Coiled (Book 1 of 2)

I See All The Grey

"Mr. Rosier. Ms. Y/L/N. Together alone in the halls?"

Crossing her arms, Professor McGonagall draws herself up rod straight as she stares the two of us down.

She looks, in this moment, exactly as she has the dozen or so times over the years that she's caught me out after curfew: long dressing gown, hair done up high on her head in a bun.

Though decidedly more loose than the way she wears it during daylight hours -

And, of course, don't forget her signature tortoise shell spectacles, which she's now pushed up the bridge of her nose as she continues to consider us severely.

"Professor," I repeat myself again, this time even more lamely.

Out of the corner of my eye I watch Evan mirror her posture, his body radiating palpable tension as he crosses his arms and squares off against her wordlessly.

Stepping closer, she narrows her eyes at Evan, "Let me guess ... duelling?"

His voice completely icy, he shrugs irreverently, "Actually we just ran into one another. Complete coincidence."

"Ran into one another ..."

Pausing, Professor McGonagall gestures at the door to the classroom we've just slipped out of together, "... In that room right there?"

Evan doesn't blink; doesn't hesitate, "That's exactly right, Professor."

Shaking my head in frustration, I dare to give him an irritated glance at this.

Don't, Evan!

Don't double down on this!

Are you out of your mind?

She's far too smart for this;

Far too smart for either of us!

Silence now as she reaches us and comes to a stop, her attention shifting from Evan to me and then back again.

Oh, Merlin!

Clearing his throat, Evan doesn't even attempt a hint of deference, "So, then. On with it, yes? How many house points? And what's to be our punishment?"

Oh, he's bold for this!

Scratch that -

This isn't bold, it's entirely idiotic.

Staring back at him for another long second, Professor McGonagall remains still as a statue,
... Punishment?"

"That's right."

Staring back at him, she finally just shrugs, "None."

I swear my eyeballs nearly pop out of their sockets, "Professor?!"

I'm hearing things -

That's what this is;

That's what this must be.

Panic's made me delusional.

Because there's no way she actually just said -

"None," she repeats again, her voice echoing down the eerily quiet hallway.

Where I'm paralysed with stunned silence, Evan somehow manages a choked out reply, "Did you say - did you just say 'none?'"

"That's right, none. In other words, nothing. No punishment."

But when Evan opens his mouth to speak again, she's quicker, "Let me put it to you this way, Mr. Rosier. And let's be quite candid with one another, yes? If I were to deduct house points over ..."