Chapter 9. Aftermath

The kiss between two Slytherins was absolutely awkward. Ven was barely responsive and not just because of the shock caused by Rosier's actions. The whole affair felt so terribly wrong and sickening he felt like puking his guts out the moment Rosier tried to use her tongue. She distantly tasted like something overly sweet and Ven's lips became sticky with lip gloss.

And when Rosier finally pulled away, she wiped her mouth on her sleeve and sneered. Ven stared at her, dumbfounded, disgusted, and unable to form words. Rosier smacked her lips.

"Well, aren't you just the best kisser around", she crooned, mimicking Ven's sarcastic tone from the earlier. Ven's brows furrowed as he continued staring at her. The most of him wanted to shout at her from the bottom of his heart but the other, small part of him just wanted to go cry in a corner. A part of him that felt… violated.

Just one quiet, simple word without useless stuttering came out: "Why…?" He didn't feel like himself when asking it. He wasn't weak like this. He should have kissed Acacia Rosier back and gone with the flow. He was over-thinking this. He shouldn't be thinking…! Ven stared at the ground.

"I just wanted to try it out", Rosier said. She sounded almost shy. She was silent for a moment before she continued icily: "And you were seriously asking for it. I haven't seen you been even relatively interested in any girl."

Ven's breathing hitched. "I just…" Ven turned his eyes to meet Acacia's cold glare. "It shouldn't concern you who I'm interested in." He's voice was strained but he hoped Rosier wouldn't notice the difference.

Rosier sneered and her brows furrowed. "I'm hundred times better than some Rai from Gryffindor!" she spat venomously. "You get that, right?!" Ven didn't reply. He just wanted to get away. But Rosier hadn't finished yet. "Do you even understand what you're putting me through?" she asked and stared at Ven as she spoke. Her tone was dangerously low.

"No, I don't understand", Ven said finally, trying to keep his cool even though Rosier was seriously starting to get on his nerves. Rosier was silent for once.

She stared at Ven, blankly. "Bu-but you…"

"And I don't really care."

That was when Rosier broke down from her blankness. "But I like you!" she cried out from the bottom of her lungs. "I like you! Can't you see it! Fuck!"

There were tears rolling down her cheeks. Ven gritted his teeth. He was the one who wanted to cry. Rosier had used him. She had used him and kissed him because of her selfish reasons. And Ven didn't like being used. And even less he wanted to be the object of either Rosier or Rai's affections. The feeling of being violated had retreated to the back of mind and been replaced by anger and frustration.

It didn't take much to force his legs to move. Rosier had slumped on the ground and she was furiously wiping away her tears, whimpering loudly. But after last glance Ven didn't pay any attention on her. She had dug her own hole.


Four Ravenclaws.

Five Hufflepuffs.

Headmistress Ambrosine Blanchard had already heard what had happened. Her solemn expression gave away nothing as she looked at the students that had been brought to her office from Hogsmeade not even ten minutes ago. But she most certainly wasn't pleased. Who would be? Most of the Hogwarts staff had gathered in the Headmistress's office. Wylie Buttonpress looked as nervous as Filius Flitwick looked disappointed. Of all the students in the school there were Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs waiting for their punishment. That was most certainly unexpected.

"Which one of you would like to tell me what happened in Hogsmeade?" Headmistress asked. Her voice was perfectly blank but her eyes were piercing as she looked at each and every one of the teenagers in front of her.

The students stayed quiet. None of them dared to say a word. Professor Blishwick instead seemed to have a lot to say though it was clear that she tried to hold her tongue.

"Fighting in the streets like some hooligans", she spat. "Embarrassing the school"

Mary, who stood next to Alistair, flinched visibly. Embarrassing the school was exactly what they had done. They could be expelled! Alistair looked nervously around. The others seemed to have realized the same thing. The Headmistress sighed as none of the students were clearly going to say anything.

"It was mere luck that Mr. Williamson happened to be there", she said and beckoned the Auror. "And that we were spared from the greater damage."

Miss Perks snorted at that. She had used a half an hour making sure the spells used in the duel hadn't made any permanent harm and using several counter jinxes and hexes alongside with Professor Prosper.

"This is your fault", Corner hissed at Chastity. Chastity just growled in response.

"But", Blanchard continued. "I have to owl your parents anyway." Of course she would owl their parents. It wasn't a surprise; it was expected. "And as a punishment…"

Alistair squeezed his eyes shut. Here it comes. They're going to be expelled.

"You'll all have detentions till the summer holiday every Saturday."

What…?

"You won't be allowed to go to Hogsmeade anymore during this term."

Alistair slowly opened his eyes and released the he didn't realize he had been holding.

"And I'll have to take 70 points from each of you. You are now free to go."


Albus had sat outside the castle for the better part of the hour, waiting for either Scorpius or Ven to come back from Hogsmeade and keep him company. Myrtle had once again kicked him out the lavatory but he had gotten used to it. He would just try again the next day. When he finally saw Ven – he had been quite sure that Ven would indeed return first – he stood up and began walking towards his friend.

Albus smiled brightly. "Did you–? Oh." His smile dropped when he saw hostility in Ven's glare. "So you did." It wasn't a question. "Didn't go so well, I see."

"So you planned it." Ven's voice was unnaturally strained, not stopping to chat with Albus. Albus followed him and sighed loudly.

"I helped to plan it. There's a difference."

"There's no difference to me."

Ven stopped walking as soon as he noticed Albus didn't follow him anymore. "…are you mad at me?" Albus asked. His brows had knit together; worried expression didn't suit him at all. Ven shook his head.

"No. I'm not." He wasn't mad at Albus even though the younger Potter brother had schemed with Rosier. It just didn't feel right. "It doesn't matter. Just don't set me up like that anymore."

"I just had a chat with Scorp and we thought it would be good for you to go out with someone once in a while", Albus said. He was more relaxed again and catching up with Ven who had continued walking towards the castle doors. "And I knew Rosier likes you."

Ven sneered. "Well, I didn't."

"You… didn't?" Albus snorted and burst into a fit of uncontrollable snickers. "It was so obvious! Didn't you really –?"

"I. Didn't", Ven hissed, annoyed of Albus laughing at him.

"Merlin's pants, man, you're blind."

When they stepped into the Entrance Hall, the room was swarming with students. The noise around was almost deafening.

"What's going on here?" Albus asked from a Slytherin prefect who was closest to them. The girl pointed at the other end of the room, grinning.

"Something's happened to the House points", she said over the noise. And it was true. Both Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw hourglasses had only few jewels on the bottom whereas Gryffindor and Slytherin ones were almost full.

Albus whistled. "Looks like someone has screwed up and badly."

Ven nodded in agreement.

"Well, it seems like Gryffindor is taking both House Cup and Quidditch Cup this year", Albus continued glumly but perked up visibly and continued: "Oh, and you still have that chocolate I asked for?"


Toby fell on his bed in the Hufflepuff dormitory. William and Jeremiah hadn't returned yet which was a good thing Alistair would have been too exhausted to explain anything. From what they had heard in the common room most of the students already knew about the reduced points. And they weren't very happy about it. After all, Hufflepuff had been second to Gryffindor.

"Holy shit", Toby said. "I can't believe it…"

Alistair shrugged. "Could be worse."

"That's exactly what I was thinking about!" Toby groaned and sat up, throwing his hands up in frustration. "They're going easy on us! For a moment I thought that old hag was going to expel us!"

"We're lucky she didn't but we still have detentions to attend", Alistair said quietly. The whole punishment had hit Layla and Mary much harder than him or Toby. Chastity instead was on Corner's throat the moment they had exited Blanchard's office and she had been dragged down to the basement.

"My parents are gonna freak out", Toby laughed dryly.

"Mine are too", Alistair admitted. He was afraid to even think what kind of bitch fit his father would throw when he comes back home.

"Well, no matter what–" Toby jumped on Alistair bed and ruffled his friends hair. "–we're going through this together, right? Detentions got nothing on us!"

Alistair couldn't help but laugh.

END OF THE THIRD YEAR