School/Theme: Hogwarts, Describe a bad influence
Year: 3
Mandatory Prompt: [Character] Zacharias Smith
Additional Prompt: [Object] Charm bracelet
Special Rule: Story must take place within the same setting.
Word Count: 2,991
Additional Information: Takes place during events happening in the Order of the Phoenix.
A secret rendezvous in the Room of Requirement is the perfect amount of excitement for Lavender Brown.
The fifteen-year-old developed a keen enthusiasm for this spot in between Dumbledore's Army meetings. Her lips curl into an uncontrollable smile every time she races through the hidden opening in the wall, never fully knowing what awaits her inside.
The vast unoccupied space transforms itself into the vibrancy she needs—walls draped with velvet burgundy curtains, a cozy sofa fit for two people, and a roaring fireplace with burning embers in the hearth that warm her from the inside out. And who does she need with her?
Zacharias Smith.
Their relationship began in this very location when she spotted his eyes lingering on her for a little longer than expected during dueling sessions. The flirtatious game continued for a whole week until Zacharias approached her after practice and asked to meet again.
Alone.
She recalls him whispering, "If we're very specific, and say we're both looking for each other, we'll be able to escape here anytime we want—outside of D.A. meetings, of course."
"We can practice our spells!"
Zacharias waggled his eyebrows at her. "Or we can do something else."
"I'm okay with that plan." She giggled and twirled her hair in response.
His sudden appearance in the room snaps her out of her memories. He smoothes out the wrinkles covering his black and yellow robes as he walks toward her with a wide smile and a mouthful of pearly white teeth. Zacharias is tall, skinny, and blonde; not at all who Lavender would describe as her type. Boys that have the same hair color as her are not usually her preference. But there is something intriguing about him that she can't resist, even if she can't pinpoint what it is.
Lavender bites down on her lip. "I told Parvati I needed a book from the library. No one knows we're here."
"Good." Zacharias uncurls an arm from around his back to reveal his closed fist. "I have something for you."
"For me?" Lavender perks up, leaning close to inspect his hand. "Do tell."
He opens his fist to reveal a blossoming flower, and the petals change color from pure white to a distinct shade of pale purple.
Call her sentimental, but the gesture is sweet, and not at all reflective of how others view his personality.
Hermione Granger once called Zacharias annoying, but Lavender happens to think he's anything but. Her best friend, Parvati, is the only person she's confided in about her newfound relationship status. Parvati doesn't approve of Lavender's latest boy choice, often stating that he's obnoxious and condescending.
"He'll do more harm than good, Lav," Parvati said in a recent D.A. meeting.
She is well aware of Zacharias's tendency to be overly critical and pessimistic—particularly when he's challenging Harry's knowledge of defensive spells and slowing down lessons during D.A. meetings—but another side to him sits at the forefront of Lavender's mind, one that makes her feel special. She believes he's at his best when they're together.
"Look inside."
He places the flower into her open palm, bringing Lavender out of her pestering thoughts.
She gasps as she pulls a gold metal chain from the center of the flower and reveals a stunning bracelet that shimmers in the glow of a nearby fire. A single decorative gem adorns the band, appearing as a tiny heart dangling from the chain.
"Oh, Zacharias…"
"Do you like it?"
"Do I?" Lavender bounces up and down on her toes. "I love it. Put it on me?"
"I'd be delighted."
He undoes the clasp and slips the bracelet around her wrist with ease, making the hairs on her skin stand up from his gentle touch. The added piece of jewelry complements her pale skin tone–its opulent, oval-shaped metal links make the piece one she'd choose for herself.
Lavender may not be the center of attention in larger meetings, but she is in this moment with Zacharias, and that's all that matters.
The next day, Lavender meets Zacharias in the same spot they've claimed as their own.
But instead of the romantic atmosphere she conjured in her mind for their getaways, the room now boasts what looks like a second library. Piles upon piles of books stacked on mismatched shelves fill the room. Lavender waves a hand in front of her face to swat off a cloud of dust heading in her direction.
Zacharias pops his head out from behind one of the shelves in the far corner of the room. "Hi, sweetheart!"
The nickname swirls a flurry of flobberworms through her belly. A large part of her wants to take their relationship to the next level. Lavender is itching to hold his hand in the corridors, and to let it be known to all of Hogwarts that he is hers, but he doesn't seem to want to snog her in public yet. The secrecy is odd to her, but it's okay for right now.
Her gaze shifts to the book tucked underneath his arm: A Compendium of Common Curses and Their Counter-Actions. Isn't that the book Hermione has been harping on during their latest meetings?
"What's this all about?" Lavender wrinkles her nose. "If I wanted to study for exams, I would've gone to the actual library."
Although she is thrilled to see him this evening, Lavender can't help but be a bit of a grump. She isn't in the best of moods over her inability to produce a Patronus during today's meeting with Dumbledore's Army, but she hopes Zacharias can lift her spirits.
He clasps his hands behind his back as he tilts his head at her. "That's not the greeting I was hoping for."
Realizing she is still frowning over her moody thoughts, Lavender stands up straighter and plasters a smile on her face while toying with a loose thread on his tie.
"I'm sorry. It's just—all I can manage are those silly puffs of silver vapor in meetings."
"Hey, you'll get it eventually, yeah?"
Her shoulders sink. Yeah. Eventually.
His words echo the same ones Parvati spoke to her only hours ago. The statement irritated Lavender more when it came from her best friend; for some reason, Zacharias's reassurance elevates her spirits.
Maybe Parvati doesn't understand her the way he does—wait, why is she thinking like this? Her friend has always been there for her. Well, apart from supporting her newly discovered happiness with Zacharias.
Regardless, Lavender came here for one person.
"Tell me what you're thinking about," she murmurs, tugging on his tie to pull him close before threading her fingers through his blonde locks. A whiff of fresh pine fills her nostrils from his scented soap.
"You, of course."
"Yes, but what about me?"
Instead of answering her question, his eyes fall to the spot on her wrist that is void of any jewelry.
"You're not wearing your bracelet."
Lavender is surprised by his sudden change of topic.
"It made my wrist a bit itchy, that's all. I'll wear it tomorrow."
Although she sees a dark spot flash through Zacharias's eyes, it's masked by his lazy grin before she can fully process it. He reaches out to place his palm on her cheek before closing the distance between their lips.
"Good. I think it looks beautiful on you."
Their hideout doesn't feel so special the following day, either.
The underlit room is almost bare when Lavender arrives, apart from a single desk that's littered with parchment and an old wooden chair. She's disgruntled that she missed her chance again to transform the room before Zacharias got to it. Doesn't he know anything about romantic dates?
He lifts his head from a note he's scribbling on and the quill drops out of his hand. Lavender wonders what he's writing about—if he's writing about her—but he stands in front of the desk before she can take a peek.
"I can't stay long," Lavender insists. "I need to study for my O. , and I've already missed an assignment or two by being here so close to curfew—"
"I have something for you."
His words mirror the ones he spoke to her right before he gifted her with the charm bracelet, and Lavender's curiosity grows. The light dims in the room even more in the next passing moment. She knows she's not controlling the ambiance, so who is?
Before she can investigate any further, Zacharias fishes through his pocket and pulls out another string of interlocking metal links. A single gold charm in the shape of a wand hangs from the center. Lavender's stomach grows queasy at the sight of the trinket, and it's the first time in her life she's not eager to accept a gift.
"The charms are interchangeable, so we can add this one to your other—wait, where's your bracelet?"
Lavender sucks in a breath and rubs the bare skin just below her hand. "I-I don't have it. I'm sorry. It's in my trunk for safekeeping."
His fists clench at his sides for a moment before he releases the tension. "That's okay. I'll just bring you a new one tomorrow—"
"No need," Lavender interrupts, forcing a smile on her face. "I'll have the bracelet on when we meet next time."
She doesn't know why he's pushing her about a piece of jewelry so much. Where does he keep finding these bracelets, anyway? Is he smuggling them in from Hogsmeade?
"You promise?"
"I promise."
"Well, here." Zacharias leans forward to strap the new gold chain to her wrist before she can stop him. "Have this one anyway."
Although Lavender enters the Room of Requirement before Zacharias the next day, it takes a lot of work to revert the room to its original grandeur. She beams at her placement of rose-scented candles in the shape of a heart on the floor before draping a single wool blanket over the back of a squashy armchair. Celestina Warbeck's latest hit croons in the background, and the soft melodic tune calms any remaining nervous energy she has awaiting his arrival.
She makes sure to reattach the charm bracelet to her arm before Zacharias walks in. It does make her skin feel tingly, and she assumes it must be some sort of allergic reaction, but she doesn't want to hurt his feelings by not wearing it again. Lavender takes two steps forward before her world changes.
Something is wrong.
Her stomach twinges with sharp pain. She keels over, her frantic eyes searching for anything that could help her make sense of what's happening to her body. A large standing mirror appears in the corner of the room—was that there before? No matter, she needs it now.
Clutching her abdomen, Lavender stumbles over to the looking glass. She lets out a terrible scream as she sees the girl reflected back at her. Her once long, blonde, beautiful hair is now a tangled mess of frizz. The sparkling brown of her eyes are reduced to puffiness.
The biggest shock of all is the revolting state of her face covered in splotchy boils and pimples. Her fingers lift to touch one of the sickening blemishes, but she rethinks the action before the pad of her thumb makes contact with her skin. She's not quite sure what unpleasant side effects may await her if she does so.
Lavender's vision goes blurry and her throat tightens to a point that she's struggling to breathe. She clutches her neck. Is the room getting smaller and smaller?
She must think quickly before someone spots her, or else they might believe she's been Polyjuiced. A sparkling glint catches her attention, and her eyes fall to Zacharias's charm bracelet on her wrist.
Could it be?
She yanks the bracelet off and experiences immediate relief from the agonizing pain spreading through her body. Lavender inhales a sharp breath of air as she examines the deep red marks covering the part of her skin where the chain was moments ago, brandishing her like a permanent handcuff.
What is this trickery?
Lavender purses her lips as she glares down at the discarded piece of jewelry on the floor. She'll wear a pair of gloves to return it if she needs to, but her fingers will never touch that wretched bracelet again.
She can't believe it; she doesn't want to. The gift she had once cherished turned out to be what, a prank? A bitter laugh leaves Lavender's lips. The bracelet is actually charmed, and not in a good way.
Zacharias always seemed to struggle in Charms class, but she pretended not to notice. Why did she block out that part of her brain? And how did he pull off this magic? She's infuriated he thought he could get away with his scheme.
Lavender was his target and she walked right into his trap.
The odd behavior she had witnessed from Zacharias over their recent visits serves as the missing puzzle piece to confirm her suspicions; why he was using the makeshift library in the Room of Requirement to study common curses, and how he convinced her to stay with him longer than she wanted, all while alienating Lavender from her friends and schoolwork in the process.
Lavender knows one thing to be certain. Accepting another gift from Zacharias Smith would be reckless.
How could she be so daft? She actually believed that someone could truly care for her.
Tears sting her eyes, but she can't feel sorry for herself right now. It's imperative that she figure out how to eliminate the ghastly scars on her face, and she will do so without involving anyone else. She doesn't fancy hearing the words, "I told you so", coming out of Parvati's mouth.
For their next and final meeting, Lavender arrives prepared. The room transforms itself into what can only be described as a dark and empty dungeon. A chill spreads through her body from the lack of heat as she checks to make sure her wand is securely stowed in the front pocket of her robes for when and if she might need it.
Zacharias has a massive grin on his face when he arrives holding up a new sparkling chain in his hands. While walking towards her, his brows furrow at the change in scenery, but he doesn't question it.
Lavender stamps her foot before he can speak. "I won't be wearing your jewelry, Zacharias."
The grasp on the bracelet in his hands tightens until his knuckles turn white. "Why not?"
"I only came here to say I have you figured out."
"Have you?"
She circles his stoic stance with her hands on her hips. "Do you deny it?"
"Come on, Lav." He scoffs, dismissing her question. "It's just a bit of fun."
"Just a bit of fun?" Her voice rises an octave as she points to the remaining redness on her face that she hasn't been able to cure yet. "You physically harmed me!"
Zacharias's shoulders rise and fall as he stuffs his hands into his pockets. His flippant behavior ignites a pang deep in Lavender's chest. Her heart was always in the right place when it came to their relationship, but she now realizes that his wasn't.
"You're a fraud!"
"No more than you, sweetheart."
She grits her teeth. "Don't call me that."
"You always did have a tendency to overreact."
Lavender's jaw drops open. "Overreact? You cursed me, you pathetic idiot!"
"You talk too much." Zacharias sneers at her. "I would have used it on Granger, but she's way too smart to be fooled by careless magic."
Lavender's blood boils. She may not be a Hufflepuff, but she knows enough about the House to wonder why the Sorting Hat thought it fit to place Zacharias there. For a House that prides itself on fairness and loyalty, he fails to display either of those qualities.
"You used me for your own propaganda!"
"I just wanted to put our skills to use." He pats his chest. "To prove to myself that I could be better."
"You think using dark magic is better? That's not what Harry had in mind."
Zacharias's upturned nose flares. "Sod Potter and his mission. I did this for me."
His selfishness and lack of consideration for Lavender's feelings fuel the rage inside of her as she maintains a tight grip on her wand. All she can think about is what she needs to do for herself now, and her mind has never been clearer.
With ample concentration, she takes a deep breath and focuses on the silliest image of Parvati laughing at one of Lavender's jokes during a D.A. meeting—no boys were present in her memory, particularly not one like Zacharias. Lavender's heart glows with warmth, matching the outward appearance of her wand's tip.
"Expecto Patronum!"
A dazzling silver stream of light bursts into the air, taking the shape of a stunning lioness. A breathy laugh leaves Lavender's lips as she bounces up and down on her toes. She's pleasantly surprised by not only her ability to finally conjure a Patronus but also the strong-headed animal bounding around the room.
Zacharias remains frozen in place as if his feet are stuck to the floor, his mouth agape. "Wh-what? How?"
She doesn't indulge him with a verbal response. Thanks to Harry's teaching methods, she's much more confident in her abilities to disarm.
"Stupefy!"
The force of the spell sends Zacharias's unsuspecting body flying until he hits the nearest wall with a solid bang.
Lavender steps closer, her lips curling up at the sight of his arms shielding his body as he groans on the floor. "You are not brave. You are a coward."
"I think you broke my nose!" Zacharias cries out, clutching his face.
She huffs before spinning on her heel, determined to march out of the magical room with her head held high. She no longer has any need for its sentience.
That's the last time someone takes advantage of Lavender Brown.
