Hogwarts Herald

12th October 2022

Page 1

VIOLENCE ON VIOLA: WHAT REALLY HAPPENED?

By Apple Skeeter

Hogwarts is the safest place on Earth.

It's something we've all grown up hearing. Despite of her bloody history, Hogwarts is truly regarded as a place where us, and all the witches and wizards before us have felt cocooned in a keen sense of security. But is it really safe anymore?

That's a question which is once again haunting the student body, and those associated with them, as Viola Davis, the fifth-year Gryffindor socialite was attacked by an unknown, brutal force. What really happened to Viola at a night when more than a half of students were out of their bed?

As I sit at Viola's bedside in the Hospital Wing, she is sipping herbal tea from her mug, looking comfortable under her covers. Almost all of her left side is tapped up in bandages. She offers me her herbal tea. When I decline, she frowns at me, asking if I am one of those coffee drinkers. When I say that I am she says, "Herbal tea is better, you know. Very good for your skin."

There is a certain charm to even an injured Viola Obst.

AS: So, would you mind walking me through what happened that night?

VO: I was walking through the halls when I heard scratching sounds. It scared me. I took out my wand to cast some light. It was eerily dark.

AS: What happened next?

VO: (shuddering) It's hard to talk about this. (At this Viola draws a shaky breath. The fear is apparent on her face.) I didn't get to my wand on time. There was something there in the dark, waiting. I didn't see what it was, but the scratching sound ought to have been that thing. Because this- (pointing to her left side) it did this to me.

After this, I thought of terminating my interview then and there. But Miss Obst was brave enough to continue with her story.

AS: Do you remember anything about this mysterious attacker?

VO: All I remember is blue eyes…they were big blue eyes, shaped like a cat's. After that I passed out.

Viola doesn't remember anything else about her Blue Eyed Monster. And neither can her saviour who came to her aid that night. Albus Potter was out in the hallway when he heard her screams and rushed to help. He refuses to comment on the subject, which we find a bit peculiar. However, the question still remains is the identity of this Blue Eyed Monster. What is it, really? And what are the authorities doing about what transpired that night, apart from giving detentions to the entire student body for being out of the bed at late night? Is that the right action to take in such circumstances? We are still trying to figure out the answers to all of these questions.

Albus stared into his coffee absent-mindedly. Already he was feeling tired of the week; and it was just Wednesday. People were still whispering about the whole Viola incident. Not that he blamed them. It wasn't every day when students got attacked in Hogwarts. At least not since many years now.

Someone threw a copy of Herald in front of him. He looked up from his coffee to see Rose plopping down on the empty seat beside him. "Have you seen it yet?" She asked, picking up a strawberry from the fruit platter on the table.

"By all means, help yourself, Rose." Scorpius murmured, not unkindly.

"Oh, you may count on it, Scorpius." Rose smiled cheekily at him.

Albus sat there silently, observing this exchange. Odd.

He didn't bother answering Rose's question. He had seen this coming. Every time Albus starred in Herald, Rose made it her mission to drag Albus into a discussion about it. And of course, he had starred in this issue. Scorpius had even warned him.

"I don't want to read it, Rose." Albus sighed. "I don't care."

"Well, you should. Skeeter has made you sound like an absolute prat! Like you are too full of yourself or something." Rose said crossly. "I don't understand what the Herald has against people who want a bit of privacy, you know. No offense, Scorpius." She added quickly.

Scorpius, his mouth full of waffles, just waved in dismissal and went back to his plate.

"It's her job, Rose. It's what she does. And besides, unlike most of Herald's crap, this is a serious matter."

Scorpius snorted at this. "Unbelievable. Now you're defending Apple Skeeter."

"Well, someone has to." Albus narrowed his eyes at him. "She is just writing what she got from Viola. And why didn't you stop her if you don't like it either?"

"It's too much work." Scorpius drawled. "I'd rather argue with that Fat Lady in the Gryffindor portrait than get into it with Skeeter."

Rose squinted at Scorpius. "How do you know about The Fat Lady?"

"I have my resources. But," Scorpius smirked at her. "There are more important matters at hand here, Rose. Concentrate."

Rose rolled her eyes at his non-answer and turned towards a bewildered Albus. "What really happened out there, Al? Did you see this- this-"

"Blue Eyed Monster." Scorpius supplied.

"Merlin, that's an awful name." Rose muttered.

"It was gone by the time I reached there." Albus said, sipping his coffee. "All I saw was an unconscious Viola."

The finality in his voice shut down the conversation. But both Rose and Scorpius had an inkling that Albus was not telling the truth.

Lily should have felt scared. No, scratch that. She was Lily Potter. Nothing would scare her. But she should have at least felt threatened. But all she felt was a manic sort of excitement coursing through her sixteen-year-old self as her back hit the wall.

"I will let you go, Lily." A deep, vaguely familiar voice caressed her. "If you do as I say, I will let you go. Can you do that, hmm?"

Her mystery lover smelled so familiar. Like woods. She didn't know how to answer his question. She would have never let someone overpower her like that. But there was something about this stranger.

"No." Lily whispered adamantly. She was not ready to succumb. She wanted to play.

The stranger chuckled darkly, "You never listen, do you, Lil?" His lips brushed hers lightly, making Lily shudder.

All this teasing was getting on her nerves. He had been at it since who knew how long. Lily decided to take the matters in her own hand as she grabbed his collar impatiently to finish what he had started. It seemed like she had done the right thing, because he responded with equal urgency, one of his hands tugging her hair gently and the other in a tight grasp around her waist. His lips were soft, but his cheeks were rough, gritting against hers as their lips broke apart, to draw quick shaky breaths. His face buried somewhere between her neck and her jaw.

Oh, it was all so very delicious. Then he shook her shoulder saying, "Lily."

Lily grabbed his collar to bring his mouth to hers again. Talking was overrated anyway.

"Lily! What are you-"

Lily's eyes flew open to two dark brown orbs boring at her in confusion. That wasn't the right look for Lorcan Scamander. And why was he on top of her in the bright day light anyway? Why was he here. Huge question mark. Last she remembered, she was in a dark corridor, having the time of her life with her tall, dark and potentially handsome.

And that thought brought her to the present tense. She was not, in fact, in a dark corridor. She was under "her tree" near the Black Lake. And she had clearly been dreaming about a certain someone, whose collar was still clutched in her hands.

Lorcan gently freed her collar from Lily's hand and said, "I thought you were having a bad dream."

Lily adjusted herself to a sitting position and brought her hands to her awfully warm cheeks. "No, I'm good." She mumbled.

Lorcan smiled at her, frowning a little. "You don't look fine, Lily."

"It's just-" Lily fanned herself. "It's awfully warm here, isn't it? Yes. That's it. I'm hot. I mean- not hot, hot. I am not that conceited. You know. Hot. I am so hot! Whew! I think I need to get out of here! I need me some fresh air!" Lily got to her feet, avoiding Lorcan's gaze. Him towering over her wasn't helping her predicament anyway.

"You are outside, Lily." Lorcan said calmly. Lily had been acting very strange since some time now. And her colour was rising to an alarming proportion.

"Right." Lily cleared her throat. "I'm going to-" she made a weird clucking noise pointing her fingers violently at the castle. "Yes. Ahem. I'm going to go."

Lorcan wasn't sure what to say to her. He just frowned at her some more. Lily made her way towards the castle hastily. She faintly Lorcan's urgent "Lily! Wait!" behind her.

Viola Obst was bored. This wasn't bed rest. This was bed arrest. And the blasted healer didn't seem like she was ready to let her leave this place any time soon. And her left hand hurt. This whole thing was a disaster. The only thing that came out of it was the fact that Albus Potter was the one who had come to her rescue. Sigh.

The door to the Hospital Wing swung open, making Viola twist her neck to find Lily Potter hurrying towards her.

Lily silently dropped her bad near Viola's feet, dragged a chair close to her friend, and said in a breathless voice, "Hi."

Viola just stared at her blankly. "You are red as a tomato, Lily."

Lily just waved at her hand in dismissal. "How are you feeling, Vee?"

"Oh, you know. Trapped." Viola sighed. "I wish I could get out of this horrible place."

Lily held her hand to show support. "I'm sure they will let you out soon. So, tell me. Who has come to visit you today? Aside from me, of course."

"Not Albus. That's who." Viola whined.

"I'm sure he had a good reason not to, Vee." Lily said mildly. "He is probably just sulking somewhere anyway. I saw him and Rose having an argument during breakfast today."

That caught Viola's interest. She looked at Lily with a peculiar gleam. "Speaking of your bitch of a cousin-"

"Hey!" Lily protested.

"I have something quite interesting to share with you about her."

A/N: Hi there! I am sorry for cutting this one a little short. I felt like this was the place to stop here. Just wanted to thank y'all for your reviews/follows/favourites. They had me smiling like a loon! As a side note, writing hot scenes is a pain in my beautiful behind, I swear. So, if anyone has any constructive criticism, please keep 'em coming my way.

To harrypotterchick: IKR! Thanks for your review! I hope you like it enough to keep reading.