Feral Den

Chapter 49

As February faded into March, then into April. Hogwarts became more and more of a school for rebellions.
At the end of March, Snape had sauntered into Slytherin. Looked pointedly at the hierarchy and inquired whose brilliant idea it was to set-up a series of Runes in each school House.

Apparently Sprout had entered Hufflepuff one evening, as she had done every week to follow up with her badgers on how their schoolwork and other activities were going when she noticed the markings edged into her Houses floor.
She had brought it up with the other teachers. Where Flitwick proceeded to say he had noticed the same thing. McGonagall hadn't taken long afterwards to interrogate her House.

Luckily Gryffindors were strong headed and hadn't given in to McGonagall as easily as one would've thought.
Hermione, however, had visited the Deputy Headmistress on her office hours and told her the story of what she knew.

McGonagall had gone to Snape, and he entered his House to only walk up to the group of guilty students.

He stared down at each of them. His black eyes scrutinizing their minute movements.

"Well?" He drawled. Expectant for an answer.
"Who's asking?" Nott narrowed his eyes. "Umbridge?"
Snape turned to Hailee and Malfoy.

"Professor." Hailee sighed, feigning innocence for what was her and Malfoy and Stephen and Beri and Zacharias and Hermiones doing. "Whatever do you mean?"
Snape pointedly looked down at the Rune below each of their feet. The group followed his gaze shortly, before resuming their nonchalance.
"Why?" Hailee gasped. "How did that get there?"
Parkinson noted to smack Hailee for her ridiculous game. She wasn't supposed to be making them laugh.

"Miss Potter." Snape said. "Did you make the Runes?"
"Preposterous, Professor. I'm not nearly that good of a student."
"Really?" Snape asked.
"Surely." Hailee nodded.
"Bathsheda thinks differently."
"Oh? And what do you think?" Hailee smiles, rests her chin on her propped palm. "Am I a good student in your eyes, Professor."

Snape stares. Hailee stares back.
She smiles blindingly.

"Mister Malfoy, Miss Potter. If you'll follow me."

Snape turned. Ignoring as Hailee immediately deflated.

"Really, Snape." Hailee tittered as she and Malfoy followed him. "It wasn't me."
"Or me." Malfoy says.

He ignores them. Showing the two up the dungeon stairs. They walked to the third floor where Snape pulled them into the teachers lounge.
Their collective Professors turned to them as the door closed. McGonagall didn't seem the least bit surprised to see Hailee, though the same couldn't be said when she saw Malfoy following her.

"Miss Potter." McGonagall says. "I should've known."
"That I'm an angel? You shouldn't, Professor. That's too sweet."

Malfoy rolled his eyes as Hailee flipped the short length of her hair. Sinistra looked throughly amused.

"So, Fred and George are pulling pranks. And you're drawing in our Houses, Miss Potter?" Flitwick smiles over his large cup of tea.
"I've done no such thing!"
"I remember you asking." Babbling giggles.
"I've done no such thing with proof." Hailee corrects.
McGonagall rolls her eyes.

"You're not in trouble Miss Potter."
"That's a first."
"Shut up, Malfoy." Hailee scoffs. He shrugs.
"You're always in trouble."
"For good reasons."

"Would you like a cup of tea?" Babbling looked at her students.
"Earl grey, please."
"Malfoy." Hailee glared at him disapproving.
He sits comfortably into one of the numerous chairs. "She asked."
"Doesn't mean you accept."
"Would you like earl grey as well, Miss Potter?"
Hailee wrinkles her nose.
"She'll take orange spice. Doesn't like the taste of earl grey much."
"Can you stop?"