Disclaimer : I own nothing except for the plot, Lyrah and Freddie.
Chap 2: Day Two – Lyrah Lusher
I woke up with a slight headache. Yes, yesterday was terrible. I was up till late into the early morning, working on a cure for Olive Oil Poisoning with Professor Snape and Draco.
Draco was worried, you see, about me, so he decided to search the entire school. But fortunately, he came to the dungeons first where I was with Professor Snape. Luckily, he wasn't affected by the poisoning cause he didn't have breakfast in the morning. I didn't have breakfast yesterday, for one, I slept in, like Draco had, and two, I had a mishap of seeing Blaise kissing Freddie, a Ravenclaw, who's also a seventh year student like me and who was trying to run away. How Blaise managed to catch Freddie, who was way more buff and stronger than him, I don't know. But I better hope nothing too disgusting happened.
Instantly, after seeing Blaise act like that, it triggered my sixth sense. Something was wrong, because just the night before, Blaise was confessing his love like a psychopath to Daphne Greengrass. I just skipped breakfast that morning, and was late for Charms. Draco wasn't even there. Shortly after Professor Flitwick did not minus any points from Slytherin, Professor Snape came and called for my help. So I, being generous and curious then, followed Severus. And that's when he told me about what happened, and that the food was love potion-poisoned.
After I drank an anti-headache potion from my stock of potions, I showered and changed into Draco's Quidditch shirt and a pair of new Muggle jeans. Not that I steal Draco's clothes, Merlin, no, but he just gave them to me when he grew out of them. He's like my best friend in the world. Well, more like family, really. I looked at myself in the mirror, glancing at the other girls, who were; bless Merlin, sleeping like a log. Especially Pansy Parkinson, whose drool was covering her whole face.
My face was all blotch and puffy, like I'd been crying. Not that I did. I don't really cry that often. Last time I did was when Draco's pet ferret had died, which was back when I was six. My eyes were red from lack of sleep and my bottom lip was cracked and bleeding. I guessed I spent the whole of yesterday in the heat of the boiling cauldron. My hair was still wet from the shower and was three shades darker than it should have been. Little wet spots formed on the collar of my shirt from droplets of water from my dripping hair. I didn't care much. I had to be at the dungeons soon. I pulled my hair into a wet pony tail. I jumped into my boots and ran out of the dorm (Yes, I don't wear make-up), to find Marcus Flint checking me out all the way I walked to the Common Room exit. He kind of grew hot? I guess... I mean he doesn't have those ridiculous teeth anymore, and he spikes up his hair like Freddie does... Sweet Merlin, why am I even thinking of Freddie. I winked at him and saw Marcus sigh and went out of the Common Room while muttering the password and rolling up the sleeves of my shirt.
The sight that met me outside was ridiculous and disgusting but it was still very funny. Freddie was backed up against an exposed wall by Blaise. Again. Twice. Gross. Really. My mouth processed the words before my mind could even register the situation.
"Tasting him, Blaise?" I asked. Freddie face was a mixture of horror and disgust and fear.
"Yes, but he keeps trying to run away." Blaise said, putting his arm on either side of Freddie, preventing his escape, or so I thought.
"I'm sorry for you." I said.
"But why? I have him now." He said, smirking.
"I'm afraid, you do not, Blaise. Professor Snape needs his assistance. Like right now." I said, keeping a calm and serious exterior wall, but my insides feel like they just rolled on the floor laughing. It wasn't entirely a lie, because Draco is in the Hospital Wing for a mild burn.
"Now? Really? Does he have to? I thought Draco's helping in the project." He said. Blaise doesn't know what we're doing. Just some stuff for Severus I'd told him last night during dinner, which I didn't have.
"Draco will be late, so he asked Freddie to fill him in. So I guess he has to go, Blaise, I'm sorry. I could return him to you safe and sound after we finish?" I offered.
"Really? You'd return him safe and sound?" He asked, unbelieving.
"Yes, I will," I insisted.
"Very well, take him." Blaise said. A sign of relief past over Freddie's face. Freddie followed me as I was walking down the hallway. "But you might as well dress him up in a pink tutu. You have a pink tutu right?" Asked Blaise's voice from the distance. I just waved my hand at him in response before rounding the corner.
"Lusher, thank you. Merlin, I can't thank you enough." Freddie said.
"It's fine, Sheriff. I didn't need those visuals to keep me distracted the whole day. I have a job to do." I said. Wait a minute! Did he sound normal? "Freddie!" I turned around and went smack into his chest. Ooof. It hurt. His chest felt like it was made of a million tonnes of steel. I put my hands on his shoulders to stop him from moving. I looked up into his eyes. I had to look up. I was considered tall for a seventh year girl. And if I was tall, and he's way taller than me, that makes Draco and Weasley not the tallest guys in our year. He panicked for a moment there. I could almost hear the clicks of his mind for the best escape route. He was, a Ravenclaw after all. Though he was wearing Gryffindor colours today. A black and red stripped long-sleeved T-shirt, with black pants and combat boots. I got to admit, if looks could kill, then I'd probably be dead by now.
"Freddie," I said. "You're fine." He looked at me, confused for a moment there. "You're normal, you're not affected by the olives." I said, feeling relieved for some unthinkable reason. He looked at me like I just stated the obvious.
"Of course I am." He said. He laughed. "You thought I was crazy as well, didn't you?" He asked.
"Sort of, yes," I admitted.
"Most people think I am crazy, just because I like the sight of blood." Sweet Merlin, I did not need the visuals.
"Freddie, I did not need the visuals. I just saw that this morning." I said.
"Today?" He asked, patting his lower stomach.
"No." I said, suddenly aware of the fact that I just told him I was PMS-ing. "Last day," I said. It wasn't entirely false. It was supposed to be the last day.
"Good." He said, blushing like a red tomato. What in the Camelot? He thinks it's good... What... "So," he said, changing the subject. "Do you really need my help, or was that just a ploy?" He asked. I could really do with some help, since Draco isn't much of a God these days. Wait, what am I thinking...
"Yeah, sure. Just hike up, and wear your protective um- mask. Is that what the Muggles call it?" I asked. He just chuckled.
*7DM*
Professor Snape was already there, wearing his protective dragon-hide gloves. I dragged Freddie to my working spot, when Professor Snape's voice boomed:
"Edward Sheriff! What are you doing here?" He asked. Oh, did I forget to mention? His full name is Edward Alfred Sheriff. I just like to call him Freddie.
"Helping Miss Lusher, sir, as you can clearly see." Freddie replied. He emphasized the word 'clearly', which made Severus's jaw twitch.
"I did not recall inviting you to join us at all, Mr. Sheriff." Snape said, clearly angry.
"I'm filling in for Draco Malfoy, sir, he's in the Hospital Wing." Freddie said. He knows how to play his game, I thought
"Mr. Sheriff. Do you think I am not aware of that?" Asked Snape, now annoyed. Better than him being angry, I guess.
"Very well, you are, sir." Said Freddie. Snape just looked away and pretended he did not hear that. He continued skewering mandrake roots and ginger.
"He seems to be on a very bad mood." Said Freddie.
"Yeah, I don't think he probably slept. Heck, even I slept at five this morning." I said.
"And woke up at seven?" He asked, amused.
"Yeah... My eyes are really puffy, aren't they?" I asked.
"They look like you cried all night."
"Mhmm..." I mumbled and continued to bottle bat spleens.
Suddenly, Draco came running through the entrance and closed to the wooden doors.
"Mr. Malfoy! Why are you locking the doors?" Asked Professor Snape, interrupted yet again.
"Sir... house-elves... Professor McGonagall... fucking Pansy Parkinson..." Draco said so so fast that we couldn't even catch his words.
"Draco," I said, as I approached him. "Calm down, and tell what happened, slowly." I said.
"The house-elves, Lyrah! They are going crazy. They were chasing students with knives. I think our message reached a bit too late. And Professor McGonagall, Merlin, she was dancing wearing her old school clothes. Her old Quidditch gear. She was dancing on the Head Table, I tell you. And Professor Sprout, oh, Lord, she shoved her ass up-"
"Okay, okay." I said, I don't want to know that... "What about Pansy Parkinson?" I asked him.
"THE HORROR!" Draco screamed. "She practically ran around naked in the common room!" He said. Gross. Ergh. I nearly gagged. Snot face naked? Eww.
"Mr. Malfoy, here, have some chocolate." Said Professor Snape, who had caught that from Professor Lupin. Draco quickly gobbled the chocolate given with closed eyes. He breathed deeply and opened his eyes and saw Freddie.
"Sheriff! I thought you- you're-" Draco was speechless.
"Draco, he's fine. Blaise was on him, not what you think." I said quickly.
"Oh." Muttered Draco.
"Mr. Malfoy," Said Severus. "Tell us if you saw anybody who was not insane?" He asked.
"Yeah, you, Lyrah, Freddie, Professor Dumbledore, Ginny, Fred and George Weasley, Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood and Cedric Diggory." Said Draco.
"Are you sure, Mr. Malfoy?" Asked Severus.
"Yes, positive." Said Draco.
"Alright then. Draco, you go to Dumbledore's office and wait for us. Lusher, Sheriff and I will find the rest and will meet up with you there."
"Fine." Said Draco and went out in a hurry.
"You two. Go together. Try not to get engaged in fights or whatever and do not- I repeat, DO NOT eat or drink anything other people give you. And lock this place before leaving." He said, and dropped his gloves on his work table. He grabbed his wand, gave us a suspicious look and went out. I quickly dropped my gloves at the same time as Freddie and close all the jars and the big bucket of wet spleens. On the way out, I knocked into him, again, and he had to grab my arms to keep our balance. We locked the potions dungeon with a fine spell and walked towards the Great Hall.
I smelled it in the air. I looked at Freddie who shared the same expression I did. We smelled it.
"You smell-" I started, but was cut off with him saying:
"Sex! Yes, I do smell it." He said, disgusted. "Who'd want to do it in the hallway?" He asked.
"Apparently, Blaise." I said, as-a-matter-of-factly. Blaise was pounding into Daphne at high-speed; I thought she might light up.
"Oh, Merlin. Hide me." He said, crouching behind me. Thank Merlin Blaise's back was towards us. But what I really did not expect was Daphne's face, as we passed them. It was lit up by a million emotions.
"I'm not Merlin. Besides, Merlin is a man." I said, smirking. He stood up and straightened his shirt.
"I'm not afraid." He announced to the world. "I'm not afraid." He repeated. "Oh, mummy." He muttered under his breath. We crossed the Great Hall's entrance and I saw the Head Table. Draco was right. McGonagall had gone crazy.
"Can we, like –um, go?" Asked Freddie, just as Ginny came running towards us.
"Lyrah! I- everyone- they just went crazy." Ginny stuttered.
"I know, Ginny, calm down, where are the others?" I asked.
"Professor Snape took them. He said he had to keep an eye on the twins so he took them. He left Neville with me..."
"Bring Longbottom; we're going to Dumbledore's study. Fast!" Said Freddie. Just as a swarm of house elves came attacking, Freddie froze them all with his wand raised high.
"Was that necessary?" I asked him, as we walked up the stairs to the seventh floor.
"Would you rather they turned us into meat loaves?" He asked me.
"Well, no, but you would make a delicious meat loaf." He snickered, at that and I decided not to comment.
"Are you implying that I take your breath away?" He asked walking closer to me than necessary.
"Nope, just stating the facts, is all." I said and walked ahead. He gave me an are-you-kidding face.
"Means," I said, "that I think I'd rather you are turned into something non-human than I." He chose not to say anything until we reached Dumbledore's office. Although I know, he'd been laughing inside the whole way up.
As Ginny was about to knock on the doors, it flew open with Professor Snape standing there, looking at us. We slowly walked in trying to avoid his gaze. The doors closed as soon as we were inside. I saw Draco standing by the fireplace with the others. Fred and George were grinning ear to ear. Lovegood was having a conversation with Cedric. Draco motioned for us to come over.
"We're floo-ing Dumbledore," He said. "He's not in school. He's at St. Mungo's patching up Mr. Filch who got injured. They threw water balloons at him, the poor old man." Said Draco.
"Professor Snape," I asked. "Where are the House Ghosts?"
"They are hiding, Miss Lusher. They were being passed through so many times that they are really scared."
"Oh, right. Let's floo." I said. Severus took a handful of floo powder and threw them into the fire.
"St. Mungo's," he said and stuck his head in the fire. A few minutes later, he came up; coughing and Dumbledore's head appeared.
"I heard that you children are not affected." He said, with a twinkle in his eyes. "Alright, listen. I have a job for you people." He said. We all shuffled closer and stared at him, waiting for his command. "I had heard from Professor Snape that the situation is out of control. So, as vice president after Professor McGonagall, who is unfortunate, I hereby put him in charge until my return. As for you students, Professor Snape and I had discussed and decided to establish the Order of Seven Days with you nine as members. Miss Lusher, you will be leading this group with responsibility and hereby, I make Mr. Sheriff, your vice on command." I managed a squeaky 'yes' and sneaked a glance at Freddie who was trying not to burst out laughing.
"I hope that, you would be able to return this school to its normal state before the Halloween Ball, next Monday. I have to go now, Mr. Filch needs my help, he was very unfortunate to get hit my water balloons. Until next time." He said, and the flames died. I was rooted to my spot. I can't believe I was made the head of a very humuoress, but important group. Cedric broke the silence.
"What do we do, Lusher?" He asked me.
"Well, first we need food! Obviously, then we decide what to do." I said. Yes, I'm showing really bad leadership.
"I think she's right," said Professor Snape. "We ought to get something to eat before we collapse while making potions for the entire population of this school."
"So, anybody good in Transfiguration?" Asked Freddie.
*7DM*
Freddie and Cedric had Transfigured raw vegetable into a pot of stew without olives or olive oil. We had that with bread Professor Snape had bought from the Three Broomsticks. After that, Professor Snape gave each of us a job; the first stages of creating the cure. Professor Snape had studied all morning after Draco and I left and claims that he had the perfect cure in his hands. I and Freddie had to bottle the bat spleens; which we were doing this morning. Ginny and Luna were supposed to boil cabbages and get about 100 pints of cabbage water. Draco and Cedric had to cut ginger and mandrake roots while Professor Snape will skewer them and put them over the fire to melt away the bad chemicals. However, Fred and George were instructed not to disturb us on our work and were allowed to roam the Castle, in case of seriously injured students and were supposed to bring them in immediately.
Working with Freddie was amazing. Because he's really good at telling jokes than Draco. He also likes to lighten up the tension in the air. Whenever his hand brushes mine while getting jars, I feel a cold sensation. It's a whole new feeling. It keeps triggering my sixth sense non-stop. I've only spent real time with him for a few hours, but I could already tell the way his minds works before he could even say anything. Whenever he's in deep thought, his face scrunches up and he stares at random things. When he's concentrating really hard on something, he'd bite his lip, drawing blood. He'd lick the blood. Who knows? Maybe he could be a vampire. Well, he is pale... But he plays Quidditch, so out of the question. There's already a tiny scar running on his bottom lip. I could hear his mind clicking and working the gears which keeps triggering my sixth sense. It's a weird cold feeling like someone just poured ice down my shirt. Front and back.
After bottling the bat spleens, Freddie and I asked what we should do next. Severus told us to get some moonstone and powder them. He also told us to cover all exposed skin except for the face so that the moonstone won't affect us. Moonstones are powerful, and we'd be in a dream-like state if not handled carefully.
We went to Severus's walk-in potions cupboard and damn, look at this place. It was huge. It had all kinds of potions and ingredients. It would be hard to find moonstone as it is kept in a well lidded box and most of the things here are 'well lidded'.
"This place is huge," said Freddie.
"It's supposedto be, you dolt." I said. "Find a red coloured box with Moonstone written across it." Suddenly, he shoved me against the rack of boxes behind me. He trapped me with putting both his arms on either side of me, preventing me from escaping. I looked up at his blue eyes. His face was closing in on mine rapidly.
A/N: It was supposed to be longer, but I guess I wanted to put a well needed cliffhanger. Chap Three is in progress already. It's Freddie BTW, not Fred.
A/N 2: I know. I lied. Darkness Chases is having a writer's block half-way through Chap 5. I don't know how to describe the situation. Sneak Peak of Chap 5 = My Profile Page
R/R ~ Lys Zec
