Professor Black: A Reader Insert

23. Moons of Harvest

Malfoy sat across from (y/n) for their first scheduled tea-time of the year with a sour look and his arm in a sling.

"I feel as though you expect a scolding from me." (y/n) hummed over her tea.

"You should be though, I ignored instructions from a teacher and got him fired."

"He isn't fired, your father isn't that much of a fool, but he is cruel enough to want the blood of the creature that was defending its pride. He's like a hippogryph in that way." She stopped his rant with a calm smile.

"I don't know what I was thinking." The teen sighed. "I feel like I should be punished for my idiocy."

"I can ask Professor Snape to see about having you write a 6-foot essay on the importance of following instructions if you'd like?" She offered, knowing he'd probably take it into his own hands and write the essay anyway.

"Thank you, I've noticed the twins are following the first years around, is there a reason for that?"

"I can't tell you that one, but they are allowing for privacy here in their own way."

"Is there any particular reason why Regulus spends his time with the Hufflepuffs?"

"He believes that's going to be where he is placed when he does come as a student."

"But you are trying to make sure they go to Ilvermorny."

"Many things are outside of my control, Draco, from my parentage to certain points in my life. I've come to accept it and do what I can to ensure the best possible outcome for all involved." She explained before sending him on his way with an extra cookie.

A week later Harry sat in the same spot with a bitter expression taking residence on his face.

"Malfoy was being a prick and now Hagrid is pushing us away and-"

"Breathe, Harry, all will turn out. Now, how is school so far?"

"The divination professor is a right loony." He huffed, "Snape has, pardon my being frank, he's been coddling Malfoy at the expense of the Gryffindors. His class was a circus because Malfoy couldn't be bothered to be decent and not disrupt the class every three seconds."

"Malfoy is probably doing it to get a rise out of you, and Professor Snape is allowing it to see if you rise to his provocation. I can't wait to see just how bad the bruising is when Miss Granger snaps."

"You aren't going to ask him not to?"

"Professor Snape is the master of his classroom, I'm but a simple distraction that he happens to fancy. I can't expect him to change his methods just because I ask him to, even if it hurts what trust lies between myself and my brother. Now, how is Defense Against the Dark Arts this year?" She asked changing the subject to a far more likable subject for either party. 

"Professor Lupin is a better teacher than Lockhart. We did boggarts on our first day and got to see Snape in a dress." Harry smiled at the memory.

"Nevile?" She asked wondering who would have her lover as their greatest fear.

"Nevile." He confirmed with a pleased smile before it dropped. "I didn't get a turn against it. Why do you think that is?"

"Professor Lupin knows your parents and if destiny wasn't a cruel bitch would've been our uncle of sorts, he likely didn't want you to have to face your greatest fear before your classmates."

"Hermione said something like that, can I ask what your boggart is?"

"All the people I love and care about dead, my children being forced to be mounts for the forces of evil, an eternal entrapment within the very thing I escaped from in the States. There are many fears of mine, perhaps the worst of it is being abandoned by those I care for like my parents abandoned me." She sighed setting aside her tea. "I don't particularly know, because I've never had to face it."