Chapter Eleven: Threats and Apologies

Like I've been saying since Chapter one of my first story, I don't own any of this!

But I hope you enjoy it anyway!

The next morning I was woken up by a pair of hands shaking my shoulders. I opened my eyes and found myself staring at an angry Snape with what could possibly be described as an angrier Dumbledore standing behind him. I couldn't contain a groan.

"Your office, Headmaster?" I whispered before I even moved. Two stiff nods were my answer. I sighed and got up, following them out of the crowded hall, trying to smooth out my robe as I went.

Once in Dumbledore's office, I was told to sit across from his desk. I sat straight backed with my head up high, arms folded tightly across my chest. I might have looked impressive if I wasn't sure that my hair was messier than Harry's on a windy day. Dumbledore opened his mouth, but Snape beat him to it.

"What were you thinking? You all could have been killed! Or possibly worse! Do you know how stupidly foolish you were? Telling your own friends to lower their wands? I thought you were at least smarter than that! Did you learn nothing from the deaths of Lily and James Potter?" I snapped at that one, jumping to my feet.

"Don't you dare use their deaths against me! I know that it's all my fault that their family fell apart, okay? I know it's all my fault that Sirius went to Azkaban and escaped! I know it's all my fault that he broke in last night and I know I didn't stop him! But I didn't realize we would actually run into him either! But do you know what? None of this is going to stop! Things are going to keep being my fault! It's my fault Harry is miserable, it's my fault that Remus is lonely, it's my fault that more people who don't deserve it are going to die! So just stop it! I'm sick of being dragged in here for an escaped convict who's innocent, at least wait until people start dying to punish me!"

"Severus, Kailey, please sit down," Dumbledore said calmly. I obeyed in a huff and glared in the opposite direction of both of them. "Kailey, please listen to what I have to say now. Try not to interrupt,"

"Whatever," I spat.

"Your relationship with Sirius Black, or rather Keena's, has left you biased. You must understand that we cannot take your word on this matter, especially after what you allowed to take place last night. If he does manage to break into the castle again, I'm afraid I will have to expel you at the very least. I cannot allow you to endanger the other students," he stopped as if waiting for me to stand up and start shouting again.

"You said at the very least," I said slowly. "What's the very most?" I asked, looking up at the Headmaster. He looked uncomfortable and very tired.

"St. Mungo's, possibly Azkaban,"

The silence that followed that statement was suffocating.

"You c-can't…I-I've…" my words failed me when I realized there was no twinkle in the ancient Headmaster's eyes. I turned to Snape to find that he was looking at me with disdain. "A-and you'd…you would let him." It wasn't a question. "I'm not crazy, though! I haven't done anything worth getting expelled over! And Az-azkaban? Professor, please tell me you aren't…you're not…How could you consider--?"

"Assisting a criminal in escaping a high security ward and then allowing him to enter the school in which his target resides? Ms. Snape, I cannot ignore such things,"

"I won't go," I said.

"You needn't have to if you do not allow something like this to occur again," Dumbledore said gently.

"And what about when Voldemort returns? What do you plan to do to me when the inevitable takes place? You know it must happen,"

"That is a different matter entirely,"

"Is it? I can't see how. In fact, it is a more dangerous possibility and if you don't trust me now, how will you know whether or not you can trust me then?"

"Your decisions will not be as biased."

"Is that it, then? What a relief," I said sarcastically before I stood up again. "I think we're done here. I obviously can't trust either one of you if you can't trust me,"

I swept myself out of the room and by-passed all of the corridors. The Great Hall was filled with morning chatter as students began waking up. I continued out the door into the cold November morning and stopped at the Forbidden Forest before going to circle around the lake. I finally stopped in front of the beach tree and began pacing back and forth in front of it, arguing with myself the entire time.

What if I just went to Lily and James now…? Sure Remus would be able to find me but nobody else would…I can't go to Azkaban…I can't do that…maybe I should just tell Sirius not to come back to the school at all…no that wouldn't work, I'd have to explain and then he'd be an idiot and show up in an attempt to bail me out…Okay, if I'm expelled, I'll get myself to Lily and James before they can decide what to do with me and before they snap my wand. There, I've got a plan…But what can I tell the others…?

I shuddered as a cold wind swept out of the woods and I hugged my arms around myself. Once the wind stopped I attempted to pull a hand through my hair before realizing it was down to my waist and extremely tangled. I took out my wand and fixed it before turning back to the castle. I probably owed Harry, Ron and Hermione an explanation. At least Hermione'd be happy I was being properly punished…

I found Hermione in the girl's dorms where she, Lavender and Parvati were getting ready for the day. At least it was a Saturday. She gave me a questioning look, but I nodded my head towards the other two girls who were discussing hair products. She nodded in agreement and I began getting myself cleaned up. Parvati and Lavender left before I was done and Hermione waited on my bed.

"Where were you this morning?" she asked finally.

"Discussing things with Dumbledore and Snape," I replied stiffly. "My punishment mainly,"

"Well you knew that was going to happen," she said matter-of-factly.

"So I suppose that you agree that if Black gets into the castle again that I should be expelled then sent to either the St. Mungo's mental ward or to Azkaban for life?"

I looked over to see her reaction. She looked horrified. I nodded.

"That was my initial response as well,"

"That's outrageous! How could they even talk about Azkaban, forget St. Mungo's! Ridiculous! You're thirteen, it's not as if you meant any harm!" she ranted.

"Yeah, well, if they do expel me, I'm not going to wait around for them to snap my wand or anything. I'll make my way back to the U.S. if I have to, but I won't go to Azkaban, which I think is more likely judging by the look Snape had on his face. I think he truly hates me now," I added thoughtfully.

"He doesn't hate you; he's probably just upset," she said coming over to me and giving me a hug and handing me my cloak.

I shook my head. "I've gotten to know him some, Hermione, and the look on his face was clear enough that he wishes I had never been born," I explained sadly.

"It'll get better; in the meantime, we'd better go and tell the boys,"

After I had told Ron and Harry the same story both were silent for about half a minute. Next moment the entire common room was covering their ears as the boys shouted incoherently. The only words I could make out from either of them were "git", "bloody", "arsehole", "Snape", "crazy" and "Dumbledore" describing each professor respectively. Needless to say, it was a good thing we didn't have Potions any time soon.

After Hermione and I uncovered our ears we noticed both boys panting with rage.

"Are you quite finished now?" I asked, looking around the common room. It was nearly empty now. No surprise really.

"How could they even consider that?" Harry seethed, though he was whispering now. "You didn't commit murder or anything! So what you told us to lower our wands? It isn't as if you forced us to."

"Yeah and if we hadn't, who knows what Black might've done…" Ron added.

Yeah because Lily's reaction if Sirius had done any sort of spell on Harry wouldn't make him wish he were back in Azkaban…

"Well they only saw it as incredibly stupid and immature of me. Not only that, but did he really seem that violent to you guys? Some ex-Death Eater slash murderer he would make considering he left all of us unscathed while one of us without a wand," I said, shaking my head.

"I was wondering about that," Harry said. "I would have thought that if what everyone else was saying about him were true, he'd've just killed me then and there. And he didn't talk like someone who was crazy either,"

"Maybe that's why he's so dangerous, though," Hermione countered. "Because he does seem sane, but I do agree with you, Harry. He's not exactly what I would've expected."

"I think you should ask Keena what she remembers him to be like," Ron said. "And ask her to sign you're Hogsmeade form at the same time. Bet she'd do anything at this point to get your favor back,"

"Ron, do you really think they'll let her signature count when they're set to expel me for Black getting into the castle? I don't have any connections with him, she does,"

"But you said he'd get into the next trip!"

"I didn't say he'd do it with a signed form," I muttered.

"Please tell me you're joking," Hermione groaned. I only grinned in reply.

A few days later Harry came back to the common room from Quidditch practice with an extremely annoyed expression on his face. He was sopping wet and slightly muddy in his Quidditch robes and his feet squelched as he walked over to us before he sat down. The only thing I could think was pity for the house elves that'd have to clean the common room that night.

"What's wrong Harry?" Hermione asked without looking up from her Charms.

"We aren't playing Slytherin," he stated. I looked up against my better judgment and winced. He was giving me a pointed glare.

"Head injury?" I asked, rolling my eyes. Harry nodded. "Stupid jerk," he nodded in agreement.

"Mind letting us in on the secret?" Ron asked.

"Malfoy's gone and complained that his head is too injured for him to be able to play the match. We're playing Hufflepuff instead. Wood's going loopy," Harry explained.

Ron looked shocked while Hermione just raised an eyebrow.

"I don't understand what the big deal is," she said indifferently.

"What's the big deal? The big deal is that there are about twenty different strategies used between the Slytherins and the rest of the houses alone, not to mention the different playing styles and values," Ron said exasperatedly. Hermione just rolled her eyes and shook her head.

Hermione, Ron and I walked into Defense that Friday arguing over what exactly we were supposed to talk about in class that day. Harry had waved us on as he was once again accosted by Wood as he had been all week. I opened the door for the other two, laughing to myself at how easily Ron had managed to get under Hermione's skin. I looked up when I realized their conversation had stopped and scowled at what I saw. Snape returned the gesture before turning back to his desk.

Hermione tugged at my sleeve and gestured to where Ron was sitting in the back row. I sat down next to them, leaving an empty seat on the end for Harry for whenever he would get there. Probably late judging by the look he had had on his face as we had left him with Wood.

The bell rang a minute later, but Snape didn't seem to be in a hurry at all. In fact the first five minutes of class was spent taking attendance. I wasn't sure if I should have been annoyed or glad that he skipped over my name. The winning emotion turned out to be annoyance, however, when he began grilling me, Ron and Hermione about Harry's whereabouts.

"Are you positive it was Oliver Wood that you left him with?" he asked, his eyes boring into mine. I could tell he was about to use legillimancy so I decided I'd have fun with him.

Nope, he's with Sirius who managed to somehow create a perfect Polyjuice while he's been on the run from the Ministry not to mention he figured out who Wood even was, enabling him to successfully talk Quidditch with Harry. Yes, I've just revealed the whole reasoning for Sirius Black's escape: to give his godson a few Quidditch tips…

"That's not funny," Snape growled, leaning over my desk.

"I thought I told you to stay out of my head," I replied in an equally dangerous whisper.

Before he could answer the door slammed open.

"I'm sorry I'm late, Professor Lupin, I--" Harry stopped as his mind processed what he was seeing before him. Snape meanwhile stood up straight and walked back to Lupin's desk.

"This bell rang ten minutes ago, Potter, so I think we should make it ten points from Gryffindor, don't you?" he looked at me as if daring me to challenge him, I only glared. "Sit down,"

"Where's Professor Lupin?" Harry asked, not moving an inch.

"He's ill today, now sit down before I take more points," Snape was beginning to sound murderous so I gave a cough. "Are you in need of the Hospital Wing?" he growled.

"No, sir," I replied just as icily. Harry, meanwhile, had taken the hint and had taken his seat next to me.

"Now, where were we?"

"You were interrogating us, sir," I replied. "And the last thing we studied was grindylows,"

"Do not speak unless you have been spoken to," he snapped.

"Sorry, sir," I grumbled.

"Professor Lupin has left no records of what you have studied and you are very far behind--"

"Sir, we've just done grindylows as Kailey's already said," Hermione began before Snape cut her off.

"Five points for speaking out of turn. I was simply pointing out Professor Lupin's disorganized state,"

"He's our best Defense teacher yet," Dean said valiantly and the rest of the class began muttering their agreements.

"He's our best teacher yet," Seamus pointed out.

"And he actually knows what he's doing and how to relay it back to us," Parvati agreed.

"That's enough! I'm here to teach you now, and I say that we shall be studying werewolves," Snape seethed as he found the page of the text that we would need.

"But we're not supposed to do werewolves yet," I said. "Sir," I added quickly as he began to look up.

"Yes, we're supposed to begin with Hinkypunks, sir," Hermione said.

"I was unaware that the students create the curriculum, Ms. Granger, Ms. Snape," he said very slowly. "Now, turn to page 394,"

Collectively, we all began opening our books, some of us turning the pages slowly and others passing directly over the page over and over again.

"Who of you can tell me five distinctions between a werewolf and a real wolf?" Snape called from the front, sounding more or less pleased that the chatter had stopped.

Hermione and I both raised our hands, though Snape ignored us, clucking his tongue as he looked around the room.

"No one? That is very disappointing indeed. Apparently you are all more behind in your studies than I originally thought,"

"But sir, we've told you we aren't at this chapter yet," Lavender cried out. "We're on Hinkypunks,"

"Enough," he growled and she fell silent immediately. "How will you all be able to defend yourselves if you do not know how to recognize a wolf from a werewolf? This is pathetic. I shall have to report this to Headmaster Dumbledore,"

"Professor, please," Hermione implored, ignoring my kick to her shin. "One of the differences is the shape and size of the snouts--"

"Five points for being an insufferable know-it-all!" Snape snapped.

Hermione's hand fell slowly into her lap and she looked very close to tears. I bit my lip as Ron snapped.

"Why did you bother to ask us if you didn't want to hear the answer?" he nearly shouted. "She tells you and you take points off!"

"Do not tell me how to do my job, Weasley. You will be serving a detention. Never speak that way to me again," he paused. "Is something wrong, Ms. Snape?"

"No, sir," I said in as calm a voice I could manage while trying to control my thoughts at the same time.

"Good,"

"Dirty, scummy, jerkish, loser, pathetic, asshole, mother--"

"Kailey!"

"What? Hermione, I'm the one whose insulting him for you," I replied innocently. "Plus I have to catch up on the thoughts I wanted to have during class,"

"That makes no sense," Hermione replied.

"Well considering Snape has absolutely no issues with reading my mind, I'd say it makes perfect sense." I answered. "And yes, Harry, I did say read my mind. Some bitch—I mean witches," I grinned at Hermione's glare, "can do that,"

Hermione gave a humph and we continued on with our day.

"I cannot believe they never cancel Quidditch," I mumbled for the twelfth time as the rain dropped in bullet like pellets on our heads and umbrellas, sounding like an unsteady drum roll.

"What?" Ron shouted over the gale.

"I said 'I can't believe Quidditch is never cancelled!'" I shouted back as a gong sounded from somewhere far away. I tried to look to see who had scored but it was nearly impossible in the rain.

"Where did Hermione go?" was the response I got from Ron.

I looked around only to realize she had slipped away, although she had probably asked us if we had wanted to go with her and we just hadn't heard. I pointed to the field where there were clusters of yellow and red huddled close together on the ground. I could just barely make out Hermione in her scarlet rain poncho as she crossed the field to the red cluster.

"What's she doing?"

"Making it possible for them to see I guess," I shouted back. Ron raised an eyebrow but let it go as the players returned to the air.

Hermione made it back to us and announced her arrival by shouting "Are they going to get the snitch sooner now?"

I laughed. "I wish! I can't wait for this to--"

A light breeze seemed to blow over the stadium. It didn't fit in with the storm.

I broke out into a run, racing through the crowd and heading for the teacher's stand. I used the same spell from Halloween and managed to make it to them just as the stands began to feel truly icy.

"Professor!" I shouted. Five heads turned to face me.

"Ms. Snape, what is it?" Dumbledore was by my side in less than a flash.

"The dementors, I only just remembered!" I cried out in a panic. "They're going to be here, they're already here, can't you feel them?" My head was starting to spin as I pointed to the field. I inhaled sharply as another wave of cold came rushing through the air. "Harry is going to fall!" I yelled when Dumbledore didn't react immediately.

"Ms. Snape, stay calm, the dementors are not here yet." He paused. "You seem to be abnormally sensitive to their presence, however. I will take care of this," Dumbledore's shout was calm and collected and he began heading towards McGonagall and Lee Jordan to try and get Madame Hooch's attention.

I stood shivering for a moment, searching the skies with my eyes before I felt a hand on my shoulder. I swayed a little due to the extra pressure and looked up to see Snape and he looked worried.

"Come with me, I don't want you here when the dementors do arrive!" he called through the storm.

"No! I want to make sure Harry is all right!"

There was another rush of piercing cold and suddenly everything seemed to fall silent, though I could see Snape's mouth moving. Memories began flashing in front of my eyes, my vision clouding over. I could hear screams. I could see flashes of green and white. I could feel the dementor's cold, rattling breath…

...

"How much longer d'you think she'll be out?"

"I dunno, she ran off a while before the dementors got there so she might've been exposed to them longer,"

"But how much longer?"

"I don't know, Harry,"

"That may be the first time I've ever heard you say those words together, Hermione,"

"This isn't one of your stupid pranks, George,"

"Fred,"

"Whatever,"

"Merlin, can't a girl get a little sleep around here?" I asked, opening my eyes to glare at the gathering around my hospital bed.

"Oh, is that what you call it these days?" Fred or George asked, smirking. I was too tired to bother figuring out which on e was which.

"And to think, we thought it was called passing out," the other twin replied.

"Shove it," I groaned, massaging my temples trying to subdue the pounding in my ears. "So, how long was I out that you all decided to gather around my bed?"

"Longer than last time," Hermione answered from the chair next to my bed.

"Great," I said, smiling sarcastically. "I hate those stupid things," I added, sitting up and leaning against the head board. "Need I ask why the whole Quidditch team is here?"

"Harry passed out too," Angelina replied.

"And we figured we might as well wait until our other fellow Gryffindor came to," Gred answered.

"That and it was the only thing we could say that Madame Pomfrey would accept as a suitable reason for sticking around," Forge added.

"Gee, thanks," I said pointedly to whichever twin he was, he bowed in reply.

"I thought I heard talking out here," Madame Pomfrey had finally come over, holding a tray of potions and chocolate. "Now everybody out, Ms. Snape and Mr. Potter need their rest,"

"Actually, I'm feeling better already, so I guess I'll just head out with them," I said, attempting to get out of the bed but Pomfrey had whipped her wand out and I was stuck to the sheets. "Is that really necessary?"

"Yes, I'm afraid it is," she answered, ignoring me as I rolled my eyes as she kicked everyone out of the Hospital Wing with the obvious exception of Harry and me.

I lay perfectly silent while she completed her usual check up until the door opened. We both looked up and I groaned inwardly. Snape strode right up to my bed and sat down in the chair Hermione had been sitting in as Madame Pomfrey subtly moved over to Harry's bed, closing the curtains as she went.

"Why are you here?"

He blinked. "I was under the impression that I had carried you to the Hospital Wing as any father would do and have been waiting for you to wake ever since,"

"Funny, I was under the impression that you hated my guts,"

He looked torn. "I was angry with you, yes, but I do not hate you and I apologize for giving you that impression."

"And what about reading my mind? I know you did when you subbed for Lupin,"

"I was out of bounds," he conceded.

"Why are you suddenly so sorry? Because you finally realized that you promised to trust me until given sufficient evidence which contradicted me or because you thought I was going to never wake up?"

"Both," he answered.

"Well, damn, had I known that I'd've found a dementor sooner," I replied sarcastically.

"Are you going to accept my apology or not?" he asked, beginning to grow impatient.

"I don't know, why don't you ask again when I don't have a pounding headache?" I growled, rubbing my fist against my forehead in an attempt to dull the headache.

"I would never have guessed you were my daughter until this year," he said, beginning to rub his temples. "Your sense of sarcasm seems to be the only one to come even close to rivaling mine,"

"That is so corny," I grumbled. "So, you've come to beg forgiveness, what about Dumbledore? Is he ready to give yet or is he just going to wait until I'm on a deathbed?"

"I have not spoken to him,"

"But you will?" I insisted.

"I shall try,"

"You know I won't go to Azkaban. I wouldn't survive two minutes," I said, sitting up straighter.

"Then if the issue is ever presented I will help you escape," he replied. "Blood comes before innocence,"

"I've never heard that one before," I replied with a smirk. "Could you seriously do something about my headache? I think my head is going to explode…"

"Does that mean you accept my apology?" he asked, pulling a vial of liquid out of his robes.

"Do you just carry every potion known to man in your robes at all times or something? You always seem to have stuff," I observed, ignoring his question for the moment.

"I thought you may be in need of a headache potion," he replied, handing the vial to me. "Now will you please answer my question?"

"Do you honestly expect me to just ignore the threat I was given? I'll forgive you but that doesn't mean I'll forgive you today," I answered, sniffing the potion. "Why don't they ever smell good?"

"That is the answer I expected and more than I deserve for my treatment of you--"

"And my friends,"

"For the past couple of days. And if it smelled good it would mean it were a poison,"

"Why a poison?"

"Because the better something smells the easier it is to get victims to consume."

"That's morbid,"

"You should rest now," he said, standing. "I shall speak with the headmaster; in the meantime I think Gryffindor deserves twenty points,"

"For what?" I asked nearly passing out again in shock.

"To make up for some of what I took,"

"Some?" I replied with a raised eyebrow.

"I shall visit you tomorrow," he said before sweeping out of the room.

That is the end of this one! I shall post the next one (12) ASAP!! Don't forget to review!

:-D