There are many ways for students to spend their Saturdays. Club activities, Quidditch practice, studying, hanging out with friends, and catching up on sleep are just a few of them. What none of them wants to do is to spend their free time in the headmaster's office...

"I reckon you know why you have been called here," said Albus Dumbledore, looking at the Slytherins standing in front of him.

The headmaster's office was unusually crowded. On the right side of his desk stood Professor McGonagall with James Potter, Sirius Black, and Remus Lupin, while on the left professor Slughorn with Evan Rosier, Severus Snape, Caius Avery, and Rupert Wilkes.

"Actually, no, professor, we do not know," replied Evan Rosier.

"Cut the crap, Rosier!" shouted Sirius Black.

"Language!" reprimanded them Professor McGonagall.

"We have received information that you may have been involved in this morning's incident concerning Mr Potter, Mr Black, and Mr Lupin," explained the headmaster.

"Is that so? This is a serious accusation. May I ask what proof you have?" asked Rosier.

"Mr Potter told us about a duel taking place near the forbidden forest..." said Slughorn.

"A duel? Well, yes, there were arrangements made for a duel. However, we decided to play a small joke instead," smirked Rosier.

"We planned to let them wait and let the information slip in front of Mr Filch..." said Snape.

"So, they would get in trouble without us having to do any work," finished Avery.

"So, you deny meeting the boys, having a duel, and setting up that distasteful prank?" asked Professor McGonagall, looking at the Slytherins sharply.

"Well, as you can see, professor, we have no visible injuries to prove that we did duel them," said Rosier, looking McGonagall in the eyes.

Hearing that, the Gryffindors looked at each other, confused.

"I'm pretty sure Sirius gave Snape a black eye…" said Remus quietly, causing everyone to look at Snape's face.

"Hah, I probably gave him more than a black eye… Professor, why don't we ask Madam Pomfrey whether she had a late-night visitor?" asked Sirius with a smirk.


"Alright, here I am! What's the emergency?" asked Madam Pomfrey as she hurriedly made her way into the office.

"There is no emergency, my dear," smiled the headmaster.

"No emergency?! Why haven't you told me sooner?! Then why did you call me?" asked the matron.

After Professor McGonagall explained the situation, Madam Pomfrey looked at Severus Snape, confused.

"Mr Snape? No, I cannot say I saw him yesterday. The last patient was Ms Talkalot, who had a broken nose," said Madam Pomfrey.

"Did you find something missing in the morning? A potion? A lotion? Or something?" asked Sirius Black.

"Just what are you implying, Black? You think that since I didn't find Madam Pomfrey there, I stole something?!" asked Snape, his voice dripping with venom.

"No, no, of course not!" said Professor Slughorn, trying to ease the tension in the room.

"Mr Black, if anyone were to enter the infirmary in my absence, I would know about it the moment they opened the door," said the matron.

"Thank you, my dear. You may leave," said the headmaster, and Madam Pomfrey left the office.

"Now, it's been said! We are innocent. So, are we allowed to leave?" asked Evan Rosier.

"That only proves that you didn't see Madam Pomfrey. There are other ways to heal a bruise, Mr Rossier," said McGonagall.

"What do you suggest we do, Minerva?" asked Professor Slughorn.

"Search their rooms for a bruise removal paste!" suggested McGonagall.

"Now that would be too-" started Slughorn, however, he was interrupted by Rosier.

"Go ahead, Professor! We have nothing to hide…" he said with a smirk, but McGonagall just sighed.

"We are not going to search your rooms. The Professor simply wanted to see your reaction," explained the headmaster. "I have to say, I, myself, find it surprising that you would be willing to let the Professor inspect your rooms…"

"As I said before, we have nothing to hide. This whole ordeal is just a waste of time…" replied Rosier.

"Well, it would be over quicker if you just confessed," said James Potter.

"Fine." Said Wilkes, shocking everyone, "I confess, that after supper, we went to the common room. We have a witness to prove that at the time of the said duel, we were in our common room."

Rosier just sighed. 'We are going to be here for a while,' he thought as they waited for the witness to arrive.

The Slytherins had no idea that it was just the first of many…


It was one of those days, when Evelyn was surprisingly not in the library, but laughing outside with her friends.

They were sitting in a circle, under a tree in the transfiguration courtyard, with the newest issue of Teen Witch spread out in front of them.

"These quizzes are absurd. I can't believe some witches take them seriously," laughed Evelyn.

"Hey! It said that I will certainly marry my celebrity crush! The magazine said it, so it must be true!" joked Bonnie.

"Honestly, I don't even know why you read this..." said Evelyn, looking at Lucinda, who just sighed.

"Evie, if I am going to become the next wizarding superstar, I need to keep tabs on what's trending now!"

Before anyone could say anything more, one of the prefects ran up to them, saying that Slughorn is looking for Evelyn.

"What could he want?" asked Emma, confused.

"I think I know..." said Evelyn as she followed the prefect to the headmaster's office.

"Darius, I have a favour to ask..." she said as they walked through the corridor.

"Hm, what is it?" asked the boy, looking down at the much shorter girl, who quietly told him of her plan.

"Alright..." he said as the two made their way to the headmaster's office

Professor Slughorn was waiting for them at the entrance.

"Ah, thank you, my boy," he said to Darius, who nodded and left, "I apologise for calling you so abruptly, however, there is a delicate matter we need to discuss," said the Professor as they entered the office.

"Ah, Ms Williams," said Dumbledore as they walked up to the desk.

"Headmaster," nodded Evelyn, before asking, "how can I be of assistance?"

"Ms Williams, did you see these boys in the common room, right after supper?" asked Professor McGonagall.

Evelyn looked at the boys before turning to her, "Yes... Rosier, Wilkes, Avery and a couple of other boys were playing cards, and Snape was helping Regulus Black with potions."

"Is that so?" asked the smiling headmaster.

"See? The boys are innocent, after all!" said Slughorn.

"I don't believe it!" said McGonagall, and the boys knew that it was far from over.


The headmaster's office was busier than ever, with Slytherins entering and leaving.

"So, you are saying that you played cards with these boys until curfew?" asked Minerva McGonagall.

"Yes, professor." Came the short reply of Mulciber.

"Yes, and it cost me my new watch," sulked Yaxley, shooting a look at Rosier.

They all said the same thing: Rosier, Avery, Mulciber, Yaxley, and Wilkes were playing cards, Severus Snape was tutoring Regulus Black, and Evelyn Williams was reading on a sofa in front of the fireplace. That was until the last witness was called in.

"Yes, I was in the common room. Although, I just watched them play. Why?" asked a pale young man, with straw-coloured hair and freckles, "Wait... don't tell me! You believe that they are responsible for the prank?!" laughed the boy.

"This is hardly a laughing matter, Mr Crouch," frowned Slughorn.

"I'm sorry, Professor, but that's just absurd. Even if they weren't in the common room, they wouldn't have done it..." said Barty Crouch Jr. smirking.

"Why not?" asked McGonagall, sharply.

"Why? Just take a look at them!" said Barty Crouch Jr. as he motioned to the Slytherin boys, "Rosier, here, is a goody-two-shoes, never breaking a rule! Snape is a coward! Avery... Avery would only do it if Mulciber was involved, but the poor bloke has his father on his back, so he is laying low. And Wilkes... Why are you even here? You are not one for duels or pranks..." looked at him Barty, confused, and Wilkes just shrugged.

The headmaster looked at McGonagall. "The boy is right, Minerva. We have been here all morning and found no proof of their involvement."

"So that's it? You are letting them go like that?"

"Well, they have proven that they were in the common room," said Slughorn.

"It seems that the case will remain unsolved. However, I trust that there will be no further incidents like this." said Dumbledore as he looked at the boys, "There is a line that shouldn't be crossed, under any circumstance…"


"Finally," sighed Rosier as the boys walked to the stairs, "I was wondering if they are ever going to let us out,"

"Hah, I can't believe we managed to pull it off!" laughed Avery.

"Don't be fooled, the old man knows that it was us..." said Wilkes.

"Then why did they let us go?" asked Avery, confused.

"Who knows why he does what he does?! We are off the hook, and that's what matters..." said Rosier as the boys walked to the Great Hall.

As they walked, they heard voices from a nearby classroom. It was a voice they all knew and despised. However, the second voice surprised them greatly.

"So, you would lie for your classmates, but would not tell the truth for me?" came the angry voice of Sirius Black.

"I didn't lie; they were in the common room... Just not right after supper..."

"Oh, stop it, Evie. We both know what happened! I can't believe you lied for them! After everything, we went through!"

"What do you expect, Sirius?! They are my housemates and we protect each other! Regardless of what you believe, you are not an angel either! How many times have you gotten off easily after a prank that turned sour? Think about how many times one of your pranks ended up with someone having to go to the hospital wing! You started this prank war in the second year, and you and your group have been doing nothing but causing trouble ever since!" shouted Evelyn.

There was a moment of silence, which was broken by Sirius Black.

"Why are you making me the bad guy?" he whispered, and Evelyn just sighed.

"I am not making you the bad guy. I just helped out my housemates. That's all..."

"They are fighting like a married couple," whispered Avery, but he was shushed by Rossier.

"Of course, of course. The house, the house, it's always the bloody house... So, what is it? What did you gain from helping them?" asked Sirius.

"Nothing, I just helped them out..."

"Hah, you expect me to believe that? With you, Slytherins, it's always about a fair exchange. Was it a favour for a favour? Or... did you do it for Snivellus?" sneered Sirius.

"I told you not to call him that..." said Evelyn coldly.

"Don't tell me... Are you really going out with him?" asked Sirius. However, this time there was no disgust in his voice, only disbelief.

"It's none of your business! Who I am seeing is-" started Evelyn, but she was interrupted by Sirius.

"It's none of my business? NONE OF MY BUSINESS? You know how I feel about you, yet you can't even answer this one question for me!" said Sirius, raising his voice again while grabbing Evelyn's arms.

Severus has seen this scene play out too many times, just with different people. He knew that if he didn't do something, this could end badly. He was quick to take out his wand and was about to barge in, but Rosier held him back.

"We just left the headmaster's office... If things start to look bad, we will step in," he whispered, and the boys continued listening.

"This is the last time I ask you; are you or are you not seeing Snape?" asked Sirius as he leaned closer while squeezing Evelyn's arms.

"Ouch, Sirius, you are hurting me..."

"Answer the question!" shouted the enraged boy.

"Yes, I am!" yelled the girl in his face, and the world seemed to stop.

Sirius' eyes went wide, his mouth opened from the shock, and he let go of the girl as quickly as he could. He expected her to deny it, maybe try laughing it off, because come on, it's Snape, but this... this was not something he would have ever expected. The way she shouted it at him, enraged and red-faced, it was all too real.

"I see..." he whispered as he turned around.

"Sirius-"

Evelyn took a step forward. She was about to touch his arm when he flinched away.

"No! No, just... just let me be now..." he said.

"Sirius, look-"

"No... You know how I feel about you... How I have always felt about you... So why? Why is it Snape and not me?" he whispered.

"You know that I care about you! You are my oldest friend, you are like a brother to me..." said Evelyn.

"He is just using you... That slimy git is only playing with you! Don't you see it? He is after the money!" shouted Sirius.

"Sirius, calm down-"

"I will not calm down! You - you are dating the worst person in the whole school and-"

"Now, now, wait a minute!" raised her voice Evelyn, "The worst person?! Really? Just so you know, he is way better than half of the school! Do you want to know why I chose him? Because he is everything you are not!" she shouted.

"You are making a mistake..." said Sirius coldly, and Evelyn sighed.

"Why can't you just be my friend and support me?"

"Support you? You can't expect me to support you when he is only using you..."

"Does it ever occur to you that people might just simply enjoy my company?" asked Evelyn, annoyed.

"Oh, come on, you are not this naive! Open your eyes-"

"You know what! Just leave! You dragged me here, lectured me about being an awful friend, and yet, here you are acting like a prat!" shouted Evelyn, pointing to the door.

"Fine, but don't come crying to me when you get hurt!" said Sirius before storming out of the classroom, ignoring the Slytherins standing by the door.

"You should talk to her, Severus. We will see you later," said Rosier as he put a hand on Severus' shoulder.

He just nodded and walked into the classroom.

Evelyn was there, sitting behind a desk, with her head in her hands. As she heard him coming, she quickly wiped her eyes with her hand before looking up.

"Oh Severus, uh, what are you doing here? How did things go with the headmaster?" she asked, trying to sound normal.

"It went well. He let us go without punishment. Um, I accidentally overheard your argument with Black... Are - are you alright?" he asked awkwardly.

'Are you alright? Of course, she is not alright, she just had a row with Black...' he thought, mentally kicking himself for sounding so lame, but Evelyn let out a small forced laugh.

"Yes! Yes! It was nothing! I'm okay. Everything is fine! Have you had lunch? We should go before it's all gone," she said as she stood up.

"You know," started Severus quietly, "you really helped us out. Not only today, but also yesterday. What I am trying to say is that we owe you. So, um, if you need someone to talk to, you can count on me."

"You don't have to do this, Severus," said Evelyn quietly, not looking at him, "and I believe, I told you that it was just a friendly gesture," she said referring to last night's events.

"So is this. I won't pressure you, I just wanted you to know," he said, looking at the ground.

"... Thank you, I appreciate it." said Evelyn, giving Severus a small smile, "Now, let's get some lunch, I'm starving."


"There you are! We were getting worried..." said Bonnie.

The girls were about to leave the Great Hall when Severus and Evelyn entered.

"But now we see what took you so long," said Emma, as she looked at Snape and he could feel his face heating up.

"We will see you later," giggled Bonnie as she dragged the girls outside.

Severus just looked at Evelyn with a raised eyebrow, but she just shrugged as they walked to their table.

"Everything alright?" asked Rosier as Severus and Evelyn sat down.

"Obviously," replied Snape as the two of them filled their plates with food.

"By the way, how did you persuade the others to go along with the scheme?" asked Wilkes.

"What makes you think that it was me?" asked Evelyn, smiling innocently. "Maybe they just wanted to help out their fellow housemates..." she said. However, the boys just looked at her unimpressed.

"Yes, because both Mulciber and Yaxley are so selfless..." deadpanned Rosier and Evelyn let out a small laugh.

"Oh, but I just had to remind them that Slytherins keep together, and they were ready to help you out," said Evelyn with a smile.

"I have a feeling that there is more to this than just that..." said Snape

"Well, I might have had to call in some favours. Or in Barty's case, slip him a copy of my notes, but it was worth it, wasn't it?"

"It certainly was. You should have seen Potter's face when they had nothing on us!" smirked Rosier.


On the other side of the Great Hall, a certain Gryffindor was glaring at the laughing group of Slytherins.

"I can't believe Dumbledore let them off so easily..." he mumbled.

"Whatever, we will get revenge later. Let them think that they won, so when we strike, they won't expect it..." said James Potter.

"Oh, come on, wasn't it enough?" asked Peter Pettigrew, "Shouldn't we focus on this instead?" he asked as he took out an old book from his bag.

"I hate to say it, but Peter is right," sighed James.

It was only then that Sirius tore his gaze from the Slytherins and looked at the book. The title read: 'Amato Animo Animato Animagus - The Guide to Animagi'.

"You are right. Remus comes first..." he said before looking back at the chatting Slytherins, "But it's not over yet," he added as his eyes laid upon Snape sitting next to Evelyn.

The boy said something, which made the girl smile softly as she responded to what was being said.

"Oh, it's far from over..."