Author's Note: Hey everyone! Sorry it's taken so long for us to update. Things have been really crazy lately. I hope you enjoy this latest chapter. Remember to read and review for more :D
Kierra's POV
About a week had passed since Moody turned Malfoy into a ferret; and I was keen on bringing up the event every chance I got. I even went as far as to have the Weasley twins make me a list of ferret jokes. They had happily obliged, and I was now in the habit of whipping it out every chance I got. Korra and I were currently sitting in DADA class, listening to Professor Moody drone on about some dark spells or something. I already knew everything I needed to know for this class, so I decided this would be the perfect time to pester Malfoy.
"Pssst. Malfoy!" I whisper yelled, reaching forward to poke him with my wand. He simply ignored me. "Oi! Ferret! Don't ignore me!"
"What!" He hissed, turning around to look at me. I grinned at the clearly agitated look on his face. I got up and moved up a row, pushing Goyle out of his seat. He fell with a thud and quickly scrambled back to sit in my seat as Moody growled at him. I smiled innocently at the professor, sinking down into Goyle's seat as the rest of the class chuckled. Moody looked at me for a few seconds before going back to his lecture.
"Must you be so bloody violent with my friends?" Malfoy questioned, lifting an eyebrow at me.
"Friends?" I scoffed, waving my hand as if to dismiss the idea completely. "And of course I must, I wouldn't be me if I wasn't violent."
"Of course. How could I have forgotten." He stated, rolling his eyes and looking forward again. I jabbed him hard in the side and he jumped, turning back to me. "Ow! Watch where you're sticking that thing!"
"Do you want to hear a joke?" I questioned excitedly.
"No." He answered immediately, knowing where this was going.
"Too bad. Why did the ferret cross the road?" I asked, slamming my hands on the desk in front of me to make sure that I had most of the Slytherin side's attention. Malfoy simply groaned and put his head on the desk.
"Malfoy. You had better pay attention to me when I teach boy!" Moody growled from his desk. Malfoy's head shot back up and he glowered at Moody for a few moments after he had turned away.
"So…" I prodded.
"So, what!" Malfoy snapped, turning back to me.
"Why did the ferret cross the road, silly!" I chirped, smirking as I heard Korra and Amenda let out a snort of laughter from their seats behind me.
"Why must you torment me?" He asked.
"Because you make it sooooo easy, Drakie!" I said, reaching up to ruffle his hair. He caught my hand and scowled at me. "Just answer the question!" I pouted at him.
"Fine! Why?"
"Why what?" I pushed, knowing I was entering dangerous waters. I loved testing my limits with him. I smirked as he turned bright red with anger.
"Why did the bloody ferret cross the road!" He said just a bit too loud.
"What are you yelling about boy! That'll be a detention!" Moody yelled again, pointing his finger in our direction.
"Detention!?" Malfoy yelled, slamming his hands down on the desk. I heard another snort of laughter from behind us.
"It was my fault, sir. I'm terribly sorry. I was telling him a joke. He's not really one for jokes though. It won't happen again." I piped up, doing my best to look completely innocent as I peered up at Moody. He glared between me and Malfoy for a few moments before nodding stiffly.
"How do you do that!" Malfoy demanded, turning towards me again.
"Professors just like me better" I smirked at him, sticking out my tongue. He opened his mouth to say something when suddenly, there was a knock on the door.
"Enter." Moody growled angrily. A tiny, first year Hufflepuff entered looking scared. They always look scared.
"Madam Pomfrey sent me to fetch Kierra and Korra Carrow." She squeaked out. I twisted in my seat to look at Korra. I could see the worry in her face and I knew we were thinking the same thing.
We both stood up and rushed out of the door, pushing the first year out of our way. She squeaked as she hit the door frame, stumbling to get back up as she held her arm. Korra and I didn't even spare her a second glance.
We fast walked down the corridors, pushing students out of our way. We passed a group of a couple first year Ravenclaws just before turning the corner to the hospital wing. The smaller boy was boasting about a package that his parents had sent him.
"-and I got this box filled with sweets!" He squealed, holding up a neatly wrapped silver box for the others to see. "I've even got a few chocolate skulls. They're rare to get this early in the season!"
I stopped dead, reaching out to pull Korra back.
"What!" She hissed at me, pulling her arm out of my grasp.
"Do you think Klara would like some sweets? I reckon it would cheer her up, especially if we… borrowed them from some first years." I said, grinning mischievously.
"Hmm, I believe you're onto something there love." She said, drawing her wand and turning to point it at the small boy. "You there. Give me those." She demanded.
"W-what?" He asked, his eyes as big as saucers. Korra took another step forward so that her wand was now right on his forehead.
"You heard me." She jeered, holding her hand out. The boy dropped the box in her hand and put his hands up in surrender.
"Pleasure doing business with you. Now run along, before we do something truly wicked." I cooed, peering around Korra to wink at the group of first years. They squeaked and ran down the corridor to our amusement. Korra handed me the box and I quickly pocketed it, setting off at a fast walk again.
When we got closer to the hospital wing, we heard the screaming. That was when we started running. We reached the doors and I pushed them open. Madame Pomfrey looked up from where she was standing next to Klara's bed. I was all but waiting for her to yell at me for "disturbing her patients" as usual. But she didn't say anything.
Klara had apparently just stopped screaming. Tears were streaking down her cheeks; and her eyes were puffy from crying. She kept hiccupping as she tried to catch her breath. Pomfrey was trying to calm her down the rest of the way, but obviously needed our help.
Korra and I immediately ran to Klara's side and grabbed hold of her arms to let her know we were here. She didn't look at either of us; but I noticed her arms were all scratched up and bruised again. Madame Pomfrey had probably given up on constantly healing and was waiting for after the potion and after Klara got better, because several of the cuts looked like they were a few days old while others were beading with fresh blood.
"Klara darling. It's okay. We're here." Korra whispered, reaching up to stroke her hair. Klara jerked her head away from her hand, looking up at her in fear.
"It's just us, Klara. Your sisters. We would never hurt you!" I said looking across her to Korra. "We brought you some sweats, if you'd like them." I offered.
"It's a rather funny story too." Korra said, chuckling. "We kind of stole them from some Ravenclaw first years." She explained and Madame Pomfrey huffed from behind us.
"You should have seen it. It was really quite fun. Here, would you like a Chocoball?" I asked, holding one out to her. She scrunched her nose up at it and turned away from us to face the wall.
We stayed with Klara for a bit longer, slowing trying to ease her into conversation. I did my best to make her smile by recounting all the ways I had tortured Malfoy over the past week. After maybe an hour or so of seeing some progress, the door to the hospital wing opened. We all looked up to see who it was. Korra had forgotten to close the curtains; so whoever it was had a plain view of Klara's bed. When the person came closer, we realised it was Bryce.
"What is he doing here?" Klara spat, looking up from her box of sweets. She never liked people seeing her at her worst.
Bryce was taken aback a bit. He obviously didn't expect to be spat at. "I, uh, heard you were sick; and I, uh, wanted to make sure you were alright." He stuttered slightly as he took a nervous step closer. That's when I noticed he was carrying a dozen roses. He clearly knew how to treat Klara properly; and I hoped she didn't over-exaggerate about him seeing her like this.
"Get out." She replied, still with an angry tone in her voice as she pointed at the door. "Don't come visit me again." She added as she turned her back to him.
His face dropped and he turned to me and Korra for help; but I just shook my head, knowing it was hopeless. He gestured to the bouquet of flowers, wanting to know if it was safe to leave them. I nodded; and Korra walked over to meet him halfway and take the flowers. "I'm sorry. It's not you, promise." I heard her tell him before he left the hospital wing. Korra turned back towards me and Klara and returned to her seat. I watched as she set the roses on the side of the bed, out of Klara's view.
The next few days were very difficult for Korra and I. We did our best to juggle Klara's worsening condition along with everything else. Our only hope stemmed from Snape's reassurances that the potion would be done before the arrival of the schools. Still, I found myself on edge even more so than usual; and it certainly didn't go unnoticed. In the days leading up to the arrival of the schools Korra and I had managed to send six first years and an assortment of over ten other students from the upper years to the hospital wing. We had lost our house a total of at least fifty house points, and I've managed to earn three detentions. (Though Snape managed talked me out of them)
Speaking of which, he should probably get ready to start talking again. McGonagall gave me yet another detention even though it was totally worth it. We were paired off to practice transfiguring hair colours, and of course I was paired with none other than Granger. The instructions were to change your partner's hair colours to that of their house and I couldn't bear to do it. Instead of following directions, I'd decided to have a bit of fun and just completely remove her hair. As predicted, McGonagall didn't share my humour.
"Miss Carrow, what do you think you're doing?" McGonagall squawked as she rushed over to a hysterical Hermione.
"I don't know. I think it's a pretty big improvement. Don't you?" I asked, flopping back down in my seat and putting my head on the desk.
"Snarky, snarky." Amenda whispered in my ear with a giggle, shaking her head.
"Yes, well your improvement has just cost you another detention. My office, tonight at eight." She admonished, "Stay after class so I can give you the detention slip."
"Well as much as I would love to do that, I have other plans tonight. So you'll just have to take that one up with Snape." I could hear the faintest snarky, snarky coming from Amenda's general direction.
"That would be Professor Snape to you, young lady. We'll go and talk it over with him after class."
I watched as everyone poured out of the room after being dismissed before getting up and walking over to McGonagall's desk. We walked down the halls towards Snape's room in a rather unpleasant silence. Along the way the little gang caught up with us and kept up a good following distance the entire time. We made it to Snape's office and after knocking a few times he opened up and ushered us inside.
"I assume you are here to talk about Miss Carrow's most recent detention worthy antic?" He began, looking between McGonagall and I.
"Antic? I would hardly call removing another student's hair an antic!" She exclaimed, turning to glare at me.
"Is this true?" He asked, looking towards myself. I just shrugged and looked around the room trying to avoid eye contact. "Well. You are dismissed Miss Carrow."
"Thank you, professor." I smirked, turning on my heel throwing one last look towards McGonagall over my shoulder as I left the room.
When I reached the hallway, everyone was there waiting for me. They all just stood there, staring at me like they were waiting for me to make a move. I raised my eyebrow in their direction and pointed down the hallway towards the Great Hall for supper and started walking. They all followed suit. Korra was the first to catch up to me, putting her arm around my shoulder. I quickly shrugged it off, moving out of her reach.
"Kierra, you seem a bit off. Even more so than usual." Malfoy commented.
"Sod off, Malfoy."
"What? No ferret joke?" He teased. "But siriusly are you okay?" He continued. I turned and sent a stinging hex in his direction. "Oi! What was that for!"
"Stop being nice. It's odd." We stood staring at each other for a few moments before smirking. He put his arm over my shoulder and we continued walking off down the hall.
"Whatever you say, freak."
"Aw, you guys are dysfunctional!" Korra exclaimed as we walked off down the hall.
We made our way down to the Great Hall and took our seats before Snape made his way over to us.
"Excuse me," He began, scanning over our group. "I need to speak with Kierra and Korra for a moment." Korra and I turned towards each other before getting up and following Snape out of the hall.
"The potion is completed, and I assume you would like to be there to administer it to her?" He asked without stopping and Korra and I followed excitedly.
We reached the Hospital Wing and Korra ran around us to throw open the doors. We made our way over to Klara's bed. Klara was sitting up in bed, staring at Korra.
"She's not going to want to take the potion, and she'll need to be restrained until the potion has taken effect." He told us, looking between Klara and ourselves. Korra and I nodded and slowly approached the bed as Klara began shrieking.
I jumped onto the bed and wrestled her arms down as Korra flopped onto her legs. Once she was completely restrained Snape began pouring the potion into her mouth. She jerked her head and spilled a bit of it all over before jerking her head and biting Snape. He quickly withdrew his arm, a look of disgust on his face.
"Oh give me it!" I yelled, grabbing the potion from him, prying her mouth open and pouring the rest of it in. She started gagging and jerking around even more so than before. Once she had swallowed the potion completely she immediately went back to shrieking.
After a few moments, she began to calm down. I watched as her eyes unclouded. Korra and I got up off her and stood on either side of her bed. Klara slowly sat up and looked around. "Where am I?" She stuttered.
"Well good morning to you too, sleeping beauty." I began. "Welcome back to the real world. You're in the hospital wing, and you've managed to bite your professor." I added, gesturing to Snape who was holding his arm.
Korra reached across Klara and smacked me. "Rude much?" She said.
"Do you remember anything of the past month, Klara?" Snape asked.
She shook her head.
"Well I'm sure your sisters will be more than happy to fill you in over supper." He replied. "But we must be going now. We are expecting guests."