Nicole left Snape's office right away. Supper was just getting out and
people crowding in the hall suddenly surrounded her. Not wanting to run
into Draco, she wandered around, and found herself approaching a group of
Gryffindor students gathered around a painting. Hermione approached her.
"What ARE you doing here? Go back to the hole you crawled up from."
Deeply amused by Hermione's attempt at being pushy, she laughed shortly. She must have practiced that for hours.
"You'd better back off, bitch, before I put you in your place." Hermione's look was poison. Nicole returned it in full force, and challenged her to keep it up.
"Not worth my time." Hermione muttered pathetically. Nicole let her get away with this one, and just smirked at her. Harry picked this time to act heroic, and drew his wand.
"Leave, Nicole, or I'll-"
"You'll what Potter?" Draco called out from behind her. 'Not him again' she thought and rolled her eyes.
"Nothing, Malfoy. I was just leaving." And with that the Gryffindors left into their common room. She was alone with him.
"What did he say?" Draco asked innocently enough.
"None of your business. Now fuck off and go fight for someone else. I can handle myself."
He raised his fist and punched her on the side of her face. The resounding thud echoed down the dark hallway. She her face was sent to the side faster than she could think. Luckily not losing her balance, she turned to face him and wiped away the spit that had flown onto her lip. His face was distorted with anger as he yelled, "Answer me! What happened?!"
"I said nothing!" She was screaming now. Something warm was running down her cheek. The paintings were all looking at her. "What makes you think that you can just tell me to do whatever and I'll do it. I hate you! Fuck off!" She didn't run away, that would have been a sign of weakness, and she was not weak. He stared at her a moment. He obviously wasn't used to being treated like this.
Hearing her voice on his rounds, Professor Lupin immediately ran to the source. Her rounded the corner to see a very angry Nicole yelling obscenities to a threatening Draco. He called out to stop Draco from completing the second swing he had started. He hadn't seen the first one, so his mind was made that she was weak. According to him, one punch would have surely knocked her out.
"What's going on here!"
Nicole answered menacingly. "Draco was just leaving."
Draco turned on his heel and stormed away, presumably to the common room to sulk. She watched him go, throwing imaginary knives at his back with her mind. Mentally picturing his suffering. Lupin interrupted her thoughts.
"What exactly happened, Nicole?"
Still angry, she managed to bite her tongue and said, "nothing. It's over now anyway." She could see his mind work. What was she hiding?
"Goodnight, Lupin." She said curtly and walked in the opposite direction that Draco had left in. She couldn't afford running into him lying in wait for her behind something. There were too many dark places in the hall. Lupin didn't notice what direction she was headed. He was too busy wondering. Lost in his own thoughts.
Ignoring the throbbing in her head, she climbed staircase after staircase, and basically explored. She couldn't sleep in the same room as that abusive boy. Her opinion of him was completely changed. She found a washroom, and used her wand as a light. Examining her face in a mirror, she already saw bruising. That bastard had hit her hard. She'd have a black eye tomorrow for sure. Her skin had split where the brunt of his blow had hit on her cheekbone. She could cover up the black eye with cosmetics, but the cut was bleeding profusely. She had blood all down the side of her face and her neck.
Luckily he hadn't used his wand. It would have done much worse. She decided that she wasn't going back to her room to get the vial of healing potion she had saved from class, so she made her way slowly to the dungeons, determined to stay away from Draco. She took the scenic route, so she wouldn't bump into teachers on there round.
She had about half a hall and a flight of stairs to go when she heard voices. She looked quickly behind her and didn't see anyone. Her mind was working overtime. She was mentally daring Draco to come down the hall.
It wasn't Draco. It was the Gryffindor trio. With an invisibility cloak. She laughed out lout when the materialized about three feet in front of her, because Ron had stepped on the end causing Harry to trip. He brought all three of them down with him, sending the cloak flying.
She had stopped laughing long enough to ask "We're you spying on me?" and their embarrassed faces brought on another fit of laughter. Not letting them know, she was grateful for the humor. She felt so much better.
The stood noisily. Harry recovered first, and asked her what had happened to her face. She nodded at the question, the dried blood on her face and neck and her bruises probably looked worse than she felt.
"Draco got in a cheap shot." She simply said. The look of hate on his face told her that he understood. "My turn. Where did you get that thing?" She asked, pointing at the cloak on the floor about five feet away.
"My uncle. Sirus Black."
She smirked. A whole family full of famous people. He must be very proud. He started in on his next question.
"What are you doing here?"
"Getting a healing potion." 'Wasn't it obvious?' Hermione and Ron looked astonished as they followed the conversation back and forth. "Now, I would really like to get this done before a teacher comes along, so if you're done?" she hinted.
Harry nodded and she started walking. They put on the invisibility cloak and she heard their footsteps fading away.
She made it to the dungeon without further interruption, and found the potions room deserted. She grabbed a cauldron in the supplies room and the materials for a basic healing potion. In about ten minutes she was done, and raised the spoon to her lips, The hot liquid felt like vodka down her throat, and she felt the warmth spreading through her. She cleaned up and her eyes fell to the door she'd come in. She swore she'd heard something outside. She smirked. 'Who was it NOW?'
She walked over to the door and waved her wand in the direction of it. It swung open quickly and she heard an 'oomph' as whoever was standing behind it fell to the hard stone floor. She chuckled. That would teach whoever was watching her.
It was Professor Snape. He was squirming on the floor.
He sat up slowly, staring openly at her face. Rage was blatant in his features.
"What is the meaning of this?!" He yelled much louder than necessary.
"Oops." she said quietly, and stepped over him. Her intention was to go right past him, but he reached up and grabbed her leg roughly pulling her to the floor with him. "Hey!"
"Nicole..." His voice grew thick and compassionate. "Could you look at me please?" He asked gently.
She turned around as best she could; he had no intention of releasing her ankle. Her intimidating eyes burning into his. "Happy?" she replied. Trying not to give him the satisfaction of laughing at how stupid they must have looked sitting on the cold brick.
"I know this is hard to take but-"
"But what? I don't care if there's no way I'm going to cheat death, if that what your asking. No one does... no one lives forever." Awareness hit her like a rock. Except Voldemort. He could help her! If there was any way to do it he could! Hoping he couldn't see the gears turning in her head, she flashed back to reality. He was so close to her. Their noses were almost touching. His breath smelled like cinnamon.
"No.. No one does." He said bitterly. He stared at her fully and then seemed to realize that his hand was still on her leg. She bit her lip as he slowly removed it. His eyes were burning into her. Suddenly, he leaned closer, and his lips brushed hers. This shocked her and in a second she was on her feet, running at top speed back to the common room.
He didn't bother to call after her. He would have run away if he had been in the same position as her. Hopefully she didn't tell Draco; He'd never hear the end of it...
Nicole entered the dark common room at around twelve thirty. As it was Monday, everyone was in their dorms. Luckily, so was Draco. She tiptoed to Tabitha's room and was delighted to see her still awake, still researching Toronto. Tab smiled at her and agreed to let her sleep on the couch by her bed. In hushed whispers, so as not to disturb the other sleeping girls, She retold what had happened, leaving out all references to her drug problem.
Tabitha giggled at hearing how Snape had kissed her, and was appalled at how Draco had punched her. "What an ass! You'd better make him apologize for the rest of the year for this one!" Nicole smiled weakly. Draco wasn't the type to say he was sorry. In his mind, he had probably thought he had done nothing wrong.
She fell asleep talking to Tabitha about things she'd never remember tomorrow. The talent show was tomorrow.
"What ARE you doing here? Go back to the hole you crawled up from."
Deeply amused by Hermione's attempt at being pushy, she laughed shortly. She must have practiced that for hours.
"You'd better back off, bitch, before I put you in your place." Hermione's look was poison. Nicole returned it in full force, and challenged her to keep it up.
"Not worth my time." Hermione muttered pathetically. Nicole let her get away with this one, and just smirked at her. Harry picked this time to act heroic, and drew his wand.
"Leave, Nicole, or I'll-"
"You'll what Potter?" Draco called out from behind her. 'Not him again' she thought and rolled her eyes.
"Nothing, Malfoy. I was just leaving." And with that the Gryffindors left into their common room. She was alone with him.
"What did he say?" Draco asked innocently enough.
"None of your business. Now fuck off and go fight for someone else. I can handle myself."
He raised his fist and punched her on the side of her face. The resounding thud echoed down the dark hallway. She her face was sent to the side faster than she could think. Luckily not losing her balance, she turned to face him and wiped away the spit that had flown onto her lip. His face was distorted with anger as he yelled, "Answer me! What happened?!"
"I said nothing!" She was screaming now. Something warm was running down her cheek. The paintings were all looking at her. "What makes you think that you can just tell me to do whatever and I'll do it. I hate you! Fuck off!" She didn't run away, that would have been a sign of weakness, and she was not weak. He stared at her a moment. He obviously wasn't used to being treated like this.
Hearing her voice on his rounds, Professor Lupin immediately ran to the source. Her rounded the corner to see a very angry Nicole yelling obscenities to a threatening Draco. He called out to stop Draco from completing the second swing he had started. He hadn't seen the first one, so his mind was made that she was weak. According to him, one punch would have surely knocked her out.
"What's going on here!"
Nicole answered menacingly. "Draco was just leaving."
Draco turned on his heel and stormed away, presumably to the common room to sulk. She watched him go, throwing imaginary knives at his back with her mind. Mentally picturing his suffering. Lupin interrupted her thoughts.
"What exactly happened, Nicole?"
Still angry, she managed to bite her tongue and said, "nothing. It's over now anyway." She could see his mind work. What was she hiding?
"Goodnight, Lupin." She said curtly and walked in the opposite direction that Draco had left in. She couldn't afford running into him lying in wait for her behind something. There were too many dark places in the hall. Lupin didn't notice what direction she was headed. He was too busy wondering. Lost in his own thoughts.
Ignoring the throbbing in her head, she climbed staircase after staircase, and basically explored. She couldn't sleep in the same room as that abusive boy. Her opinion of him was completely changed. She found a washroom, and used her wand as a light. Examining her face in a mirror, she already saw bruising. That bastard had hit her hard. She'd have a black eye tomorrow for sure. Her skin had split where the brunt of his blow had hit on her cheekbone. She could cover up the black eye with cosmetics, but the cut was bleeding profusely. She had blood all down the side of her face and her neck.
Luckily he hadn't used his wand. It would have done much worse. She decided that she wasn't going back to her room to get the vial of healing potion she had saved from class, so she made her way slowly to the dungeons, determined to stay away from Draco. She took the scenic route, so she wouldn't bump into teachers on there round.
She had about half a hall and a flight of stairs to go when she heard voices. She looked quickly behind her and didn't see anyone. Her mind was working overtime. She was mentally daring Draco to come down the hall.
It wasn't Draco. It was the Gryffindor trio. With an invisibility cloak. She laughed out lout when the materialized about three feet in front of her, because Ron had stepped on the end causing Harry to trip. He brought all three of them down with him, sending the cloak flying.
She had stopped laughing long enough to ask "We're you spying on me?" and their embarrassed faces brought on another fit of laughter. Not letting them know, she was grateful for the humor. She felt so much better.
The stood noisily. Harry recovered first, and asked her what had happened to her face. She nodded at the question, the dried blood on her face and neck and her bruises probably looked worse than she felt.
"Draco got in a cheap shot." She simply said. The look of hate on his face told her that he understood. "My turn. Where did you get that thing?" She asked, pointing at the cloak on the floor about five feet away.
"My uncle. Sirus Black."
She smirked. A whole family full of famous people. He must be very proud. He started in on his next question.
"What are you doing here?"
"Getting a healing potion." 'Wasn't it obvious?' Hermione and Ron looked astonished as they followed the conversation back and forth. "Now, I would really like to get this done before a teacher comes along, so if you're done?" she hinted.
Harry nodded and she started walking. They put on the invisibility cloak and she heard their footsteps fading away.
She made it to the dungeon without further interruption, and found the potions room deserted. She grabbed a cauldron in the supplies room and the materials for a basic healing potion. In about ten minutes she was done, and raised the spoon to her lips, The hot liquid felt like vodka down her throat, and she felt the warmth spreading through her. She cleaned up and her eyes fell to the door she'd come in. She swore she'd heard something outside. She smirked. 'Who was it NOW?'
She walked over to the door and waved her wand in the direction of it. It swung open quickly and she heard an 'oomph' as whoever was standing behind it fell to the hard stone floor. She chuckled. That would teach whoever was watching her.
It was Professor Snape. He was squirming on the floor.
He sat up slowly, staring openly at her face. Rage was blatant in his features.
"What is the meaning of this?!" He yelled much louder than necessary.
"Oops." she said quietly, and stepped over him. Her intention was to go right past him, but he reached up and grabbed her leg roughly pulling her to the floor with him. "Hey!"
"Nicole..." His voice grew thick and compassionate. "Could you look at me please?" He asked gently.
She turned around as best she could; he had no intention of releasing her ankle. Her intimidating eyes burning into his. "Happy?" she replied. Trying not to give him the satisfaction of laughing at how stupid they must have looked sitting on the cold brick.
"I know this is hard to take but-"
"But what? I don't care if there's no way I'm going to cheat death, if that what your asking. No one does... no one lives forever." Awareness hit her like a rock. Except Voldemort. He could help her! If there was any way to do it he could! Hoping he couldn't see the gears turning in her head, she flashed back to reality. He was so close to her. Their noses were almost touching. His breath smelled like cinnamon.
"No.. No one does." He said bitterly. He stared at her fully and then seemed to realize that his hand was still on her leg. She bit her lip as he slowly removed it. His eyes were burning into her. Suddenly, he leaned closer, and his lips brushed hers. This shocked her and in a second she was on her feet, running at top speed back to the common room.
He didn't bother to call after her. He would have run away if he had been in the same position as her. Hopefully she didn't tell Draco; He'd never hear the end of it...
Nicole entered the dark common room at around twelve thirty. As it was Monday, everyone was in their dorms. Luckily, so was Draco. She tiptoed to Tabitha's room and was delighted to see her still awake, still researching Toronto. Tab smiled at her and agreed to let her sleep on the couch by her bed. In hushed whispers, so as not to disturb the other sleeping girls, She retold what had happened, leaving out all references to her drug problem.
Tabitha giggled at hearing how Snape had kissed her, and was appalled at how Draco had punched her. "What an ass! You'd better make him apologize for the rest of the year for this one!" Nicole smiled weakly. Draco wasn't the type to say he was sorry. In his mind, he had probably thought he had done nothing wrong.
She fell asleep talking to Tabitha about things she'd never remember tomorrow. The talent show was tomorrow.