Chapter 32: Heights, Knights and Frights

Immediately after Shona had finished her dinner she left the Great Hall, leaving Lucy, Matt and Dean to discuss...well, Shona hadn't been paying attention as to what they were discussing. She didn't really care to be honest, she hadn't even joined in the conversation because she was so nervous about meeting Ben in the library that she'd forgot her social skills. 

Ben hadn't been in the Great Hall which made Shona feel even worse, she'd started thinking that he'd jumped off of the Astronomy tower to get out of studying with her. But just in case he was in fact still alive, Shona had grabbed him a couple of pastries from desert. 

She hopped up the moving staircases, one by one until she made it to the portrait. Shona huffed the password and the door swung open for her, allowing her to go inside. She then climbed the last flight of stairs to the girls dormitory and found herself alone inside that room. 

Shona loved her dormitory, it was one of the best things that had happened to her. Some Friday nights, she and everyone else would bring in some sweets from Honeydukes and they'd sit there moaning about people as well as playing truth or dare and devouring the sweets one by one. Shona was sure Lucy would enjoy doing this but like always her bunk remained empty as she slept alone in her own bedroom. 

Shona had never quite understood Lucy's moral for this but never questioned it, maybe it was because she felt safer knowing Snape was around. After all, Lucy had been adopted once and Shona could only imagine the whipping's Lucy had gotten. 

She reached under her bed and pulled out a pile of books, everyone else kept their books on their bedside cabinet but Shona preferred to leave them under her bed as a sense of rebellion. She'd done it since first year when she didn't study at all and even now when she did study, she preferred to leave them there as an act of rebellion. 

She spread the books out on her bed and admired them, every subject she took she had a textbook for. The thought would make her gag if she was younger but now she'd finally got into studying. But now it was even better when she was doing it with Ben. 

Ben. 

Benjamin Truman. 

He was going to study with her for a second time. Shona had no idea as to why he had accepted, maybe Lucy had put him in a headlock and threatened to beat him up along with Matt and Dean. Ben wasn't one who seemed to like a fight so just agreed to it to save him from injuries. He was going ahead with this not for her, but for his safety. 

Shona cursed herself for over thinking and threw all her books in her bag before forcing it shut with annoyance. Nobody would ever like her, even if Ben hadn't done this to save his skin or a dare he'd only do it one more time because he didn't like Shona much. 

'Oh for goodness sakes...' Shona thought with a growl. 

'Stop panicking, you're putting me off.' Lucy's voice ran through Shona's head in reply. 

'From what?' Shona thought rudely. 'Kissing Matt?' 

'No, from a conversation we're having. Stop panicking about it and just go and see him, you never know what he's going to say or do. You're just thinking about worse case scenarios because you're scared of the unknown. Just trust me on this one.' 

'It's not easy, you've already had two boyfriend's and you know how to deal with this sort of thing. I don't.' 

'Well, as I have experience with this sort of thing maybe you should trust me!' 

Shona felt Lucy's presence leave her brain and she was left to her own thoughts. Lucy was right, though, she had had experience with this sort of thing and she knew exactly what to expect. Shona decided to trust her and forget about her worries. 

When she had made it to the library, she had managed to convince herself that nothing bad was going to happen and she was just imagining things. With the pastries wrapped in a napkin, held in her hand she strolled into the library with the little confidence she had conjured up. 

The library was mostly empty except for those who had decided to skip dinner. Even Madam Pince was no where in sight. Because of this, Shona stopped hiding the pastries and walked around the library looking for Ben. 

Ben was sat at the back of the room, his nose in a book. In front of him were plenty of other books he had picked out that took his interest. Shona almost sighed at the sight of him because watching him study was pleasing to her. 

"Hello," Shona announced her arrival with a little wave. 

"Oh! Hello!" Ben smiled at her brightly. "I wasn't expecting you this early." 

"Well it doesn't take me long to devour a dinner!" 

'Shut up.' Shona thought to herself, she shouldn't have said that. It made her sound pathetic and greedy. 

"I brought you some pastries because you weren't at dinner." Shona placed the two pastries on the table which Ben looked at hungrily. 

"Thank you so much! I'm starving!" Ben took the first one and immediately began eating it. 

"Why didn't you come to dinner?" 

"I've got so much work to catch up on I don't have time to stop and eat." 

Shona sat down next to him and emptied out her bag of all the books she had taken with her. "Well you should you know, it's bad to skip meals." 

"I know I should but N.E.W.T year is becoming too much for me," Ben sighed, brushing his hands off before beginning the next pastry. 

'Okay, honey, I know you want a date with him so I've come to help.' 

Shona's head snapped up and she saw Lucy standing a couple of aisles away, browsing the book shelf with Matt. Her eyes flicked once towards Shona before quickly turning back to the book shelf. Matt didn't know that Shona and Ben were here and was totally oblivious to the situation. 

'Stop interferring! I can get a date on my own!' Shona hissed. 

'I've come to help, trust me on this. I know you're struggling.' 

"Oh that book looks good, come on, Matt," Lucy pulled a hardback book off of the shelf, Matt also pulled one off at the same time. Lucy noticed this. "Lets take them both." 

"Shall we sit over there?" Matt suggested, gesturing to a sofa close to where Ben and Shona were sitting at their table but not too close. 

"Yes, I think so." 

Lucy and Matt sat on the sofa, Matt's arm was instantly around Lucy's waist and they began reading the book that Matt had chosen, first. Lucy's eyes flicked up once again at Shona but luckily Matt hadn't noticed. 

"So...what do you want to study?" Ben asked, continuing their conversation as Shona had gone silent. 

'Defense Against the Dark Arts,' Lucy called out in her mind. 'He struggled today.' 

"Defense Against the Dark Arts?" Shona suggested, pushing her textbook towards Ben. "It's always a good one to revise." 

"That sounds good, I struggled today," Ben admitted with a small laugh. 

Lucy smirked. 

Ben opened up the textbook and found the page about non-verbal spells. The two of them read it in silence. But Shona wasn't really reading it, she was more interested in the fact that she was here with Ben and he wasn't rejecting her. 

"Do you understand it now?" Shona asked. 

"I understand the concept of it but I don't know how to do these non-verbal spells," Ben replied, feeling disappointed in himself. 

'Teach him how to do non-verbal spells. Madam Pince isn't here so she won't tell you off,' Lucy sighed in her mind.

"I'll teach you," Shona beamed and took out her wand. "Madam Pince isn't here to tell us off so we can practise them." 

"What spell do you propose we start with?" 

'Wingardium Leviosa.' 

"Wingardium Leviosa." Shona turned to the book and held out her wand. "You've just got to keep chanting the spell in your head and really focus on the object, that's how I managed to do it." 

After Shona had finished talking, the book flew into the air then landed back on the table again causing Ben to laugh. "Amazing!" He cheered. "I'd like to try." 

Ben took out his wand and aimed it at the book, he focused really hard. After about a minute or two, the book rose into the air but then landed on Shona's foot. 

"I'm so sorry!" Ben gasped. 

"It's fine," Shona smiled, picking up the book and placing it back on the desk. 

The two of them continued to study all the areas they were weak on in various subjects. When they were just about done, Matt and Lucy came walking past. Lucy had a sheet of parchment in her hand while Matt carried the two books they had chosen. 

"Oh! Hello, Shona!" Lucy smiled. 

"Hey," Shona muttered, feeling a little awkward. 

"I'd forgotten you two were coming here tonight, how silly of me!" Lucy placed a hand over her mouth innocently. "I've just written out when Quidditch practise is going to be." 

"Really?" Shona was suddenly excited. "When?" 

Lucy cleared her throat and read out the notice she had just written. "Dear all members of the Gryffindor Quidditch team, including substitutes. I am inviting you all to practise tomorrow straight after lessons have ended. I expect you all to be there so we can show the Slytherin's who's boss. See you there, Lucy." 

"Why tomorrow?" 

"Why not? We need as much practise as we can get," Lucy shrugged, taking Matt's hand. "Well I'll see you two later, I'm going to go pin this in the Gryffindor common room on the notice board. I expect you at practise, Shona. Bye!" 

Lucy and Matt walked off, hand in hand leaving Ben and Shona to watch them as they left. Ben sighed and closed Shona's book and handed it back to her. "I think that's our cue to leave as well, I think we've done enough for tonight, don't you?" 

"Yes, I think so," Shona agreed, stifling a yawn. 

"I've enjoyed tonight, haven't you?" Ben asked as he gathered up the books and put them all in a pile. 

Shona shoved all her books back into her bag. "I have." 

"I hope we can do it again sometime," Ben inquired as the two of them walked out of the library. 

"I'd love to, I'm always free. Apart from tomorrow when I have Quidditch practise." 

"I'll come down and watch you if you'd like," Ben suggested. They stopped outside of the library. 

"If it's not too much inconvenience for you."  

"Of course not." 

The two fell silent again and Shona stared at her feet, this was where Ben became uninterested in her and wished he hadn't asked her to study again, Shona felt like crying. 

"I'll see you tomorrow," Ben whispered and Shona looked up just in time for Ben to kiss her on the cheek. 

He walked off, not letting Shona see he was blushing, to the Ravenclaw common room. Shona was left to stand there in shock and try and comprehend what had just happened. 

'Ben kissed me.' 

'Oh my God, Ben just kissed me.'

Shona ran in the opposite direction, to the Gryffindor common room. 'LUCY!' Shona began screaming in her mind. 'LUCY! LUCY!' 

'WHAT?! OH FOR GOODNESS SAKES YOU'RE GIVING ME A HEADACHE, KEEP QUIET WILL YOU?!' 

'WHERE ARE YOU!' 

'The Gryffindor common room!' 

'Wait there, I've got something to tell you.' 

Shona darted up to the common room at top speed, when she made it she slipped through the portrait door just after someone had opened it and found Lucy and Matt standing at the notice board admiring it. 

"Yes?" Lucy prompted, rubbing her temples with her fingers, attempting to cure her headache. 

"Ben kissed me," Shona blurted out. 

"He what?!" Lucy gasped. 

"Ben kissed me! Shona repeated excitedly. "On the cheek!" 

"Ben has the hots for Shona!" Matt mocked with a laugh. 

"Can you believe that?!" 

"I told you I was right!" Lucy grinned. 

"I know! I'm forever going to take your advice when it comes to boys now!" 

"What do you see in Ben, Shona? He's weird," Matt joked. 

"At least he's not a fixer-upper like you," Shona snorted.

Matt huffed. "I changed for the best." 

"Be quiet, Matt, this isn't about you," Lucy waved her hand and turned to Shona. "He kissed you so he likes you and that means you'll be going on more dates so be prepared!" 

"Ben likes me!" Shona cheered, realisation kicking in. "I will be prepared, I promise!" Shona ran towards the girls dormitories. "I'll see you two later!" 

When Shona disappeared Matt turned to Lucy. "I find it offensive she called me a fixer-upper." 

Lucy laughed and took Matt's arm. "Come on, lets go." 

"I mean it!" 

"I know," Lucy laughed harder as they walked down the moving staircases. 

*      *      * 

"Would you look at that," Matt laughed. "Ellen's actually written something nice about us." 

It was the next day and all lessons had finished. As soon as Lucy, Matt and Dean had exited Transfiguration they had encountered a group of Quick Quills members selling the latest issue. Matt had grabbed a copy and was already reading it. 

"Oh wow, care to share it?" Lucy suggested, peering at the article. She could see the one photo Ellen had taken of her and Matt whilst they had been kissing. 

"'Lucy Snape and Matt Jarvin were seen at break yesterday sharing a touching moment. Their relationship is still going strong and my hope's is that they remain Hogwarts' greatest couple!'" Matt read aloud with a smile. "And that's only on the front page, I can't wait to read the whole article." 

"You can read it down on the Quidditch pitch if you want because that's where I'm going now as I've promised my team that I would." 

"Sure, I'd like to see you train. See if you do have the potential to beat Slytherin," Matt joked. 

"She does! She's so amazing!" Dean chimed in happily. "I can remember watching the first match that Lucy played for this season and it was fantastic!" 

"Thank you, Dean," Lucy beamed at him then turned to Matt. "Do you have any talent when it comes to Quidditch?" 

"Not really, I tried it at Collins Academy and I failed miserably. I think I'll just stick with throwing the javelin." 

When they made it up to Snape's quarters, Matt and Dean stepped inside while Lucy ran to her bedroom to get changed into her Quidditch uniform. 

"Cousins, Jarvin," Snape nodded to each of them as he walked past to get his issue of the Daily Prophet. 

"Hello, Sir!" Dean waved with a smile. "How are you?" 

"Well, thank you," Snape replied before sitting down and reading his newspaper. Matt didn't say anything, he just folded his arms and wished Lucy could get changed a little quicker. "Don't look so awkward, both of you sit down." 

Matt and Dean took a seat opposite Snape. Matt knew he wasn't welcome here and he hated it. Lucy was such a nice person but Snape was terrible, he just judged everyone. It made matters worse that Matt was Lucy's boyfriend. 

Lucy stepped into the room carrying her broomstick. The red and yellow cape that adorned her uniform fluttered slightly as she walked, she felt very bold wearing this uniform and hadn't had the oppurtunity to wear it for a long time. 

"Why so tense?" Lucy wondered as she began plaiting her hair quickly. 

"No reason," Snape shook his head. 

"I don't think your dad likes me, Lucy," Matt pointed out, just to get it out there. He didn't care anymore, he accepted the fact that Snape hated him. 

"He doesn't like a lot of people, don't feel offended," Lucy sighed. "Right, dad?" 

"No, Jarvin," Snape cleared his throat, ignoring Lucy as he folded his paper. "I'm just wary. How would you feel if your daughter began dating a boy with a bad reputation who could potentially harm her?" 

"Not good I guess, but I'd get to know him and see how it went from there. I wouldn't be so blind," Matt replied simply. 

"I'm not blind, I've seen what you're like. That's why this is your third school." 

"I've changed," Matt put emphasis on the word. "I've changed for the better and I changed for Lucy. I'm sorry if you haven't seen it yet, perhaps you should get to know me more." 

"Very well," Snape and Matt stood up at exactly the same time. "I will." 

"Thank you," Matt nodded before walking to the door. 

"Pardon me for being biased." 

"It's fine." 

Lucy, Matt and Dean walked out of Snape's quarters and all the way down the stairs. Matt had his hands in his pockets and was grinding his teeth. Lucy noticed his frustration and turned to him. 

"Matt, I'm sorry about my dad," Lucy sighed. "He's a pain." 

"He is, he shouldn't treat me that way when he doesn't even know me," Matt scowled. "I'm sorry." 

"No, it's okay. I know he can be. I, out of all people should know. He's been very...off this year." 

"I'd like to see the happy side of him," Matt rolled his eyes. 

"He's had better days, so's Shona. So have I." 

"Lucy!" A small first year boy with black hair came running up to Lucy with a note in his hand. "This is for you, it's from Professor Slughorn." 

"Why thank you," Lucy smiled at the first year kindly before taking the note and unfolding it. "Another Slug club party, allowing you to take another member with you. Care to join me, Matt?" 

"Of course, I'd love to," Matt smiled, returning to his usual mood. 

"What about you, Dean? Up for more partying?" 

"Yes!" Dean replied in awe. 

"Should I let Professor Slughorn know you'll be attending?" The boy asked. 

"If you don't mind that would be lovely," Lucy said and the first year ran off to find Professor Slughorn.  "I envy the first years." 

"Why?" Matt frowned. 

"Because they're so naïve and haven't got much to worry about." 

"That's a good point," Dean nodded as they made it out of the castle and began walking down to the Quidditch pitch. 

"Looking on the bright side, at least I've got Quidditch to look forward to." 

"I wish I could play Quidditch, it would be so much fun! We didn't have many sports on the Medieval Islands. It just seemed to be kill the witches and wizards..." 

"Nothing's impossible, Dean," Lucy patted him on the shoulder before walking onto the Quidditch Pitch leaving Matt and Dean to find a seat in the stands. 

"Lucy!" Ron grinned at her as she made her way onto the pitch. "What are we doing today?" 

"General practise," Lucy smiled back before raising her voice and facing her team. "ALRIGHT, LISTEN UP!" 

Everyone stopped what they were doing and faced Lucy so she could address them. Shona looked up momentarily and saw Ben walk into the stands, holding a book. She felt her heart jump into her throat just as Lucy began to speak. 

"Ron. W you go to the right goal posts, Cormac. M you go to the left goal posts," Lucy began. "Katie. B and Dean. T you be Chasers together, same goes for Ginny and Shona. Jimmy you can be one beater and Ritchie you can be the other beater. I shall be one seeker and Harry shall be the other seeker, any questions?" 

Everyone shook their heads and so they got onto their brooms and threw out all the equipment. Lucy slipped on her glasses and they all rose into the air. A whistle was blown and they began the game. 

Lucy thought every member of her team (including the substitutes) did a really good job and did their roles perfectly. Lucy had no concern over anyone as she darted between them looking for the snitch and after twenty minutes she had caught it. 

Lucy heard Matt cheer as she held it up in the air. She let it go, however, so they could begin another game. 

There were cheers from the few who had decided to come and watch the practise in the stands. When the second practise game was over which took forty minutes this time, giving them a good solid hour of practise. Lucy summoned her team down to the ground and they followed her. 

"Good work, everyone and I mean it. You all did amazing, I'm sorry for the lack of practise but I know you're all wonderful," Lucy granted. "I'll get some more up soon before the game so we know we can beat Slytherin, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw." 

When all the equipment was packed away, Lucy carried it back to the cupboard while everyone else left. Whilst attempting to lift up the trunk Matt came down from the stands and to her aid. He lifted up the other end and they carried it together. 

"Damn your team are lazy," Matt smirked as they set the trunk down in the equipment cupboard off the side of the pitch. 

"But they're good at Quidditch," Lucy shrugged as Dean also came down from the stands at the same time as Ben to greet Shona. "Look at that...young love." 

Dean found himself laughing. "How ironic." 

"I'm glad though, Shona can stop winging she can't get a date." 

"Are they going out yet?" Matt wondered. 

"Not yet, technically. But before long I have a feeling they will do." 

The three of them began walking back up to the castle, Lucy carrying her broom proudly. She didn't know why but she felt strange, despite practise. As if something was brewing inside her, attempting to slowly devour her insides. 

"You alright?" Matt asked as they made it into the Entrance Hall. 

"I think so," Lucy nodded just as it began pouring down with rain. "Well I planned practise at exactly the right time." 

"Indeed," Dean agreed.

"I'm going to go and throw my bag in the common room, I'll be back," Matt announced suddenly. 

"Do you want me to come with you?" Lucy suggested. 

"No, you go and get changed into your school uniform and I'll meet you halfway or something." 

"Okay, see you in a minute." 

"Love you, bye!" Matt kissed her on the lips quickly before running off to the Slytherin common room. 

"And then there were two," Lucy winked at Dean as they made their way to Snape's quarters. 

"I like exploring Hogwarts, just us two," Dean admitted. "Not that it's not fun with Matthew, too." 

"You don't have to be embarrassed, Dean, you can always ask to explore Hogwarts just us two. I wouldn't mind it in the slightest." 

"Thank you!" Dean gasped just as a classroom door opened and Jessica stepped out. 

"Oh! Dean! Just the man I wanted to speak to! Is it alright if I borrow him, Lucy?" Jessica asked. 

"Of course," Lucy nodded and waved to Dean. "You know where to find me."

Dean saluted her. "I'll see you in a minute!" 

Lucy walked off and suddenly felt that strange feeling return to her, it had now settled in her mind but wasn't giving her any visions. It was just like she was on the verge of a vision. 

Lucy clutched her broomstick and pursed her lips as her footsteps echoed down a corridor. She found herself running after a little while and she didn't know why. It was as though she was being chased. 

When she'd made it up the many steps to Snape's quarters, she found it deserted. She ran to her bedroom and whipped off her clothes quickly, in case there was something behind her. When she was back in her school uniform and was adjusting her tie, she grabbed her bag and made her way back out of Snape's quarters. 

Lucy told herself that she would go and find Dean, then Matt and then possibly find Shona. She craved company and she didn't know why, being surrounded by people made her feel more at ease and she hadn't realised this until now. That's why she'd asked Matt to stay with her some nights, to stop herself from being alone. If she was with someone she was less likely to be scared. 

Lucy took a different route than she usually did just because it was quicker. The hallways were deserted and Lucy felt as if she was missing out on some special event because of this. Her pace quickened and so did her heartbeat. 

She rounded a corner. 

Lucy froze. 

She almost choked on her next breath as the bad feeling overwhelmed her and made her face fall. Lucy was at the beginning of a corridor, it was purely brick and was even more deserted than all the other corridors she had passed because at least those corridors had portraits to keep a watchful eye over her. 

Lucy held the wall for support and clutched her chest as her hands began to shake uncontrollably. She clenched her fists together and eventually they stopped after she'd dug her fingernails so far into her palms they'd almost started bleeding. This made her panic and she didn't know why because she wasn't afraid of blood. 

'Calm down, calm down, calm down...CALM DOWN!' Lucy screamed at herself in her mind. 

'You're mental just like they say!' The old Matt said to her and she screamed, she fell to her knees. 

Clank. 

Clank. 

Clank. 

Lucy looked up to find the source of the sound, she shook off her daze and saw someone at the end of the corridor. She assumed it was just a student coming to walk down the corridor to get somewhere but they weren't moving. 

"H-Hello?" Lucy stammered but there was no reply. As soon as the words left her mouth she understood that she'd made a mistake. "Oh God..." 

At the end of the corridor there was a knight in shining armour. 

It had come to attack her. 

Lucy knew where the bad feeling had come from. 

"Oh God no, please let this not be happening," Lucy groaned and stood up slowly. 

The knight began to advance towards her, it's sword held at the ready. Every 'clank' it's armour made, Lucy's heart began to beat faster. Lucy reached into her bag desperately and pulled out Merlin's sword. 

This was one of Zuc's knights, Lucy knew it. This was like the one Lucy had encountered not long ago as it had Zuc's crest engraved in it's armour. Before the knight had chance to reach her first, Lucy ran towards it and slashed desperately at where it's chest would be. 

'I don't need this, I don't need this. Go away, go away. Why did I think it was a good idea to go around the castle alone? How did it get in here, why is this happening to me? I'm not prepared for this!' Lucy thought, her whole body shook. 

The sword didn't even make a mark in the knights armour, the knight swung his sword at her in retaliation. She dived to the side and held up her sword. The knight fought against it before she aimed for it's helmet, no use. 

'Dean, dad, Shona, Matt, somebody come and find me!' 

Lucy reached out her hand and grabbed hold of the knight's shield but it had hold of it pretty tight. She stopped tugging as the knight aimed for her head, she moved out of the way. The sword hit the ground and Lucy took the opportunity to run behind the knight and plunge her sword into it's back. 

'I'll kill you!' 

The knight staggered forward but did not fall, Lucy took her sword out from the knight and leaned back just as it swiped it's sword at her. She then stood up and tried aiming for where it's shins would be but she still had no luck. 

She was caught off guard by a sudden flash of lighting and the knight swiped at her leg, she didn't have time to clamp her mouth shut before the scream came out of her mouth. The knight then took another go, this time aiming for her chest when Lucy held her sword up just in time. 

They battled against each other and Lucy was brought to her knees. This knight was stronger than the last one's she'd fought. All of sudden she was able to get up and she felt people crowding around her. People were watching her at either ends of the corridor. 

Lucy used more of her strength and jumped up, her breath heavy. She yelled at the knight and swung her sword sideways at it's middle, causing a dent to form in the armour. 

"Lucy!" 

Lucy heard Matt yell behind her but she didn't turn around as she brought the knight to it's knees by kicking it in the chest. She swung her sword sideways again, chopping off it's helmet like she was decapitating it. 

Lucy looked behind her and saw Matt who was only three metres away from her, the rest of the crowd including Jessica and Dean behind him. Lucy then saw at the other end of the corridor Snape, Ben and Shona were there along with the other half of the crowd that had come to watch. 

"CLEAR THE CORRIDOR!" Snape barked at the top of his voice and the corridor began to clear of people. 

Matt walked the three metres that separated him from Lucy and held onto her immediately, enclosing her in a hug. "Are you hurt?" 

"Yes but it's not major, it can be fixed easily," Lucy nodded to her leg as Jessica and Dean ran froward to inspect the knight along with Snape, Shona and Ben. 

"How did this get in here? There's been tight security in this castle since we all came back from the summer!" Snape demanded. 

"There's always a flaw in the system," Ben muttered. 

"TRUMAN, ARE YOU QUESTIONING PROFESSOR DUMBLEDORE'S SECURITY?!" 

Ben flushed red. "No, Sir! I was just suggesting that there could be a flaw in the system!" 

"Well if you're so bloody smart you should find it!" Snape raged, making Ben sink down. 

"This is absolutely insane," Jessica frowned as she bent down to inspect the knight that Lucy had just defeated. "I want to know how this knight got in because it's clearly marked as one of Zuc's." 

Dean piped up. "Zuc has acess to the portal of England now, so that obviously has something to do with it." 

"Yes, of course," Jessica nodded. "But how did it get into Hogwarts? Like Severus said, there's tight security in this castle." 

"Maybe it was sent directly into the castle as a test?" Lucy sniffed, Matt still holding onto her. "It wouldn't surprise me if it was. Now Zuc knows he can get knights into the castle he can start his war." 

"Or maybe it followed us when we were coming back from the Quidditch pitch and blended in with those knights in the Entrance Hall?" Matt suggested. 

"That's a point, Jarvin," Snape admitted. "Maybe it even followed some of the others." 

"It must have seen the doors open and decided it was safe to go in," Dean added. "That's just one of the ways it could have got in." 

"There's plenty of ways it could have got in but we can't dwell on it, we need to report this to Dumbledore and get the security tightened even more." Snape began to head off, Lucy's face fell. 

"Dad?" She called. 

Snape whipped around impatiently. "Yes, Lucy?" 

"Aren't you going to ask if I'm alright?" Lucy wondered, her leg was starting to hurt a little more. Usually that would have been the first thing that Snape would ask her if she'd got into a fight with something Medieval related. 

He'd always ask if she was okay. After a day of school, after a bad incident, after a good incident. He'd always cared about her well being, that had been his number one priority since the day he had met her. 

Snape looked at her strange, as if she was some creature that had stepped into his life all of a sudden. Matt looked at him with a frown, waiting for him to say something kind to Lucy. For him to stop, even, for him to take her off of Matt so he could support her. So they could share a father, daughter moment together. 

Snape frowned at Lucy and spoke impatiently. "I know you're okay." 

With that, he stormed off.