Scars

Chapter Seventeen-Chilling News

My eyes open again and I put my head on Sirius' chest as I look out over the party. I spy Lily and she gives me a quick wink as she dances with Malcolm McKinney, her date from Ravenclaw. A smile turns up my lips before Sirius and I are jostled to the side. We both look to the culprit to find a greasy-haired boy smirking back at us. Sirius' wand is instantly in his hand and I'm holding him back.

"It's not worth it. He wants you to start casting spells and get into trouble." I tell him evenly as he stares after Severus with rage building behind his eyes.

"After what he did to you, I'd get more satisfaction out of ramming my fist into his face." He spits and Severus hurriedly scampers away. Once he's out of eyesight Sirius' body laxes.

"Another time, maybe." I allow and he huffs but allows his arms to wrap around me again. His eyes are still over my shoulder as he speaks.

"It's guys like that...people who have choices, so many choices, but choose that." Sirius shakes his head and holds me closer. "I'll never understand it, love. Never."

"You're not supposed to, Sirius," I tell him and settle my head back onto his shoulder. Lily and Malcolm come into sight again, talking and laughing, just before I spot a sneering Severus staring at them then vanishing out of the room.

Sirius and I stay for a couple more minutes, then slip out. Then we just walk the empty halls for a while and fill them with conversation.

"Okay, most useful muggle object?"

"Easy. The pencil. You wizarding lot always want to use quills and it's so tiring." We laugh quietly together with our hands entwined as we wander in the general vicinity of the passage back to the common room. "Most useful spell?" I ask back and he rolls his eyes.

"Accio, of course. Never have to get out of bed." He answers and my face scrunches up.

"Except for the bathroom."

"Not if you have a cup nearby."

"Ew, gross!" I laugh and shove him off when he makes a kissy face at me. He catches me and is planting a particularly wet, dog-like kiss on my cheek when he suddenly pulls me away from the wall with wide eyes. I turn to face whatever called the look and see a black snake.

"Arell!" Sian appears from a crack next to a column and hisses at me.

"It's okay, it's Sian," I assure Sirius as he starts to tug me behind him. "What is it?" I ask and she points to the left with her tail.

"No time to explain! You mussst go around the corner! The broom cupboard!" She says and I blink before taking Sirius' hand and dragging him after me.

"What's going on?" Sirius asks as we turn the corner and I tug open the door.

"I don't know. She just said we had to hide." I murmur and tug him into the pocket-sized space while he shuts the door behind us. We still and listen, but I nearly jump out of my skin when cold scales drop onto my shoulders.

"Ssshhhh. Lisssten." She tells me and after Sirius shuffles uncomfortably with the snake now so close to both of us, we go silent.

"It'll happen soon no doubt. More support is gained each day and no one wants to be on the losing side. They'll be wiped out." A voice I don't recognize says, but its cold and even. Sirius stiffens when he hears it, so he must know who it belongs to.

"The family is a disgrace to pure-bloods everywhere. They cast a bad light on all of us." A passive female voice comments as the voices draw closer.

"But when." Surprise shoots through me when I hear Snape's voice and Sirius becomes tenser. "They've been allowed to go on for too long, the whole family-"