Old News

"No, I have a few things to do later."

In the glow of the setting sun, Aber's face seemed flushed.

After saying goodbye to Aber, Snape hurried to the Library on the fifth floor of Hogwarts Castle. The Library would close in just over an hour.

"Hello, Madam Pince."

It took Snape quite some effort to find Irma Pince, who was dusting the narrow aisles between the bookshelves.

"What do you need, child?"

"I'd like to know where the Daily Prophet issues from 1940 to 1950 are kept," Snape said.

"Follow me." Madam Pince tucked her feather duster into the crook of her arm and led Snape through the shelves.

They reached a corner deep in the Library. Madam Pince pointed at the neatly stacked newspapers and said:

"Here they are, the Daily Prophet for the entire 1940s. Put them back when you're done, or you know what will happen."

After thanking Madam Pince, Snape quickly carried a large stack of newspapers to a desk and began leafing through them in date order.

The light outside the window had already dimmed, and the candles in protective covers beside the desk flickered to life.

At last, in the June 15, 1943 issue of the Daily Prophet, he found a report—

"'Bizarre Death at Hogwarts, Chamber of Secrets Rumors Spark Panic':

"The investigation into the bizarre death at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry on June 13 remains ongoing. It is reported that several students had previously been injured in mysterious attacks.

"Headmaster Armando Dippet stated that the victim had died in a strange accident, while the rumors of a monster in the Chamber of Secrets were entirely unfounded. He added that the school had strengthened its security measures and would do everything possible to ensure the students' safety.

"However, Cassius Malfoy, one of the school's governors, revealed that all those attacked so far had been Muggle-born Wizards.

"'I do not wish to blame the Headmaster or the school's policies,' Mr. Malfoy told our reporter, 'but for the safety of all students, unless the criminal behind these attacks is caught, the board will consider closing the school if necessary.'

"According to reliable sources, the Ministry of Magic has dispatched officials to the school to assist with the investigation.

"This paper reminds all readers to remain mindful of their personal safety.

"May this poor girl rest in peace in the next world."

Snape continued flipping through the remaining newspapers.

In the June 22 issue of the Daily Prophet, he found the rest of the story:

"Following an investigation, the culprit behind the 'Hogwarts Serial Attacks' was determined to be a 'Giant Spider.'

"A fifth-year Slytherin student received the Special Award for Services to the School for his 'extraordinary courage and wisdom' in resolving the incident.

"Meanwhile, the Ministry of Magic and the school confirmed that the student responsible for causing this accident had been formally expelled, and his Wand destroyed on the spot."

This was exactly what Snape had been looking for.

He secretly slipped several relevant old newspaper pages into his robes, then folded up the other newspapers and returned them to their places.

Just then, Madam Pince's magically amplified voice rang through the entire Library.

"It's almost time! Please gather your belongings and leave the Library within five minutes."

At exactly eight o'clock, Madam Pince extinguished all the lights and came over to drive the students out of the Library.

The crowd pouring from the Library consisted mostly of Ravenclaw students. Among them, Snape spotted Gilderoy Lockhart, small in stature with a head of golden curls.

After returning to the dormitory beneath the lake, Snape read Mastering Potions for a while before going to sleep.

By the time he drifted off, Aber still seemed not to have returned.

During the following Potions classes that week, Slughorn could not stop praising Snape's abilities.

He said that over all his years of teaching, he had rarely encountered a student more gifted at potion-making than Snape.

So after the fourth Potions class, Snape told Aber to leave first while he deliberately dawdled over packing his bag.

In the end, only he and Slughorn remained in the classroom.

"Professor, I'm curious. Where are the more talented students you taught before working now? It would be wonderful if I could meet one."

"Ah, I don't know where he is now." Slughorn spoke with regret written all over his face. "Many years ago, I wanted to recommend him to the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, but he turned me down.

"I truly don't understand why he chose to become a shop assistant at Borgin and Bork. I haven't heard any news about him in years."

"Borgin and Bork?" Snape's eyes widened, surprise evident in his voice. "Isn't that a Dark Magic shop in Knockturn Alley?"

"Yes, what a shame." Slughorn finished packing and headed out of the classroom. "Such a remarkably talented young man.

"All right, Severus, I'll see you on Saturday. Remember to bring Aber."

"Professor," Snape called after Slughorn's retreating figure, "what was his name?"

"What? Oh, all right. His name was Tom Riddle."

At noon on Saturday, Snape told Aber about what he had discovered.

Though he did not want to put his friend in danger, some unspoken impulse kept him from hiding it from Aber.

"So, just like you, Riddle used to be Old Sluggy's favorite?"

Aber was writing an essay titled The Principles of Ghost Manifestation and did not even look up.

"Keep your voice down." Snape hurriedly said, worried that the name would bring Aber trouble. "Consider it a favor for a friend. Don't mention his name, all right?"

"But it's not—"

"I know it isn't that name which must not be spoken, but take it as an unreasonable request from me. Call him Little Tom from now on." Snape added, "After all, I don't need another rival on my path to becoming Student Council President."

"All right." Though Aber did not look convinced, he agreed. "Let me see your essay. This is giving me a headache."

Snape pulled a roll of parchment from his bag and handed it to Aber, then lowered his head and began working on his Defense Against the Dark Arts homework.

The free periods in sixth year were nothing like Snape and Aber had expected, times when they could roam about as freely as they pleased. Instead, nearly all of them had to be spent struggling through the mountain of homework assigned by their teachers.

Although the students all complained that there was too much homework, every teacher repeatedly insisted that the work they assigned could be finished in just a few hours, as though students could somehow complete multiple assignments in the same span of time.

By dinnertime, Snape had only finished about half of his homework.

"Maybe we should finish it tomorrow." He set down his quill and said to Aber, "Slughorn's party is about to begin."