-36-
After our last Occlumency lesson, I head back to the chamber. While walking there, I can't help but keep thinking what Severus said about me and clothes. Why I'm so disappointed?! Have we gone too deep of a friendship that... That I have been friendzoned?! The thought of that makes me way more upset than I even realized. Is there anything I can do about it..? My thoughts gets cut off by a sniffing voice behind the corner. Huh? "It's going to be alright." a voice says to the person that is crying. "Yeah. It's not as bad as it seems." another one says with very similar voice than the first one. What's going on here? Coming around the corner to see what's happening, I see a Hufflepuff - Vivian Wallnut, crying on a stone bench. The Gryffindor's twins - Fred and George Weasley are sitting both side of her, comforting her.
They haven't seen me yet, so they continue talking to her. "It's fading already. You can hardly see ours anymore, and the pain stops after a while." Fred of the twins says. Vivian burst down sobbing while holding on to her left hand. Looks like she's somekind of pain. Fastening my steps, I walk up to them. "It's ok." George says softly and wraps his arm around her to comfort. Right when I become stand in front of them, all three of them lift their heads up to see me. "P-professor (Y/L)..!" Vivian gasps with teary eyes. Then I hunch down on her eye level with worrying look. "What happened?" I ask with caring tone. Both, Fred and George leans little bit away from her, giving us the space to interact. Words aren't coming out of her mouth, so she just glances down to her hands that are neatly folded on her lap. Clearly she's hiding something what's in her left hand.
My eyes shifts from her eyes to the hand couple of times. "Let me see..." I reach both of my hands to take her hand in mine. Hesitantly she lets me see what's underneath her right hand. My heart sinks for a quick second and eyes widens a bit. Her hand is bloody and scarred. Almost like someone has engraved into her skin with a knife. 'Girls must only date boys.' My eyes lifts up to hers quickly:"Who did this to you?". Vivian presses her lips together like she's afraid to tell. I frown, hoping she would answer me:"Vivian...". "She's not the only one she has done this to." Fred shows his hand to me. He also has some writing on his hand. But not with the same message like Vivian has. "Who?" I ask while looking at both of the Weasleys. They share a look, then turns to me. "Our D.A.D.A. teacher." they answer at the same time. Umbridge! I should have known.
Little Hufflepuff's jaw trembles:"...She..- she saw me holding hands with Olive.". At first, I nod few times while letting the information to sink in, then I shook my head eyes closed:"Please take Miss Wallnut to her Common Room. I need to talk to Mrs. Umbridge and the Headmaster.". Vivian panics:"N-no..! Please, Professor, I-I don't want my parents found about this.". Giving her reassuring smile:"Don't worry, Vivian. I got you.". Weak smile raises up on her face and the twins starts leading her to the Common Room. Can't even began to describe how I'm feeling now. Part of me wants to go up to Umbridge and freaking Bombarda her fancy ass. Bet Dumbledore has no idea about our D.A.D.A.'s discipline methods. I have to tell him! Before I'll head to talk either to them, I need to feed my niffler. Perhaps, that'll give me the time to calm down and think more rationality how am I going to approach this situation.
Right when I arrive to the Greenhouse, I get this feeling something's off. Don't know what it is, but something... Something isn't quite right. As I walk deeper, I see how the door to my chamber is wide open. Huh?! My eyes widens and heart drops. "What?!" quickly rushing in to see what the hell has happened in here. Some of the furnitures has been knocked down, like the chair beside the writing desk and the nightstand. Even some of my books, mugs and plates has been crashed around the room. What the hell?! Most importantly; Sniffy's gone! "Sniffy?!" I start searching around the Greenhouse in panic. "Sniffy!! I..- Come here, I got special treat for you!" I try to lure him, but... Nothing. Anxiety starts raising in me the longer I look for him. No, no, no, no, no..!!
When I come back to the chamber and look around to find clues what might've happen, I realize nothing has been stolen - except... The Half Blood Prince's note book. It's not where I left it. Shit. At the moment, I don't really care about the book. The only thing I'm worried about is my niffler. "SNIFFY!!!" my voice echoes thru the castle as I'm running. Seems like all of the students have left back to their Common Rooms to get ready to sleep. Damn it! Could've asked their help to find him faster. After running around like a maniac, I stop to collect my thoughts. Think, (Y/N)! Think! Where would he go? Knowing nifflers main character trait is to find shiny objects. But where in the castle..?
"Caught ya!" familiar voice echoes other side of the hallway, followed by niffler's squeak. Immediately, my head snaps towards the sound. I get a glimpse how Draco Malfoy and his friends heading upstairs, holding Sniffy by the neck. Rage starts pumping in my veins and I go after them. I'll show them. Holding my wand in the fist, ready to use it if necessary. My mind is all over the place. Wonder why on earth they snatched Sniffy and why they broke in my chamber?! "Hey!!" I finally shout, but they won't hear me and just keeps going. Damn it! They are quick to go in the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom. What the..-?! Out of all of the classrooms, they had to get in there. Following them some meters behind, I see how they get in Umbridge's office. What are they doing?! Luckily, they leave the door open and I rush after them. Right when I step to the doorway, I yell:"HEY!".
Everyone in the room gets startled by this and turns to me. For my surprise, there are a lot of people in here. Umbridge, Draco, his friends, Harry Potter and his two friends as well. What the hell is going on in here?! Only Harry is sitting on a chair that is placed right in front of the D.A.D.A. teacher. "(Y/N)... What are you doing in here?" Umbridge asks. "What am I doing? Why did they broke into my chamber and have my niffler?!" I point out. Draco and his friends looks confused when I claimed them to be the ones who broke into the chamber. Before anyone can say anything, Hermione opens her mouth:"M-my apologies, Professor! He got away by accident when we..- We didn't know Sniffy was going to..-", Ron - who stands right next to her, gives a tiny nudge side of her arm as a sing to stop speaking. So they were the ones that stole the book and let Sniffy out.
Quickly, I shook my head and reach my hand towards Draco:"Just..- Give him back. Please.". Draco - who's holding Sniffy by the neck looks hesitant. He sees the pleading look in my eyes. Just when he's about to take a step forward to hand him over, Umbridge lifts her two fingers up as a sing not to move. We all stop our movement and look at her confused. "Perhaps, Miss (Y/L) needs a little lesson herself as well." Umbridge starts. "Huh?" I let out. I get flooded by a core memory from the past. My heart starts beating faster and my hands are sweating. Sniffy starts moving, desperately trying to get out of Draco's grip. Can hear his little squeaking noises when Umbridge steps right in front of me. We stare into each others eyes in silence. The students are confused why Umbridge has taken me as her eyesore. After all, we both are teachers.
As I'm staring back in Umbridge's blue eyes, I get a flashback how I used to stare like this with my own mother. No. Trying my hardest not to break down by the stupid memory and just keep my glare:"Enough with the threats. Hand him over.". She then tilts her head a bit, looking right in my eyes, like she enjoys the look on my face:"Thief is a thief... Therefor, it needs to punished.". Then, she turns around to face the niffler while holding her wand. Something snaps inside me and I raise my wand towards her. The students sees this and gets anxious where is this going. "Step away from him." the tone of my voice sounds quite murderous. Umbridge stops right there and pauses. Then, slowly, she turns around to face me. Just when she's about to say something, her eyes goes quickly over my shoulder. "Snape." she let out. Huh?
"You wished to see me." Severus's deep, monotonic tone hums right behind me. I glance over my shoulder to see him and lower down the wand. What's he doing here? He's slightly confused what's going on in here. "Yes. The time has come for answers. When they wants to get them out or not. Have you brought the Veritaserum?" she asks. What? My head snaps right back at her. "I'm afraid you used up all my stores interrogating all of those students earlier this day." he answers while coming beside me, standing little bit behind. My eyes widens little bit more out of shock and confusion he has been helping her like that. Began to realize what I have walked into. Umbridge is trying to get some information out of Harry Potter and his friends. By Draco and his friends help that is. But what..?
Severus continues:"Unless, you wish to poison him and the niffler - I'll sure you, I would have the greatest sympathy if you did.". As my initial reaction, I give a tiny smack side of his arm while frowning at him. He glances down to me for a quick moment, before he turns back to Umbridge:"I can not help you.". Then, I feel how Severus places his fingers around my elbow to guide me out. Since he's standing so close to me, and wearing the cape, no one else sees this. But I won't budge. I'm not leaving without my niffler. Draco and I share a look. It looks like he's struggling what to do. Bet Umbridge has ordered him to do as she says, but..- Just then, Sniffy bites Draco by the finger. "Argh..-!!" he groans and automatically lets go off of him.
Sniffy falls down to the floor and quickly runs to me. Umbridge takes a step back and twitched her mouth out of disgust when the niffler passes her. Even my heart gets filled with joy as he climbs up to my arms, I can't show them how happy I am, so I just keep my face neutral all time. Immediately I wrap my arms around him and he snuggles up against me. You're safe now. Umbridge stares at me and Severus. Seems like she's really fed up with us. Again, I feel the pull on my elbow and I turn around to leave the room first. But what about Harry and the others? "H-he's got Padfoot." Harry all of sudden lets out, aiming his words towards the Potions Master. Both of us stop and turn to look at the boy. What?
He continues:"He's got Padfoot in the place where it's hidden.". Padfoot? Umbridge frowns:"Padfoot? What is Padfoot..? Padfoot? What is he talking about Snape?!". We all look at the Potions Master, ready to hear the answer. For a moment, he stays quiet while staring back at Umbridge. I'm standing right behind him, looking so confused. Does he know what Harry meant by that? "No idea." Severus finally says, almost careless way. Why I have this feeling that's not the whole truth? Then, he turns back to my way and continues to walk. Even he's not touching me anymore, I keep walking ahead of him while holding Sniffy in my arms. My mind is completely plank. What is all this?