Percy Jackson and the Hound of Hogwarts [Book 3]

29) Snape's Second Class

The few days after that, people could only talk about Sirius Black. The theories were wild. In Herbology, Hannah told everyone about how Sirius must have turned into a bush.

The Fat Lady had been replaced by Sir Cadogan, the knight who had helped us to Divination, and I laughed every time I heard a Gryffindor grumbling about him. Apparently, he challenged everyone to duels, and thought of ridiculously long passwords that he changed twice a day. He had been the only painting brave enough to accept the job, as all the others were afraid the same thing that happened to the Fat Lady would happen to them.

Teachers also found excuses to follow Harry around the halls. Perry followed him around everywhere, looking like the weakest guard dog you'd ever see. Professor McGonagall even called Harry to her office, looking like she was going to tell him his rabbit died.

When Harry came out, he told me that McGonagall had debated taking him off of the Quidditch team. Eventually she had settled on having Madam Hooch oversee practice, which made things a lot less fun, considering she would tell us off when one of us jumped off of our brooms.

***

The weather got worse as they neared their Saturday game. We practiced with Gryffindor every night, used by now to the yelling from Hooch as we did something stupid.

Cedric pulled us aside on the last training session before the game, saying, "Just got the news. Slytherin's not playing tomorrow. We are."

"What?" Connor and Travis said at the same time, looking at Cedric. We all made sounds of confusion with them.

"Flint says Draco's arm is still injured," Cedric shrugged. "Of course, we all know that's bullshit. He hasn't worn that sling in ages, and he was practicing just the other day. I think they just don't want to play in this weather. Think it'll ruin their chances."

I noticed the girls on the Gryffindor team smiling and nodding towards Cedric, and I grinned, "Oh, dude, they're totally crushing on you."

Cedric suddenly looked back at them, and they turned away quickly. He looked back at me as we all laughed at his red face, "I've got my sights on someone else, actually."

That shut us all up. We crowded around him, all of us shouting, "Do tell! Do tell!"

Cedric toppled over with a shout, and said, "Fine! Fine! Just get off of me, you bastards!"

Katie pulled him up, and he took the time in dusting himself up. He looked up at us, looked back down, and muttered something incomprehensible.

"What was that?" I questioned, an eyebrow raised.

"Cho Chang," Cedric sighed, blushing deeply.

I grinned, "The Ravenclaw Seeker?"

He nodded, "That's the one."

"Oh my gods!" I squealed, suddenly understanding what it meant to be Aphrodite. "You have to ask her out!"

"No!" Cedric shouted. "No way! She is way out of my league!"

"No, man, ya'll are gonna kiss!"

"Percy," Travis and Connor said, each throwing their arms around my shoulders, "knows all about kissing."

Cedric narrowed his eyes at me, "What are they talking about?"

"Oh," Travis laughed, "he and Draco kissed."

Cedric suddenly grabbed my shoulders, shaking me wildly, "Why didn't you tell meeeee?"

"Because — you — would — react — like — this!"

***

The day before the match, Snape taught Defense Against the Dark Arts. It wasn't very fun.

Harry was late, and for the first ten minutes before he got there, Snape grumpily answered our questions to where Lupin was. Eventually he started off on about how unorganized Lupin was.

The door swung open suddenly, and Harry rushed in, "Sorry I'm late, Professor Lupin, I—" he stopped short when he saw Snape sitting behind the desk.

"The lesson began ten minutes ago, Potter, so I think we'll make it ten points from Gryffindor. Sit down.

Harry didn't move, "Where's Professor Lupin?"

"He says he is feeling too ill to teach today," Snape said, a twisted smile resting on his face. "I believe I told you to sit down?"

Harry still didn't move, "What's wrong with him?"

"Nothing life-threatening," Snape looked like he wished it was. "Five more points from Gryffindor, and if I have to ask you to sit down again, it will be fifty."

Harry sat slowly in the seat beside me, his face blank. Snape looked around at the rest of us.

"As I was saying before Potter interrupted, Professor Lupin has not left any record of the topics you have covered so far—"

"Please, sir, we've done boggarts, Red Caps, kappas, and grindylows," Hermione said, hurriedly, "and we're just about to start—"

"Be quiet," Snape snapped. "I did not ask for information. I was merely commenting on Professor Lupin's lack of organization."

"Sorry, Professor," I said, grinning. "We get that you have to have everything written down for you, but that may not be the same for Professor Lupin."

Snape glared coldly at me, and I heard muffled laughter from around the room.

"Do you want to run more laps?" Snape hissed in Greek. Everyone who understood stopped laughing.

"Do you want Luke to come and kick your ass?"

"Get out," Snape said quietly. "Just go."

I raised an eyebrow but nodded anyway, standing up and slinging my bag over my shoulder.

As I headed towards the door, I said, "I thought you would be a bad Headmaster, but you're an even worse Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."

I left before he could yell at me again, instead deciding to wait in the hallway for my friends to come out. When they did, they all said some pretty mean things about Snape.

I agreed.

Hey, do you guys know how I was moving today, and taking that test Monday? Yeah, that didn't happen. We're moving tomorrow, and I'm taking the test tomorrow, too. I also have to go to school on Friday to take my interims. Eh. I still have to pack some stuff, which really sucks, but I also need to vacuum. I will do that tomorrow, probably, but I've got to go and do my laundry. I also got tagged again, which was awesome. I love getting tagged, even though you guys probably hate it. Anyway, I'm not sure what else to write. My time's been fairly uneventful.

I hope you've had a good Tuesday, and I'll see you on Thursday! Love ya! My old elementary principal used to say that on the intercom. That was neat.