Chapter Twenty-Six
Unbending Natures
Mercifully for both of them, classes began the next day. After an extremely uncomfortable night upon her sitting room sofa, Jennifer came to the foregone conclusion of just how ineffective the potion she was taking was for broken ribs. Transfiguring an old shirt into straps, she tied her chest up as tight as she could and still breathe freely, staring at it in the mirror with a frown. That, she realized, was something that she would never be able to hide. And although the anger she had felt towards Severus the night before had dulled into an ache of regret, somehow she knew that repairing things now would cause more problems than it would solve. Her thoughts towards her father, however, were another story. In a way she almost hoped they wouldn't speak again, for she knew if they did he would have a lot to answer for.
She forced those thoughts out of her mind and gathered up her papers, wanting nothing if not to get out of that sitting room that morning, craving some space and air away from the stifling reminders of her predicament. Taking a moment to feed and baby Ratfly a bit to make him understand she was not angry with him at least, Jennifer then grabbed her folders and headed down to the staff room for her morning coffee.
As she expected, Hermione was already there. She looked up and smiled, shuffling out Jennifer's paperwork and handing it up for her.
"Good morning. How was your holiday?" she asked, then immediately grimaced, remembering what had happened.
"Fine, relatively speaking," Jennifer sighed, getting her coffee and taking the offered papers. "We all survived it. I suppose that's what really matters."
"Any word on the investigation at all?"
"Well, we got the Ministry to admit that the break in was not internal," Jennifer said dryly. "Even though several security devices put on the house for my father's sake had been breached."
"Is that surprising considering what happened?" Hermione sighed, and Jennifer shook her head, stirring her coffee to get it to cool while Hermione watched her sympathetically. "Don't worry. Harry and the others have been searching every property Malfoy owns, not to mention following Longbottom like a hawk. They'll find them."
"I doubt Malfoy would be in a property with his own name attached to it," Jennifer said carefully, still stirring her coffee so not to give herself away that she had already looked. "And there are so many subsidiary companies that also have property it would take months to possibly find all of those, assuming he hasn't just found some abandoned property somewhere or something."
"If only there were a way to narrow it down," Hermione said. Jennifer said nothing at first, glancing over her schedule.
"Did you happen to get Aurelius and Morfinn added to the Dabbler's class?"
"Mm hm, although it did take a bit of doing, at least for Morfinn. I had to switch two of his classes, although he did seem excited about the course. In fact, he told me he and Zoë were working on something special for your regular class?" Hermione said.
"Yes, their mice didn't make it to the holidays," Jennifer explained quickly. "So I set them up with a new experiment on potion rotation to see if they can keep them healthy while still on the prescriptions."
"Well, it was a splendid solution, but are you sure it isn't a bit risky?" Hermione said, Jennifer looking up. "Well, I mean, considering what Zoë's been going through and all, and then Morfinn…I just don't want him in a situation where he's coming up with more ideas on ailments to torment himself with," she admitted with a soft chuckle. "I was hoping he'd grow out of that by now. He has such promise otherwise."
"Why do you think I put him in Dabbler's?" Jennifer said, finally daring to take a sip. "I'll keep an eye on them, Hermione."
"Of course you will," Hermione said with a smile, glancing over her papers again. "Oh! I almost forgot. Here's your copy of the forms for the student transfer. She'll have to be in Ravenclaw, you know."
"So it went through after all?" Jennifer said in surprise.
"What? I would have thought Severus would have told you about it by now considering they finalized it at dinner yesterday," Hermione said in surprise. Jennifer suddenly decided her coffee was too cold and went to get a new one. "Especially considering it wouldn't have happened at all if it hadn't been for that clever bit of extortion of his. Surely he told you about that, at least?"
"Bonjour! Good morning!"
Jennifer looked up disdainfully as Fleur walked in, so bright and cheerful that Jennifer wanted to condemn all morning people everywhere. Hermione fished out another list and held it out.
"Good morning, Fleur! Have a good holiday?"
"Oh yes, very much, thank you, but I was a bit worried about you and your husband, Jennifer," Fleur said, sitting across from her with a look of compassion on her face. "What a terrible thing to have happened, people breaking into your home! Are you all right?" Fleur asked.
"Fine," Jennifer said curtly. "My family tends to stick together in a crisis, and it's hardly the first or worst one we've been through."
"Oh, I know! You are very lucky to have such a close family, and such a devoted husband," Fleur said sincerely. But she was met with a look of pure ice as Jennifer pushed her second cup away without a sip and gathered up her papers. "Jennifer, perhaps you would agree to have lunch with me?"
"It is the first day back to class. I don't know how you conduct your classes, but I for one will be much too busy," Jennifer said, stiffly getting up.
"Perhaps later this week, then?" she suggested, causing Jennifer to sigh and turn to her.
"What do you want from me, Fleur?"
"I merely want to get to know you better. We've barely shared a dozen words in all the months I have been here. Can we not be friends, Jennifer?" Fleur asked.
"I'm going to get ready for class," Jennifer said. "See you later, Hermione."
"Can you not even make an effort? I cannot believe you are so material as all of that! I have seen you with others, and you do not act this way with them," Fleur said, standing as if to follow. "I do not want to compete with you, Jennifer!" Jennifer stopped in her tracks then, as if pondering to say what was on her mind. Instead, she decided to keep walking out the door without looking back. Fleur through up her arms. "Did I say something unclear?"
"Actually, I think you hit it right on the nose," Hermione said, attempting to hide her amusement. "Although the line about competing might have been a bit much, no matter how right it might be."
"I shouldn't have said that," Fleur agreed. "But she is so frustrating, so unyielding, so much like her father!"
"She's definitely a Craw," Hermione agreed. "But I think I may know a way to help, if you really think it's worth trying to break through it."
"Anything is better than how this is," Fleur said with exasperation, sitting back down.
"Are you busy Friday night?" Hermione asked with an enigmatic smile.
Andrew woke up in his bed, happy and hungry. It felt wonderful to be back in his houserooms again after the long holiday. Now that the other students were back and they were no longer alone, their father finally felt comfortable enough to let them return. Immediately he turned and woke Halbert up by smacking him with his pillow, his large friend immediately protesting by attempting to push and kick him away.
"Go away! It is too early to wake up! Why are you not sleeping?" he protested.
"Because my stomach woke up," Andrew said. "But that's all right, I'll go eat without you since we don't have an early class." But Halbert blinked.
"Come to think of it, my stomach is awake too. Let's go," Halbert said. As they walked down the stairs, Andrew recounted what had happened, and as always Halbert listened intently to every word. "How much longer will it be before you are able to get your things?"
"I'm not sure. My parents want to go over every single item in that house for curses beforehand, who knows how long that will take," Andrew sighed. "But honestly, I'm more worried about Grandfather. Everyone is out looking for him, and when he's found he's going to be brought in."
"Shouldn't they be looking for Lucius Malfoy instead?" Halbert said.
"Yeah," Andrew said somberly as they stepped into the Great Hall, ignoring the round of snickers from the Slytherin table as the two of them walked over to sit by Zoë and Zack. "Hullo, you two! Did your Grandmother enjoy her stay in the mansion?"
"I suppose," Zack said with a grin, "Although I'm not too sure she was crazy about the House Elves. Since they're all freed in our house, they can get a bit wild sometimes. Aunt Tony and Aunt Viviane showed up on Christmas Eve too, although Viv didn't stay long. It was almost like old times…well, except we weren't in California. The snow was nice though," he added quickly, glancing at Zoë who sat beside him looking a little bummed with her head propped in her hand. She had shoved her breakfast away untouched, flipping a stencil over and over again against some holiday homework she hadn't finished. "Sorry about your house. Was it really Lucius Malfoy?"
"Father thinks so. Men dressed like Death Eaters at any rate," Andrew said. Suddenly he got the impression that eyes were on him and he glanced around to notice that the table had gone quiet, and the rest of the students, who had been watching him intently, turned towards their food when he looked in their direction. "I didn't see them myself. What's wrong with them?"
"Oh, you know what the paper's been saying," Zack sighed. "All that rubbish about your grandfather being behind the attacks."
"Well, my grandfather wouldn't come after us," Andrew said.
"Maybe not directly," Zack said in a low voice. "But I heard Dad say that some of the Wizard Council is now speculating that perhaps Malfoy and he are working together."
Andrew stared at him for a long time before speaking.
"That has got to be the most asinine theory I have ever heard of in my entire life," Andrew declared. Zack shrugged but nodded in understanding. "Lucius Malfoy would never, and I would mean never, be caught alive in a room with my grandfather. What in the world would have prompted such a ludicrous notion?"
"There was no other way to work Lucius into the picture, I suppose, what with the case growing against your grandfather with all those witnesses saying they saw him in Hogsmeade on Christmas Eve," Zack said. "And what with Ciardoth being involved and all, they suppose she's helping him as well now too."
"What?" Andrew said.
"You know, for someone who's spent the thick of things here at the school you really are out of it," Zack declared, pulling out several folded papers out of his History book. "Read for yourself if you like."
"Let me have one, Zacchius," Halbert insisted, gobbling up the rest of his food before grabbing it.
"'Attempted Terrorist Attack Confirmed in Hogsmeade. Despite attempts by the Ministry to keep the matter quiet, numerous witnesses have come forward to report that the entity known as Ciardoth was seen in dragon form over the village of Hogsmeade on the evening of December twenty-fourth, just before the local Alchemist Mr. Corey Willowby lodged a complaint of a supposed burning at the stake attempt on the downs below Havens Row. Havens Row, a small subdivision of Hogsmeade, is notably the location of a small band of magic-savvy Muggles living in the area, and has from time to time received tension from those supportive of keeping the town wizard only. The said incident is rumored to have involved several dozen wizards posing as Death Eaters and a man wearing an Ivory Skull mask. Consequently, there were also several reports by local residents of Hogsmeade who report seeing Thomas Craw, known serial killer recently out on parole, leaving the Pigs Pannage, which was closed for construction, a mere half an hour before the incident supposedly happened. The current owner of the Pigs Pannage, Mr. Cynn Brogan, refused to comment upon the issue. Mr. Brogan is a longtime partner and acquaintance of Thomas Craw, was the cousin of Culwch Brogan who was killed by the Ivory Skull, and was the sole benefactor to his death. Thomas Craw is now being searched for by the Ministry for violating his parole.'" Andrew leaned back. "This is really bad. I can't believe how bad this looks."
"Andrew," Halbert said carefully. "You are certain he has nothing to do with this…"
"Of course he doesn't!" Andrew said fervently. "He's just…in the wrong place at the wrong time. He definitely wouldn't have gotten people to break into our own house…"
"That was explained in this one," Halbert said reluctantly. "They think it might have been a ploy to give Craw an excuse to disappear."
"No," Andrew said angrily. "No, that's impossible. Even if he could have fooled my parents, which I highly doubt by the way, but he couldn't have fooled Essie."
"Essie? What does she have to do with anything?" Zoë frowned.
"She's the one that warned us…sent us up a flame right before they burst in. In fact, if it hadn't been for her, we might have all been dead," Andrew said. "I have to admit, after watching her over the last few years, my opinion of Divination has gone up by leaps and bounds."
"Well, maybe it is true there are some talented prophets or psychics or whatever you want to call them out there," Zoë said, "But you have to admit, the class is rubbish."
"Don't let Professor Ravenclaw hear you say that," Andrew warned her.
"Did someone say my name?" The students looked up startled as they saw a ghostly figure float towards them from the Ravenclaw table, looking at them with a curious but melancholy expression, his robes eternally stained from poison.
"Oh, ah, we were just talking about how talented a student Essie was," Andrew said quickly. "In Divination, I mean."
"Oh, yes! One of the very best of the few majors I've had!" Icarus agreed enthusiastically then grew somber. "I don't get very many. Oh, but I hear our new student has some interest in it. At least, I believe she's signed up for it."
"We have a new student?" Halbert asked curiously.
"Yes, arriving just this morning…Ravenclaw, of course. That's why I was waiting, you see I wanted to get a peek at her to see what she looked like, even though it's hardly a good day to be out and about," he added glumly. Andrew and Halbert exchanged a knowing glance, knowing how Ick loved to make any situation look depressing. "Ah, that must be her now."
All of them looked up to see Alexandria standing in the door, beaming cheerfully as she spoke excitedly to the woolen robed girl standing next to her who had stopped to stare at the Great Hall in sheer awe. But Zoë jumped up in such a hurry that Zack got kicked and shoved in the process.
"Gretchen!"
"Zoë!" Gretchen laughed, the two girls hugging warmly.
"What are you doing here? How did you get here? Why didn't you tell me? I thought Hexendaas said…"
"Zoë, would you slow down? I have to repeat all of that, you know," Alex laughed. "She's only allowed translation potions for classes, and then only for the first few weeks. That's why she was put in Ravenclaw. Mandria is going to help her learn English, and I get to help her get settled." Gretchen said something then, and Alex grinned at her. "Well, yes, the more the merrier. Dumbledore said the faster you learn it the better," Alex agreed.
"What did she say?" Zoë asked with frustration, but Gretchen smiled at her.
"Te docui English?" Gretchen said with a smile.
"Of course I'll help! Sic docuit! Did I say that right?" Zoë asked.
"I have no idea," Alex laughed. "Did you mean to say you'd help teach?" Gretchen and Zoë grinned at each other. "Let's go sit down. Zoë, come sit at Ravenclaw!" Gretchen frowned and said something. "No, she's in Gryffindor, but I'm sure we can work out some study time together."
"I am still amazed that she's even here!" Zoë admitted, sitting with them at the end of the table. "The way Uncle Snape told it, I thought all hope was lost."
"It almost was from what Gretchen's been telling me," Alex admitted. "She knew they'd been talking about a scholarship of course, but they didn't think Durmstrang was going to be included at all until Father put the screws to the Deputy Headmaster. Apparently he had dug up some sort of dirt on Hexendaas' brother and threatened to go to some of the wealthier parents with it." Gretchen gasped and said something to her, looking shocked. "Yes, of course it's not something we're supposed to know about, but I figured you'd want Zoë to know it," Alex said, waving it off. "Gretchen says because of that she's going to like my father's class no matter how he teaches. Boy, is she in for a surprise."
"I'm just glad she's here," Zoë said. She smiled at Gretchen who smiled back, privately determined to help her friend learn English as quickly as possible as Alex took over introducing her to Professor Ravenclaw and all her friends.
But after that, Zoë couldn't help but feel a lot more enthusiastic about finishing the rest of the school year…even looking forward to the special project that she and Morfinn had gotten assigned to in Potions Class.
"Don't worry, I have a schedule all worked out," Morfinn said as they walked towards the lab, handing her a copy of the report he wrote up and a list of formulas. "Some of these Professor Craw wanted worked in were actually made only for one time or short time use, so I did get into a pinch there, but I took it upon myself to talk to some of my friends at the hospital and they gave me a bit of advice on it."
"You have friends at the hospital?" Zoë repeated.
"Oh, of course! Practically every doctor in St. Mungo's has seen me at one time or another for allergy attacks. Anyhow, I've highlighted everything you need to know going in…what sorts of things to look for and record, that sort of thing."
"Is this one of the one time use ones? Instanumb? The formula attached is twenty lines deep!"
"Oh, yeah. That's used to keep patients sedated during major reconstructions…you know, like Apparation accidents, lab explosions or implosions, that sort of thing; when the healing potions involved take several hours to take effect. Dunno why it's on here, really, since it isn't for everyday use…unless you really want to destroy all feeling in your nerves. I guess it goes to show you that alchemists aren't doctors. Professor Craw may be a whiz at making the perfect potion, but administering it? That's another thing." Zoë nodded at that, lost in her own thoughts as they headed into the classroom.
Andrew and Halbert came out of History class with much more somber faces than when they had in, their pale faces mirrored in those of their Gryffindor and Hufflepuff classmates. For after taking up their holiday assignments, Professor Scribe announced a change in material, and the class found themselves turning to the back of the book to discuss the rise of Voldemort.
"I've never felt so depressed in my entire life," Halbert declared. "I am even too depressed to eat. Do you suppose we could try to get a note from the hospital wing tomorrow? I'm sure we could come up with something."
"I know, but with everything going on, I'm sure it's something they feel they have to do," Andrew sighed, shuffling through his books. "Besides, she said we're going to have a special guest tomorrow. But I do have to admit, it's made me glad we're going to Defense."
"And it looks like we may need it, mon ami," Halbert murmured, looking ahead. Andrew followed his gaze to where Eigil Hauk and his friends were hanging out in the corridor leading to the other classrooms. "Perhaps we should go around?"
"Great, and be late for Snape's class?" Andrew said. "Come on, it's the lesser of two evils."
"I am not sure I agree with you, Andrew," Halbert admitted as the two of them walked closer.
"Just ignore them," Andrew suggested, but made a point to walk along the farther wall as they went to pass.
"Ah, here comes da utter Snape und his familiar now," Eigil sneered, the others chuckling nastily. "Vut is your hurry? I vant to talk to you a moment."
"Sorry, we're running late," Andrew said, but had to stop short when Heph and a seventh year named Laurel stood in front of them. Meyers, it seemed, had already headed to class.
"I hear dat your Grandfadder is on da loose again. Vere is he?" Eigil asked, stepping over to them. Andrew put a hand on Halbert's arm when he saw his twitchy friend's hand move for his wand.
"I don't know. We haven't heard from him," Andrew said evenly.
"I vould find dat very surprising. Come, you really must tell me, I insist," Eigil said with a thin, dangerous smile.
"I told you, I don't know," Andrew said again. "Even if I did, I don't see what concern it would be of yours."
"Perhaps I am just as curious as everyvun else," Eigil said. "Perhaps it is because I hear he has reorganized the Death Eaters. I vould be very interested in any man capable of doing somet'ing like dat."
"If you are, then you're a fool," Andrew said in a tone that made Eigil's followers take a step closer to them.
"Is dat your way of telling me you t'ink I'm not good enough for you Snapes?" Eigil challenged him with a snarl.
"My grandfather has nothing to do with what's going on," Andrew said firmly. "But anyone who wants to be a part of that is signing their own death sentence!"
"The only vuns I see dying are deir enemies," Eigil said. "Und if joining them would mean the same for mine enemies, I vould join them in a moment."
"So you can finally get even with whatever it was your father did to you?" Andrew asked quietly.
Eigil's face paled and he stared at Andrew as if he had been slapped before his face suddenly turned angry and he lunged, Andrew diving to his knees with lightning speed as the larger boy toppled over him. A bright light flashed from Halbert's wand as Andrew scrambled out from underneath, the boys in front of them pausing to shake off the momentary stun.
"No, don't! Run!" Andrew said when Halbert turned his wand on Eigil who was still trying to pick himself off the floor. Reluctantly, Halbert sighed and pushed through the dazed boys after his friend, the two of them diving into the Defense room just as the bell rang.
But before they could scramble to their seats, Descartes suddenly alighted from his perch and hopped to their desk, crying out so loudly in alarm that all the students had to cover their ears to protect them.
Immediately Snape came out of his office, putting his hands on his hips as he glanced at the Stymphalian then at the two boys still standing there dead in their tracks with an expression that betrayed just how badly humored he was that day. Halbert and Andrew shrank back a bit, glancing at each other ruefully.
"And just why, exactly, aren't you in your seats?" Snape snapped angrily.
"Because Descartes is, sir," Andrew said.
"I see. So, since you both know that you are to be seated in your desks before the class begins, should I assume then that Descartes had positioned himself there before the bell?" Snape asked.
"Yes, sir!" Halbert said, readily agreeing to that idea, but Andrew didn't say a word. He knew one of his father's traps when he heard one.
"Really," Snape said dubiously, then let out a strange hiss. Immediately, Andrew's eyes flicked down to under the desk where he saw Rasputin's glass eye gazing steadily at them. Rasputin hissed back. "As it so happens, I have it on good authority that he was not sitting there when the bell rang, and had you have been where you should have been it might not have occurred at all. That'll be fifteen points off of Gryffindor for not being in your seats, and fifteen more for attempting to lie to a Professor! Now, get to your seats! Perch, Descartes!" he ordered. But Descartes, who had just gotten settled upon the desk, didn't seemed inclined to follow. "Descartes, perch!"
Sighing when the crane merely eyed him again, Snape gave in and got in the mouse cage, Descartes immediately becoming interested in following his instructions. Glaring at his class again and daring them to snicker at the ill-mannered bird, Snape then turned his attention back to the two boys that had hurried to their seats and began to flip pages in their books.
"Put those things away! I didn't tell anyone to open them!" he growled. "Didn't you hear me, Mr. Rich? I said no books! Ten points more off Gryffindor, and the next time I catch anyone not obeying me today, it'll be twenty! I don't care how few of you are actually interested in learning how to protect yourselves. I don't care how many of you have gotten some notion in your thick skulls that what is happening out in the world right now will not happen to you. I also don't really care how many of you actually listen to me and how many of you pretend to listen. But I will not allow those of you who have chosen to be corpses ruin the chances of those of you intelligent enough to realize how badly you need it. We will now begin a more in depth look at death curses…all twelve of them, beginning with the Killing Curse. You are also advised to review any old class notes you may have retained from last year on the Cruciatus Curse and Imperius Curses, and read ahead to page four hundred and twenty six on the Defiance Curse. Once you get finished with that…" he paused then and grabbed a stack of small books off his desk, tossing them one by one on each of theirs while the students looked glumly at them. "You may start on reading Unveiling Wild Magic and Unmystifying the Fae, and I expect a book report with two paragraphs on each chapter by the second week of February. Oh, and anyone caught attempting to use Bluff's Booknotes for this will not only get a zero for the assignment, but a zero for the entire second half of the term and will have to make it up next year. Does anyone here not believe I am serious?" Snape challenged. No one said a word. "Good, then get out one sheet of parchment and a quill and prepare to write the names of these twelve spells down. But as you're doing that, let me stress that although these twelve spells are specifically designed so that the ultimate outcome of using them upon someone is death, be it through painful means or less counterable methods, any spell, any at all, can turn deadly in the hands of a wizard who is clever enough, powerful enough, or determined enough to use it against you. Very well, let us begin in alphabetical order. First, Acidic…"
A soft knock sounded on the door, and Snape growled ferociously at being interrupted. Andrew watched worriedly as Snape stormed to the door. He hadn't seen his father like this since the last time he and his mother had had a fight, and couldn't help wondering if this had the same cause. As he popped open the door, Hermione stared at him in surprise as Snape attempted to regain his composure.
"I assume this is important?" he said with irritation.
"As a matter of fact, I need to speak with Mr. Snape and Mr. Hagrid for a moment, if you don't mind…"
"As a matter of fact…"
"Oh, and I need to see you as well, actually, since it involves one of your students also," Hermione added calmly. Squinting in suspicion at her, Snape then turned to Andrew and Halbert who had both begun to look incredibly guilty about something. Pointing to the door, the two of them meekly got up, shrinking a bit as they passed by him and walked out into the corridor. Behind them, Meyers peered out with intense interest until Snape finally shut the door, frowning between Eigil, Laurel and Heph who had been waiting quietly outside. "Mr. Hagrid, Mr. Hauk and his friends came to me a few minutes ago to report that you had cast a spell on them in the hallways," Hermione explained, Snape turning to him in surprise.
"I most certainly did," Halbert said proudly. "He was going to hurt Andrew, so I stunned them!"
"Mr. Hagrid, Andrew is more than capable of protecting himself," Severus sighed.
"But he won't!" Halbert said with frustration.
"Mr. Hauk," Hermione interrupted quickly, "Were you trying to hurt Mr. Snape?"
"Of course not! Do you see vun mark upon him? I do not try to hurt anyvun wit'out provocation," Eigil said, meeting Andrew's gaze steadily.
"Who was trying to provoke who?" Halbert said angrily, turning to his friend. "Andrew, tell them what happened."
But Andrew kept looking steadily at Eigil without saying a word. Eigil was right in that Andrew had intentionally provoked him… and Andrew didn't like the idea of mentioning what had started the argument to his father, at least not now in his current state of mind, or in public. But he was also aware of Halbert standing beside him, becoming more concerned by the second over his friend's silence.
"Eigil and I were having a verbal disagreement," Andrew said at last. "But I can see why Halbert thought it might get out of hand. It was just a mild stun, Professor, in case we needed to run. He really did only mean to protect me."
"Nevertheless, he did intentionally cast a spell in the halls, and over a matter that was probably none of his business to begin with," Snape said.
"Professor, it does sound like he was merely looking out for…"
"Professor Weasley, as I recall, the school laws specifically state that a student bystander in an incident is directly responsible for any intervention they take that does not include calling it to the attention of a staff member. You know what sort of ramifications letting even one mishap slide would be. No use of a spell short of an absolute emergency is allowed in the halls," Snape stated firmly. Hermione sighed softly.
"Very well, Professor, I suppose you're right. Come along, Mr. Hagrid. The rest of you should probably be getting back to your classrooms," Hermione said.
"And to insure that something is done about all of this, as head of the Sparring Club, I'm sure you know it is well within my rights to restrict him from the club for his actions," Snape said. Hermione gazed at him then as if wanting to speak her mind but finally curbed it, nodding coolly instead.
"Of course, Professor, thank you, and oh, would you drop by my office at your first convenience? There are a few papers I want to go over with you," Hermione said.
"Fine, but I'd prefer to do it in Dumbledore's study, if you don't mind," Snape said back and then opened the door of the class before she could get out another word, nudging Andrew inside. As the door closed behind them, Hermione growled softly under her breath, shaking her head.
"Come along, Halbert," Hermione said, taking a different direction than the one Eigil had taken. "I think it's time the two of us had a long talk about this entire situation."
"That is one of the first bits of good news I have had all day," Halbert said, once again grateful that he was a Gryffindor.
