Chapter 27: Deals

That night, Lucy had a nightmare. Snape was sat on the train, heading back towards London. He wasn't even reading the Prophet, he was just sat there with one hand resting in his lap and the other lent on the small ledge by the window, clutching his head at the same time. It seemed as though he had some terrible headache and it refused to leave him be. 

The hand resting on his lap was not covered by the usual sleeve, the sleeve was rolled up and there sat a tattoo upon his forearm. Although, it wasn't really a tattoo, yet it was etched into his skin like one. It was a picture of a skull with a snake coiling around it forming some sort of pattern, it could be considered art if the true meaning wasn't so menacing. The picture seemed to pulse like it held some sort of strength and was desperately calling for Snape's attention, but it failed to get any. 

Lucy watched anxiously as the place seemed to get darker, as though dementors were about to come along and attack Snape. But Lucy sensed that something much worse than dementors was about to occur.

Snape didn't seem to notice the changing atmosphere, instead he closed his eyes and drifted off slightly. For a moment it seemed like Lucy was there with Snape, she turned towards the door and saw Zuc. Zuc was silent but not still, he opened the carriage door and stepped inside. 

He then, after what felt like a lifetime of silence, grabbed hold of Snape and threw him on the ground. Blood spattered everywhere as he was stabbed repetitively. Lucy tried to grab hold of Zuc and pull him away but she couldn't; it was as though she was a ghost. 

When Zuc moved away Lucy saw Snape on the floor, his face covered in blood. His eyes stared straight ahead and showed no life. There was nothing left of him except his body which was a reminder that he had actually been alive. 

Lucy's eyes snapped open and she stared at her ceiling. She couldn't comprehend what had just happened but dismissed it quickly; she couldn't ponder over something which was certainly fake...

"Just a dream," Lucy snapped at herself through gritted teeth and repeated the phrase over and over as she got changed into her school uniform. "Just a dream." She confirmed finally as she pinned her prefects badge to her chest. 

"Lucy! You've got to get down to the great hall!" Jessica called from outside her bedroom door. 

"I know! I'm just coming!" Lucy lied as she sat down on her bed and held Merlin's sword in her hands.   She stared at the hilt and then whispered. "I won't fail you, dad."

"Lucy!" Jessica prompted. Lucy frowned; Jessica nagged more than Snape ever did. 

Lucy stood up, shoved Merlin's sword under her bed and opened her door where she found Jessica standing there. She smiled at her and Lucy tried to smile back but it was as though all the muscles had stopped working in her face...or she just couldn't be bothered to smile. As though she only saved them for Snape and when she was truly happy.

"You have potions first," Jessica said happily as she pointed to Lucy's time table; Jessica looked very excited to be teaching her very first lesson, which although Lucy would rather her teach it than anyone else, she felt like an intruder in her father's place. 

"Are you still under the alias of Miss Wave?"

"Indeed, I don't need anyone to know who I am yet...unless Shona has let it slip..."

"Shona hasn't let it slip, I can promise you." Lucy nodded, took her timetable from Jessica (well, almost snatched it) and then headed towards the door. "I'm going to go down to the great hall and come straight back here when I'm done; the Slytherin prefects are patrolling the corridors today. The Gryffindors get a day off." 

"That's good, have — " Jessica was about to complete her sentence when Lucy exited the room and slammed the door behind her. "Fun..." 

Jessica stared at the door and her shoulders slumped, she really wanted to get to know Lucy more but she couldn't find the way to tell her that she wanted to look after her...

Just as much as Snape was. 

*      *      *

"Good morning," Jessica said awkwardly as her fifth year students filed into the room and sat down in their seats. It was lesson one: potions. She waited for them all to settle down and then she began her little introduction which wasn't really necessary as most knew who she was. "I am Miss Wave — as you probably are aware — and I shall be taking over as Potions Professor." 

There were a few murmurs in the room as the students discussed how Snape got fired, Lucy remained awkwardly silent. This lasted for a few moments before silence fell again. 

"I-I believe that you just finished Chapter 9 — " Jessica whispered nervously as she picked up Lucy's potions book and turned to Chapter 10 and looked at the contents. "I think you'll be studying...um..." 

Lucy shook her head. "More complex potions in Chapter 10." 

"Ur yes, thank you, Lucy." Jessica placed her potions book back on her desk and then approached the chalk board where she shakily picked up a piece of chalk and pressed it against the board where she slowly wrote 'complex potions.' Leaving the class in suspense for a little while. When Lucy had seen what she had written; she groaned, that was just a summary of what the chapter was. "I guess we'll learn - I mean...I'll teach you all about complex potions today!"

Malfoy sniggered as Jessica picked up Lucy's potions book again and began flicking through it. Lucy tapped her fingers on the table impatiently as Jessica tried to find the right page. Lucy's expectations were either far too high after Snape's teaching or Jessica was just terrible at teaching potions. 

"How about I teach you about the cure for boils?" Jessica asked nervously and that's when Lucy lost it. She stood bolt upright and stalked towards the board, she snatched the piece of chalk out of Jessica's hand. She then began furiously writing away on the board: Draught of Peace.

"Let me do the honours," Lucy spat at Jessica in a foul tone; if the class needed teaching, Lucy would do it herself. 

Jessica slowly sat down in Lucy's seat and looked down in shame as Lucy stood in front of the board as though waiting for something important. She then began to address the class. 

"Someone tell me what the Draught of Peace is." Lucy said, cutting into the tense silence that had formed in the class. She wasn't really asking the question, it was more of a demand as though this was more of a serious matter rather than just learning about a simple potion which most would never use. 

Hermione's hand slowly raised up. "The Draught of Peace relieves anxiety and agitation but if the drinker takes too much or adds to much ingredients it can put them into a deep sleep...perhaps even a permenant one." 

"Good," Lucy muttered as she turned around and wrote 'anxiety' and 'agitation' under the title. She was showing no remorse and resembled her father greatly, which was surprising because her usual persona was in no way like this. "A useful potion if taken responsibly..."

"Why haven't you taken this before then?" Shona frowned. "It would stop you getting so anxious about Zuc." 

"I wouldn't drink it responsibly, like a drug I'd become addicted. Therefore I would be under a permanant sleep." Lucy shrugged, in no way feeling embarrassed by her friends question. "I was the one to make that decision and not my father, he suggested I take it some time ago but I refused as soon as I discovered the side effects." 

"Right..." Shona muttered awkwardly as Lucy took out her wand and opened the potions cupboard effortlessly.

"Look in your potions textbooks and find the Draught of Peace, there will be the ingredients for it listed inside. Brew the potion and do so successfully, this will be an individual task." 

Jessica stood up and Lucy raced to the cupboards where she picked out the ingredients for the Draught which were: moonstone, syrup of hellebore, porcupine quills, Valerian root and a unicorn horn. She could have done this blindfolded. 

Before anyone else could, she dumped all the ingredients on her desk as Jessica stood at the front of the class awkwardly. Lucy took the porcupine quills and began furiously crushing them so they became a fine powder, along with the unicorn horn. She didn't even look at her textbook once as she took out her cauldron and began — what felt like — throwing the ingrediants in and stirring the Draught. 

"Pst." Shona nudged Lucy as Lucy herself was wrapped up in her own thoughts, too busy to notice. "Pst!" 

"What do you want?" Lucy frowned as she stirred, she held the cauldron with her free hand almost in a protective manner. As if telling Shona to back off. 

"How did you get that Unicorn horn into a fine powder? I can't get it to go right..." 

"Just crush it," Lucy shrugged as she gave her cauldron one final stir and peered over the top of it to admire her work. The potion was a turquoise blue and looked like a very appealing Draught, unlike some of the other potions Lucy had either brewed or taken in her life. 

"B-But?" Shona looked at the porcupine quills scattered on her desk and tried desperately to get her head around the potion...potions had never been her favourite subject...

"I've done!" Lucy shouted boredly over the dull hum of voices. Jessica got up quickly and trotted over to Lucy's potion and she looked at it and then at her. 

"Um..." Jessica stammered. 

"Yes it should be turquoise." 

"Oh, that's good..." Jessica laughed nervously just as Umbridge strutted into the classroom and she stood at the front. She cleared her throat, but there was no need to. Everyone had stopped talking and what they were doing, all their attention was on Umbridge. 

"Good morning, children," Umbridge smiled, twisting her ugly face into a sweet smile. They all stared. "I wish to speak to Shona McGuire, where are you, dear?" 

"Here..." Shona muttered miserably as she raised her hand. 

"Oh yes, I wish to talk to you." 

"Here?" 

"Yes, here." Umbridge stood in front of Lucy and Shona's desk and looked at Shona as the whole class stared intently. "I heard that you are such a terrible student in classes and it needs to stop." 

"What did I do this time?" Shona asked as she picked at the hole in her jumper. 

"Oh no, this is in general. I think we all know that you aren't the most pleasant child to have around — " (Shona frowned.) " — so, I have come to a conclusion that something needs to be done about it." 

"What are you going to do?" Shona asked but it was more of a demand more of a question. 

"I have devised a place where we put all the naughty children, we put them there in their free time and make them pay for their wrongdoings." 

"I didn't know Hogwarts had a prison." Shona snorted. "So what do I have to do there? Give Filch a foot massage?" 

Umbridge ignored her. "I have also decided that there is a way to prevent you from going there, it is only a simple request." 

"Sure it won't be too bad," Shona shrugged. 

"If Miss Snape gives me Merlin's sword I will happily let you off." 

"What!" Lucy shrieked. "That's not fair!" 

"Life isn't fair," Umbridge shook her head and held out her hand. "The sword please." 

"Did I say I was giving it to you?" 

"So you'd rather your friend have all her free time spent paying for her wrongdoing?" 

Lucy looked at Shona who didn't say anything. She blinked a couple of times and Lucy watched her carefully before she reached down and grabbed her bag but Shona pulled her back. 

"No," Shona said. "Merlin's sword is more important." 

"But you can't go!" Lucy almost whined. "It's not fair!" 

"Merlin's sword is too valuable to give up, Lucky, you have to understand that." 

"And so is your freedom." 

"I couldn't care less about my freedom, I'd rather Merlin's sword be safe." 

Lucy bowed her head in defeat.

"So have you agreed to come, Miss McGuire." 

"Yes." Shona nodded stiffly and Umbridge smiled, then she left without a word. 

"Oh! That's terrible!" Jessica pouted as the dull hum of voices returned in the room. "I can't believe Umbridge is making you do this!" 

"I can," Shona snorted. "I didn't really expect her to let me go down to Honeydukes and let me spend al her money." 

"This is so unfair," Lucy spat and she crossed her arms. "I should have just given her Merlin's sword." 

"No you shouldn't have, Merlin's sword is much more important. I couldn't care less what happens to me, as long as we keep the sword safe." Shona announced wisely just as the bell rung and the students headed off to their second class. Leaving only Jessica, Shona and Lucy. "Besides, it's only like a permanent detention, which I got with Snape anyway." 

"But you'll be OK?" 

"Sure will! I'll chase Mrs. Norris in this 'detention' if she shows up. Maybe even hang her up like a decoration like when she got petrified in second year." 

Lucy smiled. "You take detentions too casually." 

"Maybe I do," Shona shrugged as they both picked up their bags and headed off to second lesson, leaving Jessica to clean up everything for her next class. "But that's how McGuire rolls." 

"Oh be quiet," Lucy laughed. 

"Changing the subject, I know that you'll be getting a message from daddy soon. If you need to send him something back just go and head down to the owlery and go to the top floor and you'll find my brother's owl 'Hoot' — " 

"Hoot?" Lucy butted in. "A bit ironic." 

"Just because my brother got an owl doesn't mean I still got to name him," Shona shrugged. "Anyway, if you need to send any messages just find Hoot and he'll happily deliver them for you." 

Lucy frowned. "Won't your brother have a go at me?" 

"He doesn't care about Hoot anymore, I'm the one who's been looking after him a long with Bruno."

"Where have you kept Bruno, anyway?" 

"Neighbours are looking after him back home in Worthing. As long as he's fed and gets fresh air, he's happy." 

"But what if he runs off?" 

A smile crept up on Shona's lips. "He won't run off, he likes annoying Pete too much." 

*       *       *

Dear Lucy 

I remembered that you had potions today, how did it go? Who's teaching now that I've been fired? And how is it sleeping in the girls dormitories? I never liked the Slytherin boys dormitories, I preferred my own company. 

Please don't blame yourself that I got fired, it was for the best. Besides, it's nice being back at Spinner's end...although I do miss you. That's the only thing I do miss. 

Is Jessica bothering you? If she is tell her from me to leave you alone. You're fine on your own, you can be brave when you want to. Besides, you won at the sword fight that we had. That was rather impressive, I must say...

Do you need to ask me anything? If you do, no matter what it is, I'll do my best to answer it. 

Love always 

Dad 

Lucy was sat in the owlery writing a reply to Snape's letter which sat right next to her. She had her coat wrapped around her because of the cold weather, as well as a scarf, she did hate the cold. 

She placed down her quill next to her ink and picked up her letter and began to read through it, just to se if it was OK: 

To Dad 

You're right, I did have potions today, first lesson. You'll be shocked to know that Jessica is teaching potions and I had to teach the lesson for her...she's absolutely terrible at it. She's asked if I can help plan her lessons which I 'may' have accepted to do (as in do the whole thing for her, she doesn't even know what she's supposed to teach.) 

Surprisingly, Jessica let me stay where I am now that she's got your quarters. She tries to engage conversation with me but I don't really like talking to her as much because I feel safer talking to you. As much as you might disagree I'm quite a shy person and anyone that I don't know has to get to know me a lot before I'm confident to really talk to them. I want to be nice to Jessica but I don't know how...

I haven't cried once since you've gone, promise. I've been brave. I've done everything you asked. I'm doing my absolute best to do everything you've told me to do (apart from study, I'm getting there.) 

Oh, Umbridge came into potions and told Shona because she'd been a trouble maker (say it 'tell me something new.') She announced that Shona would have all her free time taken away from her and she would be in a permanent detention. I could of bailed her out by giving Umbridge Merlin's sword but Shona said no. I don't know if she's wise or all a fool...

I don't really have anything to ask you, but when I do I promise I'll ask you. Don't think I'm suffering in silence, I WILL send you a question when your advice is needed. 

Missing you lots

Lucy x 

Lucy shrugged at her letter and slipped the parchment into an envelope before packing her things into her bag, but holding onto the letter. As she stood up, an owl swooped past her head and she ducked. 

"Wish they wouldn't do that..." Lucy shuddered. "Now where did Shona say Hoot was?" 

Lucy advanced on the old stairs which she feared would break under her weight, she suddenly remembered back to her first year where she had forgotten to mail Snape's Christmas present to him and had to creep slowly along the ledge to reach the only owl that was awake. 

She got to the top floor and looked around nervously, she could almost see her old self stepping along the ledge nervously with Shona holding a pair of binoculars from below. She laughed to herself at the memory and then looked around, she looked at all the owls and tried to remember what Martyn's owl looked like...

"Oh, I like reliving memories," Lucy cringed as she saw she would have to climb the ledge once again. She slid the letter in her coat pocket and then advanced on the ledge, a little more confident than she had been in first year. 

She edged her way along as Hoot looked at her quizzically; he obviously hadn't been given anything to deliver in a long time. Lucy ignored this and kept going, keeping her balance which almost always failed. She had to get the letter to Hoot. 

"Here, Hoot," Lucy muttered under her breath. She couldn't risk this much longer, she really didn't want to break her neck. 

She edged her way a little further before she came eye to eye with Hoot, and as his name stated he hooted at her quietly. 

"I'm your owner's sisters friend, OK? I won't hurt you...just can you deliver this letter to Severus Snape? He lives in Spinners end, Cokeworth." 

Lucy put the letter gently in the birds open mouth, she back along the ledge quickly and returned to safety just as Hoot flew out the window and went to deliver her letter. She watched him fly off before he was out of sight.

"If only you were here, dad, you'd sort out Umbridge..." Lucy sighed miserably as she walked out of the owlery.