Chapter Four

The last week of term before the holidays passes quickly. Sasha doesn't go to classes yet, and during this free time she studies the wand movements and incantations, like Dumbledore suggested. Whenever Severus has a free period, he assists her, by indicating the spells she should know about, the books she should consult, and a few other charms that could come in useful, one of these days. In between these 'lessons', they talk, quite reluctantly on Severus' part, about his classes, the way she'll have to act when they get summoned by the Dark Lord and about various other subjects.

The last day of school, Friday, she once again meets up with him in his office, for the last time. They have developed an understanding, perhaps even some kind of friendship, over the last week. He doesn't intimidate her – he had to grudgingly accept that rather quickly – and she likes his snarky humour. He'd never admit it, but she is sure he likes that about her.

She goes down to the dungeons at three o'clock in the afternoon, right when his last class has ended. She arrives when the students – fifth year Slytherins and Gryffindors – are leaving. Harry, Hermione and Ron are among the first to get out of the classroom.

Hermione greets her as soon as she notices her, "Hey, Sasha!"

"Hello, you three," she answers, "This was your last class, wasn't it?"

"Yes, thank Merlin!" Ron sighs. Hermione and Sasha laugh, Harry smiles slightly. Sasha has noticed the boy is never truly smiling, he always seems to be in his own world, and he's easily annoyed. She has gotten used to it, though it is obvious he wasn't always like this. She often sees Hermione and Ron looking at him with worried expressions on their faces. Due to the stress he undoubtedly has to endure and the fact that no one believes him about the return of the Dark Lord, she supposes it's pretty normal of him to react this way.

Since they are standing to the side of the door, almost all of the other students have left without noticing her. Sasha is glad. She just can't stand the suspicious looks, every single time they spot her, especially when she's with Hermione, Harry and Ron. She doesn't mind at all that she hasn't made friends in Slytherin, since there are hardly any actual friendships in her House; everyone is focused on their own ambitions and will do anything to reach their goals. It's just annoying to constantly feel eyes on her – don't they have anything better to do? Each time she enters the Slytherin common room the students watch her suspiciously, often whispering about 'dirty muggle-lover' or 'filthy Potter follower' or something else equally offending. She never reacts, always pretends to not hear them, and continues on her way. Draco Malfoy did corner her, yesterday, in the morning, with a haughty look on his face – as usual. She still remembers the conversation with a smile.

"Louhi, who are you? No one knows where you come from. And you befriended filthy Potter, that disgusting blood traitor and that ugly mudblood rather quickly. I want to know why," the boy stated.

She was fuming, though it didn't show on the outside. Forcing herself to stay calm, she replied, "First of all, didn't your father ever teach you not to swear? I'm sure he wouldn't like to hear you talking about 'mudbloods' out in the open, now would he? And secondly, who I am and what I'm doing is none of your business."

"How dare you, you—"

"I suggest you do not finish that sentence, Malfoy," she lowered her voice to a whisper, unheard by the few other students in the room, "You wouldn't want word of your unacceptable behaviour to get back to the Dark Lord, would you?"

He paled immediately, "How—Why—You wouldn't," he sputtered, before getting back his haughty look, "I bet you haven't even met Him, how dare you speak of Him in this way."

"If that's what you think, it's your mistake, Malfoy, beware of it."

That afternoon, when she had gone to Severus' office, she had spoken of her irritation with that boy. Severus had silently nodded, a pensive look on his face.

Among the last to get out of the classroom is Malfoy, accompanied by Parkinson, Crabbe and Goyle. He does notice her, unlike the other Slytherins, and he once again pales. She smiles slightly, raising her eyebrows. Did he finally understand she wouldn't take his insults anymore? The boy quickly leaves the hallway. Odd. He does seem more fearful than she thought he would be after their conversation.

"Ms Louhi," Severus' baritone interrupts her thoughts, as the other three stop talking, "If you don't mind," standing in the doorway, he gestures towards the classroom, "I do not have all day." His tone is sharp, and Sasha suspects this past lesson didn't go as smoothly as he'd hoped – which is nothing new, really, considering this class consisted of Neville, Hermione, Harry and Ron, among other Gryffindors.

As Severus is still standing near them, the other three don't dare say anything, so they just nod to Sasha and quickly leave the dungeons. As soon as they're gone, Severus turns around and goes towards the door in the back of his classroom. She follows him, the two doors close behind them, and once more, as usual, they're seated in his office.

He's writing some things down, while she waits.

Finally, annoyed by his silence, she questions, "I suppose Longbottom couldn't complete his potion, once again?"

Severus doesn't look up.

"You know, if you're just going to sulk while I'm here waiting, I might as well just leave."

Only when she makes a move to get up, does he react, "No. Stay."

"You're going to talk to me?"

He glares at her, but she isn't intimidated. He finds it's weirdly refreshing to, for once, not have someone cower in fear before him.

"What do you want me to say? Hm? Those dunderheads have no idea what they're doing. Have you got any idea of how frustrating that can be, not to mention dangerous, with these volatile ingredients, after not having had a proper night's sleep for quite some time?"

"I do understand, in fact. But that was your last class before the holidays, you won't have to teach them or even see them until January."

"Except for the golden trio, of course," he sneers.

"You know they will avoid you as much as possible, when you'll come to headquarters. Besides, Mrs Weasley doesn't want them to attend order meetings, as you told me, so you definitely won't see them there."

"They'll still have to be there when Dumbledore tells everyone you're part of the Order."

She playfully narrows her eyes at him, "Do you always have to prove me wrong? And that's just one meeting."

The slightest glint in his eyes shows that, yes, he enjoys proving her wrong.

"Anyway, why did you want to see me today? I thought we'd gone over all the necessary facts and plans?"

"We have. I wished to see you to talk about the Dark Lord, something other than what I have already told you."

She nods. The playful, friendly atmosphere is now completely gone. They're strictly down to business.

He continues, "I was summoned, yesterday, to speak to him of you. He agreed to let you live, seeing a useful spy in you, so I suspect he'll soon want to see the both of us, to know for certain whether you're on his side."

"That is very probable, indeed. So I'll have to play the role of spy for him but actually be one for Dumbledore, like you?"

He nods, "You are aware of what you are supposed to say, how you are supposed to act?"

"Yes."

They go over their preparations once more, as they won't be seeing each other every day anymore, like it's been the last week.

"I also told him of Draco Malfoy," Severus tells her, suddenly. She's surprised, she thought the man liked that boy. She tells him as much, to which he answers, "I don't actually care for Draco, to be honest, he's too conceited and proud. I pretend to, however, to keep up my cover of favouritism for the Death Eaters' offspring."

She nods understandingly, "He must've gotten a letter from his father, then, I suppose, as he didn't say anything to me earlier, and looked even paler than usual."

"He has indeed. Lucius wasn't happy, neither was the Dark Lord, as you can imagine. He was rather amused by your performance, however, when he saw my memories of your rant."

She feels her face warm up slightly, "Well, I was really annoyed, I couldn't help it."

He smirks at her as she smiles at the memory of how she acted. It must've indeed been rather humorous, she knows, as she thinks back on it.

"You will have to return to the muggle school you previously went to and obliviate them; they are probably wondering where you have gone," he tells her.

Before being caught up in this world, Sasha went to a 'normal' high school, because she wanted to experience it, never having gone to one before. This subject had come up in one of the many conversations she had had with Severus over the last few days.

"I will, indeed, I thought about it already. I've planned to go at the beginning of next week, once I'm settled in at headquarters."

"Good. This is one of the days you have requested to leave Grimmauld Place?"

"Yes."

"You do know that you'll have to leave whatever it is you're doing to come with me if the Dark Lord calls, yes?"

"I do. Though I was wondering; how will I know when he calls, if you're not near to tell me?"

"When you're at headquarters, it won't be an issue, I'll know where to find you. If he calls whenever you have left Grimmauld Place, however, it will be a problem."

"So you'll have to come with me, I suppose?" Her face doesn't show it, but she's a bit worried about what he might find out about her, things no one else has ever known.

"I'm afraid so, yes."

She sighs, "Okay then. I'll let you know when I'll leave and where to meet me, as soon as I've fixed a date. Do you have any days that might not work for you?"

"No. Just let me know as soon as possible."

[To be continued]