In a dark, cramped corner of the ceiling, a spider was spinning its web.

By chance, a flying insect had blundered into its killing zone and was now tightly ensnared in the silken threads. The spider darted swiftly across the web, steadily spitting out more silk, effortlessly tangling with the struggling, dying insect.

"Will I die from the bite, Remus?"

"No..."

"Don't hide it from me. I already understand. I don't blame you, Remus. I know you're not like them."

"Stop talking!"

"After I die… can you take Maggie back home for me? When Mum and Dad see her, they'll remember me. I don't want them to forget."

"Please, Jimmy! Stop talking! Save your strength… the medicine will be here soon!"

"Don't cry, Remus. If they see you upset over me, they'll just hit you again."

"I'm turned away from you… I'm not crying!"

"Don't lie. You've cried for us so many times, haven't you? You're not like them at all."

The man, who is pale, exhausted, dressed in tattered clothes, and his demeanor broken, looked far older than his years, his hair already streaked with grey.

He wiped away tears that had fallen unnoticed with his sleeve, but his hands never stopped moving.

With a sharp wooden spike, he frantically carved marks into the warped floorboards beneath him!

His back was drenched in sweat, his hands covered in bloody scratches. Just then, the boy lying behind him suddenly spoke.

"They're back, Remus. I hear footsteps."

The disheveled man suddenly hurled the wooden spike aside and yanked a tattered rug back over the hole in the floor, hiding his work.

The door of this shabby shack burst open the next second!

Two men with thick sideburns strode in. They glanced at the ragged man, then at the boy on the floor, who is unconscious, or perhaps just barely clinging to awareness.

"This little brat still isn't dead yet? Looks like you've been taking good care of him, eh, Peter?"

The ragged man stared at them, expressionless.

"Where's the medicine?"

The two men ignored him completely.

"Greyback says we're leaving. He's finished on his end."

"If you don't give him the medicine, he won't survive the Apparition!" The man's voice was strained, barely controlled, "Greyback doesn't want him dead, right? He's waiting for the next full moon!"

"Don't use Greyback to threaten us!" One of the men punched him, sending him sprawling.

"Don't hit him! Don't hit Remus..." The boy was crying.

The other man tossed a potion bottle at the ragged man's feet.

"If it weren't for you, we wouldn't have to wait another damn month! Do you know how much trouble it was to get this?"

Ignoring the swelling on his left cheek, the man snatched up the bottle, which is a standard healing potion from St. Mungo's. He struggled to his knees, then gently lifted the boy, cradling him as he uncorked the vial.

He struggled to get up from the ground, then supported the boy's upper body and opened the medicine bottle.

"Drink this, Jimmy. You'll be okay. Don't be scared." His voice was soft, soothing.

The boy, clutching a stuffed Niffler toy, stopped crying.

"Get him out of here, you pathetic coward! If it weren't for you, we'd have been done by now!"

One of the sideburned men kicked him hard and drew his wand.

The ragged man tensed at this.

"What are you doing?"

"Burning this place down! Greyback's orders… we leave nothing behind. Understood? Unless you want to burn with it, get him out!"

The man lifted the boy in his arms and walked out of the shabby shack.

Just before the door closed behind him, he couldn't help but glance back at the spot hidden beneath the rug.

But the fire had already been lit and was growing bigger.

The spider on the ceiling had finally finished wrapping its prey, the insect now motionless in the web.

The flames devoured everything.

And with them, the last shred of hope the ragged man had left behind.

…

"Patty and I have discussed it. We plan to wait until Eldred's book is officially published and we get our share of the royalties, then we will go back to the Cotswolds and buy back the farm!"

Sanguini and Patty sat with their fingers intertwined as they enthusiastically shared their future plans with Severus.

"I never liked the Wizarding World much anyway. Out there, I'll just live as a Muggle!"

Eldred shot him a skeptical look.

"You sure you know how to farm?"

"I'll learn! And... well, sometimes using a little magic on crops doesn't technically break the magical law, right?" Sanguini had clearly thought this through.

Patty simply held Sanguini's hand tightly, her smile unwavering as she listened to their banter.

"I've got some unused Growth Potion in my stores. You can have it if you need it." Severus mused, mentally sorting through his vault, "But you can't take them for free. You have to treat Dudley and me to a big meal every year, using the ingredients from your farm."

"Can you raise chickens? I like roast chicken." Harry chimed in, already placing his order.

"You'll always be welcome, Mr. Snape." Sanguini looked at them solemnly, "And if you ever need anything, please don't hesitate to ask!"

"Don't worry, I will."

It was clear that both Worple and Sanguini understood that this meal marked the end of their shared journey.

They talked about everything… past, present, and future.

Finally, when Worple was already drunk, Severus checked the time and prepared to leave with Harry.

Stepping out of the restaurant, Harry couldn't help but remark, "It's only been a few days, but Sanguini seems like a completely different person now."

"That's the magic of love." Severus said, stopping a taxi, "It turns cowards into warriors and carefree souls into responsible family men."

"When we visit Sanguini's farm in the future, his changes will definitely be beyond our expectations."

They took a taxi and soon arrived at the street where the Leaky Cauldron was located.

"It's Severus Snape! Our prodigal son returns!" (T/N: Prodigal son means a person who leaves home and behaves recklessly, but later makes a repentant return. It is kind of suit the current Severus.)

Cheers erupted from the witches and wizards in the bar the moment Severus walked in.

Obviously, the impact of this morning's trial will last for a long time.

While politely acknowledging the greetings, Severus leaned down and muttered to Harry, "It seems I have to prepare a fake identity in advance, just in case. How does 'Sherlock Holmes' sound?"

Harry shook his head vigorously.

"I don't want to be Watson anymore."

"Then you can be Conan."

"...I'd rather just stay Dudley." Harry grumbled.

Before they arrived, Arthur was already waiting inside the bar. As a pragmatist, he wasted no time on small talk when he spotted Severus.

"Let's go. We're going to Nottinghamshire now!"