Cold Blooded by The Pretty Reckless

You can't trust a cold blooded woman

She'll love you and leave you for dead

There's one thing you must understand

You can't trust a cold blooded woman

March 4th, 1978

Tucked away in an alcove of the Library, Ivy couldn't help her growing impatience. She was onto her last Divination book, and even before she'd started reading, she'd had a feeling it would be the least helpful out of all she'd read. Thus far, Divination: A History by Bathilda Bagshot was proving her right.

Flipping to the last page, Theya -whose nose was smudged with ink- was working on her third roll of parchment, quill scratching quietly. Regulus was diagonal from Ivy, eyes glazed over as he stared blankly at his Herbology textbook. Severus, who was beside her and had evidently abandoned his attempt at studying manticores, was staring at Theya with a slight smile as she scratched her nose with the feather end of her quill.

Dropping her gaze before Severus could see her watching, she stared miserably at the book, eyes unfocused. If she read the last paragraph and found nothing useful, once again, she was going to lose it. The dread was enough that she debated working on her other plan instead of finishing the book. The curse she'd been working on diligently for ages was finished, so now she just needed to perfect the final few steps. At long last, she was mere months away from retribution.

Deciding that it was too risky to work on that particular project in front of others, she forced herself to finish the final section of the book. It was entitled Divination in Ancient Times and was remarkably short.

The only point of interest she noticed was the mention of Death Magic, which was a term she had already come across. There was a suspicious lack of information on it, even in the Dark Arts books Regulus had smuggled out from the Restricted Section. Only Magick Moste Evile had mentioned it, but there weren't any useful details. The book had also woken up everyone in her Dormitory in the dead of night when it gave an unearthly shriek while she read.

Finishing the last line of Divination: A History, she didn't bother with the conclusion.

Fed up, she slammed the book shut.

"I've had it," Ivy slid the book across the table to Theya. "I'm going."

She just glanced at the book and sighed.

Regulus and Severus craned their necks for a peek at the title.

"Where are you going?" Severus asked.

"The psychomanteum," Theya folded her arms in disapproval.

"I've been through every ruddy book I can get my hands on," Ivy huffed. "And there's nothing helpful anywhere. I'm sick of waiting around for answers. Could hasn't contacted me in seven months and I can't fix anything if she won't talk to me!"

"You're not still on about those mirror dreams, are you?" Regulus rubbed his forehead. "I say you go, get it over and done with."

"Yeah," Severus said. "Just go already."

Ivy gestured to them triumphantly.

"You want to listen to them?" Theya scoffed. "Like they could even tell you the difference between Tessomancy and Cartomancy."

"Bugger off," Severus glared.

"What he said," Regulus frowned.

"Well, can you?" Theya raised a brow. When neither replied, she went on. "See? You shouldn't be taking Divination advice from people who don't bother to understand it. These two think it's a load of rubbish."

"It's just a bit out there," Regulus scratched the back of his head. "I mean, Iv, you're obsessing over a couple odd dreams you had months ago. You probably just ate something off before bed."

Ivy's eye twitched and Theya shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

"You know," he went on quickly. "Like the other night, I dreamt about a big black dog in a cave. Professor Withershire would probably say it means I'm going to get my leg chewed off by a gnome or something. You don't see me getting all worked up about it."

"Pretty sure that means you're going to die in a cave, actually," Severus muttered.

Ivy ignored his interpretation. "What about the rest of my Divination senses? You think I've just been spinning lies for the past however many years?"

"I don't think you're making it up," Regulus laughed awkwardly. "I just… For all you know, you could be hallucinating."

"I always thought that out of anybody," she shoved the book in her school bag and got to her feet, surprised by how hurt she was. "You would take me seriously."

"Come on," he looked at Theya and Severus for support. "You know what I mean, right?"

Theya leaned back in her chair, pinching the bridge of her nose, and Severus shook his head silently.

"I'm not saying you're crazy or anything," Regulus added. "Just that the dream thing is."

Ivy glowered at him and spun on a heel.

"Smooth," she heard Severus snicker as she stomped off.

March 17th, 1978

Reaching the top of the North Tower's stairwell, Ivy was still giggling uncontrollably.

On the way to the Divination Classroom, she had spotted Ariadne. Seizing the ripe opportunity, she had flicked her wand in the girl's direction. Immediately, she sneezed, and numerous bats burst out of her nostrils, causing several others in the corridor to laugh and whisper her nearly forgotten childhood nickname, Bogey Girl. The hex provided limitless amusement, as it activated whenever she sneezed. Not only that, but anyone who was given the proper incantation could make her do so at will. Ivy, Theya, Regulus, and Severus had quite a good time using it on her randomly, though they had recently instated a rule amongst themselves not to use it on her more than once every two weeks lest she catch on. Ariadne had already been to the Hospital Wing twice to get it removed, but the staff had no clue how to fix it. Nor did they know that it had no expiration.

Laughing vengefully to herself, Ivy undid the latch on the circular trapdoor and hauled it open.

Stepping inside, she observed the attic-like classroom. It was much like all the others at Hogwarts, though perhaps a bit shabbier. This was with the exception of the crystal balls, tarot cards, textbooks, and other various Divination tools, which were stacked on shelves attached to the circular room's walls.

"Professor?" Stepping further into the room, she tossed her bag on a random desk. "I was hoping to use the psychomanteum?"

Met with silence, she walked to the office and peered around the doorframe to find the tight room empty. Shutting the door so she wouldn't get in trouble in case Withershire came in, she blew out a long breath of annoyance.

Gazing longingly at the black door behind which was the psychomanteum, she debated with herself. Ivy had been told never to enter it without consulting the Professor first. However, she couldn't imagine the consequences of being caught would be more than a week's worth of detention.

One Alohomora later, she was inside, closing the door behind herself.

The room was windowless with walls so black that she couldn't tell where they intersected with each other or the equally obsidian ceiling. In what she assumed was the centre of the room, there was a mirror and a single torch floating overhead to provide dim, flickering light.

Approaching carefully, she stepped in front of the mirror, though it only reflected darkness.

Unsure of what to do next, she waited.

Several minutes passed with her feeling increasingly foolish as she stood still, squinting hard at nothing. Ivy attempted to beckon Could mentally and verbally multiple times. She even tried ridiculous things like hollering, clapping, and jumping, thinking that maybe she needed to be loud or obnoxious to gain the attention of someone from another realm.

Enough time eventually passed that her feet started to hurt again; the latest potion Severus had procured for her still was not improving her abilities. It did, however, make her toes swell every few hours.

Letting out a groan of frustration, she tried not to sink into her disappointment just yet. Shutting her eyes, she hoped her last ditch effort worked. Picturing Could, she called her appearance to mind. Silver eyes… Straight white hair… Long robes… Unnatural calm and cleanliness…

"Find me," she whispered.

"You called."

Eyes snapping open, her reflection had arrived.

Indeed, it wasn't her in the neatly kept uniform and Slytherin colours that she was wearing, but Could in long black robes, white hair straight down her back. She was the same as Ivy remembered, too clean like she had been birthed from a sanitation spell.

"I've been trying to reach you for ages," Ivy said politely.

"Perhaps," Could said softly.

When she offered no explanation, Ivy shifted on her achy feet. "I know you told me not to find you, but it's been so long since I've seen you. Are you upset?"

Her reflection considered her before replying serenely. "No."

Ivy waited, but Could remained silent, staring at her without blinking.

I guess she doesn't understand what elaborating means, she thought irritably.

"Why haven't I seen you?" She prompted.

"I have been watching."

"Why?"

"Others lurk, hoping to reach you instead."

"What do you mean?'

"They look for opportunity, which decreases my opportunities."

Reigning in her annoyance at another mystifying response, she held back a snotty retort. There was another moment of silence as Could's face remained neutral and unchanging. She almost looked like an ethereal Muggle portrait, as there was an unnatural stillness about her. Looking closer, Ivy realised that she didn't seem to be breathing.

"Is there anything helpful you can tell me?" Ivy took a deep breath. "What can I do to prevent all those deaths you've shown me?"

Could cocked her head the slightest bit. "Tell the potioneer: once, twice, and thrice."

"Will that make the potion work - make it sharpen my Divination senses?" She pressed. "Will it make the side effects go away?"

"Yes," her reflection said gently.

"Thank you," Ivy said earnestly. "Is there anything else you can tell me?"

"If you think of me in this mirror as I am now, I can come to you again."

"Alright," she said slowly. "When?"

Could stared at her.

"You don't work within the perimeters of time, huh?"

"I know of time," her reflection said.

"Right," Ivy looked over her shoulder at the door. "Of course, you do. I'd better go before Withershire catches me. But I'll come back."

Not hearing a response, she looked back to find that Could had disappeared.

Ivy flopped onto the velvet sofa in the Common Room, emitting a tired groan. In order to lounge properly, she shifted her legs into Frederick's lap, giving her boyfriend a coy smile. Her feet landed on Severus, who jerked awake from his doze in front of the fire. When he gave her a dirty look, she just smiled, feeling Frederick's warm hands resting securely on her thighs.

She had to admit that she felt safe with him, much as she shouldn't.

"Severus," Ivy said. "Does once, twice, and thrice mean anything to you?"

"No, why should it?"

She felt a pit in her stomach. "Just read it somewhere."

"Wait," Severus perked up. "I think I actually… Stay here."

He tossed her feet off his lap unceremoniously and raced in the direction of the Boys Dormitory, where he vanished. Theya and Regulus, who were sitting at a table across the room studying, gave her a quizzical look.

She smiled at them innocently.

"Once, twice, and thrice?" Frederick raised a brow.

"Came across the phrase while doing research for the potion," she explained. "I can't even remember which book, they've all blurred together."

"You read more than anyone I know," he laughed. "How many books have you been through this year? Fifty?"

"This year or in the past year?"

He contemplated. "The past year."

"Merlin," she said wistfully. "Hundreds."

"Fuck. I don't think Rosier and I have read that many, our entire lives combined."

"To be fair, I don't think the books I've been through can be counted as read so much as skimmed. And that number is counting textbooks anyway."

"No one needs to know that," Frederick shrugged, gently stroking her stockinged thighs. "Hundreds sounds wicked compared to potentially a handful considering the circumstances."

"You think reading is wicked, huh?" She teased.

"No," he chuckled. "I think you're wicked and you like to read, so that makes reading wicked."

Ivy beamed at him as Severus returned, lifting her feet to retake his seat. He grinned, flipping through the pages as he muttered what sounded to her like potions nonsense.

Exchanging an amused look with Frederick, she jumped when Severus let out a yelp.

"What?" Frederick snickered.

"Look," Severus passed him the book, pointing to something on the page excitedly.

Ivy leaned over to peer at a complicated circular chart that was nearly indistinguishable from the tiny, scribbled notes Severus had keyed in around it.

"What am I looking at?" Frederick voiced her thoughts aloud.

"Once, twice, and thrice!" Severus said animatedly. "See? It's right there!"

"Not a clue, mate," Frederick handed the book back.

"Me either," she frowned.

"Right," Severus deflated a bit. "I forgot neither of you know shite about potions."

"Rude," Ivy scrunched her nose. "But true. In comparison to you, at least."

Severus gave her a look like she was kidding herself and Frederick patted her legs, making her wonder if they both thought she was rubbish at the subject. She was about to ask when Severus went on.

"I don't know how to explain without the chart," he looked contemplatively into the fire. "Well, I suppose it's just simple potions ingredient dynamics mixed with knowing an obscure, temperamental recipe… See, for starters, the salamander blood reacts to ingredients like asphodel and knotgrass in a different way than it would with aconite, nettles, or fluxweed, despite many in the potions community considering some of those to be kind of like distant cousins." Severus sat up straighter, sounding increasingly exhilarated. "Then, when you throw lacewing flies in there to combine with the dragon claw, rue, and shrivelfig, well," he laughed. "It's just mayhem, isn't it? Unless-"

"Dumb it down," Ivy said tiredly. "Speak in terms we mere mortals can understand."

Severus's shoulders sagged forward and his tone went flat. "The point is, I know how to make the potion work. If someone already has a natural, powerful aptitude, under special circumstances and even more attentive care, a potion can be brewed to enhance the ability tenfold."

"How have we never heard of something like that before?" Frederick asked. "Seems like it'd be really useful."

"It's very tricky, very advanced stuff," Severus said. "It involves a lot of guesswork, and the ingredients vary depending on the aptitude you want to enhance. We got lucky that we already know the most vital ingredients: rue, dragon claw, and salamander blood. Not to mention, it takes a clever hand and a couple months to brew. Half the time, it doesn't even work when you finish it."

"That's worrisome," Ivy pointed out.

"It's exciting," he retorted. "And anyway, when it doesn't work, it's because the person didn't have as powerful an ability as they thought. No matter how good the potioneer is, you won't know if it's going to work until it's done. Speaking of which, you'll need to be there to help me finish the brew since it's being specially made for you. And I'll need additional supplies to get it started."

"Not a problem," she nodded. "I'll get everything you need on the next Hogsmeade trip."

"What if it doesn't work?" Frederick asked.

"It will," Severus replied confidently. "Ivy sees stuff none of the rest of us can see, I'm pretty sure she's got a strong enough aptitude."

"That seemed simple enough," Frederick grinned. "Why were you going on about all those ingredients?"

"No one appreciates potions like I do," Severus mumbled morosely, pushing aside her feet to leave.

Feeling inexplicably guilty, Ivy got up from the couch and caught his arm before he could leave the room. Pulling him to a corner where they wouldn't be overheard, he looked at her quizzically.

"Go talk to Theya," she spoke in a hushed tone and leaned up against the wall. "She would love to hear about your potion."

"No, she wouldn't," he said glumly. "Nobody wants to listen to me."

"I'm telling you," she replied confidently, albeit quietly. "If you say that you want to tell her about your potion, you will make her fucking night. Hell, you'll make her year."

Severus looked over at Theya with such intense yearning that it made her wonder if Regulus or Frederick ever looked at her like that. She'd never seen this particular expression on Severus's face before. Even when Evans was around, he'd only had an obsessive sort of desperate expression that made Ivy cringe and want to leave the room.

This was something different, something deeper.

It was the exact same look Theya had always given him.

"She doesn't fancy me anymore," Severus averted his gaze to his shoes, voice barely a whisper. "I missed my chance."

Ivy looked down at his feet too. "Did you know that Theya secretly swaps out your shoes for new ones whenever she sees they've gotten old? Because she knows your parents won't buy you new ones?"

Instead of getting proud like she expected, he looked up at her in a manner she could only describe as bashful. It made her want to ruffle his hair like he was her little brother.

"She's been doing that since she and I's first year," she went on. "When she saw all the holes in your original pair. She puts Cushioning Charms on them too."

"Really?"

"Yeah," she giggled quietly. "Did you think your shoes were growing with your feet?"

By the look on his face, he'd never thought to wonder.

"She hasn't stopped," she added.

They looked over at Theya, who was still sitting with Regulus across the way, both having abandoned their studies. Regulus was glancing over at them occasionally in what he must have thought was a discreet way. Theya looked bored as she shot pink and yellow sparks from the end of her wand.

"You think I've still got a shot?" Severus smiled hopefully.

"I know you do. Just do not break her heart like you've been doing for the past six years. If you do, I will personally make sure you never get another shot."

"I'm never breaking her heart again."

Ivy believed him and watched as he strode over to Theya. She couldn't hear what was being said, but Theya's face lit up like the sun. She could only assume that Regulus was being kicked out of his seat when he packed his bag, looking disgruntled. Severus took the chair once it was vacated, grinning from ear to ear as he began talking animatedly.

Theya leaned forward, resting her chin on a hand, listening intently.

"Hey," Regulus said.

By the look on her face, Ivy had been too busy observing the table he'd just been forcibly removed from to notice that he had come to her side.

From the corner of his eye, he knew Frederick was staring at them, and Regulus adjusted the book bag on his shoulder.

She was mine first, he thought viciously, though he was fully aware he didn't have a right to. He had tried to move on, unsuccessfully, while she had actually done so. Avery irked him more than anyone, with his subtle jabs and his hand in Ivy's. But as much as he hated him, he wasn't willing to risk Ivy's friendship by getting into it with the prick.

No matter how much he wanted to punch him in the jaw.

"Did you do that?" Regulus gestured to Theya and Severus, who were both flushed happily.

"Sure did," Ivy smiled a little.

"Think if he'll do it right this time?"

"He will."

"How do you know?"

"I told him about Theya replacing his shoes."

"She's going to murder you in your sleep," he laughed.

"No, this was the right time," she nodded as though to herself. "I could feel it."

"Divination senses?" He asked playfully.

Ivy's face went cold.

"Not mocking," he said quickly. "Not mocking, I promise. That's actually what I came to talk to you about. What I said a few weeks ago… That wasn't my finest moment."

"Not by far," she said flatly.

"Yeah," he cringed. "I'm sorry. I know Severus is making that potion for you, Theya's helping you with research, and Frederick bought you that scrying mirror… I could be more supportive."

"I'll say."

"I'll do better," he said quietly, shifting his feet.

Ivy raised a brow.

"I know we've had a rough time, but I want you to know that…" Regulus glanced over at Avery on the sofa, who was pretending not to watch them. "I will earn your trust back. Whatever it takes. I'm not everyone else and I intend to stay that way."

"You will never be everyone else."

Her response surprised him, though not as much as the tone with which she said it. It was gentle and caring, but also mournful. He wasn't sure what to make of it.

"What about your boyfriend?" Regulus asked.

"He's who I'm with, and I am not changing that."

Frederick, apparently having had enough of their chat, appeared by Ivy's side, wrapping an arm around her waist possessively. If she minded, she didn't show it, as she smiled up at her boyfriend brightly.

"Thought we could take a stroll before curfew," Frederick stared Regulus down.

Regulus met the stare evenly, giving a challenging smirk.

"You mind?" Ivy asked Regulus.

"Not at all."

"I'll see you," Ivy smiled as she left with Frederick.

Regulus stared at the door to the Common Room even after they departed.

Much as he didn't like the tosser, he understood why Ivy was choosing to remain with him. Her unwavering loyalty to those she had chosen as her own was one of the things he loved most about her.

Even so, the idea of Frederick touching his Ivy, of him tugging the black ribbons from her hair, was unbearable. The mere notion that he may be in some abandoned classroom with her, the way Regulus had once been, made him want to burn the entire world to the ground.

And he very well might.