I just spend all day doing this. I really hope you guys will like it. Feel free to give me any critique both positive and negative. I really want to improve.
The next two weeks pass in a blur between treasurer duties, which now includes the occasional meeting about future events and such, and preparation for the upcoming exam. Friday the 25. of october comes around and the second exam is about to begin. As I'm walking towards the exam room I find Catherine and two of her minions walking in my direction. Please let her just ignore me!
"Oh, Isla! Headed for your exam?"
I look up to Cathrine smiling and I know I'm not gonna like anything coming out of her mouth.
"Yes, so?" I cross my arms thinking the less I say the faster I can get out of here.
"Oh, I just wanted to wish you good luck. I mean, you're gonna need it now that you can't ask Professor Grabiner for help," Yes, not liking a word of that.
They all begin laughing. Mercifully they begin moving past me, somehow all of them walking into me hard enough for me to fall into the wall. I sigh and begin walking towards the exam room. I stand in front of the door taking a deep breath. The stress of the last couple of weeks are taking their toll and my body is aching. Maybe I'm getting sick. Would be just perfect. I put my hand on the doorknob and am teleported to the dungeons. I'm in a big room lit up by torches. Hay is strewn around the room and plant life is coming in from holes in the ceiling which also brings in some light, so I guess I'm on the upper levels. As I look into the middle of the room I see a pedestal which I know from previous experience will teleport me out of the room. The problem is what is around the pedestal. Hellhounds. Seven of them. They're big black dogs with dark red eyes, big claws and big teeth. I stand completely immobile barely daring to breath. Luckily for me they're all sleeping but I need to get past them to get out. Hellhounds have incredible senses so I can't sneak past them like I did with the hodags. They're also incredibly fast and resilient both physically and to magic. I have to deal with them. But how? I can't do a group spell on them with how spread out they are and the others will notice if I cast on them individually. I try to move quietly to the side to see if there is anything convenient I can use. As I move my foot, it hits a rock. The sound sounds like thunder to my ears and apparently it did too to the hounds. One by one they look up and are staring at me. Then they stand up and approach me growling and barking. This is going to hurt. They suddenly all charge me and I only just have enough time to put up a ward. Okay think, Isla think! What do I do? What do I do? I get an idea. First I cast Boost Strength and Thick Hide. I then close my eyes and create a big bright light hopefully blinding all the hounds. While still holding the light I cast teleport self trying to aim right for the pedestal. As I open my eyes I see that I've overshot it but it seems all the hounds are standing over by the other wall trying to see again. I make a run for the pedestal. From the corner of my eyes I see something coming for me and I just have time to put my arms up in front of my face before a hound is on top of me biting down on my right arm. I scream at the excruciating pain and try to push the hound of. I somehow get my legs under it and kick it of me. With more luck than I could hope for it lands in a trap I somehow avoided myself and gets tangled up in vines. I get up and desperately try to make it to the pedestal while holding my useless arm. The other hounds are now charging towards me again and I pretty much fall on the pedestal, push magic into it and can feel myself being teleported just before another hound is on me. As I land on the grass I fall to my knees clutching my bleeding, most likely broken arm and see Professor Moor rushing towards me.
"Oh dear! Let me take a look at that,"
I do everything I can not to scream as she takes a hold of my arm but something like a whine gets past my lips. Slowly the pain lessens until there is only an ache.
"Don't carry anything heavy or do any strenuous exercise for the next couple of days, understood?" She looks at me with a stern expression though there is much warmth in her eyes.
"Yes understood Professor. So, did I pass?"
She smiles at me like I'm a stubborn child. "Yes you pass Miss Murray. 5 Merits,"
Suddenly the ache isn't so bad after all. Turns out I was getting sick, and the next two days I pretty much stay in bed.
On Thursday the next week we have to prepare for the Dark Dance. Junior president and treasurer are responsible for casting wind and smoke spells in the gym beforehand. As I enter in the evening with everyone else I find a corner with not too many people. I twirl and skip as elegantly as I can. I never was much of a dancer. Suddenly I feel something like a hand holding my own. It doesn't feel quite solid, but definitely there. I let myself be twirled and passed from one phantom hand to the other. I didn't know you could actually dance with the spirits. A part of me thinks I should be scared but I shut that part up and give myself over to the experience. As daylight approaches it seems the spirits disappear around us and we're herded to our rooms.
On monday a note is slipped under my door requesting I meet with Hieronymous after class to discuss the Junior's tribute. Why didn't he just knock if he was here anyway? After class I arrive at the mailroom to see him sitting in a chair reading some thick book in a language I don't know.
"Good day Professor. I'm here with our decisions for the tribute,"
"Oh, yes. And what have you decided on?" he closes the book and gives me his full attention.
"Minnie and I decided we wanted to do something different this year. We were thinking of selling small stone figurines in christmassy motives like reindeers and such. We've already found several students willing to help for some extra merits,"
"And you are sure these students are capable of what is needed?" he says without much change in his expression. Well what did I expect? That he'd be impressed with our creativity?
"Yes quite sure,"
"Good," he writes down what I've said and then looks at me. "How is your arm?,"
"My arm..?" I'm confused for a moment until I realise what he's talking about. "Oh, it fine. Doesn't hurt anymore though there is a little scarring. Apparently that is hard to avoid with hellhounds. Did Professor Moor mention it to you?" I ask rather confused as to why he would know about it.
"I was at your examination. I still attend some of the Junior's exams,"
"Oh," I blush realising he watched me fumble through the exam. Why that one and not the one I aced? I also feel a bit of irrational disappointment that he didn't bother to come check on me at the time.
Apparently noticing my embarrassment he says "Though you could have done better you reacted quickly to a bad situation and managed to reach the objective despite a less than desirable situation,"
"Um, thank you Professor,". His expression doesn't change and I excuse myself.
After that I decide to go for a walk into the forest to cool my head. He goes from ignoring me to being concerned about my well being and feelings. I feel like a boat in a storm just getting thrown around with no control at all. I end up walking outside the ward that surrounds the immediate area around the school. I've done this several times before. It is not against the rules but not encouraged either. I walk until i reach a small river and then turn right, walking alongside it. I know that if I continue in this direction there is a fallen tree which I can use to cross. Suddenly I get this knacking feeling that I'm being watched. I turn to my left and on the opposite shore I see a horse. It is beautiful. The fur is this bluish black and the mane and tail is jet black. It looks to be about 170 cm tall at the shoulders. And it is staring right at me. I get this creepy feeling when I look into it's eyes. There seems to be far too much intelligence there for a normal horse. And why would there be a horse up here in the mountains? My instincts are telling me to run but i can't move, caught in the gaze of the horse. After what feels like a lifetime but are probably only a minute the horse neighs and gallops of into the forest. I immediately turn around and run with everything I have back to the school grounds. Even when I'm inside the wards I don't stop until I'm on the open grounds of the school. Only then do I dare stop and look back. There is nothing behind me. I'm wheezing and leaning on my knees when Virginia jogs over.
"What the hell happened to you?"
Between breaths I manage to say "Strange horse by the river,"
Virginia looks into the forest "A horse in the forest? That makes no sense. Where would it come from?"
Finally able to breath again I straighten up "I don't know but it was creepy as hell,"
Virginia grins at me "Scared of horses Isla?"
"No!" I say a little sulky before heading back towards Horse Hall. The rest of the day Virginia mercilessly teases me about the horsegirl being afraid of horses. Still, something really felt off about it.
The next week I run into Donald in the class hall.
"Hey! You still interested in doing a prank?" he asks, a smirk on his face.
"Sure. What did you have in mind?"
"Thought I'd give everyone a scare out in the courtyard. Make an illusion and see them run. Problem is I can't get the sounds right. Thought you might be better at that, and maybe make some extra effects. So, you in?"
It sounds harmless enough and we'd only be scaring them. And since I'm no longer a teacher's wife there's no problem there, so I agree. We walk down to the courtyard and hide behind one of the buildings. Donald creates the illusion of a big wild boar with big tusks and I, using a mimic spell, attach the sound of it. While it runs around I also have to push up dust when it turns and such. Everyone runs and screams and jumps for cover. I feel a little bad but when I see that many of those there are ones that gave me trouble because of my marriage, including Catherine, I'm not feeling too bad anymore. Soon Hieronymous comes marching out, the manifestation of fury, and dispels our illusion. He casts another spell and we know we're busted. Magic carries a "smell" that is unique for every caster. Which means that one can identify the caster if one knows their "smell". And Hieronymous definitely knows ours. As he realises who it is he first looks very surprised and then furios. I gulp as I duck behind the wall next to Donald. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all, I think closing my eyes. From the other side of the wall I hear steps approaching quickly. As they stop I know he is standing right next to me. I can almost touch his anger. Despite every desire to do otherwise I turn to look at him. Yes, he is very angry.
"Both of you will be in detention on saturday. Understood?"
"Yes sir," we both say though Donald seems more relaxed than me. Then again, he is not standing right next to Hieronymous. He gives me one last glare before turning around and walks back towards where he came from.
"Well, that was scary. Haven't seen him that angry in a while. You sure you too aren't still married?"
I lean back against the wall closing my eyes. "Positive,"
"Well, looked like he took it pretty personal,"
Yes but why would he? We're separated. How I act no longer reflects on him in any way. I feel a headache coming on..
On saturday Donald and I walk together down to detention. I do it with no small amount of trepidation. I had a class with Hieronymous on thursday and and he was like ice. Damn, that man can hold a grudge. But why is he so angry? As we walk into the mailroom he is already there.
"Miss Murray, sit. Mr. Danson, come with me," and without pause he walks out.
A part of me is tempted to stay standing just to spite him but I think better of it. I don't want to get into more trouble that I'm already in. I grab a random book from a shelf before sitting down. No way of knowing when he'll be back. Seems like the book is about this famous warlock who died about a 100 years ago but was quite the fighter and fought in a war in the otherworld. After about 10 minutes Hieronymous steps into the room. He sits down opposite me and stares at me. I close the book and stare right back. Though for the last 9 months I've been at best timid with him, suddenly my temper ignites. How dare he be this angry with me? I've been a model student since the day we got married, then I make one sidestep and he's furious with me. Nope, that's not gonna fly.
"So, do you want to explain to me what you think you were doing out in the courtyard?" his temper is now showing in his eyes though his expression is still made of stone.
"Doing a prank," I say without breaking the eye contact.
A crack in his mask "And why would you be doing that?"
"I needed a change of pace," I shrug still holding the searing eye contact.
He stands up in one quick move and leans over the table, his temper now fully released "Is this a game to you Miss Murray?! You should be better than this! You're a class treasurer, a junior, a-!"
I now stand up too, my temper now released as well. "A what?! Yes I'm a treasurer but that only means I can't have dimerits, not that I need to be the perfect student! Being a junior doesn't demand that of me either. The only role I've had that demands that is being your wife but I'm no longer that am I?!" Before he can stop me I continue. "Yes, pranks aren't good behavior but I'm sick of being good when so many still take any chance they can get to belittle me and put me down! For once I just wanted to be a normal student, doing normal stuff and acting my age!"
Some of the steam goes off me and I just stare at him. He's staring at me looking dumbstruck for lack of a better word. He straightens up, his temper seemingly vanquished. He is more in control, a look of concern on his face "You're still being bullied?"
I shuffle, awkward after my outburst, not able to look at him "Yeah.. It's not as bad as last year after the divorce but it still sucks,"
"I didn't know. Why didn't you say anything?"
And then some of my temper reignites making me able to look at him again "And how would I do that? You've been avoiding me like the plague since the divorce, which only made the it all worse," I look down when the pain from his avoidance hits me.
Sternly he says "I did what I thought was best. You are a student and your life has only just begun. There is still so many people you'll meet and many places you'll go. The marriage has already made things more difficult for you and I do not wish to make it worse,"
I look at him feeling a little tired "Have you ever considered that I might know what's best for me? I'm not a child anymore. I'm capable of deciding who I want to associate with and strong enough to handle the consequences of it,"
He raises a brow at this "but you just said how tired you were of all the things necessary because of our previous connection,"
"I'm tired of them because I'm standing alone with it all. It was worth it before when you were still my friend but now it's like I've got all these things I have to deal with but nothing good has come of it,"
He takes of his hat, brushes his hand through his hair and looks out the window. For a moment we just stand there in complete silence, neither of us knowing what to say.
I look up at him as he begins to speak "I believe we've had this conversation before, or something similar to it,"
First I'm confused and then I remember, "The May Day ball". I can't help smiling at the memory. He turns halfway around to look at me with a crooked smile.
"I believe you said something quite similar to me that day. About how I myself don't know much about life and especially how you should live yours,"
"I still stand by that," I say smiling
"I don't doubt that. And maybe you are right,"
"Really..?" I raise a brow not trusting the easy surrender.
He sighs "You are many things but stupid is not one of them. You are soon nineteen and quite capable of deciding for yourself who you want to spend your time with,"
"And does that mean you'll consider having tea with me again?"
He chuckles, "If that is what you want I shall not try to stop you,"
I know I'm now grinning quite stupidly but I can't stop myself. This is more than I could have hoped for. He does seem quite happy himself in his own controlled way.
"Sooo now that that's taken care of, what's my assignment?"
He looks at me confused.
"Detention? You do remember that's why I'm here don't you?"
I see a small blush before he clears his throat to hide it. He puts his hat hat back on as I try not to laugh.
"Oh yes, umm.." he says looking around like he's trying to pull an assignment out of thin air. He notices the book on the table.
"Read that. You might learn a thing or two from him,"
I frown at him not happy with the assignment but keep my mouth shut not wanting to ruin our truce and knowing he has given me something probably a lot easier than what Donald got. After a few hours Donald returns from his assignment and we are both released.