Protection In The Dungeons

The Hike

   Snape and I were hiking through a remote forest. The path was annoyingly steep.

"Why do I have to do this?" I huffed, looking at Snape, annoyed.

"Because, physical fitness helps you stay healthy. Physically and mentally." He patiently explained. "And I thought this would be a better alternative to a gym, due to the fact that it doesn't smell like ten ferrets in a teenage boy's sock."

    I nodded. "Fair point. But why do I have to hike up the steepest mountain in the entire planet earth?!"

    Snape smirked. "The steepest mountain is in Canada, Kat. This isn't even in the top hundred steepest mountains."

    "Well you don't have to get all technical!" I puffed. "I was trying to be dramatic."

    Snape smirked. "You know me. I'm always technical. Technically not always, but you get my point."

    I rolled my eyes at his humor, it was a little funny, but I wasn't going to let him know that. "This is stupid."

    He smiled, and kept walking. We reached the top of the mountain, looking out over the countryside. I could see our house! I could see straight into Epsom. The view was gorgeous. "Why didn't we just apparate, Snape?" I asked, annoyed.

He looked down at me. "Apparition doesn't give us exercise, Dow does it?"

I sighed. "No... it doesn't."

"It seems you found your answer, Kat." He smiled, and ruffled my hair a little.

   I fixed my hair, and glared up at him. He sat down at the foot of a large Oak tree, and pulled out a book to read. I leaned on his shoulder, and fell asleep as he read his book. I woke up about thirty minutes later to him shrugging me off, and getting ready to head down the mountain.

    "Ugh. Already? More walking?!" I whined.

    He gave me a stare that if I didn't know better, I would have been absolutely scared for dear life. "Yes, we are going back now. No, we are not using magic. We both could use more exercise, and we don't want muggles to see us."

    I huffed, annoyed that he had anticipated my complaints, and answered them before I could even voice them. "But-"

    "No buts. Fun fact: if you talk less while doing physical activity, the physical activity will not tire you as much." His mouth quirked into a little smirk as he not so subtly told me to shut up.

    I saw him put the book down, and it disappeared. "What the-where did the book go?"

    "I don't wan to risk dropping my book in the dirt, so I apperatted it to our house." He patiently answered.

    He had a fair point. I heard something behind us, and we both turned to look. It was Professor Dumbledore. Snape looked at me, and grabbed my had. "Thats enough exercise today. Let's get home."

    Before he could grab his wand, the agitating voice of the ancient headmaster offended our ears with a sudden, and unwelcome appearance.

     Albus smiled his sickeningly sweet smile. Like a point of buttercream icing on a cake that weighed an ounce. "Severus, my boy! I have a teeny favor to-"

    ""No, Albus. Ask someone else. I'm having what's the term? Oh yes. Quality time. During the summer holidays which off I'm not mistaken, (and I doubt I am.) Hogwarts professors are on vacation as well as the students. Now, there is nothing in my employment contract that says that I am obligated to report to my superiors during the holidays. So, if you don't mind, me and my ward are having personal time. You may speak to me during my office hours during school hour which is from three pm, to five pm during the months: September through June."

Dumbledore sulked, and left, annoyed that Snape hat the audacity to actually read his contract, as most of the teachers hadn't bothered to. If they had, they would probably have noticed the part in the contract which states: "under no circumstances (in the unfortunate event in which I may die) may my family sue this school for any horrific death which may occur to me during my employment. The same goes for any injuries I may procure during my employment here." If others had read this contract, I feel many defense against the dark arts teachers would not have signed onto Hogwarts' staff.

Note from the author:
Hey guys! Sorry I haven't been writing in a while. I've been having severe writers block, and the times I do get inspired to write I'm in the middle of a class at school, (which has a no phones policy) Due to this, I have not been updating this book as frequently as I used to. I still value my readers very much, and as always, I hope you loved reading this chapter as much as I loved writing it.