Usual disclaimer applies…Harry Potter is the property of J. K. Rowling.
A/N: Sorry for the delay. This summer was really busy, working two jobs and taking a summer class. Just got back to school and had to organize my schedule and stuff, but I hope that now I'm settled again, the chapters will come more regularly. Hope everyone enjoys the chapter!
The Secret
Chapter Sixteen; Pansy Parkinson
She awoke slowly, extremely refreshed after finally having a full nights sleep. Stretching languorously, she sighed contentedly before petting her purring cat.
Hermione jumped out of bed, squinting as the bright sunlight hit her eyes as she opened the curtains enclosing her bed. Quietly, for her roommates were still asleep, she gathered her clothes and headed to the showers.
After a relaxing shower, Hermione dressed and made her way to the Common Room to get started on some reading. Even though her grandmother hadn't actually started the lessons for Animagus training yet, she had given Hermione a number of books to start reading. She sat down, put her headphones on and buried her nose in the book.
A short time later, a rather rumpled-looking Harry walked down the steps from the boy's dormitory. Finding Hermione in the group of people starting to congregate before breakfast started, he made his way over to her.
"Morning, 'Mya," he said. When she didn't answer him, he walked around to the other side of the table, where he was now peering over her shoulder. "'Mya, what are you doing?" he asked. When she didn't answer again, he poked her shoulder.
Jumping in shock, Hermione grabbed her headphones, which had been hidden under a curtain of hair, and took them off her head. Placing a hand on her chest to still her breathing, she exclaimed, "Merlin, Harry! You scared me half to death!"
Harry chuckled, earning a glare from his best friend. Ignoring it, he sat down next to her and peered over her shoulder again. "What are you working on?" He read the title and then asked surprised, "Animagus Hermione? Why are you reading a book on Animagus?"
Pulling the book back towards herself, she answered her friend exasperatedly. "Because it's interesting to me. And I want to learn how to become one."
"But doesn't it take forever to learn how? I mean, it took the Marauders almost four years!"
Hermione shook her head. "No, actually it takes a lot less time. Usually, it only takes a person about a year, even less if the witch or wizard is really powerful. It took the Marauders so long because they weren't properly trained by a professional. They also only had between classes and on weekends to teach themselves."
"But won't you have the same amount of time to learn? I mean, you can't get proper training now, can you?" Harry asked, intrigued.
Hermione shook her head again, thinking quickly. "No, actually I'm planning on taking a course over the summer. The Ministry offers them at different times throughout the year for anyone who wants to take it. They have to be of age, of course, and by the end of this year, I will be," she said, relieved she had come up with something believable in so little time. Harry definitely could not find out that she was going to be learning this year, taught by her grandmother, no less.
"Wicked," Harry said. "Sounds interesting. Maybe we can take it together!"
"Yea, that'd be fun," Hermione agreed, suddenly filled with guilt at having to lie to her best friend. The fact that it was Harry just made her feel worse.
Noticing that she was staring at him with a rather odd expression, Harry put his hand on her shoulder, suddenly worried. "Hermione, you okay?"
Nodding and quickly turning her head away, she sighed and answered, "I'm fine, Harry. I'm just tired, that's all."
He sat looking at her for a while as she concentrated on her book, almost instantaneously becoming absorbed in the text again. A thought flickered through his mind and he blushed and turned away.
What I wouldn't give for her to concentrate on me like she does that book. What I wouldn't give to be that book.
(Think Romeo and Juliet's balcony scene where Juliet is leaning on her hand and Romeo wishes that he was a glove on her hand. Hehe couldn't resist putting it in their.)
Before the thought could expand, Ron came bounding down the stairs from the boys dormitory, finally dressed and ready to go to the Great Hall.
"Oi, time for breakfast. Put down your book, Hermione, I'm starved…let's go!" He exclaimed, practically dragging Harry and Hermione from their seats, much to their amusement.
"Ow, Ron let go! You can't drag us through the portrait hole. Ron, let go of my arm! It's not like I'm going anywhere, I am going to breakfast too, you know!" exclaimed Hermione, trying to get free of Ron as he dragged them through the portrait hole and through the halls.
Turning his head to face her as he speed-walked, he whined, "But Her-mio-ne!!! You walk sooo slowly!!"
Harry and Hermione both laughed at his response. Looking helplessly at one another, they finally gave up trying to fight Ron and just struggled to keep up with him as he pulled them along.
Coming down the last flight of the stairs, the laughing trio was stopped by the drawling voice of Draco Malfoy. "Well, well, well. If it isn't Potty and his two sidekicks."
* * * *
Draco woke with a start, breathing heavily and glistening with sweat. He had dreamt of his father again. It was an odd, swirling dream that had his father yelling at him and handling whips and canes and whatnot. Not very pleasant, on the whole, and disturbing since Draco had been having them since that last beating Lucius had given him.
Rolling out of bed with a groan, he took a much-needed shower and, after getting dressed, went down to the Common Room to wait for Crabbe and Goyle to finish getting dressed.
Sneering at the students in the younger years, he made himself comfortable in an armchair and waited impatiently for the other boys. He moaned in despair and tried to hide in the armchair as he heard Pansy's shrill voice and Millicent's husky one talking from the girl's stairway. Praying to anyone who was listening that they wouldn't see him, he groaned again as he heard Pansy.
"Ooh, Draco! There you are. We can go to breakfast together," she said, incredibly pleased with the situation.
"Pansy, Millicent," he replied coldly, nodding to both of them. He then returned to staring around the common room, ignoring the obnoxiously pitched chattering of the girls beside him. He continued this until he heard the two lumbering oafs traipsing down the stairs, followed by Blaise Zambini's measured steps.
"Finally," Draco grunted impatiently before standing and leading the way out of the common room. He was actually very glad at the moment that he had never treated anyone in Slytherin with any sort of decency. At the moment, he had absolutely no intention of treating these 'friends' of his with anything but disdain and disgust.
This is what Professor Snape must go through at every meeting. He must feel like this all the time, he thought suddenly. Draco felt slightly comforted by the fact that someone else was in the type of position he was in, and saddened that his Professor had probably felt like this for a large number of years.
Walking slightly ahead of the others, he paid little attention to their conversation till he heard them mention the Gryffindor Trio, Hermione in particular.
Pansy was talking, her pug-face pinched into a disgusted look. "I mean, can you believe the Mudblood? It's only the first week of classes and already she's annoying everyone with her hand-raising," she sneered. "Not to mention that she obviously helps Potter and Weasley. If it weren't for her help, we would be at the top of the class, not them! They are going to pay this year. They are going to pay for what they did to Draco and you two last year," she started, looking at Crabbe and Goyle who grinned evilly. "And for ruining the Lord's plans for the past four years in a row!" she added after brief pause.
While the others nodded and agreed with her, she grinned evilly, whispering under her breath, yet loud enough for the rest of them to hear. "Oh, yes, they will pay. The Master is going to see to that. Little-Miss-Mudblood won't be the top of the class this year, not if the Master has anything to say about it," she finished, proudly holding her head high and slightly touching her left arm where the Dark Mark was burned into her flesh.
The others gasped and looked at her in shock, and the six stopped walking. Millicent was the first to speak.
"You…you mean you actually met Him?" she whispered in awe after checking quickly to make sure that no one was around to hear them.
Pansy nodded superiorly before answering. "I also received the Mark. I was at my first meeting when the Lord mentioned his plans for Potter, Weasley and Granger, but he swore everyone to secrecy. I would show you the Mark, but-"
"But that would be moronic, seeing as how we're in the middle of the hallway!" Draco hissed harshly, heart pounding at what he had just heard. There was a Death Eater in his group of 'friends', and Merlin only knew how many more in his House.
This is it, Draco thought. I'm becoming a spy for the Order. There is no way that I'm going to be able to live with these people, not knowing what they know. If I can find out what the Dark Lord has planned, I can warn Dumbledore and he'd know what to do.
He was interrupted by Pansy's indignant whining. "I'm not stupid, Draco. I wasn't going to show them!"
"No, but you sure as hell were talking loud enough for anyone to hear you. There are people around here who could have heard you. Think of what would have happened…of how displeased He would be if you were caught because you couldn't keep your fat mouth shut!" he said angrily.
"Draco!" Pansy said, now furious with him for everything he had said and for the way he was treating her. "I-"
"Ah, but Miss Parkinson, Young Mr. Malfoy has a point, wouldn't you agree?" interrupted the silky drawl of their Head of House.
Gasping and turning around, the five other Slytherins (Draco had seen Severus approaching and listening to their conversation) now stared in embarrassment and fear in front of a furious looking Severus Snape. Draco smirked behind the other's backs as they cowered slightly at the look in Severus's eyes.
"Pro-Professor Snape," she gulped, trying to look brave in the face of danger.
"Miss Parkinson, surely you have more sense than to go voicing your loyalties in the middle of the hall. And while you might not have actually taken out the Mark and flashed it around, you might as well have, you foolish girl," he snapped harshly. "You were loud enough, all of you, for me to be able to hear you halfway down the hall. What would have happened if I had not been alone? Or if there had been a student who had overheard you and gone straight to the Headmaster? Not to mention the fact that in this school, even the walls have ears and mouths," he said, disgusted with their lack of intelligence as he glanced at the portraits that lined the walls.
By now, the Slytherins all looked fairly frightened and remorseful at their behavior. Having spent four years in the Serpent's Den, they were used to be criticized by their Head of House. This however, was much harsher then anything they had ever had to deal with. They also knew not to contradict him when he was like this. However, Pansy stupidly tried to get out of the situation by arguing with him.
"But Professor! We checked first!" she whined.
Mistake number one, Draco thought gleefully as Severus's nostrils flared.
"Miss Parkinson! If you had checked, you would have seen that you were not alone in this hallway. It does not matter how many times you do check. There are always people listening, whether in portraits or with charms, or in secret passages. Even the ghosts can hear you, even though we cannot see them during the day. I am extremely disappointed in each of you! I never thought I would see the day when members of my own house would be so stupid and foolish. Now, I suggest you do not continue this conversation, but instead, make your way to the Great Hall for breakfast."
He started walking away, to the relief of Draco's housemates.
"Greasy git," Pansy muttered under her breath as Severus started to walk away.
Mistake number two, Draco thought as Severus stopped short and spun around.
"Ten points, Miss Parkinson, for putting yours and your fellow classmates in such danger because of a bit of gossip. Yes, from my own house," he answered their gasps coldly. "Five points to you, Mr. Malfoy, for using your head and trying to protect your fellow students, even while they were putting you in danger. Oh, and next time you find it necessary to talk about certain…topics…in the hallways or anywhere else outside of the common room, I am sure your parents would be thrilled to know what you are doing. Especially since you are putting yourselves and the rest of your family's lives in danger. Not only with the Aurors, but with Him as well. He would not be pleased with any of you or your parents if he were to find out that the reason some of his best and loyal followers were captured was because their children couldn't keep quiet," he sneered at them.
Severus then watched in satisfaction as their faces paled even more as his words sunk in, Pansy's considerably more than the others. "Well then," he smirked. "I suggest you make your way to breakfast. And do try to pick a more suitable topic of conversation." And with a flourish of his robes, he was gone down the hallway.
It was a rather subdued group that made their way to the Great Hall not moments later. Draco was the quietest of them all, thinking about what Pansy had revealed.
Voldemort has heard of Hermione and Ron. Definitely not a good thing. I wonder if it was my fault, always complaining to Lucius about them. Merlin, I hope it wasn't my fault. Pansy and the others are going to do everything in their power to antagonize them this year, and to get them to fight back. And that will just give them a reason to hurt the Gryffindors. Argh…and if I don't go along with them, Lucius and Voldemort will definitely hear about it, he thought as they made their way closer to the Hall.
So it was with slight apprehension that Draco caught sight of the three Gryffindors coming down the last flight of stairs. Knowing that he would be questioned by the others if he refused to bait the trio, he sighed inaudibly and steeled his shoulders. With his customary mask of disgust on, he led the group of Slytherins towards the bottom of the stairs.
As Ron pulled the other two down the last steps, he started. "Well, well, well." He wracked his brain for something swift but effective that would get him out of this situation as soon as possible. "If it isn't Potty and his two sidekicks."
"Shut it, Malfoy," Harry said coldly as the three stopped short in front of their group. Immediately there was a hush in the hall as the two groups faced off.
"What's the rush Weasel?" Draco continued, ignoring Harry.
Hermione stepped to the side of Ron and put one hand on his arm as his face started to redden.
"You sure are running awfully fast towards the Hall. What happened…run out of money in that shack of yours and couldn't afford enough food for that disgustingly large family of yours? No wonder you're running to breakfast. This simple meal must seem like a feast to you," he finished, glancing at Hermione before redirecting his gaze back to Ron, whose face was now darker than his hair. He felt quite bad as Ron and Harry stared coldly back at him, wands drawn after the crack about the Weasley's not having any food in their household.
"You little snot-nosed ferret!" Ron hissed angrily. "What the hell-"
Before he could finish his sentence, Hermione interrupted him again, having seen her grandmother and Professor Sprout approaching quickly. "It's not worth it Ron. He's not worth it, and soon the professors will be here because of the crowd," she pleaded softly, her hand on his wand arm softly pressing downwards so he would lower his wand.
Ron looked from her to the smirking Slytherins before finally seeing the two professors in the background who were swiftly making their way towards the group. Finally, he slowly lowered his wand and started to turn away.
Pansy smirked and called out, "Whipped by a stupid Mudblood, Weasel? That's even more of a disgrace than your pitiful family is."
The crowd gasped as they saw the Professors standing behind the Slytherins. Hermione almost laughed out loud when she caught sight of the look on Pansy's face when the furious Deputy Headmistress cleared her throat.
"Miss Parkinson," she said, radiating coldness. "It would be in your best interest to follow me immediately. The rest of you, head into breakfast now before more problems arise and I have to start handing out detentions," she said, glaring at the rest of the Slytherins and Gryffindors, then at the crowd surrounding them.
Winona was furious. She knew that her granddaughter had had some trouble with the Slytherins in the past because of her relationship with Harry and Ron. She had never realized that Hermione was so harshly ridiculed for something that she would have had no control over whatsoever it she were, in fact, Muggle-born. But the fact that she was ridiculed for something that was so far from the truth would have been laughable if the situation weren't so serious. Like Hermione could ever be mistaken far a Muggle-born student! With the power she had?!
As Winona disappeared down the hall with Pansy, Professor Sprout shooed the rest of the crowd into the Great Hall. As Hermione and Harry were trying to calm Ron down and get him into the hall, they heard a whispered "I'm sorry" before Draco and the other Slytherins swept past them.
Once seated at the Gryffindor table, Ron started ranting almost immediately. "Why, that no good, slimy, son on a –"
"Ron!" Hermione interrupted disapprovingly. "You do know that he didn't-"
"Hermione, how can you defend him? Come on!" Ron interrupted her, not hearing a word Hermione had tried to say. "Did you hear him? I could wring that stupid ferret's neck! What I wouldn't do…I knew we shouldn't have trusted him so easily!" he snapped quietly yet harshly to Hermione and Harry. "The first chance he gets and he's already insulting us. How could Dumbledore have trusted him?"
"Ron, he mentioned on the train that he wasn't going to stop teasing and baiting us. He has to, just like we have to fight him back every time so that no one will notice that anything is different," Harry said softly. "Look, I'm not happy about this either, it's not like I like being insulted, but we have to go along with it and not take it to heart."
"Harry's right, Ron," Hermione agreed. "It would look odd if he suddenly stopped baiting us after all these years of constant fighting."
"But that's just it, Hermione! We've spent the last four years practically at war with him, and now all of a sudden he's a changed person? I just don't know. I don't believe that that was an act, but I do think that what we saw on the train was. I think that it was just to get us to trust him with information," he finished.
"Ron, that's ridiculous. Yes, before this year we had to watch our backs practically every second that we were around him. And I would have laughed at you and have you sent to St. Mungo's if you told me that he would be on our side this year. But now, after our talk on the train, and the two or three that I have had with him since then, I truly believe he is telling the truth. Believe me, I have definitely heard of much weirder things happening than someone switching sides," she finished, a far-away look in her eyes as she thought of all the secrets her family had revealed to her just a few weeks ago.
"Hermione, you okay?" Harry asked, glancing at Ron who shrugged.
"Yes, I'm fine. Sorry," she said after Harry prodded her shoulder, mirroring the actions of that morning.
"But Hermione," Ron continued as if nothing had happened. "I still don't think we should trust him. I mean, he insulted my family again, and then just stood there when Parkinson insulted you. It's getting to be enough!" he said angrily.
"Well, its not as if he can just stand up for us, now can he? But he did keep his promise not to call me a Mudblood anymore, didn't he?" Hermione asked, trying to get him to calm down again, but only infuriating him more.
"That stupid Parkinson! Pug-nosed twit. If she weren't a girl…" he trailed off into quiet mutterings, some accompanied by rather disturbing hand gestures.
"Ron…Ron…Ron!" Hermione said, trying to get his attention. When he didn't look up or stop muttering at all, she became slightly upset.
"For Merlin's sake, Ron, will you please SHUT UP!?!" she finally hissed angrily, slamming her hand down onto the table, wishing he would just stop talking.
She, and anyone looking at that moment, was shocked when all of a sudden, sound stopped coming from Ron's still moving mouth. Suddenly realizing that he was no longer emitting any sounds, he snapped his jaw shut in surprise. Several seconds later, he opened his mouth again and formed the word 'what'. Everyone sitting around him saw him mouth the word and was all shocked when still, no sound came out.
As Ron began to panic, Hermione did some quick calculations and began to worry. Standing up and making her way up to the Headmaster, she caught his eye and asked him to join her.
Smiling benignly he walked over to her before he noticed her worried state.
"Child, what's the matter?" he asked immediately.
"Well, sir, Ron was muttering to himself, and being quite annoying a couple of minutes ago. I think that I got a little mad and yelled at him to shut up. Sir, I think I shut him up, because he can't say anything anymore," she finished in a small voice, looking extremely nervous and slightly confused as she twisted her hands in her robes.
"Why did you not just end the Silencing spell then, Hermione?" he asked curiously, his small smile hidden by the massive hair that made up his beard.
"But sir, I never cast a spell! I only wished he would shut up. I never even reached for my wand!" She said, clearly becoming upset.
Quietly, so that no one would hear them, he said comfortingly, "Hermione, he will be alright. Your powers are growing faster than we all expected them too. This is just another form your wand less magic is going to take. There may be instances in the future when you are wishing strongly for something and it will just happen, with no wand or spell or anything. All you need to do is wish for him to be able to speak again. If that does not work, envision yourself lifting the Silencing Charm off of Mr. Weasley," he finished.
Glancing at the now red and frantic Ron, she took a deep breath and wished he would be able to talk. She closed her eyes and pictured Ron yelling about something or other.
"Well done, Hermione," she heard Albus murmur before she opened her eyes to an extremely loud squawk from Ron's direction. Smiling in relief, she beamed at the Headmaster before quickly making her way back to her spot at the table, where Ron was talked excitedly, having completely forgotten about Draco.
* * * *
Albus walked back to the High Table, to his seat in between Severus and Winona. Winona had just returned from assigning Pansy detention and removing a sufficient amount of House Points from Slytherin, after giving her a good tongue-lashing, of course.
"Is everything alright, Albus?" she asked worriedly.
"Hmmm? Oh, yes, everything is fine. It seems that her powers are progressing quite rapidly. She has performed a rather advanced Silencing spell simply by wishing for Mr. Weasley to cease talking," he said, extremely amused.
There was silence from his companions for a second before they both started chuckling softly, both fighting smiles that threatened to appear.
"Well done, well done. Finally she has succeeded where we have all failed. I have been trying to quiet Mr. Weasley for years now," Severus said, trying not to let his pride at his niece's accomplishment show.
"I have some disturbing new, Albus," Severus said several minutes later, breaking the relaxed silence. After making sure he had Albus' and Winona's attention, he spoke, only loud enough for the two of them to hear. "Pansy Parkinson has taken the Mark."
Albus sighed, immediately saddened that he had lost yet another student, while Winona looked uncertain and furious at once.
"Are you sure she has the Mark, Severus?" she asked, not wanting to believe that a fifth year would join the enemy, yet not putting it past the wretched girl.
"Positive, Winona. She was stupid enough to almost show the whole corridor, foolish girl that she is," he said in disgust. "I overheard her and the others in her year discussing what He wants for this year. They were in the middle of the first level Dungeon, right where anyone could hear them. As I approached, Draco Malfoy was reprimanding the others about talking about it out of the common room. I think he is getting nervous, Albus," he finished, glancing at where Draco was sitting at the Slytherin table.
"Hmmm, I believe this information may be a significant factor in helping young Mr. Malfoy reach his decision," Albus said.
"What does Draco Malfoy have to do with Pansy Parkinson taking the Mark? What are you not telling me, Albus?" Winona asked irritably.
"You haven't told her Albus?" Severus asked, arching an elegant eyebrow in surprise.
Albus shook his head, much to the amusement of Severus. "You know as well as I do that it is far safer to not share a piece of information with everyone in a specific group, especially something as vital and potentially life threatening as this is." At Severus's and Winona's nods of agreement, he continued. "However, since you are now partially responsible for Mr. Malfoy, I believe it would be beneficial for you to know as well," he said to Winona.
"This summer, after many rather unfortunate experiences with his father, young Mr. Malfoy came to the decision that he no longer wished to join Voldemort's forces, following in his father's footsteps. He was given several choices, by myself, as to what he would like to do with his new freedom. From looking at the young man now, after what he was just told by Miss Parkinson, I am willing to believe that Mr. Malfoy is leaning towards entering the Death Eater's ranks as a spy, like you Severus," he finished.
The three glanced towards the Slytherin table. Draco was sitting, listening intently to whatever was being discussed by Blaise, Pansy and Millicent. From the intense look on his face, he seemed to be quite sickened by whatever he was hearing, but forcing himself to listen.
Severus sighed. "I had hoped he would not choose that path, that it would not have had to come to that," he said wistfully.
"Don't we all, Severus. Don't we all," agreed Albus, uncharacteristically subdued.
After several seconds of watching the students milling around the hall, laughing and talking with their friends, Winona asked quietly, "What is to be done with Miss Parkinson, Albus?"
Albus sighed before answering. "I am afraid that nothing can be done. If someone were to mention the incident to her, she and the group would immediately suspect Severus, since he was the only one to overhear the conversation. They would inevitably tell their parents, and then the information would reach Voldemort's ears in no time. We cannot afford Severus's loyalty to be questioned," he said tiredly.
"But what about the paintings, Albus? Surely if you mentioned…" Winona trailed off as Albus shook his head. "I am afraid it would look too much like a coincidence. Especially since Severus mentioned the portraits while he was talking to them. We cannot say anything or act any differently towards the girl, or the others. It would only alert them that someone knows something and is betraying them," he said.
"Humph," Winona sniffed. "If I'm acting differently towards Miss Parkinson, she will definitely not suspect that it was because of the Mark," she said, lips thinning in anger.
"What do you mean, Winona?" Severus asked curiously.
"Well, right before breakfast, I walked into the middle of a…discussion…between the Slytherin and the Gryffindor fifth years," she started.
Albus's eyes twinkled at the insinuation and Severus sighed, exasperated. "Let me guess. It was Pansy and the same group I had talked to, probably not five minutes beforehand. And of course, it was Potter, Weasley and Hermione," he stated, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Down to the last person," Winona confirmed, nodding. "Hermione had seen me coming and had successfully persuaded Mr. Weasley and Mr. Potter to lower their wands. As I walked up behind Miss Parkinson, I believe her phrasing was 'Whipped by a stupid Mudblood' and then went on to insult Mr. Weasley's family, yet again," she finished angrily. Turning to Severus she snapped, "Did you know they treated your niece like that? And from the way she didn't even react, it must have been going on for a number of years, at least!"
Severus nodded shortly, displeasure radiating off of him. "Yes, I knew. And there was not a thing I could to do stop it," he grumbled through gritted teeth, obviously perplexed with the situation he was in. "Believe me, the first chance I get to retaliate, those who have mocked her, belittled her or tried to destroy her spirit will definitely be sorry! What I wouldn't do…" he trailed off, muttering obscenities under his breath, mimicking Ron's actions quite astonishingly.
Albus chuckled and patted his arm. "Careful, Severus. There are many impressionable minds here. And, if I'm not mistaken, breakfast is almost over." As Severus calmed down and replaced his mask of disgust with the world, Albus turned to Winona, eyes twinkling. "So, Winona, how many points did Miss Parkinson lose?"
Winona chuckled slightly before answering. "Thirty points off for heartlessly insulting a fellow student, and a fellow student's family. And a detention this Friday with Argus for use of such a crude word in front of the younger students."
Both Severus and Albus nodded, satisfied with the girl's punishment.
"This definitely does not seem to be Miss Parkinson's day when it comes to House Points, does it Severus?" he asked, twinkling.
Severus scowled before nodding to the smiling man seated next to him.
"Severus Snape. Did you take House Points off of you own House?!" Winona exclaimed in amusement, faking astonishment. Her mood suddenly brightened considerably at the thought.
"It was only ten," he grumbled. "And I've taken points off before, so stop making such a fuss about it," he snapped as both Winona and Albus laughed.
"Ah, but Severus, that was what, nine, ten years ago? When that young man exploded his cauldron and singed your eyebrows off, correct?" he asked innocently.
Severus's expression darkened as Winona snorted, trying not to burst out laughing. "It was ten years ago. And I would appreciate it if you refrained from bringing that up ever again," he practically snarled.
Completely ignoring Severus, Albus continued merrily. "Ah, I remember now. It was Mr. Zambini's cousin, Bryant, correct? If I'm not mistaken, Rose had to use Muggle eyeliner to fill in your eyebrows for about three weeks until they grew back. Yes, that was it," he finished, looking off into the distance, a dreamy expression on his face as he reminisced.
By this time, Severus looked like he was going to murder his employer. It did not help that Winona was laughing so hard she had started coughing, having tried to swallow water to ease her hiccups. The thought of Severus with penciled in eyebrows almost brought her to tears.
Before Severus could say something, or do anything drastic, Albus snapped out of his daydream and changed the subject. "Speaking of Rose (a snort from Winona), do you know where she is, Severus? I haven't seen her at breakfast yet, and it is almost time to go."
Not having forgiven Albus for telling Winona about that God-awful accident, he answered shortly, still scowling. "She is talking to her parents. They Flooed us this morning after receiving our Owl about the wedding. She is having breakfast with them in our quarters and should be ready in time for her first class. And speaking of which, if you would excuse me?" he nodded curtly to Albus and Winona before sweeping out of the side door, Winona's and Albus's chuckles following out the door.
* * * *
A/N: Just a quick question for everyone. When talking about Minerva and Hermione, should I call them Alexial and Winona or will that just confuse everyone? Let me know your opinions!
A/N2: The part about Romeo and Juliet was inspired by my Shakespeare class. I had just read that scene when I started writing the chapter, so it was fresh in my mind. Couldn't resist using it in there.
A/N3: Severus might seem slightly OOC this chapter, towards the end when he is showing a lot of emotion. Just remember that he really isn't, it's just his eyes that show his emotion. Albus and Minerva are sitting close enough to read his reactions, and remember that they have been working with him for long enough to be able to read the slight changes in his facial expressions. Anyway, just wanted to add that, so that it doesn't seem too odd. Hope everyone enjoyed the chapter! Please review!!