Chapter Twelve-Serpensortia
Apparently, Quidditch was incredibly important to more than 50% of the school population. And for the Slytherins, it was even more important as the Slytherin/Gryffindor match came up.
Their anger at me quickly faded as Flint approached me desperately with a sulky Theodore in tow, begging me to take notes on their last practice. But even as I reluctantly agreed (Flint had promised that no Slytherin would touch me for my beliefs if I did this), Theodore and I were not on speaking terms. I'd thought us friends, and he'd turned against me the moment I'd been cast aside. The whole "allies" thing Draco had once told me about was starting to make sense.
We sat rigidly next to each other, wrapped in scarves, gloves, and thick robes. I had one hand free of my glove and was writing rapidly on a diagram Theodore had hastily drawn up.
"The second chaser isn't very good in that position," I said coolly.
Theodore made a nose of disagreement, but didn't say anything else. I watched the chaser flit about for a moment before turning to him irritably.
"Are you going to talk to me?"
"Are you suggesting we forget what happened?" Theodore turned to me and we were nose-to-nose, eyes narrowed, breath misting up in the frigid air.
I paused and thought about it. And if I really had to be honest, a part of me knew why he'd done it. I was doing the hypocrite stuff again-turning my back on Harry, Ron, and Hermione while being upset at Theodore for doing the same. Picking up my quill, I sighed. "Yeah."
Theodore relaxed a little, and I scooted closer to him, our arms touching. He didn't say anything else about my short "yes", but took the diagram in my hands. "But he's so good in this position-look how he'd sort of be a second Keeper here-"
"We don't need a second keeper," I pointed out, jerking my thumb at our skilled Keeper. "What we need is a second chaser; Harry's going to catch the snitch and you know it, so our best bet might be getting as many points as possible."
"But then we have to change the whole formation, and Flint'll be furious," Theodore groaned. Nevertheless, he began to draw a new diagram, rearranging the beater to cover the space of the chaser. As soon as he was done, we began to change some of the positions, fixing the smaller problems. Finally, finally, we finished. I raised my wand to send up green sparks, and Flint stopped the team from flying.
He sped over with his broom and practically flung himself over the benches to reach us. I handed him the diagram and his face contorted in a grimace.
I understood what he was doing-this was a sort of test, my first time coming back and taking notes for him, and if I wasn't absolutely needed I didn't have the absolute protection from some of the Slytherins. By Draco's face as he and the rest of the team crowded around Theodore and I to see the diagram, he was sort of against me staying.
"Are you sure?" Flint demanded, and his blonde Seeker grabbed the diagram to inspect it sullenly before passing it around.
Theodore nodded firmly. "This is one of the best formations I've seen in a while, Flint. Even if Potter gets the Snitch, it'll bring us up close enough to knock down Ravenclaw's points even." I shot him a grateful look.
Flint was sold; he turned back to his team with a steeling, scary look I'd seen Oliver Wood wear sometimes, and I knew the team would not be resting until the game.
When the game finally came, I was excited. Quidditch seemed fun to play, but with my skill the Bludgers would plummet me while I fumbled with the Quaffle, the Snitch hovering above me laughingly. But this was my formation-I'd taken such a big part in it with Theodore, and never had I created such a good plan. In muggle school I'd been okay at sports, but I was more excited to be caught up in the game itself instead of play it, if that makes sense.
On the day of the game, even the dark clouds could not stop my spirit-I ran to the library and turned the parts of my umbrella separated by spokes into parts a brilliant Slytherin green-and-silver. Wearing my green sweater, I pulled on my Slytherin hat and scarf. Even Theodore's concealed disapproval when he saw my jeans couldn't hide my excitement, and I yanked him along early to get the best seats.
Disappointedly, three-quarters of the whole school was dressed in Gryffindor colors, but our House seemed surprisingly used to it. When the Gryffindor team came out we boo'd and jeered; I caught Hermione's eye to let her know I didn't really mean the hostility, but I definitely meant the competition.
Harry turned to glance at me, and I cupped my hands to my mouth and yelled myself hoarse, cheering for Slytherin. His eyes flickered in amusement when he saw my one glove I'd charmed to be Gryffindor, in grudging support for him, and he laughed at Theodore's outraged look when he noticed my glove.
As Slytherins emerged, the Slytherin House shouted themselves so loud they could be heard over the rest of Hogwarts hissing in disapproval, and I felt a sudden feeling of exhilaration, so incredibly proud of my House's unity I screamed and hugged Theodore. No wonder the Slytherins were so hostile to the other Houses; they shunned us like we were all prejudiced, and Slytherins retaliated in the only way they could.
"CALM DOWN!" Theodore shouted so loud at me that Tracey and Daphne heard behind us.
"NO!" I laughed, and reluctantly all three (Theodore, Daphne, and Tracey) smiled a little at my enthusiasm.
Madam Hooch, the coach of Quidditch at Hogwarts, placed the whistle in her mouth and pointed sternly at Flint and Wood. Flint squared his shoulders and pumped Wood's hand furiously, their eyes locked in a dangerous battle of confidence. The crowd suddenly hushed as Madam Hooch lifted three fingers, then two, then one…
At the whistle, the crowd erupted, exploding all around me as the fourteen players shot to the sky, the game beginning as bludgers were let loose, the Quaffle flying everywhere, and the Snitch already spinning around and away. I let out a gasp of surprise as the gleam of gold stopped right in front of me, tilted as if judging me, and promptly zipped out of view.
"No," Theodore said in shock. "It's working. Our formation-it's...perfect!"
I was watching Flint carefully, and the Slytherin turned around to grin at Theodore and I, satisfied with our plan. "MERLIN, THEODORE, SLYTHERIN IN THE LEAD!"
Theodore smiled smugly and shook one satisfied fist in the air as the score came up sixty to zero. The Slytherins around me were bursting in excitement, the other Houses yelling their support at the Gryffindor Team so loudly we almost missed the rain.
I took out my umbrella and sat under it with Theodore next to me, and through the rain I watched the game, my excitement gradually waning as I noticed something.
"That's a scary bludger," I said to Theodore. "Should it be-?"
"No," Theodore said, eyes wide at the bludger that changed direction abruptly to hit Harry. Fred spun forward-or was it George?-and barely managed to knock it away. The bludger changed course again and headed back to Harry. "That shouldn't-are you seeing this?" He turned to Daphne and Tracey.
Daphne lifted binoculars she'd brought, and quirked an eyebrow. "That's odd...I didn't know the Slytherins were planning on tampering the bludger."
"Me neither," Tracey took the binoculars and looked up. "Hey-we just scored-the bludger seems tampered to just hit Potter."
We weren't the only ones to notice; Wood called timeout and Harry had to do a weird little spiral to avoid the bludger as he stumbled to the ground; it wasn't his best landing and it was so wet he slipped.
But as they resumed play, I was horrified to see that Fred and George were no longer trailing Harry to block the bludger. Harry twirled, looped, and spun to avoid the black bullet speeding through the rain at him. The Slytherins shrugged it off as they scored again again and again-I watched Draco laugh openly at Harry's struggle.
"He's going to get hit," I whispered, horrified. Uncertainly, I drew my wand. "Finite Incantatem."
I was surprised when something happened-the bludger paused, confused, and turned to knock Adrian Pucey, who was closer to the bludger. But then it gave a great shudder and began chasing Harry again.
"You saw that!" I hissed at Theodore. "Did you see?"
"If this was Flint," Theodore said, fuming. "then I'll kill him. He said he trusted our formation!"
But I didn't care about that anymore-I was muttering Finite Incantatems over and over again, but someone kept stopping the bludger from hitting others. It seemed I just wasn't fast enough, because as my wand slipped out of my grasp in the rain the bludger smashed into Harry's arm.
I clapped a hand over my mouth in horror as Harry slowly spun back around, his right arm at an awkward angle. His face was a picture of pain and panic as he scrambled to get a hold on his broom, nearly sliding off. And then he lunged-people screamed-and he caught the snitch as Draco spun out of the way.
There was a yell from the crowd below as he headed straight for the ground, trying hard not to pass out. I stood up suddenly, tripping over my feet to get to him. I could see Hermione and Ron doing the same.
"Harry?" I said worriedly, crouching low and putting the umbrella above his unconscious form.
"What're you doing here?" Someone sneered. "It could have been you that cursed that bloody bludger!"
"Is he alright?" Hermione whimpered next to me, flinging off her scarf to wrap around his neck-he was shivering and moaning as he slowly opened his eyes.
"Out of the way, out of the way," Lockhart said cheerfully, and Harry moaned a no, not you as he opened his eyes slightly.
"Doesn't know what he's saying," said Lockhart loudly to the anxious crowd. "Not to worry, Harry. I'm about to fix your arm."
"No!" said Harry, his eyes glittering green and hazy. "I'll keep it like this, thanks..."
"Lie back, Harry," said Lockhart soothingly. "It's a simple charm I've used countless times-"
"Why can't I just go to the hospital wing?" said Harry painfully. "No-don't-" But Lockhart did not listen; he directed his wand at Harry's arm and I watched as his arm grew limper. It resembled a wet noodle, and as it flopped around bonelessly I turned away, trying not to retch.
Theodore was suddenly by my side again, tugging me away, and I let him, casting a worried glance at Harry as I left my umbrella with Hermione for Harry.
O-O
I didn't visit Harry in the daylight because of two reasons: One, Theodore was my friend again and I'd missed him, so I spent the day with him. We sat in the library hoarding snacks in our bags, secretly eating them when the librarian looked away until she came to kick us out before curfew set in. Two, a whole crowd of giggling Potter fans set out to visit Harry, carrying pink-laced boxes of chocolates and teddy bears. It was as if Valentine's Day had come early. One girl, Theodore noticed, was decorating a Bludger for Harry that wrote in glitter, Are you a Beater? Because you make my heart beat so fast I think I'm in love. I laughed so hard I choked on my stash of candy.
At a little after midnight, I woke up blearily and lay in the covers for a bit, listening for Pansy's snores. She had her perfume tracing the air-lavender, which meant she was sleeping (Pansy set different smells for the day-in the day it was a more vicious smell of roses and at night it was a calm lavender). Shifting quietly, I slipped out in my pajamas and grabbed my wand to go visit Harry. I didn't wear any shoes so that my feet would make no noise-instead I was wearing fuzzy, mismatched socks that matched my pajamas.
The hospital wing was silent, and I slipped inside quickly. Harry was lying a few beds down, the curtain the only one drawn closed.
I gave it a little push and the curtains rustled.
"Dobby?" Harry asked hoarsely.
Indignantly, I yanked open the curtains and stepped in, closing them behind me. "Do I look like a floppy-eared house elf to you?"
"What are you doing here?" said Harry, surprised.
"Can't visit a friend?"
"I didn't know we were friends." Harry said, a little edge of coldness to his voice. "And in the middle of the night? Like a murderer?"
"Shove over," I told him, and he did so reluctantly. I slid into bed next to him and poked his jiggly arm. "How's the arm?"
"Fine," he said hesitantly. He blinked wide, green eyes at me. "Look-Rowan-Snape-whatever-I don't...I don't know why you bother. One minute you care, next minute you're calling Hermione a-"
"I didn't mean that!" I exclaimed with a quiet hiss. "Seriously, if I did, I would not be here!"
"Well then...why are you here?"
"Do i need a reason?" I said after a pause. "I don't...I just...Look. I came here to apolog-apologize."
Harry's lips twitched in the dim light. "You sound like someone's making you do this."
"I hate apologizing," I admitted. "It's annoying, and frankly, I still don't see what I did wrong. Well, I do, but I don't know-you should have understood."
"Hypocrite," Harry commented without any heat, and reached forward to grab a chocolate labeled Love you, Feel Better! "Want some?"
"You will rot your teeth," I let him break a huge chunk and shoved it in my mouth. "I know I'm a hypocrite alright? I yelled at you for not sticking up for me, and I didn't do the same, and I'm sorry."
Harry blew some hair from his face and sat back against the pillows. "This seems like a continuous cycle, doesn't it? The fighting. The apologizing."
I laughed a little.
The Gryffindor chewed his lip. "So what changed your mind?"
"I'm supposed to be cheesy now," I announced. "And say that I have no idea, and that I guess I realized who my true friends were, but-Merlin, Harry, it hit me like a ton of bricks."
"Hope you're okay," Harry fixed his face into a look of mock-concern. "Here, I got you something." He took another feel better chocolate and chucked it at me.
"Oi!" I chucked it back at him, annoyed when he caught it perfectly. "But really...Harry, did you see Draco's face? When we saw the writing on the wall?"
He was serious suddenly. "Yes. Malfoy wanted the muggleborns to die."
"Yes, and that...when I saw his face, that was so scary. You have to understand he's my friend, and I even went to his manor and we talked for a bit, but I can't believe prejudice has sunken in so deep that he wants muggleborns dead. Disliking them, I could deal with. But I don't think any of the Slytherins-not Zabini, not Draco-they don't understand what they're getting themselves into."
"But-and hear me out on this-I don't care about the prejudice. They can bloody hate muggleborns for all I care, but it crosses the line when they get to murder. That's why I didn't defend you. And I'm sorry, but I'm not. I know you're not stupid, Harry, so just think about it. I won't ask you to defend me anymore, if it makes you feel better."
Harry didn't speak for several minutes. "I suppose," he said slowly. But before he could say more, hushed footsteps drew near. I plunged into the covers and buried myself under Harry's pillow. He put an elbow on my head to try and look like he was hugging a pillow under the blanket, and I poked him in the side. I squirmed so my head was resting on his stomach and lifted the blanket to see through the curtain opening Harry had discreetly opened.
"Stop moving," I hissed in his ear.
"I can't...it tickles!" Harry fell silent, shaking, and we watched Dumbledore (wearing a long woolly dressing gown and a nightcap that made me laugh quietly) and Professor McGonagall carrying a stiff form onto the bed.
"Get Madam Pomfrey," whispered Dumbledore, and Professor McGonagall hurried past the end of Harry's bed out of sight.
"What happened?" Madam Pomfrey whispered to Dumbledore, bending over the statue on the bed.
"Another attack," said Dumbledore. "Minerva found him on the stairs."
"There was a bunch of grapes next to him," said Professor McGonagall. "We think he was trying to sneak up here to visit Potter."
Was that a...person? And an attack? I felt Harry stiffen. Quietly, he poked my cheek and I shifted silently so we could both sit up and crane our necks.
Colin Creevey. The little boy that liked to take pictures. I couldn't believe it; every time i saw him he was accompanied with the familiar click click click of his camera, but now he was stiff and frozen with a horrified expression of shock on his face. His hands were stiff and straight up, clutching a camera.
I clapped my hands to my mouth silently.
"You don't think he managed to get a picture of his attacker?" said Professor McGonagall eagerly.
Dumbledore didn't answer. He opened the back of the camera.
"Good gracious!" said Madam Pomfrey, and she gasped.
A jet of steam had hissed out of the camera. The smell of burnt plastic rose into the air, sharp and stinging. "Melted," said Madam Pomfrey wonderingly. "All melted..."
"What does this mean, Albus?" Professor McGonagall asked urgently.
"It means," said Dumbledore, "that the Chamber of Secrets is indeed open again."
Madam Pomfrey clapped a hand to her mouth. Professor McGonagall stared at Dumbledore.
"But, Albus... surely... who?"
"The question is not who," said Dumbledore, his eyes on Colin. "The question is, how. Come, let us allow the patients here to rest."
When they'd left, I scrambled out of bed quietly. Neither me nor Harry wanted to sleep anymore. Harry's eyes were wide open, emerald and alert.
"I should go," I muttered. "I-please, Harry, be careful. Whatever you plan to do, be careful."
Harry didn't say anything. I didn't expect him to. I reached and took his hand (the one with no bones) and gave it a squeeze. His fingers flopped back and bent all the way to his wrist. "Have fun with your jelly arm."
"There won't be any difference in my writing anyway," Harry shrugged. I grinned; it was a known fact Harry's handwriting resembled a loopier version of chicken scratch.
With a final poke of his hand, I slipped out, making sure to make as little noise as possible, mind whirring.
O-O
Colin Creevey's story spread like wildfire. Students grew tense and panicked, traveling in large groups. There began a trade for seemingly protective amulets, talismans, stones, and other things. Even the Slytherin House wasn't safe-I spotted a few first-years clutching amulets nervously on their neck, and one first-year even whirled around and held up a protective stone at me when I accidentally bumped into them late at night.
Snape seemed in a foul mood; I'd decided to visit him, but stayed away for the next week as he stormed around spewing insults in Potions Class. In my last detention with Zabini I'd accidentally slipped and spun around, and the sponge had smacked straight between Snape's eyes. Zabini and I, as an extra punishment, were to sit together as Potions partners.
Draco sat in the table next to us, and he kept making faces at Harry (who sat with Ron, always). Zabini snickered quietly each time.
"Please shut up," I clenched my teeth as he snickered and jostled my elbow, causing me to nearly cut my finger.
"And what're you going to do about it?" Zabini sneered at me over the steaming potion. I dropped in the cut ingredients silently, stirring clockwise.
When the potion was runny enough to not be a stretchy goop, I took the tip of the knife, dipped it in the potion, and flicked a drop onto Zabini's left cheek. It sank into his skin and he looked like a half-deflated chipmunk. I grinned. "That."
"Oh, you're hilarious," Zabini snarled, jabbing a spare knife into the potion. He smacked the flat of the blade onto my palm, and I jumped; my palm swelled to the size of a small tennis ball.
"Oh, look!" I shoved my tennis-ball hand into his face. "It's bigger than your brain!"
Zabini drew himself up, left cheek swelled indignantly, and opened his mouth to speak when there was a fizzing sound. Goyle's potion exploded horribly spewing everywhere.
I twisted, flailing underneath my desk, and instinctively yanked Zabini down with me. He dropped with a furious gasp, but his protest ended quickly when we emerged and noticed everyone else with swelling body parts. One of Crabbe's leg was enlarged ten times his other foot, Goyle's eyes were the size of a car tire, and Draco's nose resembled a drooping water balloon. I stifled a laugh when I turned and saw Neville Longbottom's head swell to the size of a large clock.
People were shrieking; Lavender Brown was sobbing with more tears I'd ever seen on a person as she clutched her drooping lips-
"Silence! SILENCE!" Snape roared. "Anyone who has been splashed, come here for a Deflating Draft - when I find out who did this-"
About half the class, with me and Zabini trailing behind, hurried forward. I saw Harry's face pale suddenly as I bent down to retrieve a quill I'd knocked over.
When Snape had finished giving out the Deflating Draught to everyone else, Zabini and I stepped forward. But he was snarling, and snapped at us, "I meant splashed by Goyle's potion. Back to your seats."
"How did he know?" Zabini hissed furiously, clutching his cheek in embarrassment as we trudged back. "Must be your fault."
I showed him my palm. "Yes, must be."
Snape stormed over to Goyle's potion, his face unhinged with absolute anger. The class was a hushed silence as he pulled out a firework from Goyle's potion. Slowly, Snape strode back to the front of the class and gave the Gryffindors a piercing, venomous look. Several students whimpered (later on a rumor went around that Neville Longbottom peed himself).
"If I ever find out who threw this," Snape whispered, "I shall make sure that person is expelled."
He looked straight at Harry. I followed his gaze to see Harry's face-it was the I did it but maybe if I pretend I have no idea what's happening I'll get away with it face he had. Harry could not lie for his life.
Ron's ears were tinged red, and he avoided eye contact. Hermione, by far, was the shakiest-she had an astonished look on her face, as if she could not believe someone had the audacity to throw the firework into the potion.
When class was over, I fled the class like everyone else.
O-O
"Are you going to Dueling Club?" Tracey asked from behind curtains in the dormitory. The other girls, getting dressed as well behind their own curtains, stilled to hear my response.
I pulled on a sweater. "I heard Lockhart was supervising? Snape's been grumbling about it since forever. Shouldn't it be obvious that I'm not?"
Tracey snorted, and there was silence, but then Daphne spoke up, incredulous. "Wait-hold on a bloody minute. Tracey Davis, you're making me go but not her?"
"You're my best friend," Tracey said with a snigger, and I heard her pull her curtain open. "Of course."
"Well, Rowan's coming whether or not she wants to," Daphne announced, yanking her own curtains open. I tugged on my robes and pulled it open to stare at her determined blue eyes.
"Why?" Millicent finally grunted in the silence. Tracey paused on the way to the bathroom door to listen.
"Because I signed you up," Daphne smirked. "And if you don't make it I'll have Lockhart make you volunteer to be the werewolf in the next chapter of the book in class."
The room filled with shrieks of laughter at my gaping face.
I stared at her, slack-jawed. "You sneaky little rat." Daphne flashed me a sickly smile that had me growling before she stepped out, pulling on her robes. Glancing around in despair, I looked at everyone around me. "Will nobody stand up for me?"
"No," everyone chorused. Pansy, especially, with a whiney edge to it that let me know she was still angry Draco and I weren't speaking. A couple days ago she'd tried to convince me to get on good terms with the blonde again so I could drop subtle hints about how great he and Pansy could be as a couple.
"Come on," Daphne gave me a little shove towards the bathroom door, forgetting Tracey was already in line for it, more cheerful than I had ever seen the icy girl. "Freshen up for Lockhart."
I muttered something foul at her that made her bark out a surprised laugh ("So you're not a book-obsessed snob after all! I'm impressed!") and made my way in line for the bathroom.
But when I came out of the bathroom and trudged down to the common room, Snape was standing there. All the Slytherins were crowded around him listening, and I tried to quietly sit down. Tracey, who's eyes widened when she saw me, only made me panic.
"Miss Snape."
I winced and straightened. "Sorry I'm late, sir...I didn't know there would be a meeting."
"I posted this meeting a week ago on the board," Snape barked out "Sit down, you foolish girl."
This meeting is foolish, I thought indignantly. I was hungry and feeling very tricked by my dorm mates for having been blackmailed into attending a stupid club.
"As you all know," Snape looked as if he was sucking on a lemon. "Christmas break is coming up. I have placed a piece of parchment on the board, and all who wish to stay for Christmas break will write their name on the parchment before the end of tomorrow night. This meeting is over."
Everyone waited until he left the room before getting up. I stared at his retreating back, robes billowing around his ankles.
Where am I going for Christmas?
How did he expect me to just-did I just figure it out? Did I stay here, in my dorm for Christmas?
"Rowan..?" Tracey was shaking my shoulder. "Anyone in there?"
I blinked. "No, I-sorry?"
"What happened?" She said impatiently, hair falling to her face and tickling my neck. "You sort of blanked out. Should I get Theodore?"
"No, it's-it's fine." I stood up abruptly. Get Theodore? "Why get him?"
"He's like your other half," Daphne smirked. "He's always around you, shielding you from Zabini whenever he can."
"Are you sure you two aren't dating?" Pansy purred as she walked by, not waiting for an answer as she left.
"Who's dating?" Theodore said from behind me. I let out a sharp gasp and whipped around.
"Merlin-don't do that!" I shoved him. "Let's go get breakfast."
Daphne and Tracey gave me a knowing look, heading off together. Theodore rolled his eyes. "But I want to know who's dating-"
"Us."
"What?" Theodore said sharply. His eyes were wide with panic as we walked, and I had to fight laughter as we left the common room. "We-no, hold on, get back here-"
I had been walking a lot faster because I was slowly cracking a smile as he spoke. With a last, quiet gasp of laughter I pulled myself together. "What's wrong?"
"We aren't dating," Theodore said, and our elbows didn't touch anymore. He kept a constant two-feet distance between us now, like the way Draco walked around a Pansy hopelessly. "I-apologize if you interpreted it that way, but I'm not-"
"Shut up!" I howled, bending over to laugh. I was laughing so hard tears were streaming down my face at Theodore's bewildered look. We entered the Great Hall, and students passed me weird looks as I snorted. "I'm joking, I'm joking! Daphne and Tracey think we're dating, you moron!"
Theodore, looking much more relieved, had adopted a disgusted face. "That's disgusting."
"I'm not that repulsive," I said, offended. "Hey-are you staying for Christmas?"
Theodore shook his head. "My parents are responsible for the Christmas party every year, and I have to go."
"What Christmas party?" I frowned. "I'm feeling like you're not going to invite me."
"Rowan," Theodore sighed. "I can't."
"Why not? I'd love to go." My tone was light and careful.
"You're a half blood," Theodore said reluctantly. "I don't even know for sure if you are. I don't know anything about you-you could be a mudblood."
I realized he'd walked me to the Gryffindor table by accident, and I stopped right behind Hermione, who turned around at the offensive word in a defensive stance.
"Do your parents know I'm friends with you?" I asked.
"Let's not talk here," Theodore said uneasily, and he put a hand on my elbow. I jerked away.
"Don't touch her," Ron said furiously. "Did you just call her a mudblood?"
"No, let's talk about this," I turned around. The Gryffindor table had not yet noticed us, but Harry and Hermione had. They went quiet and watched.
"Let's not," Theodore said curtly.
"So what if I was a mudblood?" I stepped back. "Would you-would you treat me like Draco to Hermione?"
"I don't know," Theodore hissed. "Shut up before someone hears."
He's right. I blinked. Isn't this what you expected? Do you want him to have to choose?
"I'm sorry," I breathed reluctantly. For someone who hated apologizing, I did it a lot.
"Why are you apologizing?" Hermione asked shrilly. "He called you a mu-mud-"
"No, it's fine," I said sharply. "Come on, Theodore."
"No, it's not fine!" Hermione said in surprise. "Don't let him-"
"He's right, isn't he?" I said. "I could be a mudblood. And it's just a name."
Theodore unclenched his fists and opened his mouth, but I shot him a look that made him shut his mouth. Unclenching my own fists, I turned and stalked out of the Great Hall.
"Aren't you getting food?" Theodore called. "Breakfast?"
"Not hungry," I called back, stepping out.
I didn't know what was happening to me. I missed Tom. I missed talking to him. I missed having friends that didn't hate my other friends. I missed knowing who my friends were.
I didn't want Theodore to have to choose between his family and me, because I knew I'd lose. I just had to compromise; I had to let him be prejudiced with the rest of the Slytherins, and I had to deal with it. Thing was, I didn't know how much more I could take.
I didn't know how I had ended up back at Snape's door, but I knocked before I could hesitate.
"Come in," Snape snarled from behind the door. He looked up with a scowl when he saw it was me. "What do you need?"
"Am I staying for Christmas?"
He looked sullen. "I assume so, as I'm your guardian."
"Yes, sir. But - where'll I stay?" I didn't look at him (he'd be glaring at me), and instead I fixed my eyes on a list of ingredients he needed, pinned onto his shelf.
Aconite, Bloodroot, Boomslang, Foxglove, Goosegrass…
"Where do you prefer?" Snape sneered. "If it'll be here, don't expect a Christmas tree."
He was ruining Christmas, I thought sulkily. No tree? No sparkling lights?
Presents? Everyone deserved one. I had to start shopping. "I'd like to stay in my room here, please."
Snape let out a low growl of annoyance. "Very well. When students leave, you may get your things and come back."
"The Masons," he spat out as if he had just tasted something awful. "have sent you money that should be coming tonight." He pulled out letters they'd written me and handed it to me. Every month I'd find the Masons' weekly letters to me on my desk; it was only now that I realized Snape personally set them in my dorm for me.
"Money?" I said, astonished. "I didn't think I'd get my allowance anymore. Is it in muggle form?"
Snape snarled. "Of course they are, you foolish girl! I've sent them off to be exchanged into wizard currency."
I ,with a nod of thanks, took the letters and made as if to leave. Snape flicked his wand at the door and it slammed shut. "Sit back down, you dunderhead! Have you eaten breakfast yet?"
"Yes," I lied. He raised his eyebrows at me and I dipped my eyes. "Alright, no. But I'm not hungry, I'm really not!"
Snape scrutinized me, and I fidgeted under his dark gaze. "Fine," he barked out, slapping his wand in the air with a sharp whistle in the air, and the door opened. "If you get sick don't come crying to me."
I grinned at him despite his foul glare. "I won't. Thanks, Professor." He grunted and shut the door as I stepped out.
Dueling Club was at eight, and so, obediently, I let myself be dragged back to the Great Hall that night. Theodore, upon hearing I was going, would not stop bothering me about how I would fall in love with handsome Lockhart, and I left him snickering in the library to meet up with Daphne and Tracey.
"You showed," Daphne said in surprise, lacing her eyebrows together in a uplifting motion.
"Who made me?" I grumbled, letting them lead me to the Great Hall. Tracey sniggered and pulled me along.
"Who knows, Snape?" She slung an arm around me and I made a face at her I didn't mean, causing Daphne to snort. "Maybe we'll be close friends if all goes well."
"Unlikely," Daphne said, but she tossed me a carefree look that tugged up the corners of her lips and lifted her eyes so they seemed lighter.
The Great Hall had morphed itself into something that looked like an enhanced muggle magician act. The long dining tables had vanished and a golden stage had appeared along one wall, lit by thousands of candles floating overhead. I could see the soft, satin black in the sky that rose up over the students - and as we waited, so many of them arrived that it seemed there were more hands holding their wands excitedly than candles in the sky.
I spotted Harry, Hermione, and Ron and with a shout they headed over to me. I saw Daphne and Tracey give each other long, contemplating looks before shrugging and moving aside so they had space. I flashed them a look of gratitude as the trio came over. Hermione stood next to me, with Harry in between her and Ron.
"I wonder who'll be teaching us?" said Hermione as they edged into the chattering crowd. "Someone told me Flitwick was a dueling champion when he was young - maybe it'll be him." She looked excited.
I shook my head and gave both Ron and Harry a miserable look. "I heard it's Lockhart - Snape's been moaning about it since last week, and I haven't got the slightest clue why."
"I think we've just found out," Ron said with a horrified moan, and Harry let out a similar noise of frustration when we saw who was striding onto the stage.
In dark plum robes, Lockhart gave the crowd a winning smile that made even my heart flutter slightly. He strode on stage with a gleeful bounce, and behind him trailed Snape - fouler than ever. In his usual oily black robes, Snape gave off the impression of a greasy-haired, overgrown boy sulking after his exuberant companion.
Lockhart waved an arm for silence and called "Gather round, gather round! Can everyone see me? Can you all hear me? Excellent!"
"Now, Professor Dumbledore has granted me permission to start this little dueling club, to train you all in case you ever need to defend yourselves as I myself have done on countless occasions - for full details, see my published works.
"Let me introduce my assistant, Professor Snape," said Lockhart, flashing a wide smile. "He tells me he knows a tiny little bit about dueling himself and has sportingly agreed to help me with a short demonstration before we begin. Now, I don't want any of you youngsters to worry - you'll still have your Potions master when I'm through with him, never fear!"
I could not contain myself, and rising to the balls of my feet I shouted, "It's not him most of us are worried about, Professor!"
There was a general murmur of agreement from the crowd, mostly Slytherins and guys, but it was barely heard over the protesting screams of encouragement from half the female population.
Snape turned to look at me, and his eyes flickered in surprise. I cupped my hands to my mouth, like Tracey and Daphne, and screamed for Snape to finish off Lockhart. Harry and Ron, laughing their heads off, clapped their hands for him as well. I gave them a brief look, impressed, and surprisingly it was Ron that gave me a toothy grin.
Snape now turned to stare in slight astonishment at Harry and Ron, who'd decided they would cheer for him without looking at him for fear he'd be glaring. But Snape's upper lip was curling; his eyes had turned venomously excited at the prospect of defeating Lockhart and doing the two things he loved: making students cry (the Lockhart fans) and hexing a teacher while students supported him.
They faced each other, and Lockhart flourished his hands with a fancy bow that reminded me much of what people must have been doing at fancy parties in the Malfoy Manor. Snape jerked his head a little as a bow, and both raised their wands like swords.
"As you see, we are holding our wands in the accepted combative position," Lockhart told the silent crowd. "On the count of three, we will cast our first spells. Neither of us will be aiming to kill, of course."
Harry leaned over and muttered to me, "You sure Snape's going to hold back?"
"No," I said, grinning almost as much as Snape.
"One - two - three-"
Both of them swung their wands above their heads and pointed them at their opponent. Lightning-quick, I watched in fascination as Snape roared, "Expelliarmus!"
Red light flashed in the air, and Lockhart flew backward off the stage into a wall, his wand flying to the air. Smoothly Snape spun around and caught it with one hand.
The Slytherins, mostly, burst into laughter and cheers. I clapped as hard as I could, and discovered some people from the other houses doing the same thing.
When it grew quiet again and Lockhart brushed himself off, he said airily, and a little unsteadily, "An excellent idea to show them that Disarming Spell, Professor Snape, but if you don't mind my saying so, it was very obvious what you were about to do. If I had wanted to stop you it would have been only too easy - however, I felt it would be instructive to let them see..."
"If you say so," I blurted out loudly, my tone laced with heavy sarcasm. Scattered snickers rose in the air, and Snape smirked at Lockhart before locking satisfied eyes with me. That was one thing we agreed on - Lockhart needed to be taken down a notch.
Lockhart stopped, his feet at my chest from the stage, and he locked eyes with me. His sweet eyes were coated with a cover of slight annoyance. "And what's your name, Miss…"
"Snape," I said, and for once I said it so proudly Lockhart stepped back in alarm. Snape's smirk now matched mine.
"Ah, of course you'd be proud of your relative," Lockhart said with a bright grin. "Come on up, young lady-"
What have I gotten myself into? Slightly wary, Snape gave me a slight nod and I climbed onstage. Students watched the exchange, eyebrows raised.
"Who is Severus to you? Uncle? Father?" Lockhart said cheerfully, and the crowd murmured; they'd been wondering, too. I blinked, panic rising to my chest as I swallowed.
"Merlin, no!" I gave Lockhart a grin, eyes narrowing. Two could play at this game. "That would be stupid. Of course, you'd know all about-" I clapped my hand over my mouth as if surprised at what I said. Lockhart's smile tightened. "He's a distant relative."
Hermione's face was an outraged, purpley-red gape, but Tracey, Daphne, Ron, and Harry were staring, impressed. Adrenaline shifted through me, and Lockhart locked eyes with me.
"Well, let's see if you're as good as Severus here. Ladies and Gentlemen, here's a little demonstration! Watch me carefully here, Miss Snape here will be receiving a hands-on dueling experience with me!"
Crap.
I couldn't think of any spell to cast, but judging by Snape's confident smirk, I would be fine. I shrugged lightly. "If you insist, Professor. But you might want to put a Cushioning Charm on that wall."
Lockhart clenched his teeth, but smiled brightly at the crowd. "No, no - I don't think so. Ready?"
"Always." I bowed as fancily as he did, wondering if I was overdoing it with my low curtsy, but when I lifted my eyes Blaise Zabini was standing in the very back and even he looked impressed.
Blaise Zabini. Right! I gave him a look that clearly said thank you! and I faced Lockhart, ignoring Zabini's confused sneer.
"One - two - "
Before he could say anything else I shouted, "Flipendo!"
He went flying into the air, flipping over and over until he hit the wall again, and I breathed out a puff of satisfied air. The air erupted in screams from Lockhart's faithful fans and cheers from the unfaithful. I looked back at Zabini again, and he had a strange look on his face, eyebrows raised. He gave me a single nod, and mouthed, I'm almost impressed.
"I could have easily blocked that, of course, but this was another great example of an unfriendly spell. However, I did say disarm only, Miss Snape. Fifty points from Slytherin for not following instructions," Lockhart said cheerfully, and as cries of outrage rose from the Slytherin House Snape stepped forward, eyes glittering black. He placed a hand on my shoulder carefully.
"Sixty points to Slytherin for a perfectly executed spell." Snape said smoothly. I looked up at him to see his smirk, and hid a grin.
"Ah, ah, ah, Snape. Seventy from Slytherin for not casting the spell as a respectable witch on two instead of three!" Lockhart said with a little smile.
"Oh, but I didn't know, Professor!" I said brightly. "I'm very sorry if I did anything wrong, Professor Snape." I could see the hourglass of the Slytherin points in the tower from a Great Hall window, and the emeralds were dropping and rising rapidly.
"Eighty points to Slytherin for a won duel," Snape's voice left no room for argument, and as Lockhart looked into his dangerous eyes he seemed to know this. "And twenty for honesty."
There were faint murmurs from the crowd as Slytherins grinned broadly at the points we earned, but nobody dared to say anything as Snape put an arm around me with a dangerous glint in his eye. I stiffened in astonishment, but relaxed almost instantly, flashing the crowd a grin.
Lockhart, who was quickly growing nervous, gave the crowd another bright but tense smile before shouting, "Enough demonstrating! I'm going to come amongst you now and put you all into pairs. Professor Snape, if you'd like to help me-"
Snape was into action immediately. I hopped off the stage as he retracted his arm, and he split up Harry, Ron, and Hermione faster than they could say no.
"Weasley to Finnigan," Snape said with a wicked grin. Harry stepped towards me and Hermione automatically.
"I don't think so," said Snape, smiling coldly. "Mr. Malfoy, come over here. Let's see what you make of the famous Potter. And you, Miss Granger - "
"Can she partner me?" I interrupted, throwing caution to the wind.
Snape looked annoyed, but he seemed satisfied I'd karate-thrown Lockhart in the air, so he snarled and jerked his head in consent.
Hermione beamed and slid closer to me, and I hooked my arm into hers playfully. She grinned. "I guess it's useful to have a Slytherin on our side."
"Maybe I'm the Heir of Slytherin and I just want to murder everyone," I crossed my eyes and flicked my tongue out, hissing. "Zabini shall die first."
"Thanks," Zabini called, who'd been partnered with Tracey and had come over. "But I doubt you could kill me."
"Please, don't tempt me," I snapped back instantly, and Hermione rolled her eyes as Lockhart cleared his throat.
"Wands at the ready!" shouted Lockhart. "When I count to three, cast your charms to disarm your opponents - only to disarm them - we don't want any accidents - one ... two ... three-"
In an instant both Hermione and I raised our wands, and we both shouted "Expelliarmus!"
Both our spells hit, but mine only caused Hermione's wand to jerk out of her grasp and roll miserably to my feet. Mine flew into the air, but flew right over Hermione's head as she jumped to catch it.
I snatched her wand up triumphantly. "I win!"
"No," she laughed, hands on her hips. "We both won. Where's your wand?" When she turned around to look for it I burst out laughing - it had gotten stuck in Hermione's hair.
"I knew it would do me good someday," Hermione proudly patted her bushy hair and handed me my wand. I gave her back her own.
Meanwhile, other partners were not doing well. Tracey had gotten so upset at Zabini for hexing her instead of disarming her she'd punched him in the face. She had a large wart on her nose, but Zabini was sporting a large bruise on his jawline.
Ron's broken wand had caused Finnigan's face to go ashy and he fell over wheezing horribly. Harry and Draco had been pulled apart by Snape's furious hands by their collars, and Draco was still wheezing from the Tickling Charm. Harry was dancing uncontrollably from Draco's Tarantallegra, and Snape snapped his wand at them to stop it.
"Oh, dear. I think I'd better teach you how to block unfriendly spells," said Lockhart with a chuckle, brandishing his wand onstage. He looked quickly from me to Snape, and I raised my eyebrows at him as if to say but can you? and Snape's eyes glittered dangerously. "Let's - ah, have a volunteer pair, shall we?"
"Yes," Snape said, pleased to cut in. Lockhart looked annoyed. "Let's have Potter and Malfoy."
There was a rustle as we all backed up for Harry and Draco to go to the middle of the room, eyes narrowed.
"Now, Harry," Lockhart said happily. "When Draco points his wand at you, you do this."
He raised his own wand, attempted a complicated sort of wiggling action, and dropped it. Snape smirked as Lockhart quickly picked it up, saying, "Whoops - my wand is a little overexcited-"
"Isn't it Protego?" I murmured to Hermione.
She nodded vigorously. "I know Professor Lockhart knows this! He used this tons of times!"
"Does the spell involve flipping your wand like a pancake?" I muttered. Hermione hissed at my insult and smacked my arm. I drew it away, stung.
"Now, just do what I did, Harry!" Lockhart said to a now nervous Harry as Snape stepped forward and whispered into Draco's ear. Both of them blossomed ecstatically evil, twisted smiles and Harry's eyes widened.
He's joking.
"Three!"
No way.
"Two!"
"Serpensortia!" Draco shouted, and Harry stumbled back in shock. A snake exploded out of the wand and landed on the ground with a faint hiss.
Hermione shrieked and grabbed my arm, and I was too numb to shake her off. The snake jerked its face at us, hissed again, and looked around at its surroundings -
"I'll get rid of it, Potter," Snape said lazily, pleased at Harry's frozen stance. But Lockhart flew forward, and knocked Snape out of the way. Irritated and affronted, Snape paused furiously to retrieve his knocked over wand.
"Let me!" Lockhart said loudly,
I stared. "No!"
Lockhart gave me a barely concealed nasty look before beaming. "Watch very carefully, now…"Alarte Ascendare!" He said loudly.
My eyes widened, and I turned to Tracey. "Ascend…?"
True to my word, the snake was launched into the air with a loud hiss of anger, and as it smacked the ground with a loud thud it rose up and launched forward, slithering towards a boy - Justin or Jake Finch-Fletchley, I thought numbly.
Hermione's gasp brought me back to my senses. Snape was using Draco's want to summon his own, which had been knocked off stage, and he would not make it in time…
"It must have been her!" I looked up, my bangs falling into my face. Kyle, a blonde boy in my grade who'd never been particularly nice to me pointed furiously. "I heard she conjures snakes whenever she pops a wart!"
I stiffened, my pigtails slapping my cheeks as I stood and shook my head. "I don't! You leave me alone, Kyle! I didn't do anything!"
"Get rid of it!" someone shrieked. It was a girl - her name was Darcy, and she was standing on top of a bench.
Kyle and his friends shuffled forward, and I shut my book to crane my neck at the grass, some meters away from me. Kyle raised a large rock and brought it down - there was a small Crunch! and a hiss.
"What are you doing?" I shoved myself forward, elbowing Kyle's friends out of the way. "That's a snake - don't kill it!"
Kyle brought his rock back up, but the snake turned to Kyle with a dangerous hiss. Nobody realized it was just a garden snake, and Kyle slammed back in fear. It opened its jaw wide, and I panicked, letting out a scream.
The snake gave a great shudder, and it froze.
"Leave us alone!" I breathed, stepping back. The snake snapped into motion, and instantly slithered away from Kyle and I as fast as it could.
I turned, terrified of what I'd done, but triumphant all the same. Kyle was staring, his eyes a little scared, and he made the sign of the cross before turning and running.
I could do it again.
I didn't know how, but I'd controlled the snake. I squeezed my eyes together, squinting at the snake with a concentration that made my temples hurt. Leave him alone!
Something snapped, and even as Harry hissed something strange from his mouth and the snake slumped away, I felt it - my magic bursting into the snake, slamming the words Leave him alone! into it. The snake stiffened, thrashed for a second, and began to slither away as fast as it could, its body weaving towards Draco. I pushed forward another burst, hysterical. Leave us all alone! Go away!
With another little shudder, the snake literally leapt off the stage, frantically twisting away from the silent crowd. Snape raised his wand and vanished it silently. Harry was staring in bewildered silence as well, the strange hissing noises from his mouth long gone. He turned to Justin or Jack, but the boy's face was angry and tense.
"What're you playing at!" He yelled. The Great Hall filled with whispers. I looked around to see everyone looking at Harry, faces scared and suspicious and knowing.
But Snape wasn't staring at him.
He was staring at me.
And he was furious.
No, not furious - he looked suspicious. Bewildered and suspicious and angry. I couldn't even move; his gaze held me there even as students filed out of the Dueling Club, and when I finally snapped out of it he sprung forward and snatched my arm.
"What are you-" I gasped, stumbling forward as he grabbed my collar and dragged me forward. He didn't speak, didn't do anything else but drag me out of the empty Great Hall and right into Dumbledore's office, spitting the password with an air of absolute impatience.
I'd spluttered at first, and demanded him let me go, but he'd looked right at me and I swore my heart froze. The look he gave me - he could have killed.
When he'd dragged me into the room and let go, I crashed right into Dumbledore's table painfully and slammed down into the chair. Dumbledore rose, alarmed and eyes twinkle-less. "Severus!"
Snape's wand was pointed at me, inches away from between my eyes. I couldn't breathe, I couldn't even think properly. All I could think was what did I do? What is he going to do to me?
"Severus!" Dumbledore said, sharper. "What is happening?"
"Someone," Snape said, chest heaving and eyes dark. "Has been teaching her Dark Magic."
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