- Chapter 26 -

"damn it" I mumble under my breath while trying to pick the lock off Filch's office.

I have been at it for about 10 minutes now and I haven't been getting far. I have greatly overestimated this little job of mine. I really need to do this though, one way or another. I can't let the twins down a second time, not for something as big as this. I curse myself for not thinking more about this, not preparing for it.

Thankfully I haven't seen anyone around these halls the past couple of minutes. I can hear some distant footsteps occasionally, probably from some lost students but nothing more. Most of the teachers are occupied with the whole O.W.L's and N.E.W.T's stuff and on top of that the exams for the other years. I'm not very worried about running into somebody, which is good because I can't afford another detention.

After another 10 minutes of trying to pick the lock, the door finally budges and I can enter the small, dirty space which Filch identifies as an office. The room isn't big and I only have to plant a couple of these glitter bombs around the office which should get me out of this office in a matter of minutes. I leave the door standing slightly open to be able to hear when danger is approaching. Fred and George have given me precise instructions on where to best place the bombs and how to place them for them to be activated.

I follow the instructions of the twins carefully and within minutes I have planted the last bomb and can be on my way out. I take one final approving look at the work I've done here, before making my way out of the office. Although I have no reason to feel like this, I can't help but think that this was some final goodbye. I shake the thought quickly out of my head. Grabbing the office handle I step out of the office and into the corridor.

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"Shit" I mumble under my breath the minute my eyes lock with those onyx eyes of his I have gotten very familiar with. I really can't do anything without getting caught can I? I think. At least the job is already done and I don't have to disappoint the twins again. The twins are the most important thing right now, and if that would mean I would have to get into trouble for them, so be it. Although I don't expect to get into much 'unwanted' trouble with Severus. However, it does hurt my ego when I think about the fact that for some reason I'm not a great spy.

"Had a meeting with Filch did we?" He asks, his hands clasped together behind his back and he raises his eyebrow slightly as he always does, gosh I hate how he does that it makes me almost go crazy, almost... but not quite yet. Unless we are in a different situation, one that involves a bedroom and not a corridor in which were are fairly public.

"Yes, we had some important matters to discuss concerning...." I pause because for some reason my mind can't seem to come up with anything at all. I know I must look very stupid right now, although I know he would never believe me so I might as well have fun with it. "His cat," I say trying to sound very serious, in a joking way.

"Ah, and why would Filch need your input on the matter of his cat?" He asks, his voice sounding slightly amused.

"I'm good with cats" I state as nonchalantly as possible.

"Alright then, I shall inform Filch, who happens to be dealing with Peeves downstairs right now, that he has missed his own appointment which for some reason continued without him." He says. "Nor with his cat" He finishes after a dramatic pause.

I can feel my cheeks heating up even though I know he is just teasing and so am I and we both know that this is complete bullshit. I hate how he can make me feel like such a little girl who blushes when she as much as gets a look from the guy she likes. I can't let him win this game though so I look up at him, trying to keep my face as serious as possible.

"That would be greatly appreciated thank you," I say with a slight nod of my head. I have to bite my cheek in order not to burst out laughing.

He gives me a confused look and we stare at each other for a few seconds, sharing nothing but looks. After a while, I clear my throat though to make an end to it.

"Well if this is all, I think I must be going now," I say.

His brow goes up in interest again, gosh if he continues doing that I don't think I will be able to go.

Before I can change my mind I start to walk towards the staircases that lead upward to the Gryffindor common room. I might as well find the twins to tell them I completed their task.

However, before I have as much as placed a foot in front of me, I get stopped by Severus' figure blocking my paths. I curse.

."I don't think so, Ms. Black," He says, slightly exaggerating the Ms. part. "You are coming with me," He says while nodding towards the staircase indicating that I should follow him down to the dungeons.

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I'm practically running to keep up with him. We are what I assume on our way to his office, but my legs aren't made for walking this fast. And that says a lot since I normally am a pretty fast walker. But not compared to him, oh no. Compared to him I'm a snail. I currently very much feel like a snail. He is currently walking around 3 steps in front of me, his black cloak billowing behind him. I have to practically go out of my way as to not touch his freaking cloak and trip over it, it's happened before. And Severus isn't one for stopping and helping me up, so if I want to keep up AND not trip while keeping up I need to keep a close eye on that infamous cloak of his.

We are currently going the opposite way of the way I need to be going though. Although the twins' prank isn't planned for a bit later in the morning, they will need to hear from me if everything went according to plan. Which it thankfully did but now the next part is that I should actually deliver that news to them. Maybe if I can find some lost student wandering around I can order them to tell the twins. Those thoughts go around my head when I suddenly hear an all too familiar voice coming from somewhere on my left.

In some small indentation in the wall stands Malfoy, a big grin covering his ugly face. I swear he only has two facial expressions, this ugly grin which he uses whenever he thinks he has done something good, and that ugly sneer of him when that 'something good' of his backfires. I hate this boy.

"Well well, what do we have here?" He says while folding his arms over each other and leaning against the wall. "Has the oh-so-famous troublemaker Black gotten into trouble again? What a surprise" He says. He turns around to face something and starts laughing. Only now I notice the second figure standing only a couple of feet from Malfoy, who probably must be Crabbe or Goyle. I knew he wouldn't dare speak against me weren't it for his friends.

I try to ignore it and keep moving, Severus also hasn't stopped and has given Malfoy only a disinterested look before continuing onwards.

"Where are those Weasley twins of yours? You really are meant to be, both pathetic trouble makers who can't excel at anything else." He says. Although I can't see his face directly anymore I can feel the grin that is plastered on his face. Anger is starting to rise and I clench my fist to now give in and turn around to show him who he is dealing with.

I manage to keep my temper and keep on walking, although when we are only a couple of places further I hear something that makes me stop dead in my tracks, and so does Severus.

"No wonder you get into so much trouble, you're as pathetic as your dad and his stupid friends," Draco sneers.

Severus has now turned around and is looking at me with a fierce expression. "Don't" He warns, whispering so that only I can hear. But I don't care, I need and will punch the bloody life out of that boy. I can't just stand by and let him insult my father like that, even though we aren't on good terms. I will never allow other people to try to get to me using people I hold dear and insulting them instead. I won't and he'll know it. And with that thought I turn around and storm at Malfoy, fists raised.

Draco's expression quickly turns to one of fright and he backs away a few paces until he bumps into his friend, whoever it might be. I stop when I'm only inches from him and raise my fist to punch, but before I can land the hit I get pulled back by my waist. Severus' hand is holding my wrist so I can't move it. I look at Draco with an expression that could murder, he is now whimpering like a little kitten. I suspect that Severus gave them the indication to go because after a few seconds they both sprint out of the corridor.

Only when they are out of sight and their footsteps aren't audible anymore, Severus lets my hand go. I turn around, facing the man who just took the highlight of my day away. He is looking at me, his expression has turned into one of anger and disappointment. One I do not like at all. The anger I can deal with, but disappointment? No, I don't like that one.

He shakes his head before turning around and continuing on his way. He doesn't even bother to say anything.

"Hey!" I shout after him before running to catch up with him.