"Professor Snape," He looks down at the squeaky Professor and offers a nod. "I just wanted to congratulate you."
"I didn't realize we could take pride in doing nothing."
"It was a good idea,"
"And not even mine." Flitwick's eyes do not lose their sparkle.
"I thought you would want to know that McGonagall has been spreading rumors about you."
"Have I opened the Chamber again?"
"No, but I think you'll like this one. The word is that Dumbledore suggested me to help him with the club."
"A logical choice."
"Yes, but, you see. Lockhart seemed to think I might be too...fragile."
"Short?"
"LeviOsa, leviosA. The point is he still needs a partner, and you, as of twenty minutes ago, like to dabble in the dance."
"Never call it a dance in my presence again." But he's pressing his lips together to hold back a smile.
"Fine, as long as you mess up his hair."
"I think...I can promise that."
...
"Longbottom?"
"Yes, and he had Snape!"
"I'd make fun of that, buuuut."
"I know, right. If Snape was trying to kill me-"
"Exactly, so what happened?"
"Well, Longbottom freaked, so Lupin got in front of it and stopped the class. Then he whispered something to him and let him have a redo. Snape came out again and you won't guess what happened."
Snape stalks away before the explanation can be given. The grounds are growing chilly with the advance of autumn, soon it will be cold enough that he can smoke without fear of brats.
Not yet, as is evidenced by a group of giggling Hufflepuffs making their way to the lake. One of them sees him and they all grow silent.
"Fuck today,"
Fuck today, fuck tomorrow, fuck the rest of this year with Potters and Lupin and Wolfsbane.
"Professor?"
"What?" A bright blonde head saunters over with his little cronies in tow. He wills his mouth into a smile and forces himself to remember the old days with Lucius. This has become harder after last year. "Malfoy,"
"It's a nice day," The boy tries awkwardly, he recognizes the shadow of his father beneath it.
"Indeed," Snape answers, Draco comes up short still not quite able to grasp the easy charm and mix of superiority with casual grace that makes up the Malfoy spirit. It doesn't help that his arm is still wrapped in a sling.
"Um, I was wondering." His voice falls off, he looks to Crabbe and Goyle for backup before remembering they will be of no help here. "Wondering, if anything, I mean. Whether Potter brewed Polyjuice last year?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Well, I just wanted to make sure I wasn't, um, wrong."
"I see," The wind blows making the boys grab their robes more tightly around them. "I'm afraid there was no evidence to support your claim."
"No evidence?" He nods, "But, I thought, I could've sworn. It made so much sense." This is better, no one else needs to know what the Trio got away with. Dumbledore had already set the ultimatum. To accuse and find Potter guilty would've meant expulsion. If one was not guilty neither were the rest. Even when he made restoration drafts for Granger.
"I investigated it myself." Malfoy looks down kicking a rock off the path.
"Then I don't get it,"
"Are you sure you didn't just take a nap?" Snape addresses Crabbe first, who shrugs, then Goyle.
"Er, I mean." Malfoy shoots him a look and the boy falls silent.
"What if," He stops and measures Snape critically. "I told you someone who witnessed it."
"It would never hurt," He allows, silently praying there isn't a second person he has to shut up.
"His sister. She's the one who told me."
"Ah," Hating himself, he puts a hand on Malfoy's shoulder. "Draco, have you considered that she was lying to you?"
"I did at first, but then why would she?"
"To get you to make a fool of yourself, it's no secret that you and Potter are rivals."
"I guess," He says sulkily.
…
The wind flows through the trees rattling the leaves, her hammock rocks gently back and forth as she points her wand at the sky. "Lumos," Her wand lights, her initial grin fades as it dims. "No, come on," The light brightens a bit before going out.
"Fuck!" With new vigor, she points her wand. "Lumos!" It beams perfectly, and when she moves her wand it stays. "Thank you," She was the last one to light her wand in Charms today, and there's no way that's happening again. Especially since Lydia had asked Flitwick how anyone could take this long in their second year.
He'd admonished her, but Sarah could see the sympathy in his eyes. It's not fun. None of her classes are fun, even Professor Lupin's.
Harry said that Neville Longbottom was excelling in Defence Against the Dark Arts. Neville! Who couldn't even brew a Shrinking Solution without help! She can do that, and she doesn't even remember half the week they spent on it.
"Diffindo," The leaf she's aiming at puffs up into the air, then floats lazily down, intact. "Fucker," Sarah sits up in her hammock and aims at a bush. "Diffindo!" The bush shakes, and since there's no way to succinctly 'sever,' a bush she counts it as a win. She has too few of them not to take advantage of the stupid ones.
No wins in Charms, none in Transfiguration, definitely not in Herbology, and the biggest loss in Quidditch. She still wants to slam her head into the nearest wall when she thinks of her tryout. How could she have been that stupid? Letting Malfoy goad her like that only to not be good enough.
The walk back to her brother and the Weasleys was a swim through ice. They'd known as soon as she opened her mouth. When they'd finished abusing Flint's brain and dick they'd gone through Lucian Bole's. Never letting her explain that she missed her chance to do their maneuver. She'd have to make sure she showed them that passage, maybe they'll use it to knock Malfoy's smirk off his face.
That passage. Sarah frowns, need to make sure it's in the same place first. It was a weird memory, kind of...shiny, but the shelf next to it was where she'd picked up her copy of the Ingredient Encyclopedia. Madame Pince was watching her that time, so she hadn't tried it.
Her grimace doesn't let up as she considers the humongous book in her dormitory. The secret to Snape's Sleeping Draught still eludes her, so now she's looking into how much stirring they're doing in comparison to the other's.
Turns out, not much, but the temperature changes are promising, so the next time she's in Snape's office she'll try and get another look at that book on potion care. It had been her main source when finishing up her detention. She freezes,
"I really hope I didn't just wish to be in Snape's office." The sound is faint, but she still heard it. A breath, ragged and heavy. Sarah tries to jump out of her hammock but ends up overturning it and flopping onto the dead grass, hitting her elbow on a rock.
"Shit!" She rolls and sees blood on the ground. "Shit, shit, shit!" She has her wand out trying to scan the forest for any movement. A massive black dog stands just staring at her.
It takes her a moment to realize she'd just scared him as much as he had her. Then she laughs, loud and hard as the dog slowly relaxes.
"You're the asshole who's supposed to kill my brother?" She has a quick flash of Ron's face as he explained just how serious the Grim was and what happened to his Uncle. She hadn't mentioned the dog that she saw, but it had kept crossing her mind. Until Malfoy had turned her thoughts to Quidditch.
"The terrible Grim." Sarah taunts, "Scared off twice by me." The dog barks, and she barks back at it. That startles him again and another wave of laughter has her clutching her stomach and tears streaming down her face.
Sarah stands, at last, using the tree for support and stares at the dog. Bit weird that he hasn't run away yet.
"You know humans then, don't you? Obviously, he doesn't answer, but she squats to get a better look at his neck. No collar and he hasn't be brushed or bathed recently. "Abandoned? That sucks." She looks behind him at the forest with no end in sight. "You must be from Hogsmeade, I don't think dogs can get past the enchantments."
A bark is his response and she nods knowingly. "That's what I figured. You got too big and they went and dumped you in the forest." He barks again.
"That's fucking terrible. I hope you get to bite them." The Grim tilts his head and takes a step forward. Sarah reaches out her hand slowly, when he's a foot away she leans out and scratches him under the jaw.
She hadn't felt fear when he'd walked up to her, somehow she just knew that hurting her was the last thing on this dog's mind. So when he touched his nose to her cheek she took her other hand and rubbed his neck letting her fingers get gritty and dirty with the essence of stray dog.
"What a good boy," Sarah whispers, "Yes, you're such a good death omen." She pulls back and looks him in the eye, "Just so you know if you do kill Harry. I will have to kill you." He licks her cheek and she laughs. "But, I'll do it humanely. It's not like you can help it if you're a death omen."
...
"Ok, so Buckbeak did attack Malfoy."
"Yes, but only because he insulted him!" Hermione repeats, "Would you stop tapping the table? You're driving me crazy." Sarah freezes her hand, setting it firmly against the wood.
"So if I went up to Buckbeak and called him a dumbass,"
"He'd try and slice your arm off," Ron confirms,
"So, I mean, why are we defending him?" Harry makes a disgusted noise while Hermione squeaks in surprise. "You rode him, Harry. What if he decided you weren't doing a good job. What if he didn't want to stick around. I mean, it just seems like…" Ron's the only one not looking at her as if she's a monster.
"Hagrid wouldn't let him do that," Harry argues,
"He let it happen to Malfoy."
"She's not wrong." Ron finally whispers.
"Malfoy didn't listen to Hagrid!" Hermione tries, but now she's looking at her doubtfully. "He was talking to Crabbe and Goyle the whole time."
"But he let Harry ride him with nothing more than 'don't pull on his feathers.' Isn't that what you said?"
"Well, I didn't." His mouth is set in a hard line, and she decides to let it go. Harry's too protective of Hagrid to hear any criticism right now. Sarah looks back at her book Beasts V Ministry and pushes it away.
"I've got to go, Lupin's expecting me for tea." Harry pulls his book closer with an angry harrumph. On her way back, she passes the shelf. There are too many people in here to check it out right now, but she touches the book. Ignatia Wildsmith an Autobiography.
The stairs to the third-floor move as she climbs. "Well, well. Come to visit me at last?" Sarah hops over the trick step and looks at the speaker.
"Hello, Merlin."
"I've heard some interesting rumors, Miss Potter."
"I've heard some about you." The portrait raises an eyebrow.
"My living counterpart, I assume."
"Sure, him." After taking a breath she continues. "He seemed pretty cool."
"Your vote of confidence is inspiring,"
"But I still think you're a conniving ass."
"I'm a Slytherin. Now, tell me, what did Severus say to you in the cafe?" She blinks,
"Umm, lots of stuff. Why do you care?"
"I need proper ammunition."
"There's not much, he just, you know, acted like himself."
"Then what went wrong?"
"Nothing," Sarah looks at the painting with new interest. "It ended like most of my conversations with Snape end."
"But not all,"
"I guess not," He stays quiet, and she nods at him with a smile. "Anything else?"
"No, I don't think there is." She takes a step then turns back.
"Do you know anything about Sirius Black?" The portrait raises an eyebrow,
"I knew his brother better, but I did speak to Sirius once."
"He had a brother?"
"Yes, Regulus, a quiet boy. I think he had to be to counterbalance his brother." She nods. "Why do you want to know about a mass murderer?"
"Because people are trying to hide something about him," She answers stepping forward. "Something about Harry, and I want to figure out what it is before Black hops out from behind a Dementor."
"I'm afraid I wasn't privy to any Black or Potter secrets. Except what your esteemed Head of House has told me."
"Which is?" Merlin grins but says nothing. "You enjoy holding candy out of reach,"
"I enjoy very little, it's not easy to be a constant watcher inside these frames. Severus Snape's confidence is one of my few pleasures, and I'm not willing to forgo it quite yet."
"Will you tell him? About this?"
"Would you want me to?" She shrugs,
"I'd rather you didn't."
"Why?"
"Because Harry needs a sliver of a chance to surprise an answer out of him." Merlin tilts his head,
"Your more open today, what's happened?"
"Well, there's a mass murderer trying to have a go at my brother. A Professor that might have Voldemort attached to his head. A hippogriff that needs saving. My classes to pass when I am apparently less magic than this staircase." She gestures to the trick step with an irritated hand. "Also haven't slept in a while and Harry's mad at me, you were just in the right place."
"At the right time, I see." He presses his hands together. "As delighted as I am with this breach may I offer you some advice?"
"Sure,"
"Next time you need to vent, find something that can't talk."
"Then you are going to tell him?" There's a pause as the portrait looks up at the frame.
"In three days."
"Thank you," Sarah turns away and runs up the rest of the steps feeling a little easier than when she had started them.
Professor Lupin's door is open when she enters, and he's at his desk. "Hello, Professor."
"Hello, Miss Potter," He answers softly, he hardly looks up as she walks forward. When she sits it takes him a bit to tap a kettle and pour her a cup. "How was your day?"
"It was fine," She copies his tone and mood crossing her legs. "How was yours?"
"Fine, fine." Lupin finally meets her eyes and offers a weary smile. "I'm sorry, it's actually been a long day, and I'm afraid I'm not the best company just now." Sarah shrugs and takes a sip from her cup.
"What happened?" He purses his lips then puts his cup down the glass with a light tink.
"I'm sure you heard the story already."
"When you put Snape in a dress?" Harry's first class had made its way around the grapevine many many times.
"Bingo," Sarah raises an eyebrow,
"I didn't know that was a Wizard thing?" He turns a bit red,
"Well, it's not exactly. I grew up in a muggle village." He smiles at last, his eyes fazing out into the distant past. She calls him back by clearing her throat. "Anyway, it has made it harder to," Lupin looks at her carefully, "Well, do my job."
"Because of Snape?"
"No, more because of Professor Snape's relationship with his students. They don't take kindly to insults."
"I guess not," Sarah frowns, "Maybe you should do something with McGonagall to show you're fair."
"Do you think I'm willing to have my cloaks shredded by lions as well?" Looking at his patched and shabby robes, she sucks in a breath before deciding to plow forward.
"Would it be worse than snake's biting at your heels?"
"Maybe, maybe not. Either way, I wouldn't do that to Professor McGonagall."
"Why not?" Lupin opens his mouth, then stops for a moment before continuing.
"Professor McGonagall was my teacher at Hogwarts, it is different from..."
"You don't like him, do you?"
"Professor Snape? We have a...complicated relationship." Not sure if she wants to know the intricacies of these two she puts on a pleasant smile.
"How?"
"We weren't the best of friends in school. Quite the opposite, actually, and well. He appears to have carried that grudge into adulthood."
"I guess that doesn't surprise me," Sarah allows remembering the venom he held when speaking about her father. Then she remembers his comment about Sirius. "Did he have any more enemies?"
"Why do you ask?" Lupin says and she can see hints of suspicion in his eyes.
"That answers that question."
"I'd think he has a lot of enemies." Then Lupin chuckles.
"He has made himself quite the collection. Your father for one," She nods wearily, "But you've already figured that out."
"I'd be really stupid if I didn't." She finishes the rest of her tea and sets it on his desk. "Why does he hate my dad so much?" Lupin looks away before answering.
"Jealousy, I'd imagine. Your father was everything Snape was not. Popular, handsome, Quidditch champion."
"And rich, right?"
"Well, yes, but he was more embarrassed by that. Even tried to ban Sleekeazy's when he was Head Boy." Lupin chuckles again, and she gives him a fake laugh noting how quickly the subject changed. Lupin's guarded, and not just about Sirius Black.
She'd wait on that, one secret at a time.
...
The third-years squeeze out of the room and he makes his rounds through the tables. Setting the potions in stasis as he goes.
It's been a long day, and according to Flitwick, he doesn't look well. It's well past the time they should've all exited the room when he realizes one student is dawdling. Picking up books slowly and placing them in their bag.
"Potter!" The boy freezes.
"Er, yes, Professor?"
"Is there pressing business within your bag?"
"Just putting up my books," Snape's hand curls into a fist.
"At the pace of a slug?" He makes a show of tying his bag and tucking it under his shoulder.
"Done," Snape gestures to the door, but the boy doesn't go. "I um, had a question for you."
"Not about Wiggenweld." He shakes his head,
"No, I, er, I had a different question." Potter looks to Snape than the door before finally speaking. "Did you know Sirius Black?" The silence stretches between them. Potter looks to the door three more times before making a move. "I mean if you don't-"
"This was your sister,"
"Sarah? No, I just thought." He drops off, almost visibly reaching for an excuse, His voice dips as he looks up and to the left. "Professors are trying to spare me the truth, and I thought you wouldn't have that, er, sensibility. I'm tired of, of people thinking I'm not strong enough. I know, er, you don't, erm, care about that, but I'll stop bothering you if you tell me." He finishes the last few words quickly and takes a step back.
"How many times did she try and drill that into your head?" Snape asks. Potter opens his mouth to argue. "Don't bother lying,"
"Why can't we know?" His tone is changed, no longer nervous, no longer trying to quote a script. "I mean, we've already figured out he knew our dad. He's coming over here to kill me and Sarah. What's worse than all that?" He crosses his arms over his chest with a pointed glare.
"Arrogant,"
"Why do you imagine he's after your sister?" Potter looks annoyed and steps forward.
"We killed Voldemort or took his powers, whatever happened that night. I'd think-"
"Next time you try and wheedle information out of someone, be sure of your facts."
"I am," Snape's blood boils, so sure of himself, incapable of doing the bare minimum. This boy will be the death of them all
"Really, then ask yourself. Why isn't it the 'Boy and Girl who Lived,' or the 'Children who Lived.' I supposed they don't exactly roll off the tongue, but they could've found something." The boy starts, "Leave my classroom," He wastes no time, almost vaulting over a chair to get to the door. "Potter!" He stops, "Don't be an envoy, especially not for your sister."
Thank you for reading!
I do not own Harry Potter.