Snape was thinking of his last night spent with Hetty, and the fact that she was crying and he couldn't sooth her, and she fell asleep again just because of crying, was eating him inside. He couldn't understand that, and he didn't asked her about it, but as much he was thinking about it, it was convincing to ask her unless…
,,Hetty ?'' he slowly started during eating lunch beside her.
,,Yes ?'' she answered very slowly, eating her sweet dumplings, looking at him, because his face was more than serious.
,,Well I…'' he looked over his shoulder, spotting only Trelawney and McGonagall on the other side of table, so he could peacefully talk, thought he should be still quiet. ,,You were crying last night, and I still can't understand why ? Was it some bad dream or something…worse ?'' Snape carefully whispered, looking how she stopped eating and turned to him with frozen face.
She swallowed her morsel, and slowly started ,,I was thinking about it whole day as well, and I think…we both should stay in our bedrooms….for our own good-''
,,-Is it because of me ? Have done to you something bad ?''
Yes ! No ! Hhhughh- suddenly he cares !
,,No, you're so kind, I just…I'm having last past nights the very same nightmare, and until I get rid of it….I should sleep alone…''
,,Alright then…and are you sure of it ? Maybe I could help-''
,,-I am sure of it, and I just need time, that's all…please,'' she looked in his eyes, pleading, and he certainly couldn't deny this sight, and nodded.
,,Thank you for understanding,'' Hetty forced a weak smile, eating the rest of her lunch.
She was sure of her nightmare, but she completely wasn't sure, how long it will haunt her in her sleep. It was driving her mad, and she had no clue how to make it stop.
As she was leaving the big hall, she saw Filch putting on the wall another proclamation.
This one said : 'Those wishing to join the inquisitorial squad for extra credit may sign up in the High inquisitor's office.'
She'll send for us whole school with Ministry…hope Fred with George already found some way how to give her the 'sweets' she deserves.
She walked away from the big hall, walking across corridors and as she was now lessons free already, and their agreed meeting with D.A. was in few minutes, she walked straightly to Room Of Requirement.
She walked around the corner and spotted her. Miss Pink herself. But she wasn't in mood to meet her, and as Dolores was talking with Flitwick, Henrietta swiftly walked back, hearing suddenly those steps.
Not knowing where she should hide for few seconds, since on this corridor weren't any lavatories, not even any cabinet, but she saw one door, she quickly slipped in them, closing doors, and leaning against them for a while, until those steps passed by and subsided.
Hetty breathed in relief, looking out of window in the room, as the glass was freeze and everything behind it was covered in crispy white layer of snow.
She should go outside and clear her head. Yes, one…or two Butterbeers by Three Broomsticks could make her mood better, at least for tonight.
She turned to reach the door, but then she spotted it.
Now she was slightly confused if she was still dreaming-or again dreaming-as she saw in the corner of the room big mirror.
Slowly walking to it, she looked up at the adorned, gold mirror frame.
'Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi' was the writing at the mirror frame.
Hetty smiled, reading backwards ,,I show not your face, but your heart's desire…''
She touched the mirror frame, feeling the cold stone, so it certainly wasn't dream. But was she ready to step in front of it, and face her real desire ? Now it wasn't dream, it was real and it show her, what she wanted the most. Maybe this could solve her still repeating nightmare.
Maybe…
Her fingers slipped down from the cold stone, Hetty closed her eyes and took a deep breath, and stepping from aside, in front of the mirror, her eyes slowly opening.
She saw herself, and in front of her, reflection of her two beautiful kids.
She covered her mouth with her palm, as sudden tears filled her eyes, and small whimper nearly escaped her lips.
Little cheery boy smiled at her, his dark brown hair was messy as usually, his eyes shining with happiness like almost every six years old kid's would shine.
,,Basil ?'' Hetty cried softly, when her little boy hugged her reflection in the mirror around her waist, two tears slid down Hetty's cheeks.
,,Romelda…'' second name slipped from her lips, and it felt even way more painful for Hetty, when she looked in those chocolate orbs of her eight years old girl, with soft brown curly hair half covering her freckly face.
Girl only smiled, hugging her reflection's waist form the other side. Hetty softly weeped to her palm, as she wished she could at least once more hugged them for real. It was the deepest desire of her heart, to see them alive and happy, to hug them and say, how much she loved them.
Maybe her marriage wasn't the best one, or her husband wasn't the one.
But she loved her children more than anything in this world, and it was too hard for her to deal with their death, her wound deep in her heart, still aching even after long seven years.
Maybe that was the reason why she heard their screams in her first nightmare.
She helplessly collapsed on her knees, looking in the mirror, crying…she didn't know, if she's more crying because she could hug them, or because she saw them after such a long time, alive and smiling at her.
But it was all just illusion…just a mirrors reflection.
If she stays, and waist time here just to see her dead kids, she won't live her own life…everything goes on, and her life too, and she should waist in her past, no matter how painful it was. She was grieving for too long now, for seven years already, and nothing could change the past.
As she slowly but surely realized that, her kids smiled at her, and both petted her reflection's arms, before they walked away.
Was that it ? Does she just let go of her past, and eased off to her mind and to her heart's grieving ?
But then she saw in the mirror something far more dreadful, than she expected before.
She swiftly jumped up of the ground, rightening her long dark blue skirt, when she saw Sirius, coming from behind her just as Severus did.
This wasn't what she wanted-was it ?
It shouldn't be !
When they reached her reflection, she turned behind herself, if she might see them, and it was just her bad assumption, but no, she haven't seen anybody, her head turning back to mirror, and she saw each men's palm on each her shoulder, both were smiling, and she couldn't take it.
,,Stop haunting me ! Both now !'' she said firmly in mirror's direction, turning away afterwards, and swiftly leaving the room, wiping away the rest of her tears on her still-wet cheeks.
,,Sorry, for being late,'' Hetty entered the Room Of Requirement with wide smile, as she could see full room of students, everybody on other side of room, Harry just rushing from one to the other, and he was doing great.
But they all greeted her, even when not at once, since they were all busy.
,,Hetty !'' Fred with George shouted at once, taking their Skiving Snackboxes, and rushing to her.
Her grin went wider, when they were smiling down at her holding some sweets.
,,Well, what you have for me already ?'' she smiled, rubbing her palms together in delight.
,,Well these are Puking Pastilles in form of cookies, Umbridge eats them and in one minute she's throwing up whole day, without stopping,'' Gorge start presenting.
,,Great !''
,,Let's see how she will react after this, and then we could try something else, and these are for her pet-Filch, we noticed he start slowly but surely watching over us, trying to find Come and Go room, so, we'll put this like…like a-''
,,-Bait ?''
,,Exactly !'' they said one voice.
,,That's fantastic ! Alright, I can't wait, so after today's lesson ? Shall we ?''
,,Sure !'' Fred with George smiled widely, before Harry called them to him, and they continued in practising.
Hetty scooted to Harry smiling with her whisper ,,I think you're doing absolutely great, professor Potter,'' she giggled, when he winked at her.
,,Thank you, well yes, we've got several lessons behind us, and I think, they're doing great too…'' Harry nodded smiling.
,,Look at him,'' Hetty whispered to Fred and George few days later, when it was their another meeting, and Filch was already sitting on his chair by wall-which was the entrance to Come and Go room.
,,Yeah, he takes one bite, and his face should-'' Fred carefully whispered, when Filch bit into candy, which seemed to be chocolate one.
He swallowed, and on his face start forming big swollen pimples full of pus, and it start aching, he jumped off the chair with slight scream of his, and he quickly ran away.
Hetty chocked, as she was stifling her laugh to her palm, but when Filch disappeared she burst out with laugh together with Weasleys.
,,Where do you think he ran away ?'' George panted for breath due his hard laughing.
,,I don't know, but I don't care,'' Fred was lying on the ground with his laugher. ,,But can you imagine, now Umbridge, eating Puking Pastilles ?''
,,I am not going to imagine it, I'm going to see it, on my very eyes, thank you boys, and see you later,'' Hetty giggled, transfiguring into raven and in another second she was gone.
George helped Fred up on his feet, looking in the corridor, where raven just flew away.
,,I think I like her more and more,'' Gorge wiped away his laugh tears.
,,Yeah-'' Fred nodded ,,-I hope she will tell us at least !''
Raven flying across the corridors, she exactly knew where to go, but then she saw Filch, and she nearly stumbled.
He was rushing to Dolores !
If she sees him before she eats her own sweets, she won't eat them !
Hetty flew through the window, trying to be faster than Filch, and landing in another corridor, she stood there in her normal form, waiting and listening to the rushing Filch.
,,Ah ! Sorry, you frightened me professor, I wasn't expecting you here at this hour,'' janitor uttered.
,,My sincerest sorry, but-what happened to your face ?'' she stifled a small giggle that bubbled up in her throat.
,,I think I know, whose job it is…'' Filch said nearly triumphantly. ,,It's those….ginger tall demons of Weasley family ! And I swear to God, I will make it up to them !''
,,Dear mister Filch, you shouldn't upset yourself ! You know what, you should go to the Hospital Wing to Madame Pomfrey, she surely will know what to do with…this-'' he bit her lip as the grin was tugging at her corners.
,,Oh, good idea professor, thank you,'' Filch turned on his heel, walking in the Hospital Wing direction.
Hetty yet managed to call at him ,,And those boys-leave at me ! I will show them-'' he disappeared, and she grinned whispering for herself ,,-what to do next…''
Quickly transfiguring into raven again, she flew out to the cool breeze, and up to Dolores's tower, and to her office window. She carefully looked inside the window, if she was there, since the light shined through the window, and she spotted her sitting in her chair, looking into Daily Prophet.
Puking Pastillies on her table beside her.
Hetty sat on the windowsill, looking at Dolores, her hand resting beside her cookies.
Is she sparing them for later or what ? Eat them ! Come on !
Her pink manicured nails clacking at the wooden table, every time her fingers were inching the cookie.
At least one ! One is completely enough after what Fred and George said.
Then all of a sudden Dolores put the Daily Prophet down, and turned to her cookies.
,,I shouldn't, should I Cornelius ?'' she looked at her small picture of her pet Fudge. ,,I should, dear since these are from you…but it's evening, I will grow fat for you-that's not healthy,'' Dolores was having some kind of inner fight.
You're fat anyway, so eat it !
,,I should at least one,'' she finally reached for one cookie, and took a bite, standing up, but at that moment, like her stomach made a flip, and put her palm on mouth.
Hetty start mockingly cawing, but she spotted Dolores rushing over the room, finding something, in what she could vomit, but she failed, so she ran to the window, Hetty managed to flew to the roof, and quietly watched how Dolores bravely start throwing up from her window.
Well what a view ! It was funny enough for Hetty to laugh in her mind and to hold her laugh, to not be found by Dolores, or everything would be ruined.
She watched her like this yet few more minutes, before she flew away carefully, and transfigured in the middle of some abandoned corridor, and she burst out with laugh again.
Well she wasn't that much abandoned as she thought, she saw dark shadow on the wall, and then familiar voice behind her.
,,Ten points from Ravenclaw for such loud laughing after nine, Miss Branwenn,'' Snape chuckled, looking at her back, before she turned to him, with still grinning face.
How long she haven't heard her maiden name. It always sent shiver down her spine. Especially when her name slipped down of Snape's lips.
,,But I've got good reason for such laugher, professor Snape,'' she bit her lip, stifling the rest of her giggle.
,,Then tell me, I want to laugh too,'' he smiled, sitting with her on one of the corridor's benches.
He let her to take a breath, she looked around if anybody was there, and she whispered ,,I just made first step, to repay Pink Bitch…''
,,How ?'' Snape's face frozen in an instant.
,,Well, two of the Weasleys helped me to give her one of their masterpieces, and she's probably now, trying to figure out how to stop vomiting out of her window,'' Hetty silently giggled at the memory.
,,What a way !'' Severus chuckled. ,,I'm sure it was sight for Gods, and I'm so happy to see you happy again, finally smiling…but I'm sure, that our separated sleeping still persists, right ?'' he swallowed sadly.
,,Yes,'' she said, now bit unsure, because since she visited the real Mirror Of Erised, she wasn't having her nightmares at all. Still she wanted to have clearer mind, and to think first her decision about her and Severus's relationship , before she might do something foolish and wrong.
,,I understand…I am patient,'' he smiled humbly, nodding, making herself smile. ,,How does your hand feel ?''
,,Better, but I'm running out of gauze-''
,,-No problem, I have some, I will give it to you tomorrow by breakfast ?''
,,I'll be grateful to you,'' Henrietta smiled, looking in his eyes.
,,Alright well, ehm…have a nice evening,'' Severus stood up, and walked away.
Hetty slowly stood up too, and went back to the Come and Go room, to yet see the last bits of lesson.
Every next lesson was more and more sophisticated, not only because Dolores and her inquisitor's squad was watching almost every their step, but also sophisticated in educating. And also every next little trick at Dumbridge was more and more difficult, since she found out Weasleys again. So now it wasn't just about Puking Pastillies, Nosebleed Nougats or Fainting Fancies …now they had to think much more, and more carefully how to give to Umbridge their most refined treat.
,,And are you sure it will work ?'' Hetty swallowed, looking at the box of chocolate bonbons, at least they looked like that.
,,Sure, mainly remember -to eat just -the blue covered one, that's harmless, -the rest is total Fever Fudge-'' Gorge with Fred explained alternately.
,,-And that's exactly what she needs, that's the last thing…fine I…I think I'm ready,'' Hetty nodded, holding the box, and walking to meet Severus just as they agreed, since he promised to help her.
He was standing in the middle of empty corridor, Fred and George patiently watching them from behind a corner.
Hetty stopped right in front of Snape, giving him the box.
,,Are you sure Weasleys aren't trying to poison even you ?'' Severus looked in her eyes ,and she just shook with her head.
,,Alright, she should walk around the corner every minute, just prepare yourself, and remember it must look, like you're giving me gift for real, so smile at me a bit or do something, to let her go jealous, so she would take it…okay ?''
,,Of course, I know –don't be afraid, you mainly should know, that I never spoiled any of our school fun, remember ? On professor's Binns lost of voice ?'' Snape slightly chuckled at the memory of their childish joke.
Hetty giggled, covering her mouth with her palm, nodding ,,Sure…he was like forever-talking-ghost, and I think he still is…everybody is bored of his lessons.''
At that moment their faces stiffened, because they heard tapping of those high heels from behind another corner, then from where they've been watched from Fred and George.
,,Hurricane is coming,'' Hetty whispered, looking in Severus's eyes.
,,Are you ready ?'' he nodded.
,,Sure I am, and you ?''
,,As never,'' he smiled, as the sound of high heels increased and walked around the corner, stopping suddenly.
Snape leaned down whispering something to Hetty's ear, and giving her the box.
She was standing with her back to Dolores, but Umbridge stood still, like somebody splashed her with bucked of cold water.
Then Severus narrowed, and smiled, just as Hetty.
That's exactly it-hope she's catching and it will force her to take it-
,,Mmm-'' she moaned slightly, when Severus leaned down again and kissed her.
Okay that was maybe too much…now they were not just flirting but seriously kissing in front of Umbridge, and both were playing with the fire.
With fire-but it felt damn great, to feel his lips moving against hers again.
In long passionate kiss, when his tongue slowly begged its entrance to her mouth, and softly glazed hers, before he backed away.
Whispering that Dolores could hear it ,,So tomorrow by breakfast…'' he winked, and without even slightest look at Umbridge he left on the other side to Fred and George who were suddenly completely pale.
Hetty knew, that Dolores was behind her, but she heard her taking two steps. Yes, Dolores took two steps backwards, like she was trying to hide behind the corner again.
Henrietta slowly unpacked the box, and took the single blue chocolate bonbon that was among the green ones. She ate it, slightly moaning at the taste of the chocolate. Reaching for another, she suddenly heard sound from behind the corner where Fred and George were, that was their signal.
,,Hey ! What's going on there ?'' she called, letting box on the windowsill and rushing behind the corner.
She hid behind the corner with Fred and George, pretending some professor lecture of good behaving, listening to high heels stopping in the middle of corridor.
,,Hope she ate it,'' Hetty breathed almost inaudibly, that only Weasleys heard her.
Suddenly they heard those steps rushing away. Hetty looked in the empty corridor, walking for the box, and noticing there were several bonbons missing, she grinned for herself.
,,Bingo !'' she announced to Fred and George when she walked back to them, showing.
,,And now, just wait for few minutes, and boom-Fever Fudge is torturing her pink-being !'' Weasleys triumphantly announced.
,,Great boys ! I can't thank you enough !''
,,Don't thank to us…we shall thank you for your invested money in us, and for the fun we had. Thank you solemnly Professor Henrietta Musidora White !'' Fred with George echoed their last sentence at once.
,,Oh and by the way boys, great chocolate, you really should work on some factory-''
,,-Don't be afraid, you put your money to the right hands Hetty,'' George winked.
,,By the way…what was that with professor Snape ?'' Fred asked as they were walking to the Come and Go room.
,,Yes, how was it like to kiss that stiff, cold, stony-''
,,-Come on now, boys, what questions are those ?'' Hetty slightly blushed, lecturing them again, now taking it seriously.
,,We thought you're in love with Padfoot ?'' they said one voiced again, standing in front of the door to Room Of Requirement.
,,Of course I am…this was just to…convince her,'' Hetty tossed her head in that corridor direction, before walking in the room.
Actually, she herself didn't know what to think about it at all.
She was lost, but she loved that feeling.
But what was eating her more, was –if their plan worked, and she didn't have to wait for answer much long.
Second morning, they found Dolores in Hospital Wing, and Madam Pomfrey couldn't name that illness, which attacked Highest Hogwarts Inquisitor, but she promised to cure her….in one week.
Madam Pomfrey promised, to be quiet about their 'visit' since Dolores was completely delirious, had fever of the highest levels, and had pimples and pus filled boils on the most private places. She wouldn't remember on their visit either, so Madam Pomfrey promised, she won't tell her that anybody had seen her in such state.
,,Boys I think, we made a big favor to all students of Hogwarts for one week before holidays,'' Henrietta smiled as they were leaving Hospital Wing.
,,Yeah-we've got in that case already two weeks of holidays, because to not have her teaching for one whole week…is something to celebrate !'' Fred nodded, walking with Hetty in big hall direction, and when they reached the rest of students by breakfast, all members of D.A. who actually knew about Hetty's and Weasleys actions, cheered and were celebrating after getting know, that they're Umbridge-free for whole week before Christmas.
,,That's amazing !'' Neville was shining.
,,Good job,'' Luna uttered with her dazzled smile.
,,Can we invite you for one Butterbeer today by Three Broomsticks Inn ?'' Ron and Hermione asked her, and the rest of D.A. –or at least those who could go- nodded, tensing in anticipation.
Hetty looked over her shoulder, as there was Snape sitting next to her chair, eating breakfast. Then she turned back, and nodded.
,,Gladly !''
A.N.: Dolls ! I'm in such a great mood ! And in great mood for writing- tell me your wishes, and I will try tomorrow to make them come true, I will write anything you want ( now mean about chapters ). Whatever it is-I promise I'll do my best to write it and post it at time ! Rising Sun, Hetty, Company, Second Chance , Penny Dreadful oooor on my second prof. Man Soup ? Tell me ! Use my great mood in favor until you can ! :333 I love ya with big hugs and big kisses your loving ZiZi xoxo