Chapter 7
After a class like this, it was no wonder Remus soon became one of the favourite teachers of most students. Which made Holly rather happy. Something, that unfortunately didn’t remain unnoticed.
“I see you have taken a liking to Professor Lupin.”
It was Saturday afternoon and McGonagall and her had met for their weekly tea. Usually both Pomona and Poppy joined them, but today both had been busy with other things and so it was just the two of them and they had instead decided to go for a little stroll while it was still warm out.
“I have, yes. He is a sweet man. Kind, smart, albeit at time a little shy.”
“He is indeed a very good man. I am very pleased to see you befriended him.”, a sly smile appeared, “Did you know he is only a couple of years older than you?”
Two, to be precise, almost exactly two. But she could hardly say that.
“Is he? He doesn’t look it.”
“I suppose he doesn’t. But he was the same year as Severus. So, he is, what, three years older?”
“You assume I know how old Snape is.”
“Well, it doesn’t really matter. We were talking about Remus, anyway. He might look a little older than he is, but looks, I am sure will not deter you from a person.”
Blinking in surprise, Holly couldn’t help but stare at her.
“Minerva McGonagall, are you suggesting I get involved with a fellow professor?”
“I am merely stating facts and sharing information, Holly, what you then do with them is left entirely to your fancy.” Mhm, yeah, just sharing information, sure she was, “But I admit I wouldn’t mind seeing Remus less lonely. And you, too.”
To Holly’s surprise, Minerva sounded rather sad when she said that, but Holly didn’t get the feeling she wanted to talk about it, so she didn’t ask.
“By Merlin, you really are. I hardly believe it. Well, I don’t know about getting involved with him, but I very much intend to remain his friend.”
Oh she very much knew about getting involved with Remus. It was a definitive no. No matter how much she loved him, and she did, she couldn’t imagine there ever being more than just friendship between them. Although she had to admit that, when she had been younger, around twelve or thirteen, she’d had a big crush on Remus, even back then sweet and shy and nerdy.
“The rest may very well come in due time.”
Minerva smiled, as if she had just accomplished much more than she in reality had. But she didn’t know, couldn’t know, the depth of Holly’s friendship with Remus.
“I suppose I should be grateful you didn’t try to set me up with Professor Snape, seeing as he apparently is my age, too.”
“Now, Holly, I could never be that cruel. Or have you ever known me to amuse myself at the expense of my colleagues.”
“I can’t say that I have.”
“You see. And we both know it would have ended painfully humiliating for him.”
She could hardly dispute that. Especially since, ever since the story of the boggart had reached him, he was bullying poor Neville even worse than before. Neville was now a regular guest in her office, most of the time to share whatever Snape had done or said to him during the last potion lesson. Knowing that Snape still had Dumbledore’s support, all she could do was try to help Neville deal with it better. Which made her blood boil and her hatred for both men grow stronger with every talk.
“He should consider himself lucky if it only ended painfully humiliating and not just painfully.”
“Has something occurred that you haven’t told me?”
“That.”
They had just entered the castle again and now could see, not far off, Neville starring at the floor in front of Snape, who was snarling at him, calling him all sorts of horrible things. Looking up when suddenly a shadow fell on them, Neville saw something that scared him even more than Snape and he was glad he wasn’t the one to have to deal with her. Holly had stepped next to them, her brows furrowed, lips pressed together to a thin line, nostrils flaring. Her rage was so barely contained it was almost palpable.
“What. Do you think. You. Are. Doing?”
Snape looked up, his eyes widening in surprise at the deep growl coming from this petit little woman. When her eyes met his, he backed away, not wanting to be caught in the fury clearly shining in her eyes.
“He broke some of my vials.”
“How fortunate then. That you are a wizard. Who can fix them.”
Her stare bore into his, and he could hardly fight the urge to back off.
“He still needed to be punished.”
Snape hated how sullen he sounded all of the sudden, like a child trying to defend his actions. Holly, on the other hand, found some satisfaction in it.
“We do not punish our students, Severus!”, Minerva interjected, sounding just as angry, “if necessary, we discipline them, but never punish!”
“And you were not punishing Mr Longbottom, you were getting off on bullying him! And I will not stand for that.”
Colour crept into his face, now resembling that of Neville a minute ago.
“How dare you speak to me like this!”
“How dare you bully a child!”, Holly finally lost her temper, “You are supposed to protect them! You are a pathetic excuse of a teacher! And if Dumbledore didn’t think you were useful for whatever game he’s playing, you would be in Azkaban instead of letting your insecurities out on innocent children!”
Next to them, Minerva gasped, shocked by what Holly had just said, but Holly didn’t care. She was sick and tried of having children come to her, hurting after having been berated by their teacher. Still she took a step back, raising her chin, levelling her gaze at him, cool and calculating. She could see the shift in her demeanour worry him.
“The next time I catch you insulting or bullying or berating any student”, her voice was calm, but sharp, “you will wish you had been sent to Azkaban. Have I made myself clear?”
Swallowing at the obvious threat, and fairly certain it was not an empty one, Snape nodded, his mouth twitching in anger.
“I don’t think I heard you.”, her voice, by now, was low and icy, Neville next to her looking somewhere between amazed and terrified. Snape just looked like he wanted her dead, but he didn’t dare dispute her.
“Yes. You made yourself perfectly clear.”
“Good.”
Holly turned away from Snape, making it clear that she was done with him. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see him stalk off towards the dungeon.
“May I please leave?”
“Sure Neville, go ahead.”, she gave him a small smile, that he returned before hurrying off in the other direction.
Minerva, next to her, shook her head, but didn’t comment it. Probably figuring that she didn’t want to have that conversation while Holly was still as angry. So instead she took her leave too, leaving Holly alone in the entrance hall.
“Remind me to never mess with you.”
Leaning in the entranceway was Remus, sporting an expression similar to Neville’s, although he leaned more towards amazed than intimidated.
“Don’t bully students and you should be safe.”
Still trying to shake off the anger, the smile she now gave Remus was a little forced, but he didn’t mind much. More than once he had wished to tell Snape off himself.
“You know, I have a friend I think would love you.”
“Oh really?”
“Oh yeah. When we were in school, Snape had name called one of her friends and you cannot imagine the hell she unleashed on him. Actually, it wasn’t all that different from what you just did. She just called him worse things. And didn’t threaten to kill him, just threatened to make his life a living hell.”
“Oh, you misunderstood me, dear Remus. I would never threaten to kill a colleague”, Holly smiled sweetly, her mood improving by the minute, “I just threaten to make him yearn for the most miserable place known to wizardkind.”
“Yeah, you would definitely get along great with Ellie.”
She wasn’t entirely sure what she was supposed to think about being told that she would like herself, but decided to take it as a compliment.
“Well, he had it coming. You heard how he talked about Neville.”
“You won’t hear any criticism from me, I thought it was brilliant. He’s likely going to strangle you in your sleep, but brilliant nonetheless.”
“Thank you. Also, slightly concerning.”
Laughing, Remus headed into the castle, Holly following him.