Lonely

Chapter Eight

Leo poked around at her dinner, shooting glances to where Ginny sat with Neville at the Gryffindor table. Although she didn't feel like it, she forced herself to eat the majority of her food because she knew her friends were already suspicious of something going on and she wanted to avoid having to answer any questions about the events that would soon transpire.

As the majority of students finished their meal and began to leave the great hall Leo made eye contact with Ginny, who nodded slightly and quickly slipped out of the hall with Neville and Luna. "You ready Leo?" Leanne asked as the rest of her friends stood to leave. She smiled at her friend and said, she hoped unsuspiciously, "You all go on, I have a question for McGonagall about some transfiguration work." Her friends nodded. "Well, we'll see you back in the room, not like we could be anywhere else." Ernie grumbled. In assuming his new role as headmaster Snape had returned to many of the rules and punishments that had been put into place when Umbridge had been headmaster during their fifth year. She knew Ernie was annoyed by the curfew and tighter restrictions on clubs, Leo was just glad that so far Quidditch hadn't been meddled with.

She watched as her friends left the great hall before glancing up to the head table where Snape sat. Leo wondered if he even ate in the great hall. Now that she thought about it, she seemed to only be able to recall him in a perpetual state of surveying the students as they ate. She took a deep breath and stood approaching the front of the room where their headmaster sat. Only as she got within arms reach did she realize that she had not planned what she was going to say in the slightest. Snape's dark eyes met hers and for a moment she was transported back to the dark spring night, clutching Draco in her arms as Snape brought his arm down, the flash of heat across her face-

"Miss Tonks. Do you need something?" It was more of a statement than a question, but the cold voice of the headmaster brought her back to reality. "Um, yes sir, I was only wondering if we could, um talk..." She trailed off as Snape continued to stare at her, raising his brow curiously. "And whatever could you possibly be wanting to talk about?" Her eyes dropped to her shoes before she looked back to Snape. "I was wondering if we could talk about Draco, I just have a few questions, and-" Leo was cut off by the harsh voice of Amycus Carrow, who sat to the left of Snape. "This blood traitor bothering you, headmaster?" He said with a sneer in Leo's direction. Snape merely raised his hand to silence the Death Eater before turning to Leo. "Perhaps this is a conversation that should take place in my office." He said rising from where he sat at the table. Leo's heart began to race, she knew at that very moment Ginny, Neville, and Luna were in Snape's office and there was no way that she had bought them enough time. "Oh, no sir, I don't want to interrupt your meal." It was no use, the headmaster had already walked around the table to where she stood in front of it.

"Come along." He said gesturing to her as he began to walk down the main aisle between the tables, his black robes billowing behind him. Leo had no choice but to follow him quickly, hoping that inspiration would strike her and she would think of a way to delay Snape. When they arrived at the bottom of the main staircase Leo dropped to one knee and fumbled with her shoe. "I'm sorry headmaster, one moment my lace has come untied." She mumbled. Snape paused, looking down at her with an eyebrow raised. Leo took as long as she dared to fix the shoelace before standing, as she stood she spoke once again. "Sir, I really didn't mean to interrupt your evening. If another time works better I don't mind to-"

Leo was interpreted by the voice of Argus Filch, hurrying down the steps toward the two of them he exclaimed, "Headmaster sir, there's been a break-in to your office! Professor Carrow, she's in there with them now- the traitors. Trespassing!" Filch looked beside himself with glee, Leo on the other hand felt her heartbeat quicken. She couldn't see this situation ending well. "Very well, Filch." Snape responded to the man, before turning to Leo and regarding her curiously. When his dark eyes met hers, she immediately dropped her own to the floor. Still, she could feel him staring at her and felt a sensation in her forehead, suddenly very aware of the thoughts floating in her brain. Leo found herself thinking of earlier that day at breakfast, when Ginny had explained the plan to her, Luna, and Neville. Just as quickly as the thought arrived it left, and Leo looked up to once again meet Snape's eyes. His expression was unreadable as he said, "Miss Tonks will accompany us Filch. Thank you for bringing this to me."