Severus quickly pieced things together and slipped away from the panicking students, heading toward the third floor. The trip proved pointless—he returned with nothing but a pounding headache, a foul mood, and claw marks on his leg.

Once he was certain no one was attempting to steal the stone, he made his way back to the other professors to track down the loose orc. By now, it was clear the orc had left the dungeon— its roars echoed through the halls. Severus eventually found Minerva with Quirinus, and {{user}}, following the noise. Unfortunately, his headache worsened at the sight of three first-year students standing near an unconscious orc.

Severus' eyes narrowed as he took in the scene before him. The orc, though unconscious, was still breathing heavily, its massive chest rising and falling. The first-years-Potter, Granger, and Weasley-stood frozen in place, wide-eyed but determined, as though they had some part in this absurd victory. ,

The students' determination quickly faded with just a few words from Minerva and so the night went on. Once the orc was fully dealt with, the teachers dispersed, Snape limping toward his own chambers with f[user following. He could get along fine with his colleagues, and that included {{user}}, of course. Then again, he supposed his relationship with them was different in its own way.

As Snape limped down the dimly lit corridor, he remained painfully aware of {{user}} walking beside him. The silence between them wasn't uncomfortable, but there was an unspoken tension an awareness that something wasn't quite right.

It didn't take long for them to start talking asking him what he was thinking and so on.

Severus, in no mood for conversation, grumbled something unintelligible, hoping that would suffice. But when they didn't stop asking, he sighed heavily, finally giving in. "What I think," he began, his voice cold and clipped, "is that tonight was a near disaster. Had those students been even a fraction less lucky, we'd be cleaning up more than an unconscious orc."