Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any other element of the story. Emily Black and her mother, brother (Zandyr), and Isaac (well . . . He is also Monsoon's) are my creations so don't use without permission :) Sarah (sweets), Rilee, and Nephiro own themselves.
A/N: One of my partners ("Since when am I your partner? I do freelance.") in crime went and got her self grounded. So anything that has to do with Rilee will be slowed down a bit because I only see her in school. Relax. I'm not neglecting the story! Lol. I just have to use the old way communication . . . speech. ("-Grrr. . .)
Chapter 14: Recoiling Of An EmotionI went to dinner feeling a little better about the whole Draco situation. But leaving him hanging like that and not telling him the real reason for my gift bugged me. Maybe I'm just paranoid. I sat down next to Lily and grabbed a biscuit.
"Oh, she eats!" Lily chided.
"Shut up, Marrin," I hissed. I took a bite and growled. "So, how are things with you and Ronnicuns?" I asked.
"Very well." She leaned in closer to me and whispered in my ear, "I have him wrapped around my little finger." I looked at her in shock and she just giggled.
Dumbledore suddenly stood up and cleared his throat. The Great Hall quieted down to very small whispers. "Attention, students. In response to the . . . uh . . . destruction of the Gryffindor tower painting, we launched an investigation. We have found the culprit to be a student, not Sirius Black." There were signs of protest coming from the tables; apparently people liked pretending there might be a madman in the school. How very nice of them. "The student was identified yesterday and has been dealt with accordingly." More people were looking around, taking glances at me. I looked over to the Slytherin table. 'Could it have been Nephiro?' I thought over and over again. "That is all. Enjoy the rest of your night." The old man sat back down and continued his chat with Professor Snape and Professor Lupin. The full-frontal chatter has risen up again and I was beginning to lose the ability to think. I got to my feet, hoping to escape the noise and I saw Nephiro leave the Hall, she seemed pretty pissed off. Zandyr chased after her, looking worried. Not even a minute later he returned, rubbing his cheek. I chuckled and waited a bit before I started my return to the common room.
o.O
The next day I went to classes normally, dreading the evening. I had a training session scheduled with Rilee during dinner and then detention with Lupin (which I was not looking forward too.). Draco seemed to avoid me in the ways of conversation. He was in the clouds and I couldn't pull him down. So I gave up and just stayed away from him.
Lily helped me with my Cheering Charm in the girl dormitory in some spare time. No matter what I did, I couldn't get to spell to work. My target always walked away feeling like the World was out to get them. Professor Flitwick told me I better get them under wrap or he'll have to fail me on that particular subject.
"Yup. Black, you don't want to do anymore . . . extra credit," Lily laughed as I attempted to cast the spell on Hermione's rotten cat.
"It's no use!" I yelled, sitting on my bed. The cat has run off because of my spell and Lily wasn't about to let me practice on her. "I'm doomed!"
"Relax. Hey, it's dinnertime. We'll work on this tomorrow." My eyes darted to her.
"It's dinner already?" I asked. She glanced at the clock.
"Yep. Now come on or we'll have no seats- why are you taking off your robe?" I threw my black school robe on my bed and started towards the door. "Don't worry about me. I have some things to do."
"Wait come back," she cried. I rolled my eyes. I turned to meet the tip of Lily wand and jumped back in surprise. "I said relax." She muttered something and a light flew into my body. I suddenly felt . . . happy. 'Oh god no.' "I can't let you leave here so discouraged." I wanted to push her out the window, but held my peace and left.
I met Rilee in the archery room during dinner like she has asked me to yesterday. She was standing in the middle of the room looking rather annoyed.
"Good evening Rilee," I said to her, grinning. 'Damn Lily and her stupid charm.'
"Shut up," she growled.
"Now aren't we the cheery one?"
"Why the hell are you so happy?" she asked. My smile grew wider.
"Because."
"Dork. It's unnatural to be happy."
"Who said the reason I'm happy is natural?" She blinked at me, but her expression was hard to read. " Lily and I were practicing the Cheering Charm because I'm not very good at it."
"OK . . . Right. Anyway."
"So, what's today?"
"What do you want to learn?" she replied. Great. Answering a question with a question.
"I don't know. Remember you said you're the teacher."
"Ungrateful little bitch."
"Ungrateful?" I said, startled. "I thought teachers were supposed to already know what they're teaching."
"I know what I'm teaching, but you're the one who wants to learn how to fight." I stood there dumbfounded. "Well?"
"I want to learn how to punch properly," I finally declared. She looked at me funny. "So, I can beat the shit out of Lily for this accursed charm!" I pointed to my smile and tried to frown. It wasn't working very good and Riddle laughed.
"How to punch? You just throw your arm, hand in a fist and aim for your target. It's not very hard." She hit the wall with a quick punching motion.
o.O
I ran to the Defense Against the Dark Arts class fast. My training session ran late and I was supposed to be at Lupin's five minutes ago. I turned the corner and slipped on the wet floor, sliding across the hallway on my stomach . . . smacking my head into the door. It opened. "Nice, Emi. Real nice," I heard Miketsu say. I lifted myself off the ground and glared at the black-haired girl.
"Shut up Nephiro. I don't need your shit at the moment," I hissed. Yup. I wasn't happy with the fact I had detention . . . and with Lupin of all teachers. She smirked and re-entered the classroom.
"Have it your way," she mumbled. "Oh, Lupin?" He looked open from his desk. "Would it be OK for me to do some . . . extra credit for you too?" Oh my God! That Bitch! She has no right to use that against me!
"Of course Miss Miketsu," Lupin said laughing. "I'd be happy to. You certainly could use it." He paused. "Considering your . . . less than perfect attendance record." I took this moment to attack. She has pissed me off for the last time. I jumped on Miketsu, knocking her to the ground. Lupin stood up but made no attempt to stop it.
"You whore! How dare you use that!" I yelled.
She just narrowed her eyes maliciously. "Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to come between you and your . . . special friend!" she snarled; her lip curled. I swung my right hand back and threw a punch to her face, just like Rilee had showed me not even an hour before. She rolled to the side and I rolled with her, pinned to the ground. Her nose started to bleed and I smirked. 'And Riddle says I'm weak.' This time I swung around causing her to be on the ground again. She pried her legs from underneath me and, before I could react, used them to kick me up and over. She stood up, nose bleeding, and looked down at me. "I'd watch who I mess with, Black. You don't want me for an enemy." 'I thought she already was an enemy?' She turned towards the useless oaf they call a teacher, "I'll make up the time tomorrow, Lupin." She exited without a sound. Lupin didn't even try and stop her. 'Great . . . now I'm alone with him.'
"Ok . . . what cruel, pointless chore should I make you do today?" Lupin asked.
"How about we play a game of 'Leave Miss Black the Fuck Alone and Let Her Sit in the Corner?'" I didn't even wait for his answer. I stood up and took a seat in the back of the classroom. I stared out the window some time before either of us spoke.
"You won, why are you so upset?" I gave him a death glare and he sat back down at his desk.
"I didn't win. You don't know Nephiro," I finally spoke He looked up at me in surprise and he ran his hand through his hair.
"No, but I know her father," he stated, leaning back in his chair.
"How?"
"Old buddies." I raised an eyebrow at him but decided not to comment.
"I'm leaving." I got to my feet and started towards the door. "From now on I don't wish to have detention with Nephiro." And I left.
o.O
The school was boring the next couple of weeks. I continued my lessons with Rilee and waited patiently till Christmas when I would be free of the horrid detentions. Draco and I didn't really talk. He seemed to ignore me. I needed to find out what I did so wrong to deserve this kind of treatment. It was a couple of days before people left for Christmas break and I wasn't going to sit around and wait for him to come to his senses.
"Draco?" I caught him in the hallway on his way to the Slytherin common room. He looked back at me and smiled.
"Wassup Em?" he replied, stopping.
I took a breath, "Why have you been avoiding me?" He stared at me in shock.
"I haven't been avoiding you! What makes you say that I have been?" He sounded hurt. "Well . . . When I see you, most of the time you turn and walk the other way, even when it's in the opposite way you're supposed to be heading. And I'm starting to get the impression you don't want me around." My explanation came out all at once, the words were slurred together and I wasn't even sure if he understood any of it. He took another step closer to me and wrapped his arms around my waist.
"I'm sorry if you thought that," he whispered, placing his forehead against mine. "I've had a lot on my mind lately and haven't really been myself." I hugged him tightly.
"What's been bugging you?" He didn't answer me. 'I guess whatever it is, he doesn't want to share it with me.'
"I have to go home over break," he said suddenly. We broke away and I looked him in the eyes.
"So, most people are," I commented. He seemed uncomfortable. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Come on, I'll walk you to Defense
A/N: Sorry this took so long. I was waiting on Monsoon to decide what the training session was going to be about. But I got tired of waiting and was being harassed by rabid fans. I'm trying to go through the earlier chapters and weed out all the mistakes. Nothing really important though so don't worry. There are probably tons of mistakes in this chapter. Edited Note Nothing big. Mwuhaha. Yeah right. The next few chapters got fucked up royally! cries