Since my schedule was not overly full this weekend, (It was too hot here to do anything, really) I present you the second chapter.

Have a great day (or evening, depending on where you live).

Thanks to Kirberella for the review!

Her mood was on a low point, as their teacher Professor Moody entered the room. She had just spent fifteen minutes scrambling nonsense on her paper, avoiding looking Fred in the eye and thinking about possible counter spells, in case Moody decided to also attack her with spells. It was not very likely but you never knew.

Only a fellow Slytherin called Timothy had gathered the courage to sit next to her. She didn't even know his surname, but she found that she didn't particularly care. Cecilia didn't like company during her lessons – she rather wanted to concentrate, so she would actually learn something – but Timothy didn't try to make conservation.

"And finally we turn to the Imperius Curse and how to resist it."

For the first time in the lesson Cecilia raised her head in silent interest. That could be interesting. A chance to show off my skills and make people even more afraid of me, she thought amused. Maybe Fred would finally leave her alone then. But she would have to do without making herself suspicious. And an Imperius casted by Moody would certainly be more difficult to resist. A challenge it was, then! Maybe she would even gain points for her effort.

"Now does anyone know how someone can resist such a dangerous curse?" Moody asked with a smirk that seemed to indicate that he knew exactly who could resist it.

"It takes great will power but there are not many people, who are able to summon such strength", Timothy answered in a low tone, that almost resembled hers. It made her wonder if he possessed the same skills; she had trained so hard for them, when it came to the Imperius Curse.

"Correct."

"Now the Ministry would highly disagree on testing this curse on students..." adrenaline started rushing through Cecilia's veins. She hadn't been wrong in her assumption!

"But I say different! All of you need to be ready to resist such evil", he concluded. Cecilia could not hide her smirk, of course it did not stay hidden from Professor Moody.

"Is there something you'd like to tell us, Miss Nott?"

Cecilia rolled her eyes and just shook her head. She was not out to fight.

"Well, then. I would ask you to be the first one to try resisting the Imperius Curse", he calmly said. Some took sharp breaths. It seemed like even the Gryffindors were afraid of what was to come. Their bravery - that they prided themselves with – lost.

Cecilia took a deep breath, readying herself for the task that lay before her. It was time to show them how much power she truly had gained in the last five years.

"Show them, Nott", Timothy whispered beside her, an amused grin on his face. Cecilia narrowed her eyes. When this lesson was over she would ask Draco about Timothy. She needed to know his family history and his grades, and why he seemed so bloody sure about everything.

"With great pleasure", she whispered back, simply needing to have the last word.

"Alright", she said to Professor Moody and stood up to meet his challenge. She closed her eyes for a mere second to gather her strength and then nodded.

"Attention, everyone! You are about to see one of the many damages a spell like this can cause!" Professor Moody almost screamed. Cecilia was unbothered; she was already in her zone.

"Imperius!", he proclaimed and Cecilia saw a light approaching her face from the corner of her eye.

Tell me your darkest secret!

Cecilia moved her head, trying to escape the voice. A natural reaction out of fear, how her father always called it. It was unimportant to analyze that. She had to stay focused on the parts to come. She could feel her mouth starting to open. It was time to strike!

Good. Now do as I told you.

Tension made its way through her body, her muscles tightened. Her hands started to shake and she gripped the wooden table to her left, where the Weasley's sat, so they would not bother her.

Tell me your darkest secret! And it will all be over!

She could feel her mouth opening wider and knew that if she did not do something against it now, it would be over. So she gathered all of her mental strength and pushed. She had to get the voice out of her head, and she would win. Her teeth chattered and there was blood on her hands from how hard she was gripping the table.

You cannot win, girl. Give it up!

Get out of my head, she screamed internally and successfully pushed the voice out of her head.

Out of breath and feeling incredibly nauseous she came back to the real world. Opening her eyes and letting go of the table, she could feel herself starting to fade.

Not now, she thought. Not after I fought so hard to get that arsehole out of my head!

She had used up all of her strength fighting the bloody Imperius Curse, that her body refused to work anymore. She opened up her eyes once more and grinned at Professor Moody, who even seemed a bit surprised.

"I won, Professor", she whispered and then blacked out.

She could feel someone's hand on her back as she regained conscience. Panic rose in her and yanked herself out of its grip, and then she opened up her eyes and found herself back in the classroom. Her hands burnt, her muscles ached and her vision was blurry but she was determined to remain standing. Her pride would not be tarnished, not like this.

"I see you are with us once again, Miss Nott", Professor Moody declared, while sounding somewhat astonished.

"I guess I'm the first student to resist such a spell casted by you."

"Correct, Miss Nott. Considering your effort, I award you fifty points for Slytherin."

"That's… quite a lot", Cecilia commented, too tired to think about something wittier.

"It is. Now you should let yourself be taken to the Hospital Wing", he grumbled and then turned around to write something on the board. She turned around too and stared right in Fred Weasley's face. She stiffened. He shouldn't look at her like he was worried, especially not now when her guard was down and she couldn't defend herself. She tried to will herself to look away but her body wouldn't cooperate.

"I can help you, Cecilia", a voice called out from afar. It was Akimbo. She wanted to scowl at him, throw insults at him but she was simply too drained.

"I don't think she likes you, man", Fred cut him off and then she heard the laughter coming from the other Gryffindors. Anger made its way through her body; she would not be humiliated after just having shown how much power she possessed.

"I can speak for myself", she said quietly, but still with an authorative undertone.

"You don't look like you can."

"Stop the bickering! Weasley – the left one – take Miss Nott to the Hospital Wing!", Professor Moody ordered to Cecilia's horror.

"Do not say anything or I'll crush you", she threatened Fred and walked slowly out of the class ahead of him. Almost directly after she had passed through the door, another dizzy spell hit her and she was barely able to stay on her feet. Until Fred stopped her from falling, by grabbing her arms. She leaned into his touch, only to steady herself, obviously.

"You seem really out of it, Nott", Fred commented, now sounding concerned again.

"I thought I told you not to say anything", she remarked weakly.

"What can I say. I never listen", he grinned at her but she only scowled. Those Gryffindor idiots did nothing but smile all day, it was annoying.

"Obviously. Now, take me to the Hospital Wing or leave."