Certain Dark Things || Book Two

xxxvi. cleansing

Three days before term ended, first-year Aidan Shafiq came running over to Harriet and Elara in the common room and shoved a note with dreaded, spidery writing into Harriet's open hand.

You and Black are to report to my office directly after dinner.

- Prof. S. Snape

That was not good news at all. "Shite," Harriet whispered, color leaching from her face.

"What is it?"

She handed the parchment to Elara, who didn't pale as Harriet did, but certainly looked disconcerted by the summons.

"D'you think he knows?" Harriet whispered, eyes darting about the crowded common room. No one paid them any mind, and Harriet didn't think the older students chatting around the main hearth truly realized she and Elara were there. Discussions about the upcoming break were loud and numerous.

"I think if he knew," Elara began carefully, gathering their school books together. "He would have dragged us out of here by our ears in a high temper, don't you agree?"

"...probably." Harriet cleaned her quill and capped the inkwell. "Dinner's soon, isn't it?"

"Yes. Come on, let's find Hermione...."

After sorting their things away into their school bags, the two witches went in search of their friend, but they didn't manage to find her until they reached the Great Hall, and by that point, Hermione was deep in conversation with Malfoy. Given the look on her face, Harriet didn't think it was a nice conversation. She continued to argue with the prat throughout dinner, until it was time for Harriet and Elara to drag their unwilling feet back to the dungeons, walking the too familiar path to Snape's office.

The Potions Master hadn't been at dinner, and seeing the light peeking over the threshold, Harriet knew he had to be inside. Glum, she rapped her knuckles against the wood, and a moment later a spell opened the way, revealing Snape seated behind his desk, his attention on his marking. Harriet and Elara shuffled inside—and the door slammed shut. Harriet tried very hard not to look at the portrait hiding the storage cupboard.

"Sit," Snape said, and the two witches did as bid, taking the two straight-backed chairs by the desk. Harriet sniffed and picked up the lingering smell of food, so she guessed Snape had eaten his meal down here with his work. He continued writing, scribbling what was probably a vicious reprimand on some poor sod's essay, then he set the quill aside, favoring Harriet and Elara with a blank, hard look.

"I received the list of Slytherin students intending to stay during the Yule holiday. Neither of you wrote your names down."

Harriet glanced at Elara, puzzled, and said, "...Yes? Sir?"

"Had either of you thought to ask, I could have informed you that you will not be leaving the school for the holiday. You will need to add your names to the list."

Elara balked. "You can't tell me where to go. Sir." She added the last bit when Snape's glower landed on her, as the wizard didn't seem in a mood to be trifled with. The cold settled in without reservation in the dungeons, and Snape's fire smoldered low. Harriet thought she might start shivering soon. "I'm—."

"If the next word out of your mouth is emancipated, Black, I'll ensure you're on the train home and don't get a ticket back." Snape braced his hands on the desk's edge and stood, leaning forward, his eyes dark and grim as Harriet had ever seen them. "I cannot leave the castle during the break, and as the headmaster has seen fit to leave me in charge of your well-being while you're interred at Grimmauld Place, you will be spending Yule at Hogwarts, Potter. End of story."