AN/ Hello! Hope you enjoy this one, things get pretty dark at the end, nevertheless I hope you enjoy it! Please review, it helps motivate me to write more! Thank you to, Professor Severus Tobias Snape and Emi for reviewing the last chapter, I'm glad you like the shin kicking part (it was my favourite part too) :D
Chapter 6: A Date.
Wendy swallowed the knot in the back of her throat. She has been standing outside of the potions room for ten minutes, pacing backwards and forwards anxiously. I can't go inside. She knew he was in there because she heard him occasionally move things around. They're going to find my body by the lake...I'm dead.
She paused, turned on her heel, raised her hand to knock, but bottled it. I can't do it. Usually, when her anxiety got the better of her, she would turn into her white tiger animagus, that is out of the question I'm still too weak.
With a defeated sigh, she leant forward pressing her forehead against the cold door. A loud rumble sliced through the silence and her eyes flew to her stomach.
"Miss Nottingham!" The door flew open and she stumbled into the classroom.
Wendy regained her footing with zero elegance.
"Care to tell me why you've been standing outside my room for the past ten minutes?" His snarl was on top form today. She stood up straight and looked his way.
"I'm here for my detention, s-sir," She began to play with her fingers nervously.
"Sit down," He grunted and she walked over to one of the front desks and sat down.
He appeared in front of her; his shadow looming over her anxious form. She tried to smile the unsettling feelings away, but he didn't look amused by the situation at all.
He waved his hand over the worktop and dirty cauldrons appeared before her, a scrubber fell into a bucket of soapy water, and he walked back to his desk. OK, I guess he's not going to mention yesterday then...that's a good thing, right?
It's his fault anyway, he told the Golden Trio about me.
She got to work scrubbing the cauldrons clean, but no matter how hard she scrubbed the dirt it wouldn't clear. She cast a cautious stare in his direction to see he was busy marking work. Surely he's not that childish. Yet, no matter how hard she scrubbed the dirt wouldn't fade.
Who am I kidding, he would definitely be this petty!
Her grip tightened on the scrubber.
"If you're having trouble Miss Nottingham, why don't you use magic to clean it up," His drawl was coated in sarcasm.
She inhaled sharply. "I still can't use my magic."
"Try," Still he didn't look at her, just continued to scribble things down on pieces of parchment.
Her cheeks turned red in anger, and she pulled her wand from her boot. Her hand shook slightly as she cast a basic cleaning spell. Wendy immediately dropped her wand when an electric like shock flew up her wand arm.
"Have you been taking the potions I gave you?" He finally looked at her; his face still stone cold. She nodded. "Miss Nottingham?"
"Yes, s-sir?"
"How long has your magic been frazzled for?" She could feel his eyes all over her body. It made her feel on edge.
"I told you a m-month, sir."
"I believe I have told you numerous times to stop lying," She didn't like the tone of his voice, it was too calm for a man so ferocious. His eyes were void of emotion and she felt it deep down to the core that he was going to hex her into next week.
"I'm not lying," She tried to stand her ground against him, but his heated stare made her divert her eyes to her boots.
"I know you're lying because magic frazzling is quick to recover from when treated immediately. A month would mean that after taking the potions for a couple of days a basic cleaning spell should be doable. Yet, you appear unable to perform such a simple spell, Miss Nottingham," He rose to his feet and walked around his desk. "You've been placed in my care-"
"Not willingly!" She snapped and her eyes widened from her outburst. "S-Sorry."
I really need help controlling my anger.
"You're right, however, there isn't much you can do about it. It's rather childish that you keep lying to me," She picked up her fallen wand and her fingers tightened around it.
"Childish?" A puff of air escaped her lips blowing away a strand of her blonde hair. "You just put endless amounts of dirt in cauldrons so I couldn't clean it."
He crossed his arms over his broad chest. "Ten points from Ravenclaw for talking back to a teacher."
"What!" She snapped. "Sir, that hardly seems fair!"
"Where's your stutter gone?" He mocked, causing her to recoil back into her shell. "You're quick to temper, Nottingham."
"I-I can't help it...I get it from my father," She put her wand back in her boot, then rested her hands on the desk.
He seemed to relax a bit, but his shoulders still remained stiff and his eyes gave nothing away. Why can he read me so well?
"How long?" He said firmly.
"My father always said that I couldn't lie to save my life," She muttered, tapping a finger against the wood. "I really thought I'd gotten better at it."
"Your lies aren't spoken with certainty," He appeared in front of the desk. "You also struggle to keep eye contact."
"Oh," A small smile appeared on her face.
"Now, tell me so I can give you the correct treatment," His voice was softer. I've never heard him sound sincere before, it's kind of alluring.
"Will you promise not to hex me?" She glanced up at him innocently and he diverted his disgusted eyes. Merlin, I didn't even tell him yet...what the heck was that look for?
"Tell me."
"O-Over a year-"
"A year!" His voice boomed. "Merlin, I knew you were stupid, but not this stupid!"
Ouch.
"How the bloody hell have you made it this far?" She saw the venomous look in his eyes and took a step back.
"I hid in the Domain for most of the year when the castle was being repaired," She bit down on her bottom lip. "I spent two months unable to move from the sofa, then Betty helped me regain mobility. After that, I just took things a day at a time, sir."
"You stupid girl!" He snapped. "You could've died down there!"
"I-I know," She attempted to look into his fuming eyes, but quickly lost her confidence. "I'm getting better now."
"You're naive as well as stupid," He snarled. "You don't sleep or eat properly. Those are clear signs of your health deteriorating, Miss Nottingham. Why didn't you seek help sooner?"
"People would have questions," She admitted with a sigh. "Like how it happened…"
"And how did it happen, Nottingham? I'd appreciate some honesty," Wendy didn't like that she'd told him so much already. Reluctantly, she swallowed the tightness in the back of her throat, then looked into his eyes.
"I will not tell you."
He growled.
Did he just growl at me? The sound was deep and menacing, it made her stomach do a front flip. Bugger…
"Your detention is over, Miss Nottingham."
…
Wendy stared absently at the bookshelf before her. She was standing in the library, trying to find a book to help her with her Charms homework, but she couldn't stay focused. I don't feel so good. She shook her head and tried to find the book she was looking for.
It was getting late, however, she knew she needed to get her homework done so she could busy herself within the Domain over the weekend. No going to Hogsmeade for me. She didn't see the fun in it. She had tried to go once, but there was no enjoyment to be had out of it when you're on your own.
"Hi," She turned to look at Callum. He flashed her a luscious smile, then leant against the bookshelf.
"Hey," Her eyes fell to the floor and a blush crept onto her cheeks. Damn it…
"People have been talking about you today," He said and this immediately pulled her eyes back to his. "N-No, not in a bad way!" He waved his hands around frantically.
She giggled. Did I just frickin' giggle?
"Good," She whispered biting her lip. I really need to stop doing that.
"They've been saying that some mysterious chick had the balls to assault Professor Snape in broad daylight," He laughed. "I saw you do it."
"Oh," She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "I didn't really assault him…"
"You kicked his shin. I think that's pretty badass of you Wendy," She blushed more when he said her name. It sounds sexy when he says it.
"He deserved it," She caught sight of the Charms book she was looking for, and she got up on her tiptoes to reach it.
All of a sudden, she felt Callum's hard body against her back. He reached up and took ahold of the book she wanted, then handed it to her.
"Thanks, C-Callum," She pressed it against her chest and smiled at him sheepishly.
"No problem," He was only a bit taller than her - she wasn't exactly tall - yet, it was different to when Professor Snape towered over her. Wendy felt like she was Snape's prey when he did that to her. "Have you thought about my invitation to the Halloween ball?"
She shook her head. "I'd love to go, but-"
"Then come!" He exclaimed. "I promise that I won't leave your side all night. It will be just you and I having fun!"
"I-I don't know," She nervously looked away from him, then she felt his finger under her chin and returned her gaze to his.
"C'mon, allow me the honour of taking such a beautiful lady to a ball."
Well, bugger me…
"O-Okay," A smile broke out on his face. Oh Merlin, did I actually just say that!?
"Great!" He stepped away from her. "We can talk another time about what to wear! I'll see you around!"
She watched him go with wide eyes. I have a date? I - the loner, and outcast from society - have a date...I HAVE A DATE!
Wendy gleeful smiled up at the ceiling as she threw her head back in joy. She did a little happy dance, then skipped over to the table she had been studying at.
…
Why didn't he confront me about the incident? Wendy glared at the book she was reading. Currently, she was sat in the Domain reading a book about rare potion ingredients, but her mind kept wondering about Professor Snape.
Is he waiting to use it against me?...he deserved it.
A pop filled the air and Betty walked around the corner with a tray in her hands. "Here you go, Miss."
"Thank you, Betty," The smell of the food did nothing to fuel her empty stomach. Maybe he's right, maybe my health is getting worse.
"Mistress, you need to eat," Betty pleaded and Wendy flashed her a smile.
"I will. Go and get some rest, it's late."
She seemed conflicted for a couple of seconds but soon left the Domain. Wendy narrowed her eyes at the tray and placed it on her lap. There are no potions with it...did he forget? She shrugged her shoulders, then spooned some of the food into her mouth. A blissful smile appeared on her face.
This is so good-
Wendy flew towards the wooden bin by her desk and threw up the little amount in her stomach. Her whole body dry heaved in spasms as she clawed the rim of the bin. A cold breath plastered her pale neck and the fear it caused made her freeze.
The ward went to move past the opening, yet it halted abruptly. Wendy turned her stiff neck around - she swore she could hear it creak - the clothed ward disappeared underneath the cotton, causing the sheet to flutter to the floor.
Suddenly, she felt it. The pain she had hoped was long gone came rushing back; the feeling of her whole body being set on fire.
A shrill scream burst from her lips and she pulled up the sleeve which covered her Dark Mark. It began to move and change to the colour of fire, her body gave out and she began to fit on the floor screaming.
Her mind emptied itself of all logical thoughts; all she could think about was butchering her already abused arm. Hot tears fuelled the fiery sensation that rocked her body to the core, and she managed to spot the scalpel on her desk through the violent tremors.
Through the screeches of pain, she threw herself over to the desk, reached out her good arm and took the scalpel. She flopped back onto the solid ground, attempting to silence the screaming with her gritted teeth. It didn't work; it never did.
She had a death grip on the scalpel and she hovered her trembling hand over the mark. It began to glow like fire, which only made the pain worse. She inhaled sharply through a hiccupped sob then pressed the blade into her ruined forearm. Blood seeped out underneath the cold steel, and she tried to dig it in hard to cut out a chunk of the mark.
"WENDY!"
A rough hand latched onto her carving arm making all the pain in her body subside; it felt like somebody had thrown ice cold water over her. It felt good.
The last thing she saw before her eyes shut, was her body coming ever so closer to Professor Snape's broad chest.