Chapter Text
As soon as the news reached Hogwarts staff, a panic ensued. Albus Dumbledore was dead.
Snape had- a feeling he knew why. Yet he denied it all the more.
Blaise had an even more sure-fire feeling he knew who did it, though he knew not why.
Lockhart immediately accused The Demon Student as soon as the incident reached the public, newspapers everywhere, information of a sickle and bullet casings found near the scene baffled the whole of Wizarding society.
It was the beginning of third year, and not a single member of the gang had received a letter all summer making them worry endlessly about how Dazai would most likely return wounded once again.
Yet, not one of them had seen Dazai in Diagon Alley, nor were there any new articles in The Daily Prophet.
Severus was..confused and extremely anxious; he hadn't seen his problem child after all, so when the friend group began interrogating him he froze.
It took him a moment to process the questions the group shoved in his face, he replied as soon as it'd fully registered in his mind.
Snape was distraught and deeply troubled. His initial shock was palpable. “What?!” he stammered, his face etched with worry. The realization dawned on Blaise and the others: Snape hadn't seen Dazai either
Blaise froze as he realized; Professor Snape hadn't seen Dazai either. This fact soon registered with the others as soon as the interrogated Snape flipped the conversation over with only a single word.
Blaise paced restlessly, the gravity of the situation settling upon him. The group tried interrogating Snape further but, driven by a desperate need for answers, he'd already raced to find McGonagall, the new Headmistress.
Draco and Blaise exchanged a significant look and nodded towards one another. Blaise followed after Snape's hurried form, leaving Draco to coax the rest of the group to the gang room.
Snape didn't question Blaise's presence as Dazai had always trusted him the most, clinging to his side every chance he'd gotten. It even baffled Severus as Dazai wasn't the most open book, and Blaise was full of blank pages, until Dazai had come along at least.
………………………………………………………
It was devastating news when McGonagall had told the both of them that Dazai
…
Would not be returning..?