Chapter 4:Instructor from hell
I found the two girls sitting, side by side and crossed legged at a small, secluded part of the shore of the black lake. My sister had found the spot in our second year, and it has been used since as our meeting spot.
Melody looked up, smiling, but as soon as she saw me, her features twisted and changed, the look of happiness replaced by fear and worry.
"What happened?" demanded she, jumping to her feet "What did you do?"
"Come again?" I asked, not really sure how she had managed to catch wind of the events in the Slytherin common room at all, let alone how the news had travelled so fast.
"What did you do?" demanded she again, and I notice Clo had looked up from her book as well, her brows furrowed in what seemed to be worry.
"I didn't do anything wrong" I replied, calmly sitting down and resting my back against the bark of a tree.
"But you did something" spoke Clo, quickly catching on to the fact that I did not deny taking action at all.
"Oh, it's something bad" moaned my sister, plopping to the floor like a bag of sand. This earned her a disapproving look from me, one she blatantly ignored.
"Why would it be something bad?" I replied, my eyes set on my bag as I rummaged about in it, trying to locate my book.
"You have the look" answered Clo and I stopped my search, only to glance up, not really believing what I had heard.
"I have the look?" I repeated, narrowing my eyes at her.
"Yes." This time, it was my sister who spoke. "Your eyes shine and you have this small, mean smile on your lips. You're…. happy." She brought her hand up, placing it on her head. "Do I have to go see which one of my housemates ended up in the hospital wing this time, or will you spare me the walk and simply tell me?"
"I didn't do anything to your darling little housemates" I laughed, somewhat amused that she figured I would pick a Hufflepuff to torture on my first day back. Silly girl, I don't go looking for a victim, my victims usually have it coming and they find me. "I finally managed to put Zabini where he belongs."
"What happened?" demanded Clo, turning to me, her interest completely with me, and her book lying discarded on her lap.
"He had a girl spy on me. I found out." I spoke and smirked, remembering the scene that happened mere minutes before. "Naturally, I was very cross, so , first thing I did after my potions class ended, I visited him in the common room. I do believe that after our little, ah, talk, the brat won't even think of talking to me again."
I was rather satisfied with the progress I had made and it must have been showing if my sister caught onto it.
"He isn't in the hospital wing is he?" questioned she, and I smirked in return, making her gasp and ask: "Oh Merlin, you didn't send him to St. Mungo did you?"
"Relax" I smiled, opening the book and beginning to read where I had left off. "He is not seriously injured. I am telling you , I mostly talked to him."
Silence ensued after my comment, and just when I thought that we were done on the Zabini subject once and for all, my sister spoke up again, making me cease my reading and look up, only to see her biting on her lip.
"Oh Linds.." spoke she, and I raised my eyebrow in question. "Do you honestly believe that that was a good idea?"
"Of course "I spoke, no doubt in my mind. I couldn't, for the life of me, understand why she was defending the boy.
"But he could have been good for you" spoke she, and I felt a small trace of hope in her voice "he could have helped you. You know, you wouldn't have been so lonely."
"I am not lonely" I responded, on the verge of snapping at her.
She gave me that look, full of sympathy that made me want to hex her.
"I don't think that Blaise would be able to help her, at least not Blaise that we know. If he grew up, maybe…. But now, no." spoke Clo, and I turned to her, a small smile on my lips.
"Not completely true, but better, thanks Clo" I smiled at her and she returned my smile with a small one of her own before resuming reading.
"I just hope you know what you are doing Sis" spoke Melody, and I nodded, my attention once more diverted as I had begun to read. We were waiting for Arielle, so we could all go to lunch, and my thoughts turned to how I would hex her if she turned up late, seeing how I was already starving.
Not once, at that time, did I think that my sister was right, that I was missing something, that I was lonely. I had a lot of growing up to do, and now that I think about it, we all did. Perhaps, that same growing up brought us to what we have become now.
As time passed, I kept glancing up every now and then, growing more and more restless by the second. My sister sat, facing the castle, a little ways off from me, and when she spoke, it was obvious who she was referring to.
"She's had DADA " spoke she softly, twirling a lock of her hair between her fingers and looking ahead, seemingly lost in thought. "What do you think she'll say?"
"Well, obviously, what she always says. That they are an incompetent fool, the only exception being Remus Lupin who turned out to be a werewolf. Fantastic qualities to be working with children." I mumbled, glancing up again to see if the idiot was coming or not.
"Don't say that, he was nice" spoke my sister, giving me a disapproving glance "you liked him as well."
"I did" I admitted, "but he has no business working with children."
"He was harmless." Argued my sister, rather fond of the ex-professor.
"Until he turned and ran along on a rampage across the forbidden forest." I countered.
"Why do you insist on belittling him?" asked my sister, seemingly exasperated with the conversation.
"I do not; " I spoke, glancing up again "I merely consider him a threat to the student body, and by that I do not mean to belittle his teaching abilities. He was the best teacher we have ever had, despite his …. Condition."
"You make it sound as if all your other professors were incompetent " spoke Clo, interested in the topic since she only ever had Lockhart, Lupin, Moody that turned out to be Arielle's mental cousin, and now Umbridge as her professors.
"Well… " spoke Melody, looking up, lost in thought "Remember Lockhart? I dare say he was an incompetent fool that could only ever succeed by stealing from others and taking their fame. Then there was professor Quirell, who happened to have you-know-who as a head ornament. And before that, professor Reslet, who was really awful, and last year, professor Moody, who turned out to be a Death Eater at large, trying and succeeding in bringing back the-one-who-must-not-be-named….. Doesn't anyone check the staff around here?"
"Three fools, one Death Eater and one werewolf, quite a score we have had, wouldn't you say?" I spoke, shutting my book with a frustrated sigh. I was too hungry to read, and the bloody Gryffindor fool was late, which never made for a good combination. I looked up again, only to do a double take as I saw Arielle storming our way.
She seemed rather cross, and she stomped her feet as she walked, her hands clenched into tight fists. This couldn't bode for well.
"I hate the blasted frog" ranted she, as soon as she figured that she was within earshot.
"I hate her awful pink clothes, I hate her sickly sweet smell, I hate the bloody cats she put in the bloody classroom and I hate the sound of her blasted voice!" ranted she, practically throwing herself on the ground beside me, making me move slightly away from her in obvious distaste.
"Oh do calm down Arielle " I spoke, pulling the end of my robe away from her, so that she wouldn't wrinkle it in her vivid display of outrage towards the toad. "It will get better as the practical part of the course starts." I spoke, turning slightly so that I was turned towards her.
"Yeah? Well , there won't be a practical part of that blasted course!" spoke she, and I noticed a note of self-satisfaction and smugness to her voice.
I rolled my eyes at her "Very funny."
"I'm not kidding" spoke she, her face turning grim. " There. Won't. Be. A. Practical. Part. To . The. Course."
"No practical?" I repeated, my eyes narrowing at the prospect "Has darling Cornelius lost the little shred of sanity he still had? How in the name of Merlin are you supposed to pass your NEWTS, let alone fight in the war, or have any chance of surviving it?"
"That's Fudge for you" spoke Melody. "He's paranoid." I noticed that both she and Clo seemed worried at the prospect.
"Well…" spoke Clo after a while "we could always have you teach us Linds."
I raised my eyebrow at that and she nodded with a smile "Yeah, you're the best, I'm sure you could teach us much better than Umbridge could."
"Have you ever been taught by Linds?" asked Arielle beside me, and both of the girls shook their heads. "Well, let me tell you, she is brutal."
I rolled my eyes at that, but made no move to deny her allegations.
"Let's go" I spoke, standing up. "I'm hungry". I picked up my bag and walked away, closely followed by Clo and Mells, and Arielle, who ran to catch up with us. If they wanted to be taught, that was alright with me, but they should listen to Arielle. I would show no mercy, for neither would the Dark Lord.
Although my intention was to talk to Daphne on the first day back, I found that I had greatly underestimated the amount of schoolwork a sixth year student would have. And so, the first chance I had gotten to speak to my younger cousin, had appeared on the Friday afternoon, and completely by chance.
I had been returning from my Divination class on west wing of the castle, the one turned to the setting sun, and happened to stumble upon Daphne who was returning from her astronomy lesson.
"Hello Daphne" I called, somewhat unwisely as I was walking a couple of steps beside her in a darkened hallway.
She jumped slightly at my call, spinning about, her eyes wide and her wand drawn.
I arched my eyebrow at her raised wand, but she sighed in relief and lowered it the moment she recognized me.
"Oh, it's you Linda. You scared me." Smiled she, tucking away her wand.
"Keep your wand out" I requested, falling into step alongside her. "There are vicious people in this castle, and I find it funny indeed that most do not belong to our house."
"Yes… there are many who would wish to hex us while hidden in the shadows." She spoke, and contrary to her words, kept her wand hidden.
"And you find it logical to put away your wand?" I asked, trying, and failing miserably to sound levelled, and not rude as I usually tend to.
Daphne didn't mind, however, and she just smiled at me as if the answer was obvious. As I just stared back, she seemed to understand that I was still waiting for an answer.
"Of course. I can hardly think of one person foolish enough to try and hex you." Spoke she, grinning at me. I smirked in return, but my smirk was quick to disappear as she continued "Although…"
"What?" I demanded, already guessing the direction this conversation was taking, and having no desire to continue it.
"Well, Blaise never did have much of the fear people usually experience when facing you."
"I do not wish to talk about him" I spoke, cutting her off, admittedly in a rather rude manner. It was just that I did not wish to talk about the boy, the story concerning him being finished on my part.
"But he..:" started she and I gave her a warning look, effectively silencing her. I had heard rumours about his behaviour, and I could not find a reason for Daphne to think that I cared in any degree about how many girls he had slept with from Monday.
"Alright" sighed she in turn, "You said you wanted to talk to me , I assume it's not something good."
"It's not bad…. At the very least not yet" I spoke, narrowing my eyes as I stared straight ahead.
"You're scaring me Linda" spoke Daphne to my side and I glanced up at her, and then continued my walk, my eyes set firmly on the far wall of the hallway.
"Has it come to your attention that Tori fancies young Malfoy heir?" I asked and Daphne stopped in her tracks.
I turned to her, only to see a look of pure shock on her face. "I take it the answer is no. Don't worry, she'll tell you in a month or so, just pretend you didn't know so far."
"Has she told you?" managed Daphne, and I detected a small hint of jealousy to her voice.
"No" I replied, wishing to dismiss her worries. "I noticed it on my own. It worries me Daphne."
She nodded absently and I could tell that she was focused on the newfound problem.
"But…" spoke Daphne, trying to grasp the situation "she's a third year. I hardly think that he would notice her."
"True" I agreed, "But Tori will grow to be beautiful, and it is simply a matter of time before he does notice her."
Daphne frowned at my answer but I let her come to terms with my words in silence.
"You must understand Daphne," I spoke coming to a halt before the turn that would lead us to the moving stairway "Draco Malfoy is dangerous. He believes in a pureblood supremacy, something that cannot last in this society. He will fall inevitably, and I will not see Tori being pulled down with him."
"So, what do we do?" she asked, and I could see that she had understood the danger her sister had found herself in.
"We cannot make her dislike him, that would be unwise." I spoke, continuing my walk "What we can do, is stop this fancy from growing into something more."
"And how do we do that?" asked Daphne, falling into step beside me.
"I don't know yet." I sighed, reluctant to continue. But as she stared at me, I finished my thought. "I don't really understand a lot about this "love" concept. But I will think about it, do some research. I suggest you do the same. We must save Tori, at all costs."
"There is a chance she will grow out of it" spoke Daphne to the side, and I glanced at her. "I mean, if it's just a fancy. Sometimes that happens. "
"I hope so." I agreed, hopping that my cousin would truly grow out of it.
And yet, as I thought about it, a pressure built up in my chest. A foreboding feeling, carrying forth the wind of misfortune. Somehow, in the back of my mind, in the deepest crypt of my heart, I knew that she would not grow out of it, that this fancy could not be stopped, by any means known to me. I could fight hexes I could cast curses. I could insult and wound and maim, and I could do everything and anything to save my family. Protect them from anything. But not from this. And it kept me awake for many nights to come, that and so much more. For, no matter if Cornelius admitted it or not, a dark shadow slowly crawled towards us. Soon, we would face war, and I knew, we would all face the one thing I simply could not fight of. Death.
"Alright" I spoke, observing the three girls before me, their wands drawn. "Who wants to go first?"
Clo seemed nervous at the prospect of fighting me, but she held my gaze as I observed her. Melody looked away as our eyes met, clearly wishing to be the last one to go. And Arielle, the last one in the line was smirking at me, clearly not intimidated.
"I'll have a go" she said, stepping forward boldly.
"I was hoping you would " I responded with a smirk of my own. "These are the rules. We duel until one of us has lost her wand, or one of us is unable to continue. I will only use mild curses, while you lot have no limitation, do as you please. Is that alright?"
"More than alright!" exclaimed Arielle, walking to the side and raising her wand.
I walked in parallel, raising my wand as well.
We stood like that for a second or two, regarding each other.
"Stupefy!", exclaimed she and I raised my wand, waving it slightly and casting a silent Protego.
"More power." I responded and Arielle smirked at me exclaiming "Petrificus Totalus!".
One more wave and the spell was intercepted. "Use more spells."
"Petrificus Totalus! Affligo! Furnunculus!" called she moving to the side and I smirked in return , satisfied that she moved from her spot, running to the side and casting.
I ducked the first spell, and cast two successive Protego charms, intercepting hers.
"Better" I commented "Now defence! Stupefy!" Arielle's eyes widened as she saw the spell hurtling towards her through the air, much quicker than her own were, and seemingly much more potent and she made a split second decision, diving for the ground.
The spell missed her by an inch, hitting a tree behind her.
"Get up!" I commanded, noticing that she cut her palm on a stone as she dove for the ground.
As she got up to her feet I cast another set of spells her way "Anakatus! Claudicus! Expelliarmus!"
She managed to cast a quick Protego which disappeared as it encountered my first spell. She ran to the side, dodging my spells.
"You have to attack as you are running" I spoke, but made no move to run myself. "Confundo! Exposco!"
She cast another quick Protego, her red hair flying around her as she ran, a smile on her face, as if she was enjoying this, despite her obvious disadvantage.
As she jumped to the side to avoid my last hex her foot caught onto a tree root in the ground, sending her tumbling to the ground. As she fell, she lost her grip on her wand, which flew from her hand, landing a couple of steps away from her.
I lowered my wand, walking up to her and offering her my hand.
"You need to mind your surroundings, use them to your advantage. Also, think before you cast a spell. Create a strategy, and don't always rely on your instinct. Doing that, despite your good instinct, will get you killed in a proper duel." I spoke as she took my hand, using it to pull herself up on her feet again. She grinned at me huffing to get a strand of her hair from her face.
"That was brilliant!" exclaimed she, clearly unfazed by the amount of bruises she had acquired. "Can I have another go?"
"No." I responded, turning to my sister who grew pale. "This is just a test duel , intended for me, so I can ascertain your weaknesses and your advantages, and so I can decided how to help you develop. Now, one of them has to duel me."
I turned to the two girls standing to the side and raised my eyebrow. "Who wants to go next?"
I could see that neither of them was particularly fond of the idea, and just as Clo made a step forward, Mells caught her hand gently, stepping in front of her.
"I'll go" she said, somehow managing a small smile.
"Are you sure?" I asked and she smiled nervously.
"Yeah…" she said, raising her wand.
I nodded in acceptance and walked to stand in front of her while Ari moved past me, walking up to the same tree that had suffered from my hex minutes before, falling down next to it and breathing heavily, still grinning like a complete maniac.
"The same rules apply. Give it your best shot." I spoke, raising my wand, waiting for her to make the first move.
"Expelliarmus!" called she, and I intercepted her spell with a shield, frowning as I felt that my shield was still in its place.
"Intent sister" I spoke. "You have to want to hurt me."
She frowned at that, biting on her lip.
"Exposco!" called she again, her voice very low in volume.
I decided that she needed more encouragement, and as soon as I cast a Protego, I called "Expelliarmus!"
"Protego Totalum!" called she and to my immense amazement, her shield withstood my spell, glimmering in front of her.
"Stupefy!" I called, putting slightly more force in my spell and as it hit her shield, it shook violently but still held.
I stared at her for a second before I stepped forward, assuming a proper stance, this time deciding to try her shield with a proper spell.
My wand slashed the air as I quickly exclaimed "Petrificus Totalus!"
My sister seemed to be frozen in her place as the spell flew through the air, hurtling towards her, and she seemed to snap out of her shock a second before it would have been too late, jumping to the side with surprising agility.
"Exposco! Gelesco! Stupefy!" I called, forcing her to run. She jumped to the side to avoid the first spell, and waved her wand in a movement that seemed more of a spasm than a voluntary movement, but even so managed to create a shield that stopped the second spell. That was very impressive, but falling to the ground to avoid my third spell was not.
I walked forward and her eyes widened as she saw me, instinctively raising her wand in self-defence and exclaiming "Harrundo!"
Reeds shot out of the water, headed straight towards me and I narrowed my eyes at them exclaiming "Diffindo! Incendio!" Some of the reeds were cut in half, while others burnt above water level. I then turned towards her as I heard her call "Expelliarmus!" again, responding with "Impedimenta!"
I forgot to mind my power, and the amount of magic that I allowed myself to use easily cut through the spell my sister cast, hitting her and knocking her to the ground as she was trying to get up, simultaneously knocking her wand away from her hand.
I approached her as well, waving my wand and ending the spell I had cast beforehand, offering her my hand as I reached her.
She took it with a smile, slowly getting up.
"You need to work on your offence. I know you don't want to , but you will have to hurt people if you duel with them. Intent Melody, you have to mean it. I'm sorry but you have to mean it. But…. " I spoke narrowing my eyes at her slightly. "Arielle is very good at attacking, and lacks defensive skills. You, have more than you could imagine. The defence spells you cast were very good."
She beamed at me, although I could see that she was tired out. "No. I take it back" I spoke, smirking at her "they were brilliant, well done."
I took a deep breath, straightening my robe as I walked to stand in front of Clo.
"You ready?" I asked, raising my wand in front of myself.
"No." smiled she and immediately continued "Stupefy!"
I smirked, responding "Protego!"
The spell had some power but she still lacked the aspect that won you a duel. Intent.
"The same as Melody, Clo. Harm me." I called and she narrowed her eyes at me, her gaze turning distant, calculating.
It was taking too long, even though it was only a couple of seconds, but those seconds precisely would have killed her were it not the case that she was duelling me, but a death eater without a shred of mercy.
"Impedimenta!" I called and she blinked before slashing the air with her wand, in a move that was book-perfect and calling "Protego Totalum!"
She gripped her wand tight as her shield encountered my spell, and to my surprise, another shield was able to withstand my spell. I didn't expect for the two of them to be so skilled in defensive spells.
"Stupefy! Exposco! Gelesco!" I called and she stepped back, summoning shield after shield but still standing in the same area. If she would just move, she could fight properly.
That's why I narrowed my eyes at her, and shot a proper hex at her feet. She was forced to move, as I verbalised the incantation, letting her know that I was not holding back anymore.
"What are you doing?" she demanded, jumping to the side as yet another hex was a narrow miss.
"Hexing you, move!" I spoke, again aiming at her.
"But you promised that you would hold back! That you would use mild hexes!" called she, panicking and diving to her right.
"Told ya she is brutal!" called Arielle from the side, but I ignored her as I could see that Clo was still by far too slow.
"Rule one: I lie. Move! Move! Move!" I called, my voice levelled, moving my wand with ease, almost lazily.
"Yes! But this is insane!" exclaimed she ducking as I suddenly aimed at her head.
"Do you want to stay alive?" I called, casting another hex "Then dodge! This may very well save your life!"
As I was about to cast another hex, which Clo wouldn't have been able to dodge, I noticed something pink from the far end of the path, just exiting the castle. I found myself grateful for my farsightedness.
"Merlin's beard!" I swore turning to my friends, aiming my wand at Arielle "Bloody meddling frog is coming this way! Ennervate! Episkey!"
Arielle lost the redness to her cheeks, and her breathing steadied, while the cut on her hand healed.
"Take a book! Pretend to be reading!" I told her as I walked to join them, Clo barely walking in front of me. "Ennervate!" I spoke, aiming at both Melody and Clo in turn, then joining them and taking a book with my reading glasses just as the frog walked close enough so she could see us.
It was a rather good clean-up, even in my own humble opinion, but I knew that I could not fool someone as snide as Dolores Umbridge. I simply did not have the time to prepare. However, dear Dolores had no leg to stand on, and she knew it.
"Miss Hayes" she called, smiling sweetly down at us. "Your mother sent you a letter. I thought it would be best if I brought it here personally."
My eyes narrowed at the obnoxious woman and I clenched my palms into fists, trying to keep my anger under control. She was going through our mail, the blasted toad. She had no right, and if I found that she touched a single letter of mine, minister or no minister, I would blast that sickly sweet smile off her wretched face.
Arielle also worried me, and I hopped that she had enough self-control to remain sitting without acting out. Thankfully, she was in control, and I sighed in relief silently as she got up, thanking the frog for her troubles.
With one last smile, she turned around, trotting up the path to the castle. We waited for a second or two after she was gone, before jumping to our feet and surrounding Arielle.
"What was that?" asked my sister, looking after the toad.
"She read her mail" responded Clo, her eyes set on the letter. "Be careful Ari, she might have placed some charm on it to be able to read it in case it only makes sense when you hold it or something…"
That was a very good idea in my opinion. Arielle seemed to think so as well as she pointed her wand at the letter muttering "Hexia Revelio! Incantatum Revelio!" . Nothing happened and after one unsure glance at me, Arielle opened her letter gingerly, as if expecting for it to explode at the slightest movement.
"I hope my mother wrote in riddles. I swear I'll put something in her drink… oh when I get my hands on her" ranted she, skimming through the letter.
"Don't worry, your mum is smart-" spoke Clo, a small smug smile on her face "She was a Ravenclaw after all."
"Yeah yeah" spoke Arielle, waving Clo's comment away, her brow furrowing as she read. "Hey, listen to this:" called Arielle, and we all turned to her to listen to the content of the letter being read out for us :" Dear Arielle. I noticed that your old trunk doesn't have any more room, so I sent you a new one. It has a few more compartments than your old one, I hope you will like it. Love, Mum. P.S. I hope you still have the amulet I gave you for your last birthday."
"She sent this message intentionally riddled" spoke Arielle frowning at the letter.
I rolled my eyes at her as Clo responded "And it seems to me that the old amulet you are wearing is the key"
"Your mum is really clever" spoke Melody, reading the letter again "the old frog can't do anything about it."
Arielle just stood there for a second or two more before gathering her stuff, taking the letter from Melody and leaving without a word.
"Did we upset her?" asked Melody, looking after Arielle's fast leaving back.
"Leave her; she'll come see us when she's ready." I spoke, knowing full well what sorts of nightmares haunted my friend. So very similar to my own.
"She never talks about it" spoke my sister , and I knew she would do anything she could for her friend "We could help."
"She's too proud for that" concluded Clo, sighing as she thought about it.
"No, that's not pride" I spoke, knowing full well what that was. Fear. "She is not doing this because she is prideful, or brave or mistrusts us. No, I'd say that this has something to do with fear."
The pair of them turned to me , gaping. But the more they thought about it the more they realized that I was right. As brave as she may be, Arielle was human. And we all have our demons, it's just a matter of living with them.