Late Night Knocking

LATE NIGHT

Scorpius had been working on lesson plans for the past few hours in his office. He was making good progress but he still was struggling to get used to working under the supervision of the late DADA professors whose intelligent images were captured in magical paintings that hung on the walls. Some of the Professors that had taught the class did not have a place on the wall (such as Professor Quirrel). Scorpius enjoyed some of them, like Professor Lupin. He’d only read good things about the man and couldn’t help looking up to him for his ultimate sacrifice. The man gave his life to not only protect Hogwarts and the students… but to create a better world for his family… his son - Teddy. Scorpius had always found his welcoming smile reassuring. The painting had never seemed to judge him upon finding out who he was. It was something he’d always appreciated since beginning his teaching career at Hogwarts at the beginning of the year. However, Professor’s Snape painting still made him itch a bit under his skin. He knew that Snape had had the best intentions and had done a great service to the Order. Yet, there was something in his gaze that Scorpius could quite decide what it was. Judgement? Disapproval? Or perhaps that was just his face. Maybe, his face just always looked that way. But he couldn’t help but think the Professor was waiting for him to do something foolish or fall on his face, like his father had done in Snape’s last days. On occasion, Scorpius would swear he saw a smirk of approval on Snape’s face but it changed so quickly he could never be so sure he hadn’t just imagined it.

Scorpius decided to go down to the kitchens to see if he could rummage for a drink or a late night snack. It would depend on how the elves would feel. Sometimes they seemed overly eager to feed him… other times they chided him like they would a child for his late night binges. Scorpius closed the door to his office, walked down the spiral staircase down through his empty classroom and then wandered out into the hallway. On his way to the Kitchen he found a pair of leather gloves resting on podium of a statue. They looked familiar though he could quite place where he’d seen them before. He checked the inside cuffs for a clue and there was the initials of Aurora Priestly. Of course it had to be her’s. Scorpius took a gander at his pocket watch to see what the time was 9:00pm. It wasn’t too late he decided. He figured he’d stop by her office first to see if could return them quickly.

Scorpius took a breath before knocking on her door. He wasn’t exactly excited to interact with Aurora. She didn’t exactly seem to be a fan of his… or anyone’s for that matter. It had always been in his best interest to avoid her when possible. After he knocked he wondered if maybe it was too late to be knocking on her door and wondering if she’d roast him on the coals for awakening her or perhaps catching her in her nightgown or something. He pushed his hair off his forehead as he waited his fate to come to him.