Sherri stepped out of her common room nearly one hour before her detention started. It was a start of a terrible night to unfold. She had never taken Puking Pastilles from the Skiving Snack Boxes she bought at Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, but she would tonight. She wondered how it would taste, if Snape would find her out, or if she couldn't stop puking afterwards.
Leaving one hour before hand was just to get good marks with Snape. She had already skipped two detentions, plus her detention with him during lunch and partially one potions class. She had walked on him when he started picking on how remedial her potion was for the day. Sherri was suprised she made it out so quickly.
She was a little hesitant to leave, but she had her Puking Pastilles that gave her a sign of hope. Sherri walked down the stairwell to the dungeons, rather slowly, knowing of how much time she had. She questioned her timely matter once she got down to the door, just to see if Snape was even there. Sherri knocked on the door. No answer. She waited a couple minutes and knocked again, just pushing the door open afterwards.
"P-Professor Snape?" Sherri called into the room, taking small steps as she entered. "Hello?"
"Nice of you to join us, Miss Black," called out a voice from behind her. By turning around, it happened to be the very own Severus Snape closing the door behind her.
Sherri's heart dropped at the sight of him. Why was he so . . . calm? She actually rather hoped he would be yelling at her. Her plan with the Skiving Snackboxes would make things so much simpler.
Snape motioned toward her in his normal nonchalant strut and monotonous face. "As you have skipped three of my detentions plus had a walk-out of my potions class, I had no choice but to expel you," he began, picking up is wand lightly from his desk, holding it within his fingertips. "However, as the circumstances are, you are not in my own house, unfortunately. This means you are to understand your consequences by your Head of House." Snape sneered.
"Head of House, sir?" Sherri asked as she watched him fiddle with his wand within his fingertips.
"Yes, Miss Black, you did realize we have houses, didn't you?" said Snape.
Sherri nodded, becoming a little furious. Snape was teasing with her about her stupidity, and it was likely she didn't have one hair of stupidity on her, only in potions where Snape would give her a T every time.
"Professor Flitwick will sort out your consequences. After you," Snape said, a little louder than before, finally pointing the wand at Sherri. She jumped visibly, moving around him as quickly as possible, the Puking Pastilles slipping as quickly from her mind.
Snape followed after her up the stairs and instantly Sherri knew the wand was still drawn. He knew that if he didn't follow, she would make her escape back to the common rooms again, or possibly dinner as it started.
They went up seven flights of stairs near the Charms classroom to Flitwick's office. Snape knocked on the door for her, as Sherri was out of breath from the steps from how quickly they had to go. Snape gave her a stare that could have been of death at this point and he followed back downstairs. A tiny squeaky voice was heard from inside the doorway.
"Come in!" The voice sounded as cheerful as ever: the normal status of Professor Filius Flitwick.
Sherri opened the door to reveal his giant office, with him behind his desk, standing on a pile of books as his height was much too short to see over it. Flitwick was partially goblin, so his general height was 3 and a half feet. He smiled as she walked in.
"Hello, Professor," Sherri greeted, her breath slowing down with just a sigh. She wasn't intimidated by him at all, as she normally gotten very high marks in his class.
Flitwick smiled. "Please, sit down, sit down," he said as he gestured toward a chair in front of his desk. Sherri obliged. "Now, I've gotten reports that you have missed a class and several detentions, is that correct?"
Sherri nodded.
"And you've been warned that these consequences may lead to suspension and even expulsion, correct?" She nodded again. "Alright, well then, let's see, let's see . . ."
Flitwick opened a book, and seemed to be skimming it quickly before he gazed over it, looking at Sherri once more.
"Miss Black, I do not want to suspend you nor do I want to expel you or set you off to a detention every night. No, that is not my intention," Flitwick started, the book lowering with every word. "However, the circumstances do call for it. It is very disappointing. So, in the midst of your actions, I have no choice."
Sherri felt her heart drop lower than it ever was. She knew her expulsion was coming . . . the time she would be away from her friends forever, facing whatever came her way, and probably leaving in that cave next to the Shrieking Shack with her dad.
"But, this is your first warning. I am not going to expel you today. However, I do have a preposition for you," Flitwick went on, staring at Sherri with his beading eyes.
Sherri became confused. "A-A preposition, sir?"
"Yes, a preposition, Miss Black. That you will not skip any more detentions or skip classes, even if it is potions class. You must keep out of trouble for at least three weeks and your record for detentions will be lifted. If you fail to oblige, I have no choice but to suspend you for the year. Is that clear?" Flitwick stood motionless.
Sherri had to think about it. No pranks, tomfoolery, or given the risk of getting out of detention for three whole weeks!?
She realized how long she had been silent. "Y-Yes. Yes, sir."
A bright smile shown on Flitwick's face. "I knew you can do it, Miss Black. "I've always respected your intelligence, just not your behaviour. You're truly a Ravenclaw."
She was? Sherri never knew it. She honestly didn't feel like a Ravenclaw, not even once. Perhaps it was only because she could look at any subject material once and get high marks on quizzes, with the exception of potions. All she could do was nod.
"Sir, that's a question I've been meaning to ask you. How could I be in Ravenclaw if my dad was in Gryffindor and most of . . ."
". . . Most of your family was in Slytherin? Ah, what a question it is," Flitwick said, setting his book down and sitting on top of his books, swaying his legs back and forth, contemplating. "You are not the first to ask this, Miss Black. You have a sharp mind. You can think on your feet, can you not?"
Sherri nodded again.
"You have looked upon your mother's side as well?" Flitwick said, still thinking.
Sherri's mother's side? She had thought about who her mother was for a very long time, but never had she thought about the family of her mother. The house was a mystery as well.
"Ah, a delayed reply makes me certain that you do not know. I see, I see. I have taught your father as well as your mother, Miss Black, and they were both very bright students. They both had a penetrating mind, however, many would say that you are taking advantage of your father's behaviour and your mother's loving spirit and looks," Flitwick explained.
"You knew my mother, sir?" Sherri was almost surprised. She didn't even know her name . . . the secret that haunted her most of her life. Sirius never explained it and every time it was brought up, he almost seemed disgusted with himself and jumped over the subject.
"Yes. Ms. Penelope Blythe was her name, if I am correct. She was quite the witch. She was pureblood to say the least as well as your traditions go. I know Black had an unusual fancy toward her as well as she, but they never got together. It was a shame. That is why I was surprised when you first stepped foot inside Hogwarts. You looked so much like her, and yet had the attitude of Mr. Black.
"Ms. Blythe was a Ravenclaw as well, as well has her mother before her. I went to school with a Blythe, that is assuming that was her mother. Ah, how very intelligent they were. Quiet, as most of them are and only put their penetrating mind to use when it was good for them."
Flitwick paused. Sherri smiled to the realization that she was actually learning about some of her family and not on her father's side. She had a mother and not some woman who threw her out unto the streets as many of the assumptions went on that she was adopted. No, Sirius Black was really her father who almost had a wife, but what happened to her?
"Do you know what happened after she left Hogwarts?" Sherri asked, as the question slipped into her mind.
"One can only say. I hadn't spoke or seen her since her last day of 7th year," said Flitwick, disappointingly.
Sherri nodded. She felt the heat rise in her face, only this time it wasn't of anger. It was of disappointment and ambition now to figure out who her mother was. She felt saddened even. She wanted to cry, but she figured it wasn't going to let her see her mother.
"Thank you, Professor," she said, with a light smile. Flitwick smiled again and nodded.
"Anytime, Miss Black, anytime. Now, you remember our deal?"
Sherri nodded. "Yes. I'll try my best, sir." She hadn't known if that were true or not. She just knew that she wanted to get down to the library to track down any books, anything at all on the history of Hogwarts and its students.
Sherri gave one last smile and left his office. "Thanks again," and with that, she went back down the several flights of stairs, passed the Great Hall and into the deserted library.
Sherri Black Community Member 
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