A/N: I am so sorry for the wait that you have had to endure for this chapter. I sincerely apologise to you all. My laptop is in for repairs and had the next five chapters on it, so I have to rewrite them all! But, I guess there is a positive to come out of this. I can make this chapter bigger and better than it was before.
Ever since last weekend I have been sleeping restlessly because I felt as if I needed to get this chapter to you. So, last night, I went to bed at 8:30 and four hours later, this chapter was finished.
Did everyone see Pottermore & The final trailer for Deathly Hallows Part 2! How amazing!
I need to make one thing clear, Isabel's office has two doors from the corridor. One is her private quarters (where she sleeps, get's dressed etc.) and her actual office. Just letting you know.
Thanks to:
LadyFateContemplatingDiaster, ThoughtVortex, FuryPosessed, TheOneAndOnlyBellaRiddle, Writersofthegods & Alya_Kihaku for your reviews of chapter 28.
Thanks to:
LadyFateContempatingDiaster, zannet88, death_wish_girl, Night-Storms, hermywonwon23 & TheOneAndOnlyBellaRiddle for your reviews/ideas/sympathy for my authors note.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter :(
I woke up the next morning to a very, very sore head. I sat up and held my head in my hands. God, this is what a hangover feels like. Tonks, I bloody hate you right now. I got out of bed and tried to stand up straight, but I ended up losing my balance. After five minutes, I was standing up properly and getting dressed. I heard a knock at the door.
"Shit" I whispered to myself. There was another knock, but it was louder this time.
"Just a moment!" I called out. I quickly finished getting dressed and grabbed my wand. I quickly flicked my wand to fix my hair and makeup. I hope that my hangover didn't look to obvious to the person behind the door. I pointed my wand towards the door so it would open. As the door opened slowly, in walked a small house elf.
"Good morning, Miss Isabel!"
"Morning, Dobby."
"Dobby thought that Miss would need some company this morning."
"That's very nice of you, Dobby, thank you." I stood up and led Dobby out of my private quarters and into my office. I sat down in my chair behind my desk as Dobby sat on my desk.
"What is wrong, Miss Isabel?"
"What do you mean, Dobby?" I asked.
"Dobby knows when something is wrong."
"Right. Er - do you know that drink that makes people feel...a little different?"
"Dobby knows the one, Miss Isabel! Is it the drink that makes Dobby feel funny after a few of them and the next morning gives Dobby a headache?"
"Yes, that's the one. Well, I have the headache that you get the next morning."
"Miss Isabel, that drink is not good for you!"
"I realise that now" I said, putting my head in my hands.
"I guess Miss Isabel has a reason to drink it though. I'd be sad if my friend was leaving Hogwarts, too." My head snapped up, and my eyes grew wider. What?
"What did you say, Dobby?"
"Did Miss Isabel not hear?"
"Hear what?"
"Master Lupin has resigned from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." Oh my god. No. No, no, no, no, no. I stood up and tucked my wand into my pocket.
"Dobby, I have to go see Remus."
"Of course. Good luck, Miss Isabel."
"Thank you, Dobby!" I called out, already halfway out the door.
I ran up the stairs out of the dungeon and through the corridors of Hogwarts as fast as I could. Why would Remus resign? He was the best Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher I had ever seen step foot in this school! Before I knew it, I was standing outside Remus' office. It was like I had apparated there instead of running, but I guess that's how desperate I was. I walked in to hear music playing and hear the sounds of trunks being packed.
"Hello, Isabel" Remus said, turning to face me.
"How did you know I was coming?" I asked. Remus pointed his wand towards the Marauders Map.
"You are a very fast runner" Remus said, smiling. I looked around at all the boxes that were packed. The office looked bare. It made me feel so sad. So upset. Remus sighed and walked over to me.
"I didn't mean for you to find out like this. I was going to tell you."
"When? What were you going to do? Leave me a note the day you were leaving? Send McGonagall to tell me?"
"I understand why you are upset."
"Upset? Upset? Look at me, Remus, I am a mess! The only good thing about this year has been you. I've had all this Lucius shit and it's breaking me down, bit by bit. I need you here so you can help put me back together again."
"I'm afraid it's not my decision, Isabel. Parents don't want a werewolf teaching their children."
"They can all go and jump off a cliff for all I care! Dumbledore wants you here...and I need you!" Remus laughed and wrapped his arms around me.
"You don't need me. You only think you need me. The truth is, I need you a lot more then you need me. But we'll be strong together and move on. And you can visit me anytime you like. Well, except for full moons." Remus let go of his hug and smiled warmly.
"I heard that you were one of the people assigned to see Sirius?"
"Yes, I was" I said.
"Don't let his sense of humor get to you. He's a little cruel like that. And if he asks you about us, threaten him. He seems to have this idea in his head ever since he saw me hug you in the Shrieking Shack that we are together. Just pull out your wand and he'll back off." I smiled and nodded.
"Who's going to replace you?" I asked.
"Not too sure, yet. Someone will. Who knows, it might be you."
"It won't be me. I'm not good enough yet."
"Don't be stupid, Isabel. You are a wonderful teacher. It makes me smile to see you teach. You are one of the best teachers at this school and you are only an assistant. It comes naturally to you."
"Stop flattering me" I said, waving my hand.
"I'm telling the truth!" Remus and I laughed and then went silent, as if we were taking in each other's presence for the last time. I knew it wasn't the last time. He knew it, too. I was going to visit him constantly. I hope that doesn't annoy him.
"Do you know anything to cure hangovers?" I asked. Remus looked at me and tried not to laugh.
"Don't tell me you, you of all people, have a hangover."
"Unfortunately for me, yes I do."
"Drink lots of water. Thats all I've got" Remus replied.
"Damn. I better get going. Leave you to your packing."
"Alright" Remus said. He put his arms around me one more time, and I hugged him back tightly.
"I'm going to miss seeing your lovely face everyday" Remus said softly.
"Me too" I replied. I felt Remus' face turn towards the doorway, and he quickly let go of me.
"Harry! Hello, how are you?"
"Good morning...Professors." I turned to Remus and smiled.
"I'll see you around."
"Yes, of course. Goodbye, Isabel."
"Bye, Remus. Bye, Harry" I said, leaving the room. That was a little embarrassing. Now that Harry saw that, he was going to go and tell Hermione, and even worse, Ron. Ron was going to blab it to his mother and I'd be roped into telling Molly everything.
As I started walking down the stairs, I could hear Harry talking to Remus.
"What was that about?" Harry asked.
"What was what about, Harry?"
"You hugging Isabel."
"Shouldn't you be calling her Professor Snape?"
"She tells me to call her Isabel. We're friends. Answer my question."
"Isabel and I are friends too."
"Do you really expect me to believe that you being friends is all there is. I see the way you two act around each other. I saw the way she was terrified and also hurt when you turned into a werewolf. And I just saw that."
"Harry, we're just friends."
"How do you feel about her?"
"Harry, I am not going to answer to a fourteen year old boy!"
"Do you love her?" I gasped and then covered my mouth, hoping that they both didn't hear. I left as quickly as I possibly could without making any noise. I really did not want to hear the end to that question.
As I was walking through the corridors, I spotted my father at the other end. Crap, he'd know that I was drinking last night. Even if he didn't see it, he'd know. I turned around to try and get away as fast as possible without him catching me.
"Isabel!" He called. I stopped and turned around to see him standing there, looking down at me suspiciously.
"What is your hurry?"
"I - er - have to go see Minerva."
"You are a terrible liar, Isabel." Father looked around and then looked back at me. The suspicious look came back on his face and he grabbed my arm.
"Were you drinking this morning?" He spat.
"No, of course not, don't be ridiculous!"
"Last night? Actually, I did hear some very loud noises coming from your quarters last night."
"You were hearing things then."
"Don't lie to me, Isabel Victorie Snape. Don't you dare lie to me."
"Gee, when people lie to you, you can't handle it but you can lie to other people easily. Like me. Remember?"
"Oh, Isabel, don't act like a child."
"No! I am an adult and it does not concern you if I was drinking or not. Now if you'll excuse me, I have things to do!" I stormed off and shook my head. He made me so angry!
It was finally the end of the school year. It was the closing feast and the house cup had been awarded. The kids had noticed the absence of the person who usually sat next to me. His place was taken by Minerva, who had decided she wanted to keep me company. She was very thoughtful like that. Dumbledore had made his speeches and the feast had just finished. The students were starting to leave the hall, but there were a few I needed to say goodbye to. I left the teachers table to walk to the group of Harry, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Percy, Wood, Fred and George who were all waiting for me.
"Hey guys" I said, greeting them all, "glad the school year is over?"
"Blimey, Isabel, I'm a bit more then glad!" Ron exclaimed. I laughed and shook my head. So typical of Ron to say that.
"Ronald, don't be stupid. You love it here" Hermione said, rolling her eyes.
"You going to come and visit in the summer, Isabel?" George asked.
"Yeah, Mum'd kill you if you didn't come and visit within the first week. She'd probably hunt you down, tie you up and physically bring you over" Fred told me. I laughed and nodded.
"I will definitely come to see you all. Tell your mother not to worry."
"I'll tell her. These two will make up some stupid story" Ginny said.
"Thanks Ginny." I looked over at Wood and smiled.
"Congratulations, Mr. Wood" I said. He beamed and gave me a huge hug that I wasn't expecting. He spun me around once then let me go.
"I am so, so happy. All my education here and all I wanted was that bloody cup, and finally I won it! Determination is all it takes though, Isabel."
"I'm happy for you, Oliver. All this year I wasn't going for Slytherin. Actually, all my years I've gone for Gryffindor instead of Slytherin." I turned to Percy, who was looking a little sad.
"What's the matter, Perce?" I asked, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"What's it going to be like? Life after this. What if I don't make it, Isabel? What if I fail at everything?"
"Percy Weasley, don't think for one second that you'll fail. Everything will be fine. You are good at everything you do and if people can't see that it's their loss."
"Thank you, Isabel."
"Anytime, Perce. Good luck."
"Anyway, we better get going. Come on" Ron said. They all started leaving, except Harry. I knew what this conversation was going to be about.
"I'll come in a second" Harry told Ron and Hermione. The two of them nodded and left with Wood, Percy, Ginny, Fred and George.
"So, you heard about Professor Lupin leaving?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, I did. Heard it from Dobby actually."
"Dobby, what's he - "
"Don't ask, Harry." Harry nodded and then sighed. He seemed to be afraid to bring up the topic.
"What's going on between you and Professor Lupin?" Harry asked.
"Nothing."
"But you two were hugging."
"We're friends and I don't want to see him go."
"Do you love him."
"No, Harry, I don't. This is really uncomfortable for me to talk about."
"Sorry, I'm just curious."
"I know you are, but some things like this just need to be left for me and Lupin to work out." Harry nodded and smiled.
"See you next year, Isabel." I have Harry a small hug.
"See you next year, Harry." I let go and Harry walked out of the Great Hall. Before I left the Great Hall myself, I could here someone muttering behind me. I turned to see Draco arguing with himself about whether he should talk to me or not. When his eyes met mine, he was mortified. He quickly teared his eye contact away from mine and left the Great Hall. I sighed at my lost friend. I missed him.
I was back at Spinner's End for another summer. The rain, unfortunately, was pelting down outside and there was nothing I could do except unpack, practice spells and read. It was so dull around here. I contemplated going to the Weasley's house, but I was going to avoid there for a while, just incase Harry went and told Ron about Remus and I. It then dawned on me that I was given a task by Dumbledore, and I haven't done a thing for it yet. I quickly stood up and made my way down the stairs.
"Where are you going?" Father called out from his study.
"Out" I replied, opening the door and shutting it quickly before he could stop me.
I had arrived on the doorstep of Little Phoenix Cottage. It wasn't a five star hotel, but it was a thousand times better than Azkaban. I wondered how this was going to work, seeing as only authorised people were allowed in the cottage. I looked at the door for some kind of sign and realised there was a small hole. I took out my wand and stuck it in the small hole. The door made some type of weird noise and opened slowly. How did Dumbledore come up with this stuff?
I walked in the cottage to hear silence. I thought that I'd hear loud music and someone dancing on a table. That's how I imagined Sirius to be by the descriptions I'd been given of him in his earlier years. I made my way into a small room with a fireplace, shelves filled with books, three armchairs and a brown wooden table. In one of the armchairs, sat a much more lively looking Sirius Black. His hair and eyes had colour, his teeth weren't yellow and disgusting, his skin wasn't waxy, and he was wearing nice looking clothes. He actually didn't look too bad...
"Enjoying the view?" Sirius said, snapping me back to reality. I coughed and brushed two strands of hair out of my face.
"I was actually admiring your courage to come back from looking like a dead person. How long did it take you?"
"Didn't take me long, but of course I can't say the same for others. And don't try and deny the fact that you were checking me out. I know an interested girl when I see one" Black said, a smirk on his face. I rolled my eyes and laughed.
"You're truly hilarious. What makes you think that someone like me would be interested in someone like you?" I asked, amused. I can't believe Black thought that I was checking him out. How dare he think my standards are that low.
"I don't have to think that someone like you would be interested in me, I know that you are. That's why you didn't take me to the dementors or just kill me that night in the Shrieking Shack."
"No, Black, as much as you like to think that, I was doing it for Harry's sake."
"You know Harry?"
"I'm friends with Harry. He's an amazing boy. His talents aren't only amazing, his courage and bravery is too." Sirius stopped looking at me in the way he had before, and an expression of curiosity filled his face.
"Who are you, may I ask? I know you were there with Snape that night at the Shrieking Shack."
"Professor..."
"Whoa, wait. You, a professor? You're a bit young aren't you? What's your name?" God, so many questions. He might wanna shut up before I shut him up for him.
"Isabel. And I am Assistant Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts."
"Well that doesn't really explain what you were doing with Snape that night." Sirius crossed his arms and sat back, waiting for an answer. He was not going to like what I was going to tell him. I checked that my wand was in my pocket, just in case. I had no idea what Black was really like.
"Come on, tell me" Sirius whined. I cleared my throat and sat down in the chair opposite Sirius.
"My last name is Snape" I said plainly. Sirius' eyes darted around the floor, like he didn't understand what I had just said. Black's eyes then went wide, and his mouth suddenly hang agape.
"You're a Snape! Please don't tell me he had a kid..." Sirius banged his fist on his head and shook his head, like he had gone into shock.
"Here I am" I replied, grinning. I was enjoying his reaction.
"Who in the hell would want to have a kid with...with...that! He's a greasy haired, ugly idiot and he doesn't deserve anything, apart from pain." I was highly offended by what Sirius had said, and I took out my wand. I flicked it, so that Sirius would feel like a slap across the face.
"Ouch! What the hell!" Sirius yelled, bringing his hand to his cheek.
"Don't insult my father, got it? Otherwise you'll get a lot worse then that."
"God, why did bloody Dumbledore send you. A Snape! Merlin's beard...that man must be getting old if he thinks sending a Snape to help me would be a good idea."
"What makes you think that I am anything like my father?" I asked. Sirius looked at me up and down and nodded at a few things, as if he didn't know he was doing it. I rolled my eyes and sat back in my chair.
"You have jet black hair, like his, damn, yours isn't greasy. I could of teased you about that! Your eyes are dark, like his. Your skin is pale, like his..."
"Personality wise, Black."
"You're a know it all."
"Right, and you've learned that from being with me for ten minutes. You must become the new Divination teacher at Hogwarts."
"You're real funny, Snape."
"So you're going to call me by my last name now. How considerate of you."
"What can I say? I'm a considerate guy."
I scoffed, "oh, yeah. Amazingly considerate. You're so considerate that you are upset about me not having greasy hair." Black smirked at nodded.
"I know."
"Right, well you know then not to get on the bad side of me..." I said, raising an eyebrow.
"And why wouldn't I want to do that, Professor Snape?" Sirius grinned and I smiled back, as if what I was about to say wasn't that important at all.
"Because I am a lovely young girl, teaching young witches and wizards how to control their magic and act as good, young citizens in the wizarding world and you are running from the Ministry of Magic as you have broken out of Azkaban after being convicted of murder."
"I've never murdered anyone!" Sirius shouted.
"Yes, but you were still convicted" I replied calmly, still smiling. Sirius frowned and hit his fist on the arm of his chair.
"Damn..."
"How's it feel not to have the upper hand, Black?"
"Don't rub it in, Snape." I clasped my hands and leaned on them. Sirius was sitting back in his chair pouting like a six year old child. We sat in silence for a while. If Black wanted to talk, he'd talk. But I wasn't going to make an effort with him if he was going to find some way to tease me.
After a while, Sirius had stopped pouting. He sat forward and looked at me, as if he were studying me.
"You were definitely there that night at the Shrieking Shack?" He asked for the one hundredth time.
"Yes, I was, as I've told you one hundred times" I replied, nodding.
"And you saw Moony...Remus...transform for the first time, I presume?" I flinched, remembering the moment the full moon came out from behind the clouds. Remus, the warm, caring man that I knew changed into a terrifying werewolf right in front of my eyes.
"I did" I replied.
"What was it like?" I was surprised by his question. He was actually being genuine. No doubt he was going to make a joke out of this.
"It was scary."
"Are you two close?" Black enquired.
"Remus and I?" Sirius nodded and I nodded in return.
"I'd say we are."
"Are you his girlfriend?" He asked, a smirk appearing on his face. For goodness sakes! I am so over this question!
"No! I am not his girlfriend."
"You said you were close."
"We're close friends."
"Do you want to be his girlfriend?"
"Black, if you don't shut it, I swear I will hex you into next week."
"I reckon you two would make a good couple," Sirius said, ignoring my threat, "I mean, you and him would be that mysterious type of couple. You seem to like wearing black, if that fringe of yours grows a few centimeters longer you won't be able to see your eyes and he's got scars all over his face. Mysterious couple makes for interesting romance!"
"Listen to me, Black, Remus and I are not, I repeat, not dating! And we never will date! As much as he may want it..."
"So Moony likes you?"
"I would think he's already talked to you about this."
"Yeah, he has. He said he loved you - " At that moment, it was like I went into shock. My expression was one of pure surprise. He loved me. Remus loved me.
"Wait," Sirius said, "I thought...I thought you knew."
I shook my head to try and get me out of the state I was in, "he only said that he thought he loved me. He didn't confirm it."
"Well, then, this is a little awkward" Sirius said loudly, clapping his hands.
"I've got to go."
"Aw, so soon? I was having fun!"
"Goodbye, Sirius. Don't do anything stupid" I said, standing up and walking out of the room.
"I'll miss you, Snape! Come back soon!" Sirius screamed. I rolled my eyes as I flicked my wand to open the door to the cottage. I slammed the door behind me and quickly rested on it. I was flustered. I just wanted all of this Remus stuff to go away and leave me alone. I was over it.
A/N: I hope that was worth the wait. I'll try and get the next chapter written and posted as fast as I can!
Next Chapter - A visit to the Malfoy Manor, except this time, Draco & Narcissa will be joining Isabel and Lucius. It'll be a little awkward for Draco!
