Half a Life Without You
Chapter 14: "Orchideous"
Everly POV
POP! The loud cracking sound jolts me awake. I scan the room searching for the source of the noise when a little house elf with big blue eyes the size of golf balls shuffles into view, "Zillah is sorry to startle Ms. Everly Quin. Zillah must notify Ms. Everly Quinn that Headmaster Dumbledore was unfortunately called away and will not be able to meet with Ms. Everly Quinn this morning."
"When will he be back? He promised…" I cut myself off realizing I was close to breaking my promise by bringing up the pensieve. "We had a tutoring appointment.," I finish lamely.
"Ms. Everly Quinn is to meet Mr. Sirius Black in the courtyard at 9:00am for Charms tutoring." She replies enthusiastically. "May I bring Ms. Everly Quinn something to eat?" her big eyes filling with eagerness to please.
My belly growls and I laugh "yes please. Thank you, Zillah." She bashfully ducks her head at my gratitude before disappearing then reappearing with a large tray of food and tea. She delicately places the tray on the bedside table, "Can Zillah do anything else for Miss Everly Quinn?"
"No this is perfect Zillah, thank you." She snaps her fingers dissipating away once more.
I sigh heavily falling back against my pillow, I frown with disappointment knowing I must continue waiting for more pieces to the 'puzzle'. It was beyond frustrating not knowing who I really am, how I got here, how the memories I saw were going to help me figure it out…The list of things I didn't know was long. What I do know, however, is my first lesson on how to be a witch starts today at 9am. Maybe I'll get to use my wand, I think happily reaching for my breakfast.
Golden threads of light brighten the whimsically winding path leading down to the courtyard. The soft sounds of nature and gently breeze is peaceful almost meditative in its calming effect on me. I allow my thoughts to turn back to my time with Severus and the roller coaster of emotions I experienced throughout our shopping trip.
Getting my wand was a highlight of the day, but the small smiles and thoughtful actions he periodically displayed during the day were by my favorite parts. I was sure we were finally beginning to develop our friendship and possibly more. We were both laughing and having a good time on a way back to the castle, he was amused how I kept raving about Butter Beer being the "most amazing thing I've ever tasted" and how I kept purposely billowing out my new cape to make dramatic entrances and exits into each shop. But one little question as we stepped out of the fireplace had ruined it, "so, where is the Gryffindor's head girl's room?"
As soon as the sentence made its way past my mouth his mood became decidedly chilly and distant, "it's this way." From that point on he had walked ahead of me at an exceedingly fast pace, which my short legs could barely maintain. When we finally arrived at the head girl's room, I was breathing hard and could feel a trickle of sweat running down my back.
"Hey…" I barely huffed out before he opened the door, placed my packages on the table, and walked out. I was too shocked to call after him, just stood gaping from the open doorway until he disappeared down hall. I teetered between fury and sorrow all night, I settled on fury.
I slowly drift out of my wayward thoughts as the narrow path became even more narrow before finally opening to a large grassy field. I quickly spot Sirius leaning causally against a small tree in the center of the courtyard wearing a welcoming grin as I approach. I return his smile and wave, "Good morning, Sirius!
His grin widens and he moves forward to greet me, "How is the most beautiful girl at Hogwarts doing this morning?"
Instantly heat rushes to my cheeks, I'm sure they're now rosy with embarrassment. Oblivious to my discomfiture he continues to swagger confidently towards me, only the slightest hint of a limp remaining from when he broke his leg.
I fiddle nervously with my wand as he gets closer, "How's your leg?" Hopeful the question will put an end to his flirtatious behavior.
"Almost good as new, thanks to a sweet angel I know." He replies winking. Well, that backfired.
"Ready to get started?" He asks. My smile returns as I nod with enthusiasm. He chuckles motioning for me to show him my wand, "Ok then, let's check out your new wand."
I proudly hold it up for his inspection. "It's a tiny little thing, just like its welder I suppose. A delicate beauty for a delicate beauty."
"Sirius, please…" I begin uncomfortable now with the flirting. He just chuckles, "I know, I know, no more teasing."
I arch my eyebrow in disbelief. He puts his hand on his chest "I vow to you my lady, no more teasing…today." I did not miss the addition of the word today at the end of his vow.
"Is this made from Hollywood?" he looks up from his inspection of my wand to ask. I nod my head.
"Interesting, what is the core?"
"It has a dual core, Chimera scale and Griffin hair. Its also got moon stones embedded in a few places too." I proudly respond.
He lets out a low whistle, "wow, that's a fierce combination. Tiny but mighty!"
"I'm not sure about that" I counter with a small laugh.
"Only one way to find out." He grins mischievously handing my wand back.
His brow crinkles in thoughtful concentration "Where to start? Hmmmm…" Suddenly, his face lights up "aha, I know! This is going to be perfect" he says happily taking out his wand, "Orchideous!" a bouquet of little white flowers sprout from the tip of his wand. He gathers the flowers and hands them to me, "they're called snow in summer flowers." He murmurs almost shyly. It was kind of sweet.
I bury my face inhaling the flowers their petals muffling my words, "Thank you they're lovely."
"Ok, your turn". He says grinning with boyish charm. "Picture a flower in your mind, once you have an image picked concentrate on it while saying, Orchideous."
Taking a step forward, I breathe out nervously butterflies fill my belly with anticipation. I steady myself and finally hold my wand out, "Orchideous!"
Instead of a nice bundle of flowers springing forth hundreds of little yellow flowers begin rapidly shooting out from the tip of my wand. "Sirus! It's not stopping what do I do?" I ask in alarm.
He pulls out his own wand shouting "Finite!" The flowers immediately stop pouring out of my wand, but not before a huge mound of flowers lay scattered across the courtyard.
Sirius chuckles, "that was exciting! Ready to try again?" Before I can respond I notice movement from the pile of flowers, I rub my eyes surely this isn't happening, "Sirus do you see…"
"Do I see an army of flowers marching our way? Yes, yes I do see that." He replies with a deceptively calm voice.
The flower stems had split fashioning little arms and legs, their petals creating the appearance of spiky yellow hair on top of angry green faces. The leader of the horde stood slightly in front of the rest. Staring at us menacingly before raising its 'arm' in a forward motion calling out in high pitched Alvin and the Chipmunk voice "CHARGE!"
Sirus's mouth hung open in disbelief, "what kind of flower were you picturing?"
I glare over at him, "just daffodils, I surely didn't picture an army of flowers!"
Several of the flowers began climbing up Sirius's robe, soon they were pulling his hair and slipping under his sleeves. "ARCK! They bite! Bloody hell they have teeth!" Sirus yells shrilly before sprinting across the courtyard flaring about like a madman trying to rid himself of the tiny barbarians.
"Everly! Hurry over here." Waving me over to the tree he's now scaling. He reaches down to grab my hand pulling me easily up into the branches just as I feel several sharp prickles at my ankles.
"They're circling the tree, what do we do?!" I screech.
I feel a sharp pinch on my arm and look down to discover a teeny tiny spiky yellow 'haired' flower aggressively poking me with a leaf shaped like a knife. Realization dawns on me, "It's not teeth! They've made weapons!" I scream over to Sirius who looks completely freaked out now.
The flowers start climbing up the tree. "Sure, why not? Of course, they can climb" I hear Sirius mumble sounding moments from hysterics.
Suddenly he shifts into a crouched position pulling his wand out "I have a plan"
"I'm listening" I say while keeping my eyes glued to the pack of warrior flowers inching further and further up the tree.
"Well, it involves fire"
I look up incredulous, "Absolutely not"
"Come on. On a scale of one-ten how bad could it be?"
"At least twenty! No Fire!" I shout back.
Suddenly I hear a voice call out, "IMMOBULUS!' the flower army freezes in place before falling off the tree. "EVANESCO!" the voice shouts out again successfully vanishing them away. A thunderous looking Severus marches over to the tree looking up at Sirus and I still clutching to the branches, "What in the fuck is going on!?"
"Sirus climbs down quickly to confront him, "I had it handled Snivalus."
Severus scoffs, "obviously."
"I can explain, well maybe I can't, but it was an accident" I call from the branches while carefully making my way down hoping I don't slip and fall in the process. Why is the ground so far away? I cling to the branch over my head while extending my dangling feet to find the ground. I gasp as strong hands grab me firmly around the waist lifting me effortlessly. I lean back closing my eyes inhaling his clean masculine scent. When I feel my feet touch, I open them again meeting dark concerned eyes, "are you ok?" he asks softly.
"Yes" I utter quietly, my fury from last night momentarily forgotten.
Sirus stomps over lightly grabbing my arm to pull me away from Severus. "What are you doing here?" he snaps at him.
"Not that it's your concern, but I was on my way to the great hall when I heard screaming and naturally came to investigate." Severus tilts his head smirking, "imagine my surprise discovering it was you."
"Hey! I wasn't the only one screaming" Sirus fumes.
Severus's face darkens, "What I know - is you are clearly not qualified to have a wand let alone tutor someone on how to use it!" he hisses out.
Sirus rushes forward shoving him hard in the chest. Before I realize what's happening, they both pull out their wands ready to dual. I march forward ready to put a stop to the alpha male foolishness, when suddenly a huge gust of wind swirls around them lifting them up before tossing them away from each other.
"Fucking Truce!" Sirus cries in frustration. "It's your lucky day Snape!" he bellows getting back on his feet.
Severus just rolls his eyes while dusting off his robes, "as entertaining as this has been, I do need to know what happened as I also will be tutoring your fellow Gryffindor."
I glower over at Severus, my fury returning. Grrrrr. he is infuriating.
Sirius rakes his hand through his hair, "fine, but no interruptions."
Halfway through explaining what happened Sirus stops to glare at Severus, "Are you even listening to me?"
"Yes, it just takes me awhile to process so much stupidity all at once." He replies dryly.
Sirus throws up his hands looking over a me with annoyance, "I cannot talk to him."
I step forward, "Enough. It's over. It was a freak accident end of story." Severus looks as if he's about to object, so I continue, "walk with me a minute." I glance over at Sirus "I'll be right back." he nods even though he's clearly upset.
When we're a good distance away I tug forcibly at Severus's arm until he turns to look at me, "why are you so mad at me?" I ask.
He looks startled by my question, "What? No. Black is the one to blame, it's his responsibility to ensure things like that don't happen, and bloody well stop them when it does."
"I'm not asking because of the flowers. I'm asking because of how you've been treating me since you found out I was sorted into Gryffindor. I haven't changed why have you?".
"Because you're a fucking Gryffindor!" He blurts out angrily!
"So? You're a Slytherin. Should I be afraid of you now?" I don't let him answer, "it's arbitrary, it means nothing in the grand scheme of things. I like you; you like me…I think."
He presses his finger to my lips effectively silencing my rant, "I do…like you that is." He sighs rubbing his face. "I've been an ass, for that I apologize. I'd promise to never be one again, but I think we both know that would be a lie." He jokes.
"Everly!? Are you coming?" Sirius's shouting interrupts our moment.
Severus frowns at the disruption, "Potion's tutoring begins tomorrow, I'll meet you in front of the great hall at 9am. We can talk more then… if you'd like" he offers. "Yes, I would like that very much." I breathe out.
He looks back to where Sirius is standing, "Be careful, Black is reckless. You should not put your trust in someone like him." Sighing in annoyance after noticing Sirius heading in our direction. "Remember what I said." He murmurs before briskly walking away.
Sirius glares at Severus's retreating form, "don't trust him Everly."
"Funny, he said the same thing about you." At the stricken look on his face, I continue, "luckily for both of you I can decide these things for myself. Trust is only lost when you break it, and neither of you have broken my trust."
"You forgot to say yet. Broken your trust yet. Mark my words Everly he will, one day."
"Does that yet apply to you as well Sirius?" I quip.
"No, I would never do anything to break it. I swear." He answers appalled.
"Ok, Sirius. I have faith in you, but promise me one thing?" I ask.
"Yes, anything" He exclaims passionately.
"No more flower spells." I respond seriously.
He barks out a laugh, "Deal! "Who would have guessed flowers could be so terrifying?"