way to go, tiger | Lorenzo Berkshire

࣪𖤐 Y3 | 5 . The truth

ARMS LENGTH — SAM FENDER
'But oh, do you have to know me, know me, inside out?'

The Slytherins, Gryffindors and a few Ravenclaws are sitting in their Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom without a professor. Cassie wonders where Lupin is— he's never usually late. Perhaps he's sick? Or he just can't be bothered to show up, and that Cassie would understand.

So, the first ten minutes without a professor, everyone pretty much does whatever they want. Mattheo and Cassie are having a paper aeroplane competition. They're testing on distance, speed and aim. Enzo and Draco are in charge of judging.

"Alright, ready?" Mattheo says, locating a target. Of course it's Ron Weasley. Cassie tries to stop him but before she can, he lobs the aeroplane at the back of Weasleys head. Ron rubs the back of his head and looks around to see who the culprit is. Even though she shouldn't, Cassie bursts into laughter with Mattheo.

"That was brilliant that one." Enzo says, a smile on his face. Him and Draco whisper about the results and write them down on a piece of parchment.

"Right, Diggory, you're up." Draco states.

She takes a deep breath before selecting her target. Pansy sits at the front of the class with a random Ravenclaw girl Cassie didn't know the name of. She decides to aim at Pansy, closing one of her eyes to focus on the other.

She throws the aeroplane across the classroom, but it doesn't hit Pansy.

Cassie gasps but quickly acts natural, the same with Mattheo, Enzo and Draco. They all sit there innocently with their quills in their hands and bored expressions.

"Detention, Diggory." Snape spits.

"Fuck's sake." Cassie mutters, bowing her head and earning a snort from Mattheo beside her.

Snape closes all of the blinds with the flick of his wand and stands at the front of the class. "Where's Lupin?" Cassie whispers to Mattheo.

"No clue." he replies.

"Turn to page three hundred and ninety four." Snape says, emphasising each word slowly. The room sigh in unison, wanting their other professor back.

"Sir, where's Professor Lupin?" Mattheo asks without even bothering to put his hand up. Snape is so done with Mattheo and his friends that he's starting to give up. They're wearing him down— just like they planned to once upon a time.

"None of your concern, Riddle." Snape retorts. "Your professor finds himself incapable of teaching at the present. Turn to page three hundred and ninety four."

"Werewolves? I thought we were doing redcaps and hinkypunks?" Cassie says aloud.

"Quiet." Snape replies. Cassie rolls her eyes. The potions master has despised her particular group of friends since first year. He doesn't mind Enzo and Blaise as much— but the others? God, he hates them. They are literally the bane of his existence and he makes no effort to hide it.

"Now, which one of you can tell me the difference between an Animagus and a werewolf?" Snape asks.

Cassie's mother is an animagus— a Siberian tiger to be specific. She never told Cassie why, but she was too occupied at how cool it was that her mother could turn into a tiger. She's always been slightly jealous. What a cool animagus.

"An Animagus is a witch or wizard that chooses to turn into an animal. A werewolf doesn't have a choice." Granger answers, despite Snape literally ignoring her.

Yes, Severus Snape hates Cassie Diggory and her friends, but there is a few more he hates just that little bit more. And that's Granger, Weasley and Potter— maybe even Longbottom on a bad day. So when it comes to it, Snape favours his Slytherins to the Gryffindors he hates.