As the end of the year approached, Severus really began to wonder about Lucius's new behavior. He had been seen talking to that pesky Peter Pettigrew from time to time. He wondered, deep down inside, if Pettigrew had joined that group of Death Eaters that he'd been told about. But he didn't have the time that year to find out. Before they knew it, they were packing their things and heading back to Kings Cross on the Hogwarts Express. As they got off the train, Maleficent hugged Severus fiercely. He hugged her back just as tightly and promised to write as soon as he got home. Then, they headed off toward their mothers.
Summer passed quickly for Maleficent that year. Her father was overjoyed at her talent show win during the first term and did not pester her as much to practice. She also had her letters to and from Severus to look forward to. Poor Athena didn't have much time to rest, as they constantly wrote back and forth, mostly about Lucius's odd actions. Although Severus did not tell Maleficent this, he had decided to find out more about Lucius during the new year.
The morning of September 1 dawned early for Maleficent. She was up and ready to go before her mother had even gotten out of bed. By the time Eileen had gotten up, Maleficent had already loaded her things in the car, all expect Athena, who was in her cage next to the door. Much to her amazement, even Pierre was thinking about going with them to the train. Maleficent was shocked! Her father never accepted any of her wizarding activities and wanted no part of them. Yet, he was thinking about going with them to the train. Finally, the time came and Eileen and Maleficent headed for the car. As Eileen started the car, Pierre strolled out of the house, approached the car, and got in with them. "Just thought I'd go with you this time," he mumbled. Maleficent smiled, glad that her father had decided to take part in the trip. Upon arriving at the station, Pierre got her trunk out of the car for her. Maleficent hugged her parents and headed off toward the barrier. She passed through easily and mentally called out for Severus. He replied, telling her that he was waiting to help her load her trunk. She saw him standing over by the train. She pushed her trunk over to him. As he loaded her trunk, she noticed that something seemed different about him. As he turned back around, she figured it out. It was his hair. No longer was it limp and oily, but sleek and shiny. She smiled. "What?" Severus asked, an innocent expression on his face. Maleficent said, "You know what, Severus. It's your hair. I love it!" She reached up and ran her fingers through it lightly. Severus felt a chill run from his head to his feet at her touch. "It's not easy keeping it looking this way but I thought you might like it better," he said. She nodded and said, "I do like it much better." He gathered her in his arms and hugged her tightly. "I missed you," he said softly. "And I've missed you," she added. He released her, grabbed her hand, and they headed off to get good seats. As they got on the train, Maleficent saw Zandra with Potter and his group. She waved and Zandra waved back.
Severus and Maleficent found an empty compartment and took their seats. At that moment, they both saw Lucius walking by, being followed by a handful of other students. Three were fellow Slytherins, one was a Hufflepuff boy that they had never met before, and one was that awful Peter Pettigrew. Pettigrew looked into their compartment. Maleficent gave him a dirty look that plainly said, "Go away." Severus had daggers in his eyes, just daring Pettigrew to say something to them. They heard Lucius's voice say, "Hurry up, Peter." Pettigrew turned and headed off in his direction. Severus thought for a moment and said, "I wonder why Lucius is hanging out with that scumbag Pettigrew." Maleficent shrugged, not knowing the answer. The train departed from the station soon afterwards. Maleficent thought that she and Severus were going to end up with a compartment to themselves for a moment. Then, their door opened and two of Potter's gang entered. Severus glared at them. It was Sirius Black and Remus Lupin. Severus stood up, about to tell them to get out but Sirius spoke first. He held up his hand and said, "Severus, sorry to bother you two but there's no other space for us. We all got here late and all of the other seats have been filled. Do you mind if we sit here?" Severus growled, "Yes, actually. I do mind." Maleficent jumped in and added, "It's fine. Feel free to join us." Severus gave her a sideways glance and mentally asked, "Why in tarnation did you tell them that?" With her mind, she replied, "Because I want to see if they know why Pettigrew's hanging around with Lucius." Severus moved to sit next to Maleficent while Sirius and Remus sat across from them.
"Thanks, Maleficent," Remus said. Maleficent smiled and replied, "No problem, guys. You know, I don't think any of us have officially met." She held out her hand and said, "I'm Maleficent DuGall of Slytherin House. This is Severus Snape, also of Slytherin House." Remus and Sirius shook her hand. Reluctantly, Severus held out his hand and shook hands with the other boys. "Nice to meet you two. I'm Remus Lupin and this is Sirius Black," Remus said. Severus noticed that Remus was very pale and thin for a boy his age. He was fourteen years old but was as small as a ten year old. Severus tought that it was kind of odd but did not say anything. Maleficent could see that Severus was beginning to get angry at being stuck here with the two Gryffindors so she ecided to start the conversation. "Look, I don't mean to be nosy but something's been on my mind for a little while now. A moment ago we saw Lucius Malfoy walk by with Peter Pettigrew following him. Do you know what he wanted?" she asked. Sirius raised an eyebrow and asked, "Why do you want to know?" Remus elbowed him in the side and said, "Shut up, Sirius. She's just curious, as are we. No, Maleficent, we don't know why they're suddenly hanging out. I thought Lucius hated all non-Slytherins." "Like some other people I won't mention," Sirius mumbled, but Severus heard him. "Say that again, you little..." Severus began but Maleficent interrupted. "Severus, Sirius, that's enough from both of you. Remus and I are trying to have a civilized conversation." Thankfully, both boys went silent. Remus said, "It didn't surprise me to see Malfoy hanging around with David Lestrange and his girlfriend, Alice or even Rob McNair, as they're all three from Slytherin too. But when we saw Peter and some Hufflepuff boy walking with him, we got a little suspicious." "We did too," Maleficent said. By the time the group had arrived at Hogwarts, Maleficent had agreed to try to find out what was going on for Remus and Sirius, much to Severus's dismay. He kept telling her not to worry about it and to stay out of it. Maleficent chose not to listen though.
After the train arrived at Hogwarts, the students all went up to the castle for the Sorting Ceremony and the feast. During the feast, Maleficent noticed that Severus seemed really quiet. "Severus, what's wrong?" she finally asked him. Severus looked around for Lucius and saw him talking to a group of first years that were sitting a few places for from them. He turned to Maleficent, took her hand, and whispered, "Maleficent, please promise me that you won't go looking for Lucius or try to figure this out. I've...I've got a bad feeling about this." Maleficent looked at him strangely. "Why? Severus, do you know what's going on?" she asked. Severus said, "Well, I don't know really. I mean, I might know, but it really weird." Mentally he said, "I'll tell you what I know tonight."
At the end of the feast, Dumbledore got up and began making his usual announcements. But one of his announcements caught the attention of all of the students. "This year, we're going to begin a new tradition at Hogwarts. At the beginning of the second term, we will hold a Yule Ball. Only 4th years and up will be allowed to attend. However, if you would like to bring a date who is younger than that, it will be allowed. You will need dress robes as well. I know it was not on your list of supplies, but there is a shop in Hogsmeade. You will be able to purchase them there, or your parents can send them to you. Now, off to bed," Dumbledore said. Maleficent was amazed! A Yule Ball! But, she didn't have any dress robes or any money with her to go buy some. She would just write her mother. She went down to the common room and sat in a chair on the far side of the room. Severus joined her there. Around midnight, the last of the students headed off to bed, leaving them there alone.
Severus turned to Maleficent and said, "All right, here's all I know. Do you remember when Lucius wanted to meet me alone one night?" Maleficent nodded. Severus continued, "Well, he wanted me to join a group of wizards called the Death Eaters. They're a revolutionary group who want to bring someone called Lord Voldemort to power as a great leader, but the whole thing sounds fishy to me. I mean, they'll only allow pure bloods to join. No Muggle borns. Half bloods are accepted but looked down upon. Honestly, I think this group is really out there to get rid of all of the Muggles and Muggle born witches and wizards. I don't have any proof, but look at all the people hanging around Lucius lately. Most are Slytherins and all are pure blood. I don't think it's a very good group of people overall. I mean, what if those people who were with Lucius have also joined? We know Pettigrew's a scumbag. Davd Lestrange really isn't very nice and neither is Alice, his girlfriend. And Rob McNair is one of the meanest people in this House! He got a week of detentions and almost got expelled for setting fire to a barrel of flobberworms in Care of Magical Creatures last year. He's a rather mean guy." Maleficent asked, "But if you knew all this, why didn't you tell Remus and Sirius about it?" Severus cried, "Why do you think I didn't tell them? They're Gryffindors and just want to help that creep Pettigrew. I'm not doing anything that might help him out." Severus put ahand on her shoulder and gently said, "Please, don't go looking for trouble, Maleficent. I don't want something bad to happen to you. I don't want you getting mixed up in all this. I know, I don't have any proof but this really seems like a bad idea to me." In the end, Maleficent agreed to stay out of it, but she decided to tell Remus and Sirius about it the next day.
Summer passed quickly for Maleficent that year. Her father was overjoyed at her talent show win during the first term and did not pester her as much to practice. She also had her letters to and from Severus to look forward to. Poor Athena didn't have much time to rest, as they constantly wrote back and forth, mostly about Lucius's odd actions. Although Severus did not tell Maleficent this, he had decided to find out more about Lucius during the new year.
The morning of September 1 dawned early for Maleficent. She was up and ready to go before her mother had even gotten out of bed. By the time Eileen had gotten up, Maleficent had already loaded her things in the car, all expect Athena, who was in her cage next to the door. Much to her amazement, even Pierre was thinking about going with them to the train. Maleficent was shocked! Her father never accepted any of her wizarding activities and wanted no part of them. Yet, he was thinking about going with them to the train. Finally, the time came and Eileen and Maleficent headed for the car. As Eileen started the car, Pierre strolled out of the house, approached the car, and got in with them. "Just thought I'd go with you this time," he mumbled. Maleficent smiled, glad that her father had decided to take part in the trip. Upon arriving at the station, Pierre got her trunk out of the car for her. Maleficent hugged her parents and headed off toward the barrier. She passed through easily and mentally called out for Severus. He replied, telling her that he was waiting to help her load her trunk. She saw him standing over by the train. She pushed her trunk over to him. As he loaded her trunk, she noticed that something seemed different about him. As he turned back around, she figured it out. It was his hair. No longer was it limp and oily, but sleek and shiny. She smiled. "What?" Severus asked, an innocent expression on his face. Maleficent said, "You know what, Severus. It's your hair. I love it!" She reached up and ran her fingers through it lightly. Severus felt a chill run from his head to his feet at her touch. "It's not easy keeping it looking this way but I thought you might like it better," he said. She nodded and said, "I do like it much better." He gathered her in his arms and hugged her tightly. "I missed you," he said softly. "And I've missed you," she added. He released her, grabbed her hand, and they headed off to get good seats. As they got on the train, Maleficent saw Zandra with Potter and his group. She waved and Zandra waved back.
Severus and Maleficent found an empty compartment and took their seats. At that moment, they both saw Lucius walking by, being followed by a handful of other students. Three were fellow Slytherins, one was a Hufflepuff boy that they had never met before, and one was that awful Peter Pettigrew. Pettigrew looked into their compartment. Maleficent gave him a dirty look that plainly said, "Go away." Severus had daggers in his eyes, just daring Pettigrew to say something to them. They heard Lucius's voice say, "Hurry up, Peter." Pettigrew turned and headed off in his direction. Severus thought for a moment and said, "I wonder why Lucius is hanging out with that scumbag Pettigrew." Maleficent shrugged, not knowing the answer. The train departed from the station soon afterwards. Maleficent thought that she and Severus were going to end up with a compartment to themselves for a moment. Then, their door opened and two of Potter's gang entered. Severus glared at them. It was Sirius Black and Remus Lupin. Severus stood up, about to tell them to get out but Sirius spoke first. He held up his hand and said, "Severus, sorry to bother you two but there's no other space for us. We all got here late and all of the other seats have been filled. Do you mind if we sit here?" Severus growled, "Yes, actually. I do mind." Maleficent jumped in and added, "It's fine. Feel free to join us." Severus gave her a sideways glance and mentally asked, "Why in tarnation did you tell them that?" With her mind, she replied, "Because I want to see if they know why Pettigrew's hanging around with Lucius." Severus moved to sit next to Maleficent while Sirius and Remus sat across from them.
"Thanks, Maleficent," Remus said. Maleficent smiled and replied, "No problem, guys. You know, I don't think any of us have officially met." She held out her hand and said, "I'm Maleficent DuGall of Slytherin House. This is Severus Snape, also of Slytherin House." Remus and Sirius shook her hand. Reluctantly, Severus held out his hand and shook hands with the other boys. "Nice to meet you two. I'm Remus Lupin and this is Sirius Black," Remus said. Severus noticed that Remus was very pale and thin for a boy his age. He was fourteen years old but was as small as a ten year old. Severus tought that it was kind of odd but did not say anything. Maleficent could see that Severus was beginning to get angry at being stuck here with the two Gryffindors so she ecided to start the conversation. "Look, I don't mean to be nosy but something's been on my mind for a little while now. A moment ago we saw Lucius Malfoy walk by with Peter Pettigrew following him. Do you know what he wanted?" she asked. Sirius raised an eyebrow and asked, "Why do you want to know?" Remus elbowed him in the side and said, "Shut up, Sirius. She's just curious, as are we. No, Maleficent, we don't know why they're suddenly hanging out. I thought Lucius hated all non-Slytherins." "Like some other people I won't mention," Sirius mumbled, but Severus heard him. "Say that again, you little..." Severus began but Maleficent interrupted. "Severus, Sirius, that's enough from both of you. Remus and I are trying to have a civilized conversation." Thankfully, both boys went silent. Remus said, "It didn't surprise me to see Malfoy hanging around with David Lestrange and his girlfriend, Alice or even Rob McNair, as they're all three from Slytherin too. But when we saw Peter and some Hufflepuff boy walking with him, we got a little suspicious." "We did too," Maleficent said. By the time the group had arrived at Hogwarts, Maleficent had agreed to try to find out what was going on for Remus and Sirius, much to Severus's dismay. He kept telling her not to worry about it and to stay out of it. Maleficent chose not to listen though.
After the train arrived at Hogwarts, the students all went up to the castle for the Sorting Ceremony and the feast. During the feast, Maleficent noticed that Severus seemed really quiet. "Severus, what's wrong?" she finally asked him. Severus looked around for Lucius and saw him talking to a group of first years that were sitting a few places for from them. He turned to Maleficent, took her hand, and whispered, "Maleficent, please promise me that you won't go looking for Lucius or try to figure this out. I've...I've got a bad feeling about this." Maleficent looked at him strangely. "Why? Severus, do you know what's going on?" she asked. Severus said, "Well, I don't know really. I mean, I might know, but it really weird." Mentally he said, "I'll tell you what I know tonight."
At the end of the feast, Dumbledore got up and began making his usual announcements. But one of his announcements caught the attention of all of the students. "This year, we're going to begin a new tradition at Hogwarts. At the beginning of the second term, we will hold a Yule Ball. Only 4th years and up will be allowed to attend. However, if you would like to bring a date who is younger than that, it will be allowed. You will need dress robes as well. I know it was not on your list of supplies, but there is a shop in Hogsmeade. You will be able to purchase them there, or your parents can send them to you. Now, off to bed," Dumbledore said. Maleficent was amazed! A Yule Ball! But, she didn't have any dress robes or any money with her to go buy some. She would just write her mother. She went down to the common room and sat in a chair on the far side of the room. Severus joined her there. Around midnight, the last of the students headed off to bed, leaving them there alone.
Severus turned to Maleficent and said, "All right, here's all I know. Do you remember when Lucius wanted to meet me alone one night?" Maleficent nodded. Severus continued, "Well, he wanted me to join a group of wizards called the Death Eaters. They're a revolutionary group who want to bring someone called Lord Voldemort to power as a great leader, but the whole thing sounds fishy to me. I mean, they'll only allow pure bloods to join. No Muggle borns. Half bloods are accepted but looked down upon. Honestly, I think this group is really out there to get rid of all of the Muggles and Muggle born witches and wizards. I don't have any proof, but look at all the people hanging around Lucius lately. Most are Slytherins and all are pure blood. I don't think it's a very good group of people overall. I mean, what if those people who were with Lucius have also joined? We know Pettigrew's a scumbag. Davd Lestrange really isn't very nice and neither is Alice, his girlfriend. And Rob McNair is one of the meanest people in this House! He got a week of detentions and almost got expelled for setting fire to a barrel of flobberworms in Care of Magical Creatures last year. He's a rather mean guy." Maleficent asked, "But if you knew all this, why didn't you tell Remus and Sirius about it?" Severus cried, "Why do you think I didn't tell them? They're Gryffindors and just want to help that creep Pettigrew. I'm not doing anything that might help him out." Severus put ahand on her shoulder and gently said, "Please, don't go looking for trouble, Maleficent. I don't want something bad to happen to you. I don't want you getting mixed up in all this. I know, I don't have any proof but this really seems like a bad idea to me." In the end, Maleficent agreed to stay out of it, but she decided to tell Remus and Sirius about it the next day.