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Cress

Cress scowled as she tried to cut the Sopophorus bean with her silver dagger. The juice was essential for the potion she was supposed to make. But, to her extreme annoyance, whenever she got close to puncturing the skin the bean would bounce out of the way. And she had to cut twelve of these things! There was no way she'll be able to finish this before the end of class. Well, at least her fellow students were struggling just as much as she was. Hopefully that meant her ineptitude wouldn't negatively reflect on her grade.

Suddenly, the classroom door swung open with a loud bang, causing everyone to jump. Winter was standing in the doorway. She was panting for breath. She must have ran the whole way.

"Miss Hayle-Blackburn!" snapped Professor Erland, striding over to her, "Where have you been? You're a good twenty minutes late! I hope you have a good explanation!"

But Winter clearly wasn't listening. She was looking around the classroom wildly, almost desperately. She seemed scared. But of what? Professor Erland?

Finally, her panicked gaze landed on Cress. Her beautiful features collapsed with relief and she rushed toward her.

"Is something wrong?" Cress asked uncertainly as the other girl approached. Winter didn't answer, only gripped her wrist mercilessly and tugged at her arm so hard that Cress nearly fell out of her chair.

"No time to explain Cress-friend!" Winter cried hurriedly as she dragged Cress towards the door, "Your assistance is desperately needed!"

Professor Erland's face was blotched with fury as he yelled after them, "Miss Hayle-Blackburn, let go of Crescent this instant!"

"Winter please, I don't want to miss Potions!" Cress pleaded.

Winter didn't seem to hear the protests of her friend or the teacher and ran out of the classroom and down the dungeon corridors, a bewildered Cress stumbling in her wake.

Two turns and a staircase later, Cress's sense of direction was hopelessly muddled. Winter seemed to know where she was going, but, well, Winter wasn't always the most reliable person for this sort of thing.

"Please Winter," Cress begged as she was dragged down yet another hallway, "what's going on? Where are we going? Winter!"

"You can do Memory charms right?"

Well, at least she answered this time. "Y-yes, I guess, but what does that have to do with-"

"Professor Park saw us talking in the library. He knows that we know about the plague the school has unleashed on the forest. He said he won't tell as long as I paid his price but it was a disgusting price and I couldn't pay it, so I jinxed him. But Cress, he knows so he'll tell Levana and then the walls will bleed all of your blood and it will be all my fault!" Winter's voice had risen to a wail by the end of her explanation and she had to stop. Cress saw that she was shaking.

Winter took a long, shuddering breath. "I need you to wipe his memory. Forget he ever saw us in the library. Can you do that?"

Cress bit her lip nervously. "I suppose I could in theory, but I've never used the spell in my life! I mean, I know the process, but I haven't actually practiced it. And Memory charms are really, really volatile. I read about the risks of an incorrectly cast charm. I could damage his memory permanently or wipe his mind completely!"

"It would be no less than what he deserves." Winter muttered darkly.

Cress stared at her in shock. Since when did Winter wish suffering on another living creature? "B-but wouldn't it be suspicious if Professor Park suddenly became extremely forgetful? Or couldn't even remember his own name? The staff would know someone cast a Memory charm on him and then immediately start investigating. Wouldn't that defeat the purpose of casting the charm?"

Winter smiled warmly and placed her hands on Cress's shoulders. "I have faith in you Cress-friend. I know that you'll perform the spell perfectly. You are very clever and very talented. If anyone can perform the spell, it's you."

Cress smiled shakily, her worries still running through her mind.

"I didn't realise you were so good at jinxes." Cress remarked, staring at Professor Park's immobile body.

"Well, I don't use them very often, but Jacin insists that I must be capable of defending myself."

"Clearly you are."

Cress walked around the body so that she was standing behind the head. Professor Park's eyes were roving in their sockets, sparking with fury and indignation. She glanced at Winter, who smiled and gave her an encouraging thumbs up.

Obliviators at the Ministry are specially trained for this sort of thing. All I've ever done is read the spell!

Cress took her wand out of her pocket.

So many cases of brain damage from spells that were too powerful.

She raised it over Professor Park's head.

So many permanent residents of magical hospitals suffering from complete memory loss.

She opened her mouth.

What if I erase the wrong memory? I only know as much as Winter described!

"Obliviate."

A/N: Sorry this is so short!

The spell has been cast, but did it work the way it should? Are the gang's trouble's with Aimery really over?

Please review!