Snape's New Task (Available on the 29th)

With a bucket of Flobberworm still unpicked, Sean was almost roughly shoved out of the office by Snape. He had barely stepped out when the door slammed shut behind him.

"Professor, does that mean my solitary confinement is over?" Sean called out to the sliding window on the door.

His response was a furious "Get out!"

Sean shrugged. He had already been quite restrained. Besides, how could he have known back then that Snape was actually the mole?

It's not Sean's style to not fight back when someone tricks you; even if he can't beat them for the time being, he still has to taunt them.

Having run into a lot of trouble, Sean eventually left Snape's office. Although he didn't intend to get along with Snape, he figured it was best not to cause any more trouble for himself within Hogwarts.

Inside the office, Snape stared grimly at his desk, where he had been writing.

"Forbidden Potions Record: Unicorn Horn Powder, Moonflower, Fresh Individuals of Africa Bloodworms..."

"Medicinal Herbs Supplement: Poison Powder from the Niffler's Venom Bag (currently unavailable), Venom from the Swooping Evil (1 pint)..."

The parchment contained a long list of Potions ingredients, with Snape making annotations at the bottom.

"Based on records and speculation, the drug's efficacy is not outstanding, and there is a possibility of mutation (alternative)."

Snape picked up the parchment and flipped through it, then his breathing quickened, and his long, thin fingers with prominent knuckles gripped the edge of the parchment tightly.

He seemed to want to tear the prescription to shreds, but in the end he restrained himself.

Snape turned and went into his storeroom, where he placed the parchment in a box containing a thick stack of similar parchment.

He took a deep breath, staring at the box, a complex expression flashing across his face, it was hard to tell what he was thinking.

A small mirror in the storeroom trembled slightly, interrupting Snape's thoughts. He stepped forward, glanced at it, and his expression darkened considerably.

Half an hour after Sean left, Snape walked out of his office and headed toward a part of the castle.

He walked past the flag bearing the Newmontgard School Crest at the entrance of the stone corridor, turned up to the second floor, and then knocked on the wooden door of a room.

"Please come in," the host of the room said gently.

Snape pushed the door open and went in, then immediately closed it gently and cast a spell.

He turned to look at Tom Riddle in the room and slowly lowered his head. "Master, didn't you say that it's best if we don't contact each other inside the castle?"

Riddle's gentle and elegant smile vanished the moment the door closed. He licked his lips. "Severus, are you questioning me?"

"Absolutely not, my master!" Snape lowered his head even further.

Riddle moved closer to Snape and placed a hand on Snape's shoulder. "Ha— Severus, don't be nervous. I have never doubted your loyalty."

"That would be my honor."

Riddle whirled around and looked out the window. "Severus, the plan has been moved up."

"As you wish, my master." Snape slowly raised his head, his face expressionless.

"Severus, what was your original mission?"

Snape immediately replied, "Take Wallerup away."

"Now, the mission has changed." Riddle shook his clothes, and black mist suddenly emerged, transforming into an extremely thick black python.

The python crawled across the ground and then slowly coiled its cold body around Snape.

"Master..." Snape's breathing became slightly rapid.

"Wallerup is no longer your concern," Riddle's once deep pupils suddenly turned into vertical pupils, and then he revealed a cruel smile. "In the future, I will kill him with my own hands."

"He deserves it," Snape said.

"Of course, of course, ha—" Riddle let out a hoarse laugh, then gently stroked the Snape wrapped around Snape. "Come back, Nagini, my loyal servant is not quite used to your embrace."

Nagini hissed and then slowly swam to Riddle's feet.

Riddle stroked the snake's head and whispered, "Severus, your new task is to kill me."

"Master!" Snape looked terrified and almost knelt down.

Riddle was clearly pleased with his reaction, and he gave a sinister smile, "Severus, no one can kill me, no one. However, it's time for this body to come to an end."

"When the time comes, this body will flee to your location. Don't hesitate, Severus. I understand your loyalty. But you must still take action to earn Dumbledore's trust."

"The old man is too suspicious. I've had you infiltrate all these years, and you haven't fully gained his trust," Riddle sneered, then immediately put on a kind smile. "So, I'll give you a hand."

"Thank you for your mercy." Snape bowed his head deeply, his body trembling slightly.

"This is my trust in you, Severus. Don't let me down," Riddle said softly.

"I am willing to give my life for you, my master."

"Save your life, and do more for me, and then I will give you whatever you desire."

"Yes, Master."

After Snape left, Riddle stood still, and after a long while, the black mist that had appeared in the Great Hall once again surged out of his body.

The mist seemed to have a life of its own; it churned and rolled, filling the entire room, constantly transforming into wailing, pained, and crazed human faces.

In the center of the fog, Riddle's once handsome face contorted violently, and he let out a hissing sound as if he were panting.

Suddenly, another face emerged from the blurred one, its expression filled with terror and pain. Its voice was like the gurgling of blood churning in the throat of a dying man. The face wailed, "Spare me, Master! I... I can do so much more for you, so much more..."

That's Quirrell's face.

Before Quirrell could finish speaking, his face contorted again, then returned to Riddle's original appearance.

"Idiot..." he said.

Then, the black mist that filled the room surged again and receded back into Riddle's body.

His face was slightly pale, and his expression was extremely cold.

"Wallerup, what a beautiful Stinging Hex ..." Riddle murmured, "Ha—ha—"

His hoarse laughter grew louder and more maniacal.

"I will wait for you, until the day you become— the Dark Lord, ha ha—"