CHAPTER FOURTEEN: UMBRIDGE'S OFFICE

Lucy returned to the Great Hall for breakfast and sat down in between the twins who were just selling the last of the yelling confetti. (Fred had mentioned that as it was her idea they'd name the invention after her as Lucy's yelling confetti).

Hermione passed Lucy some toast she'd saved from Ron's clutches and Lucy took it with thanks. "What's first on the agenda?"

"Defence Against the Dark Arts; for two hours," Hermione responded, not even needing to delve into her bag for her timetable.

"Give me strength," Lucy huffed after swallowing a mouthful of toast, she'd suddenly lost all her appetite.

"So what was all that about?" Ron asked his brothers. "With you and Professor Snape?"

"Turns out he wasn't too keen on our creative idea," Fred shrugged.

"Who's creative idea?" Lucy raised an eyebrow.

"Your creative idea," Fred raised his hands in defence.

"Precisely," Lucy nodded. "But don't worry, I left him a little red envelope and card for his reading pleasure."

"You didn't!" George was fascinated.

Lucy turned to the entrance of the Great Hall and they all followed her gaze. Snape came in hastily, brushing confetti off of his robes and no doubt mumbling horrid things about Fred and George under his breath.

"Wow," Harry breathed.

"No one else could get away with that so easily," Hermione giggled and then pretended it was rather nasty to pull such a cruel trick on a teacher.

"I always tell you, there are benefits to being Severus Snape's child," Lucy flipped her hair behind her shoulder.

"Well surely that means you should be in with the other teachers," George turned to her. "Listen, Lucy, Umbridge has stolen some of our Skiving Snack — "

"Stolen? More like confiscated." She frowned.

"Yeah, sir, whatever," George waved his hand, dismissing the comment. "We need you to go and get these Skiving Snack Boxes from her office."

"So just because I'm Snape's daughter you think I all of a sudden have the power to swoop into another Professor's office and just take what I like."

George considered for a moment. "Yeah."

"Moron." Lucy scowled.

"Please?" Fred added.

"You can borrow my invisibility cloak," Harry offered

Lucy looked at their pleading looks before throwing down her half eaten toast. "Oh, fine! But if I get another detention from Umbridge you'll face all hell from my father!"

*

After Defence Against the Dark Arts (which Lucy claimed to be an absolute snooze fest) Lucy pulled out Harry's invisibility cloak from her bag. Hermione watched as Lucy held the fabric in her now invisible hands.

"I'll save you a seat in Charms," Hermione said before walking off. "And I'll tell Professor Flitwick your father needed to speak to you about something urgent."

"Thank you," Lucy replied gratefully. She waited for everyone to file out of the room and when Umbridge wasn't looking she slipped on the cloak deftly. Umbridge looked up from the parchment on her desk and narrowed her eyes, she was sure she'd just seen Lucy there. But she shook her head and climbed the steps to her office. Lucy followed as quickly as she could and just before Umbridge shut the door, Lucy breezed past her.

Umbridge sat down behind her desk while Lucy stayed pressed against a part of the wall that wasn't filled with pictures of cats. She scanned the room for the Skiving Snack Boxes and then saw them stacked by the side of the desk. Lucy was surprised at how easy this was all turning out.

She was about to take a cautious step forward when there was a knock at the door.

"Come in!" Umbridge called.

Lucy pressed herself back against the wall as her father opened the door. "Dolores, I've been meaning to speak to you."

"Severus," Umbridge gestured to the pink seat on the other side of her desk. "Please."

Snape gingerly took a seat in the plush pink chair. Lucy had to cover her mouth to stop herself from blowing her cover, her father who always favoured black sat in a pink chair was comical. Furthermore, it looked like Umbridge had summoned him for a detention.

"What can I do for you?" She closed the book and rested her chin upon her hands.

"I have been informed that you keep putting my daughter in detention, is there a reason for this?" Snape's stare was as cold as the weather outside.

"Your daughter has no manners and is disobedient and needs to be punished, I'm doing you a favour."

If looks could kill, Umbridge would be flat out on the floor right now. Heaven forbid anyone speak ill of Lucy to Snape.

"Pardon me but I believe you're questioning the way I raised her."

"Severus," Umbridge's sickening smile was plastered on her face. "Not every child's actions are a result of the parents, they have a mind of their own after all. You can love and nurture them but they'll still be rebellious upon entering their teenage years."

"Lucy is the most polite girl you'll come across," Snape held his wand in the air and a piece of luxury parchment appeared. He caught it in his other hand and began to read, it was her latest school report. "She works hard, enriches the class with her knowledge and is ready to help anyone who struggles beyond the classroom. So I shall ask again, why are you putting her in detention unnecessarily?"

"For I am the only one who can see the truth. You may have pulled the wool over every other Professor's eyes about your sweet little Princess but I know." Umbridge ordered a few things upon her desk. "Surely you of all people must know she's not all sugar and spice."

Snape purses his lips. "She has her flaws, alas, don't we all?"

"Perhaps like you, who desperately tries to lead the façade of your daughter being the most brilliant part of your life. When in fact a mere few know she was not planned and nearly helped sacrifice your career as Potions master."

Snape's voice was low but soft. "She might not have been a circumstance I expected in my life but from the very first moment she's been a blessing to me. Yes, I had to take time off in the beginning to look after her but the other Professor's in this establishment were gracious enough to allow me to return." Snape stood up and left the chair. "Unlike you when I inform Professor Dumbledore of the hate you inflict on a number of students just because they happen to disagree with you."

"Professor Dumbledore believes I am worthy of the role unlike yourself."

Lucy continued to watch the battle of words continue as she snuck over to the desk, bent down and picked up the boxes and hid them under her cloak.

Snape said nothing and instead placed something on her desk. She glanced at it briefly and then hastily followed her father out of the room. Did she register that correctly?

Lucy shoved the boxes in her bag and followed Snape out of the classroom, she then stood in front of him and tore the cloak off of herself.

"You're providing her with the ink?!"

"Argh!" Snape yelled and halted his steps in surprise. "Lucy? What're you — ?"

"Answer me."

"Yes, I've been giving her the ink that resides in the quill. How do you think I knew how to combat it with a potion?"

"But why?"

"You aren't the only one who isn't fond of her and if I didn't provide her with something that kept her happy she'd no sooner ensure that my teaching contract was history."

Lucy considered this. "Oh..."

"You in the other hand have some explaining to do, how do you know all this?"

'Damn,' Lucy thought.

"Well?" Snape crossed his arms.

Lucy threw up her hands. "I was trying to steal the ink when you came in. I was trying to prevent anyone else from getting hurt."

"But how did you get in?"

"A spell, I concealed myself."

Snape looked sceptical but dismissed it. "You are not to be intruding in anyone else's business from now on, understood?"

"I don't know about that, I love it when my father says nice things behind my back," she winked before heading off to Charms.