Hello everyone. I am truly sorry for making you guys wait so long for this chapter. These past four months have been trying with having to deal with drama and general unpleasantness all around. I'll spare you the details. And having to move house has been challenging. But things have settled down and all is good, and I'm in a much better place in a much better frame of mind now. I just wanted to thank you all for your patience and your continued support of this story. I truly appreciate it.
On a side note, animechick247 has created another beautiful art piece for this story on DeviantArt. Be sure to check it out. Thank you so much, animechick247!
Lastly, a HUGE thank you needs to go out to the following for reviewing the last chapter: kell123, Akkiarn, ThatGirlWithThatSmile, black eyed kids, Estel Ashlee Snape, The Dark Waltz, Hennele-rogue, Guest reader, CamilleGtr, Bobywhy, quartz21, SeverusOCfan, Guest, hoekage95, zindiiii, Trinabear, sindi, Rosita, szabo alexandra1991, Ladyxx, ColdOnePaul, animechick247, d'elfe, eeeeaudinabellclo, MissLini, and bookgirl601375.
Here is the next chapter. I hope you enjoy it :)
The weekend passed all too quickly and soon it was Monday afternoon, signalling the Slytherins first Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson with none other than Professor Lupin, whose popularity was soaring with the students of Hogwarts. All the students except the Slytherins.
Their attitude towards the shabby Professor was bordering on hostile, and for once Lauren could not fault them. In fact, she wholeheartedly agreed with them on this one. Lupin, in the guise of trying to teach Neville to face his fears of the Potion Master, had covertly humiliated Snape. Surely he must have known that by employing such a tactic, news of the Snape Boggart would have spread around the school like Fiendfyre by the end of the day? It was all very underhanded of him, and Lauren had lost a certain amount of respect towards Lupin.
Lupin's a damn adult now. There's no need to continue with the stupid childhood feud his buddies started!
Lauren felt great disappointment towards Lupin, for she had always considered him the 'nicer' one of the Marauders; the follower who simply went along with whatever James and Sirius did. But the fact that, even after all these years, he had chosen to attack Snape in such a manner foretold that this childhood biasness was still too deeply rooted.
The Slytherins seemed to share her sentiments and were now coming together as a unit, openly displaying their displeasure at their Head of House, and one of their own, being attacked and humiliated in such a way. It truly showed their sense of unwavering Slytherin loyalty, and Lauren couldn't have been prouder of her House.
I would take loyalty over rash courage any day.
This sense of loyalty was also making Pansy Parkinson and her gang change tactics, the girls now choosing to channel all of their malicious contempt towards Lupin instead of Lauren. Lauren almost missed the venomous glares they would shoot her way every so often, her more mischievous side wanting nothing more than to rile Pansy up.
The door to the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom swung smoothly open and Lupin greeted them in his mild mannered tone, standing aside to let the scowling Slytherins file in.
When Lauren entered the classroom, she noted that the desks had been magically vanished, leaving the room open and bare. She paused when she eyed an ornate and heavy looking wardrobe positioned to one end of the room and, judging by the sudden murmurings from the rest of the Slytherins, they too had come to the same conclusion as herself. Today's lesson was going to be Boggarts.
Lauren's palms were suddenly clammy at the thought, dread settling deep within the pit of her stomach. Would her Boggart take on the form of her father raining down abuse upon her? Or would it show Deacon, a baseball bat clutched in his hand? She shuddered involuntarily, for she really didn't relish the thought of her fellow Slytherins witnessing either of those choices. Her past was her own, and letting others, especially children, view those atrocities felt like an invasion of privacy. In fact, forcing kids to reveal their deepest and darkest fears in front of the entire class was an invasion of privacy altogether. Unethical even.
"Are you okay?" Tracey whispered from beside her as the Slytherins shuffled into a loose semi-circle in front of the wardrobe.
Lauren startled, realizing she had been standing frozen to the spot.
"Not really. Who wants their biggest fears to be exposed in front of the whole class?" she replied back in a hushed whisper, her tone lacking its usual sarcastic bite.
Then another thought hit her and Lauren visibly paled, queasiness enveloping her. What if her Boggart showed that she had failed, and Severus Snape was killed in this War, his body lying in a pool of his rapidly cooling blood after Nagini had ripped his throat to shreds? How was she going to explain that imagery to her classmates?
Oh fuck!...her mind whimpered.
Tracey curled her hand around Lauren's, and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. "I know how you feel. But if it makes you feel any better, we're all in this together. We're all going to see each other's fears. I don't think Pansy has much room to taunt when her own fears are going to be exposed as well."
This did not reassure Lauren in the slightest. She doubted the fears of a little thirteen year old could compare to either of the three options she was sure the Boggart was going to represent.
Why couldn't I have an irrational fear of butterflies? Or rainbows? Or little fluffy kittens?
Lupin strode towards the front of the class and came to stand in front on the wardrobe, facing his now less than enthusiastic students. His frayed and shabby robes hung loosely on his frame, and there was a certain unhealthy pallor to his already pale skin that suggested that he had not slept well in a long time.
Probably hasn't eaten three square meals a day in a long time either, Lauren thought distractedly, her heart still pounding in her chest.
"Good morning," Lupin greeted in his mild mannered tone as he cast his gaze over the students standing before him. His eyes landed on Lauren and she discerned the flicker of recognition within them before he glanced away, leaving no doubt in her mind that he recognized her as the student he had saved from the Dementor on the train. "As you have no doubt concluded, today's lesson will be Boggarts. Can anyone tell me what a Boggart is?" he asked.
The Slytherins remained silent, glaring sullenly at him. Lupin seemed unperturbed as he clasped his hands behind his back and patiently waited for one of them to answer.
Tracey released Lauren's hand and hesitantly raised her hand in the air, looking guilty as she glanced around at her classmates.
"Yes, Miss...?"
"Davis," Tracey offered in a small voice. She swallowed and continued, "A Boggart is a shapeshifter, taking on the form of that which we fear most."
"Precisely!" Lupin exclaimed. "And can anyone tell me what is most effective way of defeating a Boggart?"
Dead silence met his question and Lauren had to suppress her grin. The Slytherins were not going to make this easy.
Tracey hesitantly raised her hand again, well aware that her volunteering information was going to be perceived as traitorous to the other Slytherins.
"Yes, Miss Davis?"
"Laughter," she supplied, ignoring the way her fellow classmates were now glaring at her. Lauren's gaze landed on Draco and she noted with curiosity that instead of mirroring his fellow classmates resentment, he was regarding Tracey with genuine interest, almost as though her input was of some importance to him.
Interesting, Lauren thought.
"Laughter is the most effective way of eradicating a Boggart, followed by the Riddikulus charm," Tracey continued.
"Excellent!" Lupin praised. "Five points for Slytherin. Now everyone take out your wands and we'll practise the incantation together."
Reluctantly, the Slytherins did as they were told, and soon the classroom was filled with the echoes of the students incanting the charm as they practised, wands flicking and slicing through the air.
"Excellent! Excellent!" Lupin praised, his softly spoken words carrying through the classroom. "I think we can move forward and face the Boggart. Everyone ready?"
No one said a word. Though, noting the sudden pale features of her fellow Slytherins, Lauren guessed that none of them fancied the idea of having their greatest fears paraded in front of the whole class. She could sympathize with them.
"Hmm," Lupin hummed unconcernedly. "Nothing to worry about. It's just a Boggart. It's best to visualize in your mind what your greatest fear is, and then imagine how to make it hilarious. We're all going to be facing our fears together, and together we can defeat it."
"Easier said than done," Tracey muttered beside Lauren. "I have no idea what my greatest fear is."
"Lucky you," Lauren muttered back.
Tracey shot Lauren a quizzical look, but before she could press Lauren further, Lupin had herded all of them into a line. By sheer luck, Lauren noted that she was last in line.
No, that wasn't luck, Lauren. Lupin intentionally did that.
Lauren glanced up sharply at the shabby Professor, but he was already heading to the front of the classroom, Positioning himself next to the wardrobe.
Lauren's suspicions quickly gave way to trepidation as her heart started hammering to in her chest and her palms becoming clammy once more. There were only ten of them in this class and, by her calculations, it wouldn't be long before it was her turn. The thought made her sick to her stomach. She really didn't want to relive some of the unsettling scenes from her past, and she really didn't want Snape's gruesome death on display before the entire class.
Lupin eyed them all and then reached out and opened the wardrobe door. Pansy Parkinson was first in line, and Lauren peered curiously around Tracey to see what form Pansy's Boggart had taken. She had to bite her bottom lip to stop from laughing when she spied a motley looking rat peering up at Pansy, its whiskers twitching as it observed the girl.
A rat?! Pansy's scared of rats?!
Pansy opened her mouth to let out what Lauren was sure was going to be an ear-splitting scream, but Lupin was instantly by her side, whispering something encouraging into her ear. Pansy closed her mouth and gave a single nod of her head before raising her wand and reciting the incantation. The rat was suddenly clad in a pointed hat and opulent orange robes speckled with shimmering shining gems that sparkled as the light caught it. The rat stood on his hind legs and proceeded to warble out a high pitched and very out of tune rendition of some song Lauren had never heard before, nor did she care to hear ever again.
The class burst out laughing and Lupin motioned for the next student to step forth.
And so it went. As each student stepped forward, the Boggart would shapeshift into the thing that student feared most, and Lupin would be there murmuring something encouraging.
Finally it was just Draco, Tracey and Lauren left.
Draco stepped forward, his pale, pinched features set into a mask of indifference, but Lauren noted the white knuckled grip he had on his wand. Draco was scared, but he was hiding it well.
The Boggart before him shifted immediately into a cloaked figure and Lauren frowned when she observed it crouching over something on the ground. Something she couldn't quite make out. Her eyes narrowed, and then suddenly widened. Her gaze snapped back to Draco, realization dawning on her that she was viewing the cloaked form of Quirrell/Voldemort that night in the Forbidden Forest nearly two years ago. What she was witnessing was the scene of him drinking the unicorn's blood.
That night in the forest...that night still haunts Draco...
Lauren's shock gave way to puzzlement.
That was the first time he ever encountered a 'monster'.
Lauren's brows furrowed in thought. She figured, being raised in a Dark Arts family, Draco would have been exposed to some pretty questionable things over the years. But this didn't seem to be the case. If she was guessing correctly, he had been fairly sheltered from the gruesome horrors associated with that part of his family's lifestyle.
That's soon going to change, though, Lauren thought, sorrow lancing through her at the thought of what the future held in store for Draco.
Lupin was immediately by Draco's side, his features looking marginally more pale than usual as he hastily whispered something into the blonde boy's ear. Draco ave a stiff nod of his head and raised his wand, his features set into that of fierce concentration.
"Riddikulus!" he said through gritted teeth.
The cloaked figure straightened up and started to turn around, but then its feet got hooked on the edge of its frayed and tattered robe. It clumsily went sprawling to the floor with a loud thud and the class burst out laughing. Their laughter doubled when the hood fell back to reveal Professor Lupin himself, fumbling around and getting more and more entangled in his robe.
Draco shot Lupin a smug smirk, but Lupin merely regarded the scene before him with mild interest, a small smile of his own playing on his lips.
"Well done, Draco," he stated with approval, his unperturbed and relaxed demeanour instantly wiping the smirk from the young boy's face. It would seem that Lupin wasn't so easily humiliated.
"Who do we have next?" Lupin asked, turning around and coming face to face with a rather nervous looking Tracey.
Lauren watched as Draco slunk away to join the rest of his Slytherins on the sideline, his features set into a petulant scowl.
Poor Draco. He really did try to get back at Lupin for that stunt he pulled with the Snape Boggart.
"Come now, dear," Lupin encouraged, completely ignoring his doppelganger behind him as it made to stand up again, tripping up in its robes once more and landing on the floor.
Tracey sucked in a deep breath and gave a nod of her head. Lupin stepped aside and it was now Tracey's turn to face the Boggart.
The Boggart instantly transformed into a zombie, its pale, rotting flesh grey and pungent as it extended its skeletal arm towards Tracey. It shuffled on unsteady feet, its eyes white and unseeing as it inched closer and closer towards the girl.
Not a zombie, Lauren realized. An Inferi!
Tracey shrunk back, the fear plainly written on her pale features.
Lupin stood beside her, whispering something, trying to get Tracey to stay focused. Tracey swallowed hard and then raised her wand with a visibly trembling hand.
Lauren held her breath as her friend in canted the charm. The Inferi transformed into a cartoonishly green zombie with eyes too big for its head. It paused and then took a step towards Tracey. Suddenly its arms fell off and landed on the floor, and the zombie looked around in bewilderment, almost as though it were trying to figure out what had just happened. Emboldened, Tracey stepped forward and cast the spell again. This time its legs fell off and the rest of the zombie fell flat on its back, its bulbous eyes wide and staring up at the ceiling as it rocked from side to side, low moaning sounds coming from its mouth.
"That's it, Miss Davis!" Lupin cried exultantly. "Now finish it off!"
Tracey didn't need to be told twice. She pointed her wand once more at the zombie, shouted the Riddikulus charm, and its head popped off loudly and zoomed across the room, ricocheting off the wall and hitting Goyle right in the back of the head.
The whole class erupted into loud and uncontrollable laughter at the sight. And with that final round of laughter, the Boggart was eradicated, vanishing with a loud pop.
Tracey turned around and gave Lauren a wide and triumphant grin; a grin Lauren gladly returned, for she felt immensely proud of her friend for facing her fear like that.
But her attention was caught in that moment by Professor Lupin, whom she realized was watching her. But as soon as she turned her head to meet his gaze head-on, he hastily turned away and applauded the class on a job well done.
Lauren, though, didn't join in, for she realized in that moment that she had just been played. Lupin had just effectively managed to deflect her from facing her own Boggart and, by extension, her fears. Lauren didn't know whether to feel relief or irritation towards him that he had done such a thing. Relief was definitely the winning emotion right now, though.
"You've all done exceptionally well today and, as a reward, there will be no homework," Lupin stated. This proclamation was received with sounds of approval and cheers from the Slytherins, their animosity towards the shabby Professor momentarily forgotten. Lupin continued, "But I think that's all we have time for in today's lesson. Class dismissed."
As the students collected their bags, Lupin called out, his softly spoken tone reaching Lauren's ears. "Miss Ward, would you stay behind for a moment please?"
Lauren's brows furrowed in confusion. Why would Lupin want to talk to me?
"I'll see you in the Common Room," Tracey assured, giving Lauren's slim shoulder a pat before she exited the classroom.
When the door shut firmly behind her, Lauren made her way to Lupin's desk, her mind racing.
Lupin was seated in his chair, looking tired and weary, but his eyes were sharp and focused as he studied her.
"You wanted to talk to me?" Lauren asked, shifting the strap of her bag more securely upon her shoulder.
Lupin gave a small nod of his head. "I recognize you as the young girl who was attacked on the train by the Dementor."
Lauren wondered where he was headed with this conversation. She gave a single nod of her head. "Yeah..." she said, drawing out the word. "Thanks for that. For saving me," she clarified.
Lupin merely gave a slight inclination of his head, his moppish straw coloured hair falling in his eyes. He absently swiped the hair from his face and continued on more thoughtfully, "It's not surprising that they have taken a keen interest in you, considering...what you have been through."
Lauren's brows furrowed. "What I've been through?" she asked.
Lupin scratched at his cheek and then shifted in his seat, obviously trying to find a tactful way to broach the subject.
"Professor Snape may...have mentioned in passing conversation that you have...suffered more than most in early childhood. That you had an abusive upbringing when you were younger."
Lauren stilled, anger lancing through her. This was not a subject she liked to talk about. And most certainly not with Lupin. She liked his character well enough in the books, but she did not know him well enough to be comfortable with the fact that he knew some personal things about her.
"Did he now," Lauren finally said out loud, her tone taking on a dangerous edge.
What is Snape doing discussing my personal life with him?! The bastard had absolutely no right!
"Yes. And I am glad for the warning. There are some things I am sure you would not want your classmates to see pertaining to what...happened to you," Lupin added cautiously and diplomatically, having noted the sudden shift in Lauren's demeanour.
So Snape was worried my Boggart would take on the form of Deacon murdering me, or my abusive ass of a dad beating the shit out of me, and decided to warn Lupin that such an outcome could be possible during the Boggart lesson.
Even though Lauren could understand, and even appreciate why Snape had gone through such measures to protect her, she still did not appreciate that he had gone behind her back and had shared such personal information with Lupin.
"It must not have been easy, and I'm sorry you had to go through...that," Lupin added delicately, his softly spoken tone adding a comforting measure to his words. To anyone else it would have indeed been comforting, but it just added to Lauren's irritability.
"Is there a point to this conversation?" she asked bluntly, having no wish to talk further on the subject.
Lupin was silent for a moment. "If you should ever need to talk -."
"No," Lauren refused flatly.
Lupin gave a slow nod of his head, his warm eyes flickering down as he picked absently at one of the many frays on the cuff of his blazer. "I am here if you ever need to talk," he finished.
Lauren's temper flared. I said no! Take the hint and drop it!
"I appreciate the offer," she stated coldly, "but what makes you think I want to confide in a man who thinks that it's acceptable to humiliate his fellow Professor – a man whom you and your friends tormented relentlessly in your youth?! You're an adult now, yet your recent actions suggest that you have not matured past the point of childish feuds, and have decided to continue with the bullying." Her anger lashed out like a cracking whip and she could not find it within her to rein it in, though truthfully Lupin needed to be told that his actions were not acceptable. The past was in the past. He did not need to carry the childhood feud into the present.
Lupin had the grace to look contrite. "I regret my past actions -."
"And yet you still continue to humiliate him," she pointed out, crossing her arms across her chest and giving him a pointed look.
Lupin studied her for the longest while, almost as though she were a puzzle he was trying to decipher. Finally he spoke up, "I see you are fiercely loyal towards Professor Snape. A very Slytherin trait."
"It doesn't mater which House I am in. I know right from wrong," she seethed, her eyes flashing, and then added, "Not all Slytherins are bad, just like not all Gryffindors are good."
Lupin studied her for what felt like the longest while and finally said, "Touche." The corners of his mouth quirked up in a small smile. "I see Professor Snape has found a strong ally in you, Miss Ward. You would have done well in Gryffindor."
Her eyes narrowed and he hastened, "And I admit that you have a very valid point." He sobered and gave a regretful sigh. "Like you said, childhood feuds should not be carried on into adulthood. I will make an effort to seek him out and offer my apologies."
Lauren, her temper now simmering down in the face of his contriteness, didn't know what to say to this and remained silent.
Lupin cleared his throat and decided to deflect from the subject. "But the main reason I called you aside is that I am very concerned about how keen the Dementors are to get their hands on you, Miss Ward. If you want, I can teach you the Patronus Charm that will protect you from any other future attacks from them."
Lauren smirked. "No need. I already know how to cast it."
Lupin looked genuinely shocked at this news.
Lauren withdrew her wand and then concentrated on that warm, tingling, illicit feeling that consumed her fiercely burning fire whenever she thought about Severus Snape, and then murmured, "Expecto Patronum."
The silvery light burst forth from the end of her wand, unfurling and forming into the sleek and lithe panther her Patronus represented. The panther prowled back and forth in front of her, its long tail swishing to and fro, and immense pride enveloped her at the sight before her. Lauren finally tore her gaze away to look up at Lupin.
His eyes were wide with shock, but underneath that shock was abject awe. Finally he blinked and murmured, "Impressive."
"Yes, I am quite proud of it," Lauren stated.
"Who taught you how to cast it?" he asked curiously.
Lauren hesitated. It would not be wise to reveal that not only could Snape, a former Death Eater, cast a Patronus, but the fact that his Patronus took on the form of a doe had to be kept secret at all costs.
"Headmaster Dumbledore," she finally lied, flicking her wand and cancelling the Patronus. She then smoothly sheathed her wand back up her sleeve and met Lupin's inquiring gaze head-on.
Lupin, thankfully, seemed to accept this lie, and nodded to himself.
"May I go?" Lauren asked, eager to escape the classroom.
"Yes, of course, Miss Ward," Lupin affirmed.
Lauren did not need to be told twice and turned tail and made her way to the door.
"My offer still stands, though," he called out just as her hand curled around the handle, causing Lauren to pause and glance over her shoulder at him. Lupin was still regarding her curiously. "Should you ever need to talk, my door is always open."
"I'll keep that in mind," Lauren lied, having no intentions on making the werewolf her confidante. There was only one person she trusted enough to confide everything to, and right now he was due for a good tongue lashing for revealing personal information to Lupin.
Lauren exited the DADA classroom and made her way down to the dungeons, heading straight for the Potions classroom. The hallways were mostly deserted, the students electing to take advantage of the rapidly fading afternoon sunshine and warmth. All too soon the weather would turn frigid and crappy, a prospect Lauren was not looking forward to.
When this is all over, I'm moving myself to the Bahamas! Sunny beaches and Piña Coladas here I come.
Lauren reached the Potions classroom and flung the door open without knocking. Snape was seated behind his desk, grading papers, and didn't bother looking up as she stormed towards him. His sleek black hair fell like a glossy curtain over his features as he bent forward, hiding his face from Lauren's view.
"Kindly close the door behind you, Miss Ward," he drawled as he slashed a vicious red line through a paragraph on some poor soul's essay. "And while you're at it, cast the Muffliato spell. I don't fancy some passing miscreant overhearing whatever it is you have to say."
"I would if I knew how," she snapped back.
Snape calmly placed his quill down and met her gaze with his own unwavering one. He arched a brow, somehow conveying with that small facial expression the right amount of arrogance and superiority as he waved his hand absently in front of him. The door slammed shut behind her with a loud bang.
"You're going to have to teach me how to do that."
"I'll add it to my ever increasing list. Now, to what do I owe the pleasure of your company, Miss Ward," he asked, his tone no doubt mocking. The corners of his lips curled into a smirk and his obsidian black eyes danced with an inner mirth when he noted the pissed off look no doubt painting her features. Lauren had come to the conclusion a long time ago that Severus Snape garnered sadistic enjoyment at pissing her off. Something he did with effortless skill.
"You had no right to tell Lupin personal information about myself," she growled.
"It was necessary," he countered smoothly, not bothering to try and deny it as he settled back in his chair, steepling his fingers in front of him as he regarded her with those fathomless black eyes. Dark pools that were dangerously trying to draw her in and drown her with their dark seductiveness.
Snap out of it, Lauren! This is no time to be mooning over the crotchety bastard. You can't exactly give Snape a tongue lashing if you're ogling him, the more sensible part of her mind commanded.
Lauren slammed her Occlumency Shields in place and squared her shoulders. "Yes, I know it was necessary. Doesn't mean I'm particularly happy with you for doing it."
"Would you have preferred that your Boggart have taken on the form of your father or Deacon?"
"No," Lauren admitted petulantly, knowing there was no way she was going to win this argument against him, but she had to give it a shot.
"Then cease your complaining," Snape snapped, his demeanour instantly changing. "I did you a favour." He picked up his quill and leaned forward once more to resume his marking, clearly hinting that the argument was now over. And she had lost.
Lauren mentally envisioned reaching across the desk and throttling him. But as she studied the coveted man before her, she saw a man shrouded in layers upon layers of secrecy. A man whose motives were only known to himself and who didn't do anything without carefully thinking it through. A man who weighed up all the pros and cons before acting. A man who had felt it necessary to take certain measures to protect her by 'accidentally' revealing her abusive past to Lupin – something he must have deemed necessary after very careful deliberation. His actions hinted that he did, indeed, care for her.
Her temper subsided and a sense of gratitude washed over her, accompanied by the warm, tingling feeling that seeped to her core at the knowledge that he cared. He cared for her.
Without thinking she reached over and curled her hand over his, causing him to instantly still under her touch. His hand tightened around his quill, the tension radiating up his arm, and Lauren could feel his own Occlumency shields slam into place as he desperately tried to rein in control as their magic momentarily flared between them. The tingling, almost electrifying sensation was seductive and alluring, and Lauren was almost tempted to drop her own shields and bask in that feeling. But she sensed that would be very dangerous.
Their magical connection was instantly severed as Snape effectively blocked the connection, and Lauren shivered involuntarily, mourning at the loss of 'closeness' that brief connection had promised.
"Miss Ward," Snape warned without looking up, and she had to resist the urge to shiver when she noted that his voice had dropped to a husky octave.
Focus, Lauren!
Lauren sucked in a deep breath and murmured, "Thank you."
Snape didn't react, but she knew he had heard her words of gratitude. Reluctantly she pulled her hand away and turned to leave. Silence followed her as she made her way to the door and it was only when she had exited the classroom and turned down the dungeon passageway that his words floated back to her.
"During our next private lesson, I'm going to teach you how to close a damn door behind yourself, Miss Ward!"
Lauren smirked to herself, her smile broadening when she heard the door slam shut behind her as she headed down the dungeon passageway.
~oOo~
September soon gave way to October, and with it the Scottish Highlands were soon titillated with the brisk, crisp change in weather. The leaves on the giant gnarled trees of the Forbidden Forest were subtly converging from vivid green to a more subdued, but no less vivacious, hue of red, yellow and orange as the surrounding lands prepared for the onset of Autumn.
With this change came another more startling revelation.
Pansy Parkinson and her gang, for the most part, had chosen for the last month to focus their malicious taunting and teasing on Potter and Lupin. But whenever Lauren was within close vicinity, the snarky remarks were thinly veiled and no doubt intended for her as well. Lauren mostly shrugged it off, but that was largely due to Tracey being by her side, urging her to ignore them and all the while tugging Lauren in the opposite direction. Left to her own devices, Lauren would have come up with more 'creative' ways to deal with the contemptuous trio.
At first it had been so subtle that Lauren hadn't notice, but the last few occurrences had made her sit up and take note.
Pansy had taken to making snide comments about Mudbloods, Mudblood lovers, and blood traitors. She had never looked directly at Lauren when she had uttered these things, but Lauren knew without a doubt that it had been directed at her. It was purely coincidence that Potter, Granger and Weasley happened to be in the vicinity. On one particular occasion when she had said such a thing, Lauren spied out of the corner of her eye Draco Malfoy's head snapping up. Lauren turned her head to view him better, and for that split second she spied him glaring at Pansy before he quickly glanced away, schooling his features. It had happened so quick that Lauren thought she had imagined it. But then she started taking note. And each time was the same. Pansy would say something insulting and he would shoot her a glare before looking away. There was no doubt in her mind now that Pansy's bullying was infuriating him.
Interesting...
Soon news of the upcoming Hogsmeade weekend was posted up on the battered bulletin board, which caused no amount of excitement amongst all the students, and that's all they could talk about for the remainder of the week.
Friday afternoon rolled around and as their Potion lesson came to an end, Snape instructed the Slytherin students to hand in their permission forms to him after class.
"Do you have yours?" Tracey asked Lauren as she dug her own form out from the depths of her jam-packed bag.
"Er...no," Lauren admitted. Casting her mind back, she couldn't recall receiving one either during the Summer holiday, which should have been included with the rest of her school forms.
"You'd better speak to Professor Snape," Tracey urged. "I don't want to go without you. There's so many shops I want to visit..."
Lauren zoned her out as the sudden imagery of the taverns in Hogsmeade and the easy supply of alcohol came to mind.
I might actually be able to get drunk again...
"Lauren!"
"Hmm?" Lauren hummed absently, still imagining the taste of liquor upon her tongue. It had been so long...
"You look like you were having a nice daydream there."
"I was."
"About?"
Lauren shook her head and snapped out of her envisionings. "Zonkos," she supplied innocently.
Tracey didn't look fooled. She rolled her eyes and went to hand in her form to Snape. She returned to Lauren and gave her a firm shove towards Snape's desk. "Go on. Ask him."
Lauren looked over at Snape, who was shuffling the forms into a neat pile. His tall frame was shrouded by his usual black robes, giving him an distinctly intimidating aura.
Snape's going to immediately guess why I want to go and stop me. He's no fool.
Lauren glanced over her shoulder and noted with irritation that Tracey had already fled the classroom and had left her alone to her fate.
Coward, Lauren thought irritably.
Lauren sighed and made her way to the desk.
"Yes, Miss Ward?" Snape drawled in his deep voice without glancing up at her.
"I don't have a form. I never received one."
Snape finally lifted his head and met her gaze. "And why are you so eager to go to Hogsmeade?" he finally asked, suspicion lacing his voice. "I thought that a place like that would be of no interest to a person like you. Or was there, perhaps, a particular...establishment you planned to visit?"
The bastard's already guessed!
"It's something new and I've never been there before. I would like to see what all the fuss is about," she explained evenly.
Snape quirked a disbelieving brow. "Is that right?" he challenged.
"Yes."
They stared at each other, neither willing to back down.
"I could always go to Dumbledore and get permission from him. He is, after all, my 'guardian'," Lauren finally stated when it became obvious that Snape was not feeling in a very helpful mood today. At least, not towards her.
"Perhaps the Headmaster has seen fit not to allow you to go," the Potion Master quipped as he straightened up and folded his arms in front of him, his brow arching in challenge.
Lauren narrowed her eyes. The git is toying with me!
A shadow of a smirk played on his lips and an idea came to her.
"That's okay. I'll sign my own permission form."
"I hardly see how that will help, considering that you are, after all, still..." Snape paused and looked her up and down pointedly. "...a child."
"In body maybe. But magical law recognizes me as an adult. I'm able to do magic outside of school," she pointed out.
The smirk that had been playing on his lips instantly vanished and Snape regarded her with an intensity that made her want to squirm on the spot. Being under such scrutiny, especially by a man like Severus Snape, was daunting.
Snape slowly unfolded his arms and leaned forward, pressing his fingertips against the smooth polished wood of his desk. He glared at her, his black eyes glinting like polished obsidian. It was now Lauren's turn to smirk at him.
"You are the most insufferable girl I have ever met."
"And you are the biggest, snarkiest git I have ever met," she countered.
Snape curled his lips into a snarl and pushed away from the desk, straightening to his full height. "The Headmaster has given me your signed permission form. You are free to go to Hogsmeade, Miss Ward."
Lauren wanted to rail against him for toying with her in such a manner, but how could she be angry when she had just won a round of wits against him?
So she plastered a sunny smile on her face and said in cheerily sweet voice, "See, was that so hard?"
A low growl was her only answer.
Lauren grinned and turned to walk away, calling over her shoulder, "Thank you, Professor Snape."
"Don't push it, Miss Ward," he warned. "I'm in the mood to hex you into oblivion."
Lauren hastily left the classroom, though she had to note that for all the threats he had thrown her way, Snape had yet to hex her like he always promised. Lauren was starting to doubt he ever would.
~oOo~
"Tracey, will you hurry up already!" Lauren snapped peevishly.
"But look, Lauren. Have you ever seen so many different kinds of candies. Look! There's Fizzing Whizzbees," Tracey exclaimed excitedly as she pointed out the aforementioned candy, and almost knocking another student square in the face in the enthusiasm. "Ooh! And Acid Pops. And Toothflossing Stringmints!"
"Yes, lovely," Lauren muttered, not bothering to look as she craned her neck, trying to find an exit in the overcrowded candy store.
"Why are you so eager to leave? We've only been here for about thirty minutes."
"Closer to an hour actually. And we were at Zonkos for half an hour, and Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop for twenty minutes, and Dervish and Banges for three quarters of a bloody hour! Forty-five minutes, Tracey!" Lauren whined. "And not to mention we were at the Post Office where you proceeded to ooh and ahh over all the owls for thirty-seven solid minutes. Not to mention all the other shops we stopped at in between."
Tracey shot her an amused look. "You were timing each place we went to?"
"Yes. And now I'm bloody tired and all I want to do is find a place to sit and have a bloody stiff drink," Lauren snarked, resisting the urge to stamp her foot in protest.
"Actually, that sounds like a good idea. We can go to the Three Broomsticks, perhaps. I want to try out their Butterbeer. I've never had one before."
Lauren instantly perked up at this suggestion. It's Butterbeer. Served in a tavern. It has to be alcoholic. Right?
Lauren had her answer to that question shortly afterwards when she and Tracey seated themselves in a cozy corner of the pub after ordering their Butterbeer, the warm, smoky atmosphere enveloping them in welcoming friendliness. The din of multiple conversations surrounding them only added to the atmosphere and Lauren shrugged off her coat, all too eager to get started on her drink.
I wonder how many of these it will take to get drunk? she contemplated briefly before taking a gulp of the warm, buttery liquid.
Tracey wrapped both her hands around her tankard and took a delicate sip, savouring the taste.
"Hmm. It's delicious," she enthused, taking another sip.
Lauren couldn't disagree more as she pulled a face of disgust. It tasted like melted butter mixed in with warm milk and vanilla.
What the fuck! Where's the alcohol?
"Where are you going?" Tracey asked as Lauren abruptly stood up and marched over to the bar with tankard clutched in her hand, not bothering to answer her friend.
Rosmerta, a plump and pretty witch with an openly friendly face bustled about as she prepared the other patrons' orders, and Lauren impatiently waited her turn.
Rosmerta finally approached her, wiping her hands on her apron. "What can I get for you, my dear?" she asked kindly, her round face flushed a rosy pink hue.
"What do you call this?" Lauren demanded.
The witch glanced down at the mug and then back at Lauren, looking taken aback. "Butterbeer."
"But there's no alcohol in it!"
Rosmerta's hazel eyes lit up in understanding and she gave Lauren an all too familiar patronizing look. "That's because it isn't supposed to have any in it."
"Then why call it beer when it really isn't beer?"
Rosmerta had the audacity to chuckle. "You wouldn't be the first one to argue that point, Dearie. Now is there anything else I can get you?"
"Yeah. Firewhiskey."
Rosmerta chuckled again and, with a shake of her head, turned away to serve someone else.
Lauren felt as though she were about to burst a blood vessel. My one goal since I've been dumped here in this godforsaken world is to get drunk and forget all my problems for just one day. Yet I get blocked at every turn!
"Lauren? Are you okay?" Tracey asked from behind her.
Lauren whirled around and snarled, "No."
"What's wrong?"
Lauren lifted her tankard, some of the foamy liquid sloshing onto the floor in the process. "This. This is the problem. This is bullshit!"
"The...Butterbeer?" Tracey asked in confusion.
"Exactly. There no beer in the Butterbeer!"
Tracey lifted her hand and covered her mouth, but not before Lauren caught sight of the infuriating grin her friend now had plastered on her face.
"Of course there's not. Everybody knows that, Lauren."
"Then why call it Butterbeer when there's no beer in it?! What a rip-off!" Lauren couldn't get over the injustice of it all.
Tracey dropped her hand and shrugged. "Dunno."
Lauren growled. "Fine. I'll go to The Hog's Head then. I'm sure they'll have no problem serving me some whisky.
Tracey's eyes widened, the mirth instantly vanishing from her features. "That's not really a...good place to go, Lauren."
"Why not? It's juts a bunch of unsavoury characters drinking unsavoury drinks." Lauren pushed past her to go and retrieve her coat.
Tracey caught her arm and shook her head vigorously from side to side. "Lauren, you're being rash and not thinking clearly. Going in there, especially as underage female witches incapable of adequately defending ourselves, especially against some of the more...unsavoury characters...well, we're just asking for trouble."
Lauren eyed her friend and could see the trepidation plainly written on her features. Though eager to get drunk, Lauren couldn't in good conscious put Tracey in danger.
"Fine," she grumbled.
Tracey looked immensely relieved. She gnawed her bottom lip, thinking, and then her features lit up as an idea came to her. "Hey, let's go and take a look at the Shrieking Shack," she suggested, clearly trying to cheer Lauren up.
Lauren sighed, but then nodded in agreement. They collected their coats, putting the Butterbeer debacle firmly behind them.
The two girls trudged up to the hill overlooking the Shrieking Shack. It stood nestled on the distant hill, looking distinctly derelict and the windows were boarded up.
"Villagers say they used to hear yells and shrieks coming from the shack. They say it's haunted, even though there have been no sounds heard from it in years," Tracey mused thoughtfully, her gaze trained on the run-down house. "Not even the ghosts are brave enough to venture inside."
Lauren inwardly shuddered, but not for the reasons Tracey thought. All she could envision was Severus being tricked into going inside and facing a werewolf.
Imagine coming face to face with that and knowing that you were going to die being ripped to pieces by such a creature...
Lauren felt sick to her stomach, and a searing white hatred coursed through her veins at Sirius having committed such an atrocious act.
It was attempted murder, and Sirius was never punished for it! He never felt, nor will he ever feel, any regret or remorse for his actions.
"Let's go," Lauren murmured, not wanting to view the wretched shack any longer.
She turned around and halted when she saw Pansy and her gang approaching them. The mean looks on their faces foretold they they were up to no good.
Pansy paused and glanced from Lauren to the Shack behind her, and then back at Lauren. A cruel smirk swept over her features, her brown eyes glinting maliciously.
"Eyeing out your future rental property, Ward? It's the only place deserving enough for a Mudblood like you!"
"Shut up, Pansy," Tracey snapped, stepping forward. She lifted her chin defiantly at the other girl.
"You're no better, Davis. A blood traitor like you is no better than the Mudblood standing beside you. And with a face like that – it's a face only a Mudblood could love."
The three girls howled with malicious laughter, though Lauren found nothing funny nor creative about their insult.
"That's rich, coming from someone with a face like a pug," an all too familiar drawl sounded behind them, causing Lauren's heart to stop altogether in absolute shock.
Pansy, Millicent and Daphne whirled around, and both Lauren and Tracey glanced over to see Draco Malfoy standing there, his wand clutched tightly in his hand and his features set in hard lines as he glared down at the Parkinson gang. He looked absolutely livid and ready to hex the three girls into oblivion.
Lauren held her breath, stunned by the turn of events. She knew Draco was not happy with Pansy's taunting, but she never thought that he would outright confront them. She heard a small gasp beside her, Tracey no doubt just as stunned as she was.
"You're...you're defending them? A Mudblood and a blood traitor?" Pansy questioned, confusion lacing her tone.
Draco remained silent, the look in his eyes hardening further.
Pansy stepped forward, placing her hand belligerently on her hips as she confronted the blonde boy before her. "What would your father say about that, Malfoy?" she asked, a hint of threat to her tone.
Time seemed frozen in place as Lauren waited to see what would happen next. The tension hanging in the air was almost agonizingly painful as it constricted around them.
He's not going to go against his father, Lauren thought sadly, and she glanced over at Tracey to see an almost resigned and disappointed look painted on her face as she, too, expected Draco to fold under the threat.
"That's the thing, Pansy," Draco stated, his tone low and carefully enunciated. "He would first have to find out. And if you really thought about it, it would be my word against yours. Who do you think my father would believe?"
Silence met his words.
"My father has connections in very high places. If I let slip that you were personally attacking me, spreading horrible lies about me, well, let's just say I don't think he would react very well. Things might get rather..." Draco paused dramatically, making a show of thinking. "...unpleasant for you."
The threat, though not very subtle, had the desired effect. Pansy glanced nervously at the pudgy Millicent and the ever snooty Daphne. They wore identical expressions of shock and trepidation on their faces, for the threat was not only directed at Pansy, it was directed at them as well by extension.
Pansy slowly turned to face Draco once more. "I can't believe you would choose them over us, Draco. She's a Mudblood!" she declared flinging her arm out rigidly and pointing a finger at Lauren. "And she's a blood traitor!" she finished, pointing at Tracey.
Draco's eyes narrowed into slits. "Last warning, Pansy," he growled.
Pansy stared at him for the longest while and then lowered her arm. "Come on," she ordered the other two Slytherin girls. "Let's go."
Draco's ice blue eyes followed them as they passed him and descended the hill in hasty retreat, muttering darkly amongst themselves.
Tracey let out the breath she had been holding and stepped forward, half lifting her arm as though she meant to reach out and touch him. "Draco...?" she asked hesitantly.
Draco turned around and faced her, plunging his hands deep into his robe pockets. "She's right, you know. If my father ever found out that I defended you, or had any association with you..." A certain sadness entered his features as he let his statement trail.
Lauren snapped out of her stupor at what had just transpired, and came to stand beside Tracey. "And like you said, it would be your word against theirs."
"I was bluffing, Ward," Draco stated, the fight leaving him. He was once more the young thirteen year old who still could not go against his father. He was not strong enough yet.
"It was a damn good bluff." Lauren paused and then asked, "But why did you do it?"
Draco glanced down at the ground and muttered, "I just couldn't stand there and watch Pansy attack you. Either of you." He looked up them, bitterness lacing his tone as he continued, "But it doesn't change anything. I still can't be...friends with you two."
Oh, Draco, Lauren thought sadly.
"You'll always be our friend," Tracey suddenly declared and closed the distance, holding out her hand. Draco eyed her hand wearily and time seemed frozen as Lauren waited to see what he would do. Then Draco slowly pulled his hand out of his robe pocket and slipped it in Tracey's hand, their fingers interlocking like two puzzle pieces fitting together. A slow but pleased smile blossomed on Tracey's features as she looked up at him, her eyes glimmering with unshed tears. "You'll always be our friend no matter what anyone says."
Draco looked like he was internally warring with himself, confliction writ all over his features. Tracey halted any further argument from him by releasing his hand and then pulling him into a bear hug, her arms wrapping around his waist and he cheek nestling against his collar bone.
Lauren watched from the sidelines as Draco's cheeks turned a delicate hue of pink before he reluctantly returned Tracey's hug, albeit rather stiffly, his arms wrapping around her shoulders and holding her securely to him. He briefly closed his eyes at the contact, and then the weight of the past few months suddenly ebbed from his form. A certain happiness seemed to envelope him; a happiness Lauren had not noted in the boy for a while now.
She blinked as realization dawned on her. Wait...Does Draco fancy Tracey?
The pieces were starting to add up to reveal a startling picture. First there had been Draco's almost blatant jealousy and disapproval over Tracey's crush on Lockhart. Then there was way he would look at Tracey when he thought no-one would notice while they had been friends was another hint. There was also the fact that he had inquired about Tracey's well-being after she had been attacked by the Hippogriff. And he had only stepped in when Pansy had started attacking Tracey. There were so many subtle clues that had been leading up to this moment of revelation.
Oh my god! He does! Draco Malfoy fancies Tracey.
Draco's gaze flickered up and their eyes met. Lauren gave him a small smile and his cheeks reddened even further at the thought that Lauren now knew his secret. He averted his gaze and uncomfortably disentangled himself from Tracey.
He gave an awkward cough, unable to meet Tracey's inquiring gaze. "Still doesn't change anything, Davis."
"But this changes everything."
"No, it doesn't," Draco countered.
Tracey's eyes suddenly widened and an almost frenzied energy overtook her. Lauren recognized the signs and knew Tracey had just had an idea. A brilliant idea at that.
"I think I may have a plan."
"What kind of plan?" Draco asked cautiously.
Tracey turned around and faced Lauren, her brows furrowing in thought. Then she turned back to Draco. "Your father is only against you being friends with Lauren because she's Muggleborn."
Draco pressed his lips together in a thin line and gave a single nod of his head.
"And he's against you being friends with me because I'm considered a blood traitor." This was followed by another affirmative nod from Draco.
"Would he still be against you being friends with us if Lauren wasn't a...Muggleborn?"
Lauren frowned. "But I am one, Tracey. Being petrified by the Basilisk proves that."
"But that's the thing, Lauren. It doesn't really prove anything?"
"Uh...yeah it does."
Tracey flashed her a wolfish grin. "I don't think so. I've been thinking quite a bit about it."
"About what? You've lost me, Davis," Lauren said.
"That's why I'm the brains of the group."
Draco remained silent, his gaze flickering back and forth between the two girls as they conversed, but his eyes were keen and sharp and his undivided attention was trained on Tracey and what she was saying.
"Okay. And as the brains of the group, would you kindly explain what you're going on about."
"Hermione Granger and the Ravenclaw girl are both Muggleborns," Tracey explained rapidly.
"Yes. Got that," Lauren interrupted.
Tracey rolled her eyes. "And they were Petrified because they're Muggleborn. What if you were also petrified only because you happened to be standing right next to them that night?"
Lauren paused and eyed her friend as what she was suggesting started sinking in. Finally she asked. "Is that possible? I thought a Basilisk couldn't Petrify a Pureblood."
"A Pureblood? Maybe not. But a Half-blood? Yes."
The implications of her words hit them, and both Lauren and Draco shared a look.
"And the Ward family tree is famously Half-blood," Tracey continued.
Lauren blinked and slowly looked back at her friend. Hope was slowly starting to unfurl within her.
"It would have to be proven, though," Draco cut in, thoughtfulness furrowing his brows. His gaze cut to the distant as he absently murmured, "A magical test would have to be conducted at the Ministry of Magic to prove whether Lauren is Half-blood or...otherwise." Lauren did not miss the fact that he had refrained from calling her a 'Mudblood'.
"My father can take you for the test over the Christmas holidays," Tracey volunteered excitedly. "I can explain everything to him. I'm sure he'll do it."
Lauren started to smile, but that smile faltered as another thought occurred to her.
In that Hogwarts student book Dumbledore showed me when I first arrived here, it clearly stated that I'm Muggleborn.
But as she looked back at her friend, the hope blossoming on her porcelain features, Lauren could not find it within her to dash that hope.
"It's worth a shot."
Tracey's grin turned mega watt bright, her features alighting with uncontained excitement. Then she turned to Draco. "What do you think."
Draco looked thoughtful. Then he looked sharply at Tracey, cunning intelligence flashing in those arctic eyes. "I think it would help if we spread your theory about the Basilisk around the school in the meantime. Get the rumour started." Draco met Tracey's hopeful gaze and his features softened; a softness that Lauren immediately noticed. "I think it would help."
"And what of your father? Would he have a sudden change of heart if I was suddenly Half-blood?" Lauren questioned.
"I...don't know," Draco answered honestly.
All three remained silent as they contemplated their own thoughts.
Just then a bell clanged in the distance, signalling that the students had to return to the village to head back to Hogwarts.
Draco glanced at the village and then back at the girls. His inner conflict was quite evident. Tracey stepped forward and curled her hand around his.
"It's okay, Draco. We both understand that you'll have to keep your distance in the meantime."
Draco remained silent, unable to meet her gaze, but gave a single nod of his head. Then he breathed in deeply through his nose and let go of Tracey's hand and turned sharply on his heel. Both girls watched in silence as he trudged back to the village with his head bent and his hands plunged deep into his pockets.
"Do you really think things are going to be okay between him and us?" Lauren finally asked.
"Yes," Tracey stated firmly.
"You sound sure of yourself."
"That's because I have faith in him."
Lauren glanced at her friend, who was also watching Blondie.
"God, you sound like a bleeding heart Gryffindor, Davis."
Tracey snorted in amusement. "Hardly. Come on. We'd better head back before we miss the train. I can't wait to eat the Halloween feast. I'm starved."
~oOo~
The feast was as magnificent as ever, the house elves in the kitchen having outdone themselves this time and the students almost drowning in the mouth-watering aromas that filled the air with their heady scent. There was golden roasted stuffed turkey lathered in dark rich gravy, jacket potatoes with their skin crisply baked to perfection, carrots and green vegetables offering sweet, juicy mouthfuls with eat bite. Not to mention the various desserts of pumpkin pie, moist black forest cake, treacle tart and eclairs.
By the end of the meal each student was overstuffed and all too ready to head to bed.
The atmosphere in the dorm room as the five Slytherin girls prepared for bed was almost unbearable, especially after such a festive and merry feast. Pansy, Millicent and Daphne kept shooting Lauren and Tracey venomous glares and whispering darkly amongst themselves.
Lauren was just about fed up with their antics, but Tracey shot her a warning look and subtly shook her head, her sleek bob brushing against her shoulders at the movement. She was silently warning Lauren not to retaliate, and it was taking every ounce of willpower for Lauren not to do just that.
But just as they all climbed into bed, there was a commotion and suddenly the Prefects were in the room instructing them to head to the Great Hall immediately.
"What's going on?" Tracey asked as she and Lauren clambered out of bed, tying their nightgowns tightly around them as they headed to the Common Room, following the rest of the Slytherins as they made their way to the Great Hall.
Ah, Sirius tried to get into the Gryffindor Common Room and put an end to Peter Pettigrew's miserable, flea infested rodent life.
"Don't know, but I have a feeling we're soon going to find out," Lauren supplied.
Not long after arriving at the Great Hall the news of the attack on the Fat Lady reached their ears. The students talked animatedly amongst themselves, the commotion stirring up a certain din within the Hall.
Soon Dumbledore arrived with all the teachers following close behind, and then the doors to the Great Hall were shut magically. Sleeping bags were conjured up in neat rows on the floor and Dumbledore instructed all the students to remain in the Hall for the rest of the night for their own safety while he and the teachers conducted a thorough search of the castle.
Lauren spied Severus Snape near the doors, noting that he looked thoroughly agitated, pent up anger coursing through his veins as he flung open the door and stepped out, closing it firmly behind him.
If he ever gets his hands on Sirius, he's going to kill him. Especially since he thinks Sirius is responsible for Lily's death.
Lauren briefly contemplated whether she would be able to sneak out and speak to him, but discarded that idea. The Hall was being well guarded by the Prefects, and trying to talk to Snape now in his current mood, especially on Halloween of all days, was not a good idea. She would have to wait until tomorrow to speak to him.
"Let's try and get some sleep," Tracey suggested.
They climbed into their sleeping bags and Lauren noted with a jolt that Draco had somehow ended up next to Tracey.
What a happy coincidence, she thought slyly, but said nothing, pretending not to notice him.
The minutes ticked by, hushed murmurings slithering through the shadows of the quiet and dimly lit Hall. After an hour or so, soft snores of the sleeping students replaced the murmurings, yet Lauren found she could not fall asleep. Her mind was running in circles. The scene from what had just transpired today played out in her mind, a budding hope unfurling within her that things were going to work out between her, Tracey and Draco. Her mind wandered to Severus Snape and she could imagine him stalking the hallways of the castle, hellbent on catching Sirius and killing him. She could only imagine his current mindset, and it unsettled her. An angry Snape was expected. An unhinged Snape was dangerous.
She startled when she heard a soft voice whisper into the silent night, and she realized with a start that Tracey was still awake.
"Thank you...for defending me like that, Draco."
There was a pause, and then Draco answered Tracey in an equally hushed voice, "You're welcome, Tracey."
As Lauren lay still, pretending to sleep, she could imagine their hands curled around each other's, discreetly hidden under the sleeping bags. It was this innocently pleasant imagery that finally pulled her into a restful slumber.
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