Chapter 47: Snape's Scorn
Every noise becomes amplified in the large, almost silent exam hall. Every lick of a tongue over dry lips. The tapping of a quill tip against wood. Parchment scratching against skin. Most awful of all, this year's D.A.D.A professor striding up and down the rows of students who are currently sitting the formal written exam for the said class.
Cressida had put her quill down only ten minutes ago, fifteen left on the large clock at the front of the hall. It wasn't the worst exam she's ever had, but it called on knowledge not only from that year, but all their previous'. Her friends are all in seats behind her, and with Professor Romanly's vigilant eyes constantly combing through them, she doesn't dare risk looking back.
Eventually there's a loud 'ding' and the exam officially ends. The hall fills with a mix of reactions; from sighs on content to groans of contempt. Cressida settles for a short sigh and smile, picking her bag up from the floor and finally turning around to meet with the others.
They only have one more exam left after this and then they'd be done for the year. Not unsurprisingly, James and Sirius are grinning easily, slowing walking towards the exit but still half-turned and awaiting Cressida and Peter who sat on the far end of the hall. Remus is smiling as well, but more so out of relief than anything else.
"Wasn't too bad," she says in greeting. James half winks an eye, swinging an arm around to loosely lay around her neck. "I thought the questions about Animagus were pretty interesting to answer."
"Oh yes," James laughs, leading them through the crowd of people that congregate at the entrance. "I couldn't quite exactly remember the incantation you're supposed to say every sunrise and sunset though."
Cressida's eyes squint as her cheeks raise high against them, stifling her laughter. "Did you like question ten, Moony?" asks Sirius as they emerge into the courtyard.
"Loved it," says Lupin briskly. "Give five signs that identify the werewolf. Excellent question."
"D'you think you managed to get all the signs?" says James in tones of mock concern.
"Think I did," Lupin answers seriously, as they finally relieve themselves of the crowd of fifth years. "One: He's sitting on my chair. Two: He's wearing my clothes. Three: His name's Remus Lupin..."
Cressida gives out a dramatic sigh of concern. "That's what you put?" she question, biting her lip. "I put they love chocolate, don't like breakfast, and never manages to have matching socks."
James, Peter and Sirius cackle as Remus pulls up his school pants to reveal one grey sock and one black. "I think your answers are fine," he teases. Cressida quickly changes her faux concern back into a jolly grin.
"I reckon we should head to the Lake," James muses, eyeing off another group of students who are heading that direction. "Good weather for it, ain't it?"
"Best idea I've heard all day," Sirius answers quickly. With no other choice other than be left behind, the other three trail alongside them towards and down the grassy hill.
By the time they arrive, a group of girls are by the water's edge with their shoes and socks off. The five Gryffindors find a spot under the shade of a large tree, lounging back in their own ways. James sits with his ankles crossed by his knees poised, taking the spot against the trunk. Sirius leans back, bracing his weight in his hands. Peter and Remus both take hunching forward with crossed legs and Cressida lays her legs to the side, also leaning on her hand outstretched from her waist.
James pulls his snitch from the inside of his jacket, letting it fly through the air. He catches it before it can go anywhere far enough as it continues to try to do so each time he releases it. Each time he catches it, Peter makes a sound of approval. It doesn't bother Cressida or Remus, nor James who enjoys the attention.
She notices though, that each time it almost manages to get away, it's because he is looking towards the lake's edge. Cressida follows his eyes' direction, spotting the group of fifth-year girls that are standing with their bare feet in the water. And of course, Lily Evans is among them.
Every time he looks over, Cressida can feel her mood growing fouler by the second.
"Bloody hell, Peter," Sirius growls. "Can you put that thing away James before Peter chokes on excitement?" Cressida's eyes snap away from Lily and towards Sirius who is the closest on her right.
James sighs easily, catching the snitch for a final time. "If it bothers you," he replies. Cressida reaches out, pinching the side of Sirius' stomach lightly enough to know that she's berating him, but not enough to truly hurt. He simply knocks her hand away with a small swing of his arm. Sirius has never tolerated Peter in the same way the rest of them do – though tolerate is a harsh word. He's their friend, but Sirius doesn't care for his antics some days. "You bored, Black?"
"Beyond belief," he replies both smooth and lowly. His head rolls around lazily, searching the grounds for anything to bring him entertainment. And he finds it. Cressida hesitates to look, fearing what she'll find now that he's in a sour mood, but by now she's probably worse than him. Under another tree, just a little further up the slope is Snape, nose deep in some notes. "It's time he learnt his place, isn't it?" Sirius declares, looking to James for approval.
James tosses his head over his shoulder, spying their rival with contempt. When his head turns back, it has a slight, devious smile but before he answers Sirius, he looks to her. For what happened in Potions, she thinks to herself. For his threats.
Cressida doesn't necessarily care to attack him at that moment, much preferring the idea of going to take a nap, but Snape's words flood her head. Mud-bloods take higher priority than blood traitors, you see. I have dibs on Potter, but I bargained away Black to Rosier. Cressida only gives James a brief raise of her brow, neither approving nor disapproving their coming actions. James' smile grows, turning back to Sirius.
"Really?" Remus sighs. "Right now?"
James and Sirius have unspoken words between them and rise to their feet at the same time. Peter follows up with avid anticipation on his face. Remus and Cressida glance at each other, though she has more nonchalance in her eyes than his reluctance. So the five of them make their way up to Snape, James in the lead as usual.
"All right there Snivellous?!" James calls out. "Having fun making some more lists?"
The parchment in the Slytherin boys' hands is forgotten in an instant as Snape drops it in favour of his wand. Just as his hand emerges from the pocket of his cloak, James flicks his own wand with the same reflex he uses to keep the snitch under his control.
"Expelliarmus!"
Snape's wand jerks off to the side and into the grass. Cressida doesn't miss James looking over his shoulder. His eyes land on her first, then move beyond her. She glances in the same direction, the foul mood inside of her boiling over the edge as she realises that he's still looking for Lily. And she realises then, that James might not be doing this simply for some sort of vengeance, and definitely not for her sake.
"James," she hisses out slowly. To put Snape back in his place – yes, but to impress some girl – absolutely not. He ignores her.
"Impedimenta." As Snape dives for his wand, Sirius' spell hits him in the chest, sending the Slytherin flying back a few feet. He lands on the grass in a heap. A small crowd began to gather around the scene, expressions varying from entertainment to unease. Sirius stalks closer, not lowering his wand. "You might want to bargain for me to back on your list after this. Right at the top too."
The cruelness in his voice is unsettling, even for Cressida to hear. But she knows exactly why. Sirius loathed Snape at first because James took an instant dislike to him, but over the years, Sirius has come to see Snape as a representation of himself, that is, if he followed in his parent's path. Dark Arts. Muggle hating. Slytherin.
Stuck on the ground and panting, Snape glares at them with absolute loathing to match. "You – wait," he pants. "You just…wait."
"Wait for what?" Sirius taunts slowly. Like a predator watching their prey squirm from a bite. "Huh?"
"Bloodtraitor," Snape spits. "Blood traitors and-and.."
Snape lets out a string of curses and hexes but nothing happens to any of them with his wand out of reach. James pushes past Sirius with his wand at the ready. "You like using that word?" he demands, referencing the slur Snape likes to use. "What? Aren't you going to say it in front of your precious Evans?" James marches so close, that he could punch Snape rather than cast a spell. "Go on, say it." Cressida's jaw is set closed, pain radiating down the side of her neck from how painful her teeth grind together.
Snape stares up at James, not opening his thin lips.
"Just leave him alone." The six of them all turn their attention to Lily Evans who has finally pushes through the crowd and had enough. "What's he done to you?"
James takes one step back, simply to put enough space between him and Snape so he can respond to Evans. "Would you like a list?" he calls out to her, softer in tone, but still mocking. "Your name is probably on one as well. Right next to Cressida's."
Lily scoffs in utter disbelief. "Lists?" she repeats. "What on earth are you going on about Potter?"
James holds his hand out to Snape. "Tell her," he demands. "Tell her what you told Cressida. That you and your buddies, sit in your dungeon and spend your time writing down the names of people who you want to kill. You'd never put your precious Evans down yourself, but she is a muggle-born. And like you said, they're worse than blood traitors."
Snape swallows, glaring up at James, eyes flickering to Sirius who is standing silently with a firmly set face. Without saying a word, Snape leaps for his wand. James takes another step back, raising his own but his anger has slowed his reaction.
"Sectumsempera!"
A flash of white light sparks from his wand tip. James barely has time to move out of the way and the spell hits his shoulder. Blood splatters through the air, spraying across Cressida's cheek. James stumbles backwards, grasping at his shoulder which his white shirt is already beginning to soak with blood.
Sirius begins to staunch forward. "Fucking-"
"Ventus." Cressida points her wand at Snape, the invisible spell pushing him back with a hurricane-like wind. He stumbles and trips over his own feet, being forced away from the tree continuously. Some students cheer as he flops around, moving further and further away. Others watch in concern.
"You fucking Mudblood!" Snape shrieks as his school cloak flaps over his head. Cressida watches him with contempt, feeling no remorse for anything that just happened. As soon as she breaks her eyes away though, everything in her seems to drop. James is sitting on the ground, face scrunched in pain as he continues to hold his shoulder against a steady flow of blood which has also splattered across his own face.
Remus is already by his side, holding his wand. "Vulnera Sanentur." The healing charm falls like a chant from his lips, each time, the wound becoming smaller and smaller. The pain doesn't ease from James' face. Cressida and Sirius each fall to a kneel on either side of him.
Cressida doesn't know what to do, and she's more than thankful for Remus' healing abilities because none of them have ever seen that curse before. It was Dark Magic. "James?" Cressida calls softly, seeing if she can at least hold his attention. His eyes open, examining over her entire face.
"You can't say you didn't deserve that-"
Cressida snaps to her feet, eyes ablaze. "Stay the fuck out of this Evans!" Lily is taken aback, blanching and turning a pale white. Cressida's own eyes soften ever so slightly upon seeing her face. She's confused. Confused because Snape's supposed to be her friend yet uses slurs that would label her as well. Cressida realises that she's letting her own anger turn her against Lily. "Sorry," she mutters. "Just… you don't know everything."
Shaking her head, Cressida turns back around and falls to her knees back at James' side. Sirius is watching her with caution, but he tries to keep his attention on his mate.
"You alright?" James croaks, gesturing to her face with his chin as Remus examines his shoulder further.
Cressida frowns, reaching up to touch her face. Before her fingers graze her cheek, she remembers the feeling of blood splattering on them. It turns her blood cold. "It's yours," she whispers. A feeling she never wants to experience again. "Let's go to the hospital wing."
"I'm fine," James argues, pushing Remus' hands away.
"She's right," Sirius sighs. "We don't know what that spell could have done. I've never seen it before." James reluctantly lets Sirius pull him up but insists on walking by himself. The crowd hesitantly disperses, the main entertainment over. "You reckon he made that spell up?"
"I wouldn't put it past him," Cressida says, keeping a step away from everybody else.