Lucy Snape and the Half-Blood Princess (Book Six)

I owe you so much

Chapter 21: I owe you so much

When Lucy arrived back at the castle after the camping trip and had made her way into Snape's quarters, she ran to her room to get changed into her school uniform. Before she left though, she put Matt's hoodie back on just because it was so warm and it was so cold outside. 

When she exited her room, she closed the door behind her and when she turned around Snape was standing there. His arms were folded and he was frowning at her as though she'd just murdered an innocent human being. 

"Where were you last night?" He growled, Lucy knew she couldn't give her usual excuses but she could at least twist the story slightly... 

"I was out camping after me, Shona and the Resistance had practiced some fighting," Lucy shrugged and shoved her hands in the pockets of the hoodie she wore. 

"You need to slow down with the fighting." 

"It's funny how one minute you demand me to start fighting and train myself and the next minute I have to stop because I've been doing too much even though that's what you asked of me." 

Snape grunted and then noticed the hoodie she was wearing. "And where did this come from?" 

Lucy bit her lip but she would not give in. "Shona let me borrow it because I was cold last night." 

"It looks too big for McGuire and it's certainly too big for you, so who's is it?" 

"It's Shona's! I just said that!" Lucy looked at stupid as if he was pathetic. "They didn't have her size in the shop so she bought the nearest one to her size because she loved it so much!" 

"So much that she'd give it to you?" 

"Isn't that the meaning of friendship? Sharing?" 

"That doesn't sound like McGuire to me." 

"Shona can be kind when she wants to be, now if you'll excuse me I'll be going — " Lucy began to walk off but Snape stopped her after he had cleared his throat. 

"I insist you have the morning off," Snape announced and a little part of Lucy wanted to run towards her father and hug him but another little part was very confused. 

"Why?" Lucy turned around and faced her father.

"You've done a lot of fighting recently and you look awfully tired, I have asked Dumbledore if this would be alright and he has no problem with this. So, the morning is yours." 

"I can't argue with that," Lucy walked back into her room and closed the door behind her. She laid down on her bed and immediately went to sleep, she definitely needed more sleep. 

She was almost instantly greeted by an image of Lord Zuc, he hadn't done much to bother her this year and only forced visions into her head that didn't really say much. In fact, this time he wasn't saying anything at all. 

This time it was as though Lucy was seeing Zuc's hope's and dreams, she was seeing what he saw. What he dreamt about. She could distantly see Kingston watching Zuc with curiosity yet impatience, he absolutely hated it when his master drifted off and didn't reply to him. 

Kingston disappeared and all Lucy could see now was Zuc's thoughts. All she could see at the moment was the back of Zuc's coat, illuminated by something or other while there were screams and yells for those who were in danger. 

Lucy could suddenly feel a sense of adrenaline as if she needed to run and help these people who were just part of Zuc's dream. She could then see the smug look on Zuc's face, he was impressed. He was impressed with what he had done, he had finally done the thing that he so deeply wished to happen.