The Room of Requirement couldn't conjure food, but Regulus never let that ruin the atmosphere.
He placed a handful of blueberries and a bottle of sparkling water on the potions table with a flourish.
Severus—who was already itching to unpack ingredients and begin brewing the latest version of the Vitality Potion—shot Regulus a disapproving look. With great care, he moved the snacks (which were, crucially, not near the cauldron) to a newly appeared coffee table nearby.
The future Potions Master already had his own set of unshakeable standards.
"Hehe," Regulus chuckled guiltily. "Oh right, Severus, I've decided we should launch all four types of face masks at once—the acne treatment mask for young people, the anti-ageing mask for the middle-aged, the brightening mask for skin tone, and..."
"I've recently gotten in touch with a Muggle silk manufacturer..."
"I also had my mum try that sample you gave me. She was sceptical at first, but—well…"
"My mother's agreed to be our first sponsor. She's already advanced... uh... funds from Gringotts..."
...
A thin silver steam rose from the cauldron as the potion began to emit a faint, pleasant fragrance. Severus quietly stirred, listening to Regulus ramble on.
After detailing both their booming present and glorious future, Regulus finally pulled out Mathematical Principles of Alchemical Philosophy and began reading.
He used to think higher mathematics was completely useless. Now, it finally made sense—because it walked hand in hand with magic.
After some time, Severus—having reached a stopping point in his brewing—rubbed his eyes and glanced at Regulus, who was seated not far away.
Regulus had always said he wasn't much good at potion-making. So whenever Severus brewed, Regulus—as outlined in his ever-expanding business plan—would be off making strange magical items.
One focused on alchemy, the other on brewing potions—they made a small but well-organised team, with a clear division of labour.
At some point, a simple set of table and chairs had appeared. In front of several open, leather-bound books, the handsome, black-haired boy held a wand in one hand, a quill in the other, and an alchemical lens balanced between his fingers.
The tip of the quill hovered just above a short strip of parchment.
A light glowed from the end of his wand and passed through the lens, concentrating into a pinpoint beam that illuminated the parchment's centre. Regulus's fingers moved with precision, carefully adjusting the angle.
He brought the wand closer and closer to the lens—nearly touching it—his grip steady and unwavering.
He repeated the process patiently, maintaining perfect posture the entire time.
Severus instinctively straightened his back and stretched his shoulders. Ever since becoming friends with Regulus, he'd started to care more about his appearance. Lily had even remarked he looked far more energised lately.
The repeated movements grew quicker and more precise. Eventually, Severus could no longer follow the fine motor adjustments—
Then, suddenly—a sharp golden beam shot from the lens.
Regulus seized the moment. He guided the golden light fluidly, writing a glowing line of mysterious symbols in a single, elegant stroke.
The glowing symbols made the parchment tremble violently. For a moment, it seemed to shake off a fine layer of dust—Severus even thought it might ignite. He held his breath...
Then, the light on the parchment abruptly vanished—As if nothing had happened at all.
Regulus, slowly coming out of his intense concentration, looked up. Sweat was trickling down his temples, and his eyes still seemed to reflect that lingering, arcane glow.
"Severus! Writing alchemical code is so hard," he sighed, pulling a handkerchief from his breast pocket and wiping his brow. A smile of exhausted relief spread across his face.
"Merlin's bea…" Severus murmured, barely able to form the word. He couldn't take his eyes off the parchment—he'd never seen anything like it.
"Here, this one's yours," Regulus said casually, handing him the still-warm parchment. Then he pulled out another one from his robe pocket.
"Logically, if we're within a thousand steps of each other, and you write my name on it—then write no more than 160 characters—I'll receive it instantly on my parchment. And it works both ways."
"Sirius and I started designing this over the summer… I just made a few improvements. You can help me test it."
Severus nodded wordlessly—still a bit stunned. If Sirius Black was involved in this little invention, then... did that obnoxious Potter have a hand in it too...?
"I know you're not particularly fond of my brother and his lot," Regulus said plainly, as if reading Severus's mind. "But in the future—we'll inevitably have to work with Sirius. He's got real talent when it comes to crafting magical items."
How annoying, Severus thought. But, as much as it pained him to admit, what Regulus said made perfect sense.
If they Slytherins were going to build something—really build something—they'd need vision. Strategy. A proper, long-term plan.
Things like realising potential, avoiding self-sabotage, and prioritising career over personal feelings.
And for Severus?
Foolish lion. At least I won't let them take advantage of me for free.
With that thought, the irritation in his chest vanished without a trace.
...
The two of them tested the enchanted parchment while sipping sparkling water and snacking on blueberries.
In the quiet Room of Requirement, the only sound was the soft rustling of quills scratching across parchment.
"I have a theory—if Gryffindor really built this room at Hogwarts, then what about the other founders? Could they have left behind treasures of their own?"
"Possibly. I've heard the legends about the Chamber of Slytherin. Hogwarts is far too fun. Seven years just isn't enough. It's far too short."
"Agreed.]"
Severus nodded, glancing at Regulus beside him—
Hogwarts was the first place Severus had ever truly felt at home.
Here, he didn't have to face a miserable household. Here, there was endless delicious food… No need to worry about survival—every day was filled with magic, and his friends were here too—
Friends he never imagined he'd have. Lily Evans of Gryffindor, and Regulus Black of Slytherin—when they could've chosen anyone, they chose him.
Severus's chest warmed.
"Then why don't we work part-time as teachers at Hogwarts in the future?"
The words, written in Regulus's neat handwriting, appeared clearly on the parchment before Severus Snape's eyes.
"That's a great idea!" Severus blurted out, eyes lighting up.
...Though, to be a teacher, didn't one have to be truly exceptional?
He looked up to see Regulus giving him a thumbs-up, smiling with recognition and unwavering confidence.
"Then you'll teach Potions—or Defence Against the Dark Arts? I heard those are your best subjects."
"Haha, I'll take Potions! You teach Alchemy?" Severus laughed freely, lifting his cup of sparkling water. "You brew magical items, I brew potions—just like we're doing now!"
"Cheers!"
...
Many years later, after facing chaos and peril, having earned renown as one of the greatest Potions Masters of his age, Severus Snape would always remember this night.
And when he spoke of it, he would say—Fate had already set the stage.
And the friend he toasted with that night?
Was still there.