Chapter 80
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Just as every other time Slytherin played a Quidditch match, they won again. The meeting of the Court became a little too bitter for the taste of the Crown, most of the Gryffindors were not happy that Slytherin won again. With several of the members of the Quidditch teams being part of the Court, the older Gryffindor girls now always glared at Rebekah and the Slytherin members.
Annie Shaw was a year below the Crown, and was one of the six youngest members that included Astoria, Ginny, Colin and Dennis, and Luna. Everyone else was in the same year as the Crown or a year or so older.
Being the youngest Slytherin along with Astoria but not having the protection of the group, Annie was getting the brunt of the bitterness.
Surprisingly, Ginny took Annie by the arm and stood in front of her, berating some of the older years for taking out their frustrations on a younger student who didn't even play Quidditch. She had even threatened to tell Rebekah about it, and that shut them up but not before they gave Ginny a snotty little sneer.
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The Care of Magical Creatures was once again taught by Hagrid.
He brought the class out to his hut before getting them to go inside the Forbidden Forest. The clearing was less of a clearing and more of an opening within the huge line of trees.
He called for them to gather around the dropped cow corpse, leaving plenty of room between them and the dead meat. He sent out a call that should not have been possible for a human, sounding too much like a monstrous bird instead.
The class looked around, trying to figure out what they were supposed to look at.
A sudden burst from the side made the class jump and scream.
The Thestrals came into the opening, some of the younger ones bounced around while the oldest and strongest went to the corpse before tearing into it.
"Put yer hands up if yeh can see 'em?"
Rebekah put her hand up, along with Logan, Theo, and Neville. Within the class, that was a large proportion of them being able to see them. Even four was a large amount especially considering their ages.
"Course, you'd be able ter, Rebekah. And Neville, eh? Nott and, er—"
"Romanov, Logan Romanov," Logan prompted, knowing he hadn't met Hagrid before.
"Yeh're the transfer, eh,"
"Yes sir,"
Lavender raised her hand. "What are we supposed to be seeing?"
Hagrid only pointed to the carcass as Tenebrus began to chomp away at the meat. "Thestrals."
"They're really unlucky! Professor Trelawney said they bring all sorts of misfortune on who can see them," Parvati frowned with wide eyes.
"Nah, only superstition. they're the ones pulling the school carriages. They're 'armless. Brace yerself, Rebekah," Hagrid nodded to the galloping Tatia that was making her way very quickly.
Luckily Rebekah had stepped forward enough so when Tatie was close enough, the Thestral could hook her head under the Witch's legs and hurl her upwards until she landed on her back.
"Oww," Rebekah laughed as the class screamed, the Crown smiled because to some of them, it looked like Rebekah was just sitting on thin air.
"It won' hurt her," Hagrid shook his head. "Who can tell me why som o' you can see them an' some can't?"
Hermione raised her hand. "Only those have seen death can see Thestrals."
There was a pause as the class took this in.
"Hem, hem."
"Motherfu—" Rebekah almost spat out when she heard the dreaded sound.
"Hem, hem."
Rebekah quickly dismounted, wanting to bang her head against Tatia's flank but decided against that. Tatia decided she wanted to stroked so jabbed her head under Rebekah's hand and whinied, also gaining Umbridge's attention.
They stood to one side, the group surrounding Rebekah and the Thestral as Umbridge came closer and gave them a narrowed eyes glance.
"Hello, Miss Potter,"
"Good afternoon, Professor Umbridge,"
Umbridge hummed, watching Rebekah's hand touch something.
The next half hour was spent with Umbridge making backhanded remarks about Dark Magic and Dark creatures, and Hagrid's teaching. She didn't dare make any remarks about the group because they were right behind them.
After she left, Rebekah's fake smile dropped into an angry snarl as the Crown trekked back to the castle.
She fiddled with the watch on her left hand, turning the silver dial around the outside until it clicked and she placed her palm over the face.
The whole class was walking back to the castle, some feeling the warmth against their wrists before they checked. Rebekah looked at Lavender, watching the girl walk with Hermione and Ron. Each of them quickly glanced at their matching watches.
It took Hermione, Rebekah and Daphne a whole week to figure out the best way for the Court to find out when there was a lesson. Hermione had suggested Galleons but Daphne disputed it, saying they could be lost easily. She suggested a watch.
It would be a function watch most of the time, and could turn into any colour and design the wearer wanted. The face would be functional, telling the time but when Rebekah chose a time and date, it would warm all of the watches and show that for the wearer only.
No one threatened her animals.
This wouldn't do.
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The Room of Requirement was quiet as Rebekah got in hours before the meeting was set. There was a huge tree to one corner, decorated beautifully with ornaments and different colours. Across the ceiling was ribbons and vines, letting small flowers reach down towards the ground.
The Crown had a small meeting before the Court came.
The Court had had several meetings now, and they had learned a lot within those hours. They had to go through what they hadn't been able to practise within lessons, which was a lot compared to what they should have already known. Practices made perfection.
"Aim for the chest, Neville," Rebekah observed Neville going against Ron. The former scrunched his eyebrows together and aimed, hitting the ginger in the chest and making him land on a cushion. "Good. Ron, now you try and block it with a shield. Hi, Cho."
Cho stood to the side of Rebekah, watching the two Gryffindors try and shield the stunning spells sent. "They're getting good."
"With stunners, sure, but they need more practise with shields," Rebekah said, her eyes looking to the mirrors on the wall and observing everyone without needing to move around. "How's Cedric doing? Are you still dating him?"
"Not anymore," She said with a sad sigh, quickly covering it up when Rebekah gave her a curious look. "It wasn't going anywhere, we both knew it. He's working with his father now. He's happy, I think he met a girl."
"You don't sound sad about that,"
"Well," Cho smiled, batting her eyes a little. "I couldn't expect him to stay single forever. It's been a few months now. Aren't you dating Romanov?"
"Logan? No," She shook her head, watching as Cho's face brightened at that. "We didn't work out either. I think he swings the other direction now."
Logan wasn't ashamed to admit that either, so he was happy for people to know as it would stop the girls asking him out. Didn't really work but as soon as Theodore glared at them one time and kissed him under a bit of mistletoe in the corridor, they got the hint.
Cho hesitated. "And you?"
Rebekah tilted her head side to side, thinking with pursed lips. When she took too long to answer Cho looked concerned.
"I swing all ways,"
"Oh good. The rumours are true then,"
"Rumours?"
"The ones about you being… You know…" She gestured with her hand, her cheeks flushing a little.
Rebekah prompted, "Pansexual?"
"Y-yes, that," Cho almost choked.
"Yeah, I'm not really bothered by what my dates have. I go for personality more than what they have in their pants," Rebekah tilted her head back to look at Cho better, a smile tugging at her lips beautifully. "What about you, Cho? Are you straight or do you go both ways, or what?"
"I wouldn't mind… I don't mind girls, I haven't really done anything but dated boys," Cho admitted. "My parents have never understood so I can't really speak to them, and all of my friends like boys."
"How sad." Rebekah's chin jerked to the side, her eyes catching the Crown's eyes as they all raised eyebrows and narrowed their eyes. Raising a hand to them, she flipped them the bird and smiled before looking at Cho who now refused to look her in the eyes. A pretty flush was painting her face, she was embarrassed, how cute.
Rebekah clapped her hands. "I think that's enough for tonight, guys. Go and enjoy your evening. We've done plenty for now."
Most of the Court waved their goodbyes before leaving. The Crown stayed behind to put away the books people had taken out during the meeting, making sure that each one went back where they were supposed to go.
Rebekah hooked her wand under the bracelet which now sat on her right wrist instead of her left because that was where her watch now was. She rubbed her hands together, gathering Magic before gathering the scattered cushions and lifting them up till they were piled into the corner.
"You're a really good teacher, Rebekah," Cho said, staying behind after almost dismissing her friends. "You can do wandless Magic?"
"And to a certain degree, wordless," Rebekah nodded as she glanced to the Crown who now shoved each other before leaving the room, sending her a playful kiss which made her smile.
"That's amazing,"
"Thank you," She turned to look at Cho.
"Oh, Merlin," Cho almost choked as mistletoe appeared above them.
Rebekah sighed with a shake of her head but she was still amused by the Hogwarts' matchmaking. "This castle really likes to mess with me."
That made the mistletoe bloom as Enyo jumped from Rebekah's neck and hung on it.
Cho laughed at that. "I guess so…"
She was closer than she was before, the tiny and pale freckles that were dusted across her cheeks and nose were pretty and added to her features.
Rebekah's hardened features softened a lot during their talk, something that didn't happen often. She didn't like to bring her guard down, and it was never truly down but now she allowed true emotions to grace her face.
"We don't have to if you're uncomfortable, Cho," Rebekah started, tilting her head a little as she observed the other Witch's features.
"I'm not uncomfortable!" Cho almost shouted, taking a step closer and taking Rebekah by the hand. "Your nails…"
"Potions and Muggle nail polish," Rebekah said as Cho looked at them with awe.
"They're a pretty red colour." Cho lifted her hand to touch a loose strand of Rebekah's hair. "It matches the highlight of your hair. Muggle dye?"
"You won't believe how many times Umbridge tried to reverse the spell she thought I was using," Rebekah said, liking the way Cho's laugh echoed in the empty room.
"I bet she wasn't happy,"
"She can't do anything about it," Rebekah saw that a piece of Cho's long dark hair fell forward, seeing this as an opportunity to lean closer so she could tuck it back. Her hand stayed by the side of her face, gently touching her jaw as they both leaned closer. "Your hair is beautiful… So are you."
The kiss was soft and chaste. There was no fuss or rush about it, there didn't need to be.
They parted after a few seconds, both smiling softly as they leaned back. Emperor was walking between their legs, curling around and around and around before jumping into Cho's arms to get a quick head rub before jumping away.
Cho laughed at Emperor's antics, a pretty smile coming onto her lips before she excused herself. She had homework to finish, but she left with a good blush and a happy smile.
The Crown came back in, all laughing.
"How was it?" Theo asked.
"Don't even start," Rebekah rolled her eyes as they gestured for her to come out so the room could close up. "But I like her."
"Like like, or just like?"
"I don't know yet,"
"And if she's only experimenting?"
Rebekah shrugged. "I'll only go as far as she wants. I'm not going to force her into anything."
"Protect yourself too, Rebekah," Tracey said. "You don't want to get hurt."
"I'm not going to get hurt," She gave her a half hearted glare.
Draco stepped in front of her, leaning forward to look at Rebekah. "You've got a little something… everywhere."
Rebekah touched her lips, finding a slightly sticky and slick residue left. Draco handed her a handkerchief to wipe her lips which she did, seeing the slightly pink tinted lip gloss.
It seemed like Cho favoured cherry flavoured lip gloss.
Rebekah liked cherry.
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If I get any homophobic, biphobic or any other kind of harassment or insults because of what I have chosen to make Rebekah's and other charaters' sexualities, I WILL block and report. I have already put in hints for what Rebekah's sexuality was, and there will not be any sexual scenes in this FF, but there are small references to some.