Knowledge is Power

Chapter 22

"Miss WestCraven. Please wait after class."
Mag nodded, wondering what Severus wanted. She knew she should think of him as professor Snape, because right now he was her professor, but she usually didn't.

//Why don't you just ask me what he wants,// Nightshade asked.
Mag frowned.
//Because sometimes I still forget that you can just poke your mind into someone else's and bloody find out. Most of us can't, after all."

//Whatever,// the owl thought muttered, beginning to preen his feathers from his spot on the back of her chair.
//Well? What does he want? Is everything alright,// she asked, unable to avoid a sudden stab of concern.
//Yeah, everything's fine. He's just a fast reader,// Nightshade replied...at least in Mag's opinion, cryptically.

As everyone else began filing out, Mag continued to slowly gather her things. Even though she'd been asked to wait, just sitting or standing there would somehow feel awkward. Once the dungeon was empty, Severus approached her desk, carefully depositing two books onto it.
"I've finished these. Thank you again for allowing me to borrow them. Hi, Nightshade," he added, reaching out to lightly touch the owl's head in greeting.

The gesture seemed to surprise both man and owl. Nightshade started slightly and Severus flushed, hastily removing his hand.

//Hi, Prof,// Nightshade said happily.
He flew to Severus's shoulder.
//Say would you mind scratching the back of my head right near my neck? It's a bitch to reach. And if you ask me why it's a bitch I swear to god I might kill us both,// he warned testily.

Severus laughed softly.
//How do you plan to kill us both? This I need to know even if it may give me psychedelic nightmares,// Severus said dryly.
As he spoke, he tentatively reached for the spot on Nightshade's head closest to the back of his neck and carefully began to scratch.

//I actually hadn't gotten that far in the thought process,// Nightshade admitted.
//That's the right place, but you gotta dig your fingers in deeper. I've got thick feathers. Don't worry, if you hurt me I'll tell you,// he assured.

//Will I have any fingers left,// Severus asked with a frown.
At that Nightshade made a low sound in the back of his throat that sounded quite a lot like a laugh.
//Shit,// the owl exclaimed. //I'd not do that when you're trying to be nice.//

//Good to know,// Severus said, and delved into the owl's feathers, fingers curved to scratch.
//Yeah...That's awesome..." Nightshade said, leaning forward slightly and stretching his neck out.

Mag studied the two in silence. Though she couldn't follow the conversation, the gist was obvious enough, considering the neck scratching and all.
"What's going on with defense this year," Mag asked, hoping Severus may have a bit of information he'd be willing to share on the current insanity.
"Umbridge isn't even teaching us anything," she complained with an annoyed frown.
"Theory must be practiced in such matters to be worth anything."

"Agreed," Severus said tightly.
"I have no idea why she is teaching this way, if it can be called teaching, but she does have the backing of the Ministry. She was one of the high ranking officials there before she was placed here as it happens."

//Shit! So you're saying Dumblefuck had no choice in the matter,// Nightshade asked, and Severus nodded, frowning.
//Don't call him that. It's rude and it annoys me.//
Nightshade sighed.
//Alright...I'll try hard not to call Dumblefuck, Dumblefuck, but just because it's you and you asked.//

Severus laughed.
//Well try harder than you just did, please.//
To Magritte he said, "I have an interesting book of spells that can be used defensively. You may borrow it. As you have allowed me to borrow so many books, it's the least I can do. Just don't let anyone see you reading it because the spells are rather nasty and if more well known, would most certainly be illegal. Put some sort of disguising charm on it."

Mag nodded.
"Of course...And thank you."
Severus shrugged.
"Any time. It's the least I can do for someone I respect who feels a justified lack in their education."

Mag smiled and hoped she wasn't blushing.
"I really appreciate it. I'd better get to Ancient Runes before I'm late," she said, standing and gathering her books.
"Of course," Severus said, and headed back to his desk.

//Thanks, Prof,// Nightshade said.
//That felt great.//

//That and a bit of deli meat are the least I can do for what you're doing for me, I suppose,// Severus replied as he gave Nightshade's neck a final scratch before dropping his hand.
//See you soon,// The owl said before flying back to Mag.

Thoughts of her next class reminded Mag of her upcoming lessons from The Bloody Baron. In ancient runes they learned warding and other forms of magical writing for various runic spells as well as the general application of wards, but never divination. Pausing at the door she turned to look over at Severus.
"Do you know about using runes for divining?"

Severus nodded.
"I had a friend once who gave me a very accurate reading. It was interesting. He taught here for one year back when I first started teaching. He moved away and we've lost touch."

Mag nodded, then lifted a hand in farewell, heading out as the next class began to filter in.
//Turns out he thinks of Dumblefuck as some sort of father figure,// Nightshade shared as they headed to Ancient Runes.
//I saw it in his head when he complained about me calling him Dumblefuck while we were talking.//

//Interesting,// Mag said.
The two seemed so different, she hadn't particularly expected them to be close. Did that say something about Dumbledore or Severus, she wondered.
//Why were you talking about Dumbledore,// she asked.
//Cause Umbridge,// Nightshade explained.

When classes were over for the day, Mag retired to her dorm room to read the book Severus had lent her. It was full of various interesting hexes that one could use in combat. One, for example. turned a person's hand into a solid piece of flesh, where there were no longer separate fingers, making holding a wand impossible. Of course that meant casting spells would be a lot harder unless the wizard happened to excel at wandless magic, which few did. Another caused a person to see what they wanted to see rather than what actually was, which would cause them to err more readily. Mag's personal favorite was the most gruesome, and compelled a person to pull their own eyes out.

//Fucking awesome,// Nightshade commented, providing proof that sometimes he actually did pay attention when she was reading.

The rest of the week passed uneventfully. When the weekend arrived, Mag headed eagerly into Hogsmeade with Kereston and Millicent.
"I can't believe she's actually hanging out with us," Kereston remarked, making a show of incredulously widening her blue gray eyes.
"I know," Millicent said.
"She must have run out of books."

"Never," Mag said cheerfully.
"I just need to buy a set of runes. The Bloody Baron is going to show me how to divine with them."
She frowned at the doubtful expressions of her friends, who like her, hadn't exactly excelled in Divinations.
"Rune readings are different," she defended.
"The Baron thinks I can learn, and Severus got a rune reading once that he said was quite accurate."

"OH," Kereston said in a fakely simpering tone.
"It's Severus now, is it?"
Mag tossed back her long red hair.
"Not to his face yet, but yes."
She had a feeling he wouldn't mind but it wouldn't be proper while she was a student to refer to him by his first name even if they were friendly.

"Well he's a git no matter what you call him," Millicent proclaimed firmly.
Mag sighed.
"Look. Do you want me to tell him you're not stupid so he'll be nicer to you," she offered.
Millicent scowled.
"I doubt it'll help but sure. If he tells anyone or it ruins my shit, though, I'll kill you."

//Hey,// Nightshade protested into Mag's mind.
//That's my line!//
//Well as I am not allowed to tell anyone that you're smart, they'll never know,// Mag thought back, amused.

Nightshade sometimes wished he could participate in conversations, and he didn't think Mag's few friends would screw him over by telling anyone if he asked them not to, but sometimes shit could accidentally slip out and he was simply not going to risk being put into a fuckin' lab! Nope, no way.