The Potion Master's Favourite

1

The summer sun hung high above Hogwarts, bathing the ancient castle in a warm golden light that softened its towering walls and dark windows. It was the kind of afternoon that felt almost impossible to imagine during the long Scottish winters, when the corridors were cold and the sky remained hidden behind endless clouds. Today, however, the grounds were alive. Laughter carried across the lawns, music floated through the air from an enchanted wireless, and dozens of students wandered between tables filled with food, drinks, and desserts that the house-elves had spent the morning preparing. It was the final celebration before the school year truly came to an end, and Professor McGonagall had surprised everyone by allowing a pool to be magically created beside the Black Lake. It was enormous, its water shimmering beneath the sunlight as though scattered with tiny diamonds, and almost every student had already rushed in without a second thought. Grace stood near the edge with a towel draped loosely around her shoulders, watching as her friends laughed and splashed each other without mercy. She couldn't remember the last time Hogwarts had felt this carefree. Seventh year had been exhausting. Between NEWTs, endless essays, practical examinations, and the quiet realization that soon she would have to leave the only place that had ever truly felt like home, she had almost forgotten what it was like to simply enjoy herself. Emily appeared beside her carrying two glasses of pumpkin juice, handing one over with a grin. "You're thinking too much again." Grace smiled faintly. "Am I really that obvious?" "Only to people who've known you for seven years." Grace laughed quietly, shaking her head before taking a sip. Around them students from every House were scattered across the grounds. Even Slytherins and Gryffindors seemed willing to ignore years of rivalry for one afternoon. A group of Ravenclaws had somehow started a volleyball game using enchanted charms to keep the ball floating just above the water, while Hufflepuffs sat beneath large umbrellas, talking and eating far more than anyone else. It was peaceful. Strange, but peaceful. "Come on," Emily insisted, grabbing Grace's wrist. "You promised you'd swim." "I know." "Then stop pretending the pool is about to attack you." Grace rolled her eyes dramatically before slipping the towel from her shoulders and placing it on one of the nearby chairs. The stone beneath her feet was warm from the afternoon sun as she stepped closer to the edge. For just a second she looked out across the water, taking in the reflections dancing across its surface, then pushed herself forward into a clean dive. The water embraced her instantly, cool enough to make her forget the heat of the day without feeling cold. She opened her eyes beneath the surface, watching beams of sunlight filter through the ripples above her before kicking upward again. The moment she broke the surface, Emily splashed her directly in the face. Grace gasped dramatically before bursting into laughter. "Oh, you're going to regret that." She retaliated immediately, sending an even larger wave crashing toward her friend. Within seconds several nearby students joined in, and what had begun as a harmless splash turned into complete chaos. Water flew everywhere. Someone shouted that it wasn't fair to use magic. Someone else ignored that entirely. Grace ducked beneath another wave, resurfacing several feet away with a triumphant grin as laughter echoed around the pool. She felt lighter than she had in months. Everything that had weighed on her mind seemed to disappear the moment she entered the water. She had always loved swimming. There was something comforting about the silence beneath the surface, something that made the rest of the world seem distant for a little while. She floated onto her back, allowing herself a brief moment of peace as she stared at the endless blue sky above her. The warmth of the sun rested gently against her face while the cool water carried her effortlessly across the pool. She closed her eyes. If only life could stay like this forever. Far away from the laughter, standing beneath the shade of an old oak tree overlooking the celebration, Severus Snape watched in silence. He had refused every invitation to participate before anyone had even finished asking. Swimming held absolutely no appeal to him, nor did spending an afternoon surrounded by overly excited teenagers. He remained dressed exactly as he always was, his black robes standing in sharp contrast against the bright colors surrounding him. His expression revealed nothing. It rarely ever did. Officially, he was there to supervise. Professor McGonagall had insisted that several members of staff remain present in case students became too reckless, and while Snape doubted anyone would actually drown in a magically protected pool, he had reluctantly agreed. At least it offered an excuse to remain outside the castle. His eyes drifted slowly across the grounds, observing students as they laughed, argued, ran, and celebrated. Potter had somehow managed to start an argument over Quidditch despite not having touched a broom all afternoon. Weasley was laughing so hard he nearly fell into the pool. Several younger students attempted spells they clearly had no business performing until Professor Flitwick gently confiscated their wands for the next hour. Completely predictable. His gaze continued moving across the water. Then it stopped. Grace had just resurfaced again, brushing damp strands of dark hair away from her face as sunlight reflected in countless droplets running down her shoulders. She laughed at something one of her friends had said before diving beneath the water once more. Snape's eyes followed the place where she disappeared beneath the surface. A few seconds later she emerged several feet away, smiling to herself as though she had completely forgotten the rest of the world existed. He realized he was still watching. It was nothing unusual, he told himself. Grace was one of his seventh-year students. She happened to be swimming within the section of the pool directly in front of him. There was absolutely nothing remarkable about that. And yet... several minutes passed. His attention never truly left her. She moved through the water with remarkable confidence, gliding effortlessly between groups of students, always laughing, always smiling. It was different from how she behaved in the classroom. During Potions she was quiet, focused, observant. Every movement had purpose. She rarely spoke unless necessary, and when she did, it was because she had something worth saying. Perhaps that was why he remembered her so clearly. Not because she constantly demanded attention. Quite the opposite. Grace had earned his respect years ago without ever realizing it. She had never expected praise. Never asked for easier assignments. Never blamed others when something went wrong. If she failed, she simply tried again. If she made a mistake, she corrected it. Intelligence alone had never impressed Severus Snape. Many students were intelligent. Very few possessed patience. Grace did. She understood Potions in a way most students never would. She noticed details others overlooked. She anticipated problems before they appeared. On more than one occasion she had identified flaws in complicated brews long before her classmates even realized something was wrong. She listened. She observed. She learned. That alone placed her far above most students he had taught throughout his career. He watched as she climbed out of the pool, squeezing water from her hair before sitting on the edge with her feet still beneath the surface. She tilted her face toward the sun, smiling softly as Emily handed her another drink. She looked... peaceful. The thought arrived before he could dismiss it. Peaceful. It was an unusual word to associate with any student, especially one nearing graduation, yet it suited her perfectly. She carried herself with a quiet confidence that never crossed into arrogance. Even surrounded by friends, she never attempted to become the center of attention. Others simply drifted toward her naturally. Without quite realizing it, Snape found himself wondering what she would do after Hogwarts. Whether she would continue studying Potions. Whether someone would recognize her talent as quickly as he had. Whether she would waste it. The idea irritated him more than it should have. Such ability deserved refinement, not neglect. Somewhere nearby Professor McGonagall was speaking with Professor Sprout, but their conversation barely registered in his mind. His attention remained fixed on the seventh-year sitting beside the pool, laughing as one of her classmates attempted,and failed, to push her back into the water. She dodged him easily, standing just in time to avoid another splash. Sunlight caught the droplets still clinging to her skin, making them sparkle for only a brief second before disappearing. Snape blinked once, almost forcing himself to look elsewhere. Almost.