Ever seen How To Train Your Dragon? I felt like a five year old watching it but the dragon was just so freaking cute! Reviews?
There had been many times during my childhood when I had seen Severus angry. For example when I was nine I use to hide under the Heads table in the Great Hall and poke at him during meals. For the longest time he thought someone was trying to play footsies with him. Now that I'm older it's understandable, when I was younger I just thought it was funny. Now however, the brute of the anger or sadistic torture that I had been trying to avoid was standing right in front of me. Glaring.
"My letters were not suggestions Elizabeth" he snarls slamming both hands down upon the desk that had once been Dumbledore's. I feel my lip curl up at him in distaste wanting to retort but choosing not to. I was still confused as to why I wasn't dead yet and didn't really want to push the subject.
"Should have dragged me up here sooner then" I bite still not looking him in the eye, I didn't care how ungrateful I sounded or even if I sounded like a spoiled brat I was not going to go quietly.
"Don't be ridiculous, I did not drag you up here," he scoffs in the way he always did when he was sick of my teenage dramatics, "look at me." Another demand to look at him. One that would not be filled.
"I don't make eye contact with murders, my soul may burn up from all the evil in your eyes" I sass looking up quickly to see his face fall. Good, with that out I decided to continue, "Not only did you kill Dumbledore, a man I have know all my life, who has been there for my brother through everything, one of the people Harry trust's most in his life but... but" I struggle for a moment before thinking of some fuel, "you cursed George Weasleys ear off!" I think for a moment before realizing I probably should have stopped before the Weasley bit, I mean yeah his ear did get cursed off but now we could tell them apart? What? Sorry that was rather horrible to think wasn't it, in punishment I will gladly bite the bullet and marry the defective Weasley twin.
"Obviously out of every thing that has happened this year Mr. Weasleys ear being accidentally cursed off was the worst thing."
I glare up at him through narrowed eyes for a moment before muttering "I'm sure it was for him, arse."
I take moment to look around the room at the portraits my eyes falling on one in particular.
"Professor Dumbledore!" I cry pushing myself out of my chair and rushing behind the desk ignoring Severus once more.
"Well Miss. Potter I have to say you are a tricky girl to get up here, how long has it been Severus? Three months since school began?"
"Four" Severus replies slowly in a disapproving tone making me blush. I look between the two of them, they were talking? Surly the fact Severus had killed him should have put some strain on their friendship. I know if I wasn't a painting I wouldn't be all happy to be around the person who killed me.
"Four, has it been that long already? What are you plans for Christm-"
"Excuse me but can someone tell me what is going on here?" I interrupt the old Headmaster suddenly looking between the two feeling my eyes widen by the minute. What the bloody hell was going on?
My head was reeling, I was...ecstatic. For once the impending doom of being turned over had diminished at the realization that Sever was good. He was a spy for the Order, Dumbledore's man through and through and had remained so until the end. I wanted to run through the halls and shout it, shout about the plots, the promises and how we had all been deceived for the greater good.
But I couldn't, why I couldn't I didn't understand I think McGonagall would be a bit more...nice if she knew the truth. I mean think about it, right now during meals Severus is lucky if he isn't killed three times over with the looks he gets. With a bit of a jump in my step I make my way down the corridor only slowing when two figures come into view.
"Just go down to the Common Room Astoria, I'll be down after I assist in detention."
"Draco, ju-" the shorter girl stops mid sentence noticing me as I walk by. I hadn't really taken much notice to Astoria Greengrass before, the only reason I had this year was because she seemed to orientate herself around Draco in any way possible. Now a days it wasn't uncommon to see the two of them together, usually at dinner but occasionally in the hall or in the Library after classes. I didn't know much about her, I knew her sister was in my year but I couldn't tell you what year Astoria was in. It wasn't for lack of trying, in the last few months I had felt the jealously well up as I would see the two together I had almost hoped that he would go back to pouting, that he was go back to looking up during breakfast hopefully expecting me to send an owl. It never happened though, and as the weeks had passed I watched day by day as he slowly began to get over me. It was those during meals that I'd dig under my robes to fiddle with the necklace that Hermione had given me for Christmas last year and thumb the delicate silver charm that he had given. I had translated the writing, after months of being locked in a house you have much times on your hands the Latin side said Forbidden Love and the French side loosely translated to Yours, Always. Now though, I didn't really know how much that applied.
We were on two different sides of the war, two different coins and it was hard to think of us being together. I had never gotten to the point where I cared for him as much as he claimed to Victoria that he did for Lizzie. Yes he was good looking and kind when it counted but could all those years and all the other factors against us really result in a good relationship?
"Snape! Hold on woman you walk faster then Goyle trying to get to dinner!" I hear Draco yell as I round the second corner towards the main stairs. I pause only briefly enough to allow him to catch up and fall into step beside me. Glancing over I see some color in his cheeks but other then that he looked good for once, happy even. Happy wasn't something you see to often around here anymore so that alone was a surprise.
"You're helping tonight as well then?" he questions prompting me to nod. Detention had never been something that I particularly liked to assist in. I never cast any spells against my classmates but that wasn't for lack of trying on either of the Carrow's part.
Alecto Carrow insisted that all her detentions be overseen by her, some people like Crabbe and Goyle found it as a good time to practice the Unforgivables for Dark Arts with her equally sadist brother. I chose to let them do all the work since they so gleefully had found something that they were good at.
"So was that her then?" I question as we make our way towards the Muggle Studies classroom, "the girl you told me about last year?"
Draco trips over his own feet and quickly rights himself before shaking his head stiffly, "No, she didn't return to school this year... I..things are probably better this way anyways."
"Better?" I ask curiously feeling my heartbeat speed up slightly, he nods once more, "Yes better, better for her, me, everyone."
I feel my heart sink into the pit of my stomach at that wondering if he had actually given up or if it was just a show.
"She managed to keep her brother off my back when I needed it, and I will always care in a way. I still do, but things would be difficult," he pauses outside the classroom door before giving it a push, "and sometimes when things aren't meant to be the world just has a way of showing you that."
Indeed.
An unforgivable, there were reason that they were unforgivable yet here I sat watching as Alecto Carrow threatened to preform one on me if I did not. I knew she wouldn't however, Severus would be far too much to deal with the man who brought around the ultimate demise of the greatest wizard of all time, cursing his daughter wasn't worth the repercussions. At least that's what I kept telling myself. I feel my hands tighten around my wand almost painfully as I glare up at the nasty woman trying to show all my hate in one glare. I refuse to preform this spell.
"Ms. Snape? Something wrong with my request?"
I look down at Neville who had a large gash on his cheek now. I couldn't do that to Neville, never in a million years could I raise my wand and use that spell on him. Not Neville, out of everyone in the world, especially not Neville. I feel my resolve breaking the emotionless mask I so carefully put into place every morning crumbling as he looked up at me with such blind trust in his eyes. I had been avoiding this duty for months because of moments like these, but eventually the younger Carrow caught up with me saying I deserved a treat for all my hard work lately. A treat. That alone was laughable.
It was the trust that hurt me the most, I almost wanted him to look alarmed or accusingly up at me like he expected it. He trusted me and he knew I had to do this and that was what hurt, he trusted me enough that he didn't care if I did it. He would never hold that against me and would probably feel bad for meafterwards and seek out to comfort me in a few days. That was just who Neville was now. I wouldn't though. I couldn't. I don't know if it was his eyes locking with mine or my tiredness with the whole situation but in that moment I broke. I felt my shoulders sag, and my face fall as I stared down at my friend trying with all my might to keep the concern and sadness off of my features.
"Ill do it" Crabbe grunts pushing me out of the way, I feel myself stumble back as I watch him raise his wand. The harsh green light connects with Neville's body and I watch him convulse his jaw clamped shut keeping his silence. I move to look away but see Draco's stoney face watching mine and turn back towards the vibrating body of one of my oldest friends.
"That will teach you to write nonsense on the walls Longbottom. Your precious Dumbledore is dead!" Carrow screeches before turning to Crabbe and sending him the order in a demanding tone "Again."
I hold back a gasp seeing Neville clamp his eyes shut before letting out a loud scream. His body continues to convulse on the floor each time the jet of light hits his body and I feel tears welling up in my eyes unable to hide them anymore.
"Lets see how long this Longbottom can last! Again, Crabbe!"
Crabbe continues to comply once more hitting Neville with the curse, sweat beginning to run down his brow. The only good thing about using students to do this was the fact they couldn't hold it long. The only comfort one could find in the situation. I blink back the tears, wiping the ones that had managed to fall down my cheek quickly ignoring the blatant stare I was getting from Draco. How could he stand here and do nothing? This was the longest I had ever managed to last in overseeing a detention and I had never actually witness them using the curse I would always leave before it got to that part. Yet, he he was standing and watching, doing nothing his features as impassive as I had been trying to make mine and now he was gawking at me? Like I was the one who had something wrong with me? I forcefully stare over at the heartless woman with unveiled hate before nodding my head stiffly to catch her attention.
"I believe my Father wanted a chance to speak with Longbottom. He asked that I deliver him, I gather he is done for the night?" I question, glaring up at her coldly just daring her to challange me. Watching this made the guilt of being here well up too much inside of me, I needed to get Neville out of here somewhere to rest before going up to bed. There was only a few more days left to Christmas if he was still recovering he could last until break before getting into trouble.
Glancing down at Neville, Carrow sneers before spitting on him, and delivering a kick to his stomach. "Very well, Malfoy, bring in the next student".