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

Hello, Mr Kingston

For the first time in a long time Lucy's sleep wasn't uneasy, she was peaceful. She dreamed of her father and herself, drinking wine and enjoying life. They spoke lazily about everything and nothing and Matt came to join them. Snape was pleased to see him and the pair shared a laugh together as Lucy watched on proudly. 

She took a sip of her wine outside, sat next to her boyfriend and her father sat opposite. She was thinking that maybe life could be okay. It could all be okay. But then she heard distant echoes of her name coming towards her. She saw it in colour, faded around the edges but materialising a little bit more as the seconds ticked on. Finally Shona was in front of her, her hair crazy and her eyes wild. Dean was almost out of breath beside her and they were calling her name.

Shona's hand was on her shoulder as Matt and Snape continued to talk the time away. "LUCY! LUCY WAKE UP!"

As if someone had snapped her fingers Lucy was back in bed, still dressed in her school uniform and feeling far from rested. Shona's hand was still on her shoulder, shaking her awake. Her actions becoming more and more violent. 

"Cut it out!" Lucy snapped and sat up, evidently annoyed. 

"Lucy," Shona looked as shaken as she had in Lucy's dream. "You have to  get up now." 

"Why?" What's happened. 

Shona and Dean exchanged a look before Dean spoke to her warily. "Lord Zuc has come to Hogwarts." 

* 

Lucy was up and out of bed, she'd grabbed Merlin's sword without a second thought and was now running down the corridors of Hogwarts tailed by her two friends. They were on a mission to find Snape as he wasn't in his quarters. They had just taken a sharp corner when they nearly ran into Professor McGonagall. 

"Students!" McGonagall cried out in surprise. "I know curfew doesn't apply to you but surely you should at least be respecting it and not running about as if you run the place!" 

"Professor," Lucy panted heavily, trying to regain the power of speech. "Have you seen my father? It's imperative we find him." 

"Well I'm afraid I haven't seen him since the Great Hall this evening, I'm sure he hasn't gone far." 

"You don't understand, we need to find him," Shona chipped in. 

"Well whatever is the matter?"

"Lord Zuc, he's here." Lucy gulped. 

"I hope that this isn't some sort of practical joke that you children enjoy playing," McGonagall's tone was low but it was clear she already believed that this was the truth and this was more than the average student joke. 

Shona led them all to a window that overlooked the grounds that led down to Hagrid's hut. There in the distance an exceptionally tall man stood there in a suit and it was clear it wasn't Hagrid. It was the unmistakable silhouette of Lord Zuc. A chill used to run through Lucy when she saw him but now she'd become immune to the sight of him, she wasn't sure what was worse. 

"We have to make sure everyone is safe, in their dormitories and away from the danger," McGonagall murmured.  

"Then I'll go and confront him," Lucy responded, thinking aloud.

"Lucy, no," Dean shook his head, fear widening his eyes.

"Yes," Lucy nodded, turning to face him. "I have to. I'm what he wants and he won't go away until he sees me and gets a battle out of it."

"Miss Snape - " McGonagall looked worried. 

"Maybe this is it," Lucy cut her off. "Maybe this is where it happens, that I get to - "