Chapter 14: One Step Forward, a Fall, a Hex, and a Hard Kick in the Gut Back
Words: 3,358
Recap: Again? I fell off my broom again? Clearly, Zeus Blessing isn't as sincere as he had made out to be or this wouldn't have happened for the third bloody time!
The shrill sound of the whistle was heard throughout the field, signalling the end of the match. Instinctively, my head shot up and turned at the scoreboard, but judging from where the cheer of crowds came from, I wasn't too shocked to find the Gryffindor Team had 120 points ahead of us.
I blew out a sigh, feeling disappointed at the result but hey, you win some, you lose some, right? So I switch my concern toward the annoying twerp but wince at the shooting… Yep! That was my long-time-friend; pain. You never do leave me behind. Considering how bad it was, it seemed I cracked a bone in hand.
I had to give credit where credits due, James wasn't crying like a little kid he is seeing that he had a worse fall than me and was instead whimpering with a silent tear rolling down his cheeks.
Madam Hooch soon came over with the rest of the players. Some landed around us, while others hovered near. All watching in concern at our collective state. The referee's sharp eyes only took a glance before she diagnosed the broken bone of James and my cracked wrist. "You boys need to hurry to get to the infirmary. Now, everybody moves aside. Stop ogling them like an owl and give them space. Come on all of you, move!" She yelled out the last part, making the others reacted to her authoritative tone.
That's how the two of us reluctantly got stuck side-by-side on a bed with Madam Pomfrey keeping a watchful eye on us to not move a muscle unnecessarily. Our friends and teammates were kicked out when it was clear they were only going to crowd around us, so we were forced to be each other's company in the sterile room. Well, there was the small gerbil currently in my lap that I had obscurely remembered someone shoving it on me as some sort of "animal support". I have to admit I was having a strange empathy with the little guy, must be the leftover feeling of my guinea pig days.
"This is new, seeing you this quiet. Aren't you going to brag at scoring a win on us?"
James was oddly quiet, shooting me an unreadable expression. "Hey, Prissy."
"If you want my attention, use my name right, why don't you?"
"Do you really think the Lost Treasure exist?"
His question was asked almost to a whisper, I would have shot upright if Madam Pomfrey's warning didn't ring inside my head. I gave a wary gaze to her back, busy cocking up a potion for us before glancing back at the boy next to me.
"What's up with you? You were bragging about finding the Treasure a few weeks ago, what changed?"
He looked down on his cast arm and biting his lips, "Yeah, but what if it's not real. What if everything was some kind of sick joke a jerk with too much time made decades ago."
"...okay, you're starting to make me worry. Ignoring the fact the metaphoric jerk hide it with too much effort, where did you get this idea from? You don't usually give in at the slightest doubt like this."
James looked away, giving away nothing of his thoughts. He then rummaged the pockets of his robes before his fist came out. He stayed still for a moment or two. Stretching his fist arm at me, revealing he was holding a...actually, I don't know what he was holding because all I can see is a small metal pipe the size of his palm.
He had no problem with me taking it on hand, and I tried examining it to see what was special. Yet, found nothing. Not even a hint of magic in it, "What's this supposed to be?"
"Apparently, that's the key to the Lost Treasure."
I hummed in acknowledgement before doing a double take at him, then at the small useless piece of item that wasn't so useless after all. I must have shown my disbelief on my face since James snorted, "Yeah, can't believe it either. But it was what I got during our quick run through the small cave we encountered."
"What did your friends think of it? They might figure out something we don't, cause I got nothing."
James went back to looking away and biting his lips, again reluctant in his own words. If he keeps dragging this, I'm going to forget any empathy I have for the gerbil and throw it at him. He mumbled something incomprehensible from how small his voice was that I had to lean to the side and prompted him to say louder.
"I didn't tell them alright!" he hissed out. His tone showing it was one he didn't want to admit and was either too proud or ashamed of admitting, which doesn't add up for me.
"Wow there, no need to get your knickers in a twist. Not that it matters much for me but I've seen you guys, and you're all thick as thieves. I thought you'd tell them everything."
"Oh sure, that'd turn out well, "Hey Fellas, you know that Lost Treasure we've been talking about? Turns out this piece of useless pipe I got from risking my life is the key, great right?" How lame would that be?" His words were dripping with sarcasm that rivals my own, and I had to mentally applaud him for that.
"So?" I was genuinely confused why he's confronting me with this, "What do you want me to say? "Don't sweat, they'll have faith in you, and the Lost Treasure surely exists" because if you want reassurance, you're asking from the wrong person Buddy."
His scowl shifted from indignant to anger, "Oh, like you actually believe it even exists. Face it, it's just a story."
"You'd be surprised how real a story can be, I mean...when you think about it. Wizard and Witches are supposed to be just stories for Muggles, and yet here we are."
"That doesn't-ugh!" James was halfway looking like he wanted to ruffle his hair in frustration but remembered the cast he had. "Why can't you accept that this whole Treasure Hunt is pointless effort and give up while you're ahead."
I looked back at my charge, and I mean really look at him, trying to discern his motive, "Sounds to me you're trying to convince yourself rather than me." And I'm more curious why you're dragging me into your dilemma. I had to keep myself from rolling my eyes blatantly, who knew James could be such a Drama Queen. Good thing, I didn't throw the Gerbil away, I need animal support for this rather than pain relief. "Besides, whether I'm continually searching for the Lost Treasure, is frankly, none of your business."
James flushed red while keeping his scowl, and I knew I hit the mark on that one. "Shut up," he hissed, "Like you could understand what I'm going through. You have Snivellus and Li-Evans doing your bidding for Merlin-knows-what."
"Wow, wow, let's stop that train of thought of yours right there. Lily and Severus don't do anything what I say, they do whatever they want. What you're saying is the same as me assuming you're ordering your friends around and I don't like what you're implying." At some point, my tone turned grave and serious while glaring back at him.
James was silent for a bit, and even had the decency to look sheepish, "Right...sorry."
Huh, so he can actually apologize. Good to know.
"Boys," Madam Pomfrey's no-nonsense tone jolted our spine straight. Each of her hands had a cup with ominous steam coming out, "I hope you haven't been aggravating your wounds, otherwise I'd be very cross."
"No Ma'am, nothing of the sort," My trained line coming out automatically. Even though I had a feeling she had been listening to some part of our conversation.
"Good, now drink…oh for heaven's sake! This again?" I was confused at her changed demeanour and glanced sideways to find James was much in the same thought. She put aside the drinks to reach for her wands, wave with a followed quick words, and my lap was suddenly occupied by a kid instead of a gerbil.
"Di immortales!" I shot away, accidentally kicking the poor kid out of bed.
"Goodness, again Frank? How many times has it been this month?"
The kid stood, dusted himself off, looking quite sheepish, he has a small stature even for someone around my age, his cheek was rosy red I don't know from shame or because his face was always like that.
"Sorry Madam, didn't mean to waste your time."
"You wouldn't be wasting my time if you tell me who's responsible for sending you my way all the time."
The Frank Kid only shrugged and kept his sheepish smile. It must have been a recurrent theme because the nurse didn't press further and dismissed him quickly before turning her attention back to us.
"As I was saying, drink this and your bones should be mended in seconds and you'd be free to go."
She offered us our ticket way out, and James gleefully accepted it, "Great, it's about time I get out of this bed." I said nothing even as I watch James about to eagerly gulp his drink when he noticed my stare, "What are you looking at?"
"Oh, nothing. Don't mind me, continue on."
His eyes narrowed suspiciously but shrugged me off as he took a mouthful of his potion.
Then promptly spit it out soon after. Hacking out soon after, his tongue most likely suffering the aftertaste by this moment. All the while, I had to keep myself from falling off the bed just to roll on the floor laughing. Instead, I had to bit my lip hard and giving out a soundless yet quivering laughter regardless that I was borderline suffocating.
"Good heavens, go ahead and waste my potion, why don't you? You better drink the rest of it or you'll have to heal your bone the hard way, and you. Stopped laughing and drink it up!" Pomfrey huffed, not at all surprised at his reaction but was irritated nonetheless. It was only thanks to my own experience with Sev's potion and managed to swallow the bile-I mean the graciously made medicine by the nurse without wasting a drop.
The Nurse took our mug once we're done, to be greeted with James' stink eye.
"Don't give me that, you would have done the same in my place, and you know it."
"It's annoying how I can't argue with that," he grumbled and I had no shame in giving him my biggest grin, but it fell when soon after James turned away and walked out of the infirmary. In hindsight, I should have let him walk away. I didn't come here to be his emotional support, and stopping him from being in this dangerous hunt in a mad school like Hogwarts would also protect him from danger, making my job easier. Not to mention I don't care much about him, not like I do with Sev and Lily. If I try, I'd probably come up 20 more reasons why I could have- should have let him be.
"James, wait."
He stopped at my call, but his face was one extending a given patient so I went straight to the matter at heart.
"I don't know what else to say other than I don't think it should matter whether the Lost Treasure exists or not," his open mouth looked ready to protest, but I hold my hand up, "You saved our lives back then at the cave. Not only that, but you managed not only in finding the hidden cave in the Forbidden Forest, but you also broke the riddle in finding the key to the Lost Treasure." I hold up the pipe and threw it at him, he caught it flawlessly, "I'll say this once, but you were damn impressive back there James so you earned that. I bet half of the wizards here couldn't do what you'd have done back there so if you doubt the Treasure, at least don't doubt on yourself."
I indulged myself in watching James flapped his mouth that makes even fishes look normal, without getting so much as a word out. That got me to preened further. Yet his eyes, that looked ready to pop out, showed more than he might have cared to admit. A brief flash of insecurity before it was washed away by relief, with a hint of proud and vindication.
Ah.
So that's why.
No wonder I couldn't help reaching out to him.
He reminded me of when I was younger. Of when I was trying so hard to prove myself. When I tried to be better than what people assumed me to be. I'm not sure who or what he's trying to prove, but I recognized that determined glint in his eyes anywhere. I've seen it countless times from my own mirror when doubt would start festering in me, before that gaze would blaze up when I challenged anyone who tried to put me down, including myself.
...wait, did I just admit "He reminds me of when I was young" Dear gods, I'm getting old! Or at least, I'm starting to feel like it.
Ironic that I'm in a younger body and all.
"Why are you telling me this?"
I made a shrugged and walked away, but James was relentless, seeing as he was walking at the same pace as me. This makes me roll my eyes, "Think of this as calling it even, you saved my life and I saved your small fragile ego."
James gritted his teeth at me, "You know what Jackson? For a second, just for a second, I thought you weren't much of a duffer. Glad to know you haven't proven me wrong."
I smirked, and make it point that I enjoy getting on his nerve, "And you're not so much of a musclehead, James. Once you actually use your brain for a change."
"You can talk, at least when I use my head things don't blow up on my face."
"The drowned cave said otherwise, besides, you obviously never seen my plan in action if you can say that."
"It's actually the various mishap spells you made, but you're welcome to prove me right anytime."
We argued that way, back and forth, and didn't realize we were grinning halfway through, trying to best the others. Even laughing at some of our choice of words. It was surprisingly easy for us to get along.
Our conversation was cut off when we heard the unmistakable sound of a scuffle that railed our path away toward it.
Whatever I was expecting, it certainly wasn't Sirius hexing Sev while his cronies watched, looking unapologetic. I didn't know Peter very well, but I certainly didn't think Remus could look as apathetic as he was then. They were watching silently behind Sirius as Sev's head shrink or enlarge, while he was too busy scratching his body until he fell to the ground yet his foot remain in the same spot.
How many hexes did they put on him?
Thinking it was time to break the party, I ran at them while shouting "Hey, what's the big idea over here?!" Pulling out my wand, I undo the few hexes I knew which made him stop twitching and his head turning back to normal. I crouch beside him, giving him time for a breather.
"What's all this?" James asked, clearly surprised at the sight as I am, but there was a mix of confusion in his tone as well.
Sirius cold eyes didn't leave Sev, and his grip on his visible wand made me show off my own wand, giving him a silent warning.
"Oh, just showing Snivellus here how hexing is done. Seeing how much he loves hexes like the creepy little Slytherin he is."
"I...I don't get it."
"He hexed your broom during the match," Remus piped up beside him, "I saw him, waving his wand and chanting all the way at you when you had trouble controlling your broom, it didn't take much to put two and two together." He glared accusingly at us.
I gaped at the accusation, my lips snarled, ready to defend Sev but then I took a glimpse at his face and found he wasn't meeting any of our eyes, chewing his lips, and looking not at all nonplussed or bristled in objection, instead was much more resign.
"Severus?" I prodded, but he gave no answer. I switched my attention to James and was not surprised at the scathing glare he gave him- no, us.
"Is that so? Feeling threatened in getting your high horse kicked in so you had your little friend make sure I took the fall, didn't you?"
"What? No!" Did this guy forget I was the one who saved his ass from his broom? Where's the logic in that?
"Saved your excuses Prissy, it's clear what kind of person you are. What was I thinking, thinking you were okay, I'm an idiot for falling for your act however briefly. Let's go guys." He turned his back, walking away with the rest of his friends, and I just knew things are going to get more complicated because of this.
I watched them until they were out of sight before giving myself in for a heavy sigh, then turned back at my friend, "Care to explain?" I asked pointedly.
"He deserved it!" he practically spat out.
I offered my hand and help him up, "That's not what I'm asking."
"You can't possibly defend that...that...cocky...know it all...twat!"
"Still doesn't answer my question."
"Percy."
"Severus."
He blew out an agitated breath but looking not the less guilty, "It's his fault for not seeing it coming, he sabotaged your training the last time, you can't expect us to leave him off the hook like that."
"Severus."
"I'm sorry that you were caught up with it, I didn't think you would go that far to save him."
"You got him hurt."
"We got hurt several times by him!"
"He didn't exactly aim to hurt any of us."
"Doesn't excuse his action any less."
"So does that mean it should excuse yours?"
"Why are you even defending him?"
"I'm not-" but I was cut off before I could start.
"I don't see you this reserve last year when we had them stick their heads down the toilet."
"They put their own heads in the toilet, it's not my fault they were idiots. And that was a harmless prank while you were actively trying to hurt him."
"Oh please, it's not like he would have died from the fall."
I pinched the bridge of my nose from an impending headache, I forgot despite how smart and mature he is, Severus could still be a brat sometimes. It doesn't help that he genuinely doesn't think his action was in the wrong.
"Severus, you need to understand that there is a time and place for everything, and hexing a player in the middle of a Quidditch match during a high-speed chase is not the right time for a small payback."
He threw his arm up, "I can't believe this. You're being a hypocrite, you know that? You're the one who said to make a point not to let them step on us. And since when do they care about time and place?"
Ugh, he's got a point and I was having a difficulty refuting him when he argues with logic instead of common decency.
...is this what it feels like having to be the mature and responsible one? I don't like it.
"Forget it, I'm done. See if I care the next time your head gets stuck in the toilet." Then he turned his heel and walked away with long stride between his steps. Leaving me alone as I stared up in the ceilings, praying to the unanswered gods of what I was supposed to do.
This is so not in my job prescription.
AN: Hello loyal readers, hope you enjoyed another chapter of Quest to the Past because unfortunately, the next chapter would come out a bit longer than expected because a dangerous ailment has befallen on me; writer's block. It's sad, truly. I tried to write, and I know what I need to point out in the next chapter but not sure HOW to get to that point using wizard school drama so I hope you all could be patient, I even welcome any suggestion you all might have.
And Severus...oh Severus...why do you make things so difficult for yourself?
