But that trace of a smile was quickly suppressed.
"Don't laugh." Snape seemed to put on a stern face, but Orli could clearly see he was pretending.
"You still haven't answered me—which side are you really choosing?"
"Of course I have to support the Gryffindor team..." Orli said helplessly.
"I can hardly turn around and support Slytherin, can I?"
"Why not? That trophy belongs in my office anyway!" Snape said.
"Gryffindor's destined to come in last this year regardless."
"Who says Gryffindor can't win this year?" Orli stubbornly retorted.
"Are you determined to make me angry?" Snape seemed to want to do something to punish her, but in the end he only gritted his teeth.
"You made me angry first!" Orli didn't back down verbally, but she reached out and tugged at Snape's sleeve, shaking it gently.
"Your punishment for Crabbe was too light. I'm not happy about it."
"If I punish him more severely, you'll be happy?" Snape raised an eyebrow.
"What other conditions do you have? Tell me all of them."
"Don't let Malfoy and the others sing that song anymore." Orli said indignantly.
"I am the Head of Slytherin House." Snape spoke as if helpless, almost sighing. He reached out and grasped Orli's hand that was tugging his sleeve, finding it ice-cold, and held it in his palm to warm it.
"I'm a Gryffindor student." Orli repeated as well, extending her other hand and tucking it into his for warmth too.
"We both want our Houses to win, so we'll see each other on the pitch, Professor."
"Then we'll see each other on the pitch." Snape lifted his chin to look at her.
"But you're not allowed to hug Potter anymore!"
"Slytherin isn't allowed to use dirty tricks!" Orli immediately made a new demand.
"You're not allowed to cheer for Gryffindor from the stands anymore!"
"Unless you give Gryffindor a hundred points directly!"
...
They looked at each other, then both turned their heads away and couldn't help laughing.
"So let's not talk about Quidditch anymore." Orli smiled and hugged his waist, burying her head against his shoulder and breathing in the herbal scent of his robes.
"You seem to have gotten thinner again, Professor."
Snape didn't speak. He reached out with one hand and gently touched the hair at the back of her head.
When Orli returned to the Gryffindor common room, the sky had already darkened. Strong winds carried snowflakes that battered against the tower, creating shrill whistling sounds.
"Did you go to the library, Orli?" Hermione looked up from a pile of parchment, looking puzzled at Orli and scratching her hair.
"Strange, I feel like I've forgotten something..."
"That would be for the best. Please forget everything you saw today," Ron said gloomily from a corner. He didn't dare lift his head to look in Hermione's direction.
"Here you go again?" Harry's quill splattered a huge ink blot on his parchment.
Ron walked to the fire and sank into the chair farthest from Harry. The golden Snitch they hadn't yet returned to Madam Hooch circled above his head, its wings making an annoying buzzing sound that left everyone feeling irritated.
Orli shook her head and walked to the window, looking through the glass at the swirling snowflakes. Her gaze suddenly froze on one spot—Hagrid's hut, its window clearly glowing with a warm yellow light.
"Alright, you two stop arguing." Orli said, her voice trembling slightly.
"I have some good news to share."
"Oh, do you?" Harry said skeptically.
"Yes," Orli said, turning away from the dark, snow-speckled window with a bright smile spreading across her face.
"Hagrid's back."
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
Read up to (150+ ) advanced chapters on Patre\on
Visit us here: patreon.com/DarkGolds
Happy reading, everyone!