Chapter 2: The Detention Snape Won't Soom Forget
By: Deep Shadows and EckoStalker
Disclaimer: (please refer to first chapter of TMAOA&A, thank you)
Alexis and Artimis walk down the stairwell toward the dungeons speaking in hushed whispers and gesturing wildly to each other. Artimis's Long hair is pulled into a tight bun, while Alexis is wearing a bandana securely wrapped around her head.
"Fine, but this is your idea!" Alexis states in a quiet tone, looking about for signs of teachers.
"Ok." Artimis says shaking hands with Alexis. They reach the door to the Potions classroom and knock on it softly.
"Enter!" is barked from the other side of the door. Upon entering the room they notice two buckets of soapy discolored water and two rough, scrub brushes. They sigh dramatically. "Wands. Hand them here!" Snape growls, hand stretched out. They regretfully hand over their wands and he states, "Well, begin. You haven't got all night, but we could make arrangements..." he grins evilly. The grudgingly kneel and begin scrubbing. Professor Snape watches for a few moment and then turn, leaves the room and goes to his office. Alexis glances after him slyly, then leans over to her companion and begins scrubbing her dirty water on to Artimis cleaned area.
"Hey, watch it!" Artimis says frustrated.
"What?" Alexis questions in fake ignorance. She continues scrubbing, Artimis sitting back on her knees, looking at Alexis in growing annoyance. Alexis calmly states, while splashing dirty brown water onto Artimis's neat area, "I just thought since your a Pureblood, that the place needed a bit more "mess" in it. No fun in being totally pure..." she grins wickedly at the floor.
"What did you say to me?" she yelled angrily, her face showing faint signs of red.
"Didn't you hear?" Alexis stated in feigned ignorance, "You're a bit too pure for my liking. Besides, I've seen how you act. It's almost impossible to distinguish you from a regular muggle at times." Alexis smirks as Artimis slams down her scrub brush and gives Alexis a deadly stare. Alexis dips her own filthy brush into her bucket as she comments, "... and now I think I'll start the cleaning process right now..." As she finishes, Alexis lunges at Artimis, dripping brush at the ready.
Artimis, seeing the incoming attack, dodges and dumps her bucket on Alexis's head. "Don't you remember? You're the FILTHY mudblood... Not me!" she says grabbing her brush and waiting for Alexis to get up. "As for me being mugglelike I guess it's cuts you showing your jealously of my wizarding heritage!" she says waiting for the attack she know is coming.
Alexis, shocked at hearing this, looked around the large room in a quick scan. Nearby, she saw an old dusty mop, probably not used in ages. So dripping and soggy, she jumped up, knocking Artimis over on her back in surprise. Alexis grabbed the wooden handle of the mop and plunged it into the remaining bucket, smiling at Artimis in anticipation. Artimis, leaning on her hands, stared frightfully back and forth between the dust and soap filled mop and Alexis's wet form. Glaring in anger, she sneered, "You wouldn't dare." Alexis grinned, then, without warning, slopped the cleaning utensil onto her detention partner's glossy, black-haired head, then commented casually," You needed to wash your hair; so I took the liberty." Alexis pauses, watching Artimis sit there in frozen horror, then added," You sure that's not hair dye? Aren't muggles the only ones who use that stuff?"
Artimis upon hearing this goes into a blind rage; and leaps up, snatching the mop from Alexis's hands and breaking it over her knee. She then grabbed Alexis by her short, white hair and repeatedly plunged her head into the remaining bucket. "Say it again, you mudblood wench! Say it again!" she continually shouted between clenched teeth while still ducking Alexis in the filthy water. Alexis, angry and sputtering, kicks her leg back and knocks Artimis down hard onto her back. Alexis then picks up the last bucket and pours it onto Artimis, afterwards diving down onto her, grabbing a scrub brush, and begins scratching it across her face. Artimis, screaming at her, reaches for the other rough scrub brush and grasps Alexis by the hair, raking the brush down along her face. "AAHHH!" Alexis hollers as she drops her knee into Artimis's stomach, knocking the breath out of her.
Artimis hurriedly lets go, and drops her head back gasping for breath.
Alexis stands up, expecting Artimis to give up. Instead, Artimis quickly rolls over onto her stomach, and grabs the broken mop handle, swinging and knocking her off her feet. Artimis then stands up and looms proudly over Alexis on the ground. "Filthy mudblood. Stay on the ground! That's your place in this world." she sneers.
"Oh yeah? MY place!? Whose symbol for their HOUSE is a slimy, dirt eating, cast-out creature from Hell, huh? Seems you guys were born to be in the dirt!" As Alexis was yelling, she had slowly scooted over beside Artimis, who listened in growing anger. A moment later, Alexis swung, and kicked Artimis's knees out from under her, as she thudded to the ground with a yelp of pain. Alexis took this opportunity to jump onto Artimis's prone form. Artimis swung her fist and slammed it into Alexis's face, while Alexis proceeded to strangle her.
Meanwhile, the door to Snape's office slams open and he stalks out, confused and angrily yelling "What the-?" Then her sees Artimis and Alexis rolling aggressively on the floor, Alexis's hands around Artimis's throat as Artimis rips out Alexis's hair. The entire dungeon floor is soaked in a soapy dirt colored film- water sloshed across every desk. Snape quickly rushes over and grabs Alexis's shoulder just as Artimis dives in to bite Alexis. She misses Alexis and instead sinks her teeth in to Professor Snape's wrist. He pulls his hand back with and anger yelp. Cradling him arm he then grabs Alexis's and Artimis's hair and yanks them apart. Artimis falls back and Alexis leaps at Professor Snape, wrapping her arms around his throat. Artimis takes the chance and grabs Alexis's ankle, biting down harshly piercing the skin. "Oww, you dumb purebred witch!" she screams letting go of Snape and diving for Artimis. Snape gathers himself and rushes over to the fireplace, throws in some floo powder and yells "McGonagall! Assistance!" She pops her head through and observes the vicious brawl taking place. In an instant she leaps out and orders, " You take Whyte, I'll grab Callabella!" They race over while McGonagall grabs Artimis's arms restraining them behind her; as Snape quickly grabs hold of an struggling Alexis.
Snape out of breath yells in a deep voice "SILENCE!"
Artimis inhales deeply and comes to her senses. She stops struggling against what she realized was McGonagall grip. Alexis, still hollering and scrambling to get to Artimis, still continues to curse " You pureblood Wench!" repeating it over and over. Snape finally shakes her roughly and she stops, realizing that she too was being held back.
"Now, What is this about?" McGonagall shouts.
"I leave you for a few moments and you turn my classroom in to a brawling arena!" Snape snaps furiously. Alexis cowers against him at his furious accusations. Artimis relaxes and realizes she is bleeding from her nose and the back of her head. Alexis wipes blood from her busted lip as she leans heavily against Snape.
All four stand there, breathing heavily from the adrenaline rush trying to organize their thoughts. Alexis, finally starting to feel the effects of the fight along with the iron clamp that was Professor Snape's arm, quietly asks, "Um, do you think I could like sit down for a moment? I'd really like to breathe again sir." Snape. Snapping out of his shocked reverie lightens his hold, as does McGonagall. Both girls then tiredly slump to the ground. McGonagall steps up to Snape, both teachers too shocked to say anything for the moment. Professor McGonagall finally speak up, " This will be settled. And quickly. But as right now, I think you two need to be escorted to the Infirmary! Quickly!"
Both girls moan and glare at each other. Snape glares at them, also lost in great thought.
"What started this?" he demands gesturing to the mess. Alexis solemnly looks at him holding her head and points at Artimis innocently.
Artimis spits blood of to the side and stammers, "Right, I was just doing my job and she started messing up my area and started in my saying I'm "Muggle-ish"
Alexis shaking her head says in a mature voice, "Over dirty water, Artimis Callabella. I'm ashamed of you."
"Ashamed of me! Look who attacked first!" she yells, the blood rushing to her head again. She lifts up her body and glares at Alexis. Then, calmly states, "Well, looks like I won because I'm at least able to stand." She mocks, getting up and looking at Alexis with the "Try me" expression. Alexis refusing to be the loser, latches on to the closest desk and slowly and painfully, hauls herself to her feet, glaring at Artimis in Triumph. Professor McGonagall and Snape all the while stand to the side, watching this confrontation cautiously.
Alexis comment slowly, "Spoke to soon, pukeblood." Artimis squints angrily at her and steps forward, while Alexis also starts forward, using desks as her support. Snape gets between them "Start again and I will have you under Immobulis faster than you can say it!" Alexis glares at Artimis, then at Snape, finally stumbling, grabbing a desk for support. Artimis snickers, but also stops in her tracks.
"Severus, we need to get them both to the Infirmary." McGonagall informs, gesturing to the girls.
"Yes Minerva, I know." he says impatiently. "Whyte, can you stand on your own alright?"
"Not very well-thank you." she says softly, scowling at Artimis.
"Miss Callabella, can you walk?" McGonagall asks.
"Yes, just fine." she replies with a smirk; but stumbles just a tad.
Snape steps forward and swings Alexis's arm over his shoulder as he stoops to support her. McGonagall proceeds to the front with Artimis in front of her. They reach the Infirmary, as Dumbledore awaits the group. He quietly dismisses and thanks the two professors, then adds a bit jokingly," You two were both lucky tonight. You could have killed each other," he said, slightly chuckling; then making his silent exit. Madame Pomfrey attends them, making them comfortable, after asking Professor Lupin to volunteer and sit between the beds, so as to prevent any Midnight Fights.