Chapter Ten: Take It Back
Three months had passed since Oliver and I had started going out and things were going . . . well, they were going. The traditional first match between Slytherin and Gryffindor was going to be played at the end of the week and tensions were running high. Oliver's legendary temper was back and in full swing and everyone knew to stay out of his way.
"Stress never does him good." Alicia stated, sadly. Oliver was in the midst of yelling at a second year who had accidently bumped into his study table. "He always gets like this when Quidditch starts, getting into nasty rows with everyone."
I nodded, Oliver and I hadn't been talking all that much lately, considering he either became sulky and withdrawn or started yelling at me. It was driving me crazy and he knew it. It had been more than two weeks since we had a real conversation and it was beginning to grind my nerves. In addition, I didn't deserve that kind of abuse from anyone, not even Oliver. And, I was beginning to believe that it was all my fault, he hadn't acted this angry last year. Maybe the stress of having a girlfriend was just too much for him.
"He wasn't like this last year when we were friends though, we could still talk then." I said, voicing my fears. "Maybe it's partially my fault." We watched Oliver storm out of the room, muttering loudly under his breath about finally getting some peace and quiet in the library. "I think I'm going to go try to talk to him." I said, standing up.
"Are you sure, Kate?" Alicia asked, concerned, "He seems to be in really bad spirits today, maybe you should just wait."
"This has gone on to long, I need to talk to him or I'm going to go crazy." I replied, truthfully, standing up and heading out of the common room.
I had just turned down the hallway when I ran into Professor McGonagall. "Ah, Katie, I needed to talk to you, please follow me to my office." She had a stern look on her face. I followed her silently, running through a list of things that I may have done wrong.
"Professor," I asked meekly, "May I ask what this is about?"
"Let's just wait till we get to my office." She replied, and her voice sounded more ashamed now than anything. I started running through the list of things that she may be pulling me into her office for: fooling around with Oliver in his room, stealing food from the kitchens, sneaking to The Three Broomsticks with the twins, setting off dung bombs in the corridors, sneaking out in the middle of the night with Oliver to star watch in the Astronomy tower, Oliver spending the night in my room. I realized that I hadn't been exactly angelic so far but if I was being caught for any of those misdemeanors Fred, George, Alicia or Oliver should be at my side. All the rules I've broken thus far had been with the help of at least one other person.
I sat down in the chair opposite of McGonagall's desk, as confused as ever. She settled across from me and stared long and hard.
"As of late," she finally began, "A student has approached me with some disturbing accusations. He said, that you, well, that you," She coughed, "Used you're, as they say, womanly charm to get a place on the house Quidditch team."
"I DID WHAT?!?" I cried in shock, standing up
McGonagall coughed again, "He said you seduced Oliver to guarantee a spot on the team. I didn't believe him at first, but he had evidence that I couldn't deny. Katie, I have to look into these charges and in the mean time suspend you and Oliver from the team."
I looked at her in shock, "Professor, you know I wouldn't do that. You know I wouldn't. I've proved that I deserved the spot. Why would this come up now, years after I got it?" I couldn't believe this was happening.
"I don't know why it would be brought to my attention now but the allegations are too great to be ignored. I'll try to keep my investigation moving but it may take a matter of weeks for this all to be sorted out. Personally, I don't believe that this is something that you would do Katie, or something that Oliver would let happen but I have to treat you two like any other students. I'm sorry Katie." When she said it, I knew that our conversation was finished.
"Have you talked to Oliver yet?" I asked meekly, on my way out the door.
"No," she replied, "That's where I'm headed next."
I nodded and continued walking. I couldn't go talk to Oliver now. He was going to hate me for sure. How could this happen? Who would have told McGonagall such horrible things, who would have something to gain from my misery?
The answer came so suddenly that I surprised myself. Flint. Only Flint would have something to gain from ruining my reputation and Oliver's. "Idiot." I muttered under my breath, angrily. I headed toward the dungeons, determined to beat the crap out of him.
"Hey, Bell." I heard someone yell.
I stopped walking and turned quickly around. Davies' and his friends were walking in the opposite direction. "What do you want?" I asked, acidly.
"I may have an extra spot on my team, if you're interested." he said, with a smirk, winking at me. I wanted nothing better to punch his brains out but knew that if I got caught for that I wouldn't have a chance to kill Flint, which is what I really needed to do.
"Go screw yourself." I muttered, starting to walk again.
"Why should I?" He hollered down the hall, with his friend laughing their heads off beside him, "When you'll do it for me!"
I was so angry I wasn't thinking properly. It hadn't occurred to me that Flint was more than a hundred pounds of muscle heavier then me that he stood a foot taller or that he knew I was coming. The last, and only, time I had retaliated and hit him I had taken him by surprise. It didn't occur to me that I didn't stand a chance against a prepared Flint. None of that came to mind until it was too late.
I pushed open the door, a fire in my eyes that made them unrecognizable. "Flint. You are dead."
"Katie, so nice of you to join me, I was expecting to see you here sometime soon. How's your day been?" he asked, calmly, gesturing to a seat next to him. "You really seem quite upset over something. What happened?"
I didn't move, "I'm going to kill you Flint, this was low even for you."
He faltered by the steel in my voice but continued, "It was a stroke of genius, even for me. I paid off a fourth year in you own house to present McGonagall with some undeniable evidence. I told you not to mess with me but you just didn't listen. I couldn't let people think I was going soft."
"I'm going to kill you." I repeated, taking a step forward.
Once again he faltered, looking a bit worried. I grinned internally, realizing that he was afraid of me. "I'm the only one with the power to make this all right. Do what I want you to do and I'll have someone present McGonagall with evidence that proves the accusations weren't correct. But, like I said, you have to do what I want you to." He smiled, evilly.
"I'm not going to sleep with you Flint, it that's what you're getting at. You really are one disgusting guy. It's pretty pathetic that the only way you can get some action is if you black mail the girl first. You're hot stuff." I said, sarcastically. I knew I was pissing him off, but he deserved it.
"Take it back." He said, through gritted teeth.
"No." I replied, taking another step forward. I was the calm one now. Flint stood up and took a step toward me. "It's about time you realize the truth. No one likes you, they all think you're disgusting. How many other girls have you black mailed just to get a piece? Do you enjoy forcing girls to do things they find revolting? That's sick. And I never knew a Slytherin who had to sink so low to trying to get a Mud blood. What, all the pure bloods too good for you?"
Before I knew it, he grabbed both my wrists in one hand. "Take it back."
"No way." I replied, turning my face away from him.
The shock of the first hit almost knocked me out. The left side of my face ached and when he jammed his fist into my stomach I almost doubled over.
"Take it back." He ordered again.
I had barely begun to shake my head when he got me again, in the stomach once more, only harder. He once again delivered a swift blow to my face, on the right side this time.
"TAKE IT BACK!" he yelled. This time he didn't even wait for a response. He nailed me in the stomach once again and I couldn't stay on my feet. I fell down, hitting my head on the stone floor. Flint was down in a second, straddling me and hitting me on the shoulders. "You're going to pay for that, Bell."
I blacked out again and when I woke up Snape was standing over me. "What happened?" I muttered. I could feel my lip bleeding and every part of me felt sore, and I struggled to prop myself up on my elbows.
"I was going to ask you the same thing." He said, in that slippery voice. I could just remember Flint beating me and passing out. I had enough good sense to know that accusing one of Snape's favorite students would cause me more harm then good. I would have to wait until I had a chance to talk to McGonagall.
"Please, make yourself decent, Bell, and I'll escort you to Madam Pomfrey." Snape had a sick grin on his face that made me want to throw up.
It was then that I realized that my shirt was unbuttoned and my pants had been slid down to mid thigh level. I stood up and quickly redressed myself. Snape was grinning in a very sick manner. "I can make it there myself, Professor." I didn't need him staring at me the whole way up.
He nodded and I limped out of his room. Every part of me felt sore and I realized I should have known better then to provoke Flint . . . even if he did deserve it. My arms were already full of black and blue bruises and I knew that my face had to look much worse.
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Author Note: Okay, this may be my last update for a week or two. I'm leaving on Thursday for a vacation to England (the Home of Insanity), Ireland (the Home of Happiness) and Scotland (the Home of Oliver). So, if I don't update PLEASE don't give up on me. Oh, and I'm looking for a editor/proofreader so if anyone's interested or knows anyone e-mail me at larryboy_rules@hotmail.com and I'll love you forever. Hope you enjoyed... now REVIEW!!!
Three months had passed since Oliver and I had started going out and things were going . . . well, they were going. The traditional first match between Slytherin and Gryffindor was going to be played at the end of the week and tensions were running high. Oliver's legendary temper was back and in full swing and everyone knew to stay out of his way.
"Stress never does him good." Alicia stated, sadly. Oliver was in the midst of yelling at a second year who had accidently bumped into his study table. "He always gets like this when Quidditch starts, getting into nasty rows with everyone."
I nodded, Oliver and I hadn't been talking all that much lately, considering he either became sulky and withdrawn or started yelling at me. It was driving me crazy and he knew it. It had been more than two weeks since we had a real conversation and it was beginning to grind my nerves. In addition, I didn't deserve that kind of abuse from anyone, not even Oliver. And, I was beginning to believe that it was all my fault, he hadn't acted this angry last year. Maybe the stress of having a girlfriend was just too much for him.
"He wasn't like this last year when we were friends though, we could still talk then." I said, voicing my fears. "Maybe it's partially my fault." We watched Oliver storm out of the room, muttering loudly under his breath about finally getting some peace and quiet in the library. "I think I'm going to go try to talk to him." I said, standing up.
"Are you sure, Kate?" Alicia asked, concerned, "He seems to be in really bad spirits today, maybe you should just wait."
"This has gone on to long, I need to talk to him or I'm going to go crazy." I replied, truthfully, standing up and heading out of the common room.
I had just turned down the hallway when I ran into Professor McGonagall. "Ah, Katie, I needed to talk to you, please follow me to my office." She had a stern look on her face. I followed her silently, running through a list of things that I may have done wrong.
"Professor," I asked meekly, "May I ask what this is about?"
"Let's just wait till we get to my office." She replied, and her voice sounded more ashamed now than anything. I started running through the list of things that she may be pulling me into her office for: fooling around with Oliver in his room, stealing food from the kitchens, sneaking to The Three Broomsticks with the twins, setting off dung bombs in the corridors, sneaking out in the middle of the night with Oliver to star watch in the Astronomy tower, Oliver spending the night in my room. I realized that I hadn't been exactly angelic so far but if I was being caught for any of those misdemeanors Fred, George, Alicia or Oliver should be at my side. All the rules I've broken thus far had been with the help of at least one other person.
I sat down in the chair opposite of McGonagall's desk, as confused as ever. She settled across from me and stared long and hard.
"As of late," she finally began, "A student has approached me with some disturbing accusations. He said, that you, well, that you," She coughed, "Used you're, as they say, womanly charm to get a place on the house Quidditch team."
"I DID WHAT?!?" I cried in shock, standing up
McGonagall coughed again, "He said you seduced Oliver to guarantee a spot on the team. I didn't believe him at first, but he had evidence that I couldn't deny. Katie, I have to look into these charges and in the mean time suspend you and Oliver from the team."
I looked at her in shock, "Professor, you know I wouldn't do that. You know I wouldn't. I've proved that I deserved the spot. Why would this come up now, years after I got it?" I couldn't believe this was happening.
"I don't know why it would be brought to my attention now but the allegations are too great to be ignored. I'll try to keep my investigation moving but it may take a matter of weeks for this all to be sorted out. Personally, I don't believe that this is something that you would do Katie, or something that Oliver would let happen but I have to treat you two like any other students. I'm sorry Katie." When she said it, I knew that our conversation was finished.
"Have you talked to Oliver yet?" I asked meekly, on my way out the door.
"No," she replied, "That's where I'm headed next."
I nodded and continued walking. I couldn't go talk to Oliver now. He was going to hate me for sure. How could this happen? Who would have told McGonagall such horrible things, who would have something to gain from my misery?
The answer came so suddenly that I surprised myself. Flint. Only Flint would have something to gain from ruining my reputation and Oliver's. "Idiot." I muttered under my breath, angrily. I headed toward the dungeons, determined to beat the crap out of him.
"Hey, Bell." I heard someone yell.
I stopped walking and turned quickly around. Davies' and his friends were walking in the opposite direction. "What do you want?" I asked, acidly.
"I may have an extra spot on my team, if you're interested." he said, with a smirk, winking at me. I wanted nothing better to punch his brains out but knew that if I got caught for that I wouldn't have a chance to kill Flint, which is what I really needed to do.
"Go screw yourself." I muttered, starting to walk again.
"Why should I?" He hollered down the hall, with his friend laughing their heads off beside him, "When you'll do it for me!"
I was so angry I wasn't thinking properly. It hadn't occurred to me that Flint was more than a hundred pounds of muscle heavier then me that he stood a foot taller or that he knew I was coming. The last, and only, time I had retaliated and hit him I had taken him by surprise. It didn't occur to me that I didn't stand a chance against a prepared Flint. None of that came to mind until it was too late.
I pushed open the door, a fire in my eyes that made them unrecognizable. "Flint. You are dead."
"Katie, so nice of you to join me, I was expecting to see you here sometime soon. How's your day been?" he asked, calmly, gesturing to a seat next to him. "You really seem quite upset over something. What happened?"
I didn't move, "I'm going to kill you Flint, this was low even for you."
He faltered by the steel in my voice but continued, "It was a stroke of genius, even for me. I paid off a fourth year in you own house to present McGonagall with some undeniable evidence. I told you not to mess with me but you just didn't listen. I couldn't let people think I was going soft."
"I'm going to kill you." I repeated, taking a step forward.
Once again he faltered, looking a bit worried. I grinned internally, realizing that he was afraid of me. "I'm the only one with the power to make this all right. Do what I want you to do and I'll have someone present McGonagall with evidence that proves the accusations weren't correct. But, like I said, you have to do what I want you to." He smiled, evilly.
"I'm not going to sleep with you Flint, it that's what you're getting at. You really are one disgusting guy. It's pretty pathetic that the only way you can get some action is if you black mail the girl first. You're hot stuff." I said, sarcastically. I knew I was pissing him off, but he deserved it.
"Take it back." He said, through gritted teeth.
"No." I replied, taking another step forward. I was the calm one now. Flint stood up and took a step toward me. "It's about time you realize the truth. No one likes you, they all think you're disgusting. How many other girls have you black mailed just to get a piece? Do you enjoy forcing girls to do things they find revolting? That's sick. And I never knew a Slytherin who had to sink so low to trying to get a Mud blood. What, all the pure bloods too good for you?"
Before I knew it, he grabbed both my wrists in one hand. "Take it back."
"No way." I replied, turning my face away from him.
The shock of the first hit almost knocked me out. The left side of my face ached and when he jammed his fist into my stomach I almost doubled over.
"Take it back." He ordered again.
I had barely begun to shake my head when he got me again, in the stomach once more, only harder. He once again delivered a swift blow to my face, on the right side this time.
"TAKE IT BACK!" he yelled. This time he didn't even wait for a response. He nailed me in the stomach once again and I couldn't stay on my feet. I fell down, hitting my head on the stone floor. Flint was down in a second, straddling me and hitting me on the shoulders. "You're going to pay for that, Bell."
I blacked out again and when I woke up Snape was standing over me. "What happened?" I muttered. I could feel my lip bleeding and every part of me felt sore, and I struggled to prop myself up on my elbows.
"I was going to ask you the same thing." He said, in that slippery voice. I could just remember Flint beating me and passing out. I had enough good sense to know that accusing one of Snape's favorite students would cause me more harm then good. I would have to wait until I had a chance to talk to McGonagall.
"Please, make yourself decent, Bell, and I'll escort you to Madam Pomfrey." Snape had a sick grin on his face that made me want to throw up.
It was then that I realized that my shirt was unbuttoned and my pants had been slid down to mid thigh level. I stood up and quickly redressed myself. Snape was grinning in a very sick manner. "I can make it there myself, Professor." I didn't need him staring at me the whole way up.
He nodded and I limped out of his room. Every part of me felt sore and I realized I should have known better then to provoke Flint . . . even if he did deserve it. My arms were already full of black and blue bruises and I knew that my face had to look much worse.
_______________________________
Author Note: Okay, this may be my last update for a week or two. I'm leaving on Thursday for a vacation to England (the Home of Insanity), Ireland (the Home of Happiness) and Scotland (the Home of Oliver). So, if I don't update PLEASE don't give up on me. Oh, and I'm looking for a editor/proofreader so if anyone's interested or knows anyone e-mail me at larryboy_rules@hotmail.com and I'll love you forever. Hope you enjoyed... now REVIEW!!!
