Author note: Thank you to all who bothered to fav, follow or even write a review. It truly means the complete world to me. So thank you from the bottom of my heart.
But unfortunately, I had writer's block for a month, so I have only chapter 4 ready and I have only written half of chapter 5. I am sorry, especially since you all have been very kind to me. I apologize for it, also I hope this will not disappoint.
Thank you to the lovely Maria for her help. Everything belongs to JK Rowling.
Two months after chapter three...
The line between Pomfrey's fluffy gray brows deepened, much to Severus's consternation. The office was almost inviting, except for a tensity with unspoken loathing that was slowly unraveling and the repeating chime of Pomfrey beating her fingernails against her table in the color of ash. Severus's palms had become sweaty, as time passed by. Ill-fated was one way to describe the situation.
But the better word was doomed, especially for a spy. The chair shrieked beneath him, as he crossed his legs.
By each second, the chance of merely escaping Azkaban would start to slip away. Pomfrey's lips became a thin line, while she lends back in her chair with her face in deep thought. Severus crossed his arms, knowing full well there go five minutes more before Pomfrey would get to the point, she wanted to get across. Mostly he wanted to snap at her, making her shutter out what she wanted to say, but since he was on the look for information that she was holding back, then he would stay quiet. The chime of her fingernails ceased.
" Mister Mclaggan keeps on forgetting spells. Things for school while his headache seems to worsen during his final semester. A young man like him should not have those recurring, horrible problems, but no spells seem to work on the boy. I am starting to grow worried. Yet all you can say it is that is unfortunate." Pomfrey hissed so harshly that Severus shortly worried about her spit would hit him. But the explanation had come. Pomfrey was quite frustrated.
A tiny crack of adrenaline was starting to form in Severus's breast. Adrenaline was not something he had felt for quite some time. Yet the way Pomfrey was behaving like a child was almost enough to place a small smirk on his lips.
It was almost funny.
" The word I would have used might have been self-serving but unfortunate will go for somebody like you. Those have empathy for him, while I do not so much. Especially when Fenrir goes around, I dare say killing children. Those children I pity. But not Mister Mclaggan who was dumb enough to fall down a staircase." Severus sneered back with a bored expression.
Pomfrey groaned in annoyance before she hit her fist into the table in frustration. Or in forlornness maybe. He did not what it was about Mclaggan but Pomfrey had a strange protectiveness over him, but why was the question? Maybe it was because he was a Griffionfore. Whatever it was something was off. Severus told himself that was the only reason he felt nervous. Not because he was afraid of what she was holding back.
" Also Mister McLaggan is more brawn than brains as the young would say. If he is forgetting something then it might be something to do with pure laziness since he rather watches Quidditch, than read books, so you are rather overreacting to his amnesia. So can I leave now or do I have to be bothered more by the same babble?" Severus asked coldly as he raised from his chair. He rolled his shoulders and turned his back to Pomfrey, despite her old eyes bored into his skull.
" I don't think that we are done with the conversation. I have not asked the questions that I wanted. The questions I need to know that can help McLaggan or Moody. Plus why did Moody get poisoned by Dolohov? Why? " Pomfrey hissed while she raised from her chair as well.
Despite her old age, her presence could almost seem frighting to some. But Severus was not easily intimidated, especially by an old lady.
"Astonishing. Bloody astonishing. Then I can say that we are since it never was a conversation because frankly, your words did not interest me enough to listen to, especially if you ask me anything new. My mind went off to more interesting topics, like how to win the war. But still, you drag me in here to listen to the same questions day after day for two months ask the same questions? I hear the same nagging of your tone almost every day. So why do you not just ask what you to know? " Severus answered with a small bit of triumph as he folded his hands behind his back and he continued his little walk around the office. It would not take long before she would take the beat. She was quite dumb in that way.
" I did not say that is strange that Moody was poisoned by a Death Eater. I said it was very lucky that it was funny he came here instead of going to St Mogus, especially the same night where the bruises on McLaggan disappeared." Pomfrey growled before he heard her sited herself down in her chair again.
" The compliment you are looking for, that are you not going to get from me. Why do not just ask why you ask Moody to come here instead? " Severus said with mock innocence. He knew exactly what she had done. He stopped in front of the only bookshelf in the small office. There were a lot of healing books, along with potion books and healing charms. None of the potion books were as good as his.
" Well… It does not matter why Moody came here. What worries me is that I have a student that does not get better as the months go by. " Pomfrey uttered. Severus turned his head, sending her a bored glance.
" Why don't you just tell me what you want?" He groaned before he pitched his nose bridge. His rationality did not know exactly why he did not leave right away, but a sense of foreboding started to grow within his stomach. He just wishes that Pomfrey would spit out what she knew, then he could his day. Also whatever it question could Pomfrey have something up in her sleeve, he was not going to like it. He was not afraid but he did not like to worry about multiple things as well. The biggest one was surviving the war.
" Your behavior is worrying me. Is Dolohov that is pushing you to do things? Just tell me whatever it is because if you do not know, I care for you. " Pomfrey said in almost motherly.
A bitter taste of his previous breakfast appeared on his tongue. She said she cared. She was such a liar. Thoughts inside his head started to feed his rage.
Cared? She never bat an eye when Black and Potter had they hung him upside down. Or when she had seen the marks, his father had left on him when he had turned twelve. She had never cared.
" Please spare me from your lies. You knew exactly what had happened to me and you did nothing. You sat back there with a little cup of mint tea in your hand when I came in with bruises but all your motherly care always disappeared when Sirius just smile. " Severus sneered while he took a step towards her. Pomfrey's lips disappeared completely, as he took another.
A small fast fantasy ran through his mind of smashing her head into the wall and then throwing her out the window. Maybe if he was fast then he did not get caught. Pomfrey's old face became harsh while her nostrils flared. She had crossed the line, but apparently, she was dumb enough to ask. He crossed his arms.
" What happened that night?" She inquired with a cold tone. Oh, that was the problem that she had been dancing around for two months. She had not given up on that yet. That was why she kept on dragging him in here. She wanted answers but was too afraid to ask. Pathetic. He took another step towards her, but he had the chance to mutter anything, he was interrupted by the door to the small office, which slammed open to correct.
" Why do I have returning headaches? You are too dense to do your job?! "A male voice yelled onto his lungs.
Severus turned his head to see McLaggan's red face appearing in the doorway. His entire face had become one with his throat, properly because of rage. Saliva ran down the edges of McLaggan's mouth, while his curly blond hair was wire-haired as usual. The taste of bitterness returned to Severus's mouth.
" That is what I am trying to figure out, Mister McLaggan. But please mind your voice. " Pomfrey answered with a bit of tiredness. McLaggan was having none of that. His dark blue eyes narrowed before he curled his upper lip. The young adult had never looked more like a psychopath, which he was underneath his well-kept facade.
" Well, work faster then because I am sick of being on the bench on Quidditch. Fix me." McLaggan said as he walked with fast determined over towards Pomfrey. Pomfrey was sitting down with a bit of calmness, yet it quickly varnished when McLaggan laid his hands on the desk.
" From one to ten how much does it hurts? Does it hurt only in your head?" Pomfrey said in a patient tone that could almost sound like she patronized him. That pissed off McLaggan even further as he lends over the table. He grabbed the table's edges, just an inch away from Pomfrey's fingers, and lifted it. Without blinking even once, he stared her dead into her eyes. He did not have to say anything. He was still getting his point across. Severus knew that he should stop Mclaggan, but at the same time, she had been the one that wanted to help the bastard then why he should not let McLaggan give her his thanks in his own way?
" Hey what you are doing, McLaggan?!" Severus heard a voice coming from his left again. McLaggan's annoying voice attracted others as well. It was Slughorn something. Despite Slughorn's earlier high thoughts about McLaggan, the older man's face had become perplexed by the younger male's action towards Pomfrey. Severus shook his head over Slughorn's stupidity. If anyone just look towards McLaggan for then a second then the boy would become red with rage
But Slughorn had seen nothing or was too dumb in that regard yet. McLaggan let go of the table and placed his hands behind his broad back. The table dropped and Pomfrey look towards Slughorn with a hopeful expression. Nearly begging him to let it pass.
" Nothing," McLaggan said with a smile. Like nothing had happened. Severus's nostrils flared a bit as he felt rage building up within him.
Nothing?! Severus might not like Pomfrey very much but McLaggan had more than non-verbal threatened her.
Yet somehow, she pretended that nothing had happened. What was it about Mclaggan that she was so beguiled by? Severus just knew that he was getting sick of it.
" As for me, I have essays to attend to. " Severus said before he turned and started to walk towards the door. The second he looked towards the door he saw Hermione.
Hermione either had sneaked in or she had followed with Slughorn. But whatever their task had been, she had forgotten it as she had seen Mclaggan. Even worse for Severus and Hermione, Pomfrey would know something was up with Hermione standing frozen by the doorway with a deer-in-headlights expression in her eyes if she did not pull herself together. Her breathing was shallow while her hand held an iron grip on the door handle. Now they were in deep water. If Hermione's anxiety became too clear then everyone would know something either that night or McLaggan had done something to her.
"Absolutely typical." Severus said below his breath. His voice had caught Hermione's attention because her pretty eyes had finally stopped being transfixed on Mclaggan who luckily had not noticed her yet, as he was trying to avoid Slughorn's glaze. Her gaze met his and her lips parted in surprise.
Despite, she controlled herself, a sadness was hidden in her eyes. He thought he had explained it to her, why things had to be like they were but her stubborn nature or he dare think her insecurity had not listened to him. But her gaze suddenly pulled his again, and she became stiff again. In the corner of his eye, he saw Pomfrey had noticed their mutual glaze. Her old eyes flickered between Hermione and Severus. Hermione swallowed harshly before she lifted her chin. Pomfrey's face did not take that kindly.
Not even cruelty could describe it.
" I did nothing, sir. I was merely asking Madam Pomfrey a question. Why I am not feeling better?" McLaggan declared while he crossed his arms, like the small child he was still inside. Slughorn did not look impressed by the action.
" She is working on it, I am sure," Slughorn said calmly. McLaggan barred his teeth like a hyena and Severus was sure if Mclaggan had could then he would have bitten Slughorn's head off. Slughorn placed his hands in his pockets before he hung his head.
" But I can make you feel better if I brew a potion for you. Just let me help Miss Granger first." He sighed loudly before he ran a hand over his almost bald head. After the word Miss Granger, McLaggan finally noticed Hermione. His dark blue lit up in a predatory way, and Severus felt his fingertips twitch after his wand, in his sleeve. In the corner of Severus's eye, he saw Hermione's knuckles had become white on the door handle. Despite her fear, she tried to not show.
"Really? Lucky that you got some of her time." McLaggan said in a flirtatious tone. McLaggan did not notice her pretty face had become even paler as his angry face became a grin. Severus bored his nails into his other hand, to gain some self-control over himself. He did not want to repeat what had happened yet McLaggan tried to move one step closer toward Hermione Severus would hex him. Badly.
" What is this about Mclaggan? Is it about the accident during the Chrismas Break? " Slughorn asked, clearly changing the subject.
" Professor? The library closes at 7 pm, furthermore, I need a book, so may I please leave for a little hour or so? " Hermione asked as she controlled herself not to beg Slughorn to let her leave, while she changed the subject. Slughorn dismissed her with his hand.
" This will not take long. So what is it with your headaches? " Slughorn said while he laid a hand on Mclaggan's shoulder. Mclaggan almost gave a genuine smile.
" Finally somebody is asking the right questions. My headaches keep coming back and I forget simple spells. Also, I am failing in class, because my hand is shaking after five minutes, and I get nothing because the teachers will not listen to me." McLaggan said, clearly believing his own sob story. Sure, he forget some spells, but the idiot had just thrown a chair across the potion classroom because some girl looked at him the wrong way last week.
" So it must be nerve damage within your brain. Nothing the right potion can not fix." Slughorn said with a smile.
" Or…." Pomfrey quipped. Slughorn's face became puzzled.
" Or what?" He inquired. Hermione's eyes flickered toward Severus but he ignored her.
" At times it can also be because the patient had suffered by something else entirely," She said proudly. Only a second after her fingers began to play the same chime again. She was playing Severus and Hermione, teasing them a bit before she let her information out. She was almost as sadistic as Umbridge had been. Severus narrowed his eyes; else he gave nothing away. She had nothing on them.
"That something could be that someone was cut off from the oxygen to the head for too long or because someone waited too long to get help. "She added.
"Well, it is a large castle. Many people were not here during the holiday. So there went be an hour before Filch would come by." Slughorn concluded innocently.
"The most fun thing about the whole matter is that I cannot remember anything about me, stealing anything. Especially when I have plenty of liquor at home." McLaggan added with a bit of pride. Severus felt that holding himself back began to slip.
"You were not home at the time, so would you hardly know if anything left for you to drink? " Severus sneered. Hermione stepped closer to Severus and Pomfrey's desk. Instead of keeping herself in the back. Despite she was not touching him, her presence warmth him against McLaggan. McLaggan's upper lip began to quiver in rage. Severus raised an eyebrow at the action.
" You found him with your wine bottle, which is quite surprising. I mean Mclaggan would have known it was a cheaper brand than he is used to." Pomfrey jeered back. Severus felt the old type of rage he felt the first time he had been made fun of over the poverty he had gone up in. Where he had teased and mocked because he needed to wear his mother's blouse because they could not afford one for him. He barred his teeth to some nasty words out but Hermione beat him to it.
" The real title he carries is Professor. Not something else. So, speak to him with the respect he deserves." Hermione sneered while she matched with angry steps to Pomfrey's desk. Pomfrey narrowed her old eyes, while Hermione crossed her arms. Slughorn cleared his throat and stepped in front of Hermione before everything would become more chaotic than it already was.
" Maybe we should just start over then? Do you have something there that can help me with a potion for him? Something relating to his head trauma." Slughorn asked, hoping to smooth the heavy loathing in the room.
" Well, I have. I have my notebook." Pomfrey proclaimed proudly. The previous sense of foreboding had finally been unleashed within Severus. He glanced toward Hermione, which caught his eye at the same time. They were doomed.
Pomfrey pulled carefully some out of her drawer and placed a little red book on her desk. She grabbed her reading glasses from her button-up blouse and placed them on her nose.
" Sadly I do not the bruises on Mclaggan, which disappeared after a couple of days, but I have statements both from Professor Snape and Miss Granger, that they found him around 11.30 on 26th of December, and Miss Granger came here around 11.55. At 01.20 Professor Snape came together with Filch dragging Mclaggan with them. " Pomfrey read it out loud. Hermione started to become visibly uncomfortable. She began to twitch her fingers.
" Can you just get it on with? Why are you telling us that we already know?" Severus drawled, despite his heart hammering hard in his chest. He needed to get that book.
" Slughorn does not know and he wants to know what happened that night." Pomfrey sneered before she continued her reading.
" Mister Mclaggan has an opened head trauma after his fell, a broken hand, multiple small pieces of glass in the same hand, and a broken rib. " Pomfrey continued to read. Hermione might have gained a bit of color back in her face after she had yelled but suddenly she became translucent again.
" I read also wrote down in my notes? Why would Mclaggan steal a cheap bottle of wine when he can just ask his father to send one or steal a more expensive one?" Pomfrey said before her hand ran through her hair.
" One does not just ask your parent to send alcohol. Also, it is below you to send cruel comments toward Professor Snape!" Hermione bit back. Severus did not know if he should laugh or cry over Hermione's comment.
" Miss Granger has a point. Sometimes we do things in a rushed moment. It does not much." Slughorn said.
" Why do Filch and Mclaggan only remember tiny bits of that night? Just because they fell and hint their head?" Pomfrey retorted back.
" That is a bit strange, but that does mean there is not a natural conclusion. " Slughorn said while he send a worried glance to Severus. Severus raised his eyebrows before he shook his head, giving Slughorn the idea that Pomfrey had gone mad. Slughorn nodded to him before he pretended to be interested in Pomfrey's yelling.
" A natural conculsion? A natural conculsion? The young lad can not even remember leviosa?" Pomfrey shrieked.
" When has he ever done that?" Severus commented back without blinking. The comment alone made Pomfrey raise from her seat.
"It is fine that you might bully Longbottom daily, but in my office, you speak about the students with respect!" Pomfrey thwarted. Her rage fed him too well.
"Your hypocritical tendencies do not even cover when you did not even bat an eye when multiple students cornered another student and pulled off his clothes? What it is about Mclaggan and Potter can make you lose your head when it comes to facts?" Severus sneered.
" I protect my students, unlike you. I care from them, I- " She shouted back before he interrupted her.
" How when those students from Gryffindor beat another student from another house till he coughs up blood? When did that student's dad leave bruises on him? There you do not bat an eye but when it is a previous Gryffindor you pity them? You are a hypocrite." Severus sneered with rage had he never really touched before. He hated her. She did nothing when Black and Potter beat him up daily. She did nothing. She also did not care when Lupin almost killed him. She did nothing.
" Who was that student, Professor Snape? Someone you had bullied as well?" Pomfrey said coldly. The rage within him, which had filled his veins, suddenly turned cold, and left him with an old sadness, he had buried. How dare she bring it up?
" I need a break from this deception. I might be a spy but I can not handle these bitter-sweet lies a woman in her late life needs to tell herself to live with herself." He scorned before he turned his heel. He felt Hermione's eyes burn into his back, but he ignored her. He stormed towards the opened door and disappeared out of their version.
His chest burned with old sensations that he wishes he had forgotten. How dare she mention his childhood poverty and his being bullied? His steps echoed within the hospital wing. Pomfrey was going to go down one way or the other. She crossed the line and now she was going to pay. He needed that notebook both to say himself and Hermione. He just hoped that Hermione would not pity him. He had seen her act towards the House Elves.
He reached the door at the bottom of the hospital wing, which would reach the hallway. He opened the door, which felt uncomfortable and cold beneath his fingers before he pushed the door open. His palms were sweaty, and he felt the first drops beneath his many layers of clothing started to roll. He had managed to through half of the long hallway when he heard the door open behind him. He continued his walk, even though he heard the steps behind come closer and closer.
"Wait!" Hermione called out before she had caught up with him. She exhaled loudly. Running was not her strong force. He ignored her, as he placed his hands in his pockets. She grabbed his upper arm.
"Will you stop and listen to me for a second?" She hissed into his ear. He pushed away her hand but stopped his walk nonetheless.
" What do you what?" Severus said as he sent her a sardonic glare.
" Don't be rude towards me, especially when I just wanted to ask if you are all right?" She asked while her hand started to caress his arm. He swallowed. Of course, she knew how to leave him weak in the knees. He hated being vulnerable, especially since he had been humiliated by an old lady
" Not here. " He said and dragged her into one of the side hallways. The side hallway was small but big enough for two people. Her hand started to touch his shoulder.
" Pomfrey was quite cruel to you. I have never seen her like that. "Hermione whispered carefully. " You just do not know for playing faves. She likes handsome, young Gryffindor and not Slytherin who was born in the wrong era as a child." He muttered with a bit of bitterness. She ran her finger through his hair, clearly not caring it was greasy.
"Then she must have bad taste if she thinks McLaggan is attractive and is a hypocrite to say at least." She said with a smile. He almost smiled back at her, despite he was still feeling hollow.
" But if it is any comfort then I think McLaggan is too self-centered to notice what she was talking about, and Slughorn must have known right." She said gently. Bitterness filled Severus up completely. He crossed his arms and looked away from her. She still had a bad tendency to make things more awkward than they already were.
" It is my business. Why does anyone need to know about my past? " He sneered. Hermione pulled her hand away.
"Whatever it happened, I am sorry." She said while she did not look into his eyes. A second passed in complete silence.
" What are we going to do about the notebook? She had written down word to word what happened. The issue is that if she has written down about that night, then she has written…." Hermione traveled off. She stared out towards the main hallway. Hoping maybe it would give her an answer. An idea echoed through his mind, asking him to take it. It was dangerous but it could work if he had Hermione on board as well. But then she had to go back to the Hospital Wing. Where McLaggan was.
" I have an idea," Severus said with a dry throat. He hated to ask her about it.
" What is it?" She asked softly.
" I need you to stall Slughorn as long as you can until you wait for my signal, and then you grab the book. Then you burn it." He said while he eyed her. She crossed her arms, and bite her plump lower lip at the same time but she nodded away.
" What signal?" She asked.
" You will know, but do it fast as possible when she is not looking. " He said while he looked out, making sure that nobody was coming.
" I have a question. A very selfish one." Hermione asked.
" Is it because you are my Professor?" She asked while she squared her shoulders.
" No. Why do you think other than the fact Moody is at St Mugus, Pomfrey is watching us and a war is coming? Have your brain cells suffered being near Potter too much? " He sneered harshly. She just gave him a glance of disbelief.
" Do not mix Harry into this, when we are talking about us. You never explained why we could not speak anymore. You pulled me into a corner and said that we should not speak until Moody had gotten better. It was the 11th of January and now it is 18h of February. In almost two months, I have only gotten looks from you and small touches during the classes. Else nothing. Pardon me if I thought that you may be…." She traveled off again. She stared at a spot away from him, like it would give her the courage to continue her sentence. To tell him how much it bothered her.
"What?" He pressed on a bit gently.
"That you rather want someone else and you did not how to say. You always say things very directly, but emotions are a different matter. " She answered. Her face saddened before she added.
"You never gave me that impression but I could be wrong and I know that boys quickly lose interest in me. I have been tossed aside before when a boy rather wanted someone else. Someone prettier, more fun, and more experienced. "Her face tried to hold onto to sense of nonchalance, but underneath it, she was deeply wounded by the comments of those she cared about. She knew what she had looked like when she was younger. Her two large front teeth and bushy hair did not make her not particularly attractive. It did not make it better that he had once insulted her teeth when she had been fifteen.
" Do not compare me to Weasley, Hermione. I promise something, I keep it. Also, you fixed your teeth so they are in sync with the others." He answered with a bit of gentleness. His words did not cease her worries. She crossed her arms and keep look away from him.
"Are you sure that you do not rather have Draco's mother? I know that you agreed to an unbreakable vow to protect Draco. Why did you do that if you did not think she is pretty? "She muttered bitterly. It was clear that she loathed herself for asking.
" No. I am not attracted to Narcissa for the last time. Narcissa is a friend like Minevera is a friend. Are you jealous of her as well? " He said with a bit of tiredness. She just looked away.
" I can not let a boy die, because his father did a mistake, Hermione. " He said. She shrugged, despite her glaze becoming tired.
" I know but frankly I care more about what happens to you than Draco. Anyway, I should properly get back to Slughorn, before Pomfrey spill everything that stands in that book. I will stall Slughorn as long as possible, even if McLaggan is there. " Hermione answered as she walked with fast steps into the main hallway. She tossed a glance back at him, asking if he wanted to go at the same time. He shook his head. She nodded before she disappeared out of his view.
A thought ran through his head, and without thinking, he speed after her. She only had taken five steps toward The Hospital Wing. He grabbed her wrist and turned her around to face him. She looked a bit surprised. He gently touched her wrist before he let it go.
" Please for your sake stand in the back of the room." He hissed at her. She looked for the first time in years confused by his words, yet she nodded. Words laid on his tongue and before he could stop them, they sprung off his tongue.
" Maybe it is best that you pulled Slughorn aside for a few minutes. And if he keeps pulling forward towards one of the windows then leave. We can always take the book later. " He said while he looked around, just keeping an eye if somebody was coming.
"When? Also, we both know the notebook is important, so why should I leave? " She asked.
" Just do as I say…..Please." He added. She nodded as uneasiness grew in her features, especially after the word please yet she turned after a second and walked towards the hallway. He stared after her lithe figure for a heartbeat before he turned around. He knew whom he needed to get a hold of. The only one that could start destruction within a short period. His first determined steps were quite slow until they turned to running ones.
Adrenaline began to whirl through him as he turned the only other corner. Sweat started pickling on his forehead as the somberness collected him. But epinephrine made him fast as it only took him a few steps until he reached the door towards the garden.
The door sprung open and the cold air of mid-February bit his skin. The snow had faded a bit, yet the cold had not disappeared along with it. His black eyes flickered around for a heartbeat before they landed on the imbecile he needed to manipulate into doing some stupid. Up against the wall stood two awkward teenage boys.
Severus narrowed his eyes as he saw the black-haired one of them was smoking a cigarette and holding onto a pink lighter. The other one with a greek nose just watched in curiosity. The small idiots had not noticed him yet, only caught up in the world of the cigarette.
" Albavila!" Severus growled as he stormed towards the boys. The black-haired boy looked with a panicked expression before he dropped the cigarette into the faded snow, while the other one stood frozen.
" I thought that I had told you not to smoke on the school ground. Especially when you are one of my students." Severus hissed.
Albavila swallowed harshly before he mumbled. " Sorry, sir." The other boy stood frozen with wide eyes.
" Ssssooorrry." The other boy shuttered.
" It is fine. You can go. Albavila stay." Severus said and waved the boy away. The other boy send a worried expression to Albavila before Albavila gave a nod. The other boy dashed away. Albavila crossed his arms to keep away the cold. Severus stepped closer toward the teenager.
" Albavila, would you like to earn hundred euros? I know that your family goes to Italy to visit your father's side of the family during the breaks. " Severus offered. The boy's eyes let up before his glaze turned uneasy it was a trap.
" I just need to ask for a small favor," Severus said. The boy was still visibly unsure of what Severus wanted and seemed to be on the edge of running away.
" How about top grades in every essay and 200 euros instead? " Severus offered. Albavila became a bit more interested in what Severus had to say, but it was still not enough for the little shit.
" 300 euros then" Severus added. That made the boy's face lit up.
" What do you need." The boy proclaimed happily. Teenagers were so easy to manipulate. Severus looked around before he asked.
" Do you have any firecrackers left?"
Albavila's face became a grin. "Yes."
Ps Thank you to Mathilde for her support and honesty. You are the best.
Chapter 5 will be out on 20th February. I promise.
A snippet of chapter 5 will be posted now