Author's Commentary: You get a cookie for every title reference you catch!
January was... uncomfortable.
It didn't take long for gossip to spread about the boggart experience. Most classes had their own stories about the surprise DADA lesson. So it came naturally that word spread about one student in particular coming across a dead friend in class. People shot her pitying glances at least once a day, most of which she ignored. Others came up in person, offering their condolences. She accepted them without much fuss. Correcting them would have only caused her more problems, so it was better off that she accepted the gossip for how it appeared to be.
It helped, in a way. When she stopped going to the music club, people understood. When she became distant and spent her evenings in the library, nobody complained. They gave her the space she needed. The space to process her pain.
The space to process her plan.
"Knowledge and preparation. Knowledge and preparation." She muttered like a chant over the glow of her illuminated wand. "Easier said than done."
A quiet set of steps walked over to her side. Melissa didn't bother to acknowledge it, too busy reading through her borrowed book on runic wards.
"It is an infraction, you are aware, of being out in the corridors past curfew?" Snape stressed over the sitting girl.
"Hardly consider it 'out in the corridor' when I'm sitting right in front of the common room door."
There was a brief pause as the professor grimaced at her equally matched monotone. "Miss Bennett, do you possess any semblance of self-preservation?"
"No, professor." She answered simply. Her eyes never left the book in her lap.
Without warning the professor yanked her up by her robes and practically dragged her into the potions classroom. The girl hissed in pain, but the professor gave little care of the audible complaint. Once in the classroom, he pushed her towards a pile of dirty cauldrons.
"As you refuse to follow simple instructions on curfew, you may as well make yourself useful and have these cleaned during the night." He settled himself at his desk, where a candle had already been lit and a pile of papers were stacked for grading.
Melissa looked between the professor and the pile of cauldrons. She grimaced, but didn't bother making a fuss about it. She simply placed her book down and got to work on the cauldrons. On occasion her hair stood on end, a feeling of eyes watching her. It didn't make much difference. It was an impromptu detention, of course Professor Snape would bother to keep an eye on her.
"I find grief to be a rather ugly emotion. Wouldn't you agree?"
Melissa paused at the sudden question. Was Snape trying to give her a… heart to heart? The novelty eluded her, she shook it off and thought up a reply as she went back to scrubbing.
"Grief is just love with no place to go." She answered. She turned to the professor, who looked at her curiously, and shrugged. "I read that somewhere, a long time ago." She turned back to the cauldrons and continued scrubbing. The classroom returned to silence. Pages turned and brushes brushed. The two of them either unsure or uncaring enough to continue any sort of conversation.
Forty minutes later, Melissa walked by the professor's desk. "The cauldrons are clean now, Professor. Is there anything else I should work on?"
Snape looked up at her. Mildly surprised that she asked for more work instead of dismissal. He regarded her for a moment. "Do you plan to follow curfew from this point forward?"
Her expression was bland. "I might as well."
"Then you are done for the evening."
"Thank you. Good night, Professor Snape."
He frowned at the lukewarm gesture, but merely muttered his own 'Good night, Miss Bennett' as the girl grabbed her book and left the room without another word.
February was… easier.
She knew she had to break down some barriers, and so released it with gradual ease. Talking with select friends for the most part. It was necessary, realistically speaking. After all, Valentine's Day was just around the corner, and there was much work to be done.
The once impromptu dozen firsties aiming for a gesture of community had now evolved into an unofficial committee who called themselves The VATIC. Publically, the name was short for The Valentine Committee. Which, for anyone with half a brain, seemed like a stupid name. After all, who abbreviates a single word into four letters? For those within the group, however, it was a hilarious joke. After all, it's not like they can just blatantly say that VATIC stands for The Valentine Teamsters for Inter-House Cooperation. That would just be suicide! Not to mention counter-productive. So they kept the name -and their goals- to themselves.
Those goals are why she's able to open up today. Feeling secure in an unused classroom with eleven other acquaintances and friends; thinking, writing, nodding when she can get away with it, and talking when she can't.
From her side, Egalitaire caught on to the way she was working. After a moment of contemplation, she spoke her mind. "Are you sure you're ready for this, Bennett?"
Melissa shrugged as she studied her parchment. This needs an answer. "We've been working on this all year. Odds are I'll regret it if I step away now."
Most of the group nodded at the answer and went back to their own tasks. Others, however, shot yet another worried glance in her direction. Feeling the eyes on her, Melissa rolled her own and gave Domonkos and Amy a pointed look.
"Leave it. I'm fine. ...I mean, I will be. I just need some more time."
Domonkos gave her a soft, pitying smile. "We just look out for you, Melissa."
She gave a definitive sigh. "I know." She looked back to her parchment and tapped her thumb on the desk. "Anybody want to take Dumbledore's?"
Corin waved his hand up. "Trade you for Professor Snape?"
Melissa gave something of an amused smile. "Heh, done. Hand it over." They traded their papers gratefully.
"Can't imagine how you'll do his." Sierra commented. "That man can haunt nightmares."
"Creative obstacles make way for creative solutions." She replied carelessly.
Amy eyed her warily. "Isn't that what I said before quidditch?"
"Maybe?" She looked at her, thinking over the events of last term. "If it makes you feel better, I promise not to turn his face green."
The table chuckled softly. Even the Gryffindors seemed to take the joke lightly.
"I'd be all for it." Lee Jordan supported. Luckily no one took the encouragement seriously.
"Good to know you're making jokes again, Melissa." Amy smiled at her.
The girl blinked. Not realizing until then how playful the atmosphere had become. It was… nostalgic. Her lips quirked into a smile, slipping further through the cracks. "Happy to oblige. Thanks, Amy."
Thursday February 14th, 1991
At lunchtime in the Great Hall students were buzzing with the holiday spirit. Older students were holding hands or exchanging love tokens, and second years were telling first years about events from the year before. It had many students looking forward to what was to come during supper that night.
A flurry of wings overhead proved that they didn't have that long to wait.
Students looked up to the sound of wings. Above them, hundreds of creamy butterflies fluttered through the windows to the sound of music. The music, once again, came from the entryway as Donaghan Tremlett walked into the room playing his bass guitar, immediately followed by Melissa Bennett, Merton Graves, Eloise Hyslop, and Kenneth Towler. Behind them, a trail of butterflies came in their wake, flying in patterns as Tremlett began to sing a rendition of Fly Me To The Moon.
As the song began, the other eight students emerged and divided themselves a few steps in front of the four tables. Though this time it was with a change. Lee Jordan and Amy Flinton went to Gryffindor, Domonkos Soros and Alicia Spinnet stood at Ravenclaw, Corin Joyce and Stephanie Egalitaire went to Hufflepuff, and Cedric Diggory and Rachel Onyilogwu stood at Slytherin.
Once in position, the eight students made a wave of their wands, summoning the butterflies overhead to swirl and fly over to their assigned summoners. The summoners moved closer to the tables. One by one they greeted students by name, prompting the paper butterflies to land in front of the named student and go still. The summoners then bid the student a happy Valentine's Day and moved on to the next student. As students went to inspect their butterflies, they found notes written into the heart-shaped wings. Little poems or couplets, seemingly tailored to the person in question. Comments about lovely blue eyes or ebony hair or dazzling smiles or their passions glorified in sweet poetry. The room was awash in blushes, giggles, and happy chatter as friends showed each other their poems.
The musical students once again made their way to the head table and bowed before the Headmaster. As they summoned their butterflies, Melissa was inwardly pleased to find Professor Snape courteous enough to nod at her greeting; and was further delighted when she overheard Professor Flitwick make encouraging remarks about the construction of the butterflies.
Once the thirteen students completed their routes, they came to the center and summoned the final baker's dozen of butterflies to give to each other. With quick hugs or nods of gratitude, they dispersed and moved back to their respective tables.
Once Melissa got to her seat her housemates greeted her warmly and thanked her, Amy, and Domonkos for their letters. They accepted them gladly, and went to read their own butterflies.
Dear Melissa Bennett,
A wild wind from the first day,
You're a song from emerald stars,
A laughing slytherin who made her way,
Like an alien out of Mars.
She stared at the odd stanza. It somehow managed to be both pretty and bizarre. Like ketchup and jam served on a fancy bun. She read it over again and looked at the handwriting. The space jokes sounded like something Corin would write. Though the handwriting looked more like Cedric's.
"Hey, Domonkos, did Diggory ask for help with mine?"
Domonkos gave a worried frown. "Last term he asked Joyce and I on how to write to girls. I gave him good ideas. Though Joyce said you talk with him about the universe and aliens and suggested that. Did he do that?"
Melissa tried to hold in her amusement. "I think he tried to do both and failed miserably." She handed the letter over for Domonkos to read. After a first and second, disbelieving, read, the boy groaned and put a hand in his hair.
"This is terrible."
"I don't know, it's kind of adorable." She remarked, taking the letter from his hand. She read it over and gave a small giggle. Who would have thought that Cedric Diggory, future school favourite and teenage heartthrob, would start off as absolutely useless at charming girls?
'I really hope he wrote one to Cho. I would read that in a heartbeat!'
"Today was quite the spectacle, as was last year's showing." Dumbledore remarked with a twinkle in his eye.
"So it would seem." Snape remarked, though he was rather put off by the new topic.
"Now, now, Severus. Surely you can see some good from these gestures? It is not often that our students make such an effort to show unity, certainly not in such a public and well-received way."
Severus Snape huffed at the Headmaster's optimistic fancy. "Contrary to your beliefs, there is more to life than flowers and butterflies." The last word came out bitter on his tongue.
Dumbledore's smile faded. "You seem troubled, Severus." At the mention, Snape's expression hardened. "Might I ask what is the matter?"
The man seemed to make a decision before answering the question. "I am sure you are aware of an incident last month regarding Salvatore's lessons on boggarts?"
"You are referring to the one which affected your musically-gifted student?"
"I am."
"I am aware." He nodded sadly. "It is unfortunate when students face tragedy at such a young age. Though I've not known you to concern yourself over such things."
"I don't, usually. I had expected Miss Bennett to move on with time, though now I am not so sure."
The remark confused Albus. After all, the girl seemed cheerful enough during the festivities. "Might I ask the reason you believe this?"
Snape showed a moment of reluctance, then revealed from his robes a paper butterfly. He placed it in the Headmaster's desk and allowed the man to read it aloud.
"When Jupiter's waters run deep,
"And love seems to have lost its way,
"Welcome your heart to those lost on the byway,
"And no longer shall you weep,
"A lovely poem, and oddly enlightening ." He waved his wand, charming the butterfly back to Severus. "Perhaps you do not give the girl enough credit?"
"Last month she described grief as 'love that has nowhere to go.' Then she writes two references of grief in this."
"Two?"
"The mention of Jupiter. It refers to a muggle story on the origins of grief and the dangers of dwelling in it."
Dumbledore stroked his beard as he considered the words. "Enlightening, indeed." He muttered to himself.
"It might have also slipped your attention that the boy who died was a muggleborn." Snape added. Dumbledore looked up in surprise at Snape. "I pressed Salvatore on the matter. The boy was being abused by his parents for his magic, and it's suspected that this abuse led to his death."
Dumbledore looked away as though mourning the loss. "To think that such mindsets are still prevalent in muggle society is disheartening."
"But not surprising." Snape clipped. His own childhood was a perfect example of such mistreatment. "Though my concern is how the girl may channel this experience."
Dumbledore raised his brows, understanding his young friend's meaning. "You believe she could turn to darker ways?"
"Turn from a society that abuses witches and wizards to the point of mistreatment and death? She wouldn't be the first." Snape pointed out. "And when you consider the fact that last year she managed to both instigate and end a student war amongst her peers, it does concern me what else she may attempt with the wrong motivations."
"Yes." Dumbledore thought sadly. "I suppose that is something to consider. Still, her note did possess a message of optimism. Perhaps your fears are mistaken?"
"Perhaps. But it would be best to keep an eye on the girl, just in case."
"Very well, Severus. Look after her as you think would be best."
Author's Commentary: Fun fact: Vatic is also a word meaning "describing or predicting what will happen in the future." ...Melissa does not know this. It's merely a hilarious coincidence orchestrated by her creator ;)
