Chapter 9
The sound of someone coughing caused her to jerk out of the world of complete darkness. Alexandria jerked straight up in bed with a gasp. Her hands went to her chest. Her mind was still fuzzy about what had happened. She glanced around her and took in the cots and random objects that made up the Hospital Wing. She let out a struggled sigh, before she slid out of bed. The floor was somewhat chilly beneath her bare feet. She shot a glance around for her things only to spot a large pile of wands and coats on an empty cot. She slowly made her way over toward it.
"Ahem," a soft voice called out from behind her. Alexandria reacted without thinking. She grabbed a wand without looking to see who's it was and spun around to face the person behind her. The moment she glanced up her, hand fell straight to her side. "It's good to see you too, Lexie…" she said softly as she moved forward.
"Amethyst!" Alexandria greeted as she rushed forward. The moment she hugged the girl she knew that she was going to pay for that move later. Her ribs screamed out in pain. She quickly threw a face on to cover the look of pain, as she took in Amethyst. She knew that some of the upper years had taken on apprenticeships here at the Hospital Wing, but she did not dare to think of who they were. She had actually hoped to make it a term without having to be back in this place. "How are you?"
"Better than you are," she replied. She then gestured for Alexandria to return back to her bed. "It's for the best. You're still healing. It's only been a few hours since you all were brought in here."
"The others?" Alexandria asked, as she took a moment to gather up her things, including her own wand, replacing the one she had taken. "How are they doing?"
"Some good, some not so good," Amethyst replied. "Is it the truth?" She then let out a sigh. "I was fearful when I heard that they were using the bad curses on each other. Then the lot of you show up, and it's like the battle before the end of the world." She quickly picked at her yellow scarf. "I'm scared of what it means."
"It is a sign that the worse is yet to come," Alexandria replied. She sat down on her cot and shot a glance over. She quickly was on her feet. Amethyst rushed forward and shook her head no. "I can't… I'm sorry."
"He was brought in by someone," Amethyst replied. "I'm not supposed to say who but…"
"It's okay, I already know," Alexandria replied as she felt a presence come up behind her. She slowly turned around to face a very angry looking Tabitha. "Tabi, long time no see. How have you been?"
"Pissed off," Tabitha replied as she took a step forward with her wand drawn. "You had no right to attack him."
"Ha!" Alexandria threw out. "I had every right. What makes everyone here think that they can walk over whoever they damn well choose?"
"Cause they are better than them," Tabitha replied only to realize her mistake a second too late. Alexandria let out a chuckle as she shook her head in disbelief. "Oh, come on, Lexie, you really think that they really do care about you? Some simple minded girl who's only talent is turning things different colors. You will never make it as an Auror or even a wanna-be Death Eater. So why even come back to school at all? You have to know that you're not wanted here?"
Alexandria shot the head girl, her once best friend a glance. At any time in her life, Alexandria would have done anything for her. But now, she didn't even know if she'd stop to have a simple chat with her in the hallway. The young woman in front of her was no longer the young girl she had once known and loved. Gone was the girl that loved and cared for everything only to be replaced by a woman of pure hatred. She tried her best to hide it, but she didn't hid it well enough. "And the truth finally comes out," Alexandria replied as she took a step back, away from Amethyst away from Tabitha. "That you aren't really all that different from your Slytherin lovers."
"How dare you!" Tabitha snapped as she sprang forward, spell on her lips. She had no chance to speak it for she was knocked off her feet from behind. "Damn Muggle-Liker!" She lunged to her feet, spinning around to face the one who had attacked her only to freeze. "Oh…" It was not Jaxie or even Mikal who had attacked her. Tabitha took in the lean figure before her, from her dark, spotless top of the line shoes, to her pressed black robes, to her perfect face and blond hair. "You…? You'd protect a muggle like…"
"Watch your tongue, Tabitha," Samantha said smoothly, as she moved forward. "You of all people should know the proper place for outbursts like the one you just had." She shot a glance around at the occupied beds. "I was afraid of what I had heard upon arriving had been true." Her eyes drifted over to Angel. He had not moved since Alexandria had first seen him. "Nice." Her eyes drifted to Tabitha. "I take it that this is your doing?" Tabitha shook her head no. "No?" Samantha shot an arched look over at Alexandria. "Lexie?" She nodded. "Good, I'm proud of you. You finally stood up against him."
"Samantha!" Tabitha hissed. "You're a bloody head of house. You're not supposed to encourage fights against other students. Not when they are against those in your house."
"And yet here I find you, Tabitha," Samantha started, as she turned to face her, crossing her arms over her chest. "Fighting with your once best friend, who is also a house mate of your own. Where is your loyalty?"
"She does not deserve it!" Tabitha snapped. "She nor any of them belong here."
"And who says that it is right for you to say who comes and who goes?" a voice asked. Samantha's face lit up the moment she heard the tone. She turned her head slightly and took in Deacon. He looked a bit worse for wear, but at least he was standing on his own two feet. He shot Alexandria and Amethyst a heartful smile, as he moved toward Samantha's side. "Where is it written that only certain families can attend here?"
"No where, but…" Tabitha started. Deacon moved to wave her off and she shook her head, bringing up her wand at Alexandria. "At least she should have to suffer all that she made him suffer through."
"Stop…" both Deacon and Samantha said at the same time. Samantha did not go for her wand, and Deacon did not either. "That fight was not between you and them, Tabitha. That fight was long due. Alexandria did right by what she did."
"She tortured one of your house mates! How is that right?"
"Because he tortured her first," Samantha replied. "You think we all were blind to all that happened over the years. Of how you didn't go evil, of how you messed around with Angel behind Alexandria's back. Yes, we know things. You can keep lying to yourself saying that they never happened, but in the end, we all know the truth."
"Ha!" Tabitha snapped. "None of you know the real truth or even want to know it." She shook her head at them. "You all disgrace me. You call yourself Slytherins, but in fact you are no better than a puffer."
"Watch it," Amethyst said. "You're on shaky grounds as it is, Tabitha." She shook her head slowly. She had been on of the very few who had watched her slip from the side of good into the abyss that was known as dark magic. "You know better than to say things like that. You're a head girl now. You have responsibilities that most people don't have."
"Shut up, Puffer!" Tabitha snapped. Amethyst let out a hiss. "You…"
"Oh shut your mouth, Ravenclaw!" a smooth voice snapped. Samantha bit down on her bottom lip to keep from speaking out against the new comer who was coming up toward her. She tucked in her long deep red hair behind an ear. She rubbed an itchy spot on the nape of her neck, as she took them all in. "You all really do need to grow up."
"Says you, Malfoy!" Tabitha snapped. "No one even asked you to join in our lovely conversation. So why don't you just be a dear, and see yourself out of it." The others smirked at her childish comment. "Oh grow up."
"And I would think that you've grown out of throwing tantrums," Voldanita replied with a smirk. "At least by now."
"Oh shut up, Malfoy," Tabitha snapped. "Or so help me. I will…"
"You will what, Ravenclaw?" Voldanita snapped. "Try to put me in my place." She then chuckled. "I would think after all this time you would realize that you can't always have your way. Not everyone is going to allow you to walk over them, like your friends did in the past."
Tabitha reacted without saying a word. A loud pop was heard throughout the Hospital Wing. The scurry of feet could be heard, as the head nurse headed toward them. The sound of a soft muggle curse could be heard slipping from Tabitha's lips. The others shot her an arched look. Tabitha slowly started to get to her feet only to stop the moment she noticed the wand pointed at her face. "You wouldn't dare," she hissed out at the one holding it. "If you attack me again, you'll be kicked out of here faster than you can say a single spell."
"Unlike you, Tabi," Alexandria replied softly, as she took in her once best friend. She hadn't been the one to stun Tabitha. Voldanita had reacted in self defense. She had used a simple first year spell to stun her. "Some people think before they react." She shook her head at her. "You should be past the rage and hatred by now."
That got Tabitha to smirk. "You got a backbone to back up them words, Lexie?" Tabitha snapped. She flicked her wand at her. "Cause last time I checked the only spells that you knew, were simple first year and muggle magican spells. Nothing that could save your ass."
Alexandria shook her head. "You don't want to see what all I know, Tabitha. If I was you, I'd go now while I had the chance."
"No." Tabitha flicked her wand at Alexandria. "You will pay for what you've done." She didn't blink as she pointed her wand at Alexandria. "Cruicio!" She watched as the spell hit Alexandria. Alexandria fell down to her knees, as the pain rushed through her body. She took a deep breath as she glanced up at Tabitha. Tabitha was shocked to see that there were no tears of pain rushing from her eyes. She showed no signs of pain at all. Tabitha smirked as she started forward toward her. "You will know your place, Marks."
"Like you do," Alexandria screamed through the pain. She shot a glance at the others. There was look of concern and compassion along with regret. "Oh, I think I'll take the higher road here."
"Oh…yeah that will be the day," Tabitha replied as she took a step toward her. She backhanded Alexandria hard across the face. Alexandria fell back onto the ground. She held the side of her face, as she gazed up at her. "You will learn your place, one way or the other."
A deep chuckle sounded from behind Tabitha. "Maybe you need to learn your place as well, Tabitha," he whispered to her.
