Chapter 13 - Two Gingers and a Snape
Two, three weeks had pasted at least he thought since the incident in the classroom. The trickster was surprised he made it this long. Loki entered the defense against the dark arts class as if it was routine. Since Lupin didn't really trust him, there weren't many tasks given to him. He knew he wasn't really here to teach, but he didn't want this place to lose its luster. It was beginning to remind him more and more of Mobius' office at the TVA. The boring paper work he did not miss, but Mobius he did. He was lost in such a depressing daze that he barely noticed that the students were actually seated in desks and Lupin was not there. An unfamiliar voice woke him from his stupor. "Turn to page 394." it said in a low, yet monotone sound. Loki looked up to find the man that Neville boy feared, the one that had an uncanny resemblance to him. Maybe today was going to be an interesting day after all.
"Excuse me, sir. Where's Professor Lupin?" asked Harry. Yes, where is Professor Lupin. Professor Snape wrote something on the board. It read, 'werewolf.' Loki noticed all the windows were closed and despite it being daytime, the room itself was very dark.
"That's not really your concern, is it, Potter? Suffice it to say your professor finds himself incapable of teaching..." snarked Snape turning around to be surprised by Loki's gaze.
"Mr. Laufeyson … " said Snape. The students turned around in their seats.
"Bloody hell, when did he get here," whispered Ron.
"Your services will not be needed today … " said Snape. To his surprise, Loki smiled an unpleasant smile.
"Is that right?" said Loki confidently. He could see why Neville feared this teacher, he was indeed terrifying, which gave Loki a little extra pep in his step.
"Then you wouldn't mind if observed another teacher's methods, would you?" he asked with a disgustingly large amount of charm. The air in the room was thin. Harry could have sworn he saw a flicker of anger behind Snape's black eyes.
"If … you … must," said Snape in his paced manner. Loki took a seat in the back of the class, crossed his arms, and propped his feet on the desk like a bad student. If looks could kill, the entire classroom would be obliterated by Snape's and Loki's glares.
"Turn to page 394." said Snape finally. It took a moment for the students to respond. Snape whipped out his wand and pointed at Ron's book, forcing it open to page.
"Werewolves"? questioned Ron.
"Sir, we just learned about red caps and hinkypunks. We're not meant to start that for weeks." complained Hermione.
"Quiet." demanded Snape. Loki made his gaze tighter.
"Now, which one of you can tell me the difference... between an Animagus and a werewolf?" asked Snape. Hermione vigorously raised her hand. Loki wondered why Snape would not select her.
"No one? … How disappointing." said Snape sarcastically. Loki's eyes flickered wide. Was he originally right? Was he the variant?
"Please, sir. An Animagus is a wizard who elects to turn into an animal. A werewolf has no choice. With each full moon... he no longer remembers who he is. He'd kill his best friend. Furthermore, the werewolf only responds to the call of its own kind." she answered, which to Loki's surprise he did find interesting. Suddenly, Malfoy howled like a wolf to mock her. Loki was glad she had previously punched him in the face. Could the blondie be his variant instead he dreaded.
"Thank you, Mr. Malfoy … That's the second time... you've spoken out of turn, Miss Granger. Are you incapable of restraining yourself... or do you take pride in being an insufferable know-it-all?" snapped Snape.
"He's got a point, you know." whispered Ron.
"Five points from Gryffindor." demanded Snape. All of a sudden, Loki really hoped this person was not one of his variants.
"Rude," the Trickster blurted out. Snape shot him a death glare unsure if he was referring to Ron or himself. Harry looked back to find that Loki was indeed referring to Snape.
"That was one of the most insightful things I've heard all week, and you punish her for it?" retorted Loki. The class grew deathly quiet again. Hermione tried to hide her smirk.
"Well now … As an antidote to your ignorance, I could give them more work on the subject matter Mr. Laufeyson … I'm sure Ms. Granger would be happy to tell you all about it," said Snape in a quiet yet threatening manner. The class groaned. However, Snape's threat produced the opposite effect.
"Oooooh, was that a threat?" said Loki, taunting him, "Now I like this." Loki smiled, taking his feet off the desk and leaning forward. In all the years Harry had known Snape, he never met anyone who could draw out a sliver of emotion from Snape's face, even if it was a bad one.
"Oh bloody hell here we go," whispered Ron. Snape stepped dangerously closer to him.
"Mr. Laufeyson … need I remind you … that you are nothing more than on loan … to this school … "began Snape. Malfoy grinned maliciously. Loki stood up from the desk.
"And need I remind you … I'm sorry, what was your name, again?" taunted Loki. Snape's eyes flickered wide in disbelief. Neville could not take his eyes off Loki. "That you are not the actual professor of this here class, and therefore, do not have power over me," he finished. Ron hid his face in his hands. Neville's jaw could have been on the floor. Swiftly, Snape flicked his wand, casting a spell to open the door behind Loki. Light from outside flooded the room harshly, torturing their eyes.
"Expelliamous!" yelled Snape, throwing Loki out of the classroom. He hit the stone wall hard. Instantly, Snape shut the door with another wave of his wand and locked it. Loki got up quickly, but he was too late.
"Damn," he said. He could hear Snape from inside barking orders at them.
"On my desk, by Monday morning... two rolls of parchment on the werewolf, with emphasis... on recognizing it!"
But at least he hit a nerve.
"What in the bloody hell was that all about?" said a new voice just to his side. He nearly jumped back. Two people of same tall stature, red hair color, and face stood before him. He thought he had seen them before.
"You hit that wall hard mate," said one of them.
"I don't know how that didn't knock you out," said the other in the exact same voice. Loki's lips parted.
"Hey, aren't you the one who destroyed an entire classroom?" said the other one gleefully.
"And walked away without a scratch!" said the other. His eyes kept bouncing from one to the other in disbelief. He had seen twins before, but not this … synchronized.
"What are you? An illusion?" he asked quickly. They snickered.
"No, we're identical," they said together in perfect stereo. Loki took a step back. They grinned at each other.
"They said you were odd," said one of them.
"They?" Loki questioned.
"Ron, Harry, and Hermione of course," the other one said. The answer disturbed him. He raised his eyebrows.
"Those three talk about me?" he questioned, pointing over his shoulder to the locked door.
"Of course," said the other one.
"Well, to be honest, after your first day a lot of people do."
"I mean it's not everyday that a man can destroy the school and live! and get away with it!" Loki had to close his eyes for a second. He thought the hit from the wall made him hallucinate. He opened his eyes again and sure enough saw two people but thought he heard only one.
"And who … who are you … two?" he questioned opening his arms out wide gesturing to both of them.
"Oh I'm Fred!" said Fred shaking his right hand.
"I'm George!" said George shaking his left. He involuntarily shook their hands, arms crossed.
"Haha … and I've clearly gone mad …" he said nervously. Fred and George laughed releasing his hands.
"From what we've heard, you already were," said Fred grinning.
"Ron's our younger brother you see," said George.
"Uh huh," Loki responded, recognizing the red hair.
"But from what we hear, you've got a twin of your own," said Fred mischievously. Loki pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Please don't tell me … "
"Old Severus Snape himself," said George.
"But just between us, you are far more interesting," whispered Fred. Loki dropped his hand from his face.
"Severus? …. What do you know about him?" he probed.
"He's the potions master at this school," said Fred.
"He's not really liked, except by the Slytherins of course," said George. Loki was not particularly fond of those words in that sentence, especially since he didn't recognize one of them.
"Slytherins?" asked Loki.
"Yeah, he's the head of Slytherin in fact … look," said Fred pointing to an emblem on his robes. It depicted a lion in red and yellow. Loki recalled an insignia on the dead lad's robes, but it didn't match theirs.
"We belong to Gryffindor house," he continued, "There are four of them that make up this school."
"Ravenclaw," said George.
"Hufflepuff," said Fred.
"Gryffindor," said George.
"And Slytherin" they said together. Loki felt the need to sit down.
"God now I know why Thor found that so annoying," he said to himself remembering a past memory of mischief. The twins exchanged confused looks.
"Who?" one of them asked.
"No one, nevermind … then why is he teaching the defense against the dark arts?" asked Loki.
"He shouldn't be … unless Professor Lupin was ill or preoccupied, but then, shouldn't you be teaching the class?" one of the twins said. Loki glared at the locked door.
"Indeed … " noted Loki.