Twenty

"So, Ms. Scott, " Dumbledore began. He peered at her through his half-moon spectacles, with his fingers interlocked on the desk in front of him. Placed on the desk was the bag of rustic red powder. Raina barely gave it a glance, staring at anywhere but there. She didn't say anything, but merely swung her hair over her shoulder.

"There are rules against drug use in Hogwarts, and I assume you knew this?" He asked in a calm tone. Raina shrugged.

"Do you know what the contents of this bag are?" His tone of voice didn't exactly represent anger, but something else. Raina couldn't put her finger on it, so she just shook her head.

"No, I don't."

Dumbledore sighed quietly, and pointed at the bag.

"It's the powdered skin of a fire salamander. The skin of the beast secretes toxic fluids, which would explain your mood swings and hallucinations. "He said, with the air of a teacher rather than headmaster.

Raina didn't respond. She sat there, hunched, not listening. Her thoughts had trailed back to her ex-boyfriend. She didn't even like having sex with him, to be honest. But still, he was supposed to be there for her, for whatever happened. She felt so alone, like the walls were creeping up on her everywhere with no one to hold them back. She noted Dumbledore staring at her subconsciously, and the silence in the room was suffocating.

"Is everything alright, Raina?" He asked, her, using her first name for the first time. She glanced up at him slowly. It was the first time she noticed his robes or his hat or even his piercing blue eyes that were surveying her right now.

Raina groaned quietly, and sat up. Anger flashed within her, out of nowhere, and she took it out on her headmaster.

"Why do you care?" She scoffed madly, turning around in her seat to face him. Dumbledore looked taken aback for a moment.

"I'm your Headmaster, of course I am concerned for your well-being –"

"Because it's your job, yeah?" She felt like she was exploding, she really needed a smoke. Her soft, manicured hands clutched the chairs arm rests.

"Well you see, Professor, I've had an epiphany. No one actually cares. All they actually want is something for them. Once they aren't satisfied anymore, they're gone. Humans always put themselves first over anyone else. "Dumbledore was looking at her, intently listening to the teenage girl rave on about her feelings. She sat rigidly on the chair, her greenish eyes looking extra-large due to her overuse of makeup. Her brown hair swinging around her cheeks.

"I don't believe that is true, Raina. You need to surround yourself with people that love you. You might just be around the wrong people." He said kindly, but she laughed loudly, throwing her head back.

"No, believe me, I've been around all sorts of people. Even the ones who are supposed to love me. "She finally looked him in the eyes; she was smirking like she understood something her professor didn't.

"That's just how it is, Professor." She said softly, with an underlying tone of bitterness. Dumbledore smiled sadly.

"I assure you, my dear it's not." He said. Raina rolled her eyes and stood from the chair, saying nothing, but clearly enraged.

"People who love you, Ms. Scott, will let you down. But these simple mistakes can be cured, and love makes it all worth the while." Raina surveyed her professor through disputing eyes, a mix or green and brown against solid, electric blue.

"Love doesn't exist." She said in a quiet tone, yet with finality. With one last look at her headmaster, she walked out and slammed the door behind her without receiving her punishment.

"Pity those who live without love." Dumbledore said quietly to himself. He didn't have the heart to expel her.

Throughout the day, Raina was a bitter, angry, sad mess. Later on, she found out she had quite a few detentions in front of her. In the common room she completely ignored Starr (who ignored her anyways) and Remus and James and Peter. She merely grabbed her cloak and left the common room.

She slipped her fingered gloves on her hands and walked outside. It was the beginning of February and snow had begun to melt, but it was still chilly nonetheless. The snow squished into slush beneath her feet.

"Raina, wait!" She grimaced and kept walking, except at a faster pace. Daniel groaned behind her and started running. But, too soon enough he put an arm around her and turned her to face him.

She glared at him with vindictive eyes.

"What do you want?" She hissed at him. After all, he had only broken up with her a few hours ago. Daniel shrugged, and grinned sheepishly.

"I just wanted to see if you were okay, because I heard Dumbledore wanted to speak to you…" He trailed off. Raina reared back and hit him across the head. It wasn't really a slap, but not a punch, rather just a burst of frustration.

"That is none of your business anymore! Daniel, we broke up less than six hours ago leave me the fuck alone!" She said, raising her voice. Angered, he rubbed the now red spot on his head.

"I was only concerned for you! I thought we could be friends!" He said, and Raina snorted. "Why would I want to be friends with you? I don't need you, or anyone else. All you'll do is piss me off. "She snarled at him. Daniel said nothing, and Raina turned on her heel. But, on second thought, Daniel rushed in front of her to speak.

"Raina, darling, just because we aren't together anymore doesn't mean I don't care about you." He said as a last resort. Raina grinned evilly at him.

"I don't give two fucks about you. So back off." Using her wand, she sent him soaring into the snow. Out of her peripheral vision, she saw Sirius looking at her quizzically from the bench he was sitting at, with Marlene McKinnon. All Raina wanted right now was to smoke.

Hey, sorry it's so late! I had midterms and other things... anyways i know its short but i felt like i had to get something up. R&R! ;]