Revenge of a Slytherin
Chapter 9
The Hogwarts Express pulling into London it was a bittersweet moment for Nichol. Her first year at Hogwarts was over and she had a couple of weeks before she had to let Professor Dumbledore know whether she wished to return for the following year. But she was going home, she could see all her old friends and catch up with all their news. She had letters from them but it was not the same as rally catching up. Catching a cab from the station she was soon standing outside her house 'it seems so long' she sighed.
Inside the house seemed totally normal; her neighbour had been looking after her plants while she was away and nothing had changed. But it felt different, everything seemed so … she stood for a moment trying to think of the words she meant, 'bland', she closed her eyes for a moment 'that's it, everything here is so bland'. Walking from room to room her eyes filled with tears, none of her pictures moved, and none of them spoke to her.
Right then and there she made a decision that would indeed return to Hogwarts for the next year and hopefully many more to come. Writing a note accepting the offer. She sealed the envelope, addressed it to Professor Dumbledore and placed it into the fireplace. Nichol couldn't help but smile as the envelope floated up the chimney like a scene from Mary Poppins.
Making a coffee she dragged her Hogwarts trunk upstairs, whilst humming 'chim chimney', the trunk had been a gift from Professor Dumbledore when she took the job and it held an amazing amount of stuff. At first she had piled up her clothes and accessories on her bed, realising she had way too much she tried to rationalise – but it was so difficult, Nichol had never been the 'travel light' kind of girl. Out of desperation she decided to pack the trunk with as much as she could just to see what it held, and it just kept fitting in 'bloody hell' she muttered. 'This thing is like a tardis!' and so she just kept on packing. Once she had everything she decided to take, which was in the end most of her room, she realised the trunk would be too heavy to move. But it was as light as it was when empty.
Once at Hogwarts it had been unpacked by one of the house elves and the when she left the elf had re-packed it for her 'I really need to get my own house elf' she giggled.
Flinging herself onto the bed she glanced at her trunk and decided to leave it until the next day. With a sigh she lay back against her pillows and picked up her coffee. 'I really should call everyone to say I am back in town' she said to herself. She was reaching to put her coffee cup on the bedside table and pick up her phone when a loud crack behind her made her jump.
She dropped the cup onto the floor spilling what was left of her coffee and was about to turn when someone grabbed her from behind. Her assailant had one arm around her waist and reaching up towards her breasts, his other hand held something over her mouth.
Nichol was overcome with a sickly, sweet, pungent aroma and taste, her head started to swim. She tried to struggle but felt so weak, her whole body getting heavy as she slipped into darkness. The last thing she was aware of was a voice as it snarled into her ears 'hello again muggle!'
As Nichol became limp in his arms Lucius smiled with satisfaction. Throwing the handkerchief he had used onto the floor behind him, it was picked up by the house elf that had appeared with him. He turned slightly lay Nichol's limp body across one arm; brushing her hair from her face he ran his fingers down her cheek 'I am going to have so much fun with you muggle' he sneered. Spotting the amulet around her neck he laughed as he took told of it, the amulet glowed and burned into his hand slightly, this would have been enough to make anyone else let go, but Lucius closed his palm around the magic stone almost relishing the pain then tore the ribbon holding it from Nichol's neck and threw it onto the open trunk laying nearby.
Turning to the elf he snarled 'bring that!' Pulling Nichol closer to him he took what looked like a small ball from inside his cloak 'home!' he said, and they vanished.
As they disappeared the elf closed the trunk and jumped on top of it, with a snap of his bony fingers the trunk and the elf both vanished.