Sorry for the wait, but here's the next chapter. Waring, it does get a little angsty in there. Read on.

Chapter 7: Why those Letters?

By the time Scarlynn arrived at dinner that evening, the rest of her friends were already there. When she sat down next to Harry, he gave her a small smile while he passed her a dish of food. She gratefully accepted it from him and asked, "So, what did big bad McGonagall want with you? You seem fairly unharmed. She didn't scratch you did she?" She added trying to hide her smirk. Harry, however, did not hide his smirk.

"No claws this time." Scarlynn laughed at his statement, but Hermione looked horrified.

"Scarlynn! Harry! You shouldn't talk about a teacher like that. Especially not our head of house," she reprimanded the two. Ron just rolled his eyes and shoved half of a roll in his mouth.

Scarlynn gave Ron a mildly disgusted look before turning her attention back to Hermione. "Hermione, don't worry about it. Our esteemed professor is my godmother; she and I joke like this all the time."

"Well, that may be, but she is still our professor and you should show her some respect." Hermione stated crossing her arms.

Scarlynn decided to ignore her comment and turned her attention back to Harry. "What did she say to you?"

Harry shrugged his shoulders. "She took me to a classroom where she asked the professor that was teaching if she could borrow wood. I thought that maybe she was going to cane me, but it turns out that Wood is a person, the captain of the Quidditch team. Apparently, I'm the new Gryffindor seeker."

Scarlynn lightly smacked his back. "Congratulations, Potter. The youngest seeker in a century, right?"

He nodded. "Yep. McGonagall told me earlier that my dad was pretty good at quidditch as well."

Scarlynn had heard her mother mention that before, but she decided not to comment. "Well, congratulations anyway, Harry. I think you'll be really good at it."

Hermione slammed the book she was reading on to the table. "He broke the rules and he gets rewarded. That doesn't seem very fair to me."

Harry looked at Scarlynn for help, but before she could say anything, Ron beat her to it. "Listen Hermione, just let it be. Harry was just helping Neville and he got lucky. It was better that it was McGonagall that caught him rather than Snape."

Scarlynn raised an eyebrow at him. "Are you saying that it was better that Snape caught me rather than Harry?"

Harry gave her a puzzled look. "What-"

"You deserved whatever punishment Professor Snape gave you and Harry should have got one as well. I'm not saying that he should have gotten expelled but a detention would have been well deserved." Hermione cut in.

Harry was still trying to figure out what was going. "Scarlynn, what-"

Ron cut him off again. "Listen, I'm not saying it was good that you got caught by Snape, I'm just saying that Snape would have expelled Harry."

"Ronald, that decision would have been made by the Headmaster, not Professor Snape," Hermione put in.

"Ron, Snape was pissed at me…and Malfoy for that matter. I thought that he was going to blow a gasket."

"A what?"

"Muggle saying. Anyways, I did get detention and I'm not very happy about it."

Harry put both of his hands up to stop the conversation. "Would somebody please just tell me what you're talking about!"

Scarlynn faced Harry. "After Professor McGonagall…retrieved you, Malfoy started saying things about you. Ron spoke up and Malfoy insulted him. I told him off and he started to insult me as well. Then he insulted my mother. He was saying some awful things about her, so I hit him."

Harry just looked at her and blinked several times. "You hit him?"

"Yes. Right in the face."

He ran a hand through his messy hair. "Wow. And then Snape caught you."

"You bet. Caught me right as I had my wand pointed at the little git."

"Did you…cast a spell at him?"

Scarlynn laughed. "No, I didn't, and Harry, it's not casting a spell at someone. You can curse or jinx them, but you can't cast a spell at them."

Harry's face turned red. "Sorry, I didn't know that."

"No worries. I wasn't trying to pick on you. I was just telling you so you knew. That's what friends do for each other."

"Thanks for that. So, was Snape super angry at you?"

Scarlynn shrugged. "You could say that. He was really angry at me when we entered his office, but we talked about it. He became really angry at Malfoy, but I still got punished. I have to report to his office every night this week and I have detention this weekend as well. No big deal though."

"That git. Malfoy provoked you, not the other way around. Snape is so unfair; he always favors his Slytherins over everyone else." Ron loudly proclaimed as he stabbed at his potato.

"Normally I would agree but this time it was my fault. Malfoy may have said some unforgivable things, but I should have ignored him. Instead, I hit him." Scarlynn said looking down at her own meal.

"See, Ronald. Scarlynn even agrees that her punishment was well deserved," Hermione pointed out. Scarlynn looked up and gave the girl a look. She liked Hermione, but sometimes she tended to follow the rules a little too much. It was starting to grate on her nerves.

"Listen, Hermione, I know that you're just trying to help or whatever, but could you maybe stop? I want you to be my friend right now not my mother. I have one of those already."

Before anyone could say anything, Snape walked in the Great Hall and up to the head table where he took his place next to Dumbledore. "Scarlynn, you should tell Dumbledore or McGonagall that Snape punished you. They may let you off." Ron said to her, but she was ignoring him. She was too busy watching the conversation happening up at the head table. The minute that Snape had sat down, he began a discussion with the headmaster and her godmother, and by the looks of it, he was telling them about what she had done that day. She watched in horror as Minerva's face grew angrier and she quickly looked away when Minerva looked her way.

Scarlynn knew that Minerva was furious with her as she continued to eat her meal in silence. Hermione had started reading her text book again as she finished eating her meal, Ron was trying to stuff as much into his mouth as possible, and Harry just kept glancing over at Scarlynn with a worried expression on his face. She finally leaned over and whispered as she grabbed some pudding, "Don't worry so much, Potter. I'm fine."

"Well you don't look it. Excuse my concern," he whispered back.

Scarlynn quietly chuckled. "I'm glad that you care so much but just don't worry so much. I'm a big girl, Harry. I'll be fine."

"Are you though?"

"Am I what?"

"Fine."

"No. No I don't think I am." Before either one could say anything else, Scarlynn saw Minerva get up from the head table and make her way over to where Scarlynn was seated. "Oh great."

Harry gave her a confused look. "What?"

"Minerva's on her way over and she looks pretty upset. This is not going to bode well for me."

"Miss Rose, my office, now." Was all Minerva was able to say before turning and marching out of the Great Hall.

"Is this when the claws come out?" Harry asked.

"You had better believe it." Scarlynn said as she got up and made her way to her godmother's office. She was so occupied that she failed to notice Snape getting up shortly after her and walking over to where Malfoy sat asking him to follow him up to Minerva's office as well.

Scarlynn knocked on the door, feeling rather foolish. She knew that there would be no one else knocking on Minerva's office door, but she had seen how mad Minerva had been and decided not to infuriate her even further. "Enter," she heard the sharp voice say as she slowly opened the door. When she stepped up to the desk, Minerva simply stated, "Sit." Scarlynn did and waited for the scolding of the century. However, she was surprised when Minerva simply said, "Explain to me why you felt the need to fight with Mister Malfoy."

"He was saying horrible things about me…and Mum. I couldn't just stand by and let him do that."

"So instead of ignoring him and waiting until you were back inside the school and able to tell a professor what he said, you hit him. Is this correct?"

Scarlynn refused to meet her godmother's eyes. "Yes, that is correct."

Minerva leaned forward. "You are a smart girl, Scarlynn. I am very disappointed in your actions today. Professor Snape is currently retrieving Mr. Malfoy and coming up to this office. He will be apologizing to you and you shall be returning the favor by apologizing to him."

Scarlynn's head snapped up at that. "I refuse to apologize to that-that blonde haired spoiled prat. I admit that what I did was wrong, but I absolutely refuse to apologize to him."

Minerva slammed a hand down on the desk. "Enough. You will be apologizing and that is final. What is with your attitude lately?"

Scarlynn crossed her arms across her chest and only defiantly stared back at her. "I'm fine. Let's just get this over with. I have homework to do."

As if on cue, there was a knock on the door and Snape and Malfoy entered the office. Snape had a hand on Malfoy's shoulder, leading him into the office. "Professor McGonagall, Miss Rose, I believe that Mr. Malfoy has something he would like to say."

Malfoy stepped forward and Scarlynn eyed the boy carefully. "I apologize, Rose. What I said today was extremely rude and uncalled for. I was wrong and I hope that you accept my apology."

During his apology, Snape had moved to stand next to Minerva and was eying the two children carefully. He noticed the changing expressions that were playing across the girl's face. Surprising both professors and her peer, Scarlynn stood up and took a step toward Malfoy. "I apologize as well, Malfoy. I'm sorry that you think so low of yourself that you must insult others. These people that you insult will always be better than you. I shall accept your apology, Malfoy, when you actually mean it rather than just saying because the Deputy Headmistress and your Head of House are in the room. Goodnight, professors." With that, Scarlynn opened the office door and quickly strode out of the room.

Both professors gave each other a look before Snape dismissed Malfoy back to his common room. He then proceeded to take a seat in a chair across from his mother, promptly putting his face in his hands. "What is with that girl? She is exactly the opposite of what I thought her to be. Nothing she said was cocky or like anything Black would have said in a situation like that. The only reason she hit Draco was to defend her friend. The only reason she was disrespectful to me was because I attacked her friend and then I proceeded to attack her. She isn't defiant or rebellious. She is a typical Gryffindor. What am I going to do?"

Minerva chuckled. "I think that you'll be just fine, Severus. I think that you'll be just fine."

Scarlynn arrived the following day right after classes in the Potions classroom. She knocked on the door and waited for him to allow her to enter. His voice told her that she could enter and she quickly slipped inside. "Sit down at a table and begin with your school work." He told her before he returned to his own grading.

Scarlynn sat down at the table that she usually used in Potions class and pulled her Transfiguration book out of her bag. She then pulled out her quill and homework and put on her reading glasses. After completing the required questions, she reached into her bag to pull out her Charms text to work on those questions. She glanced up and saw that Snape hadn't moved from his desk and was still grading his own papers. After her Charms homework was completed, she got started on her Potions homework. Halfway through that, she heard Snape put down his quill and she looked up at him. "Sir?"

"How do you know all of this, Rose?" He asked taking off his own glasses.

Confused, Scarlynn replied, "I don't know what you're talking about…sir." She added as an afterthought.

"Mind your cheek. How do you know all of this information? You wrote an essay on the use of fern leaves in potions. You did quite well explaining the properties and which potions it is used in, but what I don't understand is how you know all of this extra information. For example—"

"How did I know that it was first burned as an essence to ward away dark spirits in some places? How did I know that the first potion that it was put into was a very mild fever reducer? How did I know that Selene Lightnes was the first potions mistress to actually discover its use in the potion that reduces the symptoms of dragon pox in children? I read. I love history and I love potions. That is what I spent most of my childhood reading about."

Snape raised an eyebrow. "How many of these books do you own, Rose?"

She shrugged. "Series of them. We have a library at home and one whole wall is devoted to my potions and history books. Mom knows how much I like them."

"I see." He put his glasses back, picked up his quill, and resumed his marking. "Finish that assignment, then tell me. I wish to have a word with you before you go up to dinner."

"Yes, sir."

Scarlynn finished up the last of her questions and neatly put everything back into her bag. She left it on her worktable and slowly made her way up to his desk. Sensing the girl's presence, Snape finished the paper he was, put his quill away, folded his hands together, then looked up at his ward. Taking a deep breath before speaking, he said, "I want you to stay away from Mister Malfoy."

Scarlynn was confused. "What are you talking about?"

"You know very well what I am talking about. You and Mister Malfoy cause nothing but trouble, and I wish for you to stay away from him. In the classroom, ignore his taunting. In the halls, walk right past him. At dinner, do not even look at him. I want no more trouble between the two of you. Or," he said when he saw she was about to say something, "between him and the rest of your friends. Is that understood?"

Scarlynn didn't know what to say. Part of her knew that she should just agree with the man and then actually follow his advice; it would probably save her a lot of trouble in the long run. However, a small part of her wanted to go against what he was saying. Malfoy was arrogant and spoiled and he needed to be taken down a notch. If he attacked her, she wasn't going to take it. Although, she thought to herself, Snape didn't need to know that. "I shall do my best, sir."

He nodded. "See that you do. You are dismissed. I shall see you tomorrow for class."

"Goodnight, sir," she said as she grabbed her bag and walked out the classroom door.

The rest of the week passed rather uneventfully. Scarlynn's detentions progressed, and she actually found that she rather enjoyed them. Snape would ask her different potion's questions and had even recommended books for her to read. Scarlynn found that she actually enjoyed being in the man's company and cherished every minute. She had even managed to stay away from Draco Malfoy for the duration of the week. However, on Friday, things for Scarlynn did not go well at all.

At breakfast that morning, Hermione received a copy of The Daily Prophet and Scarlynn was happy to see that her mother had sent her a letter and frowned when she also noticed that her grandmother, the same grandmother who hadn't talked to her in months, had also sent one. Deciding to open the letter from her grandmother first, she put her mother's letter off to the side. However, before she could even open it, Hermione let out a gasp and Harry, Ron, and Scarlynn all looked at her. "Gringotts was broken into!"

"When?" Scarlynn asked.

"On July 31st. It was one of the high security vaults. Oh, they say nothing was taken."

"July 31st… Harry that was the same day that we were there." Harry nodded his head in remembrance. "What was the vault number?" Scarlynn asked.

"Let me see- 713."

Harry looked at Scarlynn and spoke in a low voice. "That was the vault Hagrid and I visited that day. He took something important out of it. He said that he wouldn't tell me what it was; he said that it was Hogwarts business."

"Hm…that seems really suspicious. We'll just have to keep our eyes and ears open, I suppose."

All of them nodded in agreement. Harry and Ron went back to eating their breakfast and Hermione opened up her Transfiguration book while Scarlynn opened up her letter from her estranged grandmother. As soon as she started reading it, she almost wished that she hadn't opened it all.

Dear Scarlynn,

I am writing this letter to discuss your recent sorting. As you know, all of us have been in Slytherin with the exception of your mother. I was extremely disappointed when she was sorted into the house of the lion rather than the house of the snake. I had hoped that you would make up for your mother's disappointment, but it appears that I was rather mistaken; you are just as much of a mistake as your mother.

When I had received the owl from your mother regarding your sorting, I had hope. Hope that I see was misplaced. Then I realized that it was not your fault. Your mother has been manipulating you with false beliefs and ideas for years. I now realize that you may not know any better. However, I am here to help with that. If you so wish, I can ask Headmaster Dumbledore to have you resorted. Once you are resorted, I shall be more than willing to help teach you the proper ways of things. We are having dinner with you and your mother in a few weeks. We shall discuss it then.

Hoping that you are well,

Your Grandmother

Scarlynn just sat there staring at the letter in disbelief. Her grandmother thought her nothing more than a disappointment, a disappointment that she believed she needed to fix. Before she could dwell on the letter any futher, she shoved it in her school bag. However, she didn't realize that, in her anger, she had shoved it in between two pages of her potions homework that was due that day.

Harry looked at her with concern. "What was that about?"

"Nothing important," Scarlynn said as she torn the letter from her mother open. "Just my grandmother being her usual wicked self."

"Not—" he gestured toward the head table.

She shook her head. "No. It's from my mother's mother. She just hates Mom and me. Honestly, I don't even know why she bothers to talk to us."

Harry had nothing to say on the matter, so Scarlynn turned back to the letter from her mother. It was shorter than normal, but it made her feel slightly better.

Hey there Flower Petal,

I hope that the rest of your week has been pleasant. I would first like to tell you that I am proud of the fact that you have done what Severus has told you and stayed away from Draco Malfoy. However, feel free to hex the little snake if he tries to hex you first. But only if he starts it, you hear me.

Secondly, I must apologize for two things. My first mistake was telling your grandparents about your sorting. I had foolishly hoped that they would like to hear about, but I was mistaken. I received a letter from my mother, and by this time you probably have as well, telling me how disappointed she is in you as is your grandfather. If it makes you feel any better, I received a similar letter from them after I was sorted as well. The best advice I can give you is to just burn that letter. They are not worth your time or anger.

I then made the mistake of inviting them to have dinner with us in a couple of months. I have not told them of what is happening, of the cancer and of your guardianship, and I wish to tell them in person. I know that I could just tell them while you are at school, but I selfishly wish for you to be there, flower. We shall be having the dinner at Hogwarts in Minerva's quarters and hopefully Severus will also be there. They may wish to claim guardianship over you, and it will greatly help if all three of you are there.

Write to me soon, kiddo. I wish you were here with me. I have started painting. I already have finished one painting and I am working on a second one. Please write soon.

With all the love and roses I can offer

Mom

Scarlynn smiled at the ending of her letter. They always said that to each other when they finished a letter. It was a joke between them and Scarlynn loved it. Scarlynn folded the letter up and carefully put it in one of the outer pockets of her bag. The four Gryffindors got up from the table and slowly made their way to their first class of the day. Ron and Hermione were walking ahead of Harry and Scarlynn arguing over homework again. Both ignored the all too familiar argument and Harry asked, "Was the second letter better?"

Scarlynn shrugged, but then slowly nodded. "The second one was from my mother. She knew that my grandmother would be writing to me and told me not to worry about it."

"Well, she's right. They're not worth you getting upset over." Harry tried to assure her.

Scarlynn sighed. "I know, but that doesn't mean that it doesn't hurt any less."

Harry placed a hand on her shoulder. "I know what you mean. My aunt and uncle always tell me what a freak I am. It used to really hurt when I was younger, but after a while, I realized that they only said it to upset me, so I stopped getting angry over it."

"Your relatives are idiots, Harry. They probably don't know what a great person you really are," Scarlynn said quickly blushing after she realized what she had said.

Harry didn't notice her blush, or he pretended not to. "Thank you, Scarlynn. That's probably the nicest thing someone has ever said to me. I think that you're pretty amazing as well.

Scarlynn laughed. "Thanks, Harry."

Lessons had gone well that day, and before she knew, it was their last class of the day: Potions. The four Gryffindors quickly made their way from Transfiguration. Scarlynn and Hermione were talking about the lesson while Harry and Ron were ahead of them discussing quidditch. Scarlynn was so immersed in her conversation that she didn't even hear Malfoy and his goonies come up behind them as they approached the entrance to the dungeons.

"Well look who it is boys, Potter, Weasley, Granger, and Rose. Tell me, Rose, how's the week? Haven't gotten into any more trouble with the teachers have you?" Scarlynn just ignored and stood next to Hermione outside the classroom. She didn't even notice Malfoy taking something from her bag. "What's this, Rose?" Scarlynn just kept ignoring him, not even noticing that he held her mother's letter. "Who calls someone Flower Petal? Makes you sound like a child, Rose."

The color from Scarlynn's face quickly drained when she realized what he was talking about. Harry stopped his discussion with Ron to quickly hear what Malfoy was talking about. The rest of the students standing outside also quieted down. "Give that back, Malfoy. That's my letter and it's none of your business what's in it."

"Oh, touchy are we? Let's see what else dear old mum has to say. Hm, grandparents not proud of where you were sorted. Disappointment are we? Very interesting."

Scarlynn took a step toward Malfoy. "I swear to Merlin, Malfoy. You had better give me that letter right now or I'll—"

"You'll what, Rose? Oh look at this next part. Mummy has cancer does she?" Everyone outside in the hall gave a small gasp. Ron and Hermione gave Harry a look of surprise, but Harry ignored it. He was looking back and forth between Malfoy and Scarlynn with a look of horror on his face. He knew how much Scarlynn wanted to keep that a secret and now Malfoy had just outed her in front of all of her friends and the Slytherins. Harry, for the first time, actually wished that Snape would show up and stop this.

"Stop, Malfoy." Harry told the blonde, but Malfoy sneered at him.

"I don't think so, Potter. What else is here? Guardianship? Is Mummy dying, Rose?" Scarlynn now had tears in her eyes. Several of her fellow Gryffindors told Malfoy to stop, but he wasn't listening. Scarlynn could deal with every day taunts, but this was pushing it too far. "Is Mummy trying to find someone to take you in? Who would want you? Your own family thinks you're a disappointment, Black's family is dead. No one wants you, Rose." Tears were freely falling from Scarlynn's eyes and she was unsuccessfully trying to make them stop.

Having seen enough, Harry stepped forward and ripped the letter out of Malfoy's hands. But, before he could say anything, Snape burst through the classroom door. The sight that greeted the Potions Master surprised him. All of the first years were huddled together with Malfoy, Potter, and Rose standing in the middle. Malfoy had a sneer on his face, Potter had a piece of parchment in one hand and looked like he wanted to punch Malfoy with the other, and Rose was…crying. What was she crying over? Snape mentally sighed to himself. He detested crying children. He dealt with it the only way he knew how.

"Fighting are we, Potter? Five points from Gryffindor. Get inside the classroom, all of you. Not you, Rose. You stay out here for a moment." All of the first years made their way into the classroom. Harry hung back and gave Scarlynn the letter back before entering the classroom himself. Snape turned his attention to his ward. "What happened?"

Scarlynn's tears had stopped and she was wiping her face and eyes. "Nothing. It doesn't matter."

Snape took out his handkerchief and handed it to her so she could blow her nose. "Clearly it does matter or you would not be so upset right now."

Scarlynn handed him back his handkerchief. "Can we just talk about this later?"

"I suppose," Snape said slowly after taking a minute to consider. "Get inside and pull out your essay. We won't be brewing today. You shall be doing an assignment the whole time."

"Yes, sir." Scarlynn entered the classroom and reached into her bag and pulled out her essay trying to ignore the stares that everyone was giving her. She took her spot next to Harry where he gave her a small smile. She tried to return it, but she just couldn't. She wanted nothing more than to curl up in a ball right then and there. But she kept herself calm as she pulled her book, ink, quill, and parchment out of her bag.

Snape, himself, swept in moments later. "Pull out your essays and get out a piece of parchment and your quill. I shall be coming to collect you essays while you work on the questions on the board. You have the hour to complete it. Begin." The only sound was people getting their things out, then the sound of quill and parchment. Snape swept around the room collecting the essays himself before returning to his desk to mark them. The next hour passed slowly with his class doing their work and Snape marking. He finally reached the last one, which happened to be Scarlynn's, and began to read. He saved Granger's, Malfoy's, and Rose's essays for last because they were usually the best and helped calm his headache. Rose's essay was quite good on the first page, but he was surprised when turned to the second page. It was a letter; a letter that made him lean back in his seat and make him wish nothing more than to revert back to his death eater ways. Snape remembered the Roses from his youth and how bad they had treated their daughter. He had assumed that they would treat their granddaughter better because she was a pureblood. He was wrong though. That letter brought him back to what had been transpiring outside of his classroom. He would have to discuss it with the girl later.

He finished grading her essay and dismissed the class. Scarlynn merely said goodbye to her friends and pulled out a different textbook and continued to do her school work. After letting her work for about fifteen minutes, he stood up and walked over to where she was sitting. He pulled the chair out from the table behind him and sat down in front of the girl. "What are you working on, Miss Rose?"

She looked up at him with the end of the quill in her mouth. "Hmm?" she asked, not hearing what he had said.

"I asked you what you were working on."

"Oh, Transfiguration. I haven't gotten very far though. I appear to be a bit distracted," she told him, guilty expression on her face.

"Why are you distracted? Is it about what happened before Potions?" He asked her, eyebrow raised. He wasn't being mean about and his tone of voice wasn't confrontational, but Scarlynn still flinched when asked her that. Clearly she was either trying to forget about it or didn't want to talk about it.

"I don't want to talk about it." Scarlynn said looking back down at her homework.

"Yet, it appears that we are going to talk about it anyways." He set the letter down in front of her that had been hidden in her essay. "Does it have anything to do with this?"

The color from Scarlynn's face drained and she shook her head. "How did you get that?" she asked quietly.

"It was in with your essay. I admit I was quite shocked when I saw this. Did Mr. Malfoy find this and taunt you about it? Is that why you were so upset?"

"I didn't want either of you to see them," Scarlynn said in barely more than a whisper. "I didn't want anyone to know."

"Know what, Miss Rose?"

Scarlynn looked up at him with fresh tears in her eyes. "I didn't want my classmates to know what was happening to Mom. Malfoy told them! He told them that my grandparents think that I'm a disappoint, Mom's cancer, he even told them-told them-"

"What?"

"The truth, that I'm not wanted by anyone!" Scarlynn angrily shouted as she jumped up from her chair. "No one wants me and no one ever will!" She ran out of the room and Snape let out a sigh of exasperation before following her.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione had been walking past the first floor corridor when they saw their other friend run by them. They quickly caught up to her quick pace, and Harry was the first to ask, "Scarlynn, what's wrong?"

"Nothing. Absolutely bloody nothing." Scarlynn shot back as she turned into an open corridor. In her anger, she didn't even notice that it was the third floor corridor that they had made their way to.

"Well, I don't believe that. Clearly something is bothering you," Harry said having finally caught up with his friend. "Was it something Snape said?"

She stopped and whipped around to face him. "No, it wasn't something Snape said, so just back off, please. You won't understand anyways."

"Then help us to understand. No, I can't understand until you tell us what is going on," Harry insisted.

"It's—" Scarlynn stopped short when she heard something.

"I hear them as well. Students on the third floor. Oh, they'll be in trouble when we catch them. Won't they?" Scarlynn paled when she recognized the voice of Mr. Filch. Scarlynn motioned for them all to run to the right, but when they reached the end of the hallway, the door was locked.

Ron tried opening, but gave up after he failed to get the knob to turn. "That's it. We're done for."

Hermione pushed him out of the way. "Alohomora." Hermione said as she pointed her wand at the doorknob. It opened and all four rushed in.

Ron looked at her in amazement. "Where'd you learn that?"

"Standard Book of Spells chapter seven. Honestly, don't you read?"

Scarlynn was ignoring their argument in favor of staring in horror at the other occupant in the room. She pulled on Harry's sleeve and motioned toward the large three-headed dog that was sitting in front of them, but he had already seen it. The dog was waking up and had noticed them. It was standing and bearing its teeth, growling the entire time. Hermione and Ron had noticed it as well and both had let out a scream. Harry quickly opened the and pushed both Ron and Hermione out quickly following only after making sure Scarlynn was right behind. However, that split second hesitation gave the large dog enough time to grab on the end on Scarlynn's cloak and rip it. They managed to get out and shut the door before the dog was able to do any more damage.

The four of them sank to the ground still trying to catch their breath, when they heard someone shout, "What the devil do you think you're doing?" Scarlynn looked up knowing that voice anywhere. She slowly stood, and when she saw the black robed figure, she rushed forward and latched on to it. When she felt him stiffen, fearing rejection, she started to pull back, but strong arms surprised her and pulled her close. Snape leaned down and whispered, "We have much to talk about, don't we?"

All Scarlynn could do was nod into his chest.

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