The Year of the Revolution IV. The Outbreak

19. Goodbye forever

Nine o'clock on Saturday May fifteenth in the Great Hall. The entire Guard sitting at the tables and few other students. Punctuality was not the norm for breakfast on the weekend. In this way they could look at each other.

Jack's group, near the staff table. Next to them, the sixth and seventh year Sly warriors, a little more halfway and scattered, the Raves. In front of me, on the other side, at the Gryff table, Lily with her back to me and Remus and Cecile facing me, no heads in between, smiling.

Lauren and I, alone in our places. But I know that the snakes never miss the mail, and even less near the end of the term, they will arrive in five or ten minutes.

We are all having breakfast quietly, everything is already discussed. That morning they didn't even project to each other, they concentrated on feeding themselves for what was to come. We have a quarter of an hour, during which the tables fill up, not as much as on school days. A pity, quite a few people stay up late on Friday and stay in bed.

But yes, all the malefics who sit together at the table, around Lauren and me, have arrived. Round.

At nine fifteen o'clock, the owls entered through the skylights of the Great Hall.

Lauren projected to him, "To get out of the fishbowl, my soul mate."

Too bad I won't be able to watch The Guard's movement, Sev thought.

Malfoy's lovely, white with little brown spots, familiar owl, landed in front of him, knocking over his already empty milk tea cup. It didn't drop the letter as usual, it had it tied up.

So I can slap it out. Thank you Lucius. Poor thing... He started slapping it with his left hand.

Avery, to his right, asked in alarm. "What are you doing, Snape? It's Malfoy's letter."

The owl resisted. Out! It doesn't matter, that way I give the Guard time to form up.

"I don't want any damn letters from Malfoy," Sev replied threateningly as he continued to slap with his hands.

At last the owl took flight, with a wounded wing. Poor thing... He glanced at the back of the Great Hall. The Guard is forming up, absolute silence. I'm going there.

He got up, climbed onto the bench, and yelled at the four snakes that surrounded him, in a deeply menacing and contemptuous tone. "Goodbye forever, vipers!!"

He climbed down from the bench on the other side and glanced at the Guard again. They've already formed up, about fifteen feet from the tables. Absolute silence, everyone must be looking at me.

He marched along the Sly table. As he reached the end and edged around it, he began to hear it. First a rumor, but gradually increasing in volume. "Snape... Snape... Snape..."

Damn last name of Tobias. As soon as I'm seventeen I'll delete it. Only Prince.

He pulled his wand from his pocket, pulled his robe over his head, and tossed it to the floor as he walked. He looked at his commanders. They all are smiling at me satisfied and proud. He smiled back at them.

Finally he stood in his place. His left arm crossed over his chest, his right elbow resting on his left hand so that he the wand was at the front. On guard.

The blows with the hands on the tables and with the feet began on the left, at the Sly table. Soon the Raves, the Huffles and many Gryffs caught on. Uproar. He looked at his Gryff friends. Poor guys, they are holding back.