Professor Black: A Reader Insert

6. Dire Attempts

(y/n) shifted back into her usual self once she reached the main doors and knocked, she didn't know what possessed her to do so. Alas, the look on Filch's face was probably it. He looked both annoyed and slightly happy that the one student that didn't cause him trouble had returned, even if her capacity was technically not as a full-time teacher.

"Is Miss Norris well?" She asked with a small smile. 

"She's been better, says thanks for her Christmas present." He didn't sneer as he grumbled his answer which was indication enough that he didn't despise her existence. "Headmaster is expecting you." 

With that, Mr. Filch led (y/n) to the griffon statue, leaving her there with a grumbling farewell. She stood there glaring at the avian feline for a moment allowing herself to gather her wits for the bullshit she's about to endure. A sound brought her out of her staring contest with the statue. Her calculating (e/c) gaze settled on the disturbance, finding Snape with his eyebrow quirked. 

"I almost won Rus; he was about to blink." (y/n) huffed earning an amused glance from the darkly cloaked man.

"Dumbledore thought you'd like to have me in on this meeting." His usual mask of neutrality was in place as he spoke. "Mentioned something about your distaste for lemons putting him at risk of your ire."

"My ire's not going to be the only thing he's going to have to worry about." She grimaced feeling all too well the taste of particularly sour lemons on her tongue at the thought.

"Lemon Curry." He spoke the password, of course, it had to do with lemons.

"That sounds like an experience." She grumbled as the pair scaled the spiral staircase once it appeared.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The rest of August earned a disgruntled house-elf apparating her wand to her chambers, attempts by Hagrid to befriend the dire wolf that took to morning walks about the grounds, assisting each of the teachers with their classrooms save DADA as that man keeps running from her so she can't, and pretending she doesn't know about the stone. She does, it tastes like cherry flavored sore throat spray. Her office was made a place of comfortable professionalism and had a pillow pit, that was mostly for herself when the inferences become too much.

Looking about the space one could almost think it humorously clinical, which was unavoidable given the nature of her position there. She was provided a shortlist of students who would be expected to meet with her right out the gate, her brother and Harry were on that list along with a handful of other students. The rest would filter in or away as needed. A heavy knock sounded on her office door as she contemplated what each student on the list would need. 

"It's always open!" (y/n) called to the person on the other side of her door.

"Ah- er- Professor Dumbledore said I should see you." Hagrid squeezed through the door and sent her a look.

"Pick a seat, Hagrid. I'm (y/n) Black, I used to be a student here so you might remember me to a degree." She paused as Hagrid sunk into the large chair across from her. "What brings you to my humble office?" 

"Well, I was talking ter Dumbledore abou' this dire wolf tha's taken ter roaming the grounds and I though' we should make sure we're on friendly terms so tha' it stays here and safe and 'e said you'd be the person ter talk to abou' i'," Hagrid said taking the offered cookie once he finished with a confused glint lighting his eyes.

"That wolf did give you a cookie," She eyed him a moment before sending him a smile. "Sorry, biscuit. That wolf gave you a biscuit."

He sent her a disbelieving and guarded look.