Chapter 14

Christmas break was soon over, the snow had cleared and all students had returned to school. Reece was sitting by himself in the hall eating his breakfast. That was until he was joined by a cheery Daphne who hadn't spoken to him since the whole blow up before Christmas. She didn't have anything against Reece or anything like that, she just chose to stay clear of him for a while so he could cool off.

"Good morning." Daphne said as she flopped gracefully onto the bench opposite him. It was usual for her to be in a good mood, but this mood was more than just good. "How was your Christmas?"

"Oh it was swell." Reece sarcastically drawled as he refiled his goblet with pumpkin juice. "Spending my time with Malfoy and his two henchmen was just how I envisioned my break would be." Daphne frowned slightly at his attitude and continued to listen. "Don't even get me started about that bloody mudblood pointing her wand at me because I pushed Boot over." As if he would have mentioned them speaking without conflict before and after that. "How was yours?"

"It was alright." Daphne said, keeping up her cheery tone. "Just an average Christmas to be honest, with a huge family dinner of course. My mother did say to tell you that you're welcome to visit next year if Mister Yaxley can't have you home for the break."

"Thank you for the offer." Reece muttered as he rose from the bench. "If you'll excuse me, I've just spotted Zacharias Smith leaving on his own." Daphne secretly wanted to stop him from possibly attacking the Hufflepuff, but she had no idea what to say to the loose cannon. Reece exited the hall quickly and pursued the Hufflepuff. Zacharias went outside into the cool air – probably to be in the sun due to its rare appearances – as spring was fast approaching. "Yo, Zach!" Reece yelled across the yard. Smith heard his name being called by the voice people rarely wanted to hear and turned round quickly to see Reece approaching.

"What do you want Lestrange?" Smith asked courageously as Reece came to a stop just in front of his target. Reece's fists curled up so tightly that he could feel the nails digging into his palms.

"Just wanted to say hi." He replied with a sadistic grin. Zacharias was about to say something in response but was cut off by a heavy hit to the stomach. He doubled over, winded by the force leaving himself open to attack. Reece quickly took advantage and grabbed the Hufflepuff scarf that was wrapped round his neck, and then yanked it up tightly so that Smith was standing straight again. Smith began coughing for air and Reece randomly stamped down on his foot. Zach yelped in pain and his head snapped down to look at what had happened. Just as he did so Reece brought his right fist up powerfully and smacked the bottom of his jaw, just like a wresting European uppercut.

"Mister Lestrange!" Professor McGonagall bellowed from the other side of the yard. Moving away from her was a fearful looking Susan Bones who seemed to have grassed him up to the strict transfiguration teacher. Reece turned as Zacharias fell to the floor, cupping his jaw that was now bleeding quite heavily. He gave Bones one of his most threatening glares before looking at the woman who was now hurtling across the grass holding her hat down as she ran. "Thirty points from Slytherin for such violent behaviour. Professor Dumbledore has given you the benefit of doubt since you first arrived, but this is too much." She gestured to Smith who was attempting to scramble to his feet and hide the tears on his cheeks at the same time. "You have no right to harm another student in this school!" Reece rolled his eyes. This woman could rant for days. "Do not roll your eyes at me! Come." Reece reluctantly followed, leaving Smith to be helped to the hospital wing by Susan.

Reece was awarded two weeks of detention with Madam Pince. He knew that his actions would have had consequences, but Reece was incredibly annoyed that he was caught because Susan Bones had dobbed him in. What irritated him the most was the fact that he had to sort library books instead of watching the upcoming Gryffindor versus Hufflepuff Quidditch match.

"Now I don't care what you did to get detention with me, but I assure you that I do not take well to slackers." Pince said sternly as she moved away from the main part of the library. As the match was about to commence, only two other students were in the library: Granger and Penelope Clearwater, an older Ravenclaw. Reece sighed in annoyance and went over to one of the tables. He was supposed to put the books back where they had been originally before being taken out, but in honesty Reece didn't spend enough time in the library to know what went where.

He dragged his feet over to one of the tables in the middle of the space and sat on one of the chairs. Reece put his feet up on the desk, not caring about the furniture and observed the two girls. Clearwater seemed to be hard at work with three books and a roll of parchment in front of her. She came across quite relaxed, and was biting her lip in concentration. Granger on the other hand was scanning a book quickly and scribbling carelessly on the small piece of parchment beside her. Reece sat back, not planning to do any work. As if he was going to sort books for ages.

"Kill."

You've got to be joking. Again? Reece stiffened and rose to his feet with slow urgency. He looked round at the two girls who were totally oblivious to the nearby creature.

"Mudbloods have no right. Let me kill."

"Both of you shut your eyes." Reece said boldly as he approached the voice. The two girls stared at him blankly in question of his sudden outburst. "Do you want to get petrified? Shut your fucking eyes until I tell you it's safe." Penelope closed her eyes out of pure fear but Hermione wasn't keen to follow his instructions. "Just trust me Granger."

"It's a basilisk, isn't it?" Hermione asked in a small voice as she shut her eyes and scrunched up the parchment in her hand. "The thing that's attacking students?"

"Shut up." Reece muttered as he stopped behind a bookshelf suddenly. He was so close to the creature that he could hear the harsh breath hissing in the pipes. "Do as I command and return to your chamber immediately." The monster stopped breathing for a few seconds, pausing in its pursuit.

"Kill. Kill."

"You will not kill at his moment!" Reece hissed angrily. "You will leave this area before you are exposed."

"Yes master." The snake muttered in defeat as it turned to leave without a further fight. Reece leant against the cold wall beside him in relief as he calmed his nerves. He slid down the wall slowly, sinking to the floor and pulling his knees up to his chest.

"It's gone." Reece mumbled loudly. The two girls opened their eyes quickly and both shared a fearful glance. "Either of you have a mirror?" He asked quietly as they both collected their things and moved closer to the Slytherin who in this moment, looked slightly vulnerable.

"I have one in my bag." Penelope uttered as she opened the bag and took out a small mirror.

"You'll have to use it to look round corners." Hermione explained as the parchment in her hand tightened under the nervous grip. "If it looks you in the eye directly you will be killed, but if you see the gaze in something you can only be petrified." Clearwater left the library quickly, holding the mirror out just in case. Little did the two second years know that she was going to be attacked on her way through the school. "Are you alright?" Hermione asked, kneeling down across from her saviour.

"I told you that I'd have your back when no one else does Granger, did you doubt my words?" Reece smirked at her, feeling more relaxed in an instant knowing that she was safe.

"Thank you, for saving us. You didn't have to save a mudblood like myself." Hermione said while avoiding the question tactically. "I'd be petrified in the hospital wing if you didn't warn us."

"Your attention please." Professor Snape drawled as the common room came to a reverent hush. "Due to recent events," Although on the inside he was bothered, Snape acted as if it wasn't a big deal. "These new rules have been put into place and will apply from now on." He looked down at the parchment. "All students will return to their house common rooms by six o'clock, all students will be escorted to each lesson by a teacher, no exceptions."

As soon as Snape left the room Malfoy turned up his nose and began ranting.

"This is pathetic. No one in this house will be attacked, we've all got pure blood in us. Why should these rules apply to us?" Draco spat. Crabbe and Goyle were listening intently along with Pansy, but everyone else just frowned or rolled their eyes. Students quickly filed into their dormitories, and Reece sat on one of the sofas. There was no way he could sleep, he was far too restless. Reece turned to see Pansy sit beside him. She sighed dramatically and Reece's eyebrow rose sceptically.

"What's up with you?" He asked, causing her to jump at the sudden question.

"Nothing." Pansy flinched as she denied the question quickly. "Okay." Reece smirked victoriously as she gave in. "I know people are getting petrified and stuff, but I can't help but be sad about other things."

"Malfoy?" Reece sounded a little more disgruntled than he intended to but Pansy didn't seem to care about his tone.

"I know we're only young and it shouldn't be the most important thing in my life – but getting Draco to like me means everything to me. Tracy was like, telling me that I still have plenty of time and all that. But people don't realise that everything happens sooner nowadays. I have a distant cousin that is in a serious relationship, and she's only fourteen. She's already done stuff and I'm just sitting here trying to get noticed by someone."

"You shouldn't feel rushed and pressured just because your cousin has a boyfriend." Reece muttered thoughtfully. "The difference between every year is huge Pans. We're all so different than we were last year, and I'll bet everyone will change by the time our third year comes around. From a guy's point of view, good on her boyfriend for getting in there and all that, but at the same time were they really ready or were they pissed?" Pansy simply shrugged and Reece continued. "Don't get me wrong, if I was offered something, I wouldn't refuse. But you need to remember that Malfoy's testosterone will soon kick in and he'll be searching high and low for a girl. When that happens, you need to choose if you're going to be that girl or not."

"How do you know all this? You speak like you've seen it all before." Maybe he had. For all she knew he could have used a time turner.

"I'm quite the observer if I'd say so myself. If I'm not bullying or being abnormally nice, I tend to watch people. How they act, who they talk to." Reece said smugly.

"No offence but you're like the quieter, meaner, hotter version of Tracy." Pansy laughed as Reece turned his nose up at the statement.

"I'd rather you not compare me to the school's gossip source."