HP: Embrace the Darkness

"So don't worry about my head, I know exactly what I'm doing."

"They have the right to know about my part, so I won't hide it from them, but their attitude will not affect my choice."

"What I decided will not change."

Snape's eyes flashed, remembering his unchosen childhood and his equally unchosen student days.

People who have never been chosen cannot refuse to be chosen, let alone... such a firm choice.

Ripples appeared in the calm lake of my heart.

Snape stood helpless and looked at Artes, his Adam's apple rolling up and down but unable to say a word.

Aces took the cufflinks that had been forgotten by the two of them, lowered his head and buttoned them on Snape's cuffs.

The potions master's cuffs were very tight, so Asseth patiently untied them and buttoned the cufflinks again.

After buttoning them, Artes stepped back to check with satisfaction. The pair of cufflinks suited Snape better than he expected.

The almost ink-colored cufflinks perfectly blend into the black robe, emitting a faint light when shaking, embellishing the slightly monotonous black robe, but not making a noise and taking over the spotlight.

Just like his master, he was unobtrusive upon first acquaintance. Only after getting acquainted did he realize that he himself had the most dazzling light, a brilliance that could not be covered up by the boundless darkness.

Snape stood silently, the unfamiliar joy of being chosen so overwhelming that he would rather face that Potter.

In the entire Hogwarts, there was only one person who could make him helpless, Artes.

Not even that stupid Potter.

Thinking of Potter, his eyebrows furrowed.

After appreciating the person, Artes raised his head with satisfaction, just in time to see Snape's frown.

"Sev, don't frown, don't be upset because of me, I won't mention this matter again after today."

Is this giving up?

Snape blinked slowly, and his sharp eyes scanned Artes' face, not missing every subtle expression on his face.

Aces is calm, as silent as a black lake.

Snape's heart gradually grew cold.

will not change?

Nothing more than that.

He sneered secretly, not at all his usual calm demeanor and unaware of the obvious contradiction.

No one would overturn their promise in such a short period of time, especially Aces.

How could Asses not understand what he was thinking, he was both amused and distressed at the same time.

His sif...

"Sev, I probably know what you're going to do."

Another bombshell.

Before he could realize the sadness of being given up again, Snape's eyes instantly choked Artes's.

Word by word: "Do you know what you are talking about?"

"I know."

"..."

"How did you know?"

Snape's reaction made Artes sigh in relief.

He made the right bet, Snape's trust and tolerance for him were high enough.

"It's a secret, but I promise that no one else will know except me."

Aces came closer and held Snape's hand comfortingly, "Don't worry, no one can learn this secret from me."

What he says is as unreliable as an old bee.

Snape shook off his dishonest hand with an expressionless expression, "I hope you still remember what you said."

"I certainly didn't mention it."

Asses started playing tricks without batting an eyelid.

"But I didn't say I wanted to give up. I just didn't want to be thrown out with the gift, otherwise I would lose face."

"It's...interesting. I thought our Mr. Asseth was completely shameless."

"How could it be? My face is worth a lot of money, Sifu. I will ensure my own safety and will not hinder your business, so there is no need to push me away."

"We are friends. Isn't it right for friends to help each other?"

"friend?"

Snape raised his eyebrows and retorted.

"Let me guess... is your stupid cognition a result of your incredibly smart brain?"

Aces' eyes widened in surprise, and he smiled and joked.

"Hey, Lucius can be the best, I don't believe I can be worse than him."

Under Artes's gag, Snape's long-scowled brows relaxed, and even the corners of his lips curved imperceptibly.

"Hmph... If you think that stupid peacock who can't live without the beauty potion is my friend, then you and him... are only one step away."

"Same stupidity."

Artes was not angry even after being ridiculed for his stupidity. He raised his hand and put it around Snape's shoulder, smiling softly and proudly.

"I'm much better than him. This is certified by my dean himself."

Snape froze for a moment when he was hugged, but looking at the figure reflected in Artes' eyes, he hesitated and did not raise his hand to push away.

Although he didn't want to admit it, the fact that Asses didn't give up on him really made him feel a secret joy.

Really despicable.

Snape laughed silently at himself.

She is obviously greedy for warmth but unwilling to embrace it. She just selfishly enjoys the warmth that comes with it.

but……

Snape glanced at Artes' gentle eyes.

Let him be selfish just this once, he really can't bear to give up such warmth.

The more calm and self-possessed a person is, the crazier they become when they lose control. This sentence perfectly applies to Snape.

"Asais, even if something doesn't work out, are you willing to persevere?"

Snape turned his head and locked his eyes tightly with Artes, his eyes that had been silent all year round were dancing with madness, depicting wanton and moving colors.

Artes opened his mouth and was about to answer Snape's question when Snape, who had regained his senses, cast a Silent Curse to seal his mouth.

When he asked those words, the moment his sanity collapsed, Snape regretted it.

His selfishness can be directed at many people, but it cannot be directed at Artes.

He owed him enough.

But once something is said, it is not so easy to take it back.

Aces slowly understood the curse on his mouth.

"Sev, I care more about the process than the results, especially in this matter."

"And how do you know it's not what I want?"

Snape narrowed his eyes: "What do you mean?"

"It means that this is not selfish because I voluntarily and condoned it."

Snape snapped out of his thoughts, threw his hand off his shoulder and glared at him.

"You used Legilimency on me!"

Assass didn't dare to recognize this cauldron. Looking at how dark the potion master's face turned, he knew the consequences would be serious.

"I just know you well enough, Sev."

Hearing this, Snape looked a little better.

call--

Aces's hanging heart was quietly relieved.

He almost lost the whole game, but fortunately he saved it in time.

The crisis was over, and Asseth was ready to take action.

The distance between the two has been very close since just now, and they can hug each other by raising their hands.

Aces would definitely not miss this great opportunity. Before Snape could clear his mind, he directly grabbed the waist that he had coveted for a long time.

Snape subconsciously wanted to push away, raised and lowered his hand, and placed it between the two of them, preventing Artes from getting closer.

After Asseth reluctantly succeeded, he sighed that the feeling was as good as he thought, and said seriously.

"Don't push me away and don't hug me back."

"Hold me until the day the results come out. Before that, you can enjoy it to your heart's content."

"Compared with all other illusory things, I hope you can be happy."

Just enjoy, no need to pay or respond, this is his greatest indulgence and commitment to him.

Snape put his hands down and let Artes hug him tightly, and there was no longer any distance between them.

He closed his eyes and was silent for a long time. During this period, Asseth never let go. The hand around his waist was slightly pressed, so that the black robe clung to his body obediently.

In the small potion room, the two of them cuddled quietly.

"it is good……"

A dull voice sounded from my ears, followed by an extra weight on my shoulders.