10. Beginnings of War
The brisk autumn breeze tugged at Mora's hair, annoyingly plucking strand from strand out of her loose pony tail. Sighing through her frustration, Mora pulled a few wisps of her brown locks behind her ear. Regaining her grip on her charms book, she quickened her pace across the grounds that mid Wednesday afternoon. Mora had only one class left for the day, and simply she couldn't be more relieved. All she wanted to do now was to sleep for days and days until somehow school ended.
Flocks of students littered the grounds that day, some lazily lounging on the grass, others studding on benches, a few hurrying to their classes. And of course, there were those few who without a doubt were cutting all of their afternoon classes, and took their free time to harass their peers.
And of course, this lovely group of students were none other than Colton Bayard and his gaggle of Slytherin goons.
Yes, from the moment Mora set eyes on the next young Bayard, she knew the two would not get along. And she had been dead on. Their unbearably long transfiguration classes were spent together in bickering, constant agitation and for Mora, sheer utter pain. From the short time she had known him, Mora hated Colton. A loathing she fueled with every fiber of her being. Not just because of his personality, haughty attitude, or any piece of trash that came out of Colton's mouth.
But Mora held so much more against him. For everything Colton Bayard stood for. The superiority that wizards of his standing held themselves to, how they could not rest until everyone they did not seem to be good enough was put right into their place, or even lower. Who took sport in causing others hardship, feeding off the pain they inflicted. To Mora, Colton Bayard was everyone and everything that killed Mora inside. Everyone that made her life unbearable. It was because of them that Mora was in hiding. It was because of them that she lived in fear. It was because of them that her family had been executed one by one, and she stood next for the chopping block.
Mora blamed it all on who ever she found fit to bear the title, and Colton Bayard fit the role perfectly. It all fell upon his shoulders in Mora's eyes. She blamed him more than probably was fair of her.
Fair? Mora scoffed to herself. Who said any of this was fair? Who said any of this miserable mess that became my life be remotely close to fair! Mora had learned that now. This world she lived in was survival of the fittest, and there was nothing more to it.
Her eyes drifted back to the gang of misfits, her glare fixated upon the scene a few meters away. Bayard sat perched atop a bench, flaying a book atop a young Ravenclaw boy's head. The first year grasped midair for the book, but each time he came close to catching it, Colton pulled it tauntingly further up it the air. Bored of this child's play, Colton raised his wand to the book, and in a few short moments the pages caught flame. He tossed the text over his shoulder, the ember flames spreading onto the lawn dangerously. Squealing, the Ravenclaw was able to extinguish the fire before anyone could be harmed, however his treasured book perished.
To his right, stood a straggly boy, Tate Avery, who sickeningly to Mora, was nephew to Korbin Avery. Their resemblance struck Mora immediately, the same stormy eyes, the same harsh jaw. Tate however reminded Mora nothing of the older Avery she once knew. He was much more attentive, not at all nonchalant like his uncle.
On the other side of Colton in the soft grass lounged Evan Rosier. His sleek auburn hair reminded Mora of one giant grease ball, with so many holding spells placed on it not even a tornado could draw a single hair out of position. Mora found the boy to be absolutely ridiculous, and hoped his vanity would someday come back to bite him right in his arse.
Lastly there was Severus Snape. Now Snape puzzled Mora the most. His appearance always sent a shiver down her spine. Harsh, black eyes, long hooked nose, his shards of raven black hair. Severus was a very secretive person to what Mora could tell. He called Colton his best mate, yet Mora could tell simply by looking at the two, Colton knew hardly anything about his friend. Severus Snape looked nothing more than another cold, harsh face, yet another to join the ranks of the Death Eaters. Yet a foreboding feeling in Mora made her doubt that assumption as well.
Mora continued on her way, although her pace slowed noticeably. The four Slytherins for a moments looked as if they were contented with their last plot of annoyance. Yet a passing student caught Bayard's eye, and too Mora's horror, it was a fellow Gryffindor.
Smirking, Colton bounded from his seat, trailing the unsuspecting student. "Oh looney looney Lupin!" he called sourly.
Reamus heard the call of his name, along with Colton's barrette, as he walked further over the grounds. Shaking his head, Reamus continued to hurry away, wanting to avoid any confrontation.
"Now Lupin, you know that's rude, don't you?" Colton went on as his Slytherin friends followed him, cackling behind him. "Didn't your mudblood father teach you any manners?"
This aroused a hearty round of laughter. Mora felt her fingers clench into fists as she stopped dead in her tracks. Her veins prickled with anger as she glared at the scene. Reamus to halted in his place. He refused to let anyone trash his father's name, so Mora had heard. Reamus more than anyone Mora had ever met would do anything to fight intolerance. But today, a brawl was the last thing Reamus had time for. He knew Colton Bayard for what he really was; a spineless shell of a fool. He could hide behind his big words and grand ideas, yet Reamus knew Bayard would never live up to any of it.
So, that day, Reamus decided it was wise to keep walking, and ignore Bayard's immature taunting and the hollows of his buddies. Yet Bayard had a different idea.
"Apparently not," Bayard sneered as Reamus kept walking away. "Now, now Reamus, don't you want to have a little fun?"
"Diffiindo!" Evan snickered, his wand pointed towards Reamus. A slicing sound raked the air as Reamus' robes shredded to pieces.
Reamus halted, examining his tattered robes in disgust. He spun around, facing the Slytherins with fire burning through his eyes. "You finished yet, Bayard?" Reamus spat out. "Because some of us want to get on with our lives here."
The Slytherins laughed. "Oh c'mon Lupin, why would we want to do that?" Tate smirked.
"Reducto!" Severus cried. Reamus leapt away in fright as a large hole in the ground exploded into tiny pieces of dust, inches away from Reamus' foot. "Reducto! Reducto!"
I can't just stand here and watch this... Mora thought to herself. Silently, she hurried towards the circle of students, trying to keep her presence a secret.
"Reducto!" Bayard shouted, another spell shooting from his wand. "C'mon! Dance for us Lupin!"
Again Reamus jumped away from the danger as the Slytherins continued to miss their target and blast holes in the ground. Losing his footing, Reamus toppled over, crashing to the ground.
"Looks like our little twinkle toes lost his step," Tate snickered as the foursome circled around the fallen Reamus.
Enough is enough!
"Incarcerous!" Mora shouted. Ropes slithered from her wand, imprisoning Avery in a blink of an eye. Tate fell to the ground, withering against his restraints. The other Slytherins turned to see Mora, their faces laced with shock at the girl's sudden attack. Before they could raise their wands against her, Mora struck again.
"Rictumsempra!" Mora cried out, her wand pointed straight for Severus' throat. Before he could react, the jet of light struck him dead on. Snape yelped out in an uncontrollable fit of laugher. His hollows echoed across the grounds as he fell to his knees, giggling and squealing like a young child on Christmas morning.
"Petrificus totalus!" Evan yelled angirly as the charm shot from his own wand.
"EXPELIARMES!" Mora yelled as she dodged Evan's attack. Her spell met it's target, but it seemed to be a bit to strong and ended up sending him spiraling into the base of a nearby tree.
Mora held her wand erect, however there were no more spells being fired towards her. All three Slytherins were sprawled out in their own defeat. Wait, three? Who-Where's Bayard! Mora panicked.
Mora spun around, yet it was too late. "Expelliarmes!" Colton triumphed as Mora's wand flew straight out of her hand, landing yards away.
Way to go Mora, you're now defenseless after beating all of Bayard's friends to a pulp...this is not going to be pretty.
"Now Mora," Colton spat out. "You always seem to be poking your nose into other people's business..."
"What can I say? I tend to rub people the wrong way," Mora snapped back.
"Could be very dangerous one day," Colton said, his wand raised as he drew closer to Mora. "You need to be careful, Mora, that is...if you don't want to end up like-"
"I think I can take care of myself, Bayard," Mora sneered. "I seemed to hold my own against all your little friends here, now didn't I?"
"You know, when someone finds themselves defenseless, usually they don't tend to let their mouth run," Colton smirked. "But you've never been one to do what is expected, now are you Miss Ashford?"
Mora took another long stride, coming daringly close to Colton. "I think it's time you stop underestimating me, Bayard."
"Or what?"
"Or else you'll live to regret it."
"Regret it, eh?" Colton smeared, his honey eyes burning into Mora's own. No one ever dared to say something to bold to Colton, especially not some Gryffindor girl. He couldn't, he simply wouldn't stand for this, not until he put Mora into her place, until he smacked reality back into her.
How dare this Mora dare him this way. Him! A Bayard. Someone with standing, money, power, everything this simple girl couldn't even dream of. What made her think for even a moment that she could speak to him this way?
Yes, Mora Ashford was bold. Too bold for her own good. And Colton would be sure to extinguish this little flame that seemed to sting at him in annoyance. Dim that fire before it burst into anything serious.
Without warning, Colton grabbed hold of Mora's wrist, dragging her into a collision with him. Furring raising inside her, Mora looked back to Colton in disgust. Using all of her strength she fought against Colton. Yet each time she tried to pull away from him, Colton's grip tightened, his fingers bearing into her skin.
In Colton's eyes Mora watched as something overtook him, something she had seen those weeks ago. She remembered it all to well, the memory of his glare haunting her dreams. It was the same, crazed look that held Eric captive. His eyes engulfed a darkness every time he threatened her, looked at her, and when he attacked her.
And now, Eric's son held the same, menacing look. And for the first time in over a month, Mora felt true terror rise inside of her.
"When I'm through with you, you'll learn something about regret," Colton hissed as Mora winced in pain. This seemed to fuel Colton's fierce anger further. "I'll make sure you'll remember how to treat me -"
"Stupefy!"
Before Mora could process what was happening, a red jet of lit flew before her eyes, escaping straight into Colton's shocked features. He fell to the ground, his eyes snapping shut in an instant.
"Mora..."
Mora spun around quickly, smiling at the sight of a very dishelmed Reamus. His robes had been completely destroyed, just shards of tattered cloth draped over him in a seemingly random fashion. His hair looked upturned, his face covered in dirt. He stored his wand safely back in his pants pocket as he hurried over to Mora.
Mora smiled as the scruffy looking Reamus joined her. Just as they shared this moment did Mora notice the prying eyes of onlookers, who just happened to be spying at the fight that had ensued.
"C'mon now! Show's over!" She shouted as she shooed the students. "GET! Go back to whatever lives you lot have!" Slowly and grudgefully their peers dispersed.
"Are you alright-" But Reamus stopped himself immediately once he caught sight of Mora's wrist. It had only been a few moments, yet Reamus could see the purple marks begin to form around her petite wrist. The bruises deeply contrasted with her pale skin, making it ridiculously hard to miss.
"Bloody hell..." Reamus mumbled. As his arms extended. Slowly, he gently took hold of Mora's arm, examining the wounds. What made Mora think Reamus had any idea what he was doing was beyond her, yet she still trusted him. "You should probably go to the hospit-"
"NO!" Mora cried. The hospital wing just had to be Mora's least favorite place on the earth at this point. She had spent more hours than she could count locked away in that prison, if she every set foot in those dammed stark white halls again she'd surely drop dead. "I...just want to get out of here."
Reamus nodded, accepting Mora's justification with no questions asked. "Well," Reamus sighed, handing Mora her own wand. "I have to say that was one hell of a duel. I'm impressed."
"Nah," Mora smiled. "I couldn't just let those goons beat you too a pulp."
"Ouch," Reamus laughed. "At least I can block spells a bit better then some people..." he joked as Mora poked him annoyingly in the shoulder
"Well, I guess together we make at least one good dueler," Mora said.
"Then, we'll just have to stick together," Reamus added thoughtfully.