Consequences Of The Heart.

Chapter 34: Deten- Arranged Encounter

"I expected such rash behaviour from Mister Black, maybe even Mister Potter but this is completely out of character for you." McGonagall sat across from me in a rather large and intimidating chair, though it isn't like she needed it with that sinister yet stern smolder. Her glasses stood proudly on the tip of her creased nose and her hands were folded on the edge of her desk. Her breathing was heavily laboured due to the awkward complexity of the situation. She spoke, still in a slightly exasperated tone, taken aback by my abnormal behaviour. The mood she created for us to converse in was strict and completely in her favour which was understandable as of now considering she was victimising Snape instead of Lily. She had seldom ever seen me upset -not many Professors had actually- or furious. It was not because I didn't get angry easily, which was most definitely not the case. On the contrary, I get upset very quickly. But, there are not many people I confide in when it does happen. The usual is obviously Lily. She seemed the obvious option considering she knew me the best, and still does. But somewhere during Second Year, I found myself sobbing on my four-poster with the curtains drawn while Lily was with other friends. And that was the day my friendship with James grew dramatically. He truly was a better friend than people made him out to be. 

"I apologize for my inappropriate conduct, but whatever punishment you have planned for me, I do not think I deserve it." I was still radiating with rage of my prior encounter but I spoke the truth, I don't think I deserve whatever she has in store; I acted only because of Snape's verbal bashing, so obviously it was his fault!

"Oh. Then tell Mister Lupin, who's fault is it?" Her tone now changed to slightly sarcastic and in faux surprise. Her hands moved position so that her head rested in the crook of her palms. Her eyebrows raised and her lips were a little pursed in false anticipation. Then, she -who was starting to look like a comic book character- waited for a response. Under the usual circumstances, I might have probably just retorted with a sardonic statement but I genuinely wanted to get out of there and just spend the rest of the day sleeping or binging on chocolate. So instead, I just answered as straightforwardly as I could possibly comprehend. 

"Snape." Her brows furrowed momentarily before resuming her interrogation.

"And do enlighten me, Mister Lupin, how in Merlin's name is this the fault of Mister Snape. I'm positively dying to know!" Her blatant sarcasm obviously didn't go unnoticed and no matter how much she was irritating me and this point, I harnessed everything I had to keep my cool, but I'm afraid I would soon run out. 

"He verbally abused my best friend and I defended her. It's rather simple actually, Professor." Her empty sneer evolved into a more prudent indifference within a matter of seconds. A good thing too cause my levels of calmness were decreasing by considerable amounts. 

"Continue." 

"He threw a very inappropriate slur, with respect to her blood status and it was completely unjustifiable." Her hands loosened as well and laid carelessly on the table by now, but her eyebrows still had the same sense of interest and curiosity etched into them.

"And?"

"And I defended her. I simply countered his ridiculous verbal attack at my best friend. The only difference was I countered it with magic. Not complicated at all." I sassed back a little; I'm not keen on being here much longer, I need to get back to the dorms and sort out my one night stand with my number one crush for about six years. Obviously that took precedence over whatever I was doing here right now. 

 "And that's why you believe you should flee the dire consequences I would enforce?" 

"Precisely." I was not in the mood to endure cleaning the Trophy Room twice a week when I was innocent. 

"Well, that may seem reasonable to you, but how would Mister Snape feel about the partiality on my part?" To be completely honest, I couldn't give less of a damn about what Snape thought because I was not in the mood to adjust to his invalid needs. "Especially considering he has to spend two days in the Hospital Wing."

"All I did was give him a few friendly boils. Actually made him better looking." She hid her smile but it was rather obvious. She wasn't the biggest fan of Snape either though teachers shouldn't technically pick favourites. I guess Snape is an exception considering he's a huge arse.

"Very well. But I'm afraid under these specific circumstances, I cannot just let you off with a warning."

"I can however ease the punishment by taking into consideration the fact that you have never been in this situation before." I smiled at her bending the rules to her will. 

"Thank you, Professor. But I was wondering if you could do me a favour and not call it a detention?" She held a confused expression so I went on. It was an odd request but I was determined to accomplish my feat. "This is a no-detention year for the Marauders." I cleared thing up.

"That explains a lot. But, of course. So I will see you on Thursday for our...arranged encounter, then. I will send you the details, you may show yourself out." I didn't wait to object, I simply muttered a note of thanks and got the hell out of there. I walked out of the room and straight to the Common Room. But something happened that I dreaded since the day I came to Hogwarts: I got noticed.

Ever since First Year, I always did my best to hide in the shadows of the large and unique status quo. It got harder with time. As James' Quidditch popularity grew, so did the status of the Marauders. Thankfully, I remained the least-known of the group therefore, my incognito image persisted. My job got harder in more recent years as Lily also rose in favour, but it stayed intact when I learned that no one cared about friends, just her. Overall, half the school had no idea I existed and I love it. 

But my efforts were all for nothing the second I cursed Snape into the depths of hell. On my way back, instead of people not knowing who the hell I was, they actually acknowledged me. More than that, they INTERACTED with me! They handed me bars of chocolate -how did they know of my insane obsession with chocolate- as I walked past them in the hallway. They cheered at my confidence and chivalry. 

Attention; I hate it.

But I could get used to the chocolate. 

Word Count:- 1155

Love, Kale.