𓆕 𝐎𝐅𝐅 𝐋𝐈𝐌𝐈𝐓𝐒 ; draco malfoy.

𝟏𝟎

"Breakfast would have to wait, Potter." Snape said, looking more sour than ever. How long had he been waiting outside their common room? "I'm certain you're aware why the headmaster summoned you."

"Yes," the child grumbled, looking down at the floor as Snape escorted her to where she could only assume was Dumbledore's office.

Draco, true to his word, ran to Snape who was at the High Table last night, just as everyone in the great hall was preparing to make their way back to their common rooms, overly exaggerating how Y/n Potter dared to hurt him by punching him in the face.

"I was just being a responsible student, Professor," Draco cried as he handed the scrunched up parchment to Snape. "I think my nose is broken. Did it leave a bruise? My father's going to be livid when he learns about what Potter has done to me!"

"Awful, miserable boy?" Snape said to her as they turned to an empty corridor. Y/n pursed her lips in a thin line as Snape went on. "Why in Merlin's Beard would your aunt write me a letter?"

"I don't know — "

"Don't lie to me, Potter!" Snape barked. Y/n flinched beside him. "I've asked you to write to your guardians and ask them of your accidental wandless magic. Why was the letter addressed to me?"

"I didn't think my Aunt Petunia would write back if she knew I sent the letter."

"And you thought the most appropriate course of action was to use my name just so you could solicit a response from her?" Snape sighed in frustration as he led her to a giant and rather ugly gargoyle statue. Y/n was caught off-guard when Snape suddenly said, "Jumping jellybean."

The gargoyle leapt aside and the wall behind it split into two like it had been a door this whole time. It revealed a stone staircase that spiraled upwards like an escalator.

Snape urged her to step on the stairs, following right behind her. The wall closed with a thud as the stairs brought them up to a large oak door with a brass griffin-shaped knocker. Snape curtly rapped on the door with the knocker before it opened to its own accord. Y/n rushed right in, afraid that the stairs would suddenly move downwards with Snape after her.

Dumbledore's office was nothing short of breathtaking. It was a large circular room, filled with funny-looking trinkets and curious instruments puffing out smoke. Portraits of old headmasters and headmistresses hung on the walls, gently snoozing and paying none of them any mind. Dumbledore sat behind a giant claw-footed desk, sorting through stacks of parchments and looking cheery as always.

"Ah, good morning to you, Severus, Y/n. I hope you two are in good spirits for this day's upcoming quidditch match," The old wizard said gently, beckoning them to come closer. "I have a good feeling Gryffindor's going to win this day's quidditch match. No offense to your House, Severus. I'm sure your team has been training just as hard as they had been previously. It's just my House pride, you see."

"None taken, Professor." Snape said through muttered breath. "However, I do believe it's necessary that we conclude this meeting as soon as possible. Potter here wouldn't want to miss her brother playing for the opposing team. It's their first ever quidditch game, after all. Isn't that right, Potter?"

Y/n tensed in her spot, but managed to nod her head in agreement once she saw Snape's sharp glare.

Dumbledore let out a hearty laugh.

"Well then, let's get straight to the point, shall we? Y/n dear, I believe you've managed to perform a memory charm on your fellow classmates — Miss Parkinson and Miss Greengrass. Quite a remarkable feat for a first-year, though it was clearly unintended. Regrettably, their parents do not share the same sentiment with your abilities. Pansy's father, Mr. Parkinson, in particular, is quite adamant that the Ministry intervenes promptly. He feels that expulsion is the only suitable response."