CHAPTER NINE: PROFESSOR POTTER

The following day, immediately after lessons, the DA group gathered in the Room of Requirement. Harry stood at the very front of the room and silenced the class once everyone who had signed up had arrived.

"To start off I suggest we practice some simple spells; blocking and disarming. It might seem too basic but we need to ensure everyone is on the same page and there's always room for improvement, right?" He turned to Lucy who was near the front. "Lucy, will you help with my demonstration for a moment?"

"Sure," Lucy nodded and took out her wand. She stood at one end of the room at the front, as per his instruction, and he stood at the other. Lucy gulped, Defence Against the Dark Arts had always been Lucy's weakest subject. She was much better at Potions, being the Potions Masters daughter and all. She grew up making Potions with her father and he'd been impressed at how quickly she caught on, smiling as at six years old she'd already mastered the basics. She'd stand on a stool and wait for him to inspect the contents of her cauldron and he always praised her work, impressed at his child prodigy. He'd then take her down to the muggle sweet shop as a reward and told her to get whatever she wanted, even though she knew everyone always stared at Snape because of his black robes. But he didn't care so long as his daughter was happy.

"Use any spell you want," Harry announced, pulling her back to reality. "I'll block it, then if you succeed to block my spell I'll send someone to take my place."

"Alright," Lucy could feel herself start to panic a little, she had stage fright that was for sure. But the sooner she did it the quicker it would be over with. She prepared herself and then yelled: "Expelliarmus!"

Harry blocked the spell with ease then retaliated quicker than Lucy had been expecting. "Stupefy!"

Lucy blocked it in the nick of time and everyone applauded.

Harry joined in and then turned to Fred. "Fred, do you want to take my place?"

'Ugh,' Lucy thought.

"Absolutely," Fred replied and took to the front of the room.

"Expelliarmus!" Lucy yelled before Fred had readied himself, he tore his wand from his pocket and blocked the spell.

"Feisty," Lee Jordan chuckled, causing everyone around him to laugh.

'Yeah, she's mad alright,' Fred thought to himself.

He prepared himself, he wanted to use a particularly nasty spell in retaliation and hope she didn't block it. Except, it wasn't Lucy's fault he felt this way, his expression softened and he used an easy spell

"Expelliarmus!" He said as calmly as possible.

But Lucy wasn't ready, by the time she'd registered the spell was coming her way it was too late. It hit her in the chest and she flew backwards and hit her head. She sat up awkwardly and rubbed the back of her head, when she removed her hand and it returned covered in blood.

Fred cursed under his breath, before he knew what he was doing he was running towards her. He knelt down and saw she was trying to hide some tears, probably a little in shock from the impact.

"Merlin's beard, are you alright?" Fred whispered, his eyes wide.

"Fine," she huffed and tried to stand up. But Fred grabbed hold of her before she fell to the floor again, he knew she'd faint before too long; she hated the sight of blood. The whole room watched on and Harry distracted them by getting them into pairs and asking them to practice the exercise.

"You're going to faint," he murmured into her hair, he hadn't realised how close they were until it had brushed his lips.

"I am NOT," she growled but she couldn't even loosen herself from Fred's grip.

"I know you too well, Snape."

"Get off of me, you..." her voice trailed off as she fainted briefly. Fred bent down so he was able to get her seated and she came to again.

He bent down in front of her and couldn't help but laugh a little. "You were saying?"

"Shut up," her eyes were firmly closed and she didn't seem to be able to bear the light.

"I'm taking you to the hospital wing, we need Madam Pomfrey to check you out in case you've had a concussion or something."

"I'll give you a concussion, Weasley," she murmured as he helped her up again. He put an arm around her waist and led her out of the room, dodging spells as they went.

"Don't blow our cover!" George called after them.

"I won't!" Fred called over his shoulder, they exited the room and the door closed behind them.

They walked to the hospital wing in silence and when Lucy was more conscious she turned to him. "You can let go now."

"Of course," his arm retreated and hung loosely at his side.

They made it to the hospital wing and Fred knocked on the open door. Madam Pomfrey looked up from her work and then walked over to them.

"Miss Snape, Mr Weasley, what can I do for you?" She folded her arms and looked somewhat disappointed for a moment. "Please don't tell me that you've got yourself into a bit of trouble together?"

"What?" Fred's eyes went wide. "No!"

"Thank goodness, now what's the problem?"

"I fell and hit my head," Lucy shrugged. "Do you mind checking to see if my brain cells are still all there?"

Madam Pomfrey chortled. "Well I don't know about that but I can certainly check out the state of your head." She turned to Fred as she led Lucy over to one of the hospital beds. "You can go."

"I want to stay," he stood his ground.

"Very well but don't get in the way."

Fred nodded and followed them, he sat on the bed opposite to the one Lucy sat upon.

Madam Pomfrey inspected the back of Lucy's head and tutted when she saw blood. "Oh deary, you had quite the fall didn't you?"

Lucy brushed it off. "These things happen," she stared straight at Fred.

"I'll get you fixed up no problem. I must've told you about the time you came here when you were very young?"

"No?" Lucy turned slightly to face her. Lucy had been visiting Hogwarts even before she received her letter, her father had no one to look after her at home and couldn't leave her. So he'd bring her to Hogwarts and she'd spent the majority of her childhood exploring the castle. Of course, Snape had lessons to teach and when he did he'd leave her with a trusted member of staff who was willing to watch over her. Lucy remembered Professor McGonagall always willing to show her the secrets of Hogwarts and Professor Dumbledore's kind face as he told her stories and offered her sherbet lemons. But she couldn't quite remember her first encounter with Madam Pomfrey.

"You must've been off exploring on your own and had tripped and scraped your knee. Your father had told you to come to me if ever you were injured and one day I finally got to meet you but you were in tears. You were only a dear little thing and you asked me oh so politely if I'd fix your knee. Of course I did but by the time I'd done your father had already been running riot for half an hour trying to seek your whereabouts and when he arrived he was screaming bloody murder! He was only worried of course and you were just glad to see him," Madam Pomfrey sighed all of a sudden. "I never thought I'd see Severus as a father."

"Madam Pomfrey?"

All turned to look up at the entrance.

"Talk of the devil," Madam Pomfrey whispered, a small smile on her face as Snape stormed into the room.