"The first step toward becoming someone else… is leaving who you were behind."
Severus looked over at his two roommates—Evan Rosier and Mulciber—sleeping soundly in their beds. Both were completely out, not even snoring anymore. It was a Hogsmeade day, so there were no classes and no reason to wake up early. The Death Eater meeting wasn't until later in the afternoon. They had all the time in the world to sleep.
Good.
He quietly took the clothes Lily had given him and slipped out of the room, closing the door behind him without making a sound. He walked down the stone hallway to the boys' bathroom and gently shut the door.
The bathroom was cold. The walls were made of old, rough stone, slightly damp to the touch. Green flames burned in the wall sconces, casting a strange light across the floor. The air smelled like stone, metal, and a sharp hint of cleaning potion. A low mist hung near the ground, and the brass taps on the sinks looked old and a bit crooked.
Severus stepped in front of the mirror and looked at himself.
He already looked different.
His hair was shorter now—smoother and cleaner. His skin didn't look as pale or greasy as before. His eyes looked fresher, more alive after a peaceful night's sleep. The potion Lily had given him really worked. But he was still thin, still looked weak.
He turned on the tap. Hot water rushed out. He washed his face, then carefully bathed. He scrubbed his skin as if he was trying to leave the old Severus behind. He used the last bit of Lily's hair and skin potion and gently rubbed it in.
By the time he was done, he felt lighter. Freer.
He dried himself and put on the clothes Lily had picked for him. They fit better than anything he owned. When he looked at the mirror again, he froze.
He barely recognized the person staring back at him.
His hair was neat. His skin had a healthy glow. The cream-colored shirt fit just right, the sleeves rolled to his elbows. A silver chain—his mother's necklace—peeked out from under the collar. The light brown trousers were soft and clean. The simple wristwatch on his arm looked elegant. A soft, pleasant scent rose from his skin and hair—Lily's magic still lingering.
He was still thin, but somehow, the clothes made him look taller. Stronger. More confident. It was clear Lily had picked them with care. She wanted him to feel good about himself.
He smiled slowly and thought, I don't look like the old Severus anymore. Why should I keep living like him? I'm not that boy now.
He laughed quietly. "If the old Severus saw this," he said, "he'd die of shock. Or maybe a heart attack."
And it was true.
Because this wasn't the boy people used to laugh at in the hallways. This wasn't the kid who hid in the shadows, afraid to be seen.
This was someone who wanted to be seen.
He stepped out of the bathroom and walked into the Slytherin common room. It was nearly empty.
The green light from the torches flickered on the walls. The windows looking into the Black Lake cast moving shadows. Giant squid tentacles floated past, and strange, glowing fish swam by—creatures from the deep drifting just outside. Most of the chairs were empty, and the fire in the hearth was burning low. A few books and scrolls lay forgotten on the tables.
Then—someone gasped.
Severus turned.
Patrick Abbott was sitting in one of the armchairs, staring at him with wide eyes like he'd just seen a ghost. He was dressed sharply too—a black turtleneck, dark grey blazer, brown trousers, and polished black shoes. A silver chain peeked out from his collar. He looked more like a Muggle student than a traditional Slytherin.
Patrick blinked. "Severus? What… what did you do to yourself? You look completely different. And… you're wearing Muggle clothes."
He pointed at Severus's outfit, clearly shocked.
"You know they'll treat you like they did me, right? Total exile from the group. And… was that really you I saw last night? Throwing a Dark Arts book into the fire? I thought I was dreaming."
Severus gave a small smile. "It's nothing dramatic, Patrick. I'm just evolving. People are supposed to change. If we don't… we end up like prehistoric animals—forgotten."
Severus's voice dropped to a quiet, steady tone. "I know what'll happen. Maybe I'll be cast out like you were. Maybe worse. But I've made up my mind—I'm done hiding. Even if Slytherin turns its back on me… I won't be alone."
Then he smiled—genuinely, for once.
"Maybe we'll start our own house," he said with a touch of humor. "The Exiles of Slytherin."
Patrick stared at him for a moment, then smiled—slowly, but genuinely. For the first time in a long while, he looked truly happy.
Inside, a quiet relief washed over him. Finally, he thought, Someone else gets it. Another Slytherin who understands that we're allowed to grow—that we're supposed to evolve. I've felt alone for so long, surrounded by people who cling to old rules and bloodlines like chains.
They called me a traitor. An outcast. Just for thinking differently. But now Severus stands here—proof that change isn't weakness. It's survival.
Maybe we can break the myth, Patrick thought. People forget that Merlin himself was a Slytherin. And he wasn't a dark wizard. Not even close. It's time we remind the world: not all Slytherins walk in darkness. Some of us can be like Merlin.
He looked at Severus with quiet pride. "Well, comrade," he said with a small grin, "want to grab a quiet breakfast before the drama begins?"
Severus smiled, falling into step beside him. "Lead the way, comrade."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Author's Note:
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