The swirling air around Spike slowly began to focus and he found himself standing in front of an enormous castle, fortress was a better term for it.
"I see Dumble is still all about the extravagant features," Spike quipped as the man beside him dusted his pants off and started walking towards the castle's entrance. Spike quickly fell into step beside him as the door flew open and a middle aged woman practically ran out.
She threw her arms around Spike, and he quieted the growl from deep in his throat. Her pulse sang merrily as she hugged him tightly and Spike quelled his hunger by squeezing her briefly and reminding himself who it was that was hugging him without reserve.
"Minerva, please." The man rolled his eyes at his co-worker's behavior. "We do have places to be, like inside, where it's dark and away from sunlight."
At that she dropped her arms from around Spike and recovered herself, "of course, how inconsiderate of me. Inside now, come on," Minerva shooed Spike inside before he could get a word in edge wise.
The smell of bricks and magic filled Spike's nostrils and he smiled widely, "it's good to be back. Now Snape, where am I sleeping doing my stay?" Spike smirked at the Potions professor, "somewhere dark and damp I hope."
Snape merely rolled his eyes and made to exit the scene, "since I have a class to see to, Minerva can take you to the Headmaster. I'll be seeing the both of you later night, undoubtedly." With that, Snape slinked away to his dungeon leaving Spike alone with the Transfiguration professor.
Spike swept up Minerva's arm and cradled it in the nest of his arm. "As the Americans have coined so accurately, 'take me to your leader'."
She laughed and swept her free arm out in front of them, "right this way, kind sir."
As the two moved down the hall towards the faculty wing, a pair of red heads sprinted towards them quickly. Spike noted their approach and pushed Minerva against the small corridor to avoid being trampled. With his free hand, Spike reached out and grabbed a hold of one of the blurs, causing a yelp of surprise to come out of its mouth. The other screeched to a stop and turned in surprise.
"Fred and George Weasley, how many times are you been told no running in the halls!" Minerva recovered was the initial scare and now loomed over the two boys.
"Sorry Professor," the two rang out and Spike glared evilly at the one in his grasp.
"Dumbledore sent us," the one standing stated quickly.
"To find you," the other quipped in.
"Urgent matters," they finished together.
Minerva sighed heavily and motioned for Spike to put Fred down. He did so reluctantly and twitched his upper lip menacingly. "Don't let me catch you running around in these halls again, got it?"
Fred gulped loudly and nodded his head frantically, "yes sir."
Minerva pointed at the two boys, "detention with me tomorrow night, are we clear?"
"Yes ma'am," the twins chirped before power walking away from the two adults, as fast as they could without it being classified as running.
"Cute brats," Spike muttered as the boys disappeared.
"Fred and George Weasley, our company pranksters, there's not much else that can be said about them," Minerva reflected before continuing down the hall. "Come on, we shouldn't keep Dumbledore waiting much longer."
Minerva touched the gargoyle statue and it jumped aside to reveal the circular staircase. Spike followed her up the flight and to a wooden door. It swung open as they stepped up to it and without breaking stride Minerva marched into the office and stood in front of the desk that separated the elderly Headmaster and one of his longest teaching professors.
"You wanted to see me Headmaster?" Minerva asked as Spike settled into the bench at her side.
Dumbledore turned his chair to face the two and nodded solemnly, "it's the Potter boy, again."