Challenge: legilimens
Word Count: 100
Legilimency was useful.
Severus did not publicize his new skill, but word spread throughout the school that lying to Professor Snape was impossible. The Gryffindors cowered at his approach (finally!), the Hufflepuffs accepted their punishment, and the Ravenclaws did their best to suss out the source of his uncanny ability to know precisely what they did, when they planned to do it, and how much damage their intellectual forays would cause.
They did not succeed. Then again, Severus could mask his mind so well that only Dumbledore could know his thoughts – and even he sometimes failed.
It was comforting.