Anything that's not blatant is
a riddle
Please read and review if you can!
Author's penname: Elixa Amethyst
Voices of the Past Part II
Written March 2002 onwards, pre Order of the Phoenix.
All characters and things you recognise, are © JKRowling, no infringement
intended.
All references to
"mediwizard" mean healer.
Read Part I at ?storyid1672635
---------------
Chapter Ten
The Truth is Out…
Susan and Kerry didn't get on, it was clear soon after I introduced them to each other. They both wanted to my friend, and I ended up getting quite frustrated by the way they kept moaning about the other one when they were with me alone. One thing I'd avoided most of the time was being alone with Susan. There was something that told me to keep away.
The seventh years were to have their first careers lesson of the year, straight after Potions. Work this year was significantly harder and took much more brainpower to understand in every subject, not just potions. Kerry was determined to get things right in Potions and I tried to help by pointing out where she was going wrong in her waterproofing potion. At first she accepted the help, but after about the third point she exploded at me.
"Just leave me alone to work it out will you Elixa- I know you're good at potions and I'm not, but you're not good at teaching me!" The room went completely silent. Professor Snape didn't look up from the parchments he was marking.
"Miss Alanis, Miss Amethyst, did I not say that this potion was to be created by the individual? Miss Amethyst, please desist and if you continue, you will move to the front desk."
"Sorry Professor." I said, and got on with my potion. I saw Kerry stirring her potion the wrong way and tried not to say anything. Kerry saw me watching and walked up to me.
"LEAVE ME ALONE!" She screamed in my face, grabbing hold of my robes. Snape got up and walked over to us. He leant forwards, his face about a foot from ours.
"I've warned you once. Continue your argument outside or I will make sure you continue it in detention. Miss Alanis, let go of Miss Amethyst." Kerry threw me out of her hands.
"Just because she's family." She spat her words at Snape. I saw his eyes flash dangerously as he rounded on her.
"Elixa get to the front desk." He snapped, still glaring at Kerry. The whole class was watching, trying to listen in to what Kerry had just said. I moved quickly, not wanting to be given the same treatment. Severus said some sharp words to Kerry, which made her go rather pale, and shrink down. I kept my head down as he passed me and sat down again at his desk.
Quirrell seemed in a good mood to see the class, one of his slightly crooked smiles on his face, and holding his hands just below his chin. Kerry and I hadn't spoken since the argument in potions, and Snape luckily had held back the choice to give us both a detention. We sat away from each other, she sat with her old crowd, and I felt singled out. It was an absolute pain when I fell out with anyone, especially Kerry who held grudges.
"These lessons will be at different times every two weeks, and are an opportunity for you to research your chosen career, look into universities and other opportunities, and to ask plenty of relevant questions. I don't believe that you have received much on this subject before?" Quirrell began.
"I already know what I'm going to be." Lysander said from behind me.
"Mr Lysander perhaps you'd like to share your plans with the class?" Quirrell suggested. Matthew sat up a bit.
"I'm going to be a duelling instructor." I burst out laughing in the row before him.
"You, duel? As if Lysander. I flattened you last year."
"Only because you weren't duelling properly."
"Yeah right, you just couldn't block in time."
"If you two are quite finished?" Quirrell interrupted, folding his arms and looking slightly annoyed. We shut up and I turned back to the front. Quirrell continued. "Now, as I was saying, I don't believe you've had many lessons like this in your previous years."
"No, we haven't." I sighed.
"Right, then, we'll start with looking at your strengths and weaknesses in your skills. Please fill out these pieces of parchment." Parchment appeared before us all, quills were rattled out of pencil cases and bags, and we set to work.
"Mediwizard Elixa?" Quirrell questioned when he floated past me.
"Yes Professor." I replied, not looking up. Quirrell didn't answer, he'd moved away to look at other people's forms.
"Did you decide that after what happened in Diagon Alley?" Lysander asked from behind me.
"No. I'd decided a long time before that."
"Someone said you claimed to be a mediwizard then."
"I didn't. The person misheard me." I snapped back, turning my head. Quirrell was glaring at me over the heads of the row behind. I turned back and got on with my work.
"How was your morning?" Susan asked as I slumped down in the common room after lunch.
"Terrible. I had a fat argument with Kerry in potions, and we got split up by Snape," I put my feet heavily, one after the other onto the low table before us. "Then I had a tiff with Matthew Lysander in Careers, remember the one I told you about who I got into trouble about?" Susan nodded.
"My morning was considerably less interesting. Transfiguration and Charms…" Susan stopped talking, and was staring above my head.
"Elixa, could I have a word in my office?" I looked up where Susan was looking and saw Severus looking down at me.
"Yes Professor." I got up and followed Snape out of the common room. I suspected it was something to do with potions if Quirrell hadn't mentioned something to him yet.
"Is this going to be a telling off?" I asked, walking with my arms folded and head slightly down. Severus didn't answer; he opened the door to his office, pointed in with one long finger and then slammed the door after him. I took it as a yes to my question.
"Sit down." He snapped. I obeyed, feeling vulnerable. Snape sat down at his desk opposite me, and unrolled a piece of parchment. I just watched him.
"Your little display for attention in potions this morning is the trigger event to something much worse Elixa."
"Worse? What do you mean?" I asked, my throat feeling dry suddenly.
"Let me put it this way, by the end of the day the whole school will probably know exactly who you stayed with over the summer." I felt as if someone had punched me in the stomach.
"Kerry…" I said, angry.
"Actually I don't think it was her, since I gave her enough warning in the lesson this morning. It is more likely someone overheard, or that Miss North has opened her mouth."
"I'll kill whoever it is." I muttered.
"Not if I or another member of staff doesn't get to them first. May I remind you of the consequences last time someone wound you up properly? Professor McGonagall and Professor Dumbledore will not look so kindly on you, and as a prefect you should be setting an example." I wrung my hands. "Elixa." Snape warned.
"Okay, I'll do my best."
