A Potion of Doom

**The Binding Potion**

Severus POV

Severus Snape sat at his desk in his office, the dim light of the flickering candles casting long shadows across the stone walls. He had just finished brewing a batch of potions for the Hogwarts infirmary, but his mind was far from the task at hand. Instead, his thoughts were consumed by the mysterious runes that adorned his wrists and the unsettling events of the past few days.

As he brooded over his predicament, a soft clicking noise interrupted his thoughts. With a sigh, he rose from his seat and crossed the room to open the small window. It was the only source of daylight down here.

To his surprise, it was an owl bearing a letter from Remus Lupin. With trembling hands, Severus tore open the envelope and quickly scanned its contents. The letter was short and vague, offering no real insight into the runes or their meaning. Instead, Lupin thought to tell him that runes are most of the time a good omen.

Frustration gnawed at Severus as he crumpled the letter in his hand. It seemed that even Lupin, with all his knowledge of ancient magic, was unable to provide the answers he sought.

With a heavy heart, Severus made his way to Albus Dumbledore's office. He knew he now had to confide in the headmaster, despite their tumultuous history. Dumbledore had always been a source of wisdom and guidance, even when Severus found it difficult to trust him. It was the only reason why he had asked Lupin first, even when he still detested the marauders as hell.

As he entered the familiar office, Severus found Dumbledore seated behind his desk, his piercing blue eyes already twinkling with expectations and understanding.

"Severus, my dear boy, what brings you here today?" Dumbledore greeted him, his voice gentle yet knowing.

Severus took a deep breath, steeling himself for what he was about to reveal. "Headmaster, I need to speak with you." he said curtly.

The old wizard listened patiently as Severus recounted the events of the past few days, from the appearance of the runes on his wrists to the cryptic letter from Lupin. He spoke of his growing unease and the sense of impending doom that since hung over him like a dark cloud.

When Severus had finished, Dumbledore stroked his long beard thoughtfully, his expression grave. "It seems, Severus, that your experiences may be connected to Harry Potter's recent visit to the hospital wing."

Severus's jaw clenched at the mention of Potter's name, his resentment bubbling to the surface. "Potter," he spat, his voice laced with disdain. "That insufferable boy and his reckless behavior. Always causing trouble wherever he goes. What in Merlin's beard could that idiot have done now just at the start of term?"

Dumbledore regarded Severus for a while with a firm and strong gaze over his half-moon glasses. "Severus, I understand your feelings towards Mr. Potter, but I believe there may be more to this than meets the eye. The mediwitch informed me of the exact same runes on his wrist and the strange circumstances surrounding their appearance." He continued to explain the story of some unauthorized potion-making project.

Severus's mind raced with possibilities, his thoughts clouded by anger and frustration. Could it be possible that Potter's potion had somehow affected him as well? The idea filled him with a sense of dread, but he knew he had to explore every avenue if he hoped to find answers.

"Perhaps the boy has butchered up his little potion experiment.” Severus mused, his voice tinged with bitterness. "It wouldn't be the first time he made errors in a brewing process."

Dumbledore nodded in agreement, his expression somber. "Indeed, Severus. But we must tread carefully. Whatever is happening, it is clear that we are dealing with powerful magic. We cannot afford to underestimate the dangers it poses."