This is going to be done in Snape's POV. This chapter is delicate to LemonDropsWoolSocks
I was desperately hoping this day would never come. I wanted more time to prepare, to get ready, but is there ever going to be enough time to prepare for something like this?
It was getting harder and harder to hold back my tears. I just needed more time; please… just give me some more time.
"Reia's here!" I heard Kate say from the living area.
Time's run out… so it begins.
"Merry Christmas Kate!" Reia yelled.
I cringed. Must she be so loud all the time? I glanced at the Polyjuice potion on the counter. I should just slip some sleeping drought into Reia's cup. I smirked and looked in my cupboard for some sleeping drought, but I stopped. Kate wouldn't approve or be very happy with me if I did something like that to her friend. I sighed and grabbed two glasses half filled with Polyjuice potion and walked into the living area.
"Severus…" Mad Eye Moody grunted.
Kate's escort back is this cripple. Stupid old man. Honestly, can't they send anyone more reliable from the Order?
Ignoring Moody, I handed Kate and Reia the cups and watched them as they each plucked a couple of strands of hair from themselves.
"Let's get this over and done with." Reia groaned as she dropped Kate's hair into the cup.
I smirked. I'm glad I made Reia's stay just as horrible.
I watched as Kate turned into Reia and Reia turned into Kate.
"You make me look sluty in those clothes Reia." Kate commented.
"You make me look all sweet and innocence in whatever you're wearing, it's disgusting!" Reia replied.
"Kate." Moody grunted.
"Yes?" Both Reia and Kate replied.
"Oh shut it Reia, I meant the real one." Moody barked.
I frowned when Reia and Kate smirked at each other. Reia is such a bad influence on Kate.
"Let's go REAL Kate." Moody grunted as he opened the front door.
Kate and I had already said our good-byes before Reia and Moody showed up. Reia, well Kate… waved at me before leaving with Moody. I stood at the door with Reia as Kate to make sure Umbridge saw that she was still here.
"So what do you want to do today Professor?" Reia asked me cheerfully.
"Nothing." I replied as I sat down in my chair.
"Well that's not very fun and exciting." Reia said as she placed her hands on her hips.
"I'm not here to entertain you." I said
I picked up the Daily Prophet that I already read this morning. Reia snatched it out of my hands.
"Look we're both stuck in this situation so Kate can spend time with Sirius, so we might as well make the best of it." Reia snapped.
"Ms. Mookums your behaviour is…" I started to argue.
"First off, you might as well call me Reia, we're not in the classroom anymore and secondly don't talk to me like a child. I am actually older then Kate!" Reia snapped.
"I don't…" I started to argue back.
"So what do you have to eat here anyways? Ms. Weasley made this blueberry pancakes and I hate blueberries!" Reia smirked as she skipped off to the kitchen.
I sat there for a few moments in complete awe at what just happened. Weren't we just arguing and now she's…. I turned to look in the kitchen and I saw Reia in Kate's body reaching for one of the top shelves for a box of Kate's cereal. I could see Reia's pink underwear underneath her short ruffled shirt. And the high heels she was wearing only accented Kate's ass making it look amazing. I quickly looked away when Reia finally reached the box and pulled it down from the cabinet.
"I hope this is Kate's" Reia called out from the kitchen.
I heard a dish break. I sighed and walked into the kitchen and saw a bowl broken on the ground.
"I'm sorry! I'm kind of clutzy! I'll clean it up." Reia said as she bent down to pick up the pieces of the bowl.
I was going to stop her, knowing Reia she would accidentally slit her wrists with the pieces and I would be the one left to clean up the mess. I opened my mouth to insult her for being such a foolish girl, but when she bent down I caught a glimpse of Kate's cleavage that was nicely displayed in Reia's tight blouse she wore.
"Ow." Reia said as she withdrew her hand from the broken bowl on the floor.
"Idiot girl." I said as I snapped out of my daze and handed Reia a cloth.
"Did I mention I hurt myself a lot too?" Reia smirked.
"You didn't have to mention it for me to figure it out." I replied as I put pressure on the cut on Reia's fingers.
She looked at me with Kate's green eyes. The passion and love I usually see in her eyes has disappeared.
"What are you implying Professor?" Reia asked.
I missed Kate already. I sighed and flicked my wrist and the bowl fixed itself.
"Never mind." I mumbled.
"Well, I guess that would have been a lot faster and safer." Reia smirked.
I rolled my eyes. This was going to be a long day.
I should have just added that sleeping drought to her Polyjuice. Kate would have forgiven me eventually. I was at least thankful that Reia turned back into herself.
"Professor, I'm so bored!" Reia whined. "Read a book." I replied.
"That's even more boring than doing nothing." Reia groaned.
I slammed the book I was reading shut.
"Well then what do you suggest doing?" I asked impatiently
"Let's go for a walk!" Reia suggested.
"No." I replied.
"Why not? It's a beautiful day outside!" Reia smiled.
"No." I repeated.
Reia slumped down on the couch and sighed loudly.
"Then I guess I'll just sit here and do nothing." Reia sighed.
"Fine." I replied as I opened my book to the page I was on.
There was one minute of glorious silence, but then shattered by a small sigh. I ignored it and flipped the page in my book. Reia sighed again, this time a little louder. I closed my book again.
"What?" I snapped.
"Nothing." Reia sighed.
"Fine, let's go for a walk if it will stop your insufferable pouting." I barked as I stood up.
Reia jumped up from the couch smirking.
"And I'm not risking anything while Umbridge might be around so you're going out as Kate." I demanded.
"Awesome! Just let me quickly go touch up my make-up. And I can't go walking in these heels so I'm going to borrow a pair of Kate's shoes, then my outfit won't match so I'll have to borrow some of her clothes as well." Reia said as she walked into my bedroom.
I slumped back down in my chair as I heard the bedroom door close. I wanted to cry.
Reia was right; it was a beautiful day. The snow glistened and glittered as the sun shone its brilliant beams upon each and every snowflake.
Kate stood beside me looking even more stunning then the snow. Reia had put Kate's hair up and had pinned up the hair that hangs down in front of Kate's face. I didn't understand why Kate wanted to hide her beautiful face with her hair all the time.
"Which way do we go?" Reia asked.
"It's your walk, you choose." I replied, slightly irritated.
Reia closed her eyes and started spinning in circles.
"What in the world are you doing?" I asked
She didn't reply, she just kept spinning. She suddenly stopped and opened her eyes.
"That way!" Reia said pointing straight in front of us down Spinner's End.
My patients for her immaturity was growing very thin. I marched past Reia and down Spinners end. Reia quickly caught up to me and kept pace with me.
"How far are we walking?" I grumbled.
"As far as we can go." Reia replied cheerfully.
"How can you always not have a plan for anything? Even something as simple as a walk!" I snapped.
"Well, nothing is set in stone right? Why make plans if you don't know what's going to happen." Reia replied.
I stood there speechless. I didn't have an argument against that.
"Sometimes life leads you on a straight road." Reia smirked as she continued down Spinner's End. "And sometimes life gives you trails"
"Roads and trails?" I speculated.
"Yeah." Reia said with a wink.
After a walk in many different directions, we ended up in an old abandoned school for muggle children. Reia sat down on one of the frozen swings and pulled out a flask of Polyjuice potion I had given her before our walk. She took a quick swig of the potion and placed it back inside her coat.
I sat down on the swing next to Reia.
"So why are you spending your Christmas holidays cooped up all the time? Don't you have family you can visit?" I asked.
"Not really." Reia mumbled. "What do you mean 'not really'? You either have family too see or you don't" I replied irritated
"Well if you must know, my parents are both muggles and alcoholics, so I don't go home unless I want things thrown at me and profanities yelled at me." Reia replied.
"I'm sorry." I muttered.
"Hey, you didn't know right," Reia said with a shrug. "Besides, Kate's the only family I need."
I never realized that all Kate and Reia really have are each other, and I was selfishly keeping Kate too myself. They would at least get a good week in together if they stayed in the same place. I sighed and looked at her.
"Reia, you should stay with Kate and me at my house for the remainder of the holidays." I said threw clenched teeth.
It was going to be hell living with her for a week, but if it made Kate happy, then I will have to endure it.
"Are you serious?" Reia asked with a smirk
"Yes." I replied back.
"Really!" She asked.
"Yes I said; now don't push it before I change my mind." I grumbled.
"Do Kate and I get your room?" she asked.
"You're pushing it Reia." I replied as I got off of the swing.
"Sorry." Reia smirked as she started following me
We started headed back to my house.
"I didn't know you had a spare bedroom." Reia commented
"I don't" I replied with a smirk.
"I have to sleep on the couch!" Reia exclaimed
"Couch, floor… outside. Take your pick." I replied.
Trying to find our way from Reia's random directions was a challenge, but I was relieved when I saw Spinner's End. Reia was chatting happily about anything. I stopped paying attention when she started talking about her hair. It was a good thing we were almost home, my leg was starting to get a little sore. I went to reach for the doorknob, but something didn't feel right.
"And then it turned out that Chance ate it. I didn't even know cats like to eat other things besides cat food and fish" Reia commented.
"Reia stop talking." I hissed.
"Why? What's wrong?" She asked. "Stay here." I demanded.
Remarkably she did what I told her as I slowly entered my house, my wand ready. I saw Professor Umbridge sitting on my chair by the fireplace.
"Severus, I hope you don't mind, but I made myself at home in your absence." Umbridge smirked.
"Get out." I snapped.
"Now, now Severus, I just came here to talk." Umbridge said as she folded her hands in her lap.
I balled my hands into fists. I must have forgotten to lock my door when we left for the walk.
"I told you to get out." I repeated as I pointed my wand at her.
"Severus… don't be like that." Umbridge said standing up." I'm one of the Minister's favourite employees, if I suddenly ended up injured, missing or dead… I think that the Minister of Magic would make it a priority to make your life a living hell." Umbridge smirked.
She stood there staring at me as I slowly lowered my wand.
"That's a good boy. Now, come sit… talk." Umbridge said pointing me to my own couch.
I wanted to rip her ugly head off. I wanted to make her pay for what she's done to me and Kate.
"Kate." I called out without looking back at the door.
Silence. I sighed and walked over to the door. Reia was crouched down on the step drawing pictures in the snow with her finger.
"Kate!" I hissed at her.
Reia looked up at me and finally clued in.
"Oh right! That's me!" Reia said standing up.
She followed me into the house.
"Professor Umbridge?" She asked.
"Ah, Ms. Black. Always a pleasure seeing you." She smirked.
"Yeah, right… likewise." Reia replied sarcastically.
"What do you want Dolores?" I asked.
"I was just a little concerned about Ms. Mookums short visits. Aren't you and her friends Ms. Black?" She asked me.
"Yes and…" Reia replied.
"Then why such the short visits? And it seems that she changes her clothes every time she come to visit." Umbridge smirked.
She was watching us more closely then I thought. We were caught; there was no way out of this…
Reia started laughing. Umbridge and I looked at her in shock. Has she gone absolutely mad?
"Reia comes over because she forgot her suitcase on the bed at Hogwarts, so she has no clothes. So she comes over to borrow some and then returns them later on so she can wash whatever clothes she was wearing when she left and whatever clothes she had left at her parent's house." Reia smirked.
I was shocked that she managed to think of that so quickly.
"Anything else you needed today Professor Umbridge?" Reia asked.
"I will catch you Ms. Black. There is going to be the one day that you mess up and have no excuses for your actions and I will be there to bring you into Azkaban myself!" Umbridge snarled.
"That's not going to happen." I commented.
"You can't protect her forever Severus." Umbridge snapped.
"I can and will." I replied
"We'll see. I have a little surprise for you Ms. Black when we return to Hogwarts." Umbridge smirked.
"Surprise?" Reia asked.
"Under suspicions, I think that Severus had made a faulty Veritaserum potion, so by the time we get back to Hogwarts, my request to have Ministry Veritaserum used will be approved." Umbridge informed us.
Time was running out for Kate to learn to block out her mind.
"No witty comments?" Umbridge asked with a smirk.
Reia and I didn't say anything.
"Alright then. I must be going now." Umbridge said as she pushed past us.
"You abuse the power given to you Dolores, one day all the horrible things you do to people is going to come back and bite you in the a…" I said.
"Severus, I don't do horrible things. If people would just follow the rules then I wouldn't have to reinforce them." She replied calmly.
"If you think you're actually doing good here Dolores, then you're living in your own little world." I snapped.
"Tell me Severus, what's so good about harbouring a fugitive? And not just any fugitive… Sirius Black. The one who killed all…" She said.
"And what if he's innocent?" I asked as I cut her off.
She chuckled.
"That's impossible. That's as true as the he-who-must-not-be-named being back." Umbridge smirked.
"Soon you will see how right we are." I replied.
"I won't hold me breathe for that day to happen. Someone as loony as Dumbledore we will be waiting until the final days on earth for he-who-must-not-be-named to return." Umbridge commented.
"You will see." I replied.
"No Severus, you will be the one who sees!" Umbridge added, her voice slightly raised.
There was no point in arguing with her any longer. It was like arguing with a brick wall. A very pink brick wall.
"I can see the doubt in your eyes that he's back Severus. It's a mistake to trust Dumbledore." Umbridge added.
"Then it's a mistake I will make over and over again." I replied.
"Suit yourself, you and your little pet…" She nodded at Reia. "Can enjoy every moment together until I put you both in Azkaban, maybe I'll be nice and put you two side by side so you can hear her screams better." Umbridge smirked.
My heart sped up and my breathing slowed. I tried not to picture sitting in one of the cells in Azkaban, not being able to do anything while Kate's screams echoed from the next cell over.
"Just one more week before Hogwarts, I suggest getting all the time together as you can get before then." Umbridge smirked as she opened the front door. "See you back at Hogwarts."
I slammed the front door shut with my wand as she left chuckling to herself. Reia flinched as the door slammed shut.
"Professor Snape, don't worry. Kate will be alright. She'll pass whatever Umbridge throws at her." Reia said.
"She still needs a lot of work." I commented.
"I'm here if you need any help." Reia said with a wink.
Maybe Reia wasn't SO bad.
Authors Note: Sorry this took so long to get out... My boyfriend just suddenly left me out of the blue and I'm finding it very hard to make it threw some days. I figure I can find peace and comfort in my story now though. At least I was brave enough to love. /3