Five weeks passed quickly. Most of the Slytherins still gave Erin a hard
time, but between her new friends and Professor Snape, they had difficulty
affecting her.
Blaise, Calvin, Sarah, and Erin had quickly formed a close little group. When Erin wasn't with the Gryffindors, she was with them. As Blaise had suggested, they were the outcasts of Slytherin, the fringe around the society. Malfoy was the prince, a fact that Erin grew to resent almost as greatly as her friend Blaise did. Sara didn't particularly care, and Calvin had only one thing to say - "Pride comes before a fall." For Blaise and Erin, however, this was not all that comforting.
Snape quite simply confused Erin. He was cruel, sarcastic, and hateful. And yet he was looking after her. It was nothing very obvious, but it was there. Like once, just as Malfoy was beginning to walk over and torment her, Snape had stopped him for a moment to ask him about his essay, giving Erin time to escape. What was really strange was that her Gryffindor friends all insisted that Snape took the Mudblood vs. Pureblood thing very seriously. So why was her protecting her?
Normally, Erin was smart enough to not bite the hand that fed her. But she had become increasingly curious about her Head. And increasingly frustrated with Snape's dealings with the Gryffindors. So she did something very stupid.
She fought with him.
It was a typical double Potions - Neville was already in tears.
"Stupid boy," Snape spat. "Do you ever listen? How many times did I say to add only one turtle egg? One, Longbottom! Not one dozen!"
"So-sorry," whimpered Neville. "I-I didn't m-mean to. M-malfoy pushed them in."
"I've had enough of your lies," snarled Snape, his black eyes glittering with malice. "Clean it up immediately, and then report for your detention after - "
Erin suddenly found herself on her feet. "Professor," she said loudly, "it's not his fault. Draco pushed the box in, like Neville said. I saw him."
"Sit down, Ms. Cooper."
"But Professor - "
"Sit down!"
"It's not his fault!" shouted Erin. "But you don't care!"
"Cooper, sit down now!"
"You just want to take points from Gryffindor!" Erin screamed. "That's all you care about! The stupid House Cup!"
"SIT DOWN!"
"NO!"
They faced each other, Erin's chest heaving, Snape's hands clenched in fury. The students, Slytherin and Gryffindor alike, stared at them in silent horror.
Snape's nostrils were flared with anger, but somehow he managed to contain it. "Detention, Cooper," said Snape through gritted teeth. "For a week. Another word and it will be five weeks. Sit. Down. Now."
Slowly Erin sat, still staring at Snape. You could have heard a pin drop.
The bell rang. Everybody except for Snape and Erin jumped.
"Class dismissed," said Snape coldly, still holding Erin's gaze. "Cooper, you will report to Filch for your detentions."
The class left silently. As the last person filed out, Erin rose and deliberately walked out, her head held high. Snape did not call her back.
Blaise, Calvin, Sarah, and Erin had quickly formed a close little group. When Erin wasn't with the Gryffindors, she was with them. As Blaise had suggested, they were the outcasts of Slytherin, the fringe around the society. Malfoy was the prince, a fact that Erin grew to resent almost as greatly as her friend Blaise did. Sara didn't particularly care, and Calvin had only one thing to say - "Pride comes before a fall." For Blaise and Erin, however, this was not all that comforting.
Snape quite simply confused Erin. He was cruel, sarcastic, and hateful. And yet he was looking after her. It was nothing very obvious, but it was there. Like once, just as Malfoy was beginning to walk over and torment her, Snape had stopped him for a moment to ask him about his essay, giving Erin time to escape. What was really strange was that her Gryffindor friends all insisted that Snape took the Mudblood vs. Pureblood thing very seriously. So why was her protecting her?
Normally, Erin was smart enough to not bite the hand that fed her. But she had become increasingly curious about her Head. And increasingly frustrated with Snape's dealings with the Gryffindors. So she did something very stupid.
She fought with him.
It was a typical double Potions - Neville was already in tears.
"Stupid boy," Snape spat. "Do you ever listen? How many times did I say to add only one turtle egg? One, Longbottom! Not one dozen!"
"So-sorry," whimpered Neville. "I-I didn't m-mean to. M-malfoy pushed them in."
"I've had enough of your lies," snarled Snape, his black eyes glittering with malice. "Clean it up immediately, and then report for your detention after - "
Erin suddenly found herself on her feet. "Professor," she said loudly, "it's not his fault. Draco pushed the box in, like Neville said. I saw him."
"Sit down, Ms. Cooper."
"But Professor - "
"Sit down!"
"It's not his fault!" shouted Erin. "But you don't care!"
"Cooper, sit down now!"
"You just want to take points from Gryffindor!" Erin screamed. "That's all you care about! The stupid House Cup!"
"SIT DOWN!"
"NO!"
They faced each other, Erin's chest heaving, Snape's hands clenched in fury. The students, Slytherin and Gryffindor alike, stared at them in silent horror.
Snape's nostrils were flared with anger, but somehow he managed to contain it. "Detention, Cooper," said Snape through gritted teeth. "For a week. Another word and it will be five weeks. Sit. Down. Now."
Slowly Erin sat, still staring at Snape. You could have heard a pin drop.
The bell rang. Everybody except for Snape and Erin jumped.
"Class dismissed," said Snape coldly, still holding Erin's gaze. "Cooper, you will report to Filch for your detentions."
The class left silently. As the last person filed out, Erin rose and deliberately walked out, her head held high. Snape did not call her back.