Invisible String | TVD x WIZARDING WORLD

ASPHODEL AND WORMWOOD

"I swear," Hermione grumbled as we hurried through the courtyard, "if we miss breakfast again, I'm hexing the staircases."
"We're already missing it," I said, clutching my bag tighter as we descended toward the dungeons. "Unless you've got a time-turner stashed away."
She gave me a sidelong look. "Do you want to start rumors?"
I shrugged. "Might as well keep things interesting."
Our footsteps echoed against the cold stone as we slipped deeper underground. The castle above was waking up—sunlight spilling through the high windows, chatter rising from other corridors—but down here, everything was quieter. Heavier. As if the very walls were holding their breath.
"Do you think he'll notice we didn't eat?" I asked, lowering my voice instinctively.
Hermione raised a brow. "Do you think he cares?"
Fair point.
The room was cold and shadowy, with high stone walls and shelves lined with bottles that looked like they hadn't been dusted since the Dark Ages. A low hum of student chatter died the instant the classroom door swung shut.
And then, like a shadow pulled from the wall—Snape entered.
He moved like he'd been summoned from the depths of the castle itself, all dark robes and sharp silence. With a flick of his wand, the windows slammed shut, cutting out what little morning light there was.
The room fell into dim, silvery gloom.
"Turn to page three hundred and ninety-four," Snape said, his voice as smooth and cold as the dungeon walls.
Books rustled open all around us.
I'd barely cracked mine when his voice cut the air again.
"Potter."
I looked up, along with the rest of the class.
Snape was staring at Harry like he was something unpleasant under his shoe.
"What would I get," Snape said, pacing slowly toward him, "if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"
Harry blinked. "I don't know, sir."
Snape's lip curled. "Clearly."
He glanced down at the roster in his hand, fingers trailing the parchment until they paused.
"Let's try someone else... Miss—Ma—Salvatore."
I sat up straighter, startled. Of course he'd call on the girl who hadn't even gotten to chapter one.
Snape's dark eyes landed on me, unreadable.
"Same question," he said smoothly. "Asphodel and wormwood. What do they make?"
I froze. I had no idea what the potion was actually called. But the words—asphodel and wormwood—they rang a bell. Not from a textbook... something else.
I took a slow breath. "Well... asphodel is a kind of lily," I said carefully, thinking aloud. "And wormwood... it's bitter. Associated with grief, I think?"
The class was completely still. Even Hermione had paused her note-taking.
"So... a potion that mixes remembrance and grief?" I continued, frowning slightly. "Maybe something to help you forget... or sleep? I'm sorry, sir. I don't really know the proper name."
For a moment, Snape didn't move. Didn't speak.
He was staring at me—not with anger, not with that usual cold disdain—but with something else entirely. Stillness. Sharp, unreadable stillness. Like I'd just spoken a different language he hadn't heard in years.
Then, finally, his voice broke the silence—quieter this time.
"No need to apologize."
And just like that, he turned away.
"Five points to Gryffindor for observation," he said, resuming his usual tone.
I blinked, barely processing his words.
Hermione leaned over, whispering, "What just happened?"
I shook my head slightly. "No idea."