Puppet Strings (Hogwarts x Reader)

Chapter 7

The day before the match, the winds reached howling point and the rain fell harder than ever. It was so dark inside the corridors and classrooms that extra torches and lanterns were lit. The Slytherin team was looking very smug indeed, though Y/n was a little proud of herself when she saw that Malfoy looked more hesitant that he normally would have been. Sure, he was still smug—his face always had a sort of permanent smugness on it—but there was a lingering uncertainty in his pale eyes that was just barely visible.

That morning at breakfast Y/n had told Harry what had happened the night before. Fred and George had listened in—the whole thing had been their idea in the first place, anyway. They were disappointed that it didn't work, but they were also mildly impressed that Y/n had actually been able to reason with Malfoy.

"So what did you say to get him on your side?" Harry asked, curious.

"He wasn't 'on my side,'" Y/n said, rolling her eyes. "And I didn't do much, just...said the right things at the right time."

Harry had scoffed at that, but Fred and George had both given her identical grins.

"We'll keep that in mind for the future, then," Fred said. "You know, in case there's ever a need for someone 'saying the right things at the right time' in the future." He winked.

"It's like you read my mind, dear brother," George said, grinning widely at Y/n.

"Do not expect any other favors from me," Y/n had told them, but the twins had continued grinning anyway.

The morning passed quickly and soon Y/n found herself heading to Defense Against the Dark Arts with Val, Sol, and Emi. However, when they arrived, they found someone very unexpected at the front of the room.

"Take your seats and pull out your textbooks," Snape instructed, watching as the Slytherins chose their usual spots.

"Where's Lupin?" Emi asked the group in a whisper.

Val shrugged.

"He gets sick sometimes," Y/n offered. "Maybe he's just feeling under the weather?"

"Professor Lupin has not left any record of the topics you have covered so far," Snape was saying. "And that is only a reflection of—"

Y/n raised her hand.

Snape raised an eyebrow. "Yes, Miss Potter?" he asked in his slow drawl.

"I'd be happy to tell you what exactly we've done so far."

"I did not ask for information."

Y/n plundered on anyway. "We've done boggarts, Red Caps, kappas, and grindylows, and we're just about to start—"

"Be quiet," Snape said coldly. "I said I did not ask for information. I was merely commenting on Professor Lupin's lack of organization."

Y/n narrowed her eyes. She was about to speak up again, but Sol tugged on her shirt and shook her head. With a sigh, Y/n slumped back in her seat.

"Now, as I was saying," Snape said. "Today we will discuss—"

Y/n watched him flick through the textbook, to the very back chapter, which he must know they hadn't covered.

"—werewolves," said Snape.

"But, sir," said Y/n, unable to restrain herself, "we're not supposed to—"

"Shut up, Potter," Malfoy said, rolling his eyes. "Would it kill you to listen for once?"

"Thank you Mr. Malfoy, that is enough," Snape said absentmindedly. He was still looking at Y/n.