, watching the surging and swaying wine in the bottle. In the end, all the words turned into a silent smile. He nodded and said nothing else… … … …

Charlie didn't tell Severus that Voldemort would return sooner or later, and that he would be at his full strength at that time, even stronger than before… He would gather his henchmen, lead his servants, and sweep through the entire British wizarding world in an unprecedented way.

And he himself would allow Voldemort's return, and at his peak, lead his little elves to completely destroy him.