When Myths meet Magic || 3

22|| Percy

Percy stood, frozen in shock as he stared at the potions master as he jabbed his wand in Sirius' direction.

"Found this at the base of the Whomping Willow," Snape hissed as he threw the Invisibility cloak aside. "Very useful, Potter, I thank you..." He turned to Lupin, his wandpoint never wavering. "I've just been to your office, Lupin," he said. "You forgot to take your potion tonight, so I took a gobletful along. Lucky I did... for me at least. I saw the map. One look at it told me all I needed to know-- you running along this passageway out of sight."

"Severus," Lupin began, but Snape overrode him.

"I've told the headmaster again and again that you're helping Black into the castle, Lupin, and here's the proof. Not even I dreamed you would have the nerve to use this old place as your hideout--"

"Severus, you're making a mistake--" Lupin began urgently. "You haven't heard everything, I can explain-- Sirius isn't going to kill Harry--"

"Two more for Azkaban tonight," Snape said, his eyes glittering as he ignored every word Lupin said. "I shall be interested to see how Dumbledore takes this... He was quite convinced you were harmless, you know, a tame werewolf--"

"You fool," Lupin said softly. "Is a schoolboy grudge worth putting an innocent man back inside Azkaban?"

BANG! Thin, snakelike cords burst from the end of Snape's wand as he jerked it in Lupin's direction at the last second, the cords wrapping themselves around LUpin's mouth, wrists, and ankles, tightening until it knocked him to the floor, unable to move. With a roar of rage, Black started towards Snape, but Snape jabbed his wand straight between Black's eyes.

"Give me a reason," he whispered. "Give me a reason to do it, and I swear I will."

Black stopped dead. It would have been impossible to say which face showed more hatred.

Hermione stepped forward hesitantly. "Professor Snape-- It wouldn't hurt to hear what they've got to say, w-would it?"

"Silence, Miss Granger!" Snape snapped. "You already are facing suspension from this school. You, Potter, Jackson, Chase, Grace, Weasley, and d'Angelo are out of bounds and in the company of a convicted murderer and a werewolf. For once in your life, hold your tongue."

"The joke's on you again, Severus," Black snarled. "As long as this boy brings his rat up to the castle--" He jerked his head at Ron. "I'll come quietly..."

"Up to the castle?" Snape said coolly. "I don't think we'll need to get that far. All I have to do is call the dementors once we get out of the Willow. They'll be very pleased to see you, Black... Pleased enough to give you a little Kiss, I daresay..."

Black's expression paled, if possible.

"You-- you've got to hear me out," He croaked. "The rat-- look at the rat--"

But Snape was beyond reason. Percy stood frozen, right hand clasped around Riptide, left around his wand.

"Come along, all of you," he clicked his fingers. "I'll drag the werewolf. Perhaps the dementors will have a Kiss for him too--"

But Percy uncapped Riptide and swung it in Snape's direction, stopping it at his neck. He didn't speak, but Snape took one look in Percy's eyes and knew he meant business. He wouldn't have been able to move anyways, with a gleaming bronze sword pointed at his neck. Snape vaguely wondered where Percy had gotten a sword from, but that was the least of his worries.

"Get out of the way, Jackson," Snape said icily. But Percy had the real upper hand in the scenario, and they all knew it.

"I said move!" Snape suddenly yelled, and his hand flicked upwards. A bright shower of sparks shot from it, and Percy was thrown back against the wall. Riptide went flying and clattered on the floor.