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Chapter 4: Stupidity and Protection.

Rosanna enjoyed lying in the next day but soon got bored by lunch time and decided to take a walk around the academy grounds. She headed towards the main entrance in a world of her own when she quite literally bumped into Grabiner.

"Miss Gale; do you ever take the time to look where you are going? Or do you deliberately try to walk into me on a regular basis?" He snapped. This was now the third time she had crashed into Grabiner, the first time was on her first day at the academy.

"Oh I'm so sorry Sir I didn't mean to! I was just thinking about stuff." She shrunk back a little as she was expecting him to give her de-merits like last time.

"Yes well, perhaps you should sit down next time you decide to think, before you hurt yourself or other people." He replied dryly. She blushed but said nothing.

"I must admit I was mildly impressed at how you handled the last exam." He commented changing the subject; "Could have perhaps been a little faster but the spells you used where admittedly well preformed and your solutions original. When did you learn 'shatter' By the way? We haven't even covered that in Red magic class yet."

"I read it in a book but hadn't tried it before. I wasn't really expecting it to work to be honest." She shrugged, feeling her face burning under the compliments he was giving her; he never gave compliments to students.

"It was an interesting choice, Well I have things to do. Good day Rosanna." He gave a curt nod and carried on walking down the corridor the opposite way to which she was heading.

Later that week Ellen unexpectedly dragged Rosanna into an empty classroom.

"Can I ask you for some advice Rosanna?" Ellen asked looking flustered.

"What's up?"

"Well…How do you ask someone on a date? More specifically someone you don't know if they like you or not?" Ellen avoided Rosanna's gaze.

"oooh! Who? Who?" said Rosanna cheerfully; "Surely the best way is to just be honest and go tell them?"

"It's eh…it's Virginia" mumbled Ellen; "I kinda have a crush on Virginia."

Rosanna looked at her mildly shocked before replying.

"Well I think you should really just ask her!"

"But if she says no it's gonna be really awkward, she's our room-mate after all."

"Well I guess I can talk to her at some point and try and see what she thinks of you?" Rosanna replied thoughtfully.

"You would? That'll be great! Thanks Rosanna." Ellen gave her a quick hug, before hurrying off to her next lesson.

For the following week or so Rosanna rarely got any time to talk to Grabiner outside of lessons, as they were both kept busy with various things. Come Wednesday night Rosanna awoke around midnight after having another nightmare. Over the past couple of months she had been having several nightmares particularly when she had a stressful day. This one had been particularly bad so she put her dressing gown over her Pyjamas and decided to go and take a little walk, careful not to wake her room-mates. She knew that she might get caught and be given de-merits but she had made back a good amount of merits by helping out Professor Potsdam with several chores such as cleaning around the academy and decided it was worth the gamble. It wasn't long before she spotted a wide awake Professor Quill in a classroom. He had a large book open next to what appeared to be a cauldron over a small fire and various ingredients for making some sort of potion nearby. This struck Rosanna as strange as Professor Quill never taught 'Black' magic and never showed any signs of being interested in making Potions. He was so engrossed in his book that he didn't spot Rosanna who wisely hid behind the doorway so he didn't notice; he was talking to himself rather loudly.

"Right so I need rosewood, flax flowers, the feather of a charm bird and the blood of a maiden. Well the flowers I can get now."

He slammed the book shut and stood up. Rosanna frowned. What was he making? She managed to scramble into another nearby classroom as he walked briskly out of the room and down the corridor, his cloak flying behind him as he headed towards the Academy's side entrance. Curiosity getting the best of her she followed him keeping her distance trying to figure out what he was up to.

Professor Quill seemed to head out of the grounds and into the forest beyond. After a little hesitation Rosanna followed him wrapping her dressing gown tightly around her trying to keep out the cold of the November night. Professor Quill picked his way through the woods with ease; he had cast a large light orb to illuminate a wide area as he went. Rosanna was thankful for this as it made following him a lot easier and meant she didn't need to cast her own light spell and risk him finding out that she was following him. They had been walking for a little while; the forest was eerily calm, when Professor Quill came to a sudden stop. Before him was a small patch of flowers, which he picked several before swiftly turning around and speaking out.

"So Mrs Grabiner, may I ask why you are following me, past curfew?"

Her face dropped like a stone. She was so sure he didn't know that she was following him. She stepped out of the shadows towards him glumly.

"Sir I'm so sorry, I was just planning on getting some fresh air and well I saw you heading out to the woods and I just eh…got curious as to what you were doing…" She neglected to tell him she had seen him in the Classroom. Professor Quill walked quickly towards her and before she knew what was happening he grabbed her hand and pinned it painfully against a tree. He then used his other arm to slam into her pinning her body to the tree as well. She cried out in pain;

"What the hell are you doing? Get off me?!" She tried to struggle but he was far stronger than her and she was unable to push him away.

"Mrs Grabiner, considering your situation was your marriage ever consummated?" He asked.

Her face became contorted with confusion. What?

"What? No! Get off me! Please!"

He smiled wickedly; "And being such a lovely girl I would like to assume, you haven't been with anyone sexually before your marriage?"

She blushed furiously why on earth he was asking such personal questions…Oh no I'm alone in the woods with this madman. Oh no. please. No.

"I'm not that sort of person. Don't you dare do anything to me! Don't you dare?!" She yelled squirming again as he laughed.

"Oh don't worry don't want you in that way It's just I'm making a potion, and I need the blood of a maiden for it, the blood of a virgin..." He traced a finger down the side of her face. Oh he had said that when reading the book 'the blood of a maiden'. Why didn't I bloody think that was strange before now? I should have just gone to Hieronymous about it, I'm so stupid.

"Don't worry I won't need to kill you for it." He cast an 'entangle' spell and made vines on the tree grab her arms and legs firmly in place before letting her go. She struggled as the vines cut into her flesh but with no avail. Professor Quill pulled out a bottle from his robes and then ripped off the sleeve of her dressing gown. Rosanna screamed and yelled out but he quickly cast 'silence' on her and so she was left trying to yell but with no effect.

"Now, now, I promise I only need a little blood." He kept the same handsome smile the whole time as he cast 'cut' on her arm and used the empty flask to catch some of her blood. The cut was deep but far from fatal and as soon as he was done, and he placed the glass bottle back into his robes.

"Thank you my dear, you are so sweet. Now I must leave you. I'd let you go from the tree but I fear you will go right to your husband and 'tell' on me. I'm not a murderer and I will not harm you further, however I have no problems with leaving you here. I'm sure if a bear doesn't find you the cold will send you into a peaceful sleep." He walked up to her and slashed some holes into her dressing gown and Pyjamas, exposing her skin to the freezing, cold night air. "That'll make things a little faster. Goodnight Mrs Grabiner." He simply walked away leaving a tearful, shivering Rosanna who couldn't utter a sound and was still stuck painfully to the tree.

Dawn eventually came and Rosanna was grateful for the week sunlight to help keep her warm. She was still freezing, her wrists and legs where bloodied and raw as she had been trying as hard as possible to break free of the vines. Without her voice and her arms free she was unable to cast any spells. Exhausted and scared she was close to giving up hope, but out of the blue she saw a concerned Grabiner dashing towards her. This was the person she most wanted to see, and her heart leaped with new hope. She cried out to him, forgetting she was still under the 'silence' spell. Grabiner dispelled the 'entangle' and then the 'Silence' spell as fast as he could and he caught Rosanna as she collapsed. Weak with blurred vision she grabbed onto him, putting her arms tightly around his body and cried into his chest. He soon pushed her away only so he could wrap his cloak around her freezing body before pulling her back into a tight embrace.

Rosanna vaguely remembers being carried back to the academy but it wasn't till late that evening that things started to become clearer. She woke to find herself in a large four poster king sized bed with cream linen, in a large spacious room filled with antique furniture and several large bookshelves filled to the brim with various books both old and new. She recognized it as Grabiner's room, having been here a few times before to bring him food when he was sick. There was a small sofa to her left with a worn out looking Grabiner sitting in it watching her. She noticed she had been changed into a new pair of her Pyjamas and that her wounds had been sealed with Green magic and bandaged.

"How are you feeling?" He asked calmly. It dawned on her that she had broken about a dozen school rules and was sure he was going to issue a hundred de-merits or worse, have her expelled. Her face drained of colour at the thought.

"I'm feeling better." She wasn't sure what else to say. He studied her carefully before continuing.

"Rosanna, Please tell me what happened out there? Miss Middleton came to me this morning saying you weren't in your bedroom this morning or nowhere to be found. I came looking for you and using 'trace sent' I discovered you had gone into the forest with Professor Quill. When following I realized that Quill had come back but you had not. Professor Potsdam went to find Quill for me whist I found you out in the woods tied to the tree. Unfortunately Quill had disappeared from the school grounds. Potsdam has sent out a search party looking for him, but we fear he has gone to the otherworld." He ran his hand though his messy hair as he spoke, the stress all too apparent on his face.

"I had another nightmare so I went for a walk around the school." She mumbled as she spoke ashamed knowing how he probably won't like the story of her stupidity she was about to tell.

"I spotted Professor Quill in a classroom making some sort of potion but instead of telling you, I kind of followed him when he went out to get some Flax flowers. I was sure he hadn't spotted me but when he found the flowers he turned and talked to me. He then pinned me to the tree and said that he needed…em…the blood of a virgin maiden for the potion he was making." She blushed at admitting that.

"And so he took some of my blood, and said he didn't want to kill me himself but he didn't want me alerting you, so he left me there instead..." As she told her story she saw Grabiner's face twitch and contort in anger. This is it; she thought he's going to hate me now and expel me. I deserve it though I guess. She looked down at her hands trying to fight back tears.

"I wish you had just come to me." His voice was surprisingly calm as he spoke; "Don't get me wrong I am very angry at you, you broke a half a dozen school rules and broke your promise to me. But right now all I can think about is that bastard had left you for dead. After all his accusations of claiming I'm a student killer, and he leaves my wife for dead." His hands balled up into fists as he tried his hardest to keep his voice level; "I swear he will not get away with this."

Rosanna remained silent. She wasn't sure what to say but before she knew it she burst into tears unable to control herself. She pulled her knees up to her chest and hugged them.

"I'm so sorry! I know I should have just come and told you… Please don't hate me more but I'm sure you already do. I didn't mean for it to get that out of hand I had no idea he would turn around and…and" She moaned again burying her face in her knees not wanting to face his gaze. She felt him move and sit down on the bed beside her and he placed a hand awkwardly on her back and patted it.

"I don't…I don't hate you." He said softly. "I was worried sick about you. I'm supposed to protect you but you're making that hard for me to do." He sighed as her sobs start to ease off.

"I am going to get you something to eat, stay here and rest." He got up and started to head to the door. She looked up at him and smiled weakly, she didn't realize how hungry she was until now.

"Thank you." she said simply.

When he left Rosanna dried her tears and composed herself. To her the room had a very homely feel and she felt privileged to be staying in his room. It wasn't long before he came back with a tray, with a steaming bowl of broth and bread. There was also a pot of tea for two. He set it down on the desk and ushered her into the chair in front of it. After eating she felt a lot better and felt up to speaking to him again.

"You're not going to expel me are you?"

"No but you will be having detention every Saturday from now up until Christmas." He replied, he was sitting in another chair next to her, book in his lap and sipping his tea.

"I don't think that's enough punishment for what I deserve." She commented gloomily. He raised a quizzical eyebrow.

"You want me to expel you?"

"No! But after I broke my promise to come to you and broke so many school rules…"

"I believe that what you have gone though is punishment enough and clearly you plan on punishing yourself enough about it." He replied with a tiny smile on his face.

"I guess you're right." She sighed suddenly feeling worn out; "Why am I in your room and not the infirmary anyway?"

"Because you almost died! Idiot! My quarters are the easiest and safest place I could keep an eye on you whist you recovered and you will remain here tonight or until I decide you are well enough to return to your dormitory." He snapped.

"Oh right…"

"I want to ask you something." He paused looking somewhat nervous; "When I found you, your clothes where ripped to shreds, after he took your blood did he take advantage…" Rosanna blushed furiously realizing the Grabiner must have seen a lot more of her than she would have liked. For that matter who put me in these new Pyjamas?

"No! No he didn't do anything I promise. He just ripped up my clothes in hopes of making me freeze quicker."

"Well at least that's something." He mumbled. Rosanna looked away embarrassed by the awkward topic.

"Eh… who changed my pyjamas?"

His faced flushed a little and twitched.

"Professor Potsdam did after she healed your cuts. I need to go and sort out a few things. I want you to stay here and make yourself at home. I suggest you go back to bed and rest." He got up and swiftly left her room.

Rosanna made her way over to a door, which she assumed was the bathroom. She was right. It was a large bathroom with spacious bath and shower. The toilet, sink and bath matched and the room had a sense of elegance about it. The Communal bathrooms she was used to only had showers and not baths and after using the loo, and figuring that Grabiner wouldn't be back for quite a while she pulled the door closed and decided to run the bath. She found some bath salts and soon found herself emerging her aching, sore body into a gloriously hot, foamy bath. She semi-dozed enjoying the bliss of the water before washing herself and then getting sleepily out, once dried and dressed she wandered over to the bed and climb in and before she knew it she drifted off into a peaceful sleep.

When she woke up in the early hours of the morning she looked over and saw Grabiner sleeping on the sofa, a book on the floor next to him. She smiled and took this opportunity to study him. His black hair flopped over his face and his expression was relaxed and soft. She noted the early signs of wrinkles on his face and morning stubble on his face. His eye lashes where long and dark, his thin lips looked moist and inviting. Rosanna shook her head resisting he desire to kiss him and got up. She didn't want to wake him but felt like she had out stayed her welcome so she decided she would head back to her room and get ready for the day. Her wounds had pretty much healed and she felt that she should try and go to lessons this today, even if it was Friday. She wondered who would be taking over the Green and White magic lessons now Professor Quill had gone. She was just about to open the door to leave when Grabiner spoke from behind her.

"Where are you going?" she jumped around, surprised.

"Eh well I was going to head back to my room and get ready for my last lesson. I'm feeling much better today." He sat up brushing his hair out of his face.

"No you're not." He replied simply; "Get back into bed. You won't be attending lessons today you need to rest." He gestured to his bed.

"But I feel ok, honest." He gave her such a dark look that she immediately went and got back into the bed. He got up yawning.

"I will make sure that food is delivered to you and your books so you can study for a bit if you wish but I must insist you stay here and rest."

"Yes Sir." She replied feeling a little like a child. She did owe him rather a lot, he had saved her life twice now and she had done nothing rather been a burden, distrustful and foolish whist pinning after him like a lost puppy. She felt small and that from now on she needed to find a way to make it up to him, firstly by doing what he asked of her. He left her to it for the day and she took the time to rest and study like he had ordered. By the evening he decided she was fit enough to go back to her own room and she meekly went back and enjoyed a long chat with her concerned room-mates before turning in early.