The following week Harry and Talitha spent every moment outside of lessons with Sirius.
On Monday, Talitha was walking down the corridor on her way to see Sirius at lunchtime when she saw Snape walking along the corridor towards her. It was the first time she had seen him since Sirius had returned. He must have just got back from St. Mungo's. He was limping slightly.
"Ok keep calm, you know what you have to do" she said to herself.
"Good Morning Professor Snape" She forced a smile at him "Can I speak to you please?" She said glancing towards an empty classroom. Snape nodded. They both went into the classroom
"Severus. I want to give you my greatest thanks for what you did." She said. Snape nodded again.
"I also wanted to say that, although I don't think we will ever be friends after what happened in the past, can we at least try and be civil to each other? I spoke to Remus and Sirius last night about it and we think it's about time that all four of us grew up and put our school days behind us. We are all on the same side now and that is what is important"
"I agree with you completely" Snape replied. Talitha thought she saw a small smile on his face. "I appreciate you saying this to me" he continued "I know it must have been hard for you. I apologise also"
Talitha smiled at him and they shook hands.
"McKenzie, I was wondering actually if I could have a word with you about one of the students" Snape added.
Draco Malfoy was sitting at the Slytherin House table after dinner that evening when Talitha walked up behind him.
"Malfoy, my office, now please" she said
"But I haven't done…"
"Now Malfoy" Malfoy followed her sulkily through the castle. They entered her office and Talitha closed the door behind them.
"I told you, I haven't done anything" Malfoy stated
"I never said you had" Talitha replied "Now take a seat" Malfoy sat down in an armchair
"Draco, I want to talk to you about your father"
"I don't know where he is"
"Let me finish, please. I want to talk to you about your father being a Death Eater. I'm worried about you going the same way. Your father, when he turns up, will try and get you to join Voldemort, of that I am sure. What I am not clear about Draco is you, I don't think you want to be a Death Eater. I don't think you don't want to kill people for no reason, I can tell that. I don't think you even believe in most of what your father does and says. I think that most of your hatred towards others, muggle-borns in particular, is just because that is what your father has taught you and you are desperate to please him"
Malfoy remained silent
"I'll take your silence to mean you at least don't completely disagree." Talitha continued.
"Erm" Malfoy said, not really sure how to answer.
"Draco, you don't have to please your father. I know it would be very hard to go against him but it's important that when you need to you make the right decision" Talitha smiled at him warmly. "I want to help you Draco. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
Malfoy nodded.
"Just think about what I have said Draco. Your father is bad news and he's just going to drag you down with him if you don't put a stop to it"
Ron and Hermione sat talking in the common room while Harry had gone to visit Sirius
"It's so obvious they like each other" Hermione said.
"We just need to find a way to get them together" Ron replied. Hermione nudged him as Ginny made her way over to where they were sitting. Ron changed the subject quickly and started talking about Charlie's latest creature that he had got for his class. Ginny sat down and looked at them both suspiciously. A few minutes later Harry joined them.
"Erm, Hermione, can you have a look at that charms homework with me" Ron said suddenly.
"What charms… oh yeah right. Let's go down to the library" She replied. Ron and Hermione stood up and left.
"Was it something I said?" Harry grinned. Ginny laughed.
"I think they were trying to be subtle" she replied.
"What?"
"I think they're trying to set us up"
"Me and you?" Harry felt himself going slightly red in the face as Ginny nodded. There was a moment of uncomfortable silence.
"Ginny, do you want to come to Hogsmeade with me next weekend?" Harry asked cautiously.
"I'd love to" Ginny replied with a big smile on her face "Looks like their plan worked then" They both laughed.
On Monday, Talitha was walking down the corridor on her way to see Sirius at lunchtime when she saw Snape walking along the corridor towards her. It was the first time she had seen him since Sirius had returned. He must have just got back from St. Mungo's. He was limping slightly.
"Ok keep calm, you know what you have to do" she said to herself.
"Good Morning Professor Snape" She forced a smile at him "Can I speak to you please?" She said glancing towards an empty classroom. Snape nodded. They both went into the classroom
"Severus. I want to give you my greatest thanks for what you did." She said. Snape nodded again.
"I also wanted to say that, although I don't think we will ever be friends after what happened in the past, can we at least try and be civil to each other? I spoke to Remus and Sirius last night about it and we think it's about time that all four of us grew up and put our school days behind us. We are all on the same side now and that is what is important"
"I agree with you completely" Snape replied. Talitha thought she saw a small smile on his face. "I appreciate you saying this to me" he continued "I know it must have been hard for you. I apologise also"
Talitha smiled at him and they shook hands.
"McKenzie, I was wondering actually if I could have a word with you about one of the students" Snape added.
Draco Malfoy was sitting at the Slytherin House table after dinner that evening when Talitha walked up behind him.
"Malfoy, my office, now please" she said
"But I haven't done…"
"Now Malfoy" Malfoy followed her sulkily through the castle. They entered her office and Talitha closed the door behind them.
"I told you, I haven't done anything" Malfoy stated
"I never said you had" Talitha replied "Now take a seat" Malfoy sat down in an armchair
"Draco, I want to talk to you about your father"
"I don't know where he is"
"Let me finish, please. I want to talk to you about your father being a Death Eater. I'm worried about you going the same way. Your father, when he turns up, will try and get you to join Voldemort, of that I am sure. What I am not clear about Draco is you, I don't think you want to be a Death Eater. I don't think you don't want to kill people for no reason, I can tell that. I don't think you even believe in most of what your father does and says. I think that most of your hatred towards others, muggle-borns in particular, is just because that is what your father has taught you and you are desperate to please him"
Malfoy remained silent
"I'll take your silence to mean you at least don't completely disagree." Talitha continued.
"Erm" Malfoy said, not really sure how to answer.
"Draco, you don't have to please your father. I know it would be very hard to go against him but it's important that when you need to you make the right decision" Talitha smiled at him warmly. "I want to help you Draco. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
Malfoy nodded.
"Just think about what I have said Draco. Your father is bad news and he's just going to drag you down with him if you don't put a stop to it"
Ron and Hermione sat talking in the common room while Harry had gone to visit Sirius
"It's so obvious they like each other" Hermione said.
"We just need to find a way to get them together" Ron replied. Hermione nudged him as Ginny made her way over to where they were sitting. Ron changed the subject quickly and started talking about Charlie's latest creature that he had got for his class. Ginny sat down and looked at them both suspiciously. A few minutes later Harry joined them.
"Erm, Hermione, can you have a look at that charms homework with me" Ron said suddenly.
"What charms… oh yeah right. Let's go down to the library" She replied. Ron and Hermione stood up and left.
"Was it something I said?" Harry grinned. Ginny laughed.
"I think they were trying to be subtle" she replied.
"What?"
"I think they're trying to set us up"
"Me and you?" Harry felt himself going slightly red in the face as Ginny nodded. There was a moment of uncomfortable silence.
"Ginny, do you want to come to Hogsmeade with me next weekend?" Harry asked cautiously.
"I'd love to" Ginny replied with a big smile on her face "Looks like their plan worked then" They both laughed.