Professor Snape's face appeared to undergo a storm of emotions for several seconds as he looked at the boy before him in a mixture of disgust and unbelief.
Magnus saw that the wand was already in his hand, and Snape looked every bit ready to use it. Then those pale lips opened, and a hiss came out.
"Get out," the man pointed to the door with his wand.
Magnus did not hesitate; he had no desire to test the Potions Master's already thinning patience. Snape was clearly burning with fury. He quickly dropped the object he had been pretending to brush, and securing his hatchling between his arms, he rushed for the door.
"MAGNUS!"
The man screamed just as he was about to pull the door open. He turned quietly but carefully until he was facing Snape's almost white face. Maybe the guy had decided to hit him with an Obliviate spell to modify his memory.
"I shall have you expelled soon enough."
Magnus could see the coldness inside the Potions Master's eyes, and he knew the guy meant every word.
'Yeah... you will try,' he thought before he was propelled back into action.
"Now get out. NOW."
Stepping out of Snape's office felt like he was finally able to breathe after being trapped in a pit, but still, he leaped through the staircases two at a time just to make sure he was clear from the dungeons. When he finally got to the cross-section that led to the Astronomy Tower, he finally stopped to breathe.
'Whatever else this day was, it would live to be one of his best days.'
He had messed with Snape right in his dungeon and came out victorious...
No, they had.
He reached out and ruffled the Zorua's fur. "You did great back there, buddy," Magnus said and watched as the blue eyes brightened in delight. It was like the Zorua had known he needed a distraction back there and had done what it could to help.
Having gathered his breath, he abandoned the stairway that should have led him to the Ravenclaw Tower. Instead, he headed towards Gryffindor.
Of course, he had told Hermione he would have the potion by morning, but then why wait when he already had it?
Curfew must have already started, but when he got to the hallway that led to the portrait of the Fat Lady, he saw a student—a Gryffindor boy by the colors of his robes—dancing and dodging as he yelled against his assailant.
"Rude firstie... called Peeves a ghost."
Another water balloon swooshed before popping on the boy's head.
The boy yelped and shook himself, sending ripples of water all over the place.
"Rude and late, that is what you are," Peeves said, changing his angle as he prepared to launch another balloon.
"Peeves..." Magnus called instinctively, and both the poltergeist and the boy turned to look at him.
Magnus immediately recognized the victim—it was Neville Longbottom.
Peeves looked scared at first, but then, when he saw it was another student, his smug grin grew even wider.
"More naughty firsties, more party party!"
The water balloon came hurtling towards them, but Magnus jumped aside and easily avoided it. That, however, appeared to infuriate Peeves even more, and he seemed to momentarily forget all about Neville, hovering towards Magnus with more water balloons appearing in his ghostly hands.
His Zorua stood alert on his shoulders, observing the poltergeist with focused curiosity.
Peeves, too, hesitated, with a balloon already aimed at them. He was glaring at the Zorua, but when Magnus quickly grabbed the hatchling, Peeves could see nothing special.
That, though, seemed to give Peeves enough time to break out of his hesitation and launch his attack.
"Creepy, creepy..." Peeves said, aiming more balloons towards the Zorua. They all missed.
Magnus had to think fast—he certainly had no intention of ending up like Neville, who was dripping.
"Peeves... the Bloody Baron told me to tell you he is looking for you."
Peeves froze.
He did a flip in midair as he scanned the corridor for any sign of the Slytherin ghost.
"Where... can't see no one," he said, turning to Magnus.
"Lying firstie... lying firstie!"
More balloons came flying quite fast, and it was a miracle none had soaked him yet. But then, at that moment, they all heard sounds coming from further down the corridor.
Magnus caught sight of Mrs. Norris's tail disappearing around the corner—that was more trouble brewing. He, however, took advantage of the moment.
"That should be him," he said, pausing to look over his shoulder suggestively.
Peeves did not look so confident anymore. The poltergeist was a nightmare even for the teachers, but Magnus was aware that only the Headmaster and the Bloody Baron could have some form of control over him.
Peeves swooshed over them, trying to get a good glimpse, but of course, he saw nothing.
"The Baron told me I would find you here... should I tell him you are on your way?"
That seemed to do the trick. The poltergeist seemed to register that Magnus was, in fact, wearing Ravenclaw robes and was in the Gryffindor tower. That fact went well with his pretense of being sent.
"'Course not, good firstie," Peeves said almost pleading. "Peeves won't hit you no more, long as you tell his Bloodliness you didn't see Peeves."
Magnus hesitated, pretending to think. "Okay... be quick then. He might be showing up himself any moment."
Peeves hurried to stash back his water balloons, except the one he had been holding for the Zorua. He looked at it regretfully before turning quite quickly and smashing the ball on Neville, who squealed at the sudden attack.
Before Magnus could even remind the poltergeist of his promise, he was floating away. "Peeves never said he won't hit Neville Wee Bottom." Then he swooped around the corner and disappeared.
Magnus hurried to Neville. "Are you alright?" he asked despite seeing that the guy was drenched from head to toe.
Neville nodded. "I am alright, it's just... I think my password might have been ruined."
Neville was rummaging through his pockets, pulling them inside out, looking for something.
'Oh fuck,' Magnus cursed, recalling that Neville often had trouble recalling the passwords and therefore had to resort to writing them, which was just as bad for him.
He had been hoping to ask him to call Hermione, but now he was sure if he stayed here any longer, Mrs. Norris would return with the caretaker, and then he would be in an even worse position compared to Neville, seeing as he was quite far from Ravenclaw.
"Oh here... think I found it," Neville exclaimed, making Magnus and his Zorua turn around as he had already been intending to leave. He rushed back and bent to stare over Neville's shoulder at the haggard-looking piece of parchment.
Even as Neville struggled to read the fading ink, the paper looked like it would tear apart any moment.
"Leprechaun," he said as Neville looked up, relieved.
"Yes... I knew it started with 'lep.' Said the same to her, but she wouldn't let me in," he said, indicating the Fat Lady, who, for the first time, Magnus noticed was glaring at them quite annoyed.
"Oh, you idiot, you said 'leprosy.' And is it not against the rule to share the password with anyone who is not a Gryffindor? Perhaps I should inform Professor McGonagall."
Neville looked petrified at the thought.
"Oh, sorry, I am not going in," Magnus said reluctantly, though now that he had the password, he found himself thinking whether he shouldn't just head in himself. He decided not—it wasn't common for students to enter a house that wasn't theirs. Besides, there wasn't any time.
He pressed the tiny bottle into Neville's hands. "Give this to Hermione, tell her to give the Pichu 5ml only."
He stepped back and looked to make sure Neville had understood him.
Neville nodded. "Give it to Hermione," he said, looking at the glass vial. "Tell her to give her Pichu 5ml only."
Magnus patted the drenched boy on the shoulder before running down the opposite direction.