The Soul Behind Red Eyes
"OH! Why don't you just blow it up the ass!"
"Why don't you!?"
"Because I have better things to do with my time than stand around and argue with an arrogant little TWIT like you!"
"ME arrogant! Why you fecking -"
A hand had suddenly appeared on the cursing mouth just before Hagrid came stomping over, a look of disgust and disappointment hidden behind his wild beard.
"Wha's the meanin' of all this?" He growled, staring at the two students below him.
Harry crossed his arms looking to the side as Skye huffed and stormed off. Taking the opportunity, Harry walked off as well with Ron tailing him looking rather exasperated, leaving poor Hagrid in what was left of another one of their fights.
//-------
"She's insufferable!"
Draco rolled his eyes and sighed," You said that already."
"Well, she is! I mean, HONESTLY, its like the girl has no ulterior motive in life OTHER than tormenting me night and day. I'm at my wits end!" Harry exclaimed, getting rather breathless.
Draco let his rambling friend pass into the Potions classroom and followed him in. Choosing their new seat in the far back, as far away from Skye as they could manage, Draco set down his books and parchment turning to look at Harry," I don't know why you let her get to you. Its just nonsense. She KNOWS she bugs you, so she only does it even more."
"Thats no excuse. Back then, even YOU let up sometimes," Harry said slumping upon his stool heavily.
Only a moment too late he wished he hadn't. A horrible squelch came from beneath his bottom the instant he came in contact with the seat. Harry tried to wrench himself away from the chair, only to be greeted by even more revolting noises. The students were already besides themselves with laughter, the Gryffindors more guiltily so.
Draco yanked at Harry from beneath his arms, both struggling to free him from the sticky stool. With 1 last mighty tug, Harry tumbled off his seat and landed in a heap on the floor. He cringed as his hands slipped into something very moist and slimy. Looking down he saw that his hands were wrist-deep in what looked to be some creatures droppings. Holding back a gag, Harry leapt to his feet and quickly started to wipe off the sludge.
A giggle made itself known above the roar of laughter now consuming the room. Harry looked up and immediately found the twinkling red eyes of Skye
"Having fun, Potter? Oh, you MIGHT want to watch where you put your hands." She said with a grin.
Suddenly, his hands began to burn and itch like crazy. Harry looked down sharply and saw hideous blisters and boils blooming out all over the flesh of his hands. They seared into his tissue, like tiny drills boring into his very bones. They were the most painful curse he'd ever experienced.
Mad as hell with fire shooting out his ears, Harry plucked his wand from inside his robes and gripped it tightly despite the painful burst of several blisters. He aimed it straight at Skye's happy face, finding satisfaction in the look of surprise that now filled its pale skin.
Without a moments hesitation he roared out," Tarantallegra!"
Almost instantly, Skye's limbs started going wild in a sort of mad-man's dance. She screamed and managed to grab her wand. Amidst panting and inability to speak clearly due to her fast moving legs, she yelled," Reflectous Venus!"
Harry faltered as a sudden pain in his chest grew. Looking down he saw his chest swelling beneath his sweater as a curtain of black started to fall around his cheeks. He reached up in a panic to realize that the black he was seeing being lowered over his eyes was his very own hair. Within a few seconds it was down to the middle of his back. With a furious growl he pointed his wand at the wildly moving Skye and exclaimed," Pimpilus!"
Skye flew backwards at the powerful impact of the curse, still dancing on the invisible floor beneath her feet. A series of gasps from her fellow Slytherins told her Harry's spell did indeed work. She hastily reached up and felt around her face, finding hot bumps raise all over her skin under her fingertips. With a scream of anger, Skye tried to keep still long enough to jinx him again when a deep voice burst out," WHATS GOING ON HERE!"
Harry shifted his fiery gaze away from Skye to see Professor Snape glowering in the doorway
Snape surveyed the scene and glared at the two troublemakers, obviously marked due to their deformed figures." Hospital Wing, NOW! And detention for the both of you!"
Draco grabbed Harry's arm and started to haul him off to the Infirmary, Skye and a companion not too far behind.
"Bloody bitch," Harry grumbled, trying unsuccessfully to keep the thick raven hair out of his face.
Draco looked over and couldn't help but chuckle," You know, Harry, you don't make such a bad girl."
Harry glared at him threateningly," If my hands didn't hurt like the blue blazes, I'd punch you for that."
Soon enough, Draco and the girl Slytherin had deposited their friends on a fresh cot in the hospital wing and had returned to class, leaving both the Slytherin and the Gryffindor in the most unpleasant of dispositions.
After Madame Pomfrey had stopped Skye's incessant dancing, she disappeared in her office to create all the potions she'd need to turn the two back into themselves, but not before declaring she'd take her time "to teach them a lesson."
So, that left the both of them sitting on their beds, looking very disgruntled
"Its all YOUR fault you know," Skye grumbled, poking at a particularly huge pimple on the tip of her nose.
"MY fault! YOU were the one who started it with the blasted super glue on my chair," Harry grumbled back
"It wasn't super glue, whatever that is. It was a sound charm." Skye replied, grimacing as white puss exploded over her nose as the thin membrane gave way to her scratching.
Harry crossed his arms, wincing at the sharp pain that came from his hands." Still doesn't excuse the fact that YOU started it. And for heaven knows why."
"Why? Oh, I'll TELL you why," Skye started, glaring at him intently." Ever since I came here ALL I've heard was stories about you and your heroic deeds. EVERYONE gives into that façade, but I knew better.I knew all you were was a lucky little git who just happened to be in the right place at the right time. I knew you never defeated any of the challenges they say you did. I knew you've never done any of the things they say you did. You're just a scared boy who takes credit for what other wizards have done!"
"NONSENSE!" Harry shouted, sitting up straight and meeting her flashing red eyes." I've done far more in life than YOU have! I've defeated whatever evil came my way and will go on defeating it."
"Just like you defeated the Dark Lord,huh?" She asked contemptuously.
"Yes, I've made him run for the hills every time he tried to confront me. And soon enough I'll face him down 1 last time and turn him to DUST."
"NO YOU WON'T! I'd kill you myself if you did!" Skye exclaimed, a sudden urgency tweaking her body into stiffness.
" Why!? You a mindless stooge, too!? I should've known...I can smell the stench of Voldemort's henchmen a mile away," Harry spat viciously
Skye's eyes darkened to a dangerous crimson,"How DARE you...You..You FILTHY mudblood lover!"
Harry's body jerked to attention as he leapt to his feet," Mudblood lover! Why I oughta-"
"Thats all you are! A filthy, disgusting, pathetic wimp who fools around with mudbloods!" Skye spat." Thats all they're good for anyways...Fooling around with."
"HOW DARE YOU!" Harry roared, his body shaking violently with rage." The muggle borns I've known have more heart and more talent than the whole lot of you Death-Eaters!"
"Like your mother?" Skye said quietly, a sickening grin on her lips.
Harry's heart leapt into his throat," Don't you EVER speak of my mother! EVER!"
"I'll talk about whoever I please, WHENEVER I please. An insignificant thing like you isn't going to tell me what to do," Skye growled.
Before he knew what he was, Harry was at Skye's besides his wand aimed in-between her eyes. Speaking slowly and carefully, he hissed," Don't you EVER speak about my mother."
"What're you going to do? Kill me? Yeah right. You couldn't kill a fly...Unless you count the two mudbloods who got associated with you and found themselves dead at the hands of the glorious Dark Lord."
Harry took a step back, disbelieving his ears," W-what...?"
Skye smirked at his reaction, knowing she'd hit an incredibly sensitive spot by the look of devastation in his emerald eyes," Oh yes...I know all about them...Hermione Granger and Cienna Parker. Both fool enough to fall in love with the FAMOUS Harry Potter."
Harry's eyes stung as he heard their names slide off of that serpent's tongue," Don't...Don't..."
"Don't what? Remind you? Remind you that it was YOUR fault they met their demise. Because it was, Harry. It was. YOU killed Cienna. YOU forced Hermione to retreat into the comforting embrace of the Dark Lord. You did it all, Harry."
"No..No..."
"If it wasn't for you, they'd still be alive, Harry. You were a selfish git and drug them into your messy life. You killed them, Harry. YOU killed them." Skye whispered as tears fell down Harry's cheeks.
Madam Pomfrey scurried into the room at that precise moment, shooing Harry back into bed. For the remainder of that night, he neither spoke nor looked at anyone. He lay curled up in his cot, hidden beneath the covers and shut out everything other than his pain.
//------
Harry stirred, groggily opening his heavy lids and peered around the dark infirmary. It had to be sometime after midnight by the looks of the high moon and soft rustling of owls' wings. But that was not what woke him up. Sitting up carefully, putting the least amount of pressure on his bandaged hands, Harry looked over at the lump on the bed next to him. Yes, he heard it again.
There was a noise coming from Skye. An odd noise. Muffled and choppy, gurgled almost. Deciding against starting anything more with her, he laid back down, facing her direction. Just as he ceased wiggling to find a good spot, she rolled over into a streak of moonlight. Harry couldn't help the gasp. Her eyes were puffy, outlined by red making her crimson eyes even more bloody looking. Thin rivers of tears were flowing down her face as her skin appeared even more pale than it originally was. Now that he looked at her, he noticed her shaking. Harry frowned as she slipped out of bed and walked to the window. It wasn't hard to tell from her sunken features and down turned lips that she was deeply saddened. Her eyes held no fire, no sign of life like they usually did when they had one of their fights. They were dead, staring blankly out onto the barren yard and Dark Forest beyond. A single tear trickled its way down her cheek and over the curve of her jawbone. Her black hair hung limply over her shoulders and her frame seemed shockingly thin now.
Harry looked away, almost ashamed that he'd seen her this vulnerable.
"I'm sorry."
Harry jerked his eyes back up, thinking she had spoken to him. Instead, her gaze was still locked on something through the window.
"I'm sorry....My heart cannot do this..." She muttered to an unknown ear." I don't care, I cannot do this anymore...His eyes....His eyes killed me..."
Harry furrowed his brow and kept perfectly still as she continued talking to herself.
"Yes, I understand but-...I know...I KNOW...But, PLEASE....I cant..I just cant...No,please don't....Please....No you can't....No...fine..FINE...I WILL....I will....Goodnight."
Skye turned and jumped as she saw Harry's eyes fixed on her. Her face flushed for some reason before a wave of extreme guilt washed over her. Before she knew what she was doing, her eyes averted to the cold stone floor. She couldn't look at him, not for the life of her.
"Whats wrong, Skye?" Harry mumbled, sitting up.
"None of your business, Potter." It was meant to sound sharp but instead sounded tired and lame
"Who were you talking to?" He asked cautiously.
Skye looked back up at him, only to quickly look away. What was wrong with her? Why couldn't she look this guy in the eyes? Eyes that held such pain and sorrow ,she felt it herself..."Nothing. No one. Go back to bed."
Harry frowned.
"Just sleep, Potter. You'll need your strength," She mumbled, climbing back into bed.
"For what?" He inquired, keeping his eyes trained on her every movement, feeling uneasy about the way she couldn't meet his eye.
" Recovery. Its not easy to pull out of one of my spells. Now, go to sleep. I'm sick of talking to you," She tried to spit back, but failed miserably as her voice started to break.
Harry shifted uneasily, then laid back down keeping an eye on her. Skye did the same, somehow managing to look at anything other than his face.
But just before he gave up hope of figuring out what was going on, Skye's burgundy eyes flitted down to meet his. For one brief instant an emotion flickered there. Though it came and went quickly, he knew what it was nonetheless. Even so, he was thoroughly baffled by it. It was the look of an apology.
Then Skye rolled over.
"OH! Why don't you just blow it up the ass!"
"Why don't you!?"
"Because I have better things to do with my time than stand around and argue with an arrogant little TWIT like you!"
"ME arrogant! Why you fecking -"
A hand had suddenly appeared on the cursing mouth just before Hagrid came stomping over, a look of disgust and disappointment hidden behind his wild beard.
"Wha's the meanin' of all this?" He growled, staring at the two students below him.
Harry crossed his arms looking to the side as Skye huffed and stormed off. Taking the opportunity, Harry walked off as well with Ron tailing him looking rather exasperated, leaving poor Hagrid in what was left of another one of their fights.
//-------
"She's insufferable!"
Draco rolled his eyes and sighed," You said that already."
"Well, she is! I mean, HONESTLY, its like the girl has no ulterior motive in life OTHER than tormenting me night and day. I'm at my wits end!" Harry exclaimed, getting rather breathless.
Draco let his rambling friend pass into the Potions classroom and followed him in. Choosing their new seat in the far back, as far away from Skye as they could manage, Draco set down his books and parchment turning to look at Harry," I don't know why you let her get to you. Its just nonsense. She KNOWS she bugs you, so she only does it even more."
"Thats no excuse. Back then, even YOU let up sometimes," Harry said slumping upon his stool heavily.
Only a moment too late he wished he hadn't. A horrible squelch came from beneath his bottom the instant he came in contact with the seat. Harry tried to wrench himself away from the chair, only to be greeted by even more revolting noises. The students were already besides themselves with laughter, the Gryffindors more guiltily so.
Draco yanked at Harry from beneath his arms, both struggling to free him from the sticky stool. With 1 last mighty tug, Harry tumbled off his seat and landed in a heap on the floor. He cringed as his hands slipped into something very moist and slimy. Looking down he saw that his hands were wrist-deep in what looked to be some creatures droppings. Holding back a gag, Harry leapt to his feet and quickly started to wipe off the sludge.
A giggle made itself known above the roar of laughter now consuming the room. Harry looked up and immediately found the twinkling red eyes of Skye
"Having fun, Potter? Oh, you MIGHT want to watch where you put your hands." She said with a grin.
Suddenly, his hands began to burn and itch like crazy. Harry looked down sharply and saw hideous blisters and boils blooming out all over the flesh of his hands. They seared into his tissue, like tiny drills boring into his very bones. They were the most painful curse he'd ever experienced.
Mad as hell with fire shooting out his ears, Harry plucked his wand from inside his robes and gripped it tightly despite the painful burst of several blisters. He aimed it straight at Skye's happy face, finding satisfaction in the look of surprise that now filled its pale skin.
Without a moments hesitation he roared out," Tarantallegra!"
Almost instantly, Skye's limbs started going wild in a sort of mad-man's dance. She screamed and managed to grab her wand. Amidst panting and inability to speak clearly due to her fast moving legs, she yelled," Reflectous Venus!"
Harry faltered as a sudden pain in his chest grew. Looking down he saw his chest swelling beneath his sweater as a curtain of black started to fall around his cheeks. He reached up in a panic to realize that the black he was seeing being lowered over his eyes was his very own hair. Within a few seconds it was down to the middle of his back. With a furious growl he pointed his wand at the wildly moving Skye and exclaimed," Pimpilus!"
Skye flew backwards at the powerful impact of the curse, still dancing on the invisible floor beneath her feet. A series of gasps from her fellow Slytherins told her Harry's spell did indeed work. She hastily reached up and felt around her face, finding hot bumps raise all over her skin under her fingertips. With a scream of anger, Skye tried to keep still long enough to jinx him again when a deep voice burst out," WHATS GOING ON HERE!"
Harry shifted his fiery gaze away from Skye to see Professor Snape glowering in the doorway
Snape surveyed the scene and glared at the two troublemakers, obviously marked due to their deformed figures." Hospital Wing, NOW! And detention for the both of you!"
Draco grabbed Harry's arm and started to haul him off to the Infirmary, Skye and a companion not too far behind.
"Bloody bitch," Harry grumbled, trying unsuccessfully to keep the thick raven hair out of his face.
Draco looked over and couldn't help but chuckle," You know, Harry, you don't make such a bad girl."
Harry glared at him threateningly," If my hands didn't hurt like the blue blazes, I'd punch you for that."
Soon enough, Draco and the girl Slytherin had deposited their friends on a fresh cot in the hospital wing and had returned to class, leaving both the Slytherin and the Gryffindor in the most unpleasant of dispositions.
After Madame Pomfrey had stopped Skye's incessant dancing, she disappeared in her office to create all the potions she'd need to turn the two back into themselves, but not before declaring she'd take her time "to teach them a lesson."
So, that left the both of them sitting on their beds, looking very disgruntled
"Its all YOUR fault you know," Skye grumbled, poking at a particularly huge pimple on the tip of her nose.
"MY fault! YOU were the one who started it with the blasted super glue on my chair," Harry grumbled back
"It wasn't super glue, whatever that is. It was a sound charm." Skye replied, grimacing as white puss exploded over her nose as the thin membrane gave way to her scratching.
Harry crossed his arms, wincing at the sharp pain that came from his hands." Still doesn't excuse the fact that YOU started it. And for heaven knows why."
"Why? Oh, I'll TELL you why," Skye started, glaring at him intently." Ever since I came here ALL I've heard was stories about you and your heroic deeds. EVERYONE gives into that façade, but I knew better.I knew all you were was a lucky little git who just happened to be in the right place at the right time. I knew you never defeated any of the challenges they say you did. I knew you've never done any of the things they say you did. You're just a scared boy who takes credit for what other wizards have done!"
"NONSENSE!" Harry shouted, sitting up straight and meeting her flashing red eyes." I've done far more in life than YOU have! I've defeated whatever evil came my way and will go on defeating it."
"Just like you defeated the Dark Lord,huh?" She asked contemptuously.
"Yes, I've made him run for the hills every time he tried to confront me. And soon enough I'll face him down 1 last time and turn him to DUST."
"NO YOU WON'T! I'd kill you myself if you did!" Skye exclaimed, a sudden urgency tweaking her body into stiffness.
" Why!? You a mindless stooge, too!? I should've known...I can smell the stench of Voldemort's henchmen a mile away," Harry spat viciously
Skye's eyes darkened to a dangerous crimson,"How DARE you...You..You FILTHY mudblood lover!"
Harry's body jerked to attention as he leapt to his feet," Mudblood lover! Why I oughta-"
"Thats all you are! A filthy, disgusting, pathetic wimp who fools around with mudbloods!" Skye spat." Thats all they're good for anyways...Fooling around with."
"HOW DARE YOU!" Harry roared, his body shaking violently with rage." The muggle borns I've known have more heart and more talent than the whole lot of you Death-Eaters!"
"Like your mother?" Skye said quietly, a sickening grin on her lips.
Harry's heart leapt into his throat," Don't you EVER speak of my mother! EVER!"
"I'll talk about whoever I please, WHENEVER I please. An insignificant thing like you isn't going to tell me what to do," Skye growled.
Before he knew what he was, Harry was at Skye's besides his wand aimed in-between her eyes. Speaking slowly and carefully, he hissed," Don't you EVER speak about my mother."
"What're you going to do? Kill me? Yeah right. You couldn't kill a fly...Unless you count the two mudbloods who got associated with you and found themselves dead at the hands of the glorious Dark Lord."
Harry took a step back, disbelieving his ears," W-what...?"
Skye smirked at his reaction, knowing she'd hit an incredibly sensitive spot by the look of devastation in his emerald eyes," Oh yes...I know all about them...Hermione Granger and Cienna Parker. Both fool enough to fall in love with the FAMOUS Harry Potter."
Harry's eyes stung as he heard their names slide off of that serpent's tongue," Don't...Don't..."
"Don't what? Remind you? Remind you that it was YOUR fault they met their demise. Because it was, Harry. It was. YOU killed Cienna. YOU forced Hermione to retreat into the comforting embrace of the Dark Lord. You did it all, Harry."
"No..No..."
"If it wasn't for you, they'd still be alive, Harry. You were a selfish git and drug them into your messy life. You killed them, Harry. YOU killed them." Skye whispered as tears fell down Harry's cheeks.
Madam Pomfrey scurried into the room at that precise moment, shooing Harry back into bed. For the remainder of that night, he neither spoke nor looked at anyone. He lay curled up in his cot, hidden beneath the covers and shut out everything other than his pain.
//------
Harry stirred, groggily opening his heavy lids and peered around the dark infirmary. It had to be sometime after midnight by the looks of the high moon and soft rustling of owls' wings. But that was not what woke him up. Sitting up carefully, putting the least amount of pressure on his bandaged hands, Harry looked over at the lump on the bed next to him. Yes, he heard it again.
There was a noise coming from Skye. An odd noise. Muffled and choppy, gurgled almost. Deciding against starting anything more with her, he laid back down, facing her direction. Just as he ceased wiggling to find a good spot, she rolled over into a streak of moonlight. Harry couldn't help the gasp. Her eyes were puffy, outlined by red making her crimson eyes even more bloody looking. Thin rivers of tears were flowing down her face as her skin appeared even more pale than it originally was. Now that he looked at her, he noticed her shaking. Harry frowned as she slipped out of bed and walked to the window. It wasn't hard to tell from her sunken features and down turned lips that she was deeply saddened. Her eyes held no fire, no sign of life like they usually did when they had one of their fights. They were dead, staring blankly out onto the barren yard and Dark Forest beyond. A single tear trickled its way down her cheek and over the curve of her jawbone. Her black hair hung limply over her shoulders and her frame seemed shockingly thin now.
Harry looked away, almost ashamed that he'd seen her this vulnerable.
"I'm sorry."
Harry jerked his eyes back up, thinking she had spoken to him. Instead, her gaze was still locked on something through the window.
"I'm sorry....My heart cannot do this..." She muttered to an unknown ear." I don't care, I cannot do this anymore...His eyes....His eyes killed me..."
Harry furrowed his brow and kept perfectly still as she continued talking to herself.
"Yes, I understand but-...I know...I KNOW...But, PLEASE....I cant..I just cant...No,please don't....Please....No you can't....No...fine..FINE...I WILL....I will....Goodnight."
Skye turned and jumped as she saw Harry's eyes fixed on her. Her face flushed for some reason before a wave of extreme guilt washed over her. Before she knew what she was doing, her eyes averted to the cold stone floor. She couldn't look at him, not for the life of her.
"Whats wrong, Skye?" Harry mumbled, sitting up.
"None of your business, Potter." It was meant to sound sharp but instead sounded tired and lame
"Who were you talking to?" He asked cautiously.
Skye looked back up at him, only to quickly look away. What was wrong with her? Why couldn't she look this guy in the eyes? Eyes that held such pain and sorrow ,she felt it herself..."Nothing. No one. Go back to bed."
Harry frowned.
"Just sleep, Potter. You'll need your strength," She mumbled, climbing back into bed.
"For what?" He inquired, keeping his eyes trained on her every movement, feeling uneasy about the way she couldn't meet his eye.
" Recovery. Its not easy to pull out of one of my spells. Now, go to sleep. I'm sick of talking to you," She tried to spit back, but failed miserably as her voice started to break.
Harry shifted uneasily, then laid back down keeping an eye on her. Skye did the same, somehow managing to look at anything other than his face.
But just before he gave up hope of figuring out what was going on, Skye's burgundy eyes flitted down to meet his. For one brief instant an emotion flickered there. Though it came and went quickly, he knew what it was nonetheless. Even so, he was thoroughly baffled by it. It was the look of an apology.
Then Skye rolled over.