Ailouros Tails book 4: The Return

Chapter 3~ Snape's Punishment

Lupin walked into Dumbledore's office where he and Minerva McGonagall were waiting for him to finish with Ailouros's studies for the day. "Good evening Lupin. How did it go?"

"It went well. Ailouros is improving nicely. What are we to do about Lucious's accusations? If he goes to the ministry with this, she'll likely be sent away to be tested on. She's only a teenager and life has already been hard for her." Lupin stated and Dumbledore cut off his ranting.

"I know it has been lupin. Her past is a confusing jumble, but that's not something we can fix. We all have our pasts, but we also have our futures to live for." Dumbledore said calmly.

"So what do we do Albus?" Minerva asked anxiously, wondering what would happen to her student.

"For the moment, we shall do nothing but watch and see what happens. You two won't interfere if anything happens. Hagrid either. None of you have the jurisdiction to intervene." He said looking at them sternly, "Is that clear?"

Reluctantly they both agreed.

***

I walked through the hallways off to rejoin my class with everyone else. It has been about a week or two since I overheard Lucios and Lupin talking about me. October and Shadow refused to leave my side since the attack. Everyone still steered clear of me in fear. I'm sure Draco had whined about it all over the school. Even others in my own house were scared of me. I was glad that Nico was still here for me. I glanced over at him and he gave me an encouraging smile. "It's okay Ailouros. Ignore them."

Nico always seems to know just the right things to say. I know he really likes me. Rumor has it that he even threatened Zeus right alongside as Amaterasu to get me back to this time. I can't tell him about the attack or Am as it'll only cause them to worry more. Looking at my schedule I saw that I had the misfortune of having Potions with Snape next.

"Miss Ocean." Snape's growling tone and dark eyes were there to greet me. Nico had to hurry off to his next class. I was glad he was able to come this far with me at least. "No bows or other weapons allowed in class. Leave them all at home." Snape snapped seeing my bow and arrows. "Twenty points shall be taken from Gryffindor for your actions. Now go and put them up and don't be late for class or you shall lose even more house points."

I ran to the shadows and used shadow traveling to the dorm as it was the only way to do what Snape had ordered in time. I hurriedly left my bow, arrows, and knives on my bed and ran back through the shadows to Snape's door. I barely made it on time weary from using that method of traveling. I looked for a seat and the only one open had to be alone by Crabbe, one of Malfoys friends.

Turn to page 120 of your textbook and you will read on how to perfect the potion on the next ten pages." Snape instructed.

I was tired from the shadow traveling. Opening the book to the desired page I started to read. Before long my eyelids grew heavy. The desk loomed ever closer. Despite my best efforts to stay awake, my head rested on my book and I started to doze off.

Snape must have seen me sleeping because the next thing I knew I was being ordered and pulled to my feet by Snape as he growled something at me. There were a few smothered laughs. Half asleep my ranger training kicked in. I twisted around my small fist hitting solidly into his jaw with all the force of the momentum from my swing.

I heard several gasps and saw several shocked expressions. More alert I turned to see who I had hit. Snape's dark gaze was blazing as he snarled, "Get Out! NOW! To Dumbledore's office."

I walked out trying to calm my raging nerves. At this point, I wanted nothing more than to go back to Camp or Araluen or anywhere but a school.

***