Star Sisters

Chapter XXXIX: Revenge Is A Dish Best Served Cute

The girls had started chattering about their stay in London the very moment they had left Snape’s earshot back at Hogwarts. They had so much to talk about. For one, they still hadn’t reached any firm conclusions on why such a strange assortment of people had been gathered in the Black household for dinner, or indeed who had foot the bill for the cost of Charis’ new wand. Morgana suggested it had been Dumbledore, because technically Charis would need it for her schooling. Charis, meanwhile, hoped deep down that Severus had bought for her it as a way of offering an olive branch.

‘What, in the name of Frej, are you looking for?’ Morgana now asked in a slightly annoyed tone.

The moment they had returned to Ravenclaw Tower, Charis had started rummaging through the bag which Dumbledore had returned to her the previous night. But so far, her quest hadn’t seemed to yield any results.

‘How much stuff can there be in that bag?’ Morgana craned her neck. It was a simple book bag, yet Charis had been searching it for about five minutes now.

‘Tons.’ Charis grinned. ‘I put an extension charm on it.’

‘Clever little Ravenclaw,’ Morgana muttered and took off her boots. She might as well make herself comfortable. At this rate, Charis might be digging around in that bag for quite some time. She had just settled in one of the squishy armchairs when Lily jumped up onto her lap.

‘And who gave you permission to use my lap as a pillow?’ Morgana growled and glared at the little white kitten as if it were filthy vermin.

‘Be nice to Lily,’ Charis demanded, looking up from her bag. She just could not understand Morgana’s dislike for cats. How could anyone not love those soft paws, that fluffy white fur and the cute pink nose? Oh, right! Soft, fluffy and cute were considered swear words in Slytherin language.

Charis’ grin turned into a triumphant smile as she finally found what she had been looking for. ‘Found it!’ she announced and waved the booklet in the air.

‘Teaching Your Cat Magic?’ Morgana looked down at the kitten in her lap and cocked an eyebrow. ‘This one can’t even be taught to stay off my lap.’

Scowling, she tried to pick up Lily to place her on the floor, but the kitten dug its claws deeply into the fabric of Morgana’s trousers and mewed in protest. Obviously, Lily liked to sleep in a Slytherin lap.

‘Why are you so grumpy?’ Charis enquired as she flopped into the armchair opposite her friend. ‘I know we’re pre-menstrual, but that’s no reason to...’

The look on Morgana’s face went from dark to pitch black. ‘Me not wanting to get cat hair all over my clothes has nothing to do with me menstruating tomorrow or not.’

Once more, she took hold of Lily, a little firmer this time, placed the struggling kitten on the floor, and started brushing off the cat hair from her trouser legs in a very exaggerated manner.

She had to calm down, she told herself. She had no idea just why she had been in such a foul mood ever since they had left St. Mungo’s. But it was certainly not Charis’ fault. Hence, Morgana did not want to snap at her friend. But now Charis had – unintentionally of course – managed to comment on a topic which Morgana had no desire to discuss. She didn’t feel like telling anyone that she had not had her period since she had miscarried, not even her best friend. She hadn’t told the nurse either. She knew it was stupid, but keeping quiet about it made the bitter truth somehow a little less real.

‘Tell me why you would want to teach your cat magic?’ she asked, trying to smooth things over.

‘It was Jack’s idea,’ Charis explained. ‘He bought the booklet when we were in London and smuggled it into my bag. He told me today.’

Even Morgana couldn’t help but smile at the boy’s sweet gesture. ‘What more did you two talk about after Nurse Fritz had thrown me out?’

‘Nurse Fritz?’ Charis giggled. ‘Well, I told Jack everything that Dumbledore and Sirius had told me, that I’m a Black and that the woman who tried to kill us is my own cousin.’

‘A Black,’ Morgana repeated pensively. Then she, too, grinned. ‘You realise that this limits your choice in wizards, right? Almost everyone in the Wizarding world has Black genes.’

‘Do you?’ Charis asked.

To that, Morgana shook her head. That was one thing she was quite certain of. The Belakanes were an old family, but they had always made sure to add new blood to the family tree to avoid inbreeding. She had done quite some research when she had been old enough to understand what her family name meant, and unlike the Blacks, the Belakanes did not marry their cousins. But now, the Belakanes were dying. Morgana was the last one. She had no siblings who could carry on the lineage, and if her suspicions were right, she wouldn’t either.

Morgana blinked and locked those thoughts in the very back of her mind. There was nothing she could do about it. No use crying over spilled potion.

‘How does it feel,’ she asked instead, ‘to know that you indeed ARE a witch? By blood, I mean?’

Charis sighed. ‘It’s a bit overwhelming, to be honest. I mean, we all joked about me being related to someone awful like Draco.’

Morgana smirked. ‘Which reminds me, I should be going. Seeing that I said I wouldn’t talk to you anymore if you’re related to Ferret Boy...’

Charis picked up a pillow and hugged it tightly to her chest. ‘Finding out I actually am related to him is... well, creepy.’

Morgana’s grin disappeared as she heard the strange tone in her friend’s voice. Charis seemed confused, maybe even a bit scared. Who could blame her?

‘This changes everything, you know,’ Morgana started carefully. ‘Your position in society...’

‘No! It doesn't!’ Charis interrupted. ‘As far as cousin Bellatrix and cousin Draco are concerned, I am still a Mudblood.’

‘Who cares what Bella and Draco think?’ Morgana asked. ‘Bella obviously cares enough about your blood status to try to do you in. That means she has realised that others might just care who you are.’

Charis shook her head and sighed once more. This was all so overwhelming. ‘Sirius told me there are some awful people in the Black family. The only good ones seem to be him and Tonks.’

Morgana snorted but not at the memory of Tonks pulling faces at the dinner table. Sirius Black a good person? That would depend on who you asked. But she kept her peace for the moment. She did not want to make her best friend’s new-found cousin look bad. Better to find out a little bit more about him. ‘I wonder what made him different,’ she started. ‘Why did Sirius turn against his family?’

‘He had different ideals to them, always did,’ Charis explained. ‘I guess that’s why he was Sorted into Gryffindor, whereas his whole family were Slytherin. His mum, you know that awful shrieking portrait on the wall? She sounds awful... Sirius ran away when he was sixteen, she was making his life such hell.’

‘So he’s nice then, cousin Sirius?’ Morgana bit her tongue, but luckily Charis seemed not to have noticed the slightly ironic tone in her voice. ‘You were up quite late talking to him. I never heard you come to bed.’

‘Yeah, he actually seems like a decent bloke. Although...’ Charis broke off and uncomfortably started to play with the pillow she had been hugging to her chest.

‘Although what?’ Morgana demanded to know.

‘I know it’s stupid, but I can’t shake something I heard Harry Potter say that Sirius had said.’

‘Harry “Golden Boy” Potter?’ Morgana snorted. She had actually never spoken more than ten words with Potter, but having heard all the gossip in the Slytherin common room had not let her develop a good picture of the boy. ‘What did he say?’

‘Well, Sirius is his godfather, and of course he has been saying Sirius is innocent for ages...’ Charis stopped, feeling uncomfortable. She and Morgana had got into a row about Severus before. She did not want to go there again. But she had to get this off her chest. ‘But Harry also said that Sirius went to school with Sev... I mean, Snape, and that Snape is a... Death Eater.’

To Charis’ surprise, Morgana just shrugged. ‘He isn’t the only one to say so,’ she announced.

‘What do you mean?’ Charis had dropped the pillow and was now staring at her friend with big eyes.

Morgana stared back at her, at least equally surprised. ‘Are you seriously telling me that those rumours have reached Slytherin ears only?’

Judging from Charis’ open mouth, this seemed to be the case indeed.

‘There are rumours that Snape was a follower of Lord Voldemort during the first war and that he has changed sides,’ Morgana continued in a matter-of-fact tone. To her, this was old news.

‘No!’ Charis exclaimed, looking scandalised. ‘That can’t be true...’

‘It can’t?’ Morgana narrowed her eyes. Obviously, her friend still believed only the best about Severus Snape. So did Morgana. Or at least, she tried to. But she also had access to information Charis had not. ‘Almost everyone in Snape’s graduation class is or has been on Voldemort’s payroll...’

Charis looked at her friend pointedly. ‘Being a Slytherin doesn’t necessarily qualify you for Voldy-worshipping.’

Morgana tried to grin but failed. ‘You have to admit that it is plausible that Snape at least considered joining Voldemort when he was our age. There are photographs in the common room. Snape hung around with Avery, the Lestranges, Rosier... Malfoy.’ Morgana swallowed. Lucius certainly knew a lot about Snape. They must have been close once, if not friends. ‘You do not just break with Slytherin House,’ she continued. ‘Those people all ended up as Death Eaters, and Snape... he... he might have...’

Charis feverishly shook her head, and Morgana broke off. She did not want to believe it either. So she brought up the same argument she had so often used in her common room. ‘Dumbledore trusts Snape. He would not have employed him otherwise, would he? So if Snape has ever been on Voldemort’s side, he must have had a change of heart...’

‘But Snape is intelligent!’ Charis burst out. ‘Why would he blindly follow a megalomaniac xenophobic idiot like Voldemort?’

Morgana shrugged. One didn’t need to be dumb to follow Voldemort. Lucius certainly wasn’t dumb. He followed Voldemort because he was power hungry. Whatever motives Snape might have had, she knew nothing about them.

Charis was looking at her friend now with real concern. ‘Do you really think that Snape could hold those ideals... about blood status and stuff? Has he ever given you that impression?’

To that, Morgana firmly shook her head. ‘No, never. On the contrary. At the last start of term, Snape made it very clear that he would not tolerate any pro-Voldemort activities in his House.’ But what did that say about the beliefs he had held as a teenager, she wondered.

Charis’ shoulders sagged with relief at this news, and she seemed placated for now. ‘What did Snape look like?’ she suddenly asked. ‘When he was our age?’

Morgana grinned. The pictures in the common room weren’t exactly flattering. ‘About like he does now. Pale, greasy hair, big nose...’

Charis’ pillow hit her right in the face. ‘Don’t be mean!’

‘Mean?’ Morgana laughed. ‘I’m objective.’

‘He hasn’t got greasy hair,’ Charis murmured.

‘He had a rather unfortunate nickname as a teen, you know,’ Morgana started. ‘But you have to swear you will never tell anyone. You did not hear it from me.’

Charis looked excited. ‘Come on!’

‘Swear!’

‘I swear!’

Morgana took a deep breath, realising that she was both about to give away one of the best kept secrets in Slytherin House as well as point the finger at Charis’ cousin. ‘They called him Snivellus,’ she said.

Charis’ mouth dropped open. ‘That’s awful!’

Morgana nodded. ‘So much for Sirius’ Gryffindorian chivalry.’ There. She had said it.

Charis’ jaw dropped even further. ‘SIRIUS called him that?!’

‘Remus happened to spill the beans,’ Morgana explained and then held her peace. Charis didn’t need to know where she had first heard about those teasing Gryffindors and how Snape had dealt with them.

‘Poor Severus!’ Charis exclaimed. ‘No wonder he seems uncomfortable around those two.’

Severus? Morgana cocked an eyebrow at Charis using Snape’s first name, but had the good grace not to say anything.

Charis, too, seemed eager to quickly forget about her little slip. ‘Is Remus’ advice working out for you then?’ she asked instead. ‘About the Patronus?’

‘He didn’t tell me anything I didn’t already know. Fact is, I find it hard to focus on a happy memory at the moment. He thinks this might be stress related.’

‘Anything I can help you with?’ Charis offered.

‘You could keep me company. I was planning to use the Room of Requirement for practicing a couple of nights every week. DADA, Potions, Charms...’

‘I need somewhere quiet to study as well,’ Charis pointed out. ‘You know, I’m starting to think six NEWTs is pushing it!’

‘You think? I hear Granger is already planning on taking eight.’

Charis groaned. ‘She’s so smart. I don’t understand why she’s not in Ravenclaw.’

‘I bet she was put in Gryffindor so the Golden Boy has someone to copy from.’

Charis giggled at her friend’s sour tone. ‘Missy, you are grouchy tonight.’

‘Are you smiling at me for being grouchy?’ Morgana threw the pillow back at Charis. ‘Cheers for that, mate.’

Despite the pillow having hit her in the stomach, Charis was still smiling. ‘You’re cute when you’re grouchy,’ she pointed out. ‘You get a little frown line just between your eyebrows.’

That said little frown line grew deeper as Morgana scowled. ‘Aren’t you the attentive one? Anything else you’d like to comment about?’ She got up from her chair and twirled around.

‘Cute butt?’

Morgana rolled her eyes. If she still had a pillow, she would have made sure to hit Charis right on the nose this time. Instead, she playfully slapped her right butt cheek.

‘This cute butt should drag itself back to the dungeons. If Umbridge returns tonight and finds out that I am in the wrong common room...’ She pulled out her wand and pretended to be writing with it. ‘I must not sleep in Ravenclaw common room. That would make a huge scar, you know. I doubt it would fit on the back of my hand.’

Charis shuddered. ‘I can't believe that woman. Now it wouldn’t surprise me if SHE had an effing Dark Mark.’

Morgana snorted. ‘Even Voldemort has certain standards.’

Then she winked at her friend and picked up her bag as Charis giggled.

‘Good night, my favourite little snake,’ Charis said and winked back.

In response, Morgana hissed, which made Lily jump. Of course, Morgana couldn’t help but repeat the noise, which made Lily go into hiding under Charis’ robes.

‘Heart of a lion, that one,’ Morgana pointed out. She had already reached the door when she turned back to face her friend once more. ‘Call Silvy if you need something, right? Night, Ravenclaw.’

Charis smiled and bade her friend goodnight before picking up Lily. ‘You know, little one,’ she said and kissed the kitten on its snowy white head, ‘I think deep down, the Slytherin actually likes you.’

* * *

The recommencement of term saw the girls whisked into a flurry of activity. Lessons were now about preparing for the upcoming NEWTs, and most of the teachers recommended using the time to go over course material, or any spells, charms or practical work that needed polishing. On top of this, there were numerous surprise pop quizzes, and homework mainly included stacks of revision.

Charis thought her eyes were going to pop out from all the studying and wondered if she had bitten off more than she could chew with her additional NEWT in Astronomy. Morgana, meanwhile, relished any chance to play with her cauldron, and the Room of Requirement always adapted itself nicely to both of the girls’ needs for their evening revision sessions. Most of the time, Charis had her head stuck firmly in a book while Morgana stood bent over a cauldron, and although the pair rarely spoke much whilst they were studying, they found it placating just to be in each other’s company. And when they had finished their individual tasks, they always found some time to practise Defence on each other.

This afternoon, in a free period before dinner, Morgana was brewing Amortentia. Once again, the Room had provided a perfect workstation with tools and ingredients, along with a sofa area for Charis and, of course, the girls’ favourite drinks and snacks. But not even stacks of Chocolate Frogs could lighten Morgana’s mood.

She had for a moment thought that Snape was pulling her leg when he had given her this task. Sure, she was still catching up on the potions she had missed during her pregnancy, and mind controlling potions were the next on the list, but Amortentia? Really? Couldn’t he have chosen a potion that was a tad less, well, silly? But of course, Professor Severus Snape had been deadly serious, and here Morgana was now, trying to make a good potion.

Steady, now, she chided herself as she methodically stirred in the last ingredient. Timing was everything in Potions, and something as simple as a stir in the wrong direction at the wrong time could render the whole concoction useless.

Her eyes narrowed in triumph as the contents of her cauldron began to take on the characteristic mother-of-pearl sheen, and within a minute the steam started to billow up in spirals, signifying the completion of the Potion. Morgana could not help but take a deep breath through her nose. Amortentia, of course, smelled different to each person, but for her it was dark chocolate, spicy herbs and the delicate waft of roses. The scent was comforting, and Morgana had to shake herself not to stand there sniffing it all night.

Carefully, she took a ladle full and poured it into a little glass jug, which from there was transferred to a delicate crystal phial, all the while never spilling a drop. She then labelled the phial in her neat, cramped handwriting and placed it back on to the desk. Snape would be pleased, she thought, ignoring the little voice in her head which was quietly wondering what fragrances Snape detected in his Amortentia.

She was in the process of tidying up her workstation when she felt the familiar soft graze of Lily’s tail wind around her legs.

‘Not now, Lily!’ Morgana told the playful little cat, who mewed up at her sweetly. ‘Go and see Charis instead. You know she loves to cuddle.’

Instead, the little cat jumped up on the workstation and watched Morgana with curiosity as she continued clearing up the remaining ingredients.

She had just Vanished the remaining Potion from her cauldron and was ready to join her friend on the sofa when a tinkling of glass made her spin around. There, sat in a puddle of Amortentia and broken phial, was Lily, looking up at her from the floor with big green eyes and mother-of-pearl liquid dripping down her nose.

‘LILY!’ Morgana shouted angrily, which made Charis peek her nose over her book at the noise. ‘BAD CAT!’

Lily, who was not used to raised voices, flattened her ears against her head in fear and bolted through the cat-flap as quick as a flash. Charis had by now placed her book down on the sofa and hurried over to Morgana to see what the fuss was about. She was greeted with the sight of Morgana breathing deeply through her nose and glaring at the mess on the floor and a trail of shimmery footprints that led away to the still-swinging cat-flap.

‘Your ever so sweet cat has just ruined an hour’s work!’ Morgana hissed at her best friend. She was shaking with rage. She didn’t even know why she was so angry. It was only a Potion after all.

‘Did you have to shout at her?’ Charis asked quietly, not liking seeing her friend so worked up.

Morgana closed her eyes. She needed to get a grip on her emotions. It was just a potion, and neither Charis nor her curious little cat deserved such harsh tones. But she couldn’t help it. Her nerves were lying bare, and it would probably be the best for everyone involved if she kept to herself for a while to cool off.

‘I’m sorry,’ she said roughly, turning to her workstation to pack away various instruments into her bag. She could not bring herself to look at Charis and see the concern in her eyes.

‘Are you OK?’ Charis asked timidly.

‘I have the temper of a Troll today, that’s all,’ Morgana replied, swinging her bag over her shoulder and still carefully avoiding eye contact with her friend. Now was not the time to say what was really bothering her.

* * *

Meanwhile, the little white cat fled down the corridors of Hogwarts as if chased by a Dementor. She didn’t know where she was going, but her instincts told her to hide, somewhere dark, somewhere safe. She shot down the stairs that led to the dungeons, skittered through a pair of legs coming through an open door and found herself hiding behind a heavy-looking green armchair in a rather gloomy room.

It was very different to the room her owner spent most of her free time in. This room had a low ceiling with stark grey-brick walls, and the greenish lamps reflected murky light off the many skulls that adorned the room. It was noticeably colder down here, too, and Lily shivered, her fur still wet from the spilled potion. It was certainly dark enough to hide here, even if it wasn’t especially cosy.

On hearing male voices, she carefully peeked around the chair to see what kind of humans could inhabit such a place. Sitting on the very chair she was hiding behind was a pale, blond boy with a rather pointed face. He was talking animatedly to a boy sitting opposite him in an identical chair. That boy had rich, smooth cocoa skin, almond-shaped eyes and high cheekbones that would probably make most teenage girls envious. He looked rather nice, and Lily wondered if he liked to cuddle.

She jumped as the blond boy placed a silver goblet down roughly onto the cold flagstone floor, the sound of the metal against stone making a rather horrible clanging sound. He was still talking animatedly, although about what, the cat had no idea. She was, however, very thirsty after running the length of the castle. Cautiously, she craned her neck forwards towards the goblet, her tiny pink nose twitching as she sniffed the contents of the goblet. Pumpkin Juice! Lily’s eye widened. She liked Pumpkin Juice.

Ever so slowly, the little cat reached forwards and took a few grateful laps at the juice. It was cool and refreshing. She was about to take a few laps more when the blond boy’s hand came swooping down to grab the goblet. Lily shrunk back behind the chair to avoid being seen as she watched his hand swing back up again.

There was silence for a few moments, and then something strange happened.

Lily pricked up her ears. The tone of the blond boy’s voice had changed. He had been talking excitedly and rather loudly, but now his voice took on a kind of soft, simpering tone. This seemed to be alarming to his friend, who had, by the sound of wood scraping against stone, stood up and backed away from him. The simpering sound continued, and the friend’s voice grew louder and louder until he was shouting something at the blond boy.

Lily flattened her ears against her head once more. She really hated the sound of shouting. It seemed that she was not safe here after all.

She turned and fled towards the door, which had been flung open by the dark-skinned boy, and raced through his legs and back up the corridor, once more trying to find a safe, quiet spot to hide where there was no shouting.

* * *

‘Get your hands OFF me, Malfoy!’

Zabini’s patience had just about reached its limit. Convinced that Draco was not messing around and something had indeed been slipped into his Pumpkin Juice, he was now trying to lead Draco to their Head of House’s study for some advice.

Draco was not making it easy for Blaise, however. ‘Your skin, Blaise,’ he cooed in wonder. ‘It’s so soft... Like deepest walnut...’

‘I mean it, Draco!’ Zabini hissed. ‘If you touch me again...’

‘Blaise!’ Draco implored, tugging at Zabini’s sleeve. ‘Marry me! I can’t live without you!’

Zabini balled his fists and marched ever onwards to Snape’s office, with Malfoy trailing behind him like a lost puppy, plucking at him and uttering words of love.

Oh, the whole school would hear about this, Zabini thought to himself, grinding his teeth. As long as no other pupil could see the spectacle, he would make damn sure Malfoy came off worst from this little humiliating incident.

He rapped curtly on Snape’s door, silently counting to ten as Draco began reeling off a spontaneous sonnet, rhyming Blaise with Amaze and Zabini with Panini.

Zabini was about to turn around and throttle Draco to within an inch of his life when Snape threw open the door, looking down his nose at the two boys.

‘Shouldn’t you both be at dinner?’ Snape started in an annoyed tone.

‘Uh, sir, it’s Draco. I think he’s been spiked with something.’

As Zabini spoke, Draco had snuck his arm inside the crook of his House mate’s elbow and was now resting his head on Zabini’s shoulder, with a silly, love-struck grin on his face. Zabini tutted and tried to shrug Draco off, who responded by trying to link hands with him instead.

Snape merely raised a black eyebrow and tried not to smirk. He was clearly witnessing the effects of Amortentia, and as amusing as it was to see the Malfoy brat making a fool out of himself, administering potions without the receiver’s consent broke one of the fundamental rules of Potioneering. Also, only one pupil in the school had been instructed to make that particular potion at present. Morgana Belakane. He would deal with her later.

With a scowl, Snape motioned for both boys to come through to his study.

‘What happened?’ he asked curtly as he billowed his way over to a large cabinet and began scanning the shelves for a phial of antidote.

‘I don’t know, sir,’ Zabini replied truthfully. ‘We were sitting drinking Pumpkin Juice in the common room. One minute we were talking about our plans for the summer break, the next he goes all gooey-eyed and starts telling me he loves me!’

At the word love, Draco giggled dreamily.

‘Where did you get the juice from?’ Snape enquired, finding the phial he was searching for and snatching it up in his right hand.

‘Same as we usually do. Called down for an elf. I drank the same thing, and I’m absolutely fine.’

Snape narrowed his eyes. ‘Are you sure you did not see anything suspicious?’

To that, Zabini shook his head.

Draco had now taking to mouthing the words I love you and blowing kisses in Zabini’s direction.

‘Mr Malfoy.’ Snape’s baritone cut through the boy’s reverie. ‘Mr Zabini here has a gift for you.’ He held out the phial to Draco, who took it reverently, as if it were the most priceless antique.

‘For me?’ he breathed.

‘Yes, for you,’ Snape replied. The antidote to Amortentia worked best if the affected person drunk it out of their own free will. Hence, Snape decided to encourage Draco a bit. ‘Mr Zabini wants you to drink this down, and then the two of you will be taken to the Great Hall to be wed.’

Draco’s eyes were the size of saucers and filling up with tears of pure joy. ‘We’re getting married? Blaise and I? Tonight?’ he managed to croak hoarsely.

‘That is correct,’ Snape replied. ‘Your families are waiting. Just take a drink now to steady your nerves.’

With a shaking hand and a deliriously happy grin on his face, Draco unstoppered the phial and drank the contents down in one while Zabini still looked terrified.

It took less than ten seconds for the antidote to take effect. Draco’s face fell as reality dawned on him, and he looked at first from Snape to Zabini, who was now looking at him like he was something unpleasant that he’d just scraped off his shoe.

As he watched Draco’s look of confusion and him trying to formulate the right question, Snape’s thoughts turned to the perpetrator. Or, most likely, perpetrators. Whatever had those silly girls been thinking? Were they trying to get themselves expelled mere weeks before their graduation?

Snape sent the boys to dinner and angrily slammed the door shut behind them. One thing was for sure, Belakane and Byrne were not going to get away with this.

* * *

Morgana was leaning with her back against the wall in the corridor outside Snape’s office with her arms crossed and a scowl on her face. She had no idea what Snape wanted from her. Probably, he was about to tell her off for not having handed in that ruddy Amortentia yet. But he could have done that in the Great Hall. Instead he had just told her to wait for him outside his office.

A private telling-off, then. Morgana’s scowl turned a darker shade of black. There had been a time not so long ago when she would have hacked off her left arm in order to spend some time alone with Snape in his office. But those times had passed.

The sound of footsteps made her turn her head towards the stairs. The steps were, however, too light to be Snape’s. Who could it be?

‘Charis?’ Morgana frowned. ‘What are you doing down here?’

Charis shrugged. ‘Snape showed up at the Ravenclaw table and told me to wait for him outside his office. I really don’t have the time for that. Lily’s still missing. I want to go and look for her.’

Morgana bit her lip. ‘I’m sorry I yelled at Lily.’ She really was. The little kitten had surely not broken the phial on purpose. ‘I’ll help you look for her once we’re out of here.’

‘It’s not like her to run off like that.’ Charis felt her throat go tight. What if something happened to Lily? There were a lot of steep stairs in the castle. What if Peeves found her and did something nasty to her?

‘She’ll come back when she’s hungry,’ Morgana pointed out. ‘They always do.’ Oh, she felt guilty. How would she ever be able to look her friend in the eye again if something happened to the kitten? After all, the kitten had run away because of her.

‘If you say that again, I’ll hex your balls off!’

Pansy’s shrill voice made both Morgana and Charis peer down the corridor that led to the Slytherin common room, but all they could see was Pansy throwing the door open right in Zabini’s face. The never heard what exactly Zabini muttered before he followed her inside.

‘What was that about?’ Charis wondered.

‘Haven’t you heard?’ Morgana’s scowl gave way to a gloating grin. ‘Zabini told everyone at dinner that Malfoy confessed his undying love for him earlier.’

‘He did WHAT?’

Morgana nodded eagerly, he grin growing wider. ‘In the common room before dinner. Zabini was so shocked he ran out on him. I think it’s brilliant. If Draco’s gay, that means he won’t reproduce. And that might just save the Wizarding gene pool.’

Charis burst out in giggles. But the joyful sound was shattered by Snape striding down the corridor towards the two girls.

‘In!’ he bellowed and flung open the door to his office.

Both grins and giggles disappeared into thin air, and the girls hurried to get inside. Snape seemed to be in a really foul mood, and neither of them had any desire to suffer it.

‘What have you two been thinking?’ Snape yelled as he had thrown the door shut behind them. ‘Slipping a fellow student Amortentia!’ He looked pointedly at Morgana. ‘And to one of your own House mates. I am seriously disappointed in you, Miss Belakane.’

Morgana’s eyes widened and she ventured sneaking a glance at her best friend. Charis, however, seemed as clueless as she did.

‘This was a very juvenile prank and below both of you. You will be serving detention tonight.’

Detention? Hell, no! Despite her being Slytherin, Morgana’s sense of justice was akin to a Hufflepuff’s. She was not going to serve detention for something she had not done! ‘I haven’t slipped Amortentia to anyone, sir,’ she protested.

‘Don’t. Lie. To me.’

The sound of Snape’s voice made the girls’ skin crawl, and not in a good way. Oh, the man was pissed!

‘You are the only one in possession of the ingredients for Amortentia in the castle, Miss Belakane,’ Snape continued.

Once more, Morgana opened her mouth to defend herself, but Snape cut her short by addressing Charis.

‘Do you or do you not still hold a grudge against Mr Malfoy because of the ridiculous picture he showed off in the Entrance Hall in October, Miss Byrne?’

Charis blushed. She had just about managed to get that embarrassing incident out of her brain.

‘Do you, Miss Byrne?’

How could Severus ask her that in such a cold voice? After all, HE had been on that picture as well. And that evening, she had for the first time confessed her love for him. And he had told her that she mustn’t love him. She felt tears burn in her eyes and quickly lowered her head.

Snape, however, interpreted the movement differently.

‘I rest my case,’ he announced. ‘The choice is yours. Either you serve detention with me, scrubbing cauldrons, or I will hand you over to Headmistress Umbridge. The words “I must not slip anyone Amortentia,” would produce a deep and long scar on those pretty hands of yours. ’ He sneered. ‘Well, what do you choose?’

It was an easy choice. Scrubbing cauldrons wasn’t the most pleasant task in the castle, but anything beat writing lines for Umbridge. Hence, the girls could be found in the Potions classroom five minutes later, surrounded by filthy, burnt cauldrons.

Snape himself had retreated to the store room. Not that any of the Potions ingredients needed re-organising, but he couldn’t make himself face the girls. Maybe they weren’t guilty after all?

He had seen the angry frown on Morgana’s face. He had seen it before. It was different from the dark scowl she wore all too often lately. The first time he had noticed it had been in her third year, when he had given her an A on one of her Potions essays because she had written more than the two rolls of parchment he had required. She had meant to do a thorough job, and he had insisted on her following the rules. Hence, he had marked only the first two rolls of her essay and scribbled down an A. The frown had appeared the moment she had noticed that he had not marked the other two rolls. She had felt that she had been judged unfairly, just like she did now. And he had never told her that her essay had been one of the best third-year essays he had ever read.

Since then, Morgana had done a lot of things, but she had never lied. Why would he think that she was lying now? To protect her friend, maybe?

Charis would have many reasons to play a nasty trick on Draco. Merlin knew that boy had made her life a living hell for the better part of the last year. First that blasted picture and then the prank with Zabini on New Year’s Eve. Charis didn’t know that he knew, of course, but Snape knew many things that went on in the castle. Zabini throwing Charis’ knickers at her the morning after he had taken her virginity was one of them. Poor, sweet Charis... She had looked so hurt at his accusations. Maybe she had nothing to do with it at all.

Snape was just thinking about cutting the girls’ detention short when a sweet sound reached his ears, a sound that was rarely heard in his dungeon. Were the girls laughing? Soundlessly, he edged towards the door and listened. Yes, they were indeed.

‘I would have paid good Galleons to see Blaise’s face when Draco proposed to him!’ Charis was laughing so hard there were tears running down her face.

Morgana grinned. ‘Wonder if Draco has written home to Daddy yet to tell him that he’ll bring home his fiancé for the summer?’

Snape stifled a snort at the very last moment. He could just about imagine Lucius’ face upon receiving that owl.

He shifted and craned his neck. Both girls had taken off their jumpers and were scrubbing cauldrons in their plain white shirts. Charis’ shirt was properly tucked into her skirt while Morgana’s was hanging down over her trousers. And Snape found himself wondering just when she had stopped wearing skirts.

‘Do you think you’d be invited to the wedding?’ Morgana asked teasingly. ‘Being cousins with Draco and all?’

Snape saw Charis’ eyes flash, and the next thing he knew, a dripping sponge was flying in Morgana’s direction. It hit her right on the chest, and after a exchanging shocked glances, both girls collapsed in a fit of giggles.

Now, that was enough!

Snape slammed the door shut behind him and strode into the room. ‘Seeing as scrubbing cauldrons seems to be far too much fun, you will be chopping Flobberworms instead. A bucket each.’

He sat down behind his desk and pulled a stack of essays towards him. But he couldn’t concentrate on grading. It was now so silent in the room that he could hear the girls’ breathing and the rustling of their clothes as they moved.

He glanced in their direction. The water had turned Morgana’s white shirt almost see-through. Was that an emerald green bra she was wearing? Her House colours? Did her knickers match, Snape wondered. Was she Slytherin right to the very core? And Charis, was she wearing blue knickers today, made of the same soft fabric he had Vanished that night in the library?

There mere thought sent a shiver down Snape’s spine, and he shook his head. Merlin’s crotch! This was the third time within a week that he found himself having improper thoughts about those girls. Had he no self-control at all?

With an angry grunt, he pushed back his chair and billowed back to the store room. If he looked at those girls any more, he might just lose the last bit of control he still had. Or the seam of his pants might burst.

Aconite, Acromantula venom, Ashwinder eggs and Asphodel. Belladonna, Blackroot, Boomslang Skin and Bubotuber Pus. Caterpillars and Chinese Chomping Cabbage.

Everything was in order. Unless he was about to re-organise the alphabet, there was absolutely nothing Snape could occupy himself with in the store room. So he started pacing, which proved to be rather unsatisfying as well. The room was too small to pace properly.

‘Meow.’

Snape froze. Had he just heard mewing?

‘Meow.’

There it was again, coming from a basket on the bottom shelf. The lid wasn’t on. How could he have missed that?

‘Meow.’

Snape crouched down and carefully pulled the basket towards him. Looking up at him was a pair of sleepy green eyes coming from a mass of white fur.

‘And what exactly do you think you are doing here?’ he growled. He couldn’t make himself yell at the little kitten. It looked far too adorable.

He was just about to pick it up when he noticed her white fur shimmering with a mother-of-pearl sheen. Could it be? He moved his head closer and inhaled deeply, and his nostrils filled with the sweet scent of roses and honey. ‘Amortentia,’ he breathed.

Then he firmly shook his head. ‘Looks like you are responsible for this mess then, little one. And your mistress is out there chopping Flobberworms.’

Resisting the urge to pat the little creature on its head, Snape put the lid on the basket and stomped back into the classroom.

‘Miss Byrne,’ he called out from the door. ‘Do you have any idea where your cat is?’

Charis looked up, and her bottom lip started to quiver. Oh, no! Something must have happened.

‘We kind of lost track of Lily this afternoon, sir,’ Morgana buttoned in. ‘She... I yelled at her, and she ran away.’

‘And why, Miss Belakane, would you yell at an innocent little cat?’

‘She happened to break the potion phial I was supposed to hand in today, sir.’

‘I see.’ With a smirk, Snape placed the basket in front of the girls and took the lid off. ‘Cleaning the Amortentia off of the cat instead of yelling at her would have saved you both two hours of detention. Like this.’ He pulled out his wand and cast a cleaning spell. ‘Make sure that cat stays away from the dungeons from now on. Away with you now. ’

The girls didn’t need to be told twice. Charis picked up Lily, whispering what a clever cat she was into her ear, while Morgana grabbed their jumpers. They reached the door in a blink of an eye. Snape, however, called after them.

‘Miss Byrne. Miss Belakane.’

Reluctantly, they turned around to face their Potions master once more. To their surprise, he looked quite calm.

‘Thank you for chopping those Flobberworms,’ he said. ‘The first-years always make such a mess when I get them to do it.’

The girls’ eyes widened. Had Severus Snape just said thank you? Hell must just have frozen over.

‘What are you waiting for?’ Snape asked, desperately trying not to grin. ‘You are dismissed.’

He heard them murmur something that sounded like good night, and before he had a chance to wish them the same, Charis and Morgana were gone. But the scent of roses and honey lingered long after they had left.