CHAPTER 13: A Well-Kept Secret
Twenty minutes and fifteen books later, I finally found what I wanted- the Retaliador Curse. When placed on someone, any hex would be rebounded onto the hexer, and the hexer would receive the hex another ten times before it ended. Now all I needed to do was cast the hex on Severus and hope that nobody would hex Severus before the big prank.
"What're you looking for?" asked a curious voice. I turned. Amos Diggory, Aaron's older brother and Head Boy, was staring at me. I guess I must have been quite a sight, as I had simply thrown each book aside when I finished it. There were tons of books all around me, and not stacked up neatly, but all over the table, chairs, and floor.
I blushed. "I was just looking for a really good Stinging Hex," I lied. "My sister sent me an envelope full of bubotuber pus, and I need a good revenge."
Amos nodded. "That should be legal, as long as she isn't in Hogwarts." He turned to leave, and I heaved a sigh of relief.
Hurrying out of the library, I received an unpleasant glare from the librarian over the mess. She waved her wand, and the books went back to where they belonged. I raced down the corridor, and spotted Lucius Malfoy. He turned when he saw me. "Magda! I've been meaning to speak with you."
I smiled that goofy grin again as he continued. "So the Gryffindors have kicked you out, hmm?" I nodded. "What for? What are they planning?"
I bit my lip. I had vowed not to say anything to any Slytherins, just to make sure Severus was avenged. I was acutely aware that I was infatuated with Lucius, but I've always been headstrong. No silly crush was going to make me do anything. "James Potter was angry about some stupid hex I sent his way one day," I blurted out. "You know how he could get those Gryffindors to do anything."
I watched Lucius carefully. He bought the lie. "He really is a prat," Lucius said. "We'll take care of him, if you want." Goyle cracked his knuckles menacingly, and Nott carelessly fiddled with his wand.
"Oh, don't worry," I said quickly. "I've just been to the library. I've got the perfect revenge." Lucius nodded and swept away. He was probably aware that the Marauders were up to something, and was disappointed that I hadn't given him any information. Oh, well. I was pleased, though. I had gotten past my crush quickly, and when it was needed. Mind over matter really did work for me.
As I turned the corner, I saw a boy my age run around the corner. It happened too fast to tell who it was, but I spotted red and gold Quidditch robes. Someone knew that I hadn't given them away.
I walked over to Slytherin Tower, and hung back in the shadows. When Annie Luvre came walking up, carrying a stack of textbooks, I stepped forward. "OY! ANNIE!" She turned, startled. "It's Magda," I explained.
Annie grinned. "Hey, Magda! I would talk to you more often, but you know Bella. She was really hurt when you just started ignoring her. Of course, she replaced the unfamiliar feeling of hurt with good old anger, and now she hexes anyone who even looks at you. Poor Rabastan! Rodolphus, his older brother, helps Bella out sometimes, and he put an Itching Charm on all of Rabastan's clothes."
I frowned. I hadn't known that those smiles in the hallways would get anyone in trouble. "Tell Rabastan that I'm really sorry. I don't want anyone punished because Bella hates me."
Annie told me that it wasn't my fault, but I wasn't convinced. She went inside and got Severus, and I mused about Bella. After an interminable wait, Severus finally came out into the corridor. "Hi, Magda," he said quietly. I then realized that I had no way of using the Retaliador without telling any of the plans against the Slytherins.
"Severus, do you trust me?" After a long pause, he nodded. "I'm going to do something now that I've sworn not to explain. In a few days, you'll understand." He was about to ask a question, but I held up a hand. "I've found a spell that I need to put on you. I'll tell you about it in a few days, though you'll understand anyway then." Severus started to interject something, but I had more to say. "Until the day, you can't get hexed. If you do, come to me immediately. It's vital that you don't get hexed. Avoid the Marauders at any cost. Understand?" Eyes narrowed, he nodded. I performed the Retaliador Hex on him, and to my surprise, he smiled.
"That's the Retaliador. Who's hexing me?" He rolled his eyes. "Need I ask that?" I grinned weakly.
"Just don't mention this to anyone, please." Severus nodded, and hesitantly thanked me. I could tell that that was something he didn't do often, and rewarded him with a real smile and a quick hug. Then I left the corridors near Slytherin Tower.
As I walked, I couldn't get rid of the feeling that I was being watched. I sighed. I knew that James had an Invisibility Cloak, and was probably following me to see what I was up to. Well, even if the Marauders knew what I had done for Severus, which was unlikely, they'd have no choice but to either not hex Severus or face the consequences. That suited my wishes.
When I returned to the Room of Requirements later that day, I found a paper left outside it. It was blank, but as soon as I picked it up, words slowly appeared on the parchment.
As per your request, Annie Luvre, Selena Helta, and Rabastan Lestrange will not be affected by our prank. Thank you for not saying anything.
-James Potter
I grinned as I sat down at my desk. Maybe everything would turn out all right after all…
The next morning, as I straggled sleepily into the Great Hall, I noticed that the whole room was conspicuously quiet. All the students were gathered in small groups and whispering to each other. Yawning, I deducted that the prank had taken place the night before. I headed toward Gryffindor table. Now that the prank was over, I wasn't excommunicated. But Lily was motioning to me not to come over. I shrugged and headed to Aaron.
"You must have heard what happened last night," he said excitedly.
I shrugged, trying to appear ignorant. "What?"
Evie piped up, "James Potter tried to use the Tooth-growing Curse on Severus Snape. Instead, he was hit somehow, and it won't stop! They've got him lying in the hospital wing, facing the window, because the teeth keep growing, and his teeth kept going on for miles!"
I laughed. "They should try using the counter-curse on him ten times," I said loudly, so that Florence, the Head Girl, would hear. "I read somewhere that if you use too many hexes, eventually, one rebounds on you and doesn't stop until after ten counter-curses." Florence heard, and hurried out of the Great Hall.
I groaned. Now I had to find Severus and cast the charm again on him. I caught his glance from his table. He shook his hand 'no' and did a crude imitation of redoing the spell on himself. But I got concept, and turned back to two fourth years' discussion on what could have caused the strange effect on James.
I didn't think much of the incident, especially after James appeared at breakfast twenty minutes later, acting like a hero. As I left the Great Hall, Lily caught up to me. We didn't talk in fear of someone noticing, but it was painfully obvious that Lily wanted to know what I had done.
Finally, I turned to her and began my explanation of the Retaliador. Lily was intrigued, and neither of us noticed that we had walked into an empty hallway.
Empty, that is, except Shannon Helta and Bellatrix Black. When I looked up, I saw both girls at the end of the corridor, wands raised.
"Now," Bella said fiercely, "the two of you pay for everything." Shannon didn't say anything, just smiled an anticipatory grin that came out looking somewhat ominous. Lily and I exchanged glances, then pulled out our wands.
