A/N I'm back and trying to get back on track with this story. I really haven't been up to writing as of late but I don't think Reece deserves to be left in the middle of his third year. Things were just getting good after all and I'd hate to leave the people that are enjoying this story hanging. I know I don't do it enough, so I'd like to thank all the people that have reviewed, followed and favorited this fic. Hope I don't disappoint with this chapter.
Chapter 20
I do hope school is going well. You're coming home for Christmas this year and we're travelling to London for a duelling tournament. You are sure to do well, that is unless you are stupid enough to put yourself in harm's way again. Behave yourself and do not embarrass your family's name.
Mr Yaxley
"What a way to start the day." Reece hissed as he slammed the letter down onto the table roughly, causing silence to flood the hall for a brief moment. As the noise level picked back up he grabbed the parchment and crushed it into a ball. While he was shoving the letter into his pocket, Reece failed to realise Daphne and Blaise had sat either side of him. The two shared multiple worried glances before Daphne finally made a move and put her small hand on his shoulder in what seemed to be a comforting gesture. Reece snapped round immediately but visibly relaxed when he realised that it was only Daphne and not someone like Millicent Bulstrode. He turned back round to face forward, then smacked his head down onto the table for a few seconds.
"Are you alright mate?" Blaise asked as he shared another glance with Daphne. Reece lifted his head slowly and sat back up straight so that Daphne's hand fell off of his shoulder.
"I will be." Reece replied forcefully as he glared directly at a Hufflepuff that seemed to be eying him judgementally. "Oi Finch-Fletchley!" Justin eyed the Slytherin wearily from his seat between Susan and Ernie. "Keep looking at me like that and you'll be shitting slugs for the next month." Blaise noticed that the majority of the Hufflepuff table was glaring daggers in their direction and decided to quickly take action. He nodded to Daphne and quickly yanked Reece up by the top of his arm, and then before his friend could protest, he grabbed Reece's shoulder and pretty much dragged him out of the hall. Daphne quickly finished off her pumpkin juice and left the hall in pursuit of the two also.
"What's wrong with you?" Zabini snapped quietly, trying to keep this conversation from the group of Gryffindors that was walking past. "I'm surprised you didn't get hexed for shouting that while the entire Hufflepuff house was listening in. Are you stupid?"
"Everyone seems to think so." Reece muttered as he pulled his shoulder out of Blaise's grasp.
"Cool it you two." Daphne said calmly as she moved herself to stand between the two. "Look I don't know what's going on with you Reece, but this is definitely not the place." She muttered as another troop of Gryffindors walked past, this time third years. The group included the likes of the golden trio, Longbottom and a few others. Reece focused on the group and noticed Lavender Brown trailing behind. Well there was no time like the present.
"Brown." He somewhat barked at the group when they were near the hall entrance. The whole group turned to look at the Slytherins and he rolled his eyes at Weasley's attempt at a growl. "The whole gang didn't need to stop, keep walking." Reece snapped with a dismissive wave. No one moved, except Daphne who stepped to the side. "I know I'm a sight to behold, but tear your eyes off me and move along." Potter was the first to roll his eyes, and when he set off the rest followed. "Brown c'mere." Reece called as the group trailed into the hall. Lavender halted in her tracks and mumbled to Parvati Patil that she'd be in in a minute. Reece moved away from Daphne and Blaise, and with one smooth movement he managed to pin Lavender against the wall out of view from the hall. "You look good today. Must admit I'm loving the short skirt." He murmured while placing his right arm on the wall level to her waist. "Tongue tied?"
"No." Lavender muttered as she looked down to avoid eye contact with the Slytherin that currently had her in a slightly vulnerable position.
"Well then." Reece smirked softly as he lifted her chin so that he could look her in the eye and read her expressions. "You don't mind if I steal a kiss, do you?" Daphne snorted quietly at the flirting and Zabini just folded his arms in boredom. It was quite strange, how is mood and persona changed within seconds like it just had. "Just a quick one to untie your tongue?"
"I, uh," She began stuttering when he leaned in slightly. "All my friends will hate me."
"They don't have to know." Reece drawled slowly as he closed the gap between them. He pressed his lips softy into hers, and after establishing that she had no idea what she was doing, he bit down on her lip lightly to see what reaction he'd get. She gasped in shock and he took it as an opportunity to allow his tongue to taste the corners of her mouth. Just as things were beginning to get a little heated however, the two were stopped by the suggestive cough of Professor McGonagall. She did not look impressed to say the least, and her reaction was going to be incredibly sour.
"Miss Brown." Minerva scolded as she pulled Reece away from her by the collar. "I will not have one of my third year students go at it like that in public. The two of you looked like dogs. That's a warning for now, you'll be in detention if I see that again." And with that, the transfiguration professor swept away, leaving a sniggering Reece and an embarrassed Lavender in her wake.
"You'd better get back to your friends." Reece winked. Lavender didn't need to be hinted twice and scurried off with red ears. He adjusted his robes and collar before turning back to his two friends, smirking while basking in his glory. "You both saw that, tell Pansy that I win. Already." Both Blaise and Daphne shared a look of disbelief as Reece turned away from the hall and head towards the stairs.
"If this gets out, Malfoy's going to kill him." Daphne muttered as the two shuffled back into the hall. She glanced across at the Gryffindor table and noticed Lavender having a quiet conversation with Parvati. She couldn't help but worry about Reece.
Reece had to agree with Malfoy on this one, Professor Lupin was a joke. The worn down robes, way of speech and appearance in general made every Slytherin turn up their nose. Of course, the DADA professor had never done anything to make them dislike him, but the tired man represented what part of society purebloods stood against most. Dirty blooded and dirty in general, that's what some of the older students and Malfoy would rant on about in the common room, away from prying ears and eyes. Reece wouldn't go as far as to use this specific vocabulary to describe any member of Hogwarts staff, no matter their origin and wealth (He was no saint when it came to talking about Minerva McGonagall, but still). Remus Lupin still rubbed him up the wrong way. There were no ifs or buts about that.
What annoyed Reece the most was that he didn't get a shot at the boggart. That was Potter's fault mostly though, but Lupin and the moon deeply intrigued and irritated him. No matter what other people got, Reece was really wanting to see his own. He really wanted to know what he was most afraid of. Of course he had his own ideas about what the creature could turn into, but he didn't want to be taken off guard if one ever appeared suddenly and spooked the living hell out of him. Although it was a challenge, Reece snuck out of his common room, and after multiple interactions with Filch's flaming cat, he managed to locate the wardrobe in an empty classroom.
"You've got this." Reece muttered to himself as he took out his wand and pointed it directly at the wardrobe. "Can't be as bad as the thought of pulling Millicent Bulstrode." And with those odd words of encouragement Reece unlocked the door, and ever so slowly out came the boggart. As it came into view it took up shape, a human shape in fact as it emerged from the dark hollow. A weak man stumbled forward, his face scarred, hair scruffily long and a greying beard that appeared as worn as his living soul. He looked up with a hint of edginess, his brown eyes glazed with pernicious frustration as he glared down at the young boy. Reece stepped back cautiously, keeping a firm grip on his wand as their eyes locked.
"Look what you've done." The man spat rancorously, his gruff tone causing Reece to flinch involuntarily. Reece looked down slowly, unable to keep eye contact and took in the full appearance. The man was shaking, from his head to his fingers to his toes and to everything else. His nails were black, filled with dirt and rotting slowly. His neck was hanging, almost limp over the front of his body; and he was covered by a filthy, ripped, striped jumpsuit that hung over his broken frame mockingly. "Failure!" Reece jumped out of his skin as the man bellowed. "Look at me," He begrudgingly re-established eye contact, not wanting anymore shocks. "you could've had it all, everything you craved and needed. But look at me, look at the state of you." And suddenly Reece's world came crashing down, it fell apart so much that he did so too, as this man was not Rabastan Lestrange, this man was in fact him. Reece bit down on his tongue violently as he glared up at his older self. This could not possibly be his fate. It wasn't him, he wouldn't become this, would he? "You lost her, in case you were wondering. She fucked off with that ginger guy the moment you got marked mate. She wouldn't speak to you, probably thought you were going to kill her for your cause or something."
"Shut up." Reece shouted hoarsely. "I know who you're talking about, she wouldn't do that to me." The boggart completely ignored Reece, much to his chagrin and frustration.
"And Greengrass, that neutral bitch sat and watched my hearing. So did Zabini in fact, and Potter. They all sat together I recall, probably laughed at your expense as you were dragged out of there chained like an animal. Even Malfoy watched me smugly, sitting safely on his money and leaving you to die in a dark, barren cell."
Reece choked back his emotions in a silent cry as he yelled "Riddikulus" and pushed the boggart back inside the wardrobe with a simple spell. The door knob turned, and when it clicked Reece dropped to the floor and pocketed his wand shakily as he attempted to gain a sense of stability and composure. He fell to the ground completely, lying on his back looking up at the empty ceiling as he tried to hold back the streams that were glossing over his eyes. It hurt, it was supposed to be his fear but it caused so much pain. Maybe that was it though, his worst fear was feeling an unbearable amount of emotional pain. Emotional pain that was caused by those closest to him, losing all the people that provided him with happiness and letting them fall away from him. Letting himself be alone.