Uncanny Snake

VII - Quidditch

I was in a rather bitter mood as I sipped at my pumpkin juice, my eyes darkening as I read through the daily prophet, the image of Bella struggling against her chains screaming at the top of her lungs, a face I had not wanted to see ever again, but luck be damned. I had never considered Hogwarts my home, but I could not deny the homey vibes it gave off, it was comforting, and in a way, I felt like I belonged, and it was a good feeling. However, everything felt dull and gloomy, the castle colder than usual, and candles flickering as if on the verge of extinction, probably due to the hundreds of dementors patrolling just outside the school boundaries. I was not thrilled, but the Ministry of Magic made it clear that the headmaster had little say in the matter, despite his influence in the wizarding world.

Ever since the mass breakout from Azkaban, Severus had been called twice, his mark burning feverishly as he was forced to leave the high table. Albus surprisingly took over his class for the remainder of the day, much to the student's satisfaction. It was rare for Severus ever to take a day off, which had the students spreading rumors, and Dumbledore always dismissed them as Hogwarts business. I could not blame the headmaster, Severus was already disliked by the student population, but the fact that he remained a death eater dwelled amongst the ranking officials of the ministry. I was visibly concerned, it was rare for the Dark Lord to call upon his followers during the hours of daylight, it was just not a Tom thing to do, which meant that whatever he was planning, it was urgent and urgent was never good.

I had not been myself for the entirety of the day, stress, worry, and longing had been eating up at me. Severus and I had been on good terms lately, and I mean really good terms, the thought of losing him now mentally and physically broke me. I did not want to be alone; he was all I had left. All it took was the slightest slip-up, and Severus would be tortured until he could no longer beg for death, or simply killed his body disposed of in a timely fashion. It didn't matter how close one was to the Dark Lord, we were all disposable, in his eyes. I couldn't rid myself of Severus' image, just yesterday, he had smiled, it was brief, and a little awkward, but he actually smiled, a genuine smile meant only for me. It was also unnerving knowing he had this much control over me, simply by not being here, as crazy as that sounded. I grew up with the reality that losing someone was no big deal, people came and went, and it was something I had to grow accustomed to, but to have it be Severus, I couldn't fathom the thought.

As darkness engulfed the world, I waited by the black lake, letting the giant squid rest a tentacle on my lap as I gently tickled it. It hardly eased my nerves, watching dementors circle the castle in chaotic disorder, quite daunting really. However, my patronus was powerful enough to ward off every dementor in my general area, but that didn't matter. No, I was waiting for Severus, for him to return, to see him in one piece with my own eyes. I was used to Severus working as a spy, it's who he had grown up to be, an impeccable man, able to act out in the best and worst of times, and lately the Dark Lord had been cracking down hard since his return.

I glanced over my shoulder as Remus made his way through the woods, not so quietly. And without thinking I glanced back to the hidden moon, the peak emerging from the clouds and I calmed knowing tonight was not a full moon. He did not look offended and took a seat next to me offering me a bar of chocolate, and I gladly took it, taking the time to unwrap it neatly. "I usually transform near the shrieking shack, you have nothing to fear," he assured, his eyes gazing across the dark waters, the moon's reflection failing to mirror on its surface. I nodded slowly, not wanting my words to come out as insensitive, so I kept my mouth shut, brooding silently.

"He'll be back, and I doubt the 'bravest man you've ever known' would accept death so willingly, especially when he has something-no someone to live for," Remus chuckled, his voice softer than usual. And I glanced at him, slightly stunned.