Because of what I said to the toad earlier, I ended up in a detention with her. Not my idea of fun. No one's, really, that toad bitch was truly awful. Nico walked me to the door, we had already escorted Luna to her dorm. I kissed Nico's cheek, and he melted back into the shadows, while I knocked. Dumb-lores opened the door with the smuggest fucking smile.
"Hello dear, come come, we've no time to waste. I was lead to what could only be her office. My gods, the pink. The kitten plates. I threw up a little in my mouth just looking at it. The sickly perfume permeating the room may have had a little to do with it, however. I was glad to sit, my legs were starting to shake at how disgusting it was, but then I realised the cushioned chair was hot pink lace with kitten embroidery. The barf came back.
"You'll be doing lines for me, Ms. Phoss. I assume you know what those are?" I gave my best 'I'm an innocent girl who has no clue how to function in daily life' smile, which I usually reserved for missions when we ran out of food or mortal money.
"Unfortunately I don't, Professor. We didn't have such archaic punishments at Salem." She hissed, and I gripped the eyeliner pencil in my pocket. Di Immortales, she reminded me of some B-rate monster high on a cocain/protein powder mix.
"It means, Ms. Phoss, that you'll take this quill, and write what I tell you until I tell you to stop." I snorted, but did as told. Until we got closer to the crown, I had to do as told. Even with Hecate doing her best, she could narrow the location to only Hogwarts. I grabbed the quill, and froze.
Too much darkness. My gods...
This was blood magic, an inherently gray concept, but with the raw agony flowing off it, this was without doubt an instrument of pain. And she wanted to use it on me. Toad fucking bitch! My head snapped back as the pain radiating off the quill started seeping into me, trying to compel me into writing with it. The compulsion was strong, no match for me, but strong. My hands shook, and I decided on the best course of action. Screaming my head off until Nico was able to come.
She hit me with a silencing spell halfway through the first, but I knew Nico heard. I could be very loud when I wanted to be. I kept my mouth open, still screaming under the curse, forced some tears, and started scrabbling at my hand, going so far to scratch some veins open. Just like I had different smiles for different situations, I had different screams. Nico would recognize that one as the get adults and camera one. If I had really been in danger, I wouldn't have bothered screaming. Fuckbridge's screams would be enough of an alert as I tore her limb from fucking limb.
It took three minutes for Nico to flying kick the door down. McGonagall was three breathless steps behind, and Snape on her heels. Nico was by my side in an instant, and ripped the quill out of my hand, tossing it on the table. I heard McGonagall's sharp gasp, and felt Snape's glare intensify. Oh sweet justice, you have not yet failed me.
"Raven, are you..please be okay..." I saw Nico struggling not to laugh, but played along, knowing we so had the toad bitch. I emoted as best I could, knowing the silencing spell was still in place. When I "realised" I wasn't speaking, I started getting frantic. Nico saw the hysteria wasn't real, he knew intimately what my panic looked like, but that meant he knew exactly how to act. "Raven!" Snape sent the counter at me, and McGonagall was laying into Umbridge with unbridled scottish fury. I wanted to laugh, thankful that the redness of my crying hid the struggle beautifully. Revenge bitch.
"Nico...there was so much pain on that...oh gods..." My voice got higher and higher, a clear sign that I was absolutely losing it. Nico tugged me to him, smushing my face into his shoulder in a hug. I let the laughter out, now that Nico's shoulder muffled them, and made it look like I was an emotional mess.
"Miss Phoss, are you alright? Mr. Di'Angelo, she's bleeding, we need to get her to the infirmary immediately." Nico stiffened, and it took me to realise why.
"Infir-NO! No Hospitals! Nico don't let them...NO!" I started shaking. Panic. Not the fake kind. Not the fun kind either.
"Raven, RAVEN! No hospitals. Don't worry. No hospitals." He returned my face to his shoulder. "She's got traumatic experience with Hospitals. We bring her to one, we'll never get her to calm down." He grabbed the hand I had bloodied. "These are superficial, No major veins were hit, miraculously. I have some...Dittany in my bag that'll get these cleaned up. I know how to help her." He lifted me, bridal style. I stayed buried in his shoulder. I hated Hospitals. And I didn't want to see their accusing faces. I didn't want to see their pity.
Regina Phoss, badass "take-no-shit" extraordinaire, was terrified of hospitals. Regina Phoss was terrified of sleeping alone. Regina Phoss was terrified. I got enough pity from the dead, I didn't need theirs.
Nico took me to the roof. Luna was waiting. We had just met the girl mere hours ago, but I didn't care. She was a female that gave a shit, and I needed someone like that. From the look in her eyes, she was as fucked up as Nico or I, she had that look of desperation and fear mixed in insanity.
Nico pulled out his flask of Nectar as soon as the door closed, making me sit. The two of us had figured out a long time ago that if you poured a few drops, the number depending on the severity, on an injury, the healing went much quicker than drinking it, and conserved stores. However, the process hurt like a bitch. With small wounds like mine, it was over quickly, and I sighed in relief. My hand was still covered in blood, but at least no more was coming out.
"I need anime." I sighed. "And ice cream. I really need caramel ice cream right now." Luna dragged my sorry ass to lean against the wall, sitting beside me and gesturing for Nico to sit on my other side.
"Regina."
"Hm."
"Tell me about anime. I've never heard about it." My eyes lit up, and Nico chuckled.
"Luna, you asked for it, now she's never going to let you go until you agree to at least five movie nights." I elbowed him.
"Don't be stupid Nico; doesn't matter how many movie nights she agrees to, I'm never letting this one go. She looks too much like Serenity." I launched into a rapid explanation of Anime, before trailing off into Manga, than into the pros and cons of Live Actions. Of course, as everything does with me, it lead to a breakdown of Sailor Moon, explaining to her exactly who Usagi was, and why she was going to be mine.
"Afterall, with all that Earth's chosen shit I just went through, I make a pretty convincing Tuxie." Nico snorted hard.
"If you start throwing roses at monsters, I swear to gods, I'm locking you in a room with only math textbooks." I gasped, one hand over my heart.
"You wound me, baka-kun." He groaned, shoving my shoulder.
"No, Raven." I laughed, nearly sitting on Luna's lap at this point. "Gods, Luna, I don't know how you handle us."
"Oh, I should be asking you that. I am called Loony for a reason." Nico stiffened beside me.
"Nico, I took care of it. They bully her again, I've promised to destroy them." He nodded.
"Count me in. Kicking ass is quite...cathartic." I laughed, though there was malicious tint to it. We both found fighting relaxing.
"How did you find out you were...you?" The question was aimed at both of us, her wide blue eyes looking over out forms.
"Someone told me." Nico said, shifting. It wasn't a happy memory for him.
"I accidentally poofed myself to my father's place." That was a watered down version. "Kinda hard to deny the truth when you're surrounded by that." She nodded, understanding immediately.
"Is that why you're able to see the Thestrals?" I laughed, and Nico grinned.
"No, I saw someone die ages before. Nico here...probably soon after you left camp?" He nodded.
"Before I joined you, after I left. Surprisingly, it had nothing to do with our world. Just a mugging gone wrong." Luna nodded.
"My mother created spells. One blew up. She died right in front of me. I was nine." I wrapped an arm around her.
"Strange, my sob story is very similar. Mother died of cancer, my father kicked her out days after I was born, etcetera." She smiled.
"Our stories shouldn't define us."
"They don't. I'm the Ghost King with an interest in Peace. She's the Chosen of the Earth with a reckless streak, and you're our new friend. Whatever you are, that's what defines you. So, Luna Lovegood, who are you?" I smiled. That was what I told Nico years ago, when he said all he was was death.
"I'm Luna. The Dreamer."
People mostly avoided us after the Umbridge episode. She was still in the school, the incident had been mostly swept under the rug, but the Hogwarts grapevine was something to be envied. They looked at us with fear and respect, and sometimes open disgust. I assumed that was more that we were friends with Hogwart's Resident Luna-tic(I crack myself up), than any part we played with Umbitch.
Nico and I continued to do our thing. We attended classes, but all of our attention was on researching the Diadem, and where it'd be. Luna was able to get us detailed pictures, ones she had drawn herself based on images in her Common Room, but we weren't able to narrow down the location any farther.
"Where the fuck can this thing be? We searched every damn inch of this place, there shouldn't be any more places for it to be." Nico and I were sprawled on the roof, which we had basically claimed as our own. No one really came up here, anyways.
"If I have to read one more book, I'm going to burn this place to the ground." Nico growled. He was sprawled over the ground, and I was laying on the ledge.
"If I have to ignore another fuckboy, I'm going to scream." I muttered. Nico stiffened.
"Who's bothering you." He growled.
"We're not allowed to kill them, Goth Boy."
"They won't be dead. They might wish they were, but I am far to good for that." I laughed.
"My precious Gay Baby, we will definatly be arrested."
"My favorite Gay Bitch, they'll never catch us. We'll do it right before we leave. String 'em up. They won't know what hit 'em." I sighed.
"Don't promise things you can't follow through on."
"Gay Bitch, I'd do whatever you want, just to make me smile."
"Goth Gay, you know I'd do the same, but if we fuck this up, there is no way our dads will forgive us."
"What's Gay?" We both turned to Luna, who had sat down during our conversation. I was glad she didn't mention how I said our fathers. We had told her that we were looking for the diadem, but not why; we were affection-starved, not idiotic.
"Homosexuality? It means that Nico's attracted to guys, and I'm attracted to girls." She nodded.
"Can I be Gay?"
"You can be anything you want."
"Can I like anyone. No gender involved?" I laughed.
"Yes, Baby Queer, you can like everyone. That's called pansexuality."
"Really, Raven? Baby Queer? And you wonder why I'm nervous about Will meeting you."
"Nico, I will not traumatize your boy-toy. Just scare him into treating you right, like any good sister. And Baby Queer is perfect for our Luna. She's younger, she's queer, and she's got a cute face."
"I like it."
"Gods, Raven, you've corrupted her."
"Ok, Baby Queer, I'm Gay Bitch, he's Goth Gay." I jumped off the ledge, and went over to snuggle with her. "Use those whenever, I don't care. Nico, you?"
"Try not to use mine in public? I'm better than I was, but...40s kid. Still trying." I smiled. Getting him to accept himself was a journey, even if I was the only one who saw it. He was utterly terrified that his other friends would abandon him if they knew. I'm guessing that he was so comfortable with me because I'm so openly gay. That, and my awesome skills.
"Oh, I found the diadem. Or, I found where it's stored." Nico snorted loudly, and I started coughing. She said it so casually, we nearly missed what she said. I ripped my eyeliner pencil out of my pocket, twirling it.
"Luna, you need to show us. Right now." Nico stroked his skull ring.
"Come on, Baby Queer. It's time for an adventure."
We were being followed. As Luna led us through the castle, allowing me to pull her into the Shadows when I sensed lifeforms, but I could feel the four behind us.
"τέσσερα. Πίσω μας. Αφή?"(Four. Behind us. Feel?)
"Ναί. Θα τους επιτρέψουν. Αργότερα."(Yes. Allow them. Later.)
"Γιατί Έλληνες?"(Why Greek?) I looked down into Luna's eyes. We had stopped in front of a tapestry of a dancing troll.
"Για σας, λίγο φεγγάρι."(For you, little moon.) She nodded, and walked before the wall three times. Nico and I fidgeted with our weapons. ADHD didn't lend itself to stillness, but with the threat of battle, we weren't ready to even pretend. A door appeared, in the wall. We both stiffened at the gasps that came from behind us. They sounded almost angry.
"Let's go, little Moon." We entered. A few steps in, I heard the whisper of the four followers pass the door.
"When did you give me a new nickname?" She asked, closing and standing front of the door.
"When I realized that I didn't want our audience to hear your real one." Our swords were out in seconds, and I had my wand in my other hand, pointing at the third and fourth lifeforms. Who just so happened to be the same person. Horseshit.
"Well, the brave Gryffindors, the Golden Trio. This was a private meeting." Potter snarled.
"Death Eaters! You're disgusting murderers!" I punched him in the face. Granger and Weasley cried out, but Nico brandished his sword a little bit, and they shut up. A knee on his chest, and I was in the perfect position to lay my sword at his throat and shove my face close.
"Never, ever call us murderers. We've done what we had to. I expected you to understand, Potter, but I see that you're as dumb as the rest of the school." I stood, brushing off my knees. "Now-"
"I found it!" Luna's voice echoed, she had slipped off.
"Don't get near it!" I yelled back. Nico tossed a look at he, and jerked his head. Go. I sprinted off, sword spinning. I nearly ran right into Luna, standing in the middle of a clearing in the garbage. The Diadem hovered three feet in front of her.
"No...mama, please...just..." Tears were streaming from her eyes, and she was obviously fighting to keep away. I let out a war scream, and charged. My sword cleaved through the crown easily, but there was a giant backlash, throwing Luna and I back into a large pile.
"RAVEN!" Nico charged over. I groaned, and unfurled myself from where I was bent over a desk. (Oh, bad thoughts, don't go there!)
"I'm good. Moonlight?"
"I believe I'm going into shock. I can't quite tell." There was a strained edge to her voice, and she was staring at one hand, which had started to shake. Nico pulled me up, and we went to huddle around her. I swept her up into a hug.
"S'all right, Baby Queer. Deep breaths. It's all right."
"Ok." Her whisper made her sound like a child. I hated how helpless she sounded.
"Come on, none of that. Not when I've imprinted on you, duckling. You gotta keep your mind on me, no nasty thoughts, yeah?" Nico stood guard, glaring threateningly at the bewildered Golder Fuckboys, and I pulled Luna out of her head. Finally, she collapsed on my shoulder, exhausted, but very much safe from her own mind. I looked up at Nico.
"I so owe you."
"Debts paid in full, Raven. My fault you even have your episodes." I shivered at the thought of my own bad nasties(calling them demons just made them worse).
"Alright," I stood and brushed off my ass, and hauled Luna up so she sat comfortably on my hip. "You three, Trio of Assholes Incorporated, or whatever, mums the word, good? You say anything about what just happened, you'll see why an entire civilization fears me." I didn't mention that civilization was dead. Details and technicalities. The boys looked like they were about to fight, but Granger grabbed them and pulled them away. Smart girl, I wasn't in the mood for any sass that wasn't mine. The door slammed behind them. I sighed, and ripped my cresant moon necklace off. I could feel the rush of magic leaving me. Luna's head whipped up, her eyes focused on the pendant.
"So that's how..."
"Yep. I'm in good with Hecate, so's my Dad, apparently." Every child's worst nightmare. Nico blinked.
"But, I thought she was a Virgin Goddess!"
"If she isn't a goddess at the time, it doesn't count." He shuddered with me. Luna giggled. "Alright, let's wallow properly. Nico, could you poof up my bag?" He rolled his eyes.
"You've got three kinds of magic."
"I'm lazy, and that devil necklace isn't going to touch me for the rest of the night. My powers are fucked up enough already, I don't need Olde Magik screwing with it further."
"If you become as lazy as these pureblood pigs, I'll-"
"I've got caramel ice cream hidden in my bag, Nico." It was in my lap three seconds later, and he was giving me full on puppy dog eyes. "Moonlight, is there any place to eat in here, or-" The room swirled, and when the fog left my eyes, we were in a smaller room, with a Japanese style table and several large cushions. "Well, that's helpful." I handed the tub to Nico, and told him not to hold back with serving sizes. Luna slid down my hip slightly, and I quickly walked over to settle her on the largest cushion.
"Regina?"
"Yeah?"
"Why do you have so many different nicknames for people?" I smiled, throwing my arm around her small shoulders so she could settle against my side.
"I like having unique names for everybody, but I can't choose just once. So I give people enough to never get tired of." She hummed, head lolling.
"I like that." Nico plopped two bowls in front of me, and dug enthusiastically into his own.
"I like that too."