Snape kept a firm hold on her arm as he marched her through Gargoyle Corridor.
Her time at Hogwarts, she feared was coming to an abrupt end, and after that so much more. She walked looking down at the ground letting him lead her as she gazed off with a distant look in her eyes. Well, this was it.
"Mint humbug," Snape said cleary as the gargoyle reared its head.
She could see the man with the silver hair sitting calmly at his desk as she walked up the stairs, McGonagall also standing close by, her eyes moving behind her glasses as her thoughts moved quickly.
"Miss Black," Dumbledore greeted as Snape lead her to the chair in front of his desk.
She sat down still trembling as she did.
"Sir," she said softly, opting to look down at her knees.
"Albus this has gone far enough," Snape said severely as he paced behind her, "I have brought my concerns about this student before you may times, this time it has gone too far."
"Severus, I understand," Dumbledore said considerately.
But that wasn't enough to ease Snape as he continued, "She is constantly putting others as well as her self at risk and I wouldn't be surprised if Mr Pucey wasn't even an accident," he continued tempestuously.
"It wasn't," Atria said softly.
He stopped pacing before cruelly adding, "She admits it."
"Why did you curse him miss Black?" McGonagall asked softly over her spectacles taking a step closer to the girl.
Atria bit her tongue but beat off the wrong comment as she spoke, "I didn't like his tone."
"She didn't like his tone," Snape repeated sarcastically.
"Did he attack you?" McGonagall asked.
Atria shook her head, biting the inside of her cheek in an act of self-loathing, "Not exactly."
"And then the state that I found her in," Snape continued angrily as if he hadn't said enough, "The common room was almost half-destroyed."
"I can't help it," Atria said softly as large lumbering steps made their way into the room
"Alastor," Dumbledore greeted making Atria turn to the man who now stood behind her.
"I talked to the boy," the old scarred man said crossing his hand over his staff.
"And?" McGonagall asked.
His eyes travelled to Atria who turned away before he said blatantly, "She caught him off guard with this attack."
"That's not true," Atria snapped.
"He said she came from behind with the curse."
"That's a lie," she said angrily up at the man.
"Yes, it is," McGonagall spoke up calmly, "He was hit square in the chest so he was lying," she continued and Atria was almost put into shock by the fact someone was on her side.
"This girl," Professor Moody said aggressively pointing an ugly finger at her," attacked another student, that's cause for expulsion."
"Am I going to be expelled?" Atria asked in anguish turning back to Dumbledore as her body began to shake with anticipation for the consequence.
The man took a moment giving her a small nod, "No miss Black," Dumbledore said soothingly.
"The girl attacked another student surely Albus," professor Moody tried to reason.
"But he started it," Atria said earnestly.
"How?" Moody demanded his head-turning quickly back to her, as his two eyes stuck to her like a magnet.
Her breath heaved as she turned away refusing to answer.
"See", he said looking at Dumbledore, seemingly pleased by her silence, "she's guilty."
"She will not be expelled," the old man said calmly, "Now Minerva, Severus if you could leave me and Miss Black alone, You can stay Alastor."
Atria fought the need to roll her eyes as Snape and McGonagall left the room in silence.
"Now," Dumebldlore began placing his intertwined hands on the desk, "These incidents need to stop."
"I know, but I don't know how," Atria tried to explain to the man sitting in front of her, trying to forget that the other man was even in the room.
"Some mental discipline, since you seemingly have none," Moody snarkily replied.
"I suggest," Dumbledore said, trying to remain calm, "some assistance."
"Assistance, what do you mean assistance?" Atria asked impatiently.
"There are ways to assist people with this problem," Dumbledore explained cautiously, "to help them come to terms or control themselves when something happens that makes their magic lash out as yours does."
"And how does that work?" Atria asked as her hands clenched the arms of her chair, leaning forward, wanting to know more.
"You would be exposed to memories that would draw a reaction from you, and you would practise gaining control until you have it," Dumbeldore said his eyes going to the professor behind him.
"And who would help me with that?" Atria asked irritably.
Dumbledore looked back behind her, nodding at the professor, "Alastor."
"No," Atria snapped, shaking her head and leaning back, "Out of the question."
"See," the professor said, she could hear the bite in his words as he continued to spew angrily, "For all, we know there is nothing wrong, and she's just talented at wreaking havoc."
"I am not," Atria snapped angrily, turning back to look at the man who was slowly making her blood boil.
Dumbledore held up a silencing hand as a level of seriousness grew inside the man usual glittering eyes, "Your professor could help you," he said his eyes more on Mad eye while he spoke as if surveying the man, before looking back at Atria, "Alastor has dealt with magical incidents like this and he knows effective ways of-"
"Couldn't Snape do it?" she cut in rudely but not caring.
Dumebdlore dropped his head slightly as if needing to lean in more to listen before he blinked up at her, "Snape is a legilimens," he agreed, "and if you trust him to do it, I'm sure he could. Would you prefer Professor Snape?"
"Yes," Atria said, sounding rather impatient to get the word out of her mouth.
Dumbledore nodded, looking back to the man standing behind her, who looked rather displeased with her answer, "I'll speak with him about it," Dumbledore said, "but you are willing?"
"Yes," Atria said assertively, "I want it to stop."
By the time she got to her dorm some of the girls had gone to bed while others still remained out enjoying the night's celebration.
She tiptoed over to the bathroom door opening it softly and walking in. She let her heels drop from her hand as she walked to the mirror.
Her mascara was running under her eyes, emphasising how red and swollen they were. Her lipstick was smudged but only in the places where Draco's lips had met hers. As the water ran from the tap, she desperately tried to rub the makeup from her face until her white skin was blotchy and red.
She looked down at the emerald ring on her hand, reaching over quickly and ripping it off so fast the metal burnt her skin before slamming it on the sink top.
She walked over to her bed climbing on it before closing the curtains around her, she pulled the dress over her head throwing it on the ground before grabbing her silk nightgown from under the pillow and throwing it on. She laid back looking at the roofing that covered her head, closing her eyes, desperate to dream away the night.
Her curtain was pulled back but she remained still with her eyes closed hoping any of her classmates with their opinions would leave her alone.
"Atria," she heard a familiar voice ask as she opened her eyes.
"Are you okay?" Daphne asked.
Atria turned around to face the familiar girl,
"What happened tonight?" She went on to ask.
"Nothing don't worry yourself with it," Atria said wiping her eyes.
Daphne anxiously picked at the material dress as she looked down at Atria, "Apparently Adrain Pucey was attacked, and then you were taken to the headmaster," Daphne went on to explain.
"Well, your not wrong," Atria said softly, turning onto her back.
Daphne shrugged, biting her lip, "He probably deserves it."
"He did," Atria said.
Daphne nodded bowing her head before lifting it up again to say, "Atria I'm sorry about what I said."
Atria turned her head to look at the girl, "But you were right,"
"Maybe," Daphne said in agreement, "It's just.. after seeing how everyone was reacting I just thought to myself that's how I should react right, but after a while, I realised I don't really care," she explained. "Hanging out with everyone else just reminded me how boring they are," she continued sitting down on her bed in the silver dress she had worn that night, running her hand through her golden hair as she thought. "I remember our first night here and how nervous I was to stay away from home and how much I missed my mother, that you let me stay with you. None of them would have done that, but you did."
"Of course I did, you were sobbing, and I needed sleep for the first day of classes," Atria explained as Daphne gave a small laugh before looking back down at her, "Can I stay with you again?" She asked Atria.
Atria nodded, her surprise at the request obvious as she spoke, "Of course."
Daphne smiled before climbing into the bed next to her still in her dress, still with her makeup and closing her eyes as her head rested on the pillow, "Good night Atria."
Atria nodded before lowering her head further into her pillow, feeling the family pull of wakefulness, so she knew she would not get much sleep, "Goodnight Daphne."
Dear Harry,
Harry, I understand if your hurt.
I completely understand if you need time to think and process, and I'm okay with that.
I know there might be nothing I can say to make you forgive me, but maybe if we just talked, we could work it out together.
If you like, we can meet at the owlery tonight and talk about it?
Meet me at 6:30 tonight if you can make it.
Sincerely Atria.
Dear Harry,
So you didn't meet me there so you must still be too angry.
If you would just let me explain, then maybe you would understand that what happened I had no part in and didn't even want to happen.
Draco was out of line, and I've made sure that it won't happen again, but please, if you would just talk to me, maybe you would understand.
Please write back.
Sincerely Atria.
Harry, Draco kissed me, I didn't do anything, it was a big misunderstanding if you would just let me explain that.
I didn't like it, I didn't want it to happen, so please don't be angry with me.
I don't like this, I don't like that you can't talk to me or look at me, I just want it to be over.
Please, I'll do anything I can to fix this and I want too, I want to fix this just tell me how.
Harry, please.
I don't know what to do.
I am so sorry that you had to see that and had to go through that but I didn't even know it was going to happen.
I didn't plan it, it was premeditated.
It has never happened before I think Draco was just a little confused about everything going on, and I'm sorry I even let it get to that point, but please, can you say something to me, or tell me what you want me to do?
Because I don't know.
I can't stand this anymore, you even turn around if you see me coming up in the hallway.
I can't get near you, I can't talk to you, and I just want to fix this.
Please, Harry, give me something to do.
Sincerely yours, Atria.
Weeks had passed since that night, and things had only seemed to get worse.
Draco had walked into the common room one night, and his eyes seemed to go for one spot on her finger that used to be where his ring had rested but no longer did. His eyes had locked angrily with hers before he stormed form the room.
Adrian Pucey and his fellow Slytherins as well as the new selection of Durmstrung boys glared at her in the halls, in classes, anywhere were their eyes could settle on her. Adrian especially made her feel like, at any point, he would fly across the room and wrap his hands around her neck from the anger in his eyes. They would whisper names where she could hear them just to be cruel, and she was able to rub them off, but she was getting closer and closer to breaking.
Daphne had been nice to have, the other girl had begun to sit next to her again in classes, talking to her while paying to price for it. Atria could see Pansy start to work her magic, gossiping and spilling lies to try and justify why the other girl would possibly do it. But Daphne seemed to take it quite lightly as no one seemed to mind if the other girl moved freely from her circle. Seeing it as the beautiful girl trying to bring her fellow Slytherin back to the light as some charity case.
She had not received anymore notes in class, No more black ink threats or taunts and while that might have made her happy before there was only really one thing she wanted right now.
She turned away from the front of the class in defence where she met the boy's plain unseeing eyes as if he hadn't even meant to be looking at her, his eyes had just seemed to find her. They locked, but for a moment, and then when she came into focus and he realised what he had done he turned away. Harry hadn't told anyone about what he had seen, she knew becasue Hermione and Ron still gave her friendly looks in the hallway and Hermione would still sit and study with her.
"Did something happen with you and Harry?" Hermione had asked one day.
Atria's bones had gone stiff as she pretended to keep working, "no, why?" She asked.
"He's been acting off lately, and anytime I mention you, he freezes up," Hermione explained to her.
"I don't know," Atria lied, but she didn't want to talk about it, it was between her and Harry.
Harry couldn't even look at her it seemed and it made her heart drop every time she saw him. Surely he wouldn't tell anyone, not Sirius or Remus, surely he wouldn't be that cruel. And It wasn't like she wasn't trying to fix it.
She had tried letters begging for forgiveness, one trying to explain but nothing changed. It was like he was throwing them on the fire before he could even rip her seal off.
"Now this tactic was famous among Death eaters," Professor Moody continued writing angrily on the chalkboard, before throwing the piece of chalk down.
"Sirius Black used it when he was arrested, drawing the prey in and then maximising the damage with the explosion," he said as he walked down the aisle catching her glare before stopping in front of her.
"Yes, Father's can be a monstrous thing can't they," he said all knowing the damage he was inflicting, as Atria looked up at him with defiant eyes. She didn't care, he was innocent so he could poke at her all he wanted, the crimes he spoke of where not committed by her father.
"But," he continued looking throughout the room as he continued to walk,"the trick is not be drawn into them," he went on, "the more your opponent draws you in the more damage they can do."
When the class had ended she had waited for him to leave so she could catch up with him.
"Harry can I talk to you?" she asked timidly as she came to his side.
"Atria I'm busy," He said contemptuously, as he looked at her but quickly away.
"Harry just give me a moment?" she asked trying to keep up with him, walking on her side so she could look up at him, "have you got any of my letter's," she asked as she felt the panic grow in her.
"What letters?" He asked dismissively.
"I sent you letters asking to talk?" she said dejectedly, had he got them and pretended he never had?
"Atria," he said stopping his walk as he looked over to her with annoyance, "I've got a lot on my mind right now, the second task is coming up, and that's all I can focus on, I'm sorry." He said before turning and walking away from her, but she tried to keep up.
"Harry please?" She begged again.
"Later," He snapped at her before walking away and leaving her standing alone in the hallway much like she had done last year, and the blow was hit.
Atria sat in the library alone as she studied. She had given up trying to talk to Harry, he seemed very much to want his space, so instead she a dove into her studies and other things to keep her mind off the boy.
She knew of legilimency and occlumency but not a lot and she wouldn't feel comfortable going into anything to do with it unless she knew more.
It would involve Snape going into her mind, into her thoughts, pocking and prodding at what he needed to draw a reaction out from her
Maybe she shouldn't have done it, she shouldn't have asked him to do it. Maybe mad eye would have been the better option?
'No,' she told herself, no way was she going to let that man into her head. She took a bite from her apple trying to stop thinking on the uncomfortable thought.
But Snape in her mind, full reign over everything. Everything she had been through he would have access too.
'Do you want to get better?' she asked herself. Of course, she did, she wanted to change, she wanted to be in control. And if that meant Snape being the one to fix her then so be it.
She continued on with her reading when she heard someone clear their throat behind her.
She turned to see the familiar figure of Severus Snape.
"Sir," she greeted.
"Miss Black come with me," he said, towering over her before quickly walking and striding away.
Atria quickly packed her bag and got up before lightly running to catch up to him.
"I thought we weren't starting this until next week," Atria said as she walked quickly behind the man who took long strides.
"We are going to the hospital wing about another affair," he said irritatedly, as he continued to walk forward.
She didn't even have time to think on what he meant before she turned the corner. She felt her vision all of a sudden begin to fade.
She stopped as her breath became too heavy and her eyes began to close even though she tried desperately to keep them open, "professor what-" but her words began to slur and she found her self unable to enunciate what she was feeling.
She tried to stay standing and she realised she could no longer see. She felt a hand grip her arm as the other arm held her back up. She began to sway, and a nauseousness grew in the pit of her stomach.
"Sir," she slurred as her knees began to wobble before they buckled completely.
She fell backwards but the arms holding her hoisted her up before continuing to carry her.
And then everything faded away leaving her in an abyss.
Small chapter but I still hope you enjoyed it.
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