"Not that this isn't all very touching but I think we should move these boys. You've confiscated their wands I assume Minerva?" Horace asked.
"Of course. I will send word to the Minister. He will hopefully know how to deal with.. this." McGonagall had no idea what to do with the boys. Not only had she never needed to expel anyone from Hogwarts before but she never thought in her life time she would come across a young Gryffindor using unforgivable curses.
"Yes I agree, we might also want to talk to him about Riley." Slughorn started.
"What? Why me?"
"Because of not only what Poppy and I have examined of the curses that hit you but of what Mr Lawrence here said. He is not exaggerating. I believe if he had of been hit by the curse fully he would have been killed. It baffles me that you are completely fine and if you were unconcious at all it was for a very short time. We need to discuss what happened exactly. I think there is more to this than meets the eye." Slughorn concluded.

"I need to go." Riley whispered to Elanora.
"Go?" Elanora asked.
"Professor Slughorn is right, there's more to what happened tonight. I need to discuss something with Severus before I talk to the Minister." Riley explained.
"I can cause a distraction?" Teddy suggested. He had been listening in.
As much as Elanora couldn't forgive him yet she knew the two needed to talk. "I'll distract. Make sure she gets there." Said Elanora.

Elanora looked over at Murik, binded. "Eat slugs." She whispered, pointing her wand at the boy. He immediately started throwing up slugs. He deserved much worse Elanora thought. The teachers being distracted didn't see Teddy and Riley slip out.

Teddy and Riley ran until they reached the 7th floor, they slowed knowing the Headmistress office was not far.
"Are you okay? I know you keep saying you're fine but I heard your screams. They didn't strike me as fine." Teddy accused.
"I don't want to explain myself twice, you can listen when I tell my dad." Riley said shortly.
"I'm sorry I just-" Teddy stopped walking. "-your dad is Severus Snape?" He asked.
"Yes. When I found out it just sort of made sense, like I'd known subconsciously all along just never made the connection." Riley shrugged. "It was surprisingly easy to accept."
"That's a good thing though, right?" Teddy asked.
"Yeah, it is." Riley smiled.
They continued walking.
"You know my plan now right?" Teddy asked.
"I think so." Riley said cautiously.
"I saw an opportunity to find out who attacked you and Elanora. After everything you said I realized the only person you ever wanted to keep your secret from was me and my family. So I told everyone and I acted like an arse, to get close and gain the trust of whoever showed the most hatred towards you. It was instant. I got so caught up in everything that I completely lost control. I never meant a word I said to you but I never should have said any of it in the first place. In trying to appease them I hurt you so much, I'm so sorry Riley." Teddy said sounding exhausted.
"I wasn't the only one you hurt." Riley gave a sad smile.
"Don't worry I've already apologized to professor McGonagall, I will also apologize to Elanora. When she wants to listen, I think she will not trust me so easily anymore." Teddy's face scrunched up.
"They're not who I was talking about. I saw you, Ted. In the common room, you looked as horrible as I felt... wait Professor McGonagall knew?"
"When I was sent to her office and lost all the house points. Actually that was your dad's idea, to take house points and for me to fuel the Gryffindor's anger. It worked too. Tonight was suppose to be smooth sailing. We planned to "attack you" on the way to the hospital wing but in the process we were going to be caught. As you can probably gather it didn't go to plan." Teddy had gone slightly pink.

"You mean how they duped you and left you unconcious?" Riley laughed. "Yeah, that." Teddy smiled. "I'm sorry about everything. I let you down, not just as a friend but I let them hurt you and I never ever meant to let that happen." He admitted.

"It's okay, Ted. I get why you did it, I would have liked to have been in on your plan but I get it, I do." Riley smiled but it didn't reach her eyes.
Teddy grabbed her hand and held it.
"You are my family." Teddy said quietly, squeezing her hand.
Riley's heart fluttered at his words.
"It's a good thing you knew we were related though, I imagine if you didn't you wouldn't have been able to resist my charms." Teddy grinned and winked at her.
"Pfft you wish, L'Oréal." Riley laughed using Elanora's nickname for Teddy.

They were both laughing as they entered professor McGonagall's office.
"By the state of you both I'm assuming your plan didn't work?" Severus sneered.
"No. I was knocked unconcious. I-" Teddy started.
"I don't need nor want to hear your groveling, Lupin. Tell me what happened." Severus demanded.
"You already know. I heard you, I felt you helping me." Riley stated.
"I felt your pain, I have no idea what actually happened. Please, Riley. I need you to tell me everything." Severus as much as begged.