Defense Against the Dark Arts Brief Lesson: The full body-bind curse stiffens the person targeted so that they are completely immobile with the exception of their eyes. The incantation for this particular spell is - Petrificus Totalus - and is used commonly in duels by inexperienced wizards and witches. It was seen used by Hermione Granger on Neville Longbottom in their First Year.

Task Chosen: This particular curse has a paralyzing effect but this is similar to fear or shock, where it is just too great for the person and they are paralyzed. I want you to write about a witch or a wizard who has experienced emotion so strong that they are paralyzed for a short period of time.

Prompts Used: Place: a classroom; Dialogue: "Are you ...okay?" Word: Gryffindor; Spell: Petrficus Totalus and from the HPFC Huge TV Quotes Bucket: "You want a love that consumes you. You want passion, and adventure, and even a little danger." - Damon Salvatore, The Vampire Diaries

Between Sisters

"Are you . . . okay," I ask Andi.

"Hmm . . .," she responds halfheartedly and I silently seethe in frustration. I am used to being ignored by Bellatrix and to be honest, I prefer it that way. However, I am not used to being ignored by my favorite sister and I don't like it. I have accepted two weeks of excuses, each one weaker than the previous one, before Andi finally promised me to tell me what (or who) has held her attention and causing her to drift away from me.

"Andi," I exclaim, pouting in a manner that is unbecoming for an heiress to the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black. "You promised me that you would tell me what's causing you to be so distant! You can tell me anything - I won't judge."

"You promise, Narcissa? You promise you won't look at me differently and most importantly, won't tell our parents until I'm ready to do so myself?"

The wariness in Andromeda's (for she's always Andromeda whenever she calls me by my full name) voice catches me off-guard and for some reason, a sense of foreboding overcomes me.

"Of course, Andi," I respond. "Haven't I always kept your secrets?"

"You always have, but you keeping a secret are the least of my worries. I don't want you to look at me differently once I share this with you."

Whatever my sister is about to share must be serious, because twice she has alluded to her fear of losing my affections. To set my sister at ease, and to calm my own nerves, I lead Andi to one of the unused classrooms in the dungeons. I had claimed this particular space for my own in my second year, using some old furniture that would have sat unused in Grimmauld Place's attic had I not had one of the house-elves bring it to Hogwarts for my use.

I sit down in a plush silver chair while Andi lies upon the matching chaise, the two of us sitting in a comfortable silence before Andi breaks it.

"I'm in love," Andi states simply.

"That's the big secret? You have been avoiding me because you think that I can't handle you being in love? What's so terrible about that?"

"Being in love is not the problem. It's who I'm in love with," Andi moans and I sit up, my curiosity stirred.

"Oooh . . . who is it? Is it one of the Gryffindor twins? Which one has captured your heart? Gideon or Fabian?"

"You can tell them apart? Don't let Bella know that you can. She would chastise you for paying attention to 'blood-traitor' trash and hex the both of them for daring to catch your attention!"

"What Bella will never know won't hurt her and you're stalling, Andi. If it is not one of the Prewitts, then who is the lucky guy? I know it's not one of our fellow Slytherins, as you find the eligible ones dull, unexciting, senseless, reckless, etcetera, etcetera, and etcetera."

"He's a Hufflepuff. A muggle-born Hufflepuff, Ted Tonks."

My eyes widen in shock and as I mentally go over Andi's behavior for the past two weeks, her elusiveness starts to make sense. Unfortunately, Andi takes my temporary paralysis and sudden speechlessness as disapproval. She jumps up from the chaise and snaps –

"I knew you wouldn't understand!"

Before she can make it to the classroom door I draw my wand and shout –

"Petrificus Totalus!"

Before Andi can hit the floor, I levitate her to the chaise, releasing the body bind charm and threaten her to use a complex sticking charm should she try walk away again.

"Sorry about that, but you really didn't give me a choice, Andi. You can't blame me for being shocked. And I am, but not because that the one you love is muggle-born, but because I didn't see it. You're not only my sister, but my best friend! I should've known without you telling me!"

"We've been very discreet. You know how most students outside of Slytherin hate us and not only do we carry that burden, but the burden of our House, its expectations and how the majority of the British wizarding world views us."

"Yes, there is that," I say as I nod my head in agreement, "but get to the good stuff! Tell me everything!"

"Do you remember Cissy, saying how you want a love that consumes you? How you want passion, and adventure, and even a little danger? Well, that's how I feel about Ted," Andi confesses.

I see the happiness in my sister's eyes and although I can hear Aunt Walburga's lessons in the back of my mind, can visualize my mother's disappointment, none of what they may and will say matters to me in this moment. I'm wary of what this may mean in the future, but I decide that right now, it doesn't matter.

I lie beside Andi on the chaise, my head beside hers, my blonde hair mingling with her rich chocolate hair.

"Between sisters," I vow.

"Between sisters," Andi repeats, accepting my unspoken promise.