Chapter 3 ~ Disappointments
It was Avery, a week later, who first made the mistake of trying to hex her. She had known the trouble with Slytherin house would begin soon, and she'd been carrying her wand readily in her hand ever since the howler. She heard several pairs of feet scurrying behind her and turned to see that an avenue had cleared between her and the 6th year Slytherin, who was leering at her unpleasantly. She quickly placed the shield charm that her father had taught her a few summers ago. She wasn't very good at redirecting curses yet, and his landed hard in the wall above her head, charring the stone. Yells rang out all around her and several people stunned Avery, who slumped backwards into a suit of armor, making a nasty racket as he fell. Muriel was surprised when she looked around to see that even the Hufflepuffs in the hallway had their wands out.
"Thanks," she said, smiling. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to be pitted against Slytherin if the rest of the school was behind her. Several people patted her shoulders as she made her way to the Great Hall for dinner. She plopped herself down beside Harold Thomas, the 7th year Quiddich captain and beater for her team. He stopped speaking to the girl across from him abruptly and raised an eyebrow.
"What can I do for you, Deesia?" he asked. He, like most of the older Ravenclaws, knew her by reputation only, and that was more than he wanted to know. She hadn't gotten close to anyone but her dorm mates in the last three years. Still, he was inclined to like her after she'd made such a fool of Malfoy last week.
"Hi Thomas. I was wondering when the tryouts are going to be for that chaser position."
The older boy looked concerned. "Well, er, I didn't know anyone else was interested in it," he said carefully. "I'm afraid I've already offered it to someone." He felt a stab of guilt as she looked down at the table.
"Guess I'd better ask earlier next year," she said quietly. "Thanks, Thomas." She got up to go.
"Deesia? Next year they're going to need a seeker, a beater and a keeper." He paused as she turned around. "You might want to talk to Kyle about it," he added in a whisper. He had already recommended Kyle for next year's captain.
Mur smiled. "Thanks, I'll do that. Good luck next month, I hear you're up against Slytherin first. Give it your best go to knock Avery off his broom for me," she said. Thomas laughed as she headed down the table to find Marisa.
Dumbledore stood up just as Mur sat down. "May I have your attention, please?" This was a stupid question, since the hall generally fell silent every time he stood. Muriel rolled her eyes. "The other Professors and I have decided that it has been too long since our last social event. Therefore, this Halloween, we will be holding a ball for all students in 4th year and up. It would probably be best to owl home for your dress robes this week, as Halloween is only two weeks away." The professor sat back down and Muriel looked over at the Gryffindor table just in time to see Lily snap her eyes away from James, who was getting up to go and ask her to the dance. Muriel stifled a laugh.
* * * * * * *
"Why don't you go ask her, mate?" Remus whispered to Sirius.
"Who?" He snapped irritably.
Peter looked confused and kept silent as Remus answered, "Whoever you're staring at over at the Ravenclaw table. You've been looking over there ever since Dumbledore started talking."
Sirius stood up abruptly. "Yeah, I think I will." He made his way over to where the four Ravenclaw 4th years were giggling excitedly about the dance. Muriel looked up as he walked over and nudged Marisa, who turned a shocking shade of pink when she looked up to see Sirius.
"Er, M-"there was a slight pause and Sirius looked at the four girls, all of whom were staring at him now. "M-Marisa?" he asked. No one had ever heard Sirius Black stutter before.
"Yes?" Under the table, Marisa grabbed Mur's hand for support. She didn't notice that Muriel was looking up at Sirius with a very odd expression on her face.
"Would you like to go to the Halloween ball with me?" he asked, flashing her a smile. His usual calm demeanor replaced his stutter, and he looked once more like the collected flirt Muriel knew him to be. She grinned as her friend agreed.
That night the Ravenclaw common room was filled with girls writing home for their dress robes. Muriel had hers with her, of course, but she didn't think she'd need them. After her table-top announcement, none of the Slytherins would ask her, and she didn't know anyone else. And Severus hated that sort of thing.
* * * * * * *
Muriel looked over the top of her Divination book as Severus pushed open the library door and set his books down on the desk. Two weeks had passed since the howler, and potions with the Slytherins had been more awful than usual this morning. They were still pretty sore with her, and seeing her working alongside Severus only angered them more. He was one of them, after all. As he plopped himself into a chair, she wondered if they'd been trying to hex him for continuing to be her partner.
She had cast the Legilimens spell to see if he would come up and sit with her. But when he caught her eye, she knew he'd already figured out why she had asked. There was no reason to say it out loud. Instead, she raised an eyebrow in inquiry. He matched her expression, shaking his head solemnly, and she let out a long sigh.
"Are you that afraid to be seen with me?" she asked quietly.
"I'm not AFRAID, Mur. I just don't like dancing." He answered curtly.
She lowered her eyes back to the book. She wasn't going to win this one, so she'd choose another battle. "What are you going to do all evening, then?" she asked finally, not looking up.
"Probably finish my homework and enjoy having the common room to myself." He replied smugly. "Unless you want to explore the castle again?"
"No, thanks," she said sourly. She didn't fancy another chance to get caught by Filch, although she was much better at her invisibility charm these days, and would certainly have a better chance to get away.
"Ah, Mur," he said bracingly, thinking her sour voice was because she was upset with him again. "Don't think about the ball, we'll find something else to do."
"I don't WANT to do something else, Sev," she hissed suddenly, setting her book down with a precise thunk. "I want to dance. With you. Is that so bad?" She didn't wait for his response. He had never taken it well when she was that forward, but HE certainly wasn't making any effort, and she was getting a little annoyed with him.
He watched silently as she packed up her books and huffed out. How could he explain to her that he couldn't afford to be that close to her, that just putting his arm around her the day her mother's howler had come had been a risk? He didn't want her hearing the less-than-platonic thoughts that were starting to appear, unbidden, in his head.
Muttering to himself, he pulled out a piece of parchment. He felt his face turning red as he wrote, remembering Papa's offer, which he now knew he had to accept. There had to be a way to get close to her without thinking things that would get him slapped silly. When he'd finished, he sat back in the chair and reread the letter.
Dear Papa,
I've thought about your offer of this summer, and decided it would probably be in my best interests to learn as much about that branch of magic as possible. Obviously I can't be seen with books on the subject, so I will take them out of the library and transfigure their covers. By Christmas I should have enough background that we can begin.
I know I was less than enthusiastic when you mentioned it. I am beginning to understand why you offered, and hope you will forgive my ignorance.
Thank you, Severus
'Less than enthusiastic,' he thought scathingly to himself, remembering. 'I'll say.' The day before Muriel had returned from a two-week holiday with her Aunt Rosa over the summer, Papa had taken him into the woods for a chat:
"Severus, you and Muriel have gotten very close over the years, and I know you're aware of her rather alarming Legilimens ability," the older man began. Severus only nodded. He probably knew the extent of her ability better than anyone else did. When Papa didn't continue, Sev looked up. They were walking toward the dueling area around the lake, which was far enough into the trees to be out of sight of the houses.
Papa cleared his throat. "There may come a time when it will be less than convenient for her to hear your thoughts so clearly," he said delicately, looking into the young man's eyes. Sev looked confused. For a moment, Papa thought perhaps the boy didn't like Mur so well after all.
"We've always shared everything, even before we could talk, I sometimes imagine," he said quietly.
"And that's never made you uncomfortable?" Papa asked.
"Well, sure it has! She hexes me for what I think all the time, even if I have the decency not to say it out loud. It's like a conscience with a wand is following me every second!" Severus said heatedly.
Papa chuckled. Maybe the boy imagined that he and Mur were close enough that it wouldn't matter. Still, Papa knew what boys Severus' age tended to think, and couldn't help but worry that his daughter might harm the boy if she ever heard that sort of thing going on inside his head. Or, even more frightening, perhaps she would ACT on the kind of thing that goes through a 14 year old boy's head. Papa shuddered. He couldn't let that happen. "I was more concerned with thoughts about her that you might be embarrassed to have her hear," he said quietly.
Severus looked back at him, eyes widening. Just what kind of thoughts did Papa suspect he was having about Mur, anyway? And what would the man do to him if he were to ever admit to it!? Suddenly Severus felt very uncomfortable indeed.
"Think on it, Sev," Papa said, his hand falling on the boy's shoulder. "Occlumency is difficult to learn and takes time to master. I'll be glad to teach you should you ever decide you want to try it."
Severus had sat in the woods for hours after that, casting hexes at the trees around him in frustration. And that was exactly what he felt like doing now, casting hexes to relieve his frustration. Unfortunately even HE couldn't get away with hexing people in the middle of the library.
He sighed and folded the letter. When he left for the owlery, it was with a stack of Occlumency books, the covers of which ranged from "Quiddich Through The Ages" to "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them." He would be ready to learn by Christmas. Maybe he could take her to next year's ball.
It was Avery, a week later, who first made the mistake of trying to hex her. She had known the trouble with Slytherin house would begin soon, and she'd been carrying her wand readily in her hand ever since the howler. She heard several pairs of feet scurrying behind her and turned to see that an avenue had cleared between her and the 6th year Slytherin, who was leering at her unpleasantly. She quickly placed the shield charm that her father had taught her a few summers ago. She wasn't very good at redirecting curses yet, and his landed hard in the wall above her head, charring the stone. Yells rang out all around her and several people stunned Avery, who slumped backwards into a suit of armor, making a nasty racket as he fell. Muriel was surprised when she looked around to see that even the Hufflepuffs in the hallway had their wands out.
"Thanks," she said, smiling. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to be pitted against Slytherin if the rest of the school was behind her. Several people patted her shoulders as she made her way to the Great Hall for dinner. She plopped herself down beside Harold Thomas, the 7th year Quiddich captain and beater for her team. He stopped speaking to the girl across from him abruptly and raised an eyebrow.
"What can I do for you, Deesia?" he asked. He, like most of the older Ravenclaws, knew her by reputation only, and that was more than he wanted to know. She hadn't gotten close to anyone but her dorm mates in the last three years. Still, he was inclined to like her after she'd made such a fool of Malfoy last week.
"Hi Thomas. I was wondering when the tryouts are going to be for that chaser position."
The older boy looked concerned. "Well, er, I didn't know anyone else was interested in it," he said carefully. "I'm afraid I've already offered it to someone." He felt a stab of guilt as she looked down at the table.
"Guess I'd better ask earlier next year," she said quietly. "Thanks, Thomas." She got up to go.
"Deesia? Next year they're going to need a seeker, a beater and a keeper." He paused as she turned around. "You might want to talk to Kyle about it," he added in a whisper. He had already recommended Kyle for next year's captain.
Mur smiled. "Thanks, I'll do that. Good luck next month, I hear you're up against Slytherin first. Give it your best go to knock Avery off his broom for me," she said. Thomas laughed as she headed down the table to find Marisa.
Dumbledore stood up just as Mur sat down. "May I have your attention, please?" This was a stupid question, since the hall generally fell silent every time he stood. Muriel rolled her eyes. "The other Professors and I have decided that it has been too long since our last social event. Therefore, this Halloween, we will be holding a ball for all students in 4th year and up. It would probably be best to owl home for your dress robes this week, as Halloween is only two weeks away." The professor sat back down and Muriel looked over at the Gryffindor table just in time to see Lily snap her eyes away from James, who was getting up to go and ask her to the dance. Muriel stifled a laugh.
* * * * * * *
"Why don't you go ask her, mate?" Remus whispered to Sirius.
"Who?" He snapped irritably.
Peter looked confused and kept silent as Remus answered, "Whoever you're staring at over at the Ravenclaw table. You've been looking over there ever since Dumbledore started talking."
Sirius stood up abruptly. "Yeah, I think I will." He made his way over to where the four Ravenclaw 4th years were giggling excitedly about the dance. Muriel looked up as he walked over and nudged Marisa, who turned a shocking shade of pink when she looked up to see Sirius.
"Er, M-"there was a slight pause and Sirius looked at the four girls, all of whom were staring at him now. "M-Marisa?" he asked. No one had ever heard Sirius Black stutter before.
"Yes?" Under the table, Marisa grabbed Mur's hand for support. She didn't notice that Muriel was looking up at Sirius with a very odd expression on her face.
"Would you like to go to the Halloween ball with me?" he asked, flashing her a smile. His usual calm demeanor replaced his stutter, and he looked once more like the collected flirt Muriel knew him to be. She grinned as her friend agreed.
That night the Ravenclaw common room was filled with girls writing home for their dress robes. Muriel had hers with her, of course, but she didn't think she'd need them. After her table-top announcement, none of the Slytherins would ask her, and she didn't know anyone else. And Severus hated that sort of thing.
* * * * * * *
Muriel looked over the top of her Divination book as Severus pushed open the library door and set his books down on the desk. Two weeks had passed since the howler, and potions with the Slytherins had been more awful than usual this morning. They were still pretty sore with her, and seeing her working alongside Severus only angered them more. He was one of them, after all. As he plopped himself into a chair, she wondered if they'd been trying to hex him for continuing to be her partner.
She had cast the Legilimens spell to see if he would come up and sit with her. But when he caught her eye, she knew he'd already figured out why she had asked. There was no reason to say it out loud. Instead, she raised an eyebrow in inquiry. He matched her expression, shaking his head solemnly, and she let out a long sigh.
"Are you that afraid to be seen with me?" she asked quietly.
"I'm not AFRAID, Mur. I just don't like dancing." He answered curtly.
She lowered her eyes back to the book. She wasn't going to win this one, so she'd choose another battle. "What are you going to do all evening, then?" she asked finally, not looking up.
"Probably finish my homework and enjoy having the common room to myself." He replied smugly. "Unless you want to explore the castle again?"
"No, thanks," she said sourly. She didn't fancy another chance to get caught by Filch, although she was much better at her invisibility charm these days, and would certainly have a better chance to get away.
"Ah, Mur," he said bracingly, thinking her sour voice was because she was upset with him again. "Don't think about the ball, we'll find something else to do."
"I don't WANT to do something else, Sev," she hissed suddenly, setting her book down with a precise thunk. "I want to dance. With you. Is that so bad?" She didn't wait for his response. He had never taken it well when she was that forward, but HE certainly wasn't making any effort, and she was getting a little annoyed with him.
He watched silently as she packed up her books and huffed out. How could he explain to her that he couldn't afford to be that close to her, that just putting his arm around her the day her mother's howler had come had been a risk? He didn't want her hearing the less-than-platonic thoughts that were starting to appear, unbidden, in his head.
Muttering to himself, he pulled out a piece of parchment. He felt his face turning red as he wrote, remembering Papa's offer, which he now knew he had to accept. There had to be a way to get close to her without thinking things that would get him slapped silly. When he'd finished, he sat back in the chair and reread the letter.
Dear Papa,
I've thought about your offer of this summer, and decided it would probably be in my best interests to learn as much about that branch of magic as possible. Obviously I can't be seen with books on the subject, so I will take them out of the library and transfigure their covers. By Christmas I should have enough background that we can begin.
I know I was less than enthusiastic when you mentioned it. I am beginning to understand why you offered, and hope you will forgive my ignorance.
Thank you, Severus
'Less than enthusiastic,' he thought scathingly to himself, remembering. 'I'll say.' The day before Muriel had returned from a two-week holiday with her Aunt Rosa over the summer, Papa had taken him into the woods for a chat:
"Severus, you and Muriel have gotten very close over the years, and I know you're aware of her rather alarming Legilimens ability," the older man began. Severus only nodded. He probably knew the extent of her ability better than anyone else did. When Papa didn't continue, Sev looked up. They were walking toward the dueling area around the lake, which was far enough into the trees to be out of sight of the houses.
Papa cleared his throat. "There may come a time when it will be less than convenient for her to hear your thoughts so clearly," he said delicately, looking into the young man's eyes. Sev looked confused. For a moment, Papa thought perhaps the boy didn't like Mur so well after all.
"We've always shared everything, even before we could talk, I sometimes imagine," he said quietly.
"And that's never made you uncomfortable?" Papa asked.
"Well, sure it has! She hexes me for what I think all the time, even if I have the decency not to say it out loud. It's like a conscience with a wand is following me every second!" Severus said heatedly.
Papa chuckled. Maybe the boy imagined that he and Mur were close enough that it wouldn't matter. Still, Papa knew what boys Severus' age tended to think, and couldn't help but worry that his daughter might harm the boy if she ever heard that sort of thing going on inside his head. Or, even more frightening, perhaps she would ACT on the kind of thing that goes through a 14 year old boy's head. Papa shuddered. He couldn't let that happen. "I was more concerned with thoughts about her that you might be embarrassed to have her hear," he said quietly.
Severus looked back at him, eyes widening. Just what kind of thoughts did Papa suspect he was having about Mur, anyway? And what would the man do to him if he were to ever admit to it!? Suddenly Severus felt very uncomfortable indeed.
"Think on it, Sev," Papa said, his hand falling on the boy's shoulder. "Occlumency is difficult to learn and takes time to master. I'll be glad to teach you should you ever decide you want to try it."
Severus had sat in the woods for hours after that, casting hexes at the trees around him in frustration. And that was exactly what he felt like doing now, casting hexes to relieve his frustration. Unfortunately even HE couldn't get away with hexing people in the middle of the library.
He sighed and folded the letter. When he left for the owlery, it was with a stack of Occlumency books, the covers of which ranged from "Quiddich Through The Ages" to "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them." He would be ready to learn by Christmas. Maybe he could take her to next year's ball.