Chapter Eleven
Calla watched Snape from the other side of his desk. He did not look happy at all. Calla hoped Snape would end this quickly. He was staring her as if she were a bug.
"I have realized that something is amiss, Miss Potter," Snape said smoothly.
Calla squirmed. She didn't like any of this, and something cold flashed by her. Nadia.
"And what would that be?"
"Insolence, Miss Potter. It is a shame you never had parents to teach you manners."
Calla seethed.
"I wanted to inform you that I have approached Prompfrey. You are expected in the Hospital Wing tomorrow evening."
Calla groaned. "Why? There's nothing going on, I swear."
Snape growled, "Do not think I am so easily fooled, I am not. I can see clearly the signs of a curse. You will go to the infirmary."
Calla narrowed her eyes, choosing to remain silent.
Snape sneered, "Unless you want the Dark Lord winning the war, you should do as you are told. Here." he pushed a vial across his desk. "If you start shaking uncontrollably, drink this."
Calla was taken aback, "Shaking? Sir, has someone tried to curse me?"
Snape furrowed his brows, "I'm sure you would be dead by now if they had been successful. Give me your hand."
Calla failed to hide her distaste as she held out her hand, noticing Snape's smirk when he saw the blood quill scar. He muttered something she didn't understand and looked surprise. "Well, it seems the Brat-that-Lived managed to avoid getting cursed afterall."
Calla leaned in, wanting an explanation, but Snape spat, "Leave."
Not wanting to risk losing points from Gryffindor, Calla fled.
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Hermione and Ron perused their books quietly.
"Snape's been weird, hasn't he?" Ron asked.
Hermione made a noise. "Oh, I don't know, Ron. He's probably just concerned that Calla's cursed or something."
Ron scratched his chest and yawned, "Wonder who would've done it. Draco maybe?"
Hermione nodded, "Maybe." She gasped as the next page of her book settled. "Ron! I've found it!"
Ron leaned forward. "That's the name! But that's not a girl, that an old woman!" he laughed, seeing the knob-nosed witch glaring up at him. A shiny, silver dipper was held up to her old, chapped lips. "That's disgusting!" he groaned.
Hermione shivered, wary of what was following Snape. "I guess we know who's cursed then."
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Calla fell over the Gryffindor pillows strewn about the floor, dropped her pie, and cursed noisily.
"What the blazes are you doing, child?" a portrait cried, flinging her kerchief.
"Nothing!" Calla cleaned up her mess and hurried to the dorm.
Hermione was in the bathroom, so Calla sat on her bed. It was still covered in partially done homework, random candy wrappers, and unread books. Calla sighed, wondering if Hermione would finally give in and just write one essay for her. She doubted it. Although she and Hermione were close, the young scholar always insisted that Calla do her own work. Most mornings found her and Ron trying to sneak ideas off Hermione's essays.
When Hermione entered she approached Calla carefully. "I've found what Nadia is."
Calla jumped, "Really? What is she?"
Hermione looked sick as she pulled the big, brown book off the stack beside her bed. "You're not going to like it. I doubt Snape does as well. In fact, Ron and I think that's why he's been watching you."
Calla watched Hermione turn the pages to the one with an old woman with a dipping cup held to her lips. The illustration was unpleasant to look at, as well as the ones on the next page. Calla's breath stopped.
"She's a succubus."
Hermione looked faint.
"There's only one reason why Voldemort would want a succubus," Hermione explained weakly. "And if Snape's watching you-"
"Voldemort's trying to make me-" Calla felt sick. She dropped the book and ran to the bathroom. She didn't make it to the toilet before she wretched.
"Calla!" Hermione held Calla's hair back. Her brown eyes glittered with some hope. "He can't do it as long as your pregnant, Calla. For now, your safe."
Calla shook, breathing in the coconut scent of Hermione's hair.
"So I can't end it, then," she muttered.
Hermione shook with anxiety. "I'm sorry. I really am."
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Snape stood outside the infirmary, glaring, as the trio knew he would. He sneered down at them. "I'm glad you three developed some sense on the matter."
They stared at him witheringly, which he deducted five points for, before entering the infirmary.
Prompfrey died with disgust when she finally managed to examine Calla's injuries, crying, "You ridiculous children! You should have come here immediately!"
Snape watched through the window for fifteen minutes before Prompfrey's rattling attracted his attention too much for him to remain there.
"I'm telling Dumbledore now," the mediwitch ranted, "how dare those muggles do this-I'll curse them myself-"
Calla paled fearfully as Snape sneered over them.
"My, my," he drawled. "Being punished by muggles? Whatever shall we do."
Prompfrey turned and became scarlet. "You have NO idea the atrocities they have inflicted on Miss Potter so silence your insufferable mouth this instant!"
Snape glowered down at her, but the witch remained firm.
"In fact, you can be the one to go inform Dumbledore," she hissed his name, "that our young Saviour is pregnant-"
Ron, Hermione, and Calla recoiled as Snape's face drained of color and he gaped fearfully.
"-with that twisted muggle's child!"
Snape blinked. Calla's blood was icy, but she quickly felt her heart grow hotter and sting when Snape finally recovered.
"Very well," he smirked. "I would be happy to tell the Headmaster that his favorite Gryffindor is paying for her, no doubt, exploits of the summer." He turned to leave, but Calla called his name before he did.
"You don't know anything," she snarled, but her stomach was too anxious to really carry on the fight.
Snape sneered, "It appears I do. Thirty-two points from Gryffindor for refusing to abstein, Potter. I'm sure Sirius will be so proud when he finds out."
Calla paled.
"Stop!" Ron roared. "You haven't got a clue, and for what it's worth, Sirius'll kill you for talking like that when he finds out what you just said!"
Snape snarled, "I would like to see him try. Last time, he used a werewolf and it failed because his coconspirators were cowards. I assure you, I will not take your mouthing-off lightly. And besides, his friend isn't here to keep me away from your precious Lupin this time. I'm sure all I have to do is-"
SMACK.
Snape stood gobsmacked as Prompfrey's jinx hit him in the nose.
"Get out of my infirmary, Severus Snape!" she hustled him to the door. "You've no right to be here if you're going to upset my patient! Don't bother going to Dumbledore, I'm sure a house elf will do the job just fine!"
Snape watched furiously as she spelled the doors locked and shut. "Now that he's gone..." she hurried to her office.
"I'm sorry," Hermione said softly.
"He's such a jerk," Ron whispered.
Calla nodded in agreement. "Yeah. He can be."
Madam Prompfrey returned after fifteen minutes looking flustered, and carrying a tray of potions.
"I'm going to let you rest tonight, Miss Potter," she said softly. "but tomorrow you must see the Headmaster. He wants to know what has happened."
Hermione and Ron waited for them to finish before sitting on the bed.
"We'll do something, you know, to take our minds off things." Ron pulled up his bookbag. "I've got some Wheezes."
They smiled, glad that he was there. However, none of them could help but wonder what would happen the next day.
TBC
Yay, I learned how to do the ruler thing. XD
Magically Inclined: lol I want to approach his niceness the same it's approached in Harry/Snape slash. It will be soon, sooner than it would be in reality. However, a few magical accidents do seem to hurry things along from time to time. Thanks!
Aliss: Indeed, she does have a string of bad luck. Thanks for your support!