Deepest desire (A Harry Potter fanfic)

chapter eleven

I was in the library one day reading a book on potions when Harry came over to Ron and Hermione; Hermione was testing Ron on Astronomy. I listened as Harry told them about Quirrell.

“Snape’s done it, then!” said Ron. “If Quirrell’s told him how to get break his Anti-Dark Force spell -” 

“There’s still Fluffy, though,” said Hermione.

“Maybe Snape’s found out how to how to get past him without asking Hagrid,” said Ron, looking up at the thousands of books surrounding them. “I bet there’s a book somewhere in here telling you how to get past a giant three-headed dog. So what do we do, Harry?”

I sat and listened to what they were saying.

“Go to Dumbledore. That’s what we should have done ages ago. If we try anything ourselves we’ll be thrown out for sure.”     

“But we’ve got no proof!” said Harry. “Quirrell’s too scared to back us up. Snape’s only got to say he doesn’t know how the troll got in at Halloween and that he was nowhere near the third floor – who do you think they’ll believe, him or us? It’s not exactly a secret we hate him, Dumbledore’ll think we made it up to get him sacked. Filch wouldn’t help us if his life depended on it, he’s too friendly with Snape, and the more students get thrown out, the better, he’ll think. And Mora would never back us up over her own father even if she did know he did it. And don’t forget, we’re not supposed to know about the Stone or Fluffy. That’ll take some explaining.”

I was still listening and could not believe that they were still going on about that.

“If we just do a bit of poking around-”

“No,” Harry said flatly, “we’ve done enough poking around.”

I got up and walked out of the library, I could feel the small group’s eye’s on my back.

The next morning Draco received a note telling him about his detention tonight. I read the note then turned to him.

“Good luck with tonight,” I said. I knew Harry, Hermione and Neville would have detention too. I rested my head on the table and closed my eyes but did not fall asleep; it would be a long night.

Just before ten I went to professor McGonagall’s office and knocked on the doors.

“Come in,” called McGonagall. I opened the door and shyly entered the room. Professor McGonagall had her head down reading; I quietly walked into the room and waited for her to finish her reading. When she was done she look up.

“Yes Miss Snape, what can I do for you?”

“Well professor, I was wondering if I could join Draco, Harry, Hermione and Neville tonight in the Forbidden forest.”

Professor McGonagall looked at me for a time wondering if I was being serious.

“And why would you want to do that?”

“I share my grandmother’s interest in animals.” I said.

“Well Miss Snape I am sorry but I’m afraid I can not allow you to join them tonight”

“I understand, thank you anyway.” I said before I left the office.

“Well,” I said to myself as quietly as possible. “Professor McGonagall said I couldn’t join them, but she didn’t say I couldn’t shadow them.” I smiled at the thought.

As I walked into the common room and turned to head to my dormitory someone called me;

“Mora.” I heard Pansy’s voice behind me. I turned to face her with the best smile I could muster for her.