Where Your Loyalties Lie - {Severus Snape x Reader}

-95-

Hard to say what's going through Headmaster's mind right now as he stares down to me with those black, dark eyes. All I can see how cold and lifeless they are, which actually sends tiny shivers go down my spine. Feels like I can't get any words out of my mouth, even I try to. "M-morning, Headmaster." I finally let out - voice going smaller and smaller towards the end. The look on his face won't change. Not even for a one bit. Bet he's planning on murdering me. Or at least snatch this paper out of my hands and smack me with it. Neither of us move. We both just stand there, almost like waiting for the other one to say or do something. The Daily Prophet in my hands does a little rustling sound as my fingers moves around it a bit. Immediately, his eyes lowers down to the paper, then back to my eyes. "I see that you have expanded your reading from books to trash paper..." his voice hums in his usual monotonic tone. Huh? Surprised by how 'normally' he spoke to me. Thought he would be upset with me. Before I could say anything, he continues:"Just like your taste in men.". WHAT?!

Baffled by the snarky comment, I just stare at him. Couple of students walks quickly right past by us, so I move out of the way by stepping a little bit onto the side. Unlike Headmaster here, he just stands there like a tree. Not caring other people around us. "Y-you know that's not true!" I end up frowning when no one's near. "Really?" he raised an eyebrow like he's already bored with this conversation. Just when I'm about to open my mouth to tell him how he should know better, he simply walks right past me to get in to the Great Hall. For a moment longer I stare after him. How his long cloak trails behind him as he gets further away by every step he takes. How children around him lower their voices and heads to 'make themselves invisible'. He really is... The dungeon bat. With that, I crunch the newspaper inside my fist and continue my way.

After gathering our little 'Dumbledore's Army' - as we started to call ourselves - back together into the Room of Requirement without any problems, I slam down the Daily Prophet onto the table. Everyone glances down to the paper, little bit confused. "Look at that, Mrs. Umbridge made it to the front page. Thought she wasn't going to come back after what happened to her in the Forbidden Forest with the centaurs." Luna gives a tiny smile. Cedric raised his eyebrow:"What actually did happen to her?". Just when Luna is about to open her mouth, I interrupt:"Could we focus on this first? If you don't mind.". They all turn to me, ready to hear what I have to say.

Then, I start explaining to them about the locket around Umbridge's neck and how it's most likely the original, real thing. "How you can be sure? It could be fake as well." Remus points out. I crossed arms over my chest with knowing look:"A woman like Dolores? Hardly believe she wants to carry anything fake around her - expect her smile.". "How are we going to get it?" Cho asks. "That's why I need your help on this." I look everyone in the room. As we all know so far, Harry and his friends are somewhere out there, trying to destroy the Horcruxes. But we have no idea where they are and if they are aware how the Slytherin's Locket is indeed hanging around Umbridge's neck as we speak. They might have already seen the Daily Prophet by now - or probably not. Who knows? We have to help them!

After some talking and planning, we came to the agreement someone needs to go down the Ministry of Magic's Office and steal the locket under Umbridge's nose. But how? First of all, we are all under supervise here, so we can't just walk out of Hogwarts just like that. Secondly, if we would get out of the castle without anyone's notice, how on earth are we going to get to Umbridge and steal the locket? I keep rubbing my temples to think the solution for each of our problem:"Urgh... My head hurts.". "Polyjuice potion would do the trick." Luna all of sudden suggest. We all turn to look at her. "Polyjuice?" Cedric asks. Cho's face brightens up:"Of course! Whoever we choose to go down there, they must turn into someone who can walk out of the castle and get in touch with Umbridge.".

Big smile appears on my face with eyes full of hope:"You Ravenclaws really know how it's done! That's a great idea!". Shy smiles comes up to the girls faces by the compliment. "Only... Who? Who's someone that could easily walk out of the castle without raising any suspicions?" Remus questions. First person who comes to our mind is the Headmaster himself. Then again, there is bigger chance he would see this happening - one way or another, and we would be in way bigger trouble. "How about the Carrow twins? One of them could 'be heading there because they got invited as one of the Deputy Headmaster or Headmistress'?" Vivian asks. "That might work." Remus nods.

After more talking and planning, Remus all of sudden announces:"Alright. I should be the one going.". Immediately my head snaps right at him with a frown:"What? Who said that?". "I just did." he stated. The kids in front of us stares little bit confused and hesitant at both us. I shook my head:"No, Remus. You're not. You have done more than enough - for all of us.". "Don't be ridiculous, (Y/N). Who else then? You?" he raised his eyebrow at me. I keep looking at the man next to me with the 'are you being serious right now?' - look:"Yes.". Remus is now the one who shook his head:"No. You are not going.". "Why not?" I frown and straighten my back to fully face him. Whole this time, the kids keeps shifting their gaze between us to whom ever speaks. Like it's a ping-pong match. "Don't be a fool, (Y/N). I'm not going to let you walk down there, so they could just tear you apart. Not alone, at least." he raised his voice while pointing one of his fingers to the floor. The look on my face changes into more angry one:"They won't!".

Remus and I keep going back and forth a little while. Even both of us are making good points here, neither of us want to step aside. I can't let him go there. What if something would happen to him? Can't even bare the thought of that. Remus ends up growling:"Why can't you jus..-!", "BECAUSE I GOT NOTHING TO LOSE UNLIKE THE REST OF YOU!!" my voice echoes around the room. It got very quiet after that. The look on Remus's face turns from anger into surprised one. My heart is beating heavier now. Hands sweating. The fact Sniffy's gone... And Severus hates me. What else do I have? Don't know what else to say here, I just wish he would just listen and let me do this:"I..-", "I-I'll come with you." a timid voice suddenly says. Mine and Remus's heads snaps towards the voice. My eyes widens and both of my eyebrows raise:"Neville?".

We all stare at the Gryffindor student for a moment all stunned. Luna gently places her hand on her boyfriend's arm with sweet smile on her face:"I think that's great idea, Neville.". "You do?" he blushes a bit. Neville... Everyone starts nodding and cheering for the boy. Still too stunned to speak here:"...But..-", "Wonderful, Neville! You make sure you both come back in one piece." Remus smiles relieved 'we' came up the solution. No matter what I tried to stutter out, no one listened. They all became fond of the idea that Neville and I will pretend to be the Carrow twins and head down the Ministry's office to get the Slytherin's Locket together. So I got no choice, but be alright with it. Even I still think it's far too dangerous to take a young boy with me. Eventually we agreed on doing this as soon as possible - which is tomorrow.

Soon, they all started heading out of the room while trying to maintain their excitement what's ahead. "Neville?" I call. He turns to me with little hesitation:"Yes?". I wait that the rest of the group get out before speaking:"I have something I need to talk to you about.". He then walks up to me:"I'm-I'm really sorry I volunteered. I..-", "No, no, it's not about that." I reassure. Both of his eyebrows raised:"Oh?". "Do you happen to have your Remembrall with you?" I asked. He looks now more confused:"My..- Remembrall? Y-yes. Why?". I reach my hand towards him:"May I take a look at it?". "Sure." he picks it from his pocket. "Thaank you." I give a quick smile at him while grabbing the thing. Then, I start comparing our Remembralls side by side. It came to my mind only yesterday that Neville also owns a Remembrall as well. Maybe this way I can finally see what's wrong with mine.

Immediately I see the difference. In Neville's ball, it doesn't have that same silvery hair-like movement inside. It's full on empty. Wait... Neville looks even more confused:"Is... Is something wrong?". "Isn't yours supposed to have something inside?" I ask. "Only when I have forgot something, a red cloud-like appears in it." he explains. "Then... What is this then?" I show him my ball. He looks at it for a moment before answering:"Looks like there is a memory inside.". My eyes widens a bit:"...A what now?". "A memory. You know? You can storage a memory pretty much anywhere as long as it's shield." he shrugs. My heart falls down somewhere in the deep. So... After all this time..? Snape gave me a memory of some kind? Right away the image of the golden cabinet in Headmaster's office pops in my mind. Of course. For a moment, I think to myself what to do here. Then, I lift my gaze to the student with pleading eyes:"Neville, I need you do something for me.".