When Helena got back to the Common Room, Katie wasn't there. Nor was she in their dormitory. And all of her things had disappeared from there too, as though she'd left her forever.
Helena, who had simply lost all hope, then went onto her bed just to smell her sweet, bubblegum scent and cried into her pillow for hours and eventually, cried herself to sleep.
x
Helena woke up the next day on Katie's old bed. The pillow was now tear-stained and the tears had dried on her face, making her cheeks look raw-looking. It was 10 AM and she was supposed to be in Charms lesson, which was now half way through her double period. Yet, she didn't care. She was far too distraught to be able to even stand. Besides, she couldn't face Katie right now. After all, it wasn't her fault that she was forced to torture that Muggle-born. She was so tired and she forgot that she was alone. She fell back asleep and she slept for a long while despite her stomach rumbling furiously for food.
x
Katie's POV
I feel apprehension burning within me. Why hadn't she appeared in the lessons? Nor had she turned up during meal times... Well, I suppose it is my fault walking out on her like that. But - how could she have done that to that poor boy? He reminded me of my own brother... though I haven't seen him for a long time. I could've sworn to see glinting in her eyes as she tortured him - or was it a trick of the light?
I do hope that she hasn't seriously damaged herself, especially as I know how isolation can affect her. But as I haven't seen her actually out of there, it can only be presumed that she's starving herself, which I didn't think that she'd do in event of all of this.
In addition, today I was questioned about her appearance. They asked me questions like 'When did you last see her?', and 'Can you get her out of the Common Room?' I said no straight away to the second one... I couldn't go back to her after that. Yet, I still feel an incline to stick to her side no matter what she does with her actions.
I want to go back, but after running out on her after that... I'm not sure if I have the courage to.
x
Friday.
It wasn't until Friday afternoon she managed to finally get out of Katie's bed. She dreaded to think what would happen to her when she finally showed herself after days of not turning up. But she pushed the thought from her mind, she shouldn't worry about that now. What's done is done. She got up, stiff in her movements, since she was weak from her lack of food. She looked up at the clock and it was almost lunch time.
No. I'll show up in Dark Arts, she thought to herself.
She slowly got changed into her uniform and then she went to the mirror and looked at her face. As she predicted, she looked, there was no other word for it, abysmal.
She took her wand, which was beside her bed, and pointed it at her face. She did a stroke-like movement over her face and it instantly made her look normal again. She was impressed by how this worked so effectively after being so emotionally unstable.
She glanced at the clock once more and she was surprised to find it to be almost the end of lunch - she wasn't aware of how slowly she got changed. At this point, she realised she better not be late for Voldemort's lesson as her already-supposed-detention would get much worse if she was late.
She decided that she wanted to be invisible as she crept out of the Common Room door, though her Disillusionment Charms are highly ineffective. And being visible was unbearable... Yet she did not know Hogwarts very well, even though she's in her Fifth year. She regretted this now.
She felt like she no longer belonged here. Oh, how awkward she felt to be walking the corridors - afraid someone would turn her in, like she was an outcast. Though, much to her great relief, not much people were along the corridors. They appeared to be still outside or else where in the castle.
She finally reached outside of the door to the classroom, where everyone was lined up, ready to go in. Luckily, no one took no notice of her. It was like she blended in with the threshold.
The lesson, Helena thought, went rather slow. Perhaps maybe it was the fact that Katie sat a few rows ahead of her. Or maybe it was because she knew that she'd have to have a detention later.
Finally, the bell rung after the 2 hours ticked away slowly. Helena made no attempt to leave quickly and Katie appeared to lag behind until Voldemort shoo'ed her off.
Voldemort then proceeded to circle like a vulture.
"I'm glad you finally showed up, I was afraid that I'd have to burn Ravenclaw Tower down just to get you out," he said, staring coldly at her with his burning red eyes.
"How fortunate that you didn't need to," replied Helena with a hint of sarcasm in her tone.
"Silence, girl," snarled Voldemort. Helena froze. She did not want to talk, even if she could. "Do you have any idea what you've done? There's a reason why attendance is compulsory. Then, you disappear without explanation. Not even your-so-called-friend could say where you were up to! And she refused to get us into the Tower, and got herself into trouble - Yes, Katie got into trouble!" he added, after seeing the look on Helena's face.
Katie risked her life... For me? she thought, the idea glowing inside her. She felt a sudden rush of affection towards her, despite her running out on her just a few days ago...
Voldemort stopped circling her and suddenly turned on his heel to his desk and scribbled a note on a piece of parchment.
"7 PM, Helena, and don't be late."
