A/N: Here is the next installment! Not quite as long as the last one but still an okay length. Quick reminder Keket is only 11 in this chapter! She is still very young, remember that as you read please. :) Off we go!
I get up the next morning and again make my way out to the pitch only to be stopped in the dungeons by none other than Severus.
"Ms. Riddle," he starts, "it has come to my attention that you missed all but one class of your yesterday." I turn around slowly, I really don't want to deal with this right now.
"That would be correct Professor." I say warily.
"And what would be the reason as to your disappearance? Professor Sprout told me that you left her class early in a hurry." I blush at the memory of what happened yesterday, and yet keep a calm head.
"That would also be correct." I repeat, same tone.
"I expect an answer to questions as they are posed to you Ms. Riddle." Severus says his eyes narrowing. And that is when I know I am in trouble.
"My apologies Professor. I wasn't feeling the best yesterday. I was a mental mess. And we both know how volatile a person's magic can get when they are in such a state. I figured with my specific amount of power it would be better if I distance myself from the others and try to figure out and clean up my mental landscape." I answer smoothly, trying not to give anything away. Severus cocks an eyebrow in a manner that says this won't be the last time I talk to him on this matter.
"Very well. Unfortunately, you should have come to me as soon as you felt that kind of pressure coming on. I will have to give you a detention young lady. This evening report to my office as soon as you are done with your dinner. We need to discuss the events of yesterday and you shall organize my stores of potions ingredients. I do believe the imbecile of a Weasley managed to wreck the careful organization I had previously." Severus smiles wickedly. Oh Merlin, that is going to be one hell of a mess to clean up.
"I understand sir. I apologize again for my absence yesterday. I will aim to never allow it to repeat." I say and turn to continue on my way outside.
"Where do you go at this hour of the morning anyways Keket?" Severus's tone changes now that he isn't being big scary teacher man. I look over my shoulder, a smile on my face.
"Why out to the pitch Professor. Father would be most displeased if I didn't." Severus's eyes light in understanding.
"Need a dueling partner?" He offers, and I grin.
"Of course! That would be awesome!" I grab his hand and drag him through the corridors. He laughs softly at my antics and as we walk out of the doors leading outside he finally takes notice of my outfit and rolls his eyes.
"Is there any good reason why you have taken my hand hostage and are now dragging me through the halls and across the grounds? When I am more than capable of walking to the pitch on my own." Severus says
"Why yes there is." He raises one infamous eyebrow. "Because I want to. And I need exposure to your magic more before we duel. It would be awful to not have that happen and get so overwhelmed when you start casting that I can't react. Remember I had to sit in the room with you as you warmed up so I could get used to your magic before we would duel at home." Severus looks surprised.
"I didn't realize it was because of your magical sensitivity. I thought you were just trying to get an idea of the spells I was going to use." Severus responds and we enter the Quidditch pitch. I had let go of his hand when I opened the doors.
"Nope. My magical sensitivity really is that bad. That is why I think I had some of the issues with being overwhelmed which is what caused the blackouts a few months ago. Father fixed the amulet so it didn't dampen any of my powers and I haven't had one since. We still aren't sure as to why I was having them. But I have no doubts he will figure it out." I say and Severus looks interested and concerned at the reaches of my magical sensitivity.
As I'm warming up with my knife work and my laps, Severus is also warming up a little bit, at least mentally it seems. I finish and we set up on opposite sides of the Quidditch pitch and come closer to the center. When we are about fifteen steps from each other we stop.
"Remember no Dark spells, and to first blood. Otherwise anything goes." Severus says calmly. We take out our wands at salute each other and turn and walk five steps away, spin around and then it begins.
We go at it for a good five minutes, just flinging spells back and forth for fun. For exercise. When Severus breaks out the Expelliarmus is when I know it is about to get real. His quick casting makes it so the spell hits me dead on. I watch as my wand flies out of my hands. And I am forced to cartwheel to the side as an Avis come right for me. I quickly Finite that and see my wand lying in the grass. Severus takes this moment to shoot a stinging hex at my ankles. Which I have to jump in the air to avoid. I slip my knife from my hidden sheath and advance on Severus, in a quick zig-zag pattern. I push magic into my legs to increase my speed just a little. Severus scowls and casts Incendio on my knife that he can barely see. I curse as the knife drops from my hand but I keep moving towards my target.
I know I don't have enough magic left to try using more light spells. It really takes a toll on my body. And I need to be able to do magic at any given point throughout the day.
I drop down in a split second and swing my leg around at ankle height, windmill kick, which throws Severus off balance. He unfortunately recovers very quickly and blocks the jump kick I followed up with by grabbing my ankle. He starts to turn, which I use to my advantage and lift my other foot off the ground and use the momentum to kick him in the face. While doing this I simultaneously turn my body to break the hold he has on my ankle. Severus dodges the kick to his face by moving his head just barely to the side. I land on my back and do a kick-up and land in a fighting stance in front of him, only to barely block a fist coming at my face. I flip the hand and grab his wrist and all in one move, step into his space and swing my leg around behind his and pull his front leg out from under him and take him down and as I'm about to punch him in the gut he gasps out a wandless tickling charm. This spell renders me unable to cast or continue the physical fight.
"Uncle!" I shriek out as the tickling charm really starts working. Severus finites the charm and I lay on the ground next to him. Breathing hard.
"I think you've gotten better. At least your martial arts have. You still need work on your spellcasting. But I know that only Light spells is especially draining on you." Severus says between gulps of air. "You really didn't soften the blow when you took me down did you?" He says, and I can hear a little bit of pain in his voice.
"Sorry Sev. You kinda gave me no choice though. You completely disarmed me." I look at him. "And you tried punching me in the face. You left yourself wide open for it." I continue, and he scowls at me.
"I'm definitely not as young as I used to be. Be kinder to your betters." He says playfully, and sits up. I watch him from my spot on the hard ground.
"I should probably head into the castle and get a shower before brunch shouldn't I?" I groan and manage to sit up. The ground was just so comfortable. And I may have gotten better, but I'm out of practice without having a dueling partner every morning.
"We both should." He says as he stands up and offers me a hand, which I take, and use to hoist myself up. "Thank you for letting me join you. The fact that you came so close means I should really practice more often." Severus admits openly and throws his head back letting the cold air cool him off.
"It was my pleasure. Normally I just run through the physical stuff and keep up on the martial arts and knife forms. I haven't had a dueling partner since I went home for Christmas. Which I know was only a few days ago. But you and Father have very different fighting styles. He definitely does more hand to hand mixed with the spell work. Whereas you rely mostly on spell work. Plus you said no Dark Magic." I cringe. I really was dependent on the Darker branches of magic for most of my spell repertoire. I mean with all of this power I really still can't cast the Patronus Charm. At most I get this tiny itty bitty bit of a mist out of the tip of my wand.
"There was a reason I said it too." Severus replies. As we get closer to the school, Severus takes off his outer jacket, the one that everyone associates with him. Underneath he is wearing Black Slacks and tucked in, long sleeved white button down shirt. He opens the door for me and I step through. He has always been such an interesting man to interact with. We walk to the Slytherin domain and on our way a couple of students from other houses stare at us as we walk past. All we are talking about are different aspects of potions ingredients and their various uses in other fields. Really nothing that interesting to get all of the confused or horrified stares we seem to be getting.
We part ways once we get to the dungeons, Severus to his rooms, and I to mine. I cast a tempus and find that it is only seven thirty. I head to my room to grab my toiletries and I am greeted by Sophie up and about in our room.
"Morning Keket," she yawns and paws through her clothes that she brought with her. "I'm so happy it is a weekend. I hate wearing the same uniform day in and out." She throws a disgusted look over at the uniform. I humm in agreement with her.
I collect my toiletries, and make my way to the girls bathroom. I head into an empty shower stall near the back of the space. Not too many of the girls are usually up at this hour. In about twenty minutes a bunch of them will flock in all together. I close the stall door and strip down. I hop in the shower and let the water wash away the sweat and grime of my duel with Severus. I know he was going easy on me. He may need practice anyways but he was definitely going easy on me. I wash my hair, taking extra care to make sure I get the ends clean, and let my conditioner set in as I go about washing up. I hear a bunch of footsteps as they come into the bathroom and the chatter of girls. I rinse off and just stand in the water for a few minutes. Maybe I shouldn't have used as much magic as I did today. All of that Light magic really drained me. I turn off the water and dry my hair and I only just over hear the girls conversation.
"Did you see her last night?" One girl says.
"Well really who didn't?" another girl responds.
"It looked like she was really getting off on torturing that boy." a third says disgusted.
"Poor Adrian." The second says again in a sad way. "He didn't deserve that kind of treatment." I bite back a snarl at their conversation.
"I know right?" The first empathizes with the second. "And did you see her eyes?!" she continues a sound of horror in her voice.
"Merlin YES!" The second and third say simultaneously. I drop my head, waiting to hear what they are going to say next.
"They were like most definitely red. Like bloody red. It was disgusting!" The third emphasizes. I clench my teeth.
"I know! It is like she isn't even human! And the way she just breezes in here and tries to take over. Like she is better than everyone else." The first scoffs. My fingers curl into fists at my sides.
"You know I read in a book once that only demons have red eyes like that. Do you think she is a demon?" The second relates, and I feel my rage building.
"OH MY! You think they would really let Demons into the school?" The third asks horrified at the thought.
"Well, it IS Dumbledore running the school. I wouldn't be surprised. I hear he let a werewolf go to school here in the seventies." The first whispers scandalized. The girls all laugh and finish whatever it is they were doing and leave the bathroom.
I wrap my towel around me, and gather my stuff with my rage still at dangerously high levels. I make my way to my room. Sophie isn't in at the moment. I drop everything on my bed and throw on some undergarments as well as a tea length dress that I had brought with me. It is sapphire blue with lovely cap sleeves. I slip into the chair at my desk and lay my head on the surface. I want to hurt them. I want to kill them. I throw my head back and scream, only to have a sob choke it to a stop.
Sophie barges into the room. Worry etched onto her features. I briefly meet her eyes, tears accumulating in mine.
"Keket." she makes her way over to me careful not to touch me. "What's wrong Keket?"
I drop my head back onto the desk and just start to cry. I cry and cry and cry. I refuse to tell her what happened. I won't have her thinking the same things about me. Those girls are just like the muggles. Spineless. I lose track of the time that passes. I vaguely hear Draco coming into the room. I lift my head finally and lazily cast a tempus. It's still only nine-thirty in the morning. I look around the room and see Sophie sitting on her bed, looking at me. I wipe my eyes.
"Wanna talk about it?" she asks softly. I shake my head silently, the mere thought bringing those awful emotions up in me.
"Need help with your hair?" she offers softly. I look at her in a new light. She hears me saying awful things all of the time. She has a good, solid idea as to who my Father really is. And yet here she is. Offering to do my hair for me, like I'm a normal girl. Like I didn't just last night threaten to torture and kill a boy. I nod silently, and look down.
"Your hair always comes out so beautifully." I say and I hear her laugh.
"I have a lot of practice at it." she responds and moves towards me. I face forward and wait as I feel her pick up my brush. She starts brushing my hair gently.
"You know," I start softly, "my Father used to do this for me everyday when I was little. He always said my hair was like my Mother's. His color but just like my Mother. That was the only time he brought her up. Only when he would brush my hair. I don't know anything else about her." I leave that hanging in the air.
"I think any Mother would be proud to have such an intelligent, caring, determined girl like you for a daughter." Sophie says and makes eye contact with me in the mirror a soft smile on her face. She continues working on my hair as though nothing happened.
"Why do you say that?" I say softly. Curious as to her reasoning. Sophie keeps working the brush through my hair as she thinks.
"Because my Mother was always so happy to see me come home. Even when I wanted nothing to do with her, or threw a tantrum. She was always there. I think that is just how Mother's are. They just love with their entire being. And I'm sure your mother was no different." She smiles again, with some sadness in her face. She puts down the brush and works on parting my hair.
The silence hangs in the air for a few minutes. And eventually she finishes fixing up my hair. It is a half-up, half-down hair style that she created with hair sticks that she pulled out of her trunk. The hair sticks are a beautiful ebony wood, with blue crystals at the tips of them. I look at my reflection and smile.
"Thank you Sophie." I say meaningfully. "You are a great friend. I'm really glad that I got to meet you." I stand up and come close to her, and I want to embrace her to thank her for her help and constant presence. Her magic doesn't feel as grating on my nerves, so I can manage to take her hand, but not embrace her like I want to.
Sophie looks at our joined hands for a moment in surprise and then looks at me with a grin on her face.
"I understand. You're welcome Keket." she says and then pulls her hand away from mine, knowing that contact makes me uncomfortable. I don't know how I got so lucky. And with a Muggleborn as a friend even. It still baffles me.
"Ready to turn some heads? You are certainly dressed to do so." She looks at me a conspiratorial glimmer in her eye.
"Almost." I say and pull out the Sapphire bracelet I received when I was nine, and slip it on my wrist. I also grab my black dressy robe. It has a pair of slits for the arms to go through and sits nicely on my shoulders, and is mostly open in the front. It stops floor length without heels, and with cuts off right about ankle length. I throw on a pair of black flats with a classy gather at the toe and turn to face Sophie. Sophie sees the bracelet and her face lights up brightly.
"I've got the perfect necklace to go with that bracelet." She chimes and claps once as she turns to open her trunk and pulls out a beautiful pendant.
"Sorry Sophie. I promised someone I wouldn't take this off no matter what." I say and my hand moves to Father's necklace. Sophie nods and shrugs putting the necklace back.
"No worries!" She waves her hand in a no worries kind of motion and I smile.
"Now, shall we go?" She says and I notice she is in a pair of dark wash jeans with a green flowy silk shirt with ¾ length sleeves. Her hair pulled back neatly with a snake clip on one side of her head. She has a pair of black flats on as well as a black long-sleeved robe. I grin.
"Dressed to kill." I iterate and she winks.
"That is the idea Keket." She clarifies. And there is a knock on the door. Sophie opens it and in walk Draco and Blaise.
"How is she doing?" Draco asks Sophie and Sophie motions in my direction. Draco and Blaise turn around and Draco looks approvingly at my outfit. Blaise looks on in shock.
"Circe, you clean up well Riddle." Blaise finally manages to get out. Draco elbows him in the gut.
"Shut it Blaise. Your smooth talking won't help you with her." Draco glares in his direction and I laugh, my cheeks coloring a bit. "You look very nice. And I hear brunch is being served currently. Would you do me the honor?" Draco offers his arm, and I deadpan at him. Getting the meaning he drops his arm and shrugs.
"Sorry, old habits die hard. Mother instilled that one in me years ago." Draco insists. "In any case shall we go friends?" Draco says, also dressed in his regular clothing. He holds the door open for Sophie and I. I grab my wand and slip it into my wand holster and leave the room first. Draco follows me, Sophie is the last to leave the room and she locks our door. Especially after the incidents of today.
When we walk through the common room, most of the other students are up in the Great Hall. But those that do see us walk through watch us some in fear, some in envy. I tuck some of the extra strands behind my ear and keep walking. My eyes always looking straight forward. We end up in the Great Hall not too long after brunch has been served. I see Severus sitting at the Head Table, a stack of papers to one side of him. I also notice Potter, Weasley and Granger huddled around talking to each other. About what I wonder, and then barely find the urge to find out. My eyes keep looking over the Gryffindor table and I don't see Neville. Maybe he got better sleep to make up for last night and is taking his time. I take my seat at the Slytherin table and pick at the food there. Nothing is really that fresh. I mean they make it fresh. But a lot of it is really rich. I'm really in the mood for something besides the rich food that they are serving. So I just drink some water with a little bit of lemon in it and listen to the chatter of my friends.
I'm so engrossed in their conversations that I don't notice someone coming up behind me. I feel a light tap on my shoulder, and I turn around. There Neville stands behind me looking awkward as hell to be over in Slytherin territory.
I notice the hall hush as I hold eye contact with him.
"Hi Neville." I say, "Is there something I can do for you?" I tilt my head to the side intrigued as to why he would dare cross the obvious rivalry boundaries.
"Uhm...uh..." Neville stutters, and I sit patiently. He drops his head and mumbles something that I can't understand.
"I'm sorry I couldn't understand you. Would you speak more clearly." I enunciate in example.
"Oh sorry." he scratches the back of his head. "Well, um." His eyes dart to the side, "I just wanted to tell you that you look really nice today." His face gets really red. "And that color compliments your hair and skin tone nicely." He holds out a single Lavender Rose. At that the hall becomes dead silent.
I smile softly, much to the terror of my housemates and the relief of Neville, and take the rose from his hands. I inhale the scent gently and look back up at him.
"Thank you Neville. It is beautiful." I carefully tuck the flower behind my ear and grin. "How does it look?" I turn to my other friends, and only then do I realize that everyone is staring at me. Some in awe some in terror. I don't even dare look up to where Severus and Dumbledore are sitting. I turn back to Neville.
"It looks wonderful." He smiles still awkwardly standing there. I stand up and cock my head in the direction of the stairs.
"Thanks. How about we go work on that project we needed to work on." I avoid Sophie's eyes and start walking towards the staircase leading further into the castle. I then think better of it and go over to Draco and murmur in his ear. "After your done with breakfast, I think we will be in a classroom on the second floor. Feel free to join us. Just practicing magic for classes."
With that I turn around and walk back towards the stairs. Neville follows a couple of steps behind me for a moment, until I stop and wait for him to catch up. I smile at him and he smiles back, albeit nervously. We make it to the second floor and I take Neville's hand shyly. He looks at me surprised. I continue walking forward looking for an abandoned classroom.
"Keket, why exactly are we up here?" Neville stammers out.
"You need to work on getting your magic under control. You were doing it again when we were in the Greenhouse during Herbology yesterday." I state, "And I figured today would be as fine a day as any to start working on it." I inform him.
"Oh. Thank you." He says brightly. "You don't have to you know." He continues.
"I know I don't have to. I want to. Plus, I really like the school staying exactly where it is." I poke fun at him. I turn suddenly down a hallway and the third door in I try. It opens easily and inside is a Mirror. I walk inside anyways and look at the Mirror. Neville comes in behind me and closes the door. He look up and sees the Mirror and his hand is right back on the handle.
"What in the world is this?" I wonder and drop his hand. I walk closer to it. Neville puts his hand on my shoulder to keep me from going closer. I look over my shoulder at him, his face is drawn.
"I wouldn't get any closer to it Keket." he says. I look at him confused. He shakes his head. "Look at the inscription on it." he points to the part of the frame at the top that I can't make out from here.
"What does it say? It is too small." I say and try to move closer only for Neville to resist my motion.
"It is the Mirror of Erised." he says softly.
"Mirror of Erised?" I repeat still confused and intrigued. "What does it do?" I look back at the magical artifact.
"It shows the observer their deepest wish." Neville says softly, "People have gone mad sitting in front of the Mirror. They see that which they desire and waste away observing it instead of trying to attain it. Even if it may be completely unattainable."
"Well, that is silly." I say. "I am just curious. After I get a glimpse go ahead and pull me out of the room if that will make you feel better." I say and try once again to get closer.
"I won't let you Keket." Neville turns and gets in front of me. His eyes wide and scared, but determined none-the-less.
"Why?" I question, starting to get slightly annoyed.
"Because no one should be able to know themselves that well. It breaks people. It destroys them. I won't let you destroy yourself." Neville says and I look at him completely surprised.
"It really bothers you doesn't it?" I ask. What has caused him so much pain that he would be worried about those around him that much. He nods quickly at my question. And then a piece of information filters through my mind.
"My parents were tortured to insanity. I'm surprised you don't know about it. Just about everyone in the Wizarding World knows. Especially after Harry was picking on me about it at the beginning of term." Neville looks down hurt, and then looks back up at me, his eyes steely with resolve. "I refuse to let you put yourself in that kind of danger. Not willingly anyways." Neville says and holds out his hand. I look between it and him curiously.
"Let's leave this room. Together. Please." He asks. My eyes drift back over to the mirror, and then back to him. This boy. He has no reason to be so open with me. He really doesn't have a good reason to trust me. I look at his hand. Scared. It was one thing to just do it, to knowingly do it isn't something I'm comfortable with. Not now. Not with him.
"Sure. We can leave together." I turn around and open the door of the room and walk out. Neville following behind me. We go across the hall and find an actually empty classroom, and spend the next several hours in there working on Neville's magical control.
A/N: Okay friends I hope you enjoyed the most recent installment! I know most of it seemed like filler, but it is necessary to the development of the characters and what will come next. Promise! ;)