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Didn't take long before I was ordered to follow the Headmaster all the way to his office. When I began to follow him, the Carrows kept smirking with arms crossed over their chests, looking so happy how this turned out in disgustingly snarky way. Merlin, how much I wanted to Bombarda Maxima them right in there..! The worried look on Minerva's face stung me the most when she watched me going after Snape. After all, she was the victim in this situation, and now she was left to continue to deal with the couple airheads. Severus didn't say anything the whole way we walked up to the Headmaster's Office. Which kind of worries me. Then again, it'll be for the best if we'll talk when the coast is clear.
When we get to the spiral stairs that'll leads up to the office, Snape stops, does this slight body turn while still having hands behind his back, and lets me climb up the stairs first. Such a gentleman, even looking so angry. Right when we enter the office and sure no one followed, Snape quickly smacks me behind the head with some rolled up paper he's been carrying this whole time. Baffled by all of this, I sharply turn to him and rub the place I got hit. "What the hell was that for?!" I whine, even it didn't hurt that much. Those dark eyes are narrowed right at me as he crushes the paper inside his fist while growling:"Give me a reason not to hit you again, badger. I beg you...". Both of my hands shoots up as defence and I start to back up:"Now, ho-hold on a minute..!". Oh, he's really mad about this..!
He keeps coming forward with determinant steps, looking so threatening:"Didn't that dull brain of yours thought for a one second what might happen if you'll cause a bigger scene with the twins? How foolish can you get?!". I stop walking and do a little stomp with my foot:"Ey! Amycus had it coming. After he dared to spit on Mine..-", "It is not your place to get involved, (Y/N)." he interrupts with cold tone. "What?! Y-yes it is! I am not going just going to stand there and watch my friend getting assaulted like that." I argue back. Severus tosses the paper onto the table nearby and walks right past me without a word. I take a quick glimpse of it. It's The Quibbler - a tabloid, that usually writes alot of rubbish and unnecessary gossips time to time. Aunt-Ruby used to love reading it as her 'guilty pleasure' back when I was a child, but stopped ordering it over time. 'Xenophilius Lovegood'
The name caught my eye in that brief moment I looked at the magazine before lifting the gaze up to Severus who's climbing up the few stairs up to the level the Headmaster's desk is. "Got to tell you, Sevy, I'm a little bit disappointed how you've lowered your reading standards from books to trash paper." there is hint of tease in my tone. He turns to face me, looking still annoyed. I then sigh deep and calmly approach him:"Alright, look... I do apologise. I shouldn't have attacked Amycus like that in front of the students. But spitting on Minerva - right in her face..- That's not okay!". No answer. He just keeps staring at me with that usual non-expressional look on his face. I stop right at the bottom of the stairs and shrug:"Don't you have anything to say in that? Can't you punish him for that?". "I've already punished him for what he tried to do to you in the girls bathroom." he answers bluntly. What?
He then told me all about how he had met up with Amycus alone after the incident here in the office. After he had stopped puking the slimy slugs - of course. Apparently, Amycus tried to lie himself off the hook. Said Miss Chang and I had lured him in the girls bathroom and made the attack for 'no reason'. But Snape didn't buy any of his lies at all. He could read his current thoughts after all. What a fool... When Severus questioned about using the Unforgivable Curse on me, and how he had ordered me on my knees in front of him, he denied it. Snape didn't waste any more time when he swift his wand to broke Amycus's right knee - making him fall to the floor onto his knees. Eyes shining from anger, Severus told him to keep his filthy hands off what belongs to him. So that's why he let out that groan when I pushed him.
Severus's eyes softens a bit and shoulders relaxes, almost looking defeated:"It took all my power not to split him in half right in there. Forcing him in the temporary sick leave was the only thing I could do at that moment.". Well, you would have done a great favor if you did... Looking at the man in front of me, realizing how much he has done to me so far... And what he would be willing to do. For me. That's when I climb two of the steps to get closer to him, and when I get there, I cup his face in loving way. He seems little bit surprised by this. "Thank you, Severus. Truly. You have no idea how much I love and adore you." my voice sounds like a whisper. There is sincere look in my (e/c) eyes that keeps shifting between his black eyes. "(Y/N)..." his voice crumbles down as he holds onto my left wrist and we both lean in for a tender kiss. I love you, Severus.
The Headmaster's Office fills with this silence as we get into this little bubble where there's nothing, or no one else, other than the two of us. When we slowly pull away from the kiss, I caress my thumb over his cheek gently. Then I giggle and do a one little tap on the tip of his nose:"And don't worry, Sevy, you're the only man who I'm willing to kneel down for.". Light blush raises up on his cheeks and he frowns:"...Better be careful what you speak with that pretty mouth of yours, little badger.". The grip around my wrist tightens a bit. Can't help, but laugh a bit how I made him feel flushtered there. He's so adorable! After our little cute moment, I did apologised how he's been getting in trouble because of me, and promised that I'll be keeping low profile for now on. I need to trust him. And believe he got everything under control here, and everything will turn out right. He seemed pleased by this and I left the office. But right before leaving, I snatched the magazine off the table with me, making Severus roll his eyes as he saw this, but didn't say anything.
When I traveled down from the office to get to the chamber, Minerva was already waiting for me at the door. She looked so worried, but then relieved when she saw I was alright and not hurt. Which again pains my heart she has to live in this believe Severus really is the bad guy here. I really wish to tell her the truth. I really do. But the sake of Severus and his own safety, I keep my mouth shut about it and act like I just got lectured by the Headmaster, nothing more. She'll know the truth, eventually. We then talked about how the twins really are the pain in the arse and how we're going to handle them without getting ourselves in trouble with them, and keep the students safe. Neither of us did come with the plan that would have pleased us. So, we keep planning. We'll figure it out. Somehow.
As the weeks goes by, Remus and I have been teaching the students secretly the Defence Against the Dark Arts in the Room of Requirement whenever we've been able to. Even I promised to keep the low profile, it doesn't mean I would stop helping the young children to learn how to defend themselves. The members of the Dumbledore's Army has been great help! Only... "Where's Luna? This is the third time she has missed our lesson..." I wonder out loud after the class was over and the younger students left the room. Cedric and Cho glances over their shoulders to take a look at Neville as they are tiding up the place among the rest of us. Neville is wiping the mirror in the corner, completely ignoring us. I share this look with the couple. All of us wondering what's going on. Then, I nudge my head towards the doors as a sign for rest of the group leave the place. And they did.
With caution, I approach the Gryffindor:"Is everything alright, Neville?". His head snaps right at me, little bit off guard to see me standing here:"Ah..- Y-yes, Professor.". "Professor?" I chuckle amused. He hasn't called me that in awhile. Not when we're alone at least. Neville turns back to the mirror before him and continues to wipe it with the cloth in his hand with very slow movements. Clearly his mind is being elsewhere. For a moment I stare at the boy before speaking:"Problems in paradise?". Maybe that's why Luna hasn't been showing up to the class? "N-no! I mean, maybe..- I don't know." he stutters out, clearly stressed about the situation. "What happened?" I ask. I know I'm not the expert when it comes to dating and solving other people's problems, but... At least I can listen?
Neville then began to tell me all about how he thought everything was fine between him and Luna. But only couple days ago, when the weekend began, she didn't showed up when they were supposted to meet after the classes back at the Greenhouse, in the garden. At first he thought Luna must've forgot or happened to wander off to somewhere after getting distracted about something - that she might sometimes do. But after not seeing her the next day, made Neville feel stressed if he has done something to upset her. Which sounds so out of Neville's character, if you'll ask me. He's always so kind and gentle with her. And Luna doesn't seem to be kind of girl who would get angry about little things girls usually might get mad about to their boyfriends. The fact that she has skipped today's classes worries me. That's so unlike her.
We talked almost forty minutes before heading out of the room. I tried to cheer him up and told him to give her some time and eventually she'll come around. Grudgingly, Neville nodded with fade smile and went different direction to eat dinner with the others. Maybe I should ask from Filius if he knows anything? After all, he's the Head of the Ravenclaw. Later that day, I'm sitting behind my desk, checking some of the essays. "(Y/N)." Remus calls while standing at the doorway to my classroom. Immediately my head lifts up to see him:"Hm?". "Forgot to return this." he lifts up familiar looking magazine and comes to hand it to me. "Oh, thank you, Remus." I take it and put it on the desk.
Over these few weeks, I've actually grown to like The Quibbler. Now I understand aunt-Ruby why she liked this so much... I have let Remus read it right after reading it myself. In the times like these, it's nice to read something positive about the Choisen One. This Xenophilius Lovegood really is a brave man. He writes lots of supporting articles about the boy and basically shows the middle finger to the Death Eaters or anyone who follows the Dark Lord. Wait... Just thinking all that, my thought process stops for a moment and before it began to wheel again. Lovegood..? Before Remus continues his way, I got up from my seat like a light bulb just turned on:"Remus, is the publisher of The Quibbler somehow related to Luna..- To our Luna?".
He stops and turns around in the middle of the classroom, looking so confused by my sudden question:"Yes..? He's her father.". "Father?!" I exclaim surprised. Why didn't I think of that earlier?! Amused, yet baffled chuckle comes out of him:"Thought you knew.". "I... Never really thought of that." I admit. Even the last name is pretty unusual... I didn't connect the dots. Well, now I feel stupid. "Why you ask?" Remus asks. There is a pause again when I start to wonder if my mind is doing its own tricks. Then, I shook my head with softer smile:"Nothing. Guess I have read too many conspiracy theories lately.". "Very well. I'll see at the dinner." Remus just offers me a gentle nod with a smile and continues his way.
The next day, after the classes were over, I went outside to have a walk with Muffin. It's nice to see how the Spring is making its way. Even the snow is fully gone by now, there are no leafs on the trees quite yet. What feels like forever, I decided to pay a visit in Hagrid's Hut. Maybe we could drink a cup of tea and exchange few words. After making a few knocks on the big wooden door, I come down couple steps, ready to see the friendly face. But... Nothing. Huh? I climb the stairs again and knock couple more times. Nothing. It's so quiet. "Hagrid?" I raise my voice enough he could hear me. Once again, nothing. "Hm, that's odd." I start looking around from where I stand. Muffin looks up to me with questioning look. He shouldn't be in the Forbidden Forest either at this hour yet. Instead letting the Carrows punish the students with torturing curse, Snape has ordered the students to go to the forest with Hagrid late at night. Which is quite scary - specially for the first years. Then again, better that then getting in the hands of the twins.
Eventually, I decided to just drop it and head back to the castle. As I'm leaving the hut, I lift my gaze up in the sky. Once again, I can see how there are many Dementors just flying around up in the air, near the clouds. Annoyance gets written all over my face, and for a quick moment, I raised my hand and gave them the finger before continuing my way. While walking up the steep hill, I notice there are some beautiful, yellow flowers on the ground further away. Right away I thought about Albus, and decided to pick up some of the flowers and take them to him tomb. After wrapping Muffin's leash into a tree near by the shore and gave her some coins to play with, I used Apparate spell to get to the little land Dumbledore's resting place is. "Hello, Albus. I found you some flowers. I hope you li..-" the smile on my face falls down and turns into terror as well as the heart drops down somewhere in my stomach after seeing what's before me. The White Tomb has been violated!