"How did you get your scar, Talis?" asked Angelina as she and her friends moved there cushions closer to my stool.
I raised a hand to the rough scar on the left side of my face. "I got hexed in a duel. The man I was fighting used a spell that should have been considered illegal. One moment I see a flash of light, the next I'm waking up in the Hospital Wing with Pomfrey fretting over me."
Angelina nodded as if her curiosity was satisfied before settling down again.
I pointed my wand at the chalkboard the Room of Requirement created when I stepped into the room. A chalky picture appeared on the black surface: a creature that resembled a jet black cape outlined in white. I had never experienced an attack by this creature, but if the students planned on traveling, they may run into one. I looked at the students sitting on the cushions before me. The older students looked just as interested as the younger students.
"Alright. I know many of you know what this is, but I think it would be good idea to talk about it." I waved my wand and the creature began to flap like a very strange-looking bat. Several of the students laughed at the creature. "Funny, eh?" I asked. "Can anyone tell me what this is?"
"It's a Lethifold, right?" asked Dean.
I nodded with a smile. "Right you are." I gazed around at the students. "The name is comprised of two parts: lethum, which is Latin for 'death' or 'ruin,' and fold, so it practically means 'death fold.' Now, where can you find this creature?"
"In the Northern Hemisphere?" offered Colin Creevey, and his brother nodded in agreement.
"Which part?"
"The top part?"
"Actually, it's located in the tropics near the Equator." I smiled encouragingly at the younger students. "In the tropics, there are more places for it to hide, because of all the shadows created by the trees. But, Colin, can you tell me what classification rating the Lethifold has?"
The young student thought for a moment. "Five x's?"
"And why do you think that?"
"Because it has the word for 'death' in it's name?"
I nodded. "Very good! Five points to Gryffindor."
The two brothers beamed at me. And the others looked between me and the young Griyffindors.
"Why aren't you giving us points?" demanded Zacharias, finally opening his mouth for the first time. "You were a Gryffindor, weren't you?"
"I was, but I don't show favoritism," I growled. "Why don't you earn some points for Hufflepuff? How can the Lethifold get away with killing humans?"
Zacharias glared at me and didn't answer. Whether he was keeping quiet because he didn't like me or because he didn't know the answer was a mystery to me. I turned to the other Hufflepuffs.
"Hannah?"
The female shook her head. She didn't know either. I was kind of shocked. The other Hufflepuffs looked at each other, fishing for answers with their eyes.
I was about to give up on the Hufflepuffs when a hand appeared shyly in the air. I looked at the owner of the hand and noticed that it was Susan Bones. "Do you know?" I asked kindly.
Susan nodded. "It gets away with killing because it does not leave any trace that it was there." A dark blush spread across her pretty face. "It suffocates its victim then absorbs it into its body."
"Five points to Hufflepuff. Very well done."
Her blush deepened greatly and she lowered her gaze to the floor.
"Okay, Ravenclaws." I looked at the remaining House students. "What other Dark creature do people believe the Lethifold is related to?"
It was Cho who answered. "The Dementor."
"And why is that?"
"Both are inhuman in nature and can be dealt with by using the Patronus Charm."
"And five points to Ravenclaw. Yes, the only spell known to chase off a Lethifold is the Patronus Charm, which may or may not be taught to you by Harry. Stunning it will not ward it off." I glanced at the raven-haired teenager but he seemed to be miles away in his head. "The Lethifold can enter a house in numerous ways, such as sliding under the door or through a cracked window." I tapped the chalk Lethifold and it vanished. "If we do get around to Patronuses, I'm going to find a boggart for us to practice on." I glanced around at the assembled students. "Any questions?"
"Have you ever encountered a Lethifold?" asked Fred Weasley curiously.
I shook my head. "I haven't been to the tropic regions of the globe so I never had the misfortune of meeting one. But between us, I'd love to see one in person. I'd probably poke it with a stick." Chuckles rose in the air round me. I looked up at the clock. It read eight thiry-nine. "Class is over," I said. "At the next meeting we will discuss the a rather interesting creature."
"What will that be?" asked Hannah.
"Isn't the element of surprise a pain in the ass?"
The Hufflepuff huffed (XD) playfully but rose with her fellow Housemates. Colin Creevey and his younger brother Dennis studied the map as the rest of us split up into groups. A lot of the male students were making scenario jokes about what they would do if they encountered a Lethifold. I heard several of them say they'd poke it with something, just as I had. Most likely trying to show off to the female students. I smirked at their antics. I can remember doing the same thing when I was a student.
A familiar black-haired head appeared next to me, and I glanced at Harry out of the corner of my eye. "Are you going to stay after again?" he asked.
I shook my head. "No. I saw something interesting near the Forbidden Forest and wanted to check it out." I knew he wanted me to stay behind so we could fool around. For the past couple weeks we have been staying in the room after the meetings to get our fill of each other. Groping hands, grinding hips, echoing moans, straining erections. . . I could feel a stir in my groin as an image of Harry groaning in pleasure while I sucked on the taut skin of his neck flashed before my eyes. He seemed to enjoy it when I was dominate, but I found Harry being the dominant one to be a huge turn-on. One time he had grabbed my hands and forced me against the wall, and I almost came in my jeans from his brute strength.
We tried to keep out antics confined in the Room of Requirement, but sometimes we found ourselves in a broom closet clutching at each other as we furiously kissed. Harry almost seem to be insatiable. He would take action whenever the chance for us to be alone together popped up. And when we finally broke apart I would take pleasure in seeing him breathless with emerald eyes glazed with passion, lips bruised, and dark purplish-blue marks on his neck that I would have to magick away before we seperated for the night.
"What did you see?" There was a hint of disappointment in his voice.
I finally looked at the younger teenager. Those gorgeous eyes were brimming with curiosity and hurt, and a frown was set on his beautiful face. "I'm not sure. It was dark and moved quickly. I thought it would be worth investigating." I brushed the back of my hand against the back of his. It was the only way I could comfort him in a room full of people without drawing questions that could not be answered. "You'll see me tomorrow," I added quietly.
"Okay." His green eyes cleared a bit, but still held the pain. "Be careful in the forest, alright?"
"Of course." I glanced around; most of the students had left the room. Hermione and Ron were busy looking at the map, making sure the other students made it to their House Common Rooms without getting caught. I took advantage of they're being distracted, turning toward Harry and dipping my head to kiss him lightly on the lips. "You need to get to your Common Room, love."
Harry blushed at the name; I've never called him anything except his given name, even when we were alone. "'Love?'"
I chuckled lightly. "It's an endearment, Harry," I explained.
"I know that," he protested playfully.
"Ready, Harry?" called Ron as Hermione folded up the map. His eyes darted around the room like they always do when he is about to leave. I think it's his way of reminding himself that the castle is on our side.
"Yeah." Harry seemed to be distant. He couldn't be that upset about me not staying, is he? I looked down into his green eyes. "Will you walk with us back to the Common Room?" he asked. "You can be our alibi."
I cracked a small smile. "Of course." I turned to the other Gryffindors. "Everybody make it back to their Houses?"
Hermione nodded. "Everyone's accounted for," she reported, stowing the map in her cloak. "Let's get back to Gryffindor Tower. You still have homework to do," she added with a slight glare at the redhead beside her.
I snickered quietly, but Ron must have heard it because he shot a dark look my way. I arched an eyebrow at him then lead the way out of the Room of Requirement. Harry strolled at my side, matching me step for step as if we had walked side-by-side for years. I inwardly grinned at the thought.
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The night air was damp with mist and reeked of dying leaves. A light breeze ruffled my long-sleeved shirt, which was jet black to help me blend in with the forest. My hair was already a bit sweaty as I moved about the forest. I knew the dark figure was still in the forest; there was a scent on the wind that did not set right with me. It was distantly familiar, but I could not place it.
I paused beside a giant maple tree and crouched down. My feet were hurting a bit from walking over the uneven path. I sniffed the air and caught the weird scent again. It was stronger now that was more toward the place where I had first seen the figure. Whomever or whatever it was, it wasn't moving very fast and had been bleeding. There was no denying the coppery smell that lingered. I rose to my full height and moved forward cautiously.
Snap!
I froze with one foot raised off the ground. That was not me. I slowly lowered my foot, the leaves barely making a sound.
Crunch!
For a moment fear paralyzed me. Voldemort had returned, and it would not surprise me in the least if he popped up out of nowhere and attacked me. Or better yet, one of his Death Eaters. My hand twitched toward my wand's sheath. The last thing I need is to get in a duel with a damn Dark wizard right when I was beginning to get used to being in a relationship again. That would be my fucking luck.
Footsteps crunched on my right and I barely had time to twitch when something large and heavy slammed into my side. I released a small cry of shock and pain as my other side collided with a tree. Four sharp. . . somethings ripped at my face, and blood splattered on the bark. I growled and pushed off the tree toward whatever had attacked me. My fist collided with a thick jaw. The crunch echoed off the surrounding trees, and pain blossomed in my hand. Raw rage boiled up from somewhere deep inside me. I swung my other fist; it connected with something round and soft: an eye. The creature groaned in pain and backed away. I spun around on my heel, wand in hand. The Killing Curse was on the tip of my tongue, but it never came out. My hand lowered to my side, taking my wand with it. I stared at the person with wide eyes.
"Uncle Salo?"
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Cliffhanger.
Short chapter. I haven't had much inspiration to write lately, but I'll keep trying.
