Genetics • Sirius Black

Chapter Forty Nine: Sharp And Endearing.

Slughorn and McGonagall attempted to conduct interviews. To their surprise, almost everyone agreed it was a strange quidditch accident, Regs' quidditch companions were quite firm in their story. Though I expect Dumbledore to do his own visitation since he's always been interested in Slytherin affairs... excluding our accomplishments, awards, and records. 

I do wonder how Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw feels during this time. Marlene once described them as the middle child of the house, often forgotten and ignored. Truthfully, that seems quite pleasant in current times, saves one from hearing any ridiculous sermon. 

A very gentle hand patted Freya Grey's shoulder, causing her to suddenly jerk awake, her black eyes snapping to the hand's owner. The older woman stood beside the young Slytherin; her hair silvering curls pulled underneath her nurse's cap. "Ms. Grey, dear, you know the rules."

Blinking away her sleepy disposition, Freya lifted her head from her folded arms that rested on Regulus Black's hospital bed. It was past visiting hours. "Yes, of course." Her eyes scanned over Reg's sleeping form and noticed that there were more presents and candies placed around him; most were dressed in either emerald or black. One particularly shiny one had a curling R stamped on its seal with a note attached.

Well done, Black

E. R.

Freya looked over Reg's peaceful face as he snored and then finally left the hospital wing.

Not even a few steps outside the hospital wing, Severus Snape waited for Freya Grey, his notebook tucked under his arm. "How is he?"

"He's resting. He'll be fine by tomorrow morning." She answered back calmly, though her insides felt shaken as she thought of his broken state.

Silently, he nodded as they started their walk back to the Slytherin common room. There were still a few students in the hall heading back to their common rooms or trying to fit in one more conversation with their non-house friends. After a moment of chewing on his bottom lip, Sev spoke up. "I have something." In a lower tone, he added. "Something I want to show you."

His friend lifted her chin. "I hear the weather's nice tonight, would a walk suit you?"

"Very much." He muttered.

***

Only very few relationships would find hexing a form of endearment, and Severus Snape and Freya Grey were part of those elite friendships.

Moonlight fell in thin beams around the duo; the trees offered cover from the world. Being out past curfew on the school grounds was strictly forbidden. Who knows what dangers were lurking in the dark? A troubling thought for some students, but for both snakes in the grass, it made them all the more curious. It seemed their dark eyes had completely adapted to night anyway. If anything, those creatures that go bump in the night might find themselves to be on the wrong side of a hex from a refined duelist. That is not to say either was fearless by any means. Both duelists could be brought to trembling knees by other horrors like group projects or worse... small talk.

Rubbing her jaw, Freya stretched her tongue after Sev finished performing the counter-curse to his spell. "Unpleasant." Having your tongue stuck to the roof of your mouth was an experience Freya had never cared to have again, but still she was impressed by his originality. "I suppose this one was Potter inspired?"

"Black, actually." Sev tucked his wand back into his pocket, his greasy black hair falling around his face.

"Fitting."

"I call it Langlock." He passed her his prized notebook. Few could touch it without losing a finger; not even his dearest, Lily Evans, was allowed to read it past 4th year (not that she would want to, there was a line in Lily's opinion, and Sev had a hard time seeing it). Freya, on the other hand, was neither in danger of being corrupted nor was she very squeamish.