Chapter Eleven: Hushed Hatred

"Physical attractions are common, but a mental connection is rare."

-Unknown

"Let the games begin," Mar smiled and opened the door to the classroom. "Apparition, Day One."

"You're going to splinch yourself." Lyn mumbled with a smile and pulled her book bag up on her shoulder.

She moved toward the left as Mar flung out a hand to hit her, almost knocking over Noah as he came to stand next to the two girls.

He grabbed Lyn's arm to steady her, almost falling over in the process, "Oi!"

"She started it!" Mar yelled out with a grin and walked to hug Noah. Her boyfriend. Stepping to the left, Lyn glanced around the crowded classroom. The sixth year students chatted amongst themselves, gushing with excitement for their first lesson.

Of course, they won't start out with anything extremely interesting; I've not gotten my hopes up for any grand performance. Her eyes scanned over to a group of black and red, laughing at a Hufflepuff. It's sad, really: how cruel the brave ones can be. Gryffindor was once a hero of the lands for saving countless lives from dragons and other creatures—the details are fuzzy from the few books on the subject, but he wasn't as nice as many assume.

The termination of his friendship with Salazar ruined him, for Salazar was one that could keep him on his toes, so to speak. The bravery of Godric took a turn for the proud and self-righteous—bringing out a side of him that few hear of. The funny thing is, the Gryffindors seem to each have an aspect of Godric that they embody; Sirius Black being self-righteous, James Potter being proud, the boy standing up to his friends mocking the Hufflepuff is clearly brave.

Lyn watched as they dispersed and the Gryffindor put his arm around the shoulder of the Hufflepuff. She doesn't look at him as if he is a love interest, but simply help. He helped her, she will be forever grateful—and will show it through her kindness.

The friendship between the two is interesting; mainly because of how similar it is to Godric helping Helga.

"—And, she's back." Noah waved a hand in front of her eyes. "You good, Lynn? You've been staring at that portrait for a while now…"

Lyn blinked and raised a hand to her head; the lack of sleep seems to be getting to me. "Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks. Sorry."

"It's fine, it's a beautiful portrait. Mar got us seats towards the front," He gestured toward her with his thumb. "It's going to be starting soon."

"Right, of course." Lyn picked up her bag from where she'd dropped it on the ground and glanced back at the portrait before walking away with Noah. She did a double take, this room isn't familiar, but a portrait like that should be out in the open. In it was Godric standing at the entrance to the Forbidden Forest with Helga and Rowena on his arms. The only strange thing about it is that it doesn't move.


The walk to breakfast with Mar was slow the next day. After convincing herself she shouldn't leave the room, Lyn forced her up and out. The corridors weren't as crowded as usual, which made for less confused eyes as she practically dragged her best friend around.

As they rounded the last corner, a muffled noise came from her general direction. Lyn stopped walking and she leaned against the cool wall.

"What was that?" Lyn questioned and leaned next to her. She started to slide down and crossed her arms over her knees. Mar let out another mumble before looking at Lyn.

"I got mad at Noah, and we fought last night," she whispered and widened her eyes.

Lyn, being a horrible person, let out a short laugh that turned into a longer one. The hurt expression on Mar's face caused her to stop and take a breath.

"Marlene, come on." Lyn rolled her eyes when she noticed Mar was acting completely serious. "Couples get into fights, it just happens. You will make it through."

"That's not bloody helpful at all, you're supposed to be helpful," She spat in her direction and mumbled something that sounded similar to "ducking nest end."

Lyn sighed and thought for a moment. "You know, I read this book over winter break that spoke about fights between partners." Pureblood, arranged marriage, partners. But, still. "They say that the fights that happen earlier in the relationship just get them over with—all couples fight, and you and Noah are too great together to be broken over one silly fight."

She looked up again, a small smile on her face. She spoke softly, "You know what, you're right. I need not worry myself over this shit—he can't live without me to help him with his Charms work."

Lyn raised an eyebrow at the sudden change of thought, but went along with it. The week's (day's) drama ended and life moved on; as always with life, surprises lie around every corner.


The walk back from the Great Hall with Regulus was quiet. Both of them still pleased that they passed the first Apparition tests, they were content holding hands and walking. The empty hallway was calming, and Lyn took a deep breath and stepped closer to Regulus.

"We have lunch next, yes?" He mumbled into the hair above her ear. She couldn't help but giggle softly and reply with a nod. I've turned into a blushing dolt; before she could berate herself for acting this way. He gripped her hand rougher and pulled her to a wall.

"Reg—" Before she could finish he'd opened a door and pulled her in behind him. The light seeping in under the door thinned the darkness of the broom closet, but Lyn could barely see the outline of Regulus' face.

"I thought we could use a break from everything," He mumbled and ran a hand through her hair. Thank you Mar, for telling me to wear it down today. "If you don't—"

"Kiss me already, will you?"

He obliged, and Lyn tilted her head to capture his lips. As she wrapped her arms around his back, he pulled back. Before she could ask him why he stopped, he turned his focus to her neck, trailing kisses down. She felt a soft sigh slip from between her lips. He quickly caught them mid sigh and she shivered when his tongue met hers.

Lyn clutched at the front of his robes; he tasted of cinnamon and she couldn't get enough. His hands were warm against her neck and in her hair and all the feelings in her stomach spread throughout her body. She pulled him closer and felt him moan into her mouth. Moments like these can never end.


After stepping carefully from the closet and readjusting herself, Lyn had to get herself down to the dungeons. Potions was her last class of the day, and Slughorn scheduled a meeting prior to the class today. He wished to talk about their future, and promised food, as they would miss the end of lunch.

Though the cold walls opposed her happy mood, the eeriness was unable to tear her down from the high that Regulus brought. She felt her smile overtake her and she walked without paying attention to anything but the lingering sensations on her lips. Lyn turned the final corner to the classroom and felt the pull before she could hear the oncoming attack.

Her stupefied body was grabbed, pushed into a closet not at all like the one she had recently occupied. An invisible force jerked her head upward and she looked into the shadows.

"Listen," A gruff voice sounded, though her vision was impaired. "I don't care if your little Ravenclaw ass is a pureblood or not—whatever is up with you and Black ends now."

Her screams wouldn't pass her lips and the buzz was sharp and painful; a wand dug into her waist and a hand squeezed the hip of her other side.

"You're a distraction to the goal. His family doesn't realize that his mind-set is shifting with every moment he spends with you." Lyn still couldn't move. His nails dug into her side and she felt his hot breath against her ear. "You're going to walk calmly out of this closet and go to class. And stay away from him, or the Dark Lord will find your family."

Though it hadn't previously been said, Lyn knew that was what this was about. Regulus is not evil, though; he cares for her, the goon said it himself. Basically. He isn't a Death Eater, yet there are many pushing for him to be one—it's probably because of that damn older brother of his: saving himself, not understanding that his little brother would be forced into the world he abandoned.

What the hell is wrong with me?

Lyn nodded—nodded, movement—and tried to look at the face of her captor. His spell was wearing off, but she still could barely see. As she wiggled her fingers, he turned her around and started shoving her toward the door. Lyn regained her footing and as she lunged for the door she kicked her back leg out.

"You bitch!" The man groaned and took hold of her leg. She felt him grab her thigh and calf in both hands and pulled her back to him. "If you do that again, I swear to Merlin I will go against orders and cut your damn head off. Get the bloody hell out of here."

He shoved her against the door and her shoulder banged against it. Lyn reached for the nob and pushed out of the dark cell. She could feel the bruises beginning to form.


A/N: Yikes. Tell me what you think.