Disclaimer: I am Johhny Knoxville… oh wait- no I'm not and I'm not Rowling either. Gee.
Author's Notes: Well, after nearly seven chapters of character fun (even though no one is reading) its very nearly time for the actual plot! *gasp*
Chapter 7: Hexes
"Bacilli!" Bruce yelled as he flew up beside her on his broom and struck a bludger away. "Pay attention!" He scolded and the team captain frowned at her from his place on the ground.
Judy was tired, more tired than she'd been in a long time. She hadn't dared leave her broom alone for fear of Malfoy, she hadn't dared sleep for fear of Mordred, she hadn't dared go for more than four hours without taking one of her anti-psychotics. She felt like one of the living dead and her appearance had altered to match.
Judy was already a thin lanky girl, one of the reasons she made a good choice for seeker, but she looked thinner because she hadn't been eating. Her skin was paler because of the stress and her eyes were gaining a sort of glazed look from a combination of the drugs and lack of sleep. One of her housemates had suggested she go to Madam Pomfrey but Judy refused. If the professors found out about her medical records they'd have her expelled without a doubt.
"Alright everyone, this means you Bacilli, we're going to release the snitch now!" The team captain called up at the rest of the team and let the small golden ball out of the box. "Practice doesn't end until one of you catches it!" He shouted and everyone groaned.
Judy took on a blank look and watched as the snitch moved around the field, it was the same practice snitch they always used—she knew everywhere it was going to be before it got there. After nearly five minutes of waiting Judy moved her broom to the right a few inches and held her hand in the air. There was a sort of snapping noise as the snitch ran into Judy's hand and she closed her fingers over it.
"There." Judy said flatly and everyone stared at her, no one had figured out how she managed to do that yet—but they all had to admit it looked bloody impressive. Judy landed and everyone cheered about practice being cut short.
"Where do you think you all are going?" The captain shouted up at the rest of the team. "She's good but I've seen confused seagulls that fly better than you lot!" He made a few hand motions and the team went off on flight drills.
"Hey," Judy had just leaned over and put the snitch back into the container for the Quidditch balls when the captain walked over to her and knelt down beside her. "You alright? You don't look so well lately."
Judy just groaned in response.
"Alright, that's it you're going to Pomfrey." He said sternly as she stood up.
"No!" Judy yelled and looked at him like he'd just asked her to cut her right arm off for sport.
"Why not?" He was a bit taken aback.
"Oh, I just need some sleep…but," Judy looked at him and he seemed to be contemplating.
"Oh that's right! You pissed off Malfoy didn't you?" He asked and smiled at her. "Don't worry, you just go get some sleep over there on the field I'll watch out for ya." He patted her on the back and she smiled at him.
"Oh thank you." She dropped her broom next to the box and started to walk off. "Hey, I sleepwalk sometimes so…" She motioned to where the field dropped off and the captain nodded.
"Don't you worry at all." He shot her a dashing smile and went back to harassing the rest of the team.
Judy walked off a few feet and flopped back on the grass, after only a few seconds of watching the people above her Judy dropped off asleep. She slept for the rest of the Quidditch practice, peacefully, until the captain shook her awake and they went back to the school for breakfast. Judy was beginning to shift to the early morning practices but they would only last until the match between Ravenclaw and Gryffindor.
The whole team walked to the great hall laughing and talking happily about practice. Judy took on an energetic glow and felt quite rested but that was just really in comparison with how she'd been before. The group walked through the doors and found the great hall a buzz with chatter and merriment as it usually was. They all sat down and started eating; Judy excused herself to go to the restroom and promised she'd be back in no time.
She left the hall and walked the ways to the nearest girls' restroom. When she got in she checked for other occupants and reached into her right shoe. She'd started carrying the orange bottle with her in case of random episodes. She opened the lid and stared inside the bottle, she let out a small gasp. There were only about twelve pills left.
"What am I going to do?" She squeaked and took one of the pills before closing up the bottle. "Wait a moment." She paused and looked at the old yellowed label. It had all the ingredients in the medicine, Judy only recognized half of them but she would probably be able find out what the rest were.
"What am I thinking? I can't synthesize this stuff… I'll kill myself." She muttered and realized that for once she was actually talking to herself.
"Wait a minute, Jerimiah is in potions. Surely he'll know a thing or two…" Judy pondered. "He would probably help me since he no doubt aced his test."
Judy slipped the bottle back into her boot and walked swiftly back to the great hall. She finished her breakfast with the other students and met Ginny as the meal time ended. The two girls left the hall and walked off towards their first period classes. The rest of the students left swiftly after that, and after them left the teachers.
"I'm a bit worried about her 'Miah." The captain of the Ravenclaw Quidditch team, Gwaine Du Laike a seventh year, stood talking with Jerimiah Henon just outside of their first period potions class.
"Well, that does sound bad…" Jerimiah nodded as he contemplated what he'd been told about the situation. "Are you sure you can't get her to Madam Pomfrey?"
"No chance." Gwaine shook his head and put his hands on his hips. "I tried earlier and she looked terrified of the idea. Gezie tried when she saw Judy 'fore practice but she got the same response."
"You think it has anything to do with that little Malfoy prat?" Jerimiah and Gwaine were so caught up in their conversation they didn't notice Snape sweep up to the classroom.
"Oh, I'd bet the house cup on it." Gwaine frowned and Jerimiah sighed. "I'd bet that pompous little fifth year hexed her after the match."
"Perhaps." Jerimiah folded his arms loosely over his chest and sighed. "I'll plead with Pinch later and see if I can find a hex like that one in any of the old material."
"In case you hadn't yet noticed," Snape stepped up beside the two boys and looked down at him. "Class has started." He finished flatly and watched as the two boys scampered into the room. Snape made a mental note to grill either of the boys or perhaps Lily at the next possible opportunity.
First period went on as usual and at its end Jerimiah took off away from Snape's class at something near a run. Gwaine was stopped and Jerimiah hadn't liked the way Snape had been watching them earlier, it was creepier than normal. Jerimiah quickly walked through the halls, headed straight for the library to research hexes in his free period.
"Jerimiah!" He stopped and spun around to see Judy running towards him—she looked happy, and kind. She wanted something.
"Judy, hello." The seventh year studied her appearance for a moment and realized that everything Gwaine had told him was true. "What can I do for you?" He asked politely.
"Well, I was wondering if you could help me with something, a potion?" Judy asked for his help but neglected to mention that the potion she wanted to synthesize was really more of a muggle chemical than anything of magic origin.
"A potion?" Jerimiah smiled. "Well I'm not the best in that class." He admitted and Judy made a sound that could only be described as a 'snerk.'
"Of course, you're not a Slytherin!" She smiled. "But you're the best Ravenclaw potions student." Judy flattered even though it was true.
"Well, when you put it that way…" Jerimiah loved flattery and helping her would give him time to observe her condition and possibly make his search for a counter-spell easier. "Sure." Judy grinned.
"Thank you so much Jerimiah!" She smiled and silently hoped that Jerimiah wasn't smart enough to pick up on what she was making.
"No trouble at all!" He answered and looked at Judy with no small amount of curiosity. "Just what type of potion do you intend to make?" Judy thought for a moment how to answer and finally came up with something.
"Just a copy of some material I already had." Judy answered nonchalantly and Jerimiah cocked an eyebrow.
"Well alright." Jerimiah smiled and figured that she couldn't be making anything too advanced if she already possessed some of it. "I can meet you in the common room just before dinner, if that's alright."
"Oh that would be grand!" Judy smiled and looked around at the empty hallways. "Drat I've got to go to McGonagall!" Judy called and turned to run back the way she'd come to meet Jerimiah.
Jerimiah watched her go and continued on his way to the library, he figured he'd still need a few books on hexes just to calm his mind and convince him nothing was wrong. What neither he nor Judy realized is that there was something very wrong, and it was about to 'go down,' as the muggles liked to say.