Hey! There's a Harry Potter Marathon on ABC so I'm taking advantage of it. I own nothing.
Veronica's time was so taken up with the little things Lockhart had either forgotten or dismissed that she hadn't had the time to approach Snape until later that evening. With a pencil stuck into her hair, which she kept on hand because she found it more convenient then a quill, and the note book tucked into the crook of her arm along with a glass jar of preserved Death Cap mushrooms Professor Sprout had asked her to take to him since she was on her way down there, Veronica was led by torch light down into the dungeons.
The students would be arriving within the hour so she would have to move quickly. Turning a corner sharply she felt a strong tug at her hair, causing her to stumble back and yelp. "Ow!" she squeaked, she looked around, expecting to see someone behind her but only gazing at open air until another sharp jerk pulled her head to the side and causing a good chuck of hair to fall out of her bun. "Ow! What the…?!" a high pitched cackle made her hair stand on end as she was assaulted again and again.
The notebook and jar clattered to the floor as Veronica tried to duck and shield her head from the attacks. "Peeves!" A deep, angry voice boomed down the hall, causing the attacks to stop suddenly. "What's going on here?" whatever it was cackled and a burst of wind hit Veronica as it zoomed away. She straightened up, panting slightly and staring off down the hall. "What in the world was that?!" she gasped. Severus Snape sneered in the direction Peeves fled, "Peeves, the resident Poltergeist. Likes to cause trouble."
Veronica swallowed hard and tucked a chuck of hair behind her ear. "Right, well I'll have to be more careful then." She shook the attack off and turned back to the Professor. "I was just coming to see you actually, Professor" she knelt down and collected the fallen items, thankfully the jar hadn't broken. "Uh, Professor Sprout told me to give you these sir. Death Dap Mushrooms…"
"I know what they are thank you." Severus cut her off, Veronica nodded "Right and uh, and this as well…" she handed him the black notebook, "I suppose when I ran into you this morning I mixed up the books. I meant to return it sooner but I haven't had any time, terribly sorry Sir." Severus took the book slowly. "Thank you Miss…."
"Largo sir." Veronica filled in the blank. Severus nodded, "Right. Well, I have to take these to the Potions class room anyway, if you care to follow I will return your book." Veronica's shoulders sagged slightly with relief. "Of course, thank you sir."
Severus eyed her carefully as she walked slightly behind him, "you know, you needn't call me that." Veronica thought, "what? Sir?" the hall was empty and two sets of footsteps echoed off the stone walls. "What should I call you then?" Severus shrugged shortly, "You could use my name." Veronica shook her head, "I couldn't do that, I mean unless we became friends." Severus grunted and paused, "Call me sir"
Veronica nodded, "yes sir"
They arrived to the potions classroom, which was set up in one of the dungeons under the castle. "Your book is on the desk over there." He pointed to a student's table near the front of the class room. "Thank you" she made for the desk and slipped the little black book under her arm. She glanced at the large desk at the front of the room and walked up to it curiously. On the wooden top was the Evening Edition of the Daily Prophet, headlining the front page was a moving picture of a flying Ford Anglia. She frowned and shook her head. some people she thought disapprovingly before turning to Severus who had disappeared into a small back room that served as a potions closet
"Shall we head up to the Grand hall then?" she suggested, "We'd be a bit late, the students have probably already arrived but I'm sure we can still make it in time for the Sorting Ceremony."
Severus nodded silently, Veronica picked up on the fact that he wasn't much of a conversationalist, but it was nice change from Lockhart's constant nattering. Plus she didn't want to walk up alone and risk running into that Peeves again. Reminded of the incident she reached up and realized her hair was still a wreck. With a sigh she let down the rest of her locks, which when down fell to her bum (Her mother often insisted that Veronica's hair was her best feature so to keep her happy, Veronica kept it long) and gathered it up again before twisting it tightly and wrapping it up into a neat smooth bun.
Severus set the jar on a high shelf in the Potions closet and closed it firmly band locked it with a large skeleton key before he made for the door again. They walked in utter silence until Veronica felt a tad awkward, but still didn't say anything, only casting a look around every so often so she wouldn't be caught off guard by anything else. Once they reached the corridor adjacent to the outdoor court yard Veronica stopped suddenly.
"Did you hear something?" she asked and Severus stopped to listen before shaking his head, "Come on." They started off again until Veronica's ear perked up. It sounded like something being smashed, like a soda can, far off in the distance, "Okay I know I heard something that time." She said firmly. Severus rolled his eyes and looked back at her slightly as she darted off to the side railing and listened to the still night air "What are you…?"
"Listen." She shushed and closed her eyes. The sound was faint but clear, something definitely sounded like it was being crushed. Whatever it was, Severus seemed to know and his eyes widened quickly. "Follow me." He commanded and she complied swiftly, her heels clicking rapidly with each short hastened step. These shoes where NOT made or running! She thought as her ankle nearly rolled under her.
They reached a door leading outside. "Wait here" he pointed to the ground in a tone that indicated that she should not move a single inch. He swept off sharply with his cape rippling slightly behind him, reminding Veronica of smoke or a bat. Veronica looked around nervously, it was well past dark now and she fidgeted with her clothing until Severus returned with an irate look on his face and two young boys in tow by the back of their cloaks. "It would appear I have found the source of the commotion Miss Largo, if you would be so kind as to accompany myself and these two down stairs I would be most grateful." Severus spat the words in a way that could only be described as a snarl.
"Should I go fetch Headmaster Dumbledore sir?" she asked and Severus shook his head, "I have already sent Mr. Filtch to do so" Veronica nodded and pulled out her wand, "Lumos" she muttered and lit the way for them down to the Dungeons once again. The two boys, one with flaming red hair and bright blue eyes and the other with jet black mess hair and emerald green eyes, stood before the teacher's desk looking nothing short of terrified.
On the desk was still a copy of the evening addition of the Daily Prophet, which told the story of a flying car over London, apparently the Ministry was having a conniption. Severus sat at the desk and fumed, nearly too angry to speak. "You were seen!" Severus boomed and the boys shrunk, "but no less than seven muggles!" Veronica picked up the paper and read, her stomach sinking. This was not good, not good at all.
"Do you have any idea how serious this is?! You have risked the exposure of our world!" Severus's face was drawn and his lips thinned into a line, "Not to mention the damage inflicted on a Whomping willow that has been on these grounds since before you were born!" The red head gulped, "with all due respect Professor, but I think it did more damage to us." Veronica held her face in her hands, thankful she no longer worked at the ministry, if she did she would most likely be the one filing crates of paper work to cover this all up, memories to be wiped, cover stories, and interrogations.
Who in Merlin's name builds a flying car?! She found herself thinking.
"Silence" Severus snapped and stood swiftly, "believe me when I say that if you were in Slytherin and you're fate left to me both of you would be on the first train home Tonight!" Severus paused, probably trying to reign back his fury, "As it is…"
"They are not." A croaking voice cut in and all turned to see Filtch leading in Headmaster Dumbledore and an older woman with greying black hair and emerald robes with a pair of small rectangle glasses perched on her nose. "Headmaster Dumbledore" Severus straightened up and pointed at the two student's "these two have flouted the Degree for Restriction against Underage Magic, as such…"
"I am well aware of our bylaws Severus, considering I had written a few of them myself" the Old Wizard approached the group, "But as Head of Gryffindor house it is for Professor McGonagall to determine the appropriate action" Veronica stared at the Older woman. She didn't know it but her knuckles had turned white clutching the day planner.
The two boys looked at the ground and the red head spoke first, "we're go get our things then." He said mournfully and the woman looked at them curiously, "what are you talking about Mr. Weasley?" the red head looked up, "you're going to expel us aren't you?" McGonagall bit her lip and shook her head reluctantly, "not today Mr. Weasley" both boys' faces perked up immediately
"But I feel the need to impress upon you the seriousness of what you have done, I will be writing both of your families and you will both receive detention"
That seemed to be the end of it, all left except for Veronica and Severus, the latter looked fit to punch a hole through a brick wall. Veronica glanced at him then did a double take. "Um, Ar…" she paused, "Are you alright sir?" she asked in almost a whisper. Severus didn't seem to hear her, only glared daggers at the doorway in a sinister silence. "S-sir?" she asked again but got no answer, only getting a cold knot of lead in the pit of her stomach
Veronica bit her lip and swallowed hard before reaching out lightly touching his arm. Instantly he turned sharply, a white hot flash of rage in his eyes, causing her to yank her hand away quickly, heart pounding in her throat, which suddenly felt like sand paper. "Uh, I think I should go now sir, very sorry to have taken up your time" she said quickly, making a dash for the still open door and running up the corridors as fast as her heeled feet would take her. Her mind only came down off its adrenaline high when she sped up a set of stairs and her ankle turned sharply under her, causing her to stumble onto her knees and hands. She stopped, taking deep breathes and she turned, sitting on the steps. After her breath steadied she looked around and squinted. Wait, this didn't look familiar, the Defense Classroom was on the ground floor why was she on a stair case? She stood, flitching as her ankle stung under her. No matter she thought I'll just get back down to the ground floor and find my way from there.
With a nodded she gathered herself and began to make back down the stairs but before she could get to the bottom She gasped as the Stair case started to swing another way. Wait! Wait! No! Stop! Stop moving! She thought as the stairs continued to move against her wishes until they had swung a full 180 degrees. "UGH!" She groaned angrily and scrambled off the stairs and onto the more stable platform. She looked around, now even more lost than before.
Using every fiber of her being not to curse out loud, Veronica lean against the wall and took a long deep breath, tucking her chin into her chest and tapping the flat side of the note book onto her forehead. "Okay, alright, okay, deep breathes, deep breathes" she muttered, counting as she held the breathes in and then slowly let them out. She looked around, now calmer and realized that the stairs along the walls didn't move, only the ones in the middle, because the ones along the walls where attached.
"Perfect" she sighed and looked down. Looking around she bent down and unclasped the straps around her ankles and slipped the heels off. "I swear I do NOT get paid enough for this!" She muttered under her breath and quickly moved down the stairs, occasionally slipping along the marble in her stocking feet but for the most part moving quickly until she reached the ground floor and then making it to the DADA class room in no time.
"Ah, there you are! I was beginning to worry when I didn't see you at dinner." Lockhart greeted her from his desk when he spotted her walking in. Dinner, Veronica forgot she hadn't eaten since breakfast. "Sorry, Sir. I got preoccupied, I hope all went well at the Feast?" she asked and Lockhart grinned, "Ah yes, most wonderful, pity you couldn't be there, I'm sure you would have enjoyed it" He paused, "Come to think of it, Severus wasn't there either, did you happen to see him while you were out?"
Veronica paused, "No, not that I can recall." She lied and turned with a smile. "If you don't mind sir, I am terribly tired, I think I will turn in early tonight." Lockhart nodded offhandedly, "Yes yes, of course.I trust you had a nice enough evening?" it was really more of a statement then a question but Veronica nodded, "Splendid sir, good night"
Veronica left quickly, making her way down the narrow staircase, shoes and day book in hand. With a flick of her wand she lit the candles around the room and the fire. She wanted nothing more than to relax, she didn't care how she just needed to unwind for a little while. She sighed and changed out of her work clothes, step one complete. Suddenly she remembered something her Sister had given her last Christmas with a smile as she pulled her trunk out from under the bed and snapped the latched un locked.
She dug to the bottom and pulled out a long, narrow wooden box and a long card board tube. She set the box on the bed side table and pulled the cap off the long tube, which contained fifty sticks of incense. She shook out a stick and ran it under her nose, Honey Suckle, her favorite. It reminded her of her family's summer cabin out in the woods. She hadn't been there in years but she remembered it was a Birch Forest, with a little creek running down a hill to a large pond where her brothers and her uncles and her father would all go fishing for that night's dinner. Veronica smiled, recalling that by the end of every summer she was so sick of fish that she would never eat another bite.
She struck a match and lit the tip before quickly blowing it out, leaving a thick wisp of fragrant smoke to float off the smoldering tip. "Alright, step two, done" she nodded, "see, this isn't so bad. My employer is a ditz, my paycheck is meager and my coworkers might be insane, but this isn't so bad." She nodded. Thinking over what she just said she closed her eyes and cupped her hands over her mouth. "Oooh GOD" she shrieked quietly, "Okay, okay. You're fine, you know why? Because you can do this, you have been playing baby sitter for that idiot upstairs for years now, you can handle this no problem." She sat on the edge of the bed and took a deep breath.
"And I am Talking to my self" she sighed and popped her lips before hanging her head, "Perfect"
There you have it, Chapter 3. Thanks To Ash-Caro-Lynn for the review, follow and fav! It means a lot! Yea so Veronica is having some trouble adjusting to the school, but it's nothing she can't handle, never fear!