The Chaser and the curse
That summer flew by for Vexus. She spent a lot of time wandering around Diagon Alley and finally talked her mother and father into getting her a broom of her own. They would take trips to the countryside and when it started getting dark they would watch as she zipped around. Several times she scared the wits out of her mother, pulling out of dives at the last possible moment. She was definitely a natural and her father helped her practice Quidditch. He didn't get the full concept of the game, having never seen a match. But he understood that she loved it and it was enough for him. They spent hours together, him throwing balls, her diving after them or practicing getting them through the makeshift hoops he made for her. She decided that the following year at school she would be on the team as a Chaser. Her parents had no doubts that she would play. It was like that with Vexus once her mind was made up.
As September crept closer she spent more and more time in the bookshops in Diagon Alley looking at the books she would need for the following year. She didn't buy them until the last minute, something about putting it off excited her and she didn't open them even after they'd been bought.
When her parents took her to the train station to see her off she was outwardly calm. She kissed her mother and father good-bye and didn't let her hands start shaking until the train was well underway. She sat secluded in a compartment by herself. None of her friends had found her yet and she was glad for it.
As well as things had been going she couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that had been waking her up in the middle of the night. "Why am I so nervous?" She mused. If Vexus disliked any one thing about herself it was her habit of talking to herself. Somehow it was easier to think if she said things out loud. "I have already spent a year there and there is no reason to be so uneasy." She stopped her talking as the door opened and two of her friends entered the compartment.
Teresa McNabb and Stacey Lions were probably the best friends she'd ever had. They understood her and never pressured her into talking about anything when she didn't want to. Teresa was really her best friend, Stacey was always there but she wasn't as close to Vexus as she was to some of the other girls in their class. However, the three of them had a good time last year and were never once caught in their sneaking about at night. This was simply amazing considering Professor Snape's tendency to always catch Vexus in any error. Even after he had caught her looking around his office, and her making perfect marks on the potions final he was not much easier to be around. Before she had left school the year before her had given her a rather large book to read. She sighed and thought 'Maybe this year he'll be nicer. I think I've proved I'm not stupid or an embarrassment to my house by now.'
Soon they were in the Great Hall again and the Sorting ceremony was in full swing. Vexus was not looking at the staff table, which was just as well. It allowed Snape the chance to observe her with out being noticed. She had not changed much he thought. She looks a little older, but she always looked older than her actual age. 'Seems to be fitting in a little better too.' He thought, noticing her deep involvement in a discussion with several of her classmates.
As she watched the first years being sorted, she let her eyes drift over to where Professor Snape sat. When her eyes met his neither one smiled. They simply regarded each other for a moment and then looked away.
As the year got underway it became apparent not much had changed beyond the level of difficulty of the classes. At least this year her studies promised to be much more interesting than the last, as they were moving into different areas. Vexus was again near the top of her class in everything and the only difference she noticed in her Potions class was that Professor Snape was not taking points from her as he had last year.
"Maybe that's just how he breaks in new classes." Teresa said as they ate lunch one day. Vexus was thumbing through her potions notes. She had another report due (18 inches titled 'Newts: Fifty Uses')
"Well it would've been nicer if he had picked someone else." muttered Vexus. They finished eating mostly in silence until Toby Matthews approached them. "Hello Ladies," he spoke in a very soft voice that seemed at odds with his appearance. He was not overly tall but was very well muscled. He played Quidditch for Slytherin and was a Beater. Vexus had seen him in the halls but had never said a word to him as he was a third year and she didn't have much opportunity to socialize outside of her classes. She knew that Stacey had a horrible crush on him. Such things never crossed Vexus' mind.
"Hello," Teresa was speaking now "what can we do for you Toby?" Stacey was just sitting, staring at him and Vexus started to feel aggravated. He pushed a strand of his too long blonde hair out of his face "I actually came over here to speak with Madam Vexus." his voice was mocking and she looked at him considering a Jelly-legs curse. She caught glimpse of Professor Snape watching them. She decided that a curse was probably not the best of ideas.
'All right, I'll play along' she thought. She knew it was going to make Stacey mad but 'what the hell.'
"Mister Matthews," she purred his name in such a way that Stacey shot her a look that said 'Watch it!' Vexus smiled "what can I help you with?" It took him a moment to gather up his thoughts again. "I was wondering if you are going to try out for the house team this year. I've heard Steve talking to Madam Hooch about you."
It was no surprise to her that he wanted to talk about Quidditch. The tryouts were coming up and she had plans to be a chaser. Come hell or high water. While she sat there Toby looked as if he was almost scared of what she might say.
After a few moments she finally replied, "Yes I was planning on it. I've been practicing over the summer, but have not had access to a proper set of equipment. " His eyes lit up and he said "Good! Well, not good that you've had no proper practice, I mean. Would you like me to arrange a few practice sessions before the try outs?" Vexus glanced at Teresa, who shrugged and answered "Sure." She spent the rest of the day avoiding looking at Stacey.
A week later they were on the field, flying around. She caught nearly every ball Toby threw and never missed a shot. Once or twice she narrowly missed a bludger but she was never afraid. After about half and hour they touched down to rest. Toby walked over to retrieve the practice balls from when they'd landed and Vexus sat on the grass silently watching him. She did not notice Severus Snape come up behind her.
"Miss Vexus, I believe that this is supposed to be a practice session, not a sit-on-the -grass-and ponder-the-cosmos session. Was I wrong?" His voice was as smooth as ever.
"No sir, we were just taking a little break." She was wondering how many points she was going to lose. He didn't take points off his own house, but she seemed to be the exception to the rule. She stood there waiting for him to respond. 'Why me? There must be some first-years he could be torturing.' the thought rang in her head.
He spoke again "Do you think you'll make the team?"
"I will." the assurance in her voice amused him.
"Well then, in that case all this practice is not needed. You will report to your dorm and begin a report on why Quidditch is such a dangerous sport. I expect it to be completed by morning." Toby had walked up and caught this last statement. He was about to protest when he caught Vexus' eye and understood that it was no use trying to argue.
Two weeks later the new team roster was posted and next to one of the positions of Chaser Vexus' name was written. "Oh, Vex!" Teresa squealed, "You're not even reserve! You made the first team!" Vexus smiled and shrugged, she noticed Toby across the room and he waved. She blushed and turned away.
After the first match of the season the students in Slytherin house knew that they were going to win the Quidditch cup this year; maybe even the house cup. Vexus had scored 80 points in the first 20 minutes of the game and when Steven Donaldson caught the snitch there was a roar from the stands that didn't stop for 10 minutes. People swore they even saw Professor Snape smile.
Stacey had virtually stopped speaking to Vexus, but it didn't matter. Vexus had no romantic interest in Toby, and if Stacey didn't believe that, well then it was her problem.
Christmas came and went and soon they were getting ready for the final match of the season and their final exams. She was in the library studying for Professor Sprout's Herbology final when Stacey burst in. "How could you?" Her face was wet with tears and she was almost hysterical. "You knew I loved him and you snatched him away from me!" Her voice rose and cracked on the last word and Vexus knew that this was not going to end easily.
"Stacey," she started "if you are talking about Toby, well you know I don't like him that way. We're teammates. That's all."
A crowd was starting to gather around them. Stacey didn't even hear the words, she was crying again and had started rambling "I finally told him how I felt, and I poured out everything and do you know what he SAID!?" she was yelling and advancing on Vexus, who had stood up. "He said that he loved YOU, and that he thought that I was just being stupid and jealous of you." Vexus had edged her way around the table and was trying to get to the door. 'At least out in the hall there aren't any books to throw.' she thought.
Stacey was following her but seemed to not notice that her target was getting out of range. Vexus had backed into the hall by now and was hoping that Stacey would be detained by her classmates or that maybe a teacher would come along RIGHT NOW and stop this before if got crazy. 'I never thought I'd think this but, I would be happy to see Professor Snape right now.' she thought.
Now out in the hall way the other students were forming a kind of circle, in the center of which stood Vexus and Stacey. 'Well, if they expect a fight they're not gonna get one. And a duel is out of the question.' Just the same Vexus felt for her wand and with a sick feeling realized that it was sitting on the table in the library. She had forgotten to pick it up.
Stacey was talking again and what was even more frightening was that she was no longer hysterical she seemed calm. "There is only one way for us to settle this and you know it. Get out your wand."
"Hey, Stace, you know, um, why don't we just go back to the tower and talk this over, O.K.?" Vexus had NEVER begged anything of anyone in her life but now all she wanted was to convince her friend that this was a very bad idea.
At that moment Stacey leveled her wand at Vexus and started speaking. Realizing that her friend had gone completely bezerk Vexus did the first thing that occurred to her. With no wand she pointed her hand at Stacey anyway and shouted out "Petrificus Totalus!"
Later on the people who had seen it told the teachers that it was like a spark or lightning that shot from Vexus' hand and hit Stacey. Most of them couldn't agree on what to call it. The one thing that they all agreed on was that it worked. Stacey had stiffened and fallen flat on the floor just as Professor Snape fought his way to the front of the crowd of students. "One Hundred points from Vexus." were the first words he spoke as soon as he realized what had happened.
Vexus had backed up against the wall and was staring at her friend with disbelief. "What did I do?" she whispered once Snape has performed the counter curse and approached her. "I couldn't have, I mean, how? I didn't have my wand…" She wasn't crying but the look on Snape's face pushed her close to tears.
"I think you'd better come with me." He started off down the hall towards Dumbledore's office, Vexus in his wake.
Vexus stood outside the heavy wooden door of Albus Dumbledore's office and waited. One would think that no sound could pass through those doors they seemed so very heavy. However, she could hear Professor Snape's voice every few moments and knew that he must be in an unholy rage over what happened between herself and Stacey.
"Wait here." he snarled at her when they reached the headmaster's office. The whole way he hadn't said a word, hadn't looked back. She followed at, what she hoped, was a safe distance. The only sound was that of their footsteps and the deceptively soft rustling of his robes.
Now she stood there up against the wall, her legs had gone numb. She stopped trying to listen to what he was saying, she already knew in her heart that she would soon be packing her truck and going home. 'A hundred and fifty points,' she thought 'we're definitely out of the running now.' How could she be thinking of the house cup? She shook her head and resumed staring at the opposite wall.
It grew quiet and the door opened. She heard Albus Dumbledore's voice call to her "Vexus, you may come in now."
She stepped inside the headmaster's office and sat down in the chair on front of his desk. Severus Snape stood with his back to her looking out of the window behind Dumbledore's desk. She glanced quickly at him, but he did not offer to turn around.
"Vexus," Professor Dumbledore began "what you did today is cause for a great deal of concern. Accosting another student is bad enough, but summoning a curse without using a wand is a whole other matter entirely. It is a great relief to me that the curse you used was a relatively mild one." He paused and studied her face. "Would you like to explain how this happened?"
"Yes sir." Her voice was soft but even and did not shake. If she was going to be expelled, well, no one could say she hadn't presented her case in a manner fitting of her. She started "I think that this started with the Quidditch tryouts. Stacey has a horrible crush on Toby and when he approached me about Quidditch it made her mad. She hasn't really spoken to me since then. I have explained to her that I am not interested in Toby. I mean I'm only twelve. I could care less."
Dumbledore regarded her for a moment "Continue."
Vexus took a breath and went on "This morning I was in the library studying for my Herbology final when Stacey burst and started accusing me of, well I don't really know what she was accusing me of. She said that she had told Toby how she felt and that he told he that her was interested in me." At this Snape turned ever so slightly towards her. 'That fool boy,' he thought 'he should know she isn't interested in him.' the thought caught him off guard.
"And do you give Mister Matthews any reason to think this way?" asked the headmaster
"None that I am aware of. I'm not going to be rude or mean to him just because she likes him, but I don't encourage anything more that friendship. We're teammates. We have to be able to work together. I can't help it if she thinks I am 'out to get her' or if he thinks there's more between us than what there is." She was feeling really stupid sitting there. 'I knew this was going to be a bad year.' She was thinking.
"All right, now what about the curse?" his voice hadn't changed but she could hear the concern.
"I swear that I had no idea that would happen. I had left my wand on the table in the library when I got up."
"Why did you leave the library?"
"I thought that if I could get her in the hall she wouldn't have any books to throw and maybe I could talk her into going back to the tower and getting Toby and sorting it out. With out doing something stupid. But she wouldn't listen to me. The next thing I knew there were people all around us and she had her wand out " Vexus' hands were shaking noticed Dumbledore. He nodded for her to finish.
"She told me to get my wand out for a duel and I didn't have mine. I asked if we could go talk. Then she pointed her wand at me and started saying, I think, the stupefy curse. I just reacted. I pointed at her and said 'petrificus totalus' and it worked. I didn't know that would happen. I didn't mean to do it. It just happened."
She was on the verge of tears and had wound down to a whisper as she spoke. Dumbledore sighed and looked over his shoulder at Snape, who still hadn't turned around.
"Well, at Hogwarts it is not unusual for the unexpected to occur. And sometimes we just have to accept that. I believe what you've said, however you understand that you must be disciplined." Albus Dumbledore said, his voice firm. "I will let the head of your house decide your punishment. You are excused. Please return to your dorm."
Vexus rose and slipped out the door. There was no one in the hall to see the tears run down her cheek or hear her whisper to herself "I might be better off going home than having Professor Snape determine my punishment, the way he hates me."
Meanwhile back inside the headmaster's office Snape had come around the desk and feeling suddenly very tired slumped down into the chair. He could feel the warmth from where she had been sitting moments before. "Albus," even his voice sounded tired "what are we going to do? She's only twelve and can focus her abilities without a wand. She is dangerous. We should send her away NOW." He watched Dumbledore rise and walk over to Fawkes, his phoenix.
"Severus, don't you see that we must finish what has been started. We can no more turn her out now than we could've let her die all those years ago. A twelve year old girl left to own devices is a scary thing, this one left to learn on her own is something that we can not risk. I know that you do not agree, but I trust you to help keep her from becoming what you fear she already is. She has a good heart, we must not turn our backs on her." He had come back around to his chair, "You are probably the one person in the world who can make sure that she never turns out like her father."
A small sigh escaped Snape's lips; sometimes talking to Dumbledore was more frustrating that teaching first-years. "I don't follow what you're trying to say."
"You understand better than all of us what is at stake. You have been on both sides, Severus. You know what you were once capable of. Help make sure she never finds out what she is capable of." They both grew silent for a moment and then Snape rose. "I need to decide what their punishment will be. Goodnight Albus."
When she had arrived back in the Slytherin common room the only people who approached her were Teresa and Toby. They both wanted to know if she was leaving and the look of happiness on their faces was quickly replaced by horror when they learned that her punishment was up to Snape. Toby apologized and tried to mutter something about not meaning to cause trouble. Vexus waved him off and told them both goodnight.
Neither teacher nor student slept much that night. Vexus wondered what she was going to have to do. She was sure that it would be humiliating and more likely than not extremely hard.
Lying in her bed wide-awake after everyone else had gone to sleep she thought about Toby. He was very nice, but...'I am only 12 years old, why should I be interested in anyone? Of course' she let the tiniest of smirks touch her face in the darkness 'I can see why he'd prefer me to Stacey. I am much smarter and prettier.' She got the image of herself preening before a mirror and laughed softly. "Ridiculous.."
Down in the dungeons Professor Snape was still thinking. The only thing to do was completely unfair to the rest of the house, but 'She'll know it's unfair and she will never let herself slip again.' he thought. He went to bed finally and lie awake for a while wondering about fate, fathers and what he must do.
The next morning as the students gathered for breakfast there was little talk, a lot of whispers and murmurs but no real conversations. Once all the students were present Professor Dumbledore stood. "I am sure that you are all aware of the events that transpired yesterday afternoon. Despite rumors to the contrary we will not be losing any students" there was a rustling down the tables at this, but he continued "However, it is my decision that the punishment for what happened should be a public one as the events themselves took place for the whole school to see." He paused and looked at the Slytherin table. Both girls had their heads down and Stacey was obviously crying. Vexus was studying her toast carefully. He nodded at Snape who rose and spoke "Each of the participants will have two weeks detention and Slytherin will have 150 points taken." All the tables except the Slytherin table were hit by a wave of whispers. "Furthermore, Miss Vexus, you are herby suspended from the Slytherin Quidditch team until next season." This was the crusher and even the Slytherins could not be quiet. Any chance they had at winning the cup was gone. A few shot nasty looks at Vexus, she did not raise her head.
Snape sat down and Dumbledore addressed the students again. "Let this be a lesson to all students. Any conflict that cannot be resolved without the use of magic should be brought to a teacher. There will be none of this 'wizard's duel' nonsense going on at this school." He sat down and resumed his breakfast. He noticed Vexus rise and leave the hall.
In the end Vexus and Stacey spent the next two weeks elbow to elbow doing everything from scrubbing the girls AND boys toilets, washing out the owlery, to sloping all sorts of odd looking slimy things into jars for Professor Snape (which Vexus really didn't mind, but she didn't let on.) They patrolled with Filch. They helped Hagrid get an errant unicorn out of where it had become tangled in the underbrush in the Forbidden Forest. They eventually started speaking to each other again. But now as acquaintances, no longer friends since Toby made it clear that Vexus was still the one he liked. It mattered little that she rarely gave him more than a second look.
When the year finally ended Vexus was so ready to leave she was packed two days in advance. On the train she locked herself in the bathroom and sobbed halfway back to London. How had she screwed things up so thoroughly? There was no mention of anything to her parents and when they met her at the station she made sure they couldn't tell she'd been crying.
