"Reia! It's eleven! Get up!" I yelled as I walked threw the door to our bedroom.
All I got was a snore response.
"I'm not doing this today." I huffed.
I jumped on top of her.
"Reia! Wake up!" I yelled.
Reia sat up in her bed suddenly.
"What? What's going on?" She said, her eyes half open.
"We have a staff meeting in an hour, get up" I replied, getting off of her.
"Give me ten more minutes..." Reia yawned as she lid back down on her bed.
I pulled the blankets off of her.
"Up" I demanded.
"You suck" Reia mumbled.
We were brought into the room of requirement at noon. A large round table set with chairs sat in the middle of the room. The rest of the room was dimly lit. I took a seat beside Snape and Reia took a seat beside me. Soon, the whole table was packed... A hush fell over the table once Dumbledore stood up.
"Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts." Dumbledore smirked. "But, enough with the small talk, we should get right to business. As we all know Voldemort has returned... and there might be some questions students ask... the best way to answer is..."
"Ahem" that annoying voice said.
Dumbledore looked over his half moon spectacles at this woman in a tight pink suit.
"Yes Dolores?" Dumbledore said.
"Sorry to interrupt, but he-who-must-not-be-named isn't back. Are you saying we should lie to the children?" She replied in her annoying high pitched voice.
"Lying to the children is the last thing I am going to do, so I am going to be telling them that Voldemort is back." Dumbledore said in a stern voice.
Umbridge snorted.
"Try and answer as much questions as you can." Dumbledore continued.
"And if we don't believe it?" Another teacher I've never seen before chimed in.
"Then you are entitled to your opinion." Dumbledore replied.
"This is bogus Albus. It's foolish to continue on with this lie. There is no proof that he is back." Umbridge commented
"There is proof." Dumbledore replied.
"All hear-say from some boy, I heard he's prone to having nightmares! He probably just passed out and had a nightmare." She smirked.
"Not just any boy. It was Harry Potter" McGonagall added.
"And what about Cedric? Is that all some nightmare?" Dumbledore asked calmly.
"It was a tragedy what happened to the boy, but don't tell me that no one before him hasn't died competing in the Triwizard tournament." She replied smugly.
She just had an answer to everything, didn't she? Dumbledore took a deep breath in; he knew he wasn't going to get threw to Umbridge.
"Continuing on..." Dumbledore said.
Umbridge smiled smugly. I really wanted to just punch her in her pink loving face.
"Hallway patrol is now posted. If there are any problems with it, please report it too Minerva." Dumbledore informed us.
"Do we have to do that?" Reia whispered to me.
"I don't know." I whispered back.
"And as you might see, we have a lot of new faces this year. That's because I've assigned some assistants for some of you." Dumbledore said smiling.
I looked around. There were some young people like Reia and I around the table as well.
"Vincent Hubbs will be with Professor Flitwick. Reia Mookums will be with Professor McGonagall, Brooke Buyers will be with Professor Higgins, Scott Jobin will be with Professor Umbridge..."
Poor Bastard
"And Kate Black will be with Professor Snape." Dumbledore added
"Ahem" Professor Umbridge chimed in.
"Yes Dolores" Dumbledore asked with a smirk.
"I'm sure the Ministry is going to have a problem with..." She started to say.
Snape cleared his throat. He would expose her to walking into the bathroom when it was locked. She looked at him... I don't think she wants to be made to look like a fool.
"Dolores?" Dumbledore asked with a smirk still on his face.
"Do you think it is wise to hire the daughter of a fugitive?" She asked, still not looking away from Snape.
"She herself has not committed any crime... so I see no reason not to hire her, besides... who I have on my staff is none of your concern." Dumbledore replied, still smirking.
"For now..." She replied with a little giggle
"Any other questions?" Dumbledore asked the group ignoring his last comment.
Later that night, the kids started flowing into the Great Hall for their arrival dinner. It was complete weird sitting at the staff table, looking at the four tables. Reia arrived late for dinner, and I couldn't exactly save her a seat at the table. I tried, but Umbridge insisted she sit by me. Luckily I had Professor Snape on my other side. Professor McGonagall came in with all the first years. Scared little faces followed her in front of everyone.
"You look tense, relax" Snape whispered to me.
"I'm sitting next to Umbridge, I can't relax." I whispered back.
Snape glanced over me and saw Professor Umbridge. He smirked and looked back towards the small child sitting on the stool with the sorting hat on his head.
"So ... Are you even qualified to do this job?" Umbridge asked me.
"Excuse me?" I replied offended.
"I mean do you actually know anything about Potions... or was it just 'luck' that got you this job?" She smirked.
"Are you assuming I got this job because of Professor Snape?" I asked, annoyance obviously covering every word.
"Ravenclaw!" The sorting hat shouted out.
The great hall applauded.
"That's exactly what I'm assuming, and as soon as I get permission from the Minister... I will make sure you are the first one to get fired." She whispered to me.
"Good luck on that." I replied.
"I would enjoy this little fantasy, while you still can." She smirked.
"Excuse me, Professor Umbridge... I am trying to watch the children get sorted, do you mind keeping your opinions to yourself for a couple more minutes." I replied a bit louder so most of the staff table could hear.
I glanced over to a few chairs over and I saw Reia giggling. I didn't dare look at Umbridge... I was afraid her glare would cause me to catch fire... and I didn't want my last memory to be of her. I concentrated on the next child sitting on the stool with the sorting hat on his head.
After the sorting ceremony Dumbledore stood up from his chair. He started off his speech talking about you-know-who. Of course, Professor Umbridge interrupted Dumbledore during his speech. I almost nodded off in the middle of Umbridge's speech. I guess waking up that early wasn't the greatest idea. I guess the speech was over because food appeared on the table in front of us, and Professor Umbridge took her seat next to me again.
"Kate, may I have a word with you before dinner?" Snape asked me as he stood up from the table.
I looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Now." He demanded.
Professor Umbridge was talking to that one teacher who didn't believe... you-know-who was back. I stood up slowly from the table and walked away without Professor Umbridge seeing us leave. We exited out threw the staff door.
"What's wrong Professor?" I asked
I felt a little weak as we started walking down the corridor. Snape pulled on a chain around his neck as we continued walking. He pulled out a glowing green pendant. I pulled out mine from underneath my own robes and pulled out a matching glowing pendant.
"We need to go somewhere where Umbridge can't find us." Snape said.
I braced myself against the wall and walked slower. I was losing strength...
"Kate, stay with me for a little while longer." Snape said as he grabbed underneath my arm and half dragged me along with him down the hallway.
He opened a door off to the side and helped me inside. We were in Professor McGonagall's classroom. Snape shut the door behind him and locked it. I fell to my knees next to a desk. I braced myself against it as I forced myself to stay awake.
"Kate... it's okay." Snape said putting his hand on my shoulder.
Snape knelt down next to me and I rested my head on his shoulder. I closed my eyes...
I smelt pine. I slowly opened my eyes. Sunrays beamed threw openings in the trees above me. A small wind blew across the tree tops making them rustle and sway. I sat up slowly. Trees surrounded me. The ground was spotted with light from the sunbeams that managed to sneak through. I got to my feet and brushed the dirt from the forest ground off of me.
Now... which way do I go?
I picked a random direction and started walking. Small twigs broke under my feet as I stepped on them. I tried to listen to any sounds other than mine as I walked threw the forest. I thought I heard something. I stopped and listened harder. Is that... music? I tried to follow the sound; I could hear it getting closer and closer. The sound of guitar strings being plucked rang threw the forest. Soon I could hear a male voice. I couldn't make out any words he was singing. As the voice became louder the closer I got, I started walking a bit slower and quieter. I reached the edge of the forest tree line and came upon a small clearly of forest with a rock in the middle of it and a man with blonde hair and a guitar sitting on it. He suddenly stopped playing and snapped his head in my direction. My heart pumped faster and I suddenly had a very bad feeling. He slowly moved off of the rock, never breaking his eye contact with me.
"Hi there..." I stammered.
He tilted his head and squinted his eyes.
"I'm just lost... and I heard your music" I said.
"Nock mehland cucurn" He hissed.
"Uh... excuse me?" I asked.
He rested his guitar on the rock and slowly walked towards me. I noticed he wasn't wearing any shoes. Fear overtook my whole body as I noticed his eyes were a blood red color. I didn't take a second glance at him as I started running in the other direction. I ran as fast as I could through the forest. I could hear loud thuds behind me. He was chasing me.
"Sev... he's...chasing...me..." I managed to say as I continued to run threw the forest.
A low tree branch cut across my cheek as I ran past it. I didn't let it bother me right now. I glanced back and saw that he was still behind me. His red eyes locked on me. I reached another tree line and ran into the open area. I suddenly stopped when I noticed that I was on a ledge. I quickly stepped backwards to avoid falling down the high cliff. I turned around and saw the man standing there panting, but his eyes still fixed on me and a small smirk on his face.
"Stay back" I demanded.
"Chevin hack frit" he smirked.
"Sev, I don't know what he's saying." I said out loud.
The man curled his hands into fists and slowly walked towards me, still smirking. His eyes suddenly went from hunger to fear. He slowly backed away; his teeth bared, then turned around and ran away. I tilted my head in confusion. I turned around to face the cliff, but the last thing I saw was a huge mouth headed right at me. I held my hands over my head and felt its tongue wrap around me and pull me into the unknown monster's mouth. Everything faded to black.
"Oh my god I'm dead... I died... death by monster that's how I died..." I mumbled.
"Kate..." I heard Snape's voice say.
Heaven...?
"Kate... you're not dead." Snape informed me.
I slowly moved my arms out of the way and opened my eyes. Snape was looking at me with a smug smirk on his face. I felt... wet...and sticky...I looked at my hands and robes. I was covered head to toe in drool saliva that the monster so lovingly covered me in.
"Mmm excellent..." I said shaking off some of the drool from my arms.
I helped myself up. Snape refused to touch me in the wet, drool state I was in.
"Are you alright?" Snape asked pointing to my cheek.
I held my hand up to my cheek and noticed a small amount of blood on my hand.
"Yeah... tree branch..." I replied
"Someone was chasing you?" He asked
"Some guy with these blood red eyes." I replied
"Hmmmm" Snape said, deep in thought.
"Well, I guess I can't go back to dinner like this." I commented as I scraped off some more drool off of me and onto the floor.
"Go shower and I'll bring you some dinner." Snape said stepping backwards.
I looked up at him threw my drool soaked hair. He was fighting very hard not too laugh.
"So ... Where were you when I was being eaten by a huge monster?" I asked with an eyebrow raised.
"You didn't say you were being eaten by a monster, now did you?" He replied with a smirk.
"I didn't?" I asked
"You didn't" Snape replied.
Snape walked towards the door and unlocked it. He opened it a little ways and looked both ways down the hallway.
"Okay all clear." Snape said looking over his shoulder.
I made my way to the door, trying not to slip on the drool I was dripping.
"Ah Professor Snape, I was wondering where you 'ran' off too." I heard Professor Umbridge's annoying voice say.
Snape glanced over to the cupboard in the classroom. I bolted to it and jumped in, closing the doors behind me.
"Dolores..." Snape replied unenthusiastic.
"Is Ms. Black with you, I was hoping to have another little chat with her." She said with a small giggle.
"Nope... haven't seen her." Snape replied in his unbelievably sexy monotone voice.
"What is this... stuff all over the floor?" She asked.
I heard her high heels click into the classroom.
"It was here when I came in." Snape lied in his monotone voice.
"And what exactly were you doing in here Professor Snape?" She asked.
"It's none of your business Dolores, now if you excuse me..." Snape replied.
I heard his foot steps start to get quieter. I didn't hear her high heels click away. I held my breath. I knew she was trying to listen to any movements. I heard a couple of small clicks and I heard the door shut. There was no way she left the classroom. I held my position. I heard her high heels again, this time it was coming closer to me instead of farther.
"Please don't look in here... please don't look in here..."
Suddenly the cupboard door swung open and Professor Umbridge stood there with a huge smile on her face.