The next week was filled with nothing but homework, lessons and nightly conversations with Severus, whenever either of us could slip away. We used his office and our brief meetings allowed us to share but a few words or kisses, so that by that weekend we were both hungry for a little more time together. He'd kept his word and was now serving detention almost nightly and he would leave these sessions with his students to enter his office where I'd already be sat waiting for him. And in potions on Wednesday I'd been greeted by a large pale blue peony.
Harry and I had spent a lot more time together as we both had taken to hiding in the library of the common room till the early hours. It had allowed us to talk at leisure about everything from our classes, to the Order and Severus. I finally felt for the first time in my life that I had someone who cared for me no matter what, but also knew part of what I was going through, and this had allowed me to talk to Harry about my mother on several occasions. I think we'd both found a peace in one another and I found by the end of the week id spent more time with him than the twins and Angelina. Neither seemed to mind as Angelina had been giving Ron extra practise sessions and the twins were busy developing Merlin knows what in their dormitory.
By Sunday that week, I found I missed Severus so terribly that before breakfast I set Iris the task of delivering him a letter asking to meet out by the lake that night after dinner. Iris had flown in with the other owls as we all ate and had swept down to Severus rather hoity at being allowed to deliver to the staff table. He read the letter quickly and drummed his fingers against his goblet. I smiled knowing tonight would be worth waiting for and filled my day with working on Harrys transfiguration homework with him down by the lake. We'd both sent letters to Dad that week, I scolding him angrily for not telling me his plan and Harry repeating my argument, although a lot less angrily. I sat fingering the small lion around my neck as Harry worked and I sipped my bottle of butterbeer quietly. "Your present came this morning, had to get McGonagall to have it delivered to her office, it was too big for Hedwig to carry." I laughed, "Sounds promising." I winked at him and he shook his head.
At that moment we both turned to see a small blonde boy who Harry told me was Colin Creevey pounding down the slope towards us. "Lena Black?" I nodded my head and he passed me a letter before skipping happily back up the slope to where a smaller blonde boy stood waving. I tore the letter open and read it quietly, hiding its contents from Harry.
Miss Black,
I thought I would check in with you and ensure everything was okay concerning Mr Ambrose.
If there are further problems, please feel free to contact me, you know where I'll be.
Yours faithfully,
Professor McGonagall.
McGonagall had called me out of Defence against the Dark Arts on Monday and I'd left happily. On entering McGonagall's office I'd been greeted by the smell of strong tea and a plate full of shortbread biscuits. We'd discussed the events of Saturday night and she'd listened kindly as I described the other dealing I'd had with him. She flinched when I repeated the fact he'd called me a whore and promised that she would see to it that he was given the proper punishment and we had all been glad to see that on Thursday morning, Ambrose's smirk didn't quite reach his eyes, most especially when he had to get Sprout to fill out his behaviour slip. He'd tried to corner me all week but somehow it always occurred that I was surrounded by either the twins and Angelina or Harry and the younger Weasleys.
"….Snape? Hello Lena? You there? Did you hear a word I just said?" I blinked rapidly to see those shining green eyes looking back at me, I shook my head. "You were thinking about him weren't you?" I shook my head again and he laughed. "I asked whether you were meeting up with him today." I nodded, still not able to find words. Ambrose had one of the Creevey boys by the throat and had pinned him up against the large tree that sat beside the lake. A large group of Slytherins had begun to gather and I felt nothing as my legs lifted beneath me and ran carrying me straight for them, my hand throwing my wand up into the defensive position they'd taught us at Beauxbatons. Harry was screaming out behind me and I could hear his footsteps as he followed me.
"Drop him Ambrose!" My voice was much stronger than I had ever heard it and Ambrose sniggered over his shoulder. "Black, wondered if you'd show up. Must be my lucky day. Anyone would think you were stalking me!" His cronies laughed and I pulled my wand back more sharply. "Put the boy down Ambrose! Pick on someone your own size!" He dropped the boy heavily and Harry ran towards him pulling him into a hug, checking he was okay.
Ambrose walked towards me and I positioned my wand so that it pointed into the centre of his jugular. "God, how I'd love to fight you Black. The things I could do with that body. But I think a certain professor might kick my arse if I did, am I right Black?" I copied Angelina's action from the weekend earlier and spat at him. It landed right on his cheek but he made no nasty comment as he did before. Instead he wiped the spit from his skin and inserted the finger into his mouth, licking my spit from it. "Mm. Virgin glue, just what the doctor ordered." I forced my wand into his flesh now but he didn't squirm. He rose to his full height so that he stood almost a foot above me, but I straightened my own back rising to my own full height. "You know you want me Black, why deny it any further. You want this," he grabbed my free hand and pressed it against his crotch, I struggled helplessly to free my wrist and the Slytherins around us jeered and cackled. Harry now raised his own wand and faced Ambrose.
"Your masters lost twice now, fancy your chances!?" Harry thrust his wand forward and a curse hit Ambrose, causing large boils to squirt out across what some may describe as a handsome face. Harry pulled me away from the crowd and we ran full speed up into the castle, stopping only when we reached McGonagall's office. Harry knocked on the door sharply and McGonagall wiped the door open. "Potter? Black? What's the meaning of this?" I tried to catch my breath but struggled, McGonagall taking my arm. "Lena, what's happened? Is it him again?" I nodded my head and she took out her wand. "Potter take me to him quickly." Harry ran from the room and I sat down in McGonagall's vacant chair. My lungs finally began working again as Harry stormed into the room.
"Those bloody cronies! Malfoy's gone and told her that it was us who threatened Dennis! She doesn't believe him of course, she's taken him to Dumbledore, said she can't deal with the git anymore. She said he's been picking on the second years as-well. You alright?" "Yeah fine. He knows Harry! What the hell am I going to do?" Harry took my hand, "Everything will be okay Lena. I can't see Ambrose being far off suspension now; they'll never listen to him."