T for language and a bit of PTSD, guys. Enjoy my first Marauders era fic! Throws you in the deep end a bit, but eh, I could not imagine of a better way to introduce the OC, Erin Carter as it's all from her POV! Be lovely to hear from you in a review! :)
A chill was lingering in the air of the dungeons as I left Slughorn's office, kicking the door slightly on my way out. That had to have been the most boring detention so far this year. I'm going to stink of flobberworms and dirt for a week after this! Letting out an angry huff, I set off pacing down the corridor and peel off the gloves I was wearing to separate the mouldy flobberworms from the good ones. I wrinkle my nose as I shove them in the pockets of my robes. Separating flobberworms… I mean really?! All I did was spike Snape's potion with extra bat spleen! How was I supposed to know that it would make it incredibly poisonous? He should have been lucky that it didn't explode in his face… which, I mean, was my intended outcome. Stupid Slughorn had to notice, didn't he? Should have realised he'd be watching me and Lily – the Professor can't keep his admiring eyes off his favourite student. Neither could Snivellus. Ugh. I could feel my temper rising as I flashback to his greasy face eyeing up my best friend and suddenly feel no regret for my actions.
Reaching the stairs that would take me to the Entrance Hall, I hear a smug little laugh from over my shoulder. Speak of the devil. I slowly take my foot off the first step and turn around, arms folded, to look into those greedy black eyes.
"Out of bed a bit late, aren't you Snivellus?" I sneer at him, tucking a lock of my short, dark hair behind an ear.
He stands a few feet away from me with his hands in the pockets of his green lined robes, watching me with great amusement.
Reaching one hand up to pinch his nose, he retorts, "I came to see what was making such a stink, but-" he pauses to remove his hand and let out a short laugh, "Of course, I should have known how disgusting mud can be."
It takes me three steps to frighten him enough to reach for his wand. I stop abruptly and run my fingers lightly down my own, still in my pocket. Snape might talk the talk, but I know he is utterly terrified of me, even when I'm not surrounded my friends.
"What's that supposed to mean?" I ask sarcastically, narrowing my eyes. "Or are you being completely original and referring to my family?"
Snape wipes his thick, greasy hair away from his eyes, "You deserve everything you get, Mudlood."
I notice the ever so slight waver in his tone, the half a second tremble in his wand hand and stretch a smile across my face.
Laughing, I cock my head to the side and put on a pout, "But I though Mudbloods were just your type."
Snape blanches and swallows hard. It's just too easy. And way too fun. I wish Sirius and James were here to see this. I am feeling particularly vindictive after that detention.
"S-Shut up, Carter," Snape mutters and stretches his wand towards me.
Sighing, I close the distance so that his wand is an inch from my robes. Even being a few inches shorter than him, I wasn't afraid. "Going to hex me? Go on then! I'd love to see you try. But you know I'll be telling my best friend exactly who the culprit was, and then all your hopes and dreams will be ruined, won't they?" My voice takes a darker tone as I finish. What a waste of space this Slytherin is. I don't even feel sorry for him.
I let out another laugh and whip around dramatically, making my way towards the stairs again, leaving Snape to his completely pathetic unrequited love.
"See ya, Snivellus. I'll make sure to give Lils all your love!"
To my complete surprise, a warm shot of air whizzes past my ear before I can even start climbing. A flash of red hits the dark wall of the dungeon to my right. I never thought he'd have the guts.
I have my wand outstretched in a heartbeat, facing Snape.
"What the fuck do you think you're doing?" I spit maliciously, so not in the mood for teasing him anymore. "Did you just try and attack me?"
Snape has lost the tremble in his fingers as he glares at me, full of hatred. We match each other's stances, waiting.
"Lost your nerve?" I coo, after a minute of silence, "Only fight when your opponents back is turned?"
He flicks his wand suddenly, sending another whoosh of red light. I block it and immediately growl out, "Petrificous Totalus!" He ducks down as the spell erupts in the space an inch above his head.
"You need to learn, Snivellus. If this is about Lily then get over it! She'll never love you! How many times do we have to go through this?" I snap at him, bending my knees on the spot, waiting for another hex to come my way.
"I could say the same to you," He mutters, as if he hadn't decided whether he was brave enough to actually say it. A chill runs down my spine that I don't think has anything to do with the cold.
His words take me by surprise. My hand falls a few inches as my mouth drops open. It takes me a moment to recover.
"I'm not in love with Lily, if that's what you mean," is all I can reply with.
Snape smirks as he sees me struggling with his words. Why does this cocky brat think he knows everything? If he's talking about…
No. He can't mean him. No one knows that I like him. I haven't even told Lily yet. Sirius Black and I are really close but… that doesn't mean anything to someone with such little respect for personal space.
"Not Lily, but maybe someone with a bit more 'ancient and noble' blood."
I reply with a stunning spell, but Snape puts a shield up a moment before it hits him.
"Touched a nerve?" He sneers.
"I'll fucking wipe that smirk off your face, Snivellus. Mark my words."
I send another hex his way, but the brat is too god damn quick with his shields.
"Better be getting back. Your pet will be wondering what's happened to you," Snape says, moving his arm up to block another spell.
"He's not my pet. Shut up." I feel my face reddening. No. I cannot let Snivellus of all people get to me. He's just trying to push my buttons. "Maybe I should string you up outside in the moonlight and leave you as a present for the bats to feed on. I honestly can't be bothered looking at your slimy face anymore."
Curiously, instead of firing another insult at me, Snape lowers his wand and thinks for a moment, his face slack. More surprised than anything, I lower my wand and glance about as if someone else had come along and put a curse on him. A tiny laugh comes my way and in a matter of seconds, Snape is clutching his side like he'd had too much Hiccoughing Solution.
"No, no, it's too good, it's tonight. Oh, I couldn't possibly-" he laughs to himself.
I wrinkle my nose and raise my eyebrows in disgust.
"Okay, well I'm so done with this," I say, making a move to finally leave. My bed is up another seven flights of stairs and I have had enough annoyance for one day.
"No," is all I hear before my body is hit with one of Snape's spells. I try to wriggle, finding myself incapable of movement. My mouth struggles to shout out, but to no avail. I'm frozen on the spot.
Snape's laughter has stopped and as he strides towards me, that dark expression slapped back on his face.
"You're not going back upstairs, Carter. I'm going to show you exactly what happens to people in the 'moonlight'. And then you're never going to speak to me about Lily ever again, or tease me, or- or poison my potions!" His angry face is getting redder by the second.
I try to move my fingers, a toe, anything, but no. That bastard has got me good. Merlin, do I have revenge to plan when I get out of this mess.
"You're going to suffer the way I suffered by the hand of your so-called-friends. Those Marauders that you hold so dear aren't going to save you this time."
Before I can wonder what the hell he is going on about, Snape raises his wand to point between my eyes.
As I fall into darkness, I hear his final words, brimming with hatred, "In fact, this is the one night a month that they're going to do the exact opposite."