There was still some time before dinner, but winter nights in the United Kingdom always came especially early. Before five o'clock, the road ahead was already impossible to see without lights.
So Tver cast a guiding Lumos Charm, urging the students, who were still reluctant to leave, to hurry back to the castle.
As for himself, he made a few minor adjustments to the area, cutting the grounds in half while setting up a bit of Imp Magic.
Only after finishing all that did he leisurely make his way back to the brightly lit castle.
But after entering the castle gates, he encountered someone unexpected.
Or rather, someone who had deliberately been waiting for him.
"Well, well, well, isn't this our beloved Professor Fawley?"
Snape stood sideways in the dim entrance, half his body swallowed by shadow. Only his face, with its faintly mocking smile, and those cold eyes were visible.
Tver jumped. That eerie voice had suddenly sprung out at him so unexpectedly that he nearly drew his wand.
"Beloved might be overstating it, but I'm certainly busier than Professor Snape, who gets to wait here so comfortably." He tucked his wand back into his robe pocket.
Then he straightened his robes and looked at the other man with a smile.
Snape gave a cold laugh and did not take issue with Tver's mockery.
"I'm curious. Professor Fawley only teaches three years, so why has he been so busy? You disappeared yesterday morning and only showed up now."
His lips still held a smile, but there was now a trace of viciousness in his eyes, as though he would draw his wand the next second if Tver's answer failed to satisfy him.
Tver glanced at Snape in surprise. He had not expected to make it onto Snape's list of