POISON IVY & SPIDER WEBS
By Clara and Evil
CHAPTER 6
Scorpius was twirling his wand between his fingers, waiting for Clara in the empty room next to the Slytherin Common Room. He sighed softly when he saw her enter but smiled and stood.
"Why is your hair damp?" he asked lazily, taking some strands in his hand and looking at her amused.
"Because I just took a shower, obviously," Clara replied with a smirk and passed him, taking a sit and placing her school bag on the floor with a bump.
"You really like the Gryffindor so much?" Scorpius asked, sitting face to her.
Clara shrugged. "He's growing on me…we have a good time together…" she replied.
"Yeah, I bet…you'd better be careful, I think our beloved Slytherins are preparing you something…" he said, watching her intently.
Clara let out a deep sigh. "Thanks for the warning…I'll have to practice more of those exercises your dad taught me or else it will go pretty bad," she said with sadness.
"I'm here for you, love," Scorpius said, taking her hands into his.
She looked at him and smiled fondly. "Thank you, Scorp…but you cannot get involved, you know that. We'll just continue our little charade," she told him, gently caressing his cheek. "Now, let's get on with your dad's assignment in Charms, he's killing me with it…" she added and took out the materials.
Scorpius sighed almost imperceptibly and smiled back at her, leaning on the text book and reading.
Meanwhile…
Malum entered the Common Room, happy that not many Gryffindors were around. He passed a hand through his damp hair and smiled to himself.
"Glad to see you so joyful at this late hour, Mal…" Molly said with a straight face, emerging from a shadowy corner of the room.
"Hey, Molly…what are you doing up so late?" Malum asked, trying to sound casual.
"Well, waiting for you, obviously!" she replied dryly. "I went to look for you in the Library, I needed your help in Transfiguration…but it seems I couldn't even find you in the Astronomy Tower where you usually spend time," she said, tapping her foot on the ground and looking at him questioningly.
Malum cleared his throat, slightly embarrassed. He wasn't ready for a cross examination.
"Yeah, well... Can we give it a look tomorrow, I'm beat?" he said shooting her an apologetic smile and heading to the Boys bedroom.
"What? Aren't you going to explain?" Molly exclaimed, utterly shocked.
"I'm afraid not," Malum replied with a grin and disappeared behind the door.
"Unbelievable…" Molly whispered, bewildered.
The next morning, Clara entered the Great Hall quite early, only a few Professors and student present at breakfast and took her usual seat at the Slytherin table. She took a goblet of orange juice and waited for her housemates to arrive, wondering what they had prepared for her.
Malum enters the great hall, stretching his arms in the air and yawning as he goes to take a seat at the Gryffindor table, not usually awake this early in the day but woke up and could not manage to get back to sleep. Then he starts piling his plate with food, feeling extremely hungry, not noticing that Clara was already in there as he was concentrating more on needing to eat.
Clara looks up at the Gryfindor table with an amused smirk in the corner of her lips, watching Malum intently. She takes a sip of her orange juice, still looking at him, amazed about the amount of food he was piling up in his plate.
Malum eats his food hungrily, never having felt so starved in his life, unaware of being watched by Clara, off in his own world while enjoying his food.
Clara wrote a quick note that she levitated to Malum, saying: "You should remember how to breath while you're eating, you hungry animal."
Malum glances at the note and chokes a little as he nearly laughs. But then he wrote a note back and sent it to Clara, it said: "I'm starving right now, you tired me out enough to get me so hungry, and I am breathing."
Clara read the note and smiled, shaking her head at him. She resumed her neutral face as Slytherins begun to get to breakfast, but she still looked at Malum. His housemates were arriving as well, she saw Potter sit next to him and Weasley a bit further. She seemed upset.
Malum slows down his intake of food and glances at Molly in confusion but shook himself out of that, not sure why she is upset. Then he glances at Albus and shoots him a small smile. Then he finishes off his food easily and leans back in his seat, feeling stuffed.
Albus smiled back and ate his breakfast in silence while Molly started chatting with another girl, her back turned to Malum completely.
At the Slytherin table, Clara's view changed completely as a girl lent on the edge of the table, looking down at her, blocking Malum's figure.
Clara lifted her gaze lazily, leaning a bit back in her chair and raised an eyebrow at the girl. Calista Fritz was a seventh year Slytherin, proud member of Scorpius's group of little followers. She was totally different from Clara: taller, blonde, with a tan, popular…
"So, Clara…" Calista trailed in a sweet voice.
"Fritz…what do you want?" Clara asked in a dry tone.
"What I want is for you to stop getting dirty with Gryffindor Quidditch players," Calista hissed lowly, her eyes throwing daggers at Clara who kept a bored face. "But that's not the subject of our discussion…"
"Is it not?" Clara asked. "What orders do you bring then, slave?" she added with a smirk.
Calista gulped her remark as some of the Professors were glancing at them. "Edge of the Forbidden Forrest, after classes…you are challenged to a duel…" she whispered and smiled evilly.
Clara straightened her position in the chair, unable to hide her surprise.
"Scared, Noctus? You should be…" the seventh year snickered.
Clara shook her head and sighed, taking her bag and standing. "I'll be there," she said with a smile, her face so close to the girl's that their lips almost touched. Clara winked at her housemate as she passed her index along the girl's jaw line, attracting the gaze of most of the male population at breakfast that morning. She exited the Great Hall without looking back and headed to class.
Malum watched the interaction between Calista and Clara with a raised eyebrow, wondering what was going off there and intending to find out about it. But his interest to the scene at the end heightened when he saw how close the two got, not able to control his tingle of excitement at it. Then he realizes it is time for class, so he gets up and also leaves the great hall.
Later in the afternoon…
Clara walked in the hallways, heading towards the Forbidden Forrest for the so called duel she had been invited to earlier in the morning. She had changed her school uniform for jeans and a white top and gathered her hair in a bun.
Malum cautiously follows Clara, wondering where she could be going; he was wearing a black shirt and jeans, and making sure he did not get too close to her, with light footsteps.
Clara stopped before exiting the castle, looking at the trees and inhaling deeply. "Don't say I didn't tell you so," she said to herself and resumed walking.
She arrived at the edge of the trees and spotted Calista a bit further in a clearing. She walked to her.
"I didn't think you'll show up, Dark One…" she purred to Clara, her wand pointed to her.
"Goes to tell you don't think at all, Fritz," Clara replied with a calm voice, tossing her hands in the pockets of her jeans.
Malum watches them both as he quickly hides behind a tree so neither of them see him, waiting to see what was going to happen in silence.
Calista didn't even blink at the remark, but she approached Clara, pointing the wand at her throat. Clara looked at her, rolling her eyes. "What now?" she asked Calista with a bored look. The other girl smirked in a way that kind of triggered a small alarm in Clara's mind.
"You think that you're better than all of us, blood sucker…not hanging out with Slytherins, always trying to prove us how low we are compared to your "majesty"…" Calista hissed lowly.
"Blood sucker? You think I'm a vampire?" Clara interrupted her with a chuckle.
"Shut it!" the other girl retorted, sticking the point of the wand deep under Clara's chin. "Now you go roll on the floor with a Gryffindor, as if Slytherin guys aren't good enough for you," she added, looking at Clara with disgust.
Clara used a hand to take the wand off her throat. "It's none of anyone's damned business…" she begun and shifted her look from Calista to behind her, falling silent. A group of five Slytherin boys, all seventh years, came towards them, leaded by the Slytherin Quidditch Captain, Christian O'Malley, who was grinning at Clara.
Calista started laughing hysterically and stepped back, giving O'Malley a kiss before heading behind the boys and leaning against a tree.
Clara remained silent and raised an eyebrow as Christian moved close to her, passing an arm around her waist.
"So, it seems we are not at your taste, Dark One," he drawled in a sweet voice, looking down at Clara. "Maybe you should taste us before saying no!" He laughed and the others followed.
"Paws off, O'Malley," Clara said in a neutral voice, hiding her growing fear and removed his arm with strength.
"Oh, a feisty one!" the boy exclaimed, amused and pointed his wand at her. "Now, let's duel a bit, have some fun," he drawled, looking at her with lust in his eyes.
Clara smiled at him. "I didn't bring my wand, you moron!" she said and turned her back to him, walking back to the castle.
Christian looked at his companions as if signaling them and they all gathered in a circle, blocking Clara's way. The girl turned to face O'Malley, biting her lower lip and starting to tremble with anger. He grinned and, without warning, cast Crucio on her, making her kneel on the ground in pain, though Clara didn't allow a sound to escape her lips.
"When we shall be done taming you, little serpent, you're going to beg for Slytherin cock," Christian whispered in her head as he approached her, shooting another Crucio at her and laughing along with the others.
Malum watches what is going on, his anger boiling to the surface as his fists clench tightly together in fury, wondering how he should tackle this.
As he is thinking about this, he watches on in horror as he saw Calista raise her wand and pointed it at Clara, a vicious smirk on her face and says "Sectumsempra." Then he sees Clara get cuts all over her, blood seeping out of her slowly.
This makes Malum lose himself in his rage, growling furiously under his breath, instantly turning into his wolf form without realizing it. Then he runs out of the trees over to group of Slytherins and jumps at Christian, making him fall to the floor, underneath him and he growls angrily, baring his teeth at all of them, his large wolf form making them back off as he moves away from the guy he got and goes over to stand beside Clara, watching them all and daring them to attempt to move closer.
Then Malum growls again, his hackles raised at them in fury and the group of Slytherins flee from beside the forest back to the castle.
As soon as they are gone, he changes back to his human form and his expression turns to one of worry as he turns to Clara and runs a hand gently through her hair, kneeling beside her and softly whispers "What have they done to you?" checking all her wounds in concern.
Clara gasped, bringing a trembling hand full of blood in front of her eyes. She looks at Malum and smiles feebly. "We have…to…stop the bleeding…" she whispered. "The counter spell…is…Vulnera Sanentur," she managed to say and gulped.
"Sure, I'll do it" said Malum softly, taking his wand out and waving it slowly at Clara, muttering "Vulnera Sanentur," and watching as the cuts heal on her with relief.
Clara turns and snuggles close to Malum, panting. "Thanks for showing up," she muttered and tried to get up, shaking like a leaf.
Malum wraps his arms round Clara gently and quietly says "Anytime, I sort of followed, but I don't think you should get up."
"Stalking me now?" she chuckled and winced in pain, pushing her feet firmly against the ground and standing, an arm around Malum's shoulder. She closed her eyes as the ground seemed to turn. "Could you…take me to the cave…and clean me up a bit?" she asked, looking at him.
"I stalked you just this once" replied Malum with a smile. Then he puts an arm around Clara, then thinking of a quicker way, he puts his free arm under her legs, lifts her up to carry her and whispers "Yes, I will do that, for you."
Clara bit her lip to prevent a moan of pain escape her lips when he lifted her and leaned her head on his shoulder. "The bastard gave me two Crucios," she muttered with anger and shuddered.
"I saw, that was just not right, I don't know how he could have done that" said Malum, the anger he had felt towards him appearing in his expression briefly. As he had said that he was walking in the direction of the cave, hoping to get there soon.
Clara sighed. "That would've been nothing if you didn't appear," she whispered. "Go to the right, there's a shortcut to the cave," she added, opening her eyes.
"I couldn't let them go further" said Malum quietly. Then he nods and says "Alright," and turns right just like she mentioned.
They finally arrived at the entrance of the cave. Clara got on her feet and lent on Malum, breathing hard. "You should go…but clean yourself first, you're stained with blood," she whispered.
"I'm not going until you are alright, I can't leave you in this state, you need someone there, I'm not leaving your side," responded Malum softly with a shake of his head, supporting Clara's weight.
Clara sighed, unable to argue. "Stubborn Gryffindor," she said softly and closed her eyes. "I just need a minute to recover..." she added just when her feet gave up on her and her body begun sliding to the ground.
Malum quickly pulls Clara up with his strength and drags her into the cave, and asks "Why didn't you bring your wand?"
"I'm not to be trusted with a wand...I didn't want to hurt her," Clara replied and hugged Malum tight.
He looks at her curiously when she said that, but hugs her in response and asks "What makes you not be able to be trusted with a wand?"
"I told you, I've been trained in the Dark Arts. I use them easier than a usual spell and I wouldn't want to be expelled just because I have a short temper," she replied with a sad smile. "Plus, it's a secret...so, I cannot let them know that about me..."
She let go of Malum and sat on the ground of the cave with difficulty, pursing her lips as pain passed through her body.
Malum drops down onto the ground beside Clara and gathers her up in his arms comfortably and whispers "What is so secret about you?"
Clara sighed and decided to have a leap of faith there. "I'm a descendant of Gellert Grindelwald," she whispered. "There, now you know..."
Malum looks at Clara in surprise at this news but doesn't back away or show fear, instead he just says "How? I thought he never even had children."
"Now, but he had a sister and she had a child..." Clara said. "According to my grandmother, I am supposed to follow my ancestor's way of thinking and honour his memory...or some rubbish like that..."
"So you don't believe it much? What your grandmother said?" questioned Malum curiously.
"It's true I have an affinity for Dark magic...but I have no intention to destroy Muggles and what not..." Clara confessed. "I've been in the Muggle part of town, so to speak...they're not that bad!"
Malum smiles as he hears that and says "Yeah, I've been in the Muggle part too. I quite like some of it actually. Just have to find the right places. They aren't as bad as some make them out to be, that is true."
Clara nods, panting still and snuggling close to Malum. "I need to send word to Scorpius...he's waiting for me," she said.
"You aren't in any state to go anywhere, and what makes you think he hadn't planned this to happen?" responds Malum, his dislike towards Scorpius showing in his tone as he hugs Clara tightly.
"Scorpius would never do that, Malum...you don't know...him and our relationship," Clara replied, leaning into the hug.
"How do you know?" asks Malum, looking disbelieving at that. Then he looks at her and asks "Relationship?"
Clara let out a sigh. "I've been living in his house for the past year and a half...Scorpius's father is my legal guardian," she said, looking up at Malum.
"That is a while. How did that happen?" responds Malum, looking very surprised at this revelation about her.
"At the death of my grandmother, Draco took me in his home. He offered me a place to live, he helped me tame my magic, he guided me, he showed me what it's like to have a family...and Scorpius and I grew very close," Clara replied. "They're not like the world says, the Malfoys...well, Draco isn't, anyways. Lucius is, unfortunately..." she added with a sigh.
Malum looks at Clara and nods at what she said, then he shrugs and says "I have my own opinions about Scorpius that isn't about his family name. I respect that you do trust him, I won't tell you that you are wrong in doing so. But that doesn't mean it is possible for me to ever trust him."
"Understandable...but what has he done to you?' Clara asked, turning her now very pale face to Malum and stroking his neck.
Malum leans close to Clara's touch and whispers "Oh, just the usual, hexing arguments, plenty of times when he's got me into trouble, we never get along."
"Yup, sounds like Scorpius alright," she chuckled and winced in pain as she did. "I'm so going to get that bastard Chris," she murmured, closing her eyes.
"Yes, it probably does" said Malum with a nod. Then he soothingly rubs Clara's back when he sees her wince and he whispers "No, I am going to get him for what he did to you."
"You cannot, Malum! He'll figure out you were the wolf," Clara said with panic in her voice, wrapping her arms around his neck. "I cannot allow that..." she whispered in a protective voice, amazed at herself for being so possessive all of the sudden.
Malum looks at Clara in surprise at that but shook his head, saying "I do see your point but I can't just do nothing about it," with a sigh, wishing he could do it without being guessed as being the wolf.
"Yes, you can...this is between me and him..." Clara said in a low voice. "Let's just head back to the castle, it's getting dark..."
"Fine, I'll leave it to you" said Malum, silently promising himself he will find some way to get him as well without him realizing. Then he nods at Clara and says "We should get back, you think you can stand now?"
Clara nodded and stood shakily. "Could you please clean us first?" she asked him, cracking a smile and holding on to the wall of the cave for balance.
Malum watches Clara standing up, unconvinced that she would stay standing, but says "Yes, I can do that." Then he takes out his wand and waves it at each of them, instantly making sure they were both fully clean.
Clara smiled. "Thank you," she said softly and took her hand away from the wall. She walked towards the exit slowly, breathing fast.
Malum follows Clara to the exit slowly, checking on her to make sure if she fell, he could catch her and softly says "Your welcome."
Clara groans quietly and makes her way to the castle with a determined look on her face, holding onto Malum's hand. "We should hurry, the professors will start their rounds soon," she breathed out.
Malum squeezes Clara's hand gently and whispers "Don't worry about the professors, I can make sure we don't get in trouble with them," walking up to the castle with her.
Later that evening...
The Dungeons
Clara entered the empty classroom and collapsed in the armchair, closing her eyes. She soon begun to doze off but was awaken by the sound of the door closing.
"Hey, Scorpius," she said softly.
"What happened?" the blonde asked and kneeled near her, checking her and frowning.
"A couple of Crucios and a Sectumsempra..." she said with a tired voice.
"O'Malley and his gang?" Scorpius said in a sad voice. "How come you...?"
"I had help," she cut him off. "And yes, O'Malley...and Calista too..." she then said with a sigh.
Scorpius nodded and took out several vials, holding Clara's chin and making her drink them.
"We'll talk about this later, now you need to rest..." he murmured and transfigured the armchair in a sofa, taking a chair and sitting next to her, holding her hand.
The Gryffindor Common Room...
Malum stepped through the portrait, passing a hand through his hair in frustration and re-constructing the recent event in his mind. Did he really transform so quickly? How had he managed that?
He shakes his head at himself, no time to figure that out now, he needed sleep, he felt oddly drained. And as he stepped forward someone stepped in front of him, he glances up and sighs at the familiar face staring at him.
Molly was looking at Malum with something he could possibly class as a glare, but he wasn't in the mood with this as in an almost hysterical tone, she asks "Where you been this time?"
Malum scowls at her, his frustration leaking out as he snaps "Out! Its none of your bloody business where!" And with that he stomps away and up to the boys dorm, leaving Molly almost in tears.
As Malum gets up to the dorms, he drops down onto his bed, hearing his name being called out by Albus, he growls and says "Not now." Suddenly waving his wand at the curtains to shut them tightly, not wanting anyone to talk to him right now. Then he falls into an uncomfortable slumber.
The next morning…
Clara woke up, a ray of sun tickling her cheek. She opened her eyes and saw Scorpius, asleep in the armchair in front of her. It made her smile, but the smile faded when she realized it was already morning.
"Scorp, wake up…" she said softly, squeezing the boy's hand.
He looked at her through sleepy lashes and smiled feebly. "How are you?" he asked her, straightening himself and rubbing the back of the neck.
"Better, thanks," she replied and stood, stretching her body.
The blonde gulped at the sight of skin and looked away to hide a blush.
"We should hurry for breakfast," Clara said and looked down at the boy, passing a hand through her hair.
"Yeah…" he trailed off, standing as well, now very close to her and looking at her intently.
She looked back, feeling her cheeks warm. "Thank you…for staying with me," she said softly and kissed his cheek, her face lingering next to his for a moment.
I love you, the expression screamed in Scorpius' head but he didn't voice that thought. Instead he held her in a tight embrace. "Anytime," he whispered and gulped, letting her go.
She chose silence, not sure what was the next thing she should do, although she did hug him back. "I'll see you in class," she smiled and slid out of the room.
Scorpius collapsed on the couch, his head between his hands, tension rising in his ears and not only.
Meanwhile…
Mallum sat at the Gryffindor table and took some toast, glancing at the opposite side of the Great Hall. He smiled a bit when he saw Clara at her usual spot, hidden behind a book.
"Hey," Albus greeted him as he sat down. "Feeling better?" he asked his housemate with a crooked smile.
"Yeah, sorry about last night," Mallum replied with a sheepish smile.
"No problem," came the answer, accompanied by a smile. "You should hurry, we have Transfiguration…"
"Yeah…I'll see you there," Mallum said with a smile. He took his schoolbag and exited the Hall.
From behind the book, Clara watched the Gryffindor leave and gave a low sigh as her gaze fell on her housemate, Chris. She subtly showed him the middle finger as he grinned at her and left the table before another fight started, making sure her hand touches his back on her way out.
~.~