Disclaimer: I own nothing of Potterland, however I own all characters you do not recognise.
Chapter 8
Another Disaster of a Flying lesson
The next morning Sage awoke early and found, to her utmost pleasure that Alice was awake and that Lily had gone to rouse the boys from their beds. When they met in the common room Sage sat her fellow Gryffindor's down and explained to them the details of her plan.
'I want the Slytherin's to think we are cowering to their demands so the only rules we will dare break is the associating with muggle-borns, as that is completely outrageous and the rule about calling them all sir or miss. Parkinson, Weasley and Crabbe will all be referred to as Sir. If they ask you a favour, act like a soldier and chant together, Sir Yes sir…'
'Like we are in the army?' asked James while his eyes lit up.
'The what?' frowned Alice in confusion.
'Oh…muggle thing,' mumbled James.
'Nonsense,' said Severus bracingly, 'Alice an army are the people who fight in wars. Do you remember your muggle History lessons?' Alice nodded numbly and Severus continued, 'Well in the first and second world wars the armies from counties all over Europe all fought against each other. They fought with guns and machinery, knives and when down to their last resorts- with their bare hands. The wars were a primitive form of fighting; nothing like duels but that is the concept of it.'
'So,' said Sirius adding to Severus' explanation, 'In an army they all speak in unison, like a chant and we think that by speaking like a muggle army it will be taking the Mickey out of the Slytherin's. It will be a joke which only muggle-borns will understand.'
'I understand now, thanks,' smiled Alice gratefully nodding as the group's attention reverted back to Sage.
Sage grinned and continued, 'all homework they want completed to an A level at the highest so if we all do our homework normally and then duplicate it, adding mistakes to the duplicate which we shall hand in to be marked we can 'get an A,' while handing in the real piece after class and get whatever our normal grades would be. But as we can't show off homework wise, I want our hands up at every question, we want to show the Slytherin's we know exactly what we are doing and we can embarrass them in lessons if not by our homework marks.'
'That's all well and good,' grunted Sirius, 'but what about only supporting Slytherin in Quidditch matches?'
'We will only attend matches without Slytherin in, I think that's the easiest way out of that problem,' Lily replied with a sigh, to which James countered,
'But what do we do when we play Slytherin?'
'Then James, then we all wear Slytherin robes and chant, 'You're so bad you need Gryffindor's support. Come on Slytherin if you're lucky you might score!'
'Very sly Sage,' smirked Sirius, 'You should have been put in Slytherin yourself.'
Sage didn't reply, she hadn't told her friends that the sorting hat had seriously considered putting her in Slytherin and didn't plan to either.
'Well, we can talk about the rest of the demands later after dinner but for now lets put phase one of our plan into action,' said Lily breaking the silence after Sirius' last remark. Nodding and murmuring in agreement the six Gryffindor's left the tower, (after Sage had scribbled a quick note to Scarlet explaining to her their plan and sent it off for the morning Owls) heading down to breakfast.
The Gryffindor's chatted contentedly as normal with their classmates and Sage scanned the hall to make sure Scarlet had got her Owl and with a smile and a nod towards her sister, who was looking curiously at the Owl which had landed in her bowl of cornflakes and started hooting so loudly that many heads turned to see what all the racket was.
Double charms with the Ravenclaw's was first and as they were only revising Levitation Charms it gave Sage much time to fill Scarlet in on the plans in full detail, to which Scarlet bit her lip but agreed nonetheless. She wanted a part of this rebellion; nobody threatened her family and got away with it.
The first main test came during Potions, period 3. Sirius acted the perfect Gentlemen and bowed as Paris entered the classroom holding the door for her saying, 'After you Milady.' Sage was sickly sweet to Lance Nott who shoved her out the way while fetching ingredients exclaiming, 'Oh dearie me! My Lord are you okay? I hope you weren't injured as we all know what a shame that would be on your Potions makings skills.'
'Fine Malfoy,' was all she received in return and so she satisfyingly completed her Potion for the rest of the lesson occasionally hearing the odd, 'Need any help Miss? I can see your mutilating your Shrivelfig?' from James and the frequent, 'I must say Sir your Potion looks absolutely spiffing,' from a gleeful Severus.
Sage could see her dad was mildly amused by the Gryffindor's actions as every time a comment was made by a Gryffindor he would snigger and cough violently while giving Sage a quick wink.
Transfigurations and History of Magic swept by quickly, with each subject more homework being given. 'Practice repeating the incantation for transfiguring Matchboxes' and, 'Write a three scroll essay on why Goblin Rebellions in the 14th century were widely accepted by the wizarding community at the time.'
Lunch as always was greeted with a sigh of relief and after feeling sufficiently fed Sage, Lily, Alice, Scarlet and Severus went to the Library to get a head start on the homework.
After finishing her notes neatly, ready for the essay Sage dropped her bags off at Gryffindor tower and bade Scarlet goodbye as the Gryffindor first years headed out for another Flying lesson.
The November wind whipped their robes and Sage looked around warily cursing herself for having such long hair which was now tangled and knotty, and seemingly reluctant to be tied up in the ponytail of which Sage so desired.
Mounting her Nimbus, (as was the standard school broom now) and flew steadily up to the goalposts where Severus was, as had become customary, waiting for her so they could fly together. They would race and teach each other different moves and when they were tired they would just slowly lap the pitch, chatting happily as they regained their breath.
Today was no different, except Sage had a strange feeling of being watched, she constantly looked over her shoulder and flew into Severus several times who brushed her accidents off telling her, 'Everyone needs to have an off day every now and again.'
It wasn't until the lesson had nearly finished when Sage realised that half the Slytherin students were on the ground, huddled closely around something. Seeing a glint of silver beneath the cloaks of the Slytherin's, (and being sure it wasn't anything of the Slytherin house –their colours being Silver and Green) she moved closer to Severus, who seemed to have noticed her uneasiness and together they landed, dismounting carefully and stowing their brooms away before Sage whipped out her wand and muttered, 'Expelliarmious.'
The Slytherin group were left lying on the floor and Sage rushed forward to take the dagger which lay discarded of the floor. The Slytherin's, as it seemed had been sharpening the blade and had two vials on the floor nearby, on was empty and one was full of a dark red liquid Sage recognised as blood.
'You, you were going to do it…forcefully?' she asked eerily calmly, 'You took my sisters blood, didn't you? You were going to Jinx my broom and take some of mine? Didn't think you could trust us to give you our blood? Well, I'll take my sisters blood back thank you very much and no, I won't be giving you any of mine.'
Sage picked up the dagger and wrapped it in some cloth she had torn from her robes. Collecting the two vials she handed them to Severus and, looking back to see James, Lily, Alice and Sirius descending towards the ground, she bowed her head and motioned to Severus to follow her.
They went up to the castle in silence, not once did she speak and Severus did not think it wise to try and talk. Severus, fully intent on accompanying Sage to either the Gryffindor tower, or even the headmistress's office was surprised to see that once they had walked into the entrance hall to see Sage, not walk up the large staircase towards the Gryffindor tower, but to turn left swiftly and head through the small doors which lead to the dungeons.
After passing the entrance to the Slytherin common room, where the portrait of Salazar Slytherin torturing a helpless muggle had gestured rudely at Sage, Severus realised that she was heading to her fathers quarters.
Knocking sharply on the door, a muffled grunt came from within and the door creaked open. Sage stepped in and once seeing Severus' hesitation took his hand and led him into the chambers of his potions master.
'Sage darling, why are you out of lessons? I know you have flying, and it's definitely not finished yet…' Draco began before cutting off at the sight of Severus with his hand in Sage's. 'Mr Weasley,' he greeted.
'Sir,' Severus replied glumly.
'What brings the both of you here?' Draco asked before adding meaningfully, 'Together?'
Instantly getting the meaning Severus made to break free from Sage's grasp but found her grip on his hand tighter than before and so admitting defeat he stared at the floor.
'Dad,' Sage choked, for now Severus realised she was close to tears, 'Dad in our Flying lesson, the Slytherin's they…they…'
She couldn't continue, Draco strode forward and took her in his arms before addressing Severus. 'Mr Weasley, could you please tell me what happened?'
'Well, Sage has had a bit of an off lesson, sir. She has flown into me four times and kept looking over her shoulder. I'm not so sure what she saw but she started towards the ground and I followed. We stored our brooms and then Sage disarmed a group of Slytherin's. They were huddling around something in the middle of the pitch, looking at the Gryffindor's. As I said Sage disarmed them all and then…'
'All of them?' Draco yelped in surprise, 'How many of them?'
'Six, and when they were on the floor Sage walked to where they were standing and picked up a dagger from the floor.'
'A dagger you say, where is said dagger now?'
'Sage has it, in her bag and I have the vials.'
'Vials? What Vials do you mean?'
Severus bit his lip before replying, Professor Malfoy wasn't going to like this. 'Sage found two vials on the floor with eh dagger, an empty on and one full of…'
'Blood,' Sage whispered, breaking off Severus, 'I think it was filled with Scarlets blood dad. On the list of demands it said some of Scarlets and I's blood. They were looking at me all lesson, and the dagger…I think they were going to Jinx my broom and take mine dad.'
Draco's eyes widened noticeably at this, and he held Sage tighter as she sobbed into his arms. Severus felt extremely awkward, as if he was intruding on the family moment and so he busied himself with taking the vials from his robes and taking the dagger from Sage's bag and carefully unwrapping it from the cloth. He found the courage to interrupt Draco and Sage and he was startled to find his reply was Sage standing abruptly and flinging her still sobbing self into his arms while Draco inspected the vials and blade.
'Sick, they are all sick…this blade…I never thought I'd see this old thing again…bloody hell.' A large cry came from sage as she buried her head further into Severus' shoulder as he patted her awkwardly on the back and Draco stood quickly.
'Mr Weasley could I ask you to find Scarlet and the headmistress and bring them both down here for me? I will notify Professor Malfoy and we will all meet down here to discuss matters, please do not talk to anyone on your way. I feel it best if nobody knows about this incident yet.'
'Of course sir,' Severus nodded, giving Sage an extra squeeze and letting her go, before fleeing the dungeons in search of Scarlet and Professor McGonagall.
He found Scarlet in the Ravenclaw common room, he asked her Tiffany Boot to fetch her and she had snootily replied, 'She doesn't need your silly tales now Weasley. Scarlet is very upset and…'
She had never finished, 'Sage is very upset aswell, and their father wants to see them right now. You may be aware that something has happened to the both but…'
'That's just it! She won't tell us what's wrong. She's just huddled in the corner all evening with her hand clasped around her wrist.'
'You must get her now, she is injured Boot, NOW!' Severus said loudly.
'Yes…of course,' muttered Boot, running into the common room and coming out Several moments later with Scarlet, who was wrapped tightly in a royal blue blanket and sniffing quietly. Severus put his arm around the forlorn girl at once and assured her that he had to fetch the headmistress before going to see her father. On the way to her office, they met a very hurried looking Professor McGonagall who simply nodded to them and ushered them back towards the dungeons, her hair flying at loose ends all around her.
Once they were all in the Malfoy quarters and all had conjured chairs, (courtesy of Professors Malfoy, (Hermione) and McGonagall, Sage and Scarlet sat unnervingly quiet while the professors talked about the dagger and vials.
'Scarlet honey,' said Hermione softly, 'what happened today? Did they get you sweetie?'
'I was walking towards Charms when all of a Sudden Paris Parkinson pulled me into an alcove and Goyle and Nott held me against the wall and then…and then Weasley…she had this blade and she, she cut me and took my blood in a vial. They knocked me to the floor and strode off; I ran to the common room, I didn't go to charms.'
'Where did they cut you?' came the stern voice of Draco. 'We need to know, we need to heal it.'
'My wrist,' Scarlet cried, pulling her arm from the blanket and showing it to them, a long deep gash was shown, bloodied and still bleeding Hermione cried out in horror and Sage broke into fresh sobs.
Professor McGonagall stood up and flooed the hospital wing, 'Poppy! We are coming up, prepare two beds please.'
Sage and Scarlet flooed first, with Professors Malfoy and Malfoy following, Severus stood quietly before the headmistress smiled knowingly at him and urged him into the fire. She followed immediately.
Pulling himself off the floor he saw Scarlet being rushed into a bed and given some pain-relief potion while Sage was shivering by the window. Severus joined her and pulled her over to a bed, not before she gave him another hug which he returned, his arms wrapped around her tightly while she stifled more sobs. He gently laid her down on he bed and sat on the stool beside her. Madam Pomfrey bustled over and gave Sage a calming draught and a dreamless sleep potion. It was barely 6pm and so Severus bade farewell to Sage and Scarlet and made for the door, only to be stopped by Professors Malfoy and Malfoy.
'We just wanted to say thanks,' mumbled Hermione on the verge of tears. 'If you hadn't looked after Sage, who know what might have happened.'
Severus felt highly embarrassed and tried to excise his actions, 'I was only trying to help…I'd do it for anyone, especially Sage. There's no way I'd have let her get in harms way.'
'Still you did it, and don't think we haven't noticed your actions to our Sage Mr Weasley,' Smiled Draco weakly. 'You looked after her, thank you. I award 50 points to Gryffindor.'
'And another 20points from me' added Hermione, 'as you not only helped Sage, but you fetched Scarlet and helped with the vials and daggers.'
'Now off to dinner young man, I daresay you're hungry?' said Draco wistfully.
'Yes sir, I hope the twins get better.'
Severus however didn't go to dinner; he went straight to the common room where he found an extremely anxious bunch of Gryffindor's waiting for him.
Alice pounced on him as he entered the room and collapsed on the sofa, questions popping from everywhere.
He quietly told them the basics of what had happened and when Sirius had suggested they all go to dinner and get a small bit to eat Severus merely shook his head and left the group to ascend the spiral stairs to the boy's dorms. As he left he heard James whisper into his ear, 'Mate you look terrible, don't worry about the twins they'll be okay. Don't beat yourself up about it and get some sleep. I'll keep the boys away from the dorms for a while to let you think.'
Severus merely nodded before rushing up to his bed, having much to think about and so many feelings whirling through his head he thought he'd be up for hours. He was asleep before his head hit the pillow.
His dreams were less than happy though.
