The Hogwarts courtyard buzzed with the usual chatter of students enjoying the sunny afternoon. James lounged by the fountain, tossing a Snitch lazily into the air and catching it with a flick of his wrist. Sirius sat beside him, smirking as he scanned the crowd. When James spotted Severus striding across the courtyard, his greasy hair hanging like curtains around his face. The boy’s shoulders were hunched, and he clutched a stack of books tightly against his chest, avoiding everyone’s gaze.

“Oi, Snivellus!” James called out, sitting up straight and tucking the Snitch into his pocket. His voice carried across the courtyard as several heads turned to watch.

Snape stopped in his tracks, his expression darkening. He turned slowly, already gripping his wand. “What do you want, Potter?” Snape spat, his voice dripping with venom.

James stood and stretched leisurely, as if unconcerned by the wand aimed at him. “Oh, nothing much,” he said with a mock yawn. “Just thought I’d help you out with that heavy load. Mobilicorpus!”

The spell hit Snape before he could react. He was yanked into the air by his ankles, his books scattering as he dropped them. But instead of leaving him dangling, the books began to circle him like a swarm of angry bats. The pages of a particularly thick tome of magical theory fluttered open, flapping wildly right in front of Snape’s face. He dangled upside down, his black trousers sliding down to reveal embarrassingly plain underwear, as the books spun faster and faster around him.

“Potter!” Snape bellowed, his face flushing as he clawed at his robes to cover himself. “PUT ME DOWN IMMEDIATELY!”