Warning: Yes, there is actually (relatively) strong language...I was getting worried there for a minute that there weren't any swears. Weird.
Moment 12:
Justifiably Reamed (Maybe)
Amelia shut the book and leaned back, closing her eyes and breathing slowly through her nose.
"Again," she said slowly, pinching the bridge of her nose to try and get rid of her headache.
"The history of witch-hunting began as early as the 18th century BC, but became a fad in the 14th century. Most of the time it was completely innocent people who were prosecuted, since real witches and wizards knew enough to keep themselves hidden from crazy Muggles. This meant that witch-hunts were completely pointless to the hunters. However, fear spread among the Wizarding population, and this led to the enactment of the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy, meant to keep Muggles from knowing anything about the Wizarding population. This lead to problems with Mud—wizard children of Muggles, who were either unaware of their true potential, or who had to be taken away from their families. Extenuating circumstances were added to the ISWS in 1692, when the act was officially established."
Amelia sighed, ready to admonish, then her eyes snapped open as a realization hit her. "That was right," she said. "You got it right, Blenheim!"
"Wait, I did?" the fiery redhead (of distant relation to the Weasley family) said, the surprise on his face echoing hers.
"Yes! You did great!" Blenheim blinked, as if he still couldn't quite comprehend what he was saying. "You're ready to take the test, I think."
"Are-are you sure?"
"Mmhm. But if you're still not confident, go over Chapters 14 and 15 again, and we'll meet again before the test for a group study session. Also, go over and make notes on this study guide." Amelia passed the pieces of parchment over the table and gathered up her books.
"O-okay." The boy started nervously gathering up his things. Amelia sighed and stopped what she was doing.
"Blenheim," she said, waiting till he stopped to look at her. "How long have you been studying?"
"Months," he said, quietly.
"Right. And you've been doing much better. You're ready, trust me. But if you don't believe you are, you won't do half as well as you should, so you have to be confident. Okay?" Blenheim nodded reluctantly. "Okay." She hoisted her bag onto her shoulder. "I'll see you next Thursday," she called as she turned to go, headed toward the Great Hall, then the Slytherin Common room.
"So we have a study session next Thursday?" Sirius said as he swung out beside her. "How come you never told me?"
Amelia gave him a glance, then turned away and continued walking, nose in the air. "Because the study session Thursday is for people to review and finish preparing for the test. It's not for people who still haven't learned the material."
"I've totally learned the material!" Sirius said indignantly. Amelia stopped to glare.
"Ok, maybe I haven't totally been good at showing that on a test, but I've learned it!"
She let out a long-suffering sigh. "What do you want, Sirius?"
"Want? Do I need to want something to talk to you about our studying?"
She sighed again. "Fine. Then study the material, complete the practice quizzes I gave you, and leave me alone." With that, she was off once more.
Sirius stood, struck for a minute. "What the bloody hell is wrong with you? What is your problem with me?"
Amelia stopped, standing with her head done, her shoulders tensed.
"You always do this! You act as if I'm the most horrible person in the world, but I don't know why! What did I ever do to you? Merlin, I remember the first time that I ever talked to you, you were yelling at me! What exactly is your problem with me?"
She whipped around, hellhound on the loose. "Nothing, Sirius, absolutely nothing, just like always. You never do anything, just goof off like there's nothing wrong! Look around! There's a war on outside these grounds, and just because there's walls around us doesn't mean it isn't true! You, though, you just walk around like nothing, a little rich boy, oh so tortured because his parents are dipshits! Would you even miss them if they were gone? If in one day all your family and friends disappeared, because I know I would! So don't yell at me 'cause your little feelings are hurt. You don't know what's going in my life. I sacrificed my time to help you study for your tests, and you don't give enough of a shit to care. So if you want me to give you the time of day, you'd better start to care."
With that, she was off, down the hallway, to either the Great Hall or her Common Room, Sirius wasn't sure which. He also wasn't entirely sure what had just happened. He knew he had gotten a reaming, he knew people were staring at him, and he knew felt guilty, but beyond that he wasn't sure, although he had the distinct impression that he had deserved the metaphorical whipping he had just received. And that Amelia's eyes had just been a little bit shinier with something like unshed tears when she had walked away.
A/N: I'm sorry, but I'm disproportionally proud of myself for finishing this update, with everything that's going on. (Midterms, tech week, yada yada. If you don't know what tech week is, look it up!) And, I even put up a cute little pic for valentine's day on my deviantart last week, and made another one (which has not been uploaded yet), so HA! I will not let hell week defeat me!
Just go to profile page for the link to deviantart.
As always, Read and Review, and thanks to everyone who has added this story to their watch or favorites list! And even added me to their watch and favorites list! (It makes me happy!)
