The headmaster's office fell quiet.
Dumbledore stroked his beard, momentarily at a loss for words about Snape's suggestion.
He knew exactly how much the Slytherin head of house enjoyed docking points from other students.
For six straight years Slytherin had won the House Cup, and while the little snakes were certainly obsessed with glory and worked hard for it, Snape's tireless hunt for reasons to penalize the other three houses had played a major part.
Still, Dumbledore didn't think Snape was trying to knock Ravenclaw off its perch so Slytherin could chase the Cup this year.
Ravenclaw's lead was simply too big. Lucien alone had earned more points for them than the other three houses combined over half a year. Even docking the maximum hundred points wouldn't close the gap.
And from the look on Snape's face, Dumbledore could tell he wasn't dead set on actually taking points. It was more like… the novelty of the idea. After all, it was rare for any student to go two full years at Hogwarts without Snape finding a single excuse to deduct from them.
Dumbledore decided to change the subject. He gave a soft chuckle, his tone lightly probing.
"So, Severus… does that mean you've agreed to teach Lucien the Patronus Charm?"
Snape let out a sour huff.
"Don't go volunteering me—or the boy—for anything. Maybe Lucien will figure it out on his own and master the spell just fine. Why should either of us waste our time?"
He paused, then added, "Besides, Flitwick and Minerva both know the charm. It's hardly my job as Slytherin head of house and Potions professor to teach it."
He put extra emphasis on "Potions professor."
Dumbledore's expression grew a shade more serious.
"The Patronus Charm is a very special piece of magic. At its core, it touches the soul. And the version Lucien produced clearly has extra qualities—perhaps something even deeper into the soul realm." He paused, eyes steady behind his half-moon spectacles. "That kind of territory needs someone watching over the path ahead…"
He didn't finish the thought, but the meaning was clear: magic involving the soul could go very wrong if it veered off course.
When Snape stayed stone-faced, Dumbledore's expression shifted again. He gave a sly wink, his tone suddenly light and playful.
"Besides, the Patronus Charm falls under Defense Against the Dark Arts—and aren't you already covering that class, Severus?"
"And you've always been exceptional with Legilimency and Occlumency. You have a natural talent for anything involving the soul…"
It wasn't flattery. Aside from the Patronus, Snape really was one of the best in the school when it came to soul-related magic.
He truly was the ideal teacher for Lucien.
The moment Defense Against the Dark Arts came up, Snape fell silent, inwardly frustrated.
If they were talking raw mastery of soul magic, Dumbledore himself was a legendary Legilimens and had even developed the advanced Patronus messaging technique…
But the old man was simply too busy.
Then again, Snape thought bitterly, so was he.
Two full course loads, lesson plans, grading, night rounds, handling student disputes—every minute counted.
He cleared his throat, voice carrying a careful hint.
"I believe if I could focus on teaching just one subject, I'd have far more energy and time—whether it's handling those dunderheaded students or guiding Lucien with the Patronus Charm… or any other magic."
He was hinting as plainly as he dared: next year, make the Defense Against the Dark Arts position permanent.
Potions professors were easy to find. Slughorn could return at a moment's notice, and plenty of other master brewers owed Dumbledore favors.
But a competent Defense teacher?
Heh.
And right now the perfect candidate was standing in this very office.
How could Dumbledore not choose him?
Dumbledore rubbed his beard, thinking for a moment.
"Thank you for all your hard work, Severus. Don't worry about the staffing. I already have someone in mind. It's just taking longer than expected because I've been so busy and the discussions have been… slow."
Snape figured it was one of the usual suspects—an elder from the Extraordinary Potions Society or a Gold Cauldron medalist. Any of them could teach basic potions to children with their eyes closed.
He wasn't in a rush. He had waited years; a few more months wouldn't kill him.
Still, Dumbledore's constant "busyness" had started to grate on him lately.
In previous years the headmaster had stayed more involved with the school—handling what needed handling, managing what needed managing.
But ever since Harry Potter arrived at Hogwarts, Dumbledore's focus had clearly shifted.
Snape understood why. The top priority had to be Voldemort. It always would be.
Once the Dark Lord was dealt with for good, the wizarding world could breathe easy and the students could simply go to school in peace.
Snape stood up, straightened his robes, and slipped back into his usual cold mask.
"I'll keep an eye on the Lucien situation."
"And since I'm still extremely busy and will have to carve out time for private tutoring with one little wizard… make sure the boy pays the, ah, tutoring fee."
Without waiting for a reply, he turned and headed for the spiral staircase. His black robes swirled behind him as his footsteps faded down the steps.
Dumbledore watched him go and shook his head with a helpless smile.
Tutoring fee. He must have picked up that phrase from Lucien.
He knew his old colleague's temperament all too well. No matter how much he grumbled, the man would still do what needed doing.
Dumbledore's gaze drifted past the moonlit window to the distant silhouette of the Ravenclaw tower.