On the way back to the castle from the edge of the Forbidden Forest, Lin Yanqing's heart was still pounding from the danger he had just faced. The Kappa's crimson eyes and reeking breath seemed to linger in his senses beneath the moonlight. He clenched the two bundles of fur in his pocket, glimmering faintly with moonlight. They felt both light and heavy—light because they were tangible objects, heavy because of what they represented: the increasingly complicated, unspoken connection between him and Snape.
He could clearly feel that the other end of the soul bond had returned to its usual deathly silence, as if that impatient shout of "Water!" that had exploded in his mind earlier had merely been a hallucination born of life-and-death circumstances. Snape clearly had no intention of discussing the matter, and perhaps even wanted Lin Yanqing to forget it at once.
Back at Ravenclaw Tower, in an unnoticed corner, Lin Yanqing carefully checked the Mooncalf Fur and confirmed that it was undamaged, its magical sheen pure. He did not seek out Snape immediately. He knew that now was not the time. Whether he needed to calm himself or Snape needed time to rebuild his defenses, they both needed a little while.
The next day, everything continued as usual. During Potions class, Snape still sat in his usual front corner, focused on his own cauldron without sparing Lin Yanqing a single extra glance. Lin Yanqing prepared his ingredients as he normally did. But when Professor Slughorn mentioned that a certain material had to be collected with "an extremely steady hand, or the source could easily be disturbed," Lin Yanqing noticed Snape's stirring pause almost imperceptibly.
Several days later, on a gloomy Thursday afternoon under a steady drizzle, Lin Yanqing chose to read between a dim, sparsely visited set of shelves near the entrance to the Restricted Section. He knew Snape occasionally came here to look up obscure materials.
He waited for about half an hour before the familiar thin figure in black robes appeared at the far end of the shelves. Snape seemed not to have expected anyone to be there, especially in weather like this. When he saw Lin Yanqing, his steps paused slightly. Then, expressionless, he headed in another direction, intending to avoid him.
Lin Yanqing did not call out to stop him. At the moment they were about to pass each other, he simply looked up from his book as though he had just remembered something, took a small bundle carefully wrapped in soft black velvet from the inner pocket of his robe, and gently placed it on the shelf divider between them.
He said nothing and did not even look at Snape. His gaze returned to the book in his hands, as though he had merely set down something insignificant for the moment.
Snape stopped. His gaze fell upon the black velvet bundle, his eyes sharp as blades. He could sense the pure ripples of moonlight magic emanating from within—it was precisely the Mooncalf Fur he had requested.
The air froze for several seconds. The sound of raindrops striking the library's high windows became exceptionally clear.
Snape did not take it immediately. He stood there as though conducting a silent assessment—assessing whether this "delivery" concealed other intentions, assessing Lin Yanqing's true thoughts beneath his calm facade. Through the contract, Lin Yanqing could sense the cold scrutiny from the other side, along with a faint trace of... suspicion.
In the end, his need for the material outweighed his aversion to the "interaction" itself. With lightning speed, Snape reached out and swept the black velvet bundle into his robe pocket, moving so quickly that only an afterimage remained. Throughout the entire process, he made no sound and did not look at Lin Yanqing a second time.
With the item in hand, he immediately turned and walked back the way he had come, without the slightest hesitation.
However, just as his figure was about to vanish at the end of the shelves, Lin Yanqing spoke in an exceedingly even tone, as if talking to himself. His voice was so quiet that it was nearly drowned out by the rain:
"The pool of water on a Kappa's head is a weakness."
Snape's departing figure suddenly stiffened. It lasted only an instant, but Lin Yanqing caught it clearly. He did not turn around or respond. He merely quickened his pace and disappeared completely into the shadows.
Yet through the contract, Lin Yanqing distinctly received a brief but intense surge of emotion—not gratitude, but a mixture of irritation, embarrassment, and a trace of discomfort at having been exposed. Snape clearly did not want anyone, especially Lin Yanqing, mentioning the night he had been forced to intervene. Lin Yanqing's seemingly casual remark had struck precisely at the truth Snape wished to conceal.
"Quest [Material Collection II] complete! Reward issued! (★ ω ★)"
Lin Yanqing let out a quiet breath. The delivery was complete. He had not tried to claim credit or mentioned his own adventure; he had merely stated a fact. This approach seemed to preserve their connection to the greatest extent possible within the limits Snape could accept.
He had thought their encounter would end there. However, just as he was preparing to leave the library, a figure blocked his path in the corridor leading toward the main staircase.
It was Sirius Black.
He lounged against a pillar with his arms crossed, wearing that familiar, knowing smile as though he could see through everything. A probing gleam flickered in his gray eyes.
"Hey, Ravenclaw," he greeted casually, though his gaze swept over Lin Yanqing's face like a searchlight. "Lately, I seem to keep seeing you and our dear Snape 'happening' to show up in the same secluded corners. In the library just now, too... quite a coincidence."
Lin Yanqing's heart tightened slightly. Sirius's powers of observation were indeed sharp. His expression did not change as he calmly replied, "The library is a public area, Black. Besides, I'm interested in certain obscure branches of magic. There's nothing strange about that."
"Obscure branches of magic?" Sirius scoffed and stepped forward, lowering his voice with a hint of mockery and warning. "Give me a break. I don't care what kind of shady 'deal' or whatever else you have going on with Snivellus... stay away from him. It'll be better for you. That guy has 'trouble' written all over him."
This was not concern. It was more like a warning born from House rivalry and personal grudges, perhaps mixed with curiosity and displeasure over the very fact that someone was getting close to Snape.
Lin Yanqing looked at Sirius without backing down or becoming angry. "Thank you for the reminder, Black. I know what I'm doing." His tone remained flat, revealing no emotion.
Sirius raised an eyebrow, seemingly not expecting that reaction. He stared at Lin Yanqing for several seconds, then shrugged, that careless expression returning to his face. "Suit yourself. But if you get yourself into trouble, don't expect Potter or me to clean up your mess."
After saying that, he turned and walked away, whistling an out-of-tune tune.
Lin Yanqing watched his retreating back, his brows faintly furrowed. The Marauders' attention had indeed been drawn over. Sirius's warning was only the beginning. It meant that the secret "connection" between him and Snape would not only have to face internal stalemates and tests in the future, but also outside scrutiny and possible interference.
He looked up at the endless rain beyond the window and felt that the situation at Hogwarts was quietly becoming more complicated along with the invisible bond between him and Snape.
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