Harry Potters Twin Book Three

Snape's Stupid Grudge ~not edited~

On Saturday morning, I waited in the common room, deep bags under my eys and my hair untidy. I stood up all night finishing my homework and having a visit in the Shreiking Shack. Snuffles seemed grumpier then usual, but I didn't comment because so was I. Harry and Ron finally made their way down the boys' staircase and nearly bumped into me as the other students rushed by us, not sparing us a second glance.

"Going to Hogsmeade?" I asked dryly, not bothering to beat around the bush.

Harry and Ron glanced at eachother and said far to quickly; "No!"

I raised one eyebrow and held out my hand. "Fine, then give me the map and cloak."

"Wha - why?" Ron asked incrudulusly.

"I need a break," I admitted, too tired to be spiteful to Ron. "And Hogsmeade is the perfect place to ease some tension."

"Oh... Well, I am going," said Harry, eyeing my face warily. "But you should stay here, you look like your about to pass out."

I made an annoyed 'tut'ing sound and grabbed his hand, leading the way to Breakfast. "I can handle a few nights without sleep, Harry. Hurry up. Breakfast should shake me awake..."

While we ate silently at breakfast, Hermione shot us supisious glances, and we tried our best to keep blank expressions. When it was over, me and Harry watched the students leave.

"Bye!" Harry called unconvincingly to Ron. "See you when you get back!"

Ron grinned and winked. Dani and Bonnie, who were going to Hogsmeade together, noticed this exchange and snorted, obviously not beleiving us one bit.

 Me and Harry hurried up to the third floor, slipping the Marauder's Map out of his pocket as we went. Crouching behind the one-eyed witch, he smoothed it out. A tiny dot was moving in our direction. I squinted at it. The minuscule writing next to it read Neville Longbottom.

Harry quickly pulled out his wand, muttered, "Dissendium!" and shoved his bag into the statue, but before we could climb in ourselves, Neville came around the corner.

"Harry! Nixie! I forgot you two weren't going to Hogsmeade either!"

"Hi, Neville," said Harry, moving swiftly away from the statue and pushing the map back into his pocket. "What are you up to?"

"Nothing," shrugged Neville. "Want a game of Exploding Snap?"

"Er — not now — I was going to go to the library and do that vampire essay for Lupin —"

"I'll come with you!" said Neville brightly. "I haven't done it either!"

"Er — hang on — yeah, I forgot, I finished it last night!"

"Great, you can help me!" said Neville, his round face anxious. "I don't understand that thing about the garlic at all — do they have to eat it, or —"

He broke off with a small gasp, looking over Harry's shoulder.

It was Snape. Neville took a quick step behind Harry.

"And what are you three doing here?" said Snape, coming to a halt and looking from one to the other. "An odd place to meet —"

To Harry's immense disquiet, Snape's black eyes flicked to the doorways on either side of them, and then to the one-eyed witch.

"We're not — meeting here," said Harry. "We just — met here."

"Indeed?" said Snape. "You have a habit of turning up in unexpected places, Potter, and you are very rarely there for no good reason… I suggest the pair of you return to Gryffindor Tower, where you belong."