Protection In The Dungeons

Bitch, You Sirius?

   I ran into the field, panting. I look back, I wasn't followed. Good.

I happily began to pluck flowers. It's May first, also known as May Day. I heard some people pick flowers, and surprise other people with them. This is my first time celebrating May Day, but it sounds interesting... I never really had "traditions" growing up.

As I picked the flowers, I felt like someone was watching me... I stood up, and looked around. I didn't see anybody.

I went back to my flower picking... but the feeling grew stronger. I stood up, and looked around again. I turn around, and come face to face with a big, shaggy, black dog. The dog sniffs my hand, and whines, wanting me to scratch its ears. I scratch the dog's ears, because he seems friendly enough...

The dog stayed with me the entire morning. He led me over to a patch of beautiful fiery orange lilies. I am grateful for the company, and I begin to pick the flowers as the dog rolls in a patch of grass near me. The time comes for me to go back home. I pat the dog. "I'm sorry, I have to go home now, buddy. I wish I could play with you more."

   I run back home. I lay my bouquet of lilies on Snape's bed.

• • • • • •

   I sat down at the dinner table. Snape seemed to be in a sour mood. I dish up my plate, and begin to eat. Snape mutters something about "the order" and "a cruel excuse for a joke", and he sips his tea.

   "Is everything alright?" I asked.

   "Someone left lilies on my bed today." He grumpily answered.

   "And that's cruel because?"

   "Nothing you need to concern yourself with, Katria. It's none of your concern."

   "Yes, sir." I went back to eating my breakfast. Wondering why on earth he hated my lilies. "He must be allergic." I thought. I made a mental note to make sure never to bring them into the house again.

   He rubbed his temples. "I'm going to have to speak with Albus today. I trust you can stay out of trouble for a few hours?"

   "No, you can't trust me. I plan to burn this place to the ground as soon as you leave." I sarcastically joked.

   He gave me a stern look. "This is serious. Can I trust you alone?"

   I nodded.

• • • • • •

   Snape had been out for a while, and I decided to tend to my herb garden outside. I had just planted it in April, and I had spent one hour each day weeding, and watering the little sprouts. The shaggy black dog ran up to me again, insisting on head scratches.

    It looked like a tame wolf... it smelled about like a wild animal too. I remembered Snape's warning during his extra tutoring sessions with me... "if you see a black shaggy dog, run."

I looked at the dog, which tilted its head slightly, as if it sensed my unease, and wanted to understand... I slowly stood up, dusting the dirt off my hands. I pretended like nothing was wrong, but my heart was hammering. The dog noticed something was off, and it nuzzled my hand in an attempt to comfort me. However, the gesture felt more like a threat now that I suspected the dog of being my murderous biological father. I hurried inside, locking the doors, and shutting all the curtains.

A few hours later, I heard footsteps... I brace myself, holding a vase, ready to bludgeon the Azkaban escapee before he could get me. I hear a key turn in the lock... I held my breath...

The doorknob turned...and slowly, very slowly, the door opened. I saw movement, and I swung the vase. The lights flew on to reveal a bewildered Dumbledore, and a shocked Snape. Snape looked around, and once he understood what was happening, his face turned bright red. I braced myself for a stern talking to...

I heard a strange snort. Snape was trying not to laugh! I eased up a little. "Sorry..."

"What has gotten into you, young lady?!" Dumbledore demanded.

I began to explain myself. "I thought you were an intruder!"

"Would an intruder have a key?" Dumbledore responded, condescendingly.

I paused. I hadn't thought of that, but I didn't want Dumbledore to win the argument... "I thought you used a lock pick..."

   "Why did you think we were intruders?"Snape asked.

   "Well, I was weeding the herb garden, and a big black dog came up to me. I remembered that Sirius Black is an animagus, and he turns into a big, shaggy black dog when he shifts..." I stopped to catch my breath.

   "Sirius wasn't the murderer of the Potters, Katria." Dumbledore explained. "Peter Pettigrew was."

   I looked up at Snape for confirmation. Snape nodded. "Pettigrew framed Black."

    I folded my arms. "That doesn't change that he's a deadbeat."

   Dumbledore shook his head. "It wasn't his fault, Katria. He didn't know—"

   I cut him off. "Well he should've used protection. I mean, isn't that what a responsible person does when they, you know. If he didn't want to make me, he—."

   Snape sighed. "Key word being responsible, Katria."

"I still don't want him in my life. I'm not ready to forgive him. I might never be ready to forgive him." I huffed.

Dumbledore tried to reason with me. "But he's your father. Blood is thicker than water, my dear."

I scoffed. "'The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb.' That literally solidified my point, Professor. And another thing, I don't need another dad. I have one. And he's done a fucking amazing job with me-pardon my French-. To be one hundred percent honest, I wouldn't ask for someone else."

Snape frowned at my language, but I could tell he was proud of me for clearly setting my boundaries.