October 22, 1976 / Serena PoV
I was nervous, there was no reason to lie to myself about it, I was about to face Albus many names Dumbledore alone, Lucius had wanted to come as support once I told him about the call, but it was better if he didn't show up, I was expecting several things about this meeting, and many of them really weren't something that could be freely discussed with Lucius listening, at least not for now.
Once I got in front of the gargoyle I stopped momentarily when I realized that I hadn't been given any password, I was about to talk to the statue when it moved completely on its own.
"Please come up Miss Snape" Dumbledore began his power play, I rolled my eyes and walked up the stairs, once I entered the room I couldn't help but snort, I wasn't surprised at all to see Dumbledore sitting in his chair, but the other visitors were, Potter, Lupin and Black were present along with McGonagall, it wouldn't be a surprise if Lupin's parents weren't there too and for some reason Potter's, now I see how he was playing, I allowed myself to smile mockingly in Dumbledore's direction, I ignored practically everyone and dropped into the seat in front of the headmaster.
"Let's get this over with" I leaned back in my seat and turned my hand around, a cigarette appearing before I raised my thumb, lighting a small flame.
"Miss Snape!" McGonagall exclaimed in horror, Dumbledore raising his hand before she could continue.
"Miss Snape, Sere-"
"You can't use my name," I interrupted. McGonagall was about to reprimand me again, but Dumbledore just nodded.
"Miss Snape, I would like to introduce you to Lyall and Hope Lupin, Remus' parents."
"Uh huh, and?" I asked absentmindedly, or at least pretending to be distracted, the last thing I wanted was to look Dumbledore in the eye for the entire meeting, I may have been relying on my Occlumency shields since I'd gotten better at them during my training, and while they certainly weren't on Severus' level I was still confident that they could hold him off long enough to break the bond in case he tried to read my mind, but I still didn't want to take any more chances, so I started looking at the portraits in the office I was looking for the one of Niamh Fitzgerald.
"Please!" the plea made me look at Lupin's mother, she looked like she was about to cry "I beg you please, I helped my son!" she sobbed, I inwardly grimaced, Dumbledore was playing dirty, I tried to ignore him as I searched through the portraits.
"Mom," Lupin murmured sadly.
"Ma'am, I don't know what they told you, but I can't, nor do I want to help Lupin. I'm sure that whatever ailment he has, Madam Pomfrey or St. Mungo's will be able to fix it." I waved my hand dismissively before taking a drag on my cigarette.
"Stop playing Sni-Snape, you know what you did" Black growled and I rolled my eyes.
"Sirius," he interrupted firmly. Charles Potter? No, Charlus, I corrected myself mentally. Charlus was James Potter's father. Sirius clicked his tongue.
"I swear I have no idea Black" I slurred to annoy him "I swear" I lazily made a cross over my heart and everything, he just groaned.
"Miss Snape, please stop joking," he ignored Dumbledore who sighed, "you know very well that we talked about your condition as a werewolf."
"Gasp!" I gasped, "Nooo! Lupin is a werewolf?!" The scathing look everyone gave me clearly showed that my masterful performance was a lie.
"Did she just say gasp?" Sirius muttered in disbelief and I laughed internally.
"Please miss, let's be reasonable, we're not asking for anything for free, just that we're allowed to buy the potions at the apothecaries, we'll even pay extra if necessary" this was Lupin's father speaking.
"mmmmm" I hummed in consideration before shrugging "no thanks"
"Miss Snape" now Dumbledore sounded completely disappointed which made me roll my eyes "please stop this childish revenge, this is really important"
"You make a good argument Headmaster," I nodded, eyes closed, I could almost hear the group sigh with relief, "but again, no thank you," that stopped them, now both Sirius and James groaned, it was fun- my eyes finally stopped on a painting, Niamh Fitzgerald, the painting herself… well, a painting? Anyway, if the Headmistress, one of the guardians of ancient magic existed, then everything else did too, perfect, I smiled widely.
"Okay Snape, what's your problem! I know you're a selfish bastard but to get to this point?" Black growled making me laugh.
"I know we made it clear about your poor Black vocabulary, but I didn't think it was that serious," I smirked at him. "It's called consequence. It's a pleasure to introduce you."
"how dare you-"
"apapapap, calm down Black, we're the adults talking" I interrupted his growl.
"Adults? An adult wouldn't go that far just for some light school pranks," Dorea Potter commented with a frown, I let out a laugh before it turned into a full blown giggle.
"light school pranks? Is that what they told you?" I laughed again and it took me a few seconds to compose myself as I wiped the tears from the corner of my eyes. "That was funny," I gasped for air.
"I didn't know I was making a joke," Mrs. Potter pursed her lips and I snorted.
"I see that no one informed you about these " light school pranks " let me clarify it for them, in the-"
"Miss Snape!" Ignore Dumbledore's interruption and continue.
"In the last 5 years I've been at Hogwarts, your son and his group of misfits have sent me to the infirmary over 100 times, fractured and broken bones, potions of strange origin, transfiguration on different levels, jinx and painful or humiliating charms, or both, why not" I shrugged, the group of parents seemed surprised by the news.
"Stop lying Snape! You have no proof!" Sirius tried to growl and I rolled my eyes.
"leaving aside that your stupid defense was simply a confession of guilt" he gritted his teeth, I just moved my hands and a wad of papers appeared between my fingers "my medical records, how funny, I just had them on me, how lucky for me" I smiled innocently as I handed the papers to Mrs. Potter, she raised an eyebrow but took the papers, her lips tightened the more she read, she even made a grimace of disgust, her husband and Lupin's parents were reading over her shoulder.
"This doesn't say that James and the others were the culprits" he said simply, I hummed
"It's true-" Black scoffed "-but-" I moved my hand again and other papers appeared in them "these are McGonagall's personal school records, specifically, of Potter and the rest's punishments" I smiled widely, that seemed to surprise the rest, the marauders paled.
"You broke into my office?!" McGonagall looked genuinely horrified, I shrugged.
"I found them on the ground while I was walking" I smiled innocently as I passed the papers to Dorea, she frowned but took them, my smile grew bigger as the group of adults became paler, the dates of the detentions and the reasons aligned with my trips to the infirmary.
"Miss Snape, that is unacceptable, breaking and entering Professor McGonagall's office is a crime," said Dumbledore looking in my direction, I smiled wider at him, this was funny.
"A crime huh? Something like the attempted murder of Black?" I asked simply and the group stopped stiffly.
"Snivellus!" Black growled.
"That's a strong accusation, Miss. These jokes, however painful and humiliating, would not count as attempted murder, even if they are completely unacceptable," Mr. Potter said with a frown as he said the last part in the direction of the group.
"Gasp! You mean they didn't tell you when Sirius Black locked me in the Shrieking Shack on a full moon with Lupin transformed to kill me?" No one commented on my masterful performance this time, but that was probably because they were too shocked to say anything, they all had a different level of horror and paleness in their expressions.
"It was a joke!" Potter said quickly in defense "and I saved your life Snivellus!" I rolled my eyes.
"You helped your friends avoid being sent to Azkaban for a crime, my being safe and sound is completely luck," he snorted.
"So it's true?" Mrs. Potter muttered angrily.
"You used my son to try and kill someone!?" Lupin's father roared, the marauders flinched at the shout, Lupin's mother was crying even harder now, my smile was one of amusement as I watched the group try to defend themselves.
"Do you find this amusing, Miss Snape?" Dumbledore asked, his grandfatherly disappointed look gone, now he had no expression that betrayed his feelings, I wanted to shudder but I bit my tongue and forced my smile in his direction.
"Immensely" I replied with my wide smile that didn't reach my eyes.