*** Author's Note: Sorry it took me FOREVER to put out this chapter, my keyboard was messed up, and it was skipping letters and pissing me off and then I had some drama in my life... so I had to take a time out BUT drama is hopefully fixed and SO IS MY KEYBOARD! ***
"Hello Professor Umbridge, fancy meeting you here." I managed to choke out.
She grabbed my arm and pulled me out of the cabinet. She quickly let go of my arm when she noticed I was covered in something wet and slobbery.
"What in the world are you covered in" She squeaked as she quickly wiped her hand on one of the near by desks.
"Just... you know... a little bit of this... a little bit of that." I replied.
"What were you and Professor Snape doing in here? Finding more places to be... adventurous?" She said with a glare.
"Oh, Professor Snape was in here? I didn't see him." I replied with a smirk.
"You think you're so clever don't you . I would watch yourself, because I will make your life a living hell." She smirked.
"Is that a promise?" I asked.
"Keep it up Ms. Black; it will only make it worse in the end." She replied as she turned to walk out of the class.
"You forget that Professor Dumbledore is in charge around here, this isn't the Ministry of Magic." I snapped.
She turned around with a huge smile on her face.
"For now..." She replied as she walked back towards me.
"What is that suppose to mean?" I asked.
"You'll see" She smirked
She let out this weird little giggle as she turned back around and walked out of the classroom. The sound of her heels on the floor sounding like hoofs. It was at that moment that this bad feeling in my stomach started to form.
"I'm a little nervous..." I said to Snape as I sat in a chair beside his desk waiting for the first class to come in.
"I think I'm going to be the one with problems..." Snape replied.
"Why's that?" I asked raising an eyebrow.
"That outfit you're wearing... I'm going to have trouble concentrating." Snape smirked.
I looked down at the tight dark blue blouse and my black skirt that went just above my knees.
"I don't see a problem with it." I replied.
First years started coming into the classroom before Snape had a chance to reply. I saw a look of worry and nervousness. I guess Snape's reputation precedes him.
"Let's get started" Snape said as he walked past me
"Well, I think that went well, don't you think?" I asked placing my hands on my hips as the last first year left the room.
Snape raised an eyebrow at me.
"Okay! I get why you were always so grumpy with us! Were we that bad!" I asked as I placed my hand over my forehead.
"It's like that every year; I suggest getting used to it and adapting." Snape replied
"Adapting? Those kids didn't even know the difference between a fish skeleton and a pixie skeleton!" I said as I sunk down into my chair.
Snape smirked.
"The second years are worse." Snape replied.
"Oh please don't say that... I feel my faith in humanity slipping away already." I sighed.
"Sorry, but it's true." Snape replied
I groaned.
"Ahem" Umbridge's voice rang into the classroom.
I looked up and saw Professor Umbridge dressed in, surprise, another pink outfit.
"I am here to sit in on your next class Professor Snape,Ms Black. " She said nodding at us when she said our names.
"Why?" Snape's monotone voice asked.
"It is my new job as High Inquisitor for the ministry of magic." She replied with a sickly sweet smile on her smug face.
"Do what you wish." Snape replied waving his hand at her.
"Excellent. I will just be observing in the corner over here." She said grabbing a stool and sitting in the far left corner of the classroom.
A couple of second year students came into the classroom, they looked just as miserable as I felt.
"Here we go again." I mumbled.
Umbridge stayed behind as the last of the second years filed out of the classroom.
"Professor Snape, it seems to me that you can handle this job on your own and there seems to be no need for you to have an assistant." Umbridge smirked as she approached Snape's desk.
She didn't even look in my direction.
"I find it hard to believe that you can make an accurate assumption like that on the first day of classes." Snape replied coldly.
"Then I will be keeping an eye on the work load she is given." She quickly snapped back.
"Do what you will Dolores, but I will be needing her here." Snape replied, his cold eyes fixed on her.
Her face turned flushed red and it looked like she was about to explode. She suddenly turned around and left the classroom.
"That was horribly awkward." I finally said to break the tension.
"You know she's going to be watching you right?" Snape informed me
"Oh yeah, I know..." I smirked.
"Don't do anything reckless, she does actually have the power to fire you under the right circumstances." Snape informed me.
"Me? Reckless? I'm an innocent girl Professor." I smirked.
"Innocent? You are far from innocent. Especially in that outfit." Snape smirked back.
"Professor, I believe if you continue talking to me like that, I will find myself in quite the reckless situation." I joked.
I sat next to Reia at the staff table for lunch.
"Alright! Grilled cheese for lunch!" I said as I grabbed a sandwich and placed it on my plate.
"How were your first classes?" Reia asked.
"I honestly don't believe we were actually that dense when we were younger." I replied with a mouthful of grilled cheese.
"Oh, you better believe we were." Reia giggled.
"How were yours?" I asked.
"Horrible, I almost got hit with a nose growing charm!" Reia exclaimed.
"Aren't you in Transfiguration with McGonagall?" I asked.
"Yes... these kids don't even know the difference between Transfiguration and Charms!" Reia sighed.
"Well, I give the teachers a hell of a lot more credit." I replied.
"Did you get Umbridge sitting in on your class yet?" Reia asked.
I looked down the staff table and saw that Professor Umbridge wasn't even here for lunch.
"It was horrible and uncomfortable." I replied.
"I know, she told Professor McGonagall that she didn't need an assistant. I thought I was going to get fired until McGonagall commented that it was only the first day of classes and that she would be needing my help once the homework started piling in." Reia explained.
"She tried the same thing on Snape." I added.
"She fired her assistant." Reia informed me.
"Oh really?" I asked.
"Yeah, poor bugger didn't even get to sit in on one class." Reia said.
"Honestly, he's better off without her." I smirked.
"It's honestly a little weird being back" Reia commented.
"Yeah I know the feeling." I replied
Not that I had anywhere else to go...
For the next couple of days, Umbridge sat in on Snape's classes here and there, watching me like a hawk looking for its next meal. I gave her no excuses to even utter the words "you're fired" while she was there. Snape kept me busy enough, helping students and marking papers.
It's now been 2 weeks and I still haven't heard from Sirius. I couldn't take it any longer, I spent my whole life without my father, and now he's around... and he doesn't want to see me. I asked Dumbledore's permission to leave Hogwarts for the weekend. He thought it was a delightful idea.
"Do you want me to come with you?" Reia asked.
"I don't think that's going to help the situation." I replied.
Reia smirked.
"Yeah maybe not." She added.
"Well, I might not be too long." I informed her as I closed up my suitcase.
"Why's that?" She asked
"Well, what if he doesn't even want me there?" I asked.
Reia didn't reply... she knew I could be right.
"Well I will see you maybe Sunday, maybe in about 2 hours." I sighed.
"Be safe okay!" Reia exclaimed.
"Always am." I smirked.
I opened the bedroom door and saw Snape standing there with his fist raised as if he was just about to knock on the door.
"Professor Snape!" I exclaimed
"I heard that you're leaving." Snape said getting right to the point.
"For the weekend. I need to go see..." I started to say.
"Don't say his name." Snape hissed as he pushed himself into our bedroom and closed the door.
I looked at him in confusion.
"You never know whose listening." Snape added.
"Oh, right..." I replied.
"When were you going to tell me that you were leaving?" Snape asked.
"Right before I left, which is right now." I replied.
Snape sighed
"Is there any way I can change your mind?" Snape asked, his cold eyes flickering.
"I need to clear the air with this." I replied.
Snape nodded.
"At least let me escort you to Hogsmeade." He insisted.
It was an oddly chilly night. I wrapped myself tightly against my cloak as Snape and I headed towards Hogsmeade.
"Send me an owl and I will meet you here to pick you up." Snape said.
"I think I could manage to make it from Hogsmeade to Hogwarts" I replied.
Snape stopped and faced me.
"That's especially the most dangerous place." Snape snapped.
I was taken aback at Snape's sudden outburst.
"Did I do something?" I asked.
"You're acting like Voldemorts return doesn't even bother you. That you don't take it seriously." Snape replied.
"Of course I do, I just didn't think they would be around because of Dumbledore." I replied.
Snape sighed.
"Sorry I'm a little on edge these days." He said
"Everybody is, don't worry about it." I replied.
"Just... please be safe." Snape said looking into my eyes.
If he would have asked me to, I would have stayed there with him. How could ever say no to him when he looks at me like that.
"I'll send you an owl then, even if I'm leaving earlier than expected." I said.
"Thank-you." Snape replied.
"I guess I'll see you when I see you." I winked.
Snape grabbed me around the waist and quickly pressed his lips on mine. I was taken aback at the sudden-ness of his affection.
"You're acting like you're sending me off to war or something." I joked.
"You kind of are." Snape replied.
'I'll be back, don't worry about me." I winked.
Snape nodded and let go of me. I saw him flash before my eyes as I apparated back to number 15 Grimmauld place.
I held my breath and I slowly opened the front door. There was an odd eerie silence that filled the house.
"Hello?" I called out.
I got no answer back. I slowly moved down the hallway and peaked around the corner into the kitchen. It was empty, except this tiny little pink creature scrubbing the table.
"What are you?" I asked.
It slowly lifted his head to look at me.
"I am Kreature, the Black's house elf." He uttered slowly.
"Okay... where is my father?" I asked.
"Father?" He asked, his one eye brow raised.
"Yes, Sirius... where is he?" I asked.
"Mr. Black wasn't feeling so well... not well at all... been in his room for a fortnight, Oh mistress, look at what has become of your beautiful home. Turned into an open home, with the filthy mudbloods trying to destroy the dark lord!" Kreature mostly said to himself.
"Ummm... right... thanks?" I replied, confused.
I slowly back out of the kitchen and slowly ascended the stairs. I stopped myself in front of Sirius' door. I softly knocked on door.
"Not now Kreature, I'm still not hungry." Sirius' voice mumbled from the other side of the door.
I slowly opened his bedroom door. His room was only illuminated by soft lamp light.
"Kreature, I said not now" Sirius mumbled.
He was lying on his bed, back towards me. I didn't know what to say. I should just leave; he's going to be furious that I even came. I slowly started to back away, but it was too late. Sirius peaked over his shoulder toward me.
"Kate?" He asked as he quickly sat up in his bed.
"Uhh, yeah Sirius... it's me." I replied opening his door once again.
"What are you doing here, is everything all right?" He asked.
His face looked like its aged a couple of years, and his hair was more un-tidy and messy than usual.
"Yeah, everything's okay... at Hogwarts... I just came here... to check on you. I haven't heard from you in awhile." I said.
Sirius didn't say anything.
"I know you're still mad at me, but I still need to know that you're okay. Okay?" I exclaimed.
"Kate..."He tried to say before I cut him off.
"And I need you to know that I really, really miss you." I added, trying to hold back tears.
Sirius stood up from his bed and quickly walked up to me and hugged me. I was utterly speechless. I came here tonight thinking I would be walking into a war zone.
"Kate, I'm so sorry. I came back to stop you after you walked out of the house, but I was too late." He said into my hair and he tightened his grasp around me.
A single tear managed to escape my eye
"I thought I had lost you, just like your mother." He said hugging me even tighter.
I didn't care that I couldn't breathe; it felt good to be hugged by Sirius again.
"Sirius...I'm really sorry." I said as I pulled away from him slightly.
"We need to talk about this without yelling at each other." Sirius replied.
I nodded.
"But, that can wait until tomorrow morning." Sirius said smiling.
"So I can spend the night?" I replied smirking.
"You can spend the rest of your life here." Sirius replied with a wink.