When Friday afternoon came and it was after classes, Madelia went to her father's office. She wished she had the time to go beforehand, but homework had kept her. She hadn't spoken with him for a few days and she found she missed his company.
She knocked on the surface of his door and at his response, she opened it. She was taken aback to see Professor Snape glaring back at the door with a goblet in his hand. It appeared to be smoking.
"Is this a bad time?" she asked softly, lingering in the doorway.
"Not at all, Maddie. Please, come in." She closed the door quietly and walked up to the front of the room where Remus currently stood. Snape eyed her closely as she came to stand next to him. "I trust you took your potion Wednesday?"
"Yes," she responded with a small smile.
Remus smiled gently at her before glancing at the goblet. Both Snape and Madelia watched as he grimaced while downing it. Madelia instantly knew what it was and sighed to herself. She looked up at Professor Snape, then smiled softly.
"How are you, professor?" she asked, and he snapped his gaze down to her. He narrowed his eyes and glared at her as if looking for some joke.
"The typical dunderheads leave me to ponder why I ever agreed to become a teacher here," he said coldly, accusingly. "I will bring another dosage tomorrow, Lupin."
He turned on his heel and swept out of the room, black robes swiftly following him. When he was out of the room, Remus laughed.
"What?" Madelia asked, furrowing her eyebrows.
"I suppose Severus is right. You would be better suited as a Hufflepuff. Of course, I mean it in the best way possible." She looked at him, waiting for him to continue. "I don't believe he's used to students asking him friendly questions, Maddie. In fact, I don't believe he knows how to properly answer a kind question."
"He always glares at people. He's tried to test me, but it's like you always tell me. If I let people under my skin, I won't be happy."
"And the way to avoid it?"
"Being kind." He smiled at her. "I came here to ask you about Hogsmeade."
"I was wondering when you would ask." Remus sat at his desk, looking over a stack of parchment. He then ruffled through a few papers before looking back to her. "Flitwick gave me your permission slip a few weeks ago. I've already signed it and sent it straight to him."
"I figured you would've, but I wanted to be sure," she replied. She then noticed his face was slightly paler than usual and pursed her lips. "It's almost time, isn't it?"
He said nothing at first.
"I want you to go to Hogsmeade with your friends. I know you want to stay behind with me." She opened her mouth to reply, but he held up a hand. She remained quiet. "You need to enjoy time with your friends, Madelia. I don't want you to worry about me."
"I don't want you to be alone, though. I don't like it when you're alone during your transformation, but I can deal with it if I can see you before and after," Madelia admitted, pursing her lips.
"Oh, Madelia. I don't want you to concern yourself over it. I remember the first time I saw Hogsmeade, and I want you to experience that. Who else will keep that friend of yours in line?"
"Zoey?" Madelia asked, a smile perking her lips. "Well, I suppose someone needs to keep her from attacking the twins. I don't think she hates them as she claims."
"I have to agree. Now, would you like to accompany me to the Great Hall?" Madelia nodded as Remus stood from the desk. He walked in-step next to her down the hall in a comforting silence for a few seconds.
"Did you hear about Lavender Brown?" she asked. "Selena told me she believed one of Professor Trelawney's predictions."
"Yes, I heard about the 16th of October. It's a shame about her rabbit, though."
"I guess she was very upset about it," Madelia added. "I don't know if I believe Trelawney, though. What she said about Harry . . ."
"Don't worry yourself over that. Have you spoken to Harry this year?"
"No, I haven't. We don't have any classes together, and we're from different houses. I haven't found the time."
"I think you two would make good friends," Remus said, and seemed to be thinking about something else. "You have a few things in common."
"Have you spoken to him yourself?"
"Not much. I did prevent him from sending away his boggart, however. Oh, don't give me that look. I wasn't sure what he would see!"
"You should have let him try. You let me try." Madelia couldn't remember her boggart — only that she had faced one, and knew how to send one away. For once, she liked it that way. She didn't want to think about her fears.
"I didn't think it would be a good idea. We could've seen the boggart take form as Lord Voldemort." Remus spoke very quietly at the end, and they both went quiet. It was then that Madelia laughed quietly to herself.
"I think my favorite story from your class so far is Neville's boggart. Poor thing, frightened of Snape. But I wish I could've seen him in his grandma's clothes!" Remus smiled to himself and allowed himself a slight chuckle.
"It was rather humorous, but Severus frowns upon the memory. It hasn't kept him from frightening the students, however."
"Of course it hasn't. He isn't very friendly." Remus placed a hand on her shoulder as they turned a corner. More students came into view.
"He hasn't said a bad word about you to me," Remus admitted. "I suppose it's better to hear nothing from him than an earful. You seem to be doing well in his class."
"I like potions," she said, shrugging her shoulders. "I wish I could brew your potion. I'm hoping that by the end of this year, I could have it memorized and perfected."
"You're too kind for your own good," Remus said with a soft smile. "Now, go to your table."
Madelia nodded and walked into the Great Hall with several students. She sat next to Selena, who had already filled her plate with food. They smiled at each other as Madelia sat down.
"—and then I heard from Padma that Harry never got his permission slip signed. I feel so sorry for him, he can't go to Hogsmeade tomorrow!"
"He can't?" Madelia asked, furrowing her eyebrows.
"No. I wonder what he'll do. Maybe someone can bring him back candy," Mimose said.
"I'm sure Ron and Hermione will. They're his closest friends, after all."
"Hermione is quite nice. Ron . . . well, I suppose he can be." Violet entered the hall, making a beeline for their table. She sat down with a sigh, books thudding on the table, and noticed everyone looking at her.
"What is it?" Violet asked, sitting at the bench. Everyone seemed to notice the same thing about the girl: she wore a set of chirping sparrow earrings, which Madelia had seen her wear a few times before, but Violet's hair had become streaked with purple. It was very subtle, but it was clear to anyone who had looked hard enough that there was color to her otherwise dark hair. It wasn't something Madelia had ever seen her do before.
"Nothing. What's with all the books?"
"Light reading," Violet mumbled with an eye roll. She quickly retreated behind one, and the others left her alone, saying nothing of her appearance:
"Madelia, do you have your potions notes by chance? You always seem to know exactly what to do in that class. My notes aren't as good, mostly because the git wouldn't slow down," Selena said, intentionally shooting a look to Violet.
Violet looked down at the plate before her, then back up. Madelia noticed Snape watching the group very closely, as if he knew the conversation.
"I'll give them to you after dinner."
"Thank you. Violet, would you mind handing me a roll?"
None of them were surprised when a roll bewitched itself to hit Selena straight in the nose.
