"I don't want to read about dogs anymore…"
-Me.
Chapter 34: Blood On My Hands
Complete silence. You could hear a croc in a swamp, it was so quiet. All of Hufflepuff was gathered in The Cete Hall for the re-ranking ceremony. This is where we were first introduced to this secret club. This large dark mossy room underground in the tunnels under the castle. Everyone wore their special robes. The ones that had the Hufflepuff crest that we never showed anyone else. All the older students wore their badger masks except us first years and our guides. I stood at the head of the room with my classmates, trying to stop myself from scratching my ankle. We first years were asked not to wear shoes I just felt like now wasn't really an appropriate time to do something like that.
The mood was very serious.
Cedric stood just behind me, still a little banged up from…from…
"Oh no! No! NononononononononNO! Mary! MARY! Stop! Get OFF! GET OFF OF ME!"
He had a pretty good shiner. It was healing but his left eye was still red and purple all around. And his lips were still chapped but they were always like that.
We were waiting on professor Sprout like the last ranking ceremony but this time was different. When she finally emerged from the darkness of the rear room. In her arms was a small white rabbit. She gently pat its head while she turned to face us. That small bunny was so cute! There was something familiar about its eyes…
"It hurts! IT HURTS!"
"Help! Someone help!"
"The time is finally here!" Ms. Sprout called out. Her voice was so large. There was a loud stomp in unison from everyone in the room. I could see Hannah jump at the noise. "A sacrifice has been made. And now we officially welcome seven eligible Kings and Queens of the Cete." Another round stomps.
.clackclackclackClackClackClackCLACKCLICKCLACKCLACKCLACKCLACKCLACK-
I shook my head. Focus Mary. This is important. I'm pretty sure this is important. Cedric's hand gave my shoulder a firm squeeze like he knew exactly what I was thinking. "It is because of such sacrifice," Ms. Sprout continued, "that those remaining can understand the importance, the gravity, of the responsibility they are meant to shoulder. And most importantly, what can happen to those that betray us." More stomping. I felt a little sick. Like I wanted to puke but I don't remember eating anything today. I didn't really eat much lately. Dean said I needed to take better care of myself, but Daphne said I'd been getting fat and that fasting would be good for me. I'd be offended if I was hungry.
Ms. Sprout pulled out her wand and firmly grasped the bunny by the ears. It dangled there, kicking its paws, familiar panic staring back at me. I didn't look away. Not even when she dragged her wand across its neck. "Metior vitae." The neck opened up like a zipper. The first dribbles of blood bubbled with pockets of air. I know that because I seen the older kids from school messing with a squirrel before. One of them has a Papa that works in the local butcher's shop. I heard him talking about what happens when you slice open the es…esssssss….asssso?...ass-a-fungus…while it's still alive.
More blood poured out into the fur, small tapping noises from splatter on the floor. I looked it in the eyes as life left it. It seemed fixed on me as well. This was the kind of thing I imagined witches do. The kind of thing that got us sent to hell.
"I wanna go home! Iwannagohome Iwannagohome I wannago ho-ho-hic-hoooome! I don't want to be English anymore! I WANNA LEAVE!"
I think everyone was terrified. Meagan…No one spoke a word. Professor came by to each one of us. She dipped two fingers into the bunny's throat and spread that blood on our foreheads, our cheeks, our hands, and our feet. I think we might of looked like slaughtered pigs.
"The crown is heavy, and one of you will wear it. Do not wash yourselves. You will sleep in this room and give this blood magic time to settle. The next time we come together, you will bring your two advisors. If you do not have any by now, do not expect to be ranked favorably."
A few more words were spoken before the room finally emptied and the six of us were left alone in the room. Stupid Zach, Ernest, Hannah, and Justin huddled together speaking amongst each other. I couldn't really hear what they were saying. Or I wasn't interested I don't know. That clicking noise was constantly echoing in my ears like a Walkman on with the volume real low. Susan was looking over her hands with a sort of disgusted look on her face. I lowered myself into the moss and curled into the fetal position. Ms. Sprout said to sleep so we should. And I hadn't been sleeping good lately and it made me super tired. Able to nod off anywhere anytime for a few minutes at a time. Have you ever been so tired that you sleep all the time and none of the time? I am.
My eyelids felt heavy and I let them drift closed.
"…thank you."