i am snape

"No, I've got some other things to do later," Abbott replied, his face seeming rather flushed in the setting sun.

After bidding Abbott farewell, Snape hurried to the library on the fifth floor of Hogwarts Castle. It was due to close in just over an hour.

"Hello, Madam Pince."

It took Snape a bit of effort to find Madam Irma Pince, who was dusting in a narrow aisle between the bookshelves.

"What is it, child?" she asked.

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

"Follow me," Madam Pince said, tucking her feather duster into the crook of her arm as she led Snape through the stacks. They reached a secluded corner deep within the library. Madam Pince pointed to neatly stacked piles of newspapers. "They're all here, the *Daily Prophets* from the entire 1940s. Remember to put them back when you're done, or you know what will happen."

Thanking Madam Pince, Snape quickly carried a large stack of newspapers to a desk and began to flip through them, arranged by date. The light from outside was already dimming, and the charmed candles by the desk, encased in their protective globes, flickered to life.

Finally, in the **Daily Prophet** of **June 15, 1943**, he found a report:

---

### **"Hogwarts Sees Bizarre Deaths, Chamber of Secrets Rumors Cause Panic"**

**Investigations into the peculiar deaths at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry on June 13th are ongoing. Several students had reportedly been injured in mysterious attacks prior to this incident.**

**Headmaster Armando Dippet stated that the victim died due to a bizarre accident, and dismissed the legend of a beast in the Chamber of Secrets as pure fabrication. He added that school security had been increased and that the school would strive to ensure student safety.**

**However, Cassius Malfoy, a school governor, revealed that, to date, all those attacked have been Muggle-born witches and wizards.**

**"I do not wish to criticize the Headmaster or the school's policies," Mr. Malfoy told this reporter, "but for the safety of all students, the Board of Governors will consider closing the school if necessary, unless the perpetrators of these attacks are apprehended."**

**Reliable sources indicate that the Ministry of Magic has dispatched special envoys to the school and is involved in the investigation.**

**This paper reminds all readers to remain vigilant for their own safety.**

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

---

Snape continued to flip through the remaining newspapers. In the **Daily Prophet** of **June 22**, he found the follow-up story:

---

### **"Investigation Concludes: 'Hogwarts Serial Attacks' Perpetrator Identified as a 'Giant Spider'"**

**For his outstanding contributions in resolving this matter, a fifth-year Slytherin student has been awarded the "Special Services to the School Award" for his "extraordinary courage and wisdom."**

**At the same time, the Ministry of Magic and the school authorities have confirmed that the student who inadvertently caused this incident has been officially expelled from the school, and his wand was destroyed on the spot.**

---

This was exactly what Snape had been looking for. He secretly slipped a few pages of the relevant old newspapers into his robes and then closed and returned the other opened papers.

Just then, Madam Pince's magically amplified voice echoed throughout the library. "Closing time! Please pack up your things and leave the library within five minutes!"

At eight o'clock sharp, Madam Pince turned off all the lights and shooed all the students out of the library. The stream of people emerging from the library was mostly Ravenclaw students. Among them, Snape even saw a small Gilderoy Lockhart with a head of golden curls.

Upon returning to the dormitory under the lake, Snape read *Advanced Potion-Making* for a while before falling asleep. Abbott still hadn't returned by the time Snape drifted off.

---

Later that week, during the next few Potions lessons, Slughorn sang Snape's praises, saying he had rarely encountered a student with more talent in potion-making than Snape in all his years.

So, after the fourth Potions lesson, Snape let Abbott go ahead, deliberately dawdling as he packed his bag. Eventually, only he and Slughorn remained in the classroom.

"Professor," Snape began, "I was rather curious, where are those more gifted students you've taught before working now? I'd be quite keen to meet one, if I could."

"Ah, I'm afraid I don't know where he is now," Slughorn said with a regretful sigh. "Many years ago, I tried to introduce him to the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, but he refused me. I truly don't understand why he chose to become a clerk at Borgin and Burkes back then. I haven't heard from him in years."

"Borgin and Burkes?" Snape's eyes widened, a hint of surprise in his voice. "Isn't that a Dark Arts shop in Knockturn Alley?"

"Indeed, it's such a pity," Slughorn said, gathering his things and heading out of the classroom. "Such a talented young man. Well, Severus, I'll see you on Saturday, and remember to bring Abbott along."

"Professor," Snape called after Slughorn's retreating back, "What was his name?"

"What? Oh, right, his name was **Tom Riddle**."

---

On Saturday lunchtime, Snape shared his discovery with Abbott. Although he didn't want to put his friend in danger, an inexplicable impulse made him unwilling to keep these things from Abbott.

"So, like you, Riddle was once **old Sluggy's** favorite?" Abbott asked, not looking up from an essay he was writing titled, "The Principles of Ghostly Apparition."

"Keep your voice down," Snape quickly urged, worried the name might bring Abbott trouble. "Consider it a favor to a friend, don't mention his name, alright?"

"But it's not—"

"I know it's not You-Know-Who, but just humour my unreasonable request. Call him 'Little Tom' from now on," Snape added. "After all, I don't want another competitor on my path to becoming Head Boy."

"Alright," Abbott conceded, though he didn't seem entirely convinced. "Let me see your essay, this is a real headache."

Snape pulled a roll of parchment from his bag and handed it to Abbott, then buried his head in his own Defence Against the Dark Arts homework.

The time off from classes in sixth year was not, as Snape and Abbott had hoped, a chance for complete freedom. Instead, it was mostly spent diligently completing the mountain of homework assigned by their professors. While students complained about the excessive workload, every teacher kept insisting their assignments only required a few hours to complete, as if students could use the same few hours to finish multiple assignments.

By dinner, Snape had only finished about half of his homework. "Perhaps we should finish tomorrow," he told Abbott, setting down his quill. "Slughorn's party is about to begin."