Chapter 14

Muggle Magic

Written by Maddy and Moody- the one with luscious hair, and smile so fair

Already plotting her revenge on Madeleine, Michelle was in a much more considerable mood than Snape. Feeling weak and powerless seemed to worsen his already bad mood that he was always in. by the time the pair reached the classroom, they were thirty minutes late. Consequently, the scene that confronted them was not a happy one.

The seventh year Gryffindor's and Slytherins were currently arguing , with a few taking part in a brawl. Insults flying everywhere, as well as one or two curses. Students who normally resembled a normal teenager now looked like a cross between a rabbit and a hedge, where others were hopping and croaking like frogs, or were trying to climb the walls and spin webs like spiders. Normally no students would have had the guts to take part in such an incident, especially in front of Snape. However, the seventh years were so worked up that they were oblivious to Snape, who was somewhat taken aback by this. Shouting himself hoarse, Snape turned to face Michelle who had remained silent. Never in his life had Snape witnessed anyone reduce the seventh years to the point where they looked towards him for help. Without casting any spells, Michelle managed to capture their attention, stopping all insults, the brawl, and in one case a duel. Thinking that that was it, Snape prepared himself to reduce them to snivelling first years. He was greatly surprised when Michelle began to insult them all in a icily cool tone, before handing out some very creative detentions, that he was even impressed with. As her tempered cooled, and she finished reprimanding them, the students stood in perfect silence. Some looking like a scared five year old who was convinced there was a monster under their bed, where as most of them were looking at their feet, with only a couple on the verge of tears. Neville in fact, was glancing at Snape as if preparing himself to run and grab him for comfort and shelter. That small thought was enough to cause Michelle to burst out in laughter.

The student's confusion and fear increased as Michelle continued to laugh her head off, going quite read in the face. Looking at Snape for any type of explanation or any possible form of help, they found him staring at her, looking as bewildered as them. His trade mark scowl replaced his confusion as he noticed that they were all looking at him. With no hesitation Snape turned so that his body was completely in front of Michelle, and shook her with all his force. When that failed to do the trick, he lightly slapped her, taking care that the students didn't see, when the idea hit him. Quickly he put his hand in her pocket and swiftly removed the necklace. Holding it in front of her face, Michelle reacted just as he wanted, and abruptly stopped laughing. Wide eyed, she looked from the necklace grasped firmly in Snape's hand, to his eyes, and back again. In a voice no louder than a whisper, Snape stated "Although you took care of the invalids behind us admirably, that does not give you the right to further disrupt my lesson. I suggest you cease your currently pathetic and most unattractive behaviour before you further embarrass yourself and the staff of Hogwarts. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes"

"Good", turning to the seventh years, "Now as for you sorry specimens of dare I say, witches and wizards, seventy-five points will be taken from Gryffindor. If I hear one more sound another ten points will be taken and so on. Don't just stand there!" Brushing past the seventh years Snape dragged the now silent Michelle into the classroom and to the front.

While the class were taking down the list of ingredients from the board, that Snape had previously prepared, he took the opportunity to look at the necklace in further detail. It was a silver chain with an exquisite locket. The locket had an inscription in a language that he was not familiar with. As he moved his fingers to the latch, Michelle caught the movement out of the corner of her eye, and forgetting everything Snape had said, pounced on him, with little effort as they were still joined together at the hand. Shouting at him in French, she grabbed the necklace from his hand, but didn't cease in her shouting. Realising that if he kept still for much longer Michelle would likely give him a broken nose, Snape pushed her off him, before pulling them both up off the floor, where they had landed. He grabbed her free arm, trying to calm her down, which only resulted in her kicking him in the leg. The sudden pain made him involuntary let go of her arm, allowing her to wave it all over the place, nearly punching him twice. Her constant shrieking getting on his nerves, he cast a silence spell on her without her seeing. Seeing Michelle standing there silently shouting and waving her one arm around would have been amusing, if he could translate what she had previously yelled at him, not to mention the splitting headache he now had.

He turned his gaze from her to his class, who had all stopped working to watch the commotion, amusement shining in most of their eyes. The look on Snape's face soon diminished their happy moods and replaced it with a feeling of anxiety and a wish that the earth would open up and swallow them, just to get away from the lecture that was about to come their way, as well as the many point reductions and gruesome detentions.

However, much to their relief and surprise, Snape simply asked in as much of a calm voice as he could "Does anyone know what she was saying?" looking at each other with mirrored confusion and relief, they remained silent, wishing that things would go back to normal. Slowly a female voice could be heard. "Professor, she was speaking French"

"I assume you speak French miss granger"

"Yes sir"

"Good. Well don't just sit there, tell me what she said you silly girl"

"Erm… I don't think I should Professor….I mean….not here…" Hermione answered, glancing around at her classmates, hoping that Snape would get the message.

Nodding in understanding, Snape turned his attention to the class. As it seems that our time is short, and you have missed out on today's set work due to your childish behaviour, snorts and mumbling could be heard throughout the room at this, I will assign you a three foot long essay on the potion that you should have started, as well as a two foot long essay on the uses of Unicorn hair. If any of the work does not meet up to my standards, all of you ill be given detention. He explained, while looking intently at Neville at the last sentence.

"Miss Granger, you will stay behind"

"Yes Professor"

Within a couple of minutes the room was empty except for Snape, Michelle, and Hermione. As soon as Hurry and Ron had mouthed 'good luck' at Hermione, and had shut the door, Snape demanded to know exactly what Michelle had screamed at him. Summoning up all of her Gryffindor courage, Hermione translated everything that she had heard Michelle say. In any other circumstances she would have found the look on Snape's face highly amusing. By the time she finished listing the numerous insults that Michelle had said, Snape was looking even paler than before, if possible, and his fist were pure white from gripping the desk. Michelle, however, seemed to be enjoying herself immensely. Still unable to talk, she sat on Snape's desk, kicking her legs and smiling in a way that informed Hermione that if she could she would be laughing her head off. As she finished, she stood there for a couple of minutes, before Snape remembered she was still there and nodded for her to leave. Grateful to have gotten away before war broke out. She closed the door and hurriedly walked towards Gryffindor tower. About half way down the corridor, she heard Snape's voice, louder and fiercer then she had ever heard it. Although she couldn't help but feel sorry for Michelle, she had a sneaking feeling that she was more than a match for Snape, and that Snape had finally met his match.