Meretricious | Professor Lupin

66. How could you

"Hey" Andrew said as he walked up to Spencer.

"Hey" she smiled.

"You're back" he hugged her. "How's your grandpa?"

"He's okay" she shrugged, earning a look from Snape.

"And you?"

"Same" she smiled. "Sorry I was gone for so long."

"Don't worry about it" he smiled.

Spencer smiled back before placing her head on her palm.

She'd hoped things were actually going back to normal.

First thing that she noticed was different: Snape wasn't teaching the same.

It seemed... easier?

It didn't make sense.

Harry could do this, she thought to herself.

At the end of class he asked her to stick around, not a surprise.

"You didn't come to see me" he spoke.

"I know it was just... a lot I guess" she shrugged.

"What happened?" he asked.

"You know what happened" she stood up and fixed his cabinets.

"I'd like you to tell me."

"We said bye" she replied. "My stuff will be at the Weasley's by the end of the month. Said he'll start sending money because apparently now is the time he wants to care but when has money fixed anything."

Snape stared at her back.

"He said he loved me" she nodded. "And," she cleared her throat, "I called him dad... when we said bye."

"How do you feel?"

"Like shit" she answered. "So are we going to talk about how you-"

"I did it for you-"

"I don't need you to-" she turned around.

"A lot has been going on, there's no shame in needing to take it easy" he shook his head.

"I knew you'd be in here" Dumbledore walked in.

Spencer faced him.

"Kingsley has a couple more questions" he said sadly.

"Ok" she nodded.

"I was thinking Professor Lupin could go-"

"No" Snape cut Dumbledore off.

"No?" he asked.

"No" he answered.

"Professor-" Spencer tried to say.

"He's done enough" Snape cut her off.

"You have class" Spencer replied.

"I'll cancel" he said. "He's indisposed either way."

"As heartwarming as this is, he's asking you go in at 5" Dumbledore spoke.

They faced him.

"At... five?" Snape asked.

"Yes" Dumbledore answered.

"Then we'll go at 6" he said.

"No, you'll leave at 4:50. Be there at five" Dumbledore spoke.

"I'll go by myself it's-"

"No" Dumbledore and Snape said simultaneously, facing her.

After a few seconds it was as if they were talking to each other in their heads.