Chapter 53, Going Too Far
With the only group of educators presented at the dance a disappointment, the rest of the event was gruelingly dull. When it was at last over, Heather reached into a green bag she carried over one shoulder and withdrew the book Severus had asked her to find him as payment for attending the dance with her. "Heather! You found it. I thought it would take you ages to track down another copy!" Severus took the tome eagerly into his hands. "Greek potions are truly fascinating." They required a lot of difficult to find ingredients mixed with common everyday ingredients as well, but this fact was not particularly worthy of comment. "Thanks," he concluded, giving Heather a smile.
"I asked Raislen where he'd found it on his summer travels, then wrote the shop and asked them if they would do mail order. They said they usually did not, but they kindly made an exception for me when I told them my friend was a potions genius who really needed this book to do great things."
Severus grinned as he clutched the book to his chest. "Thanks, Heather!"
"I had to promise my parents not to complain on next summer's trip so they would pay for it," she lamented with a sigh.
At that, Severus felt a bit of a pang for being so dour during the entire dance, considering how much Heather had to pay for it. She truly did hate those summer trips with all of her being. Not complaining was truly going to be difficult for her. He sighed. "Fine. I will help you clean up and Transfigure some of these statues back into desks," he said glumly.
Heather grinned. "Thanks, Kid. Instead of working on the Transfiguring if you'd rather not, you can put the desks back into that empty classroom on the third floor once the other girls on the committee and I have Transfigured them if you'd like." Severus nodded eagerly. Heather called out to the other girls who were polishing off the last of the snacks, and everyone got to work. By the time everything was Transfigured back to its natural state and put away, Severus was too tired to read his new book. He just wanted to go to bed.
"Thanks again, Kid," Heather said as they headed for the Slytherin dorms.
"Sure," Severus said around a yawn. Due to the late hour, the lights were low when they entered their common room. Severus paused to glance around in case Regulus or Raislen had waited up for them. In fact both had. They were sitting on the sofa closest to the fire. As could be expected, each held a book, though Raislen was slumped into a corner of the long green sofa and looked somewhat half asleep. Severus understood the feeling.
"So how was it," Raislen asked, not sounding particularly interested.
"Had you bothered to show up, you would know the answer to that," Heather bit out.
"Oh whatever, Heather Toy," Raislen snapped peevishly. "You did not want me there, remember? I promised the Kid I would not cost him his book."
Heather sighed. "I told him to keep you from being dreadful. I did not intend for you not to be there." Sometimes boys are so bloody daft," she complained.
"Said to a group of only boys," Regulus drawled, at last lowering his book to peer over at Heather.
"So how was it," Raislen asked again, this time sounding slightly more interested. Heather and Severus crossed to settle in chairs near Raislen and Regulus's sofa. "We talked to the Druids," Severus said.
"Damn! The Druids were there?" Raislen straightened. "I might be feeling regret at not showing. Did you grill them about Merlin and Nimue, Kid? All the Druidic knowledge is passed down by mouth, and I bet they preserved a lot."
Severus sighed. "I did, yes. I am not even sure if they like Merlin and Nimue. They seemed to feel their methods were dangerous." With that, he gave a brief rundown of the odd conversation he and Heather had had with the Druids.
Raislen's lip curled. "As I suspected. None of them have anything useful for us, not even the Druids. Disappointing, but I suppose it means we must be the great wizards in our own lives, Kid."
Severus felt his stomach dropping in an odd sort of disappointment at that. He did not know what he had to offer himself. He always strove for more outside of him, a clear search for something greater of which he was fully aware. "You're probably right," Heather told Raislen a bit sadly.
"Ah so you weren't impressed with any of the educators from any of the various continuing education factions either, Heather," Raislen taunted lightly.
"Shut up, Raislen, do," Heather shot back. "Oh Severus," she practically squealed. "We forgot to tell them about," Her voice lowered to a whisper. "About that odd conversation with Flitwick and the red haired Druid lady!"
"Ah yes," Severus said. Not that he felt there was much to tell, really. Flitwick seemed to know one of them, and there was some sad situation, considering the woman's tearful reaction to whatever he'd said. Heather related the brief interaction as Raislen and Regulus listened with interest.
"That is certainly something," Raislen said at last. "It's odd to think of our professors having normal human lives and dramas, but you know they must. Still it's weird to think about."
"Agreed," Regulus said.
"Well, Kid, it looks like you got your book," Raislen told Severus with a grin. Severus was still clutching the book from Heather to his chest. Grinning back, he nodded.
"Thanks for helping me out with that even if we did somehow muddle what Heather wanted."
Heather sighed and rolled her eyes.
"Did everything go as you wanted it to, Heather," Regulus asked politely. Heather brightened. "Yes it did, Regulus. Thank you for asking."
"You didn't want me there, so why should I care?" Raislen shot her a dark look.
"I did not say that, Raislen," Heather shot back. Turning to Regulus, she then proceeded to describe her animated Greek decor. He was properly and sincerely impressed. "So much better than having students serve the food and drinks," he gushed. "And you even made live entertainment!""
Even Raislen looked impressed. "Not bad, Heather Toy." Sighing Heather got up from her chair and approached Raislen. "Sleepy now," Raislen said, hands coming up to cover his stomach as he stood. Heather's fist swung, and Raislen howled, bending double. "You hit me in the," he roared.
Heather's mouth made an O of horror. "Oh gods, Raislen! I didn't mean to! I am sorry! Oh gods, really." By this point, Raislen was curled into a fetal position on the floor in front of the sofa. Regulus and Severus watched his misery in the sort of silent horror that only another boy could properly understand. "Come on, Heather, just maybe let him alone for now." Regulus spoke in hushed tones. Severus found himself nodding in silent agreement.
"I am really sorry, Raislen. I never would've intentionally hit you there," Heather said, before taking Regulus's advice and fleeing the room. Had Severus actually seen tears in her eyes?
"I think she was crying," he whispered.
Raislen growled. "I doubt it. And even if she was, what the hell's she got to cry about? It wasn't her who got punched in the nads, was it? Gods, but this hurts. I think I may die!" In the end, Raislen indeed did not die and eventually Regulus and Severus were able to help him back onto his feet and into his own dorm room. He pulled away from their supporting hands in the doorway when they would've attempted to help him into bed as well. Neither of them had ever been hit there, but they'd seen how hard Heather had swung her fist, and they could easily imagine how much pain Raislen was in. "I've got it from here. I'm alright," he said. Though he did not look alright, his steps were steady as he headed inside.
"Good night, then," Severus whispered. "See you at breakfast."
"I will get her for this," Raislen replied angrily. "Just watch if I don't. I've already got a plan."
The next morning, Raislen looked far better when Regulus and Severus joined him at the Slytherin table for breakfast. His cheeks were rosy and his large green eyes were bright. "How are you doing," Regulus asked carefully.
"I'm fine," Raislen said. "I woke early with plenty of rage energy. I am invigorated. As it turns out,I think very well when enraged."
Severus grinned. "Well that's a useful discovery." To Severus's surprise, Raislen was civil to Heather when she arrived at the Slytherin table for breakfast. When she apologized profusely once again, he merely nodded before turning his focus to his breakfast. During the meal, Regulus dominated the conversation, talking about his time in Hogsmeade. "Kreacher packed a huge picnic lunch for everyone, so you lot totally missed out!" he enthused. There was his amazing lobster salad, the figs stuffed with cream cheese and chopped nuts, and cheese bread!"
"You had a picnic," Heather asked, and Regulus shook his head.
"Oh no. Kreacher just packed the lunch up like a picnic, technically. We ate in the Hog's Head. Kreacher doesn't feel Aberforth's food is up to standard, or rather his standards." Regulus chuckled. "And, let's face it, he is almost certainly right."
"The food does sound more delicious than anything I've ever seen served at The Hog's Head," Heather said.
Severus nodded wistfully, sad that he'd missed it. The snacks at the dance, while most definitely passable, certainly weren't lobster salad and stuffed figs. "Who was all there," he asked.
"Oh Lucius asked about you," Regulus replied brightly. "I told him you were doing a favor for Heather T... For Heather," he corrected himself hastily, shooting Raislen an annoyed glance. "Anyway!" He rushed on before Heather could notice, hopefully. "He was with Cissa, of course and all three Lestranges were there as usual. Anyway, Lucius said to tell you Hi."
"Ah, that's nice," Severus said. And it was. It was very nice! Lucius Malfoy was interested in keeping things social and friendly, and sure they both planned to use one another for Voldemort, if for insanely different reasons, which was just fine with Severus. "Hopefully we can all get together next Hogsmead weekend."
"Yes," Regulus agreed. "And I'll even see if I can talk Kreacher into making the same lunch again as you three missed out."
"That would be brilliant," Severus said, meaning it. That entire picnic thing sounded amazing. In fact by the time lunch rolled around, Severus was quite hungry, due to thinking about Kreacher's lobster salad, stuffed figs and cheese bread during all of his morning classes. Charms was the last class before lunch, and by the time it was over, his belly was grumbling. It was not going to get Kreacher's lobster salad, but whatever would be served in The Great Hall should be nearly as satisfying.
He hurried out of the classroom, his mind on food. Due to this physical distraction, he broke his own rule of pausing to look about for Gryffindor Git activity. He would never do so again. The gits were quick to take advantage of his distracted state, nearly causing him to fall flat on his face right in front of the Charms classroom! Sirius had a foot stuck out in one direction, and James in the other so that no matter which way he went, Severus would have to trip over one of them. He stumbled over James's foot, then stomped down hard on Sirius's, sadly by accident. He was just trying to catch his balance, and he did, at the expense of Black's stupid foot. Sirius gave a howl of pain, which eased Severus's embarrassment a great deal over stumbling in front of nearly everyone in his charms class. They'd all stopped exiting the room to gape, so he held his chin high, and smirked at Sirius.
"That shall be twenty points from Gryffindor, I am afraid," Professor Flitwick snapped.
"But why," James protested innocently. "It was Severus who could not keep his balance, and he's gone and hurt Sirius's foot. Sounds like that should be at least ten points from Slytherin instead to me."
"In that case, Mr. Potter, your perception is skewed," Professor Flitwick stated in a clear tone of warning. "Continue to debate the point with me, and it shall be thirty points instead of twenty. I saw both of you stick your feet out to trip Mr. Snape."
"We were just stretching our legs, Professor," Sirius said innocently, straightening from where he'd been rubbing the top of his right foot.
"That's it, thirty points," Flitwick said. "Now get you gone before it's detention too."
The gits scattered in a flurry of red robes, and Severus smirked. Though he always had to pay any time he was defended, this time it was worth it considering the Gits had just kept making things worse for themselves. He nodded to Flitwick, then hurried off to meet his friends for lunch. Today it was a very delightfully thick and rich beef stew.
So delightful was it, that he ate for nearly five minutes before remembering to tell everyone what had happened. He opened his mouth to speak when Heather let out a gasp. She was staring at her spoon. Gagging she threw it down.
"Oh my god! Leaches! There are leaches in the stew! I'm going to be sick." She made an extremely disturbing sound, clamping one hand against her mouth. Severus worked to process what she'd said, staring in shock at his own bowl. That was when Raislen erupted into gleeful laughter.
"Only your soup, Heather Toy. Did you get a big fatty fat leach on your tongue? It'll suck your blood until it bursts in your mouth, you know!"
Heather let out a wordless scream of rage, the sound muffled by her hand still being clamped over her mouth. Choking she rose and fled the room while Severus and Regulus gaped and Raislen continued to laugh gleefully. "Serves you right for hitting me in the nads last night," he shouted after her. "Now I'm over it!"" Somehow Slughorn had not seemed to notice. Perhaps because no one had gotten hit yet.
"I wonder where she went," Regulus said. "Do you think she actually got leach in her mouth?""
"Don't know, don't care," Raislen shot back. "Serves her right."
"That was creative, Raislen," Severus said in a mix of horror and admiration. "Where in the hell did you manage to get leaches?"
"From the bottom of the lake," Raislen said. "A dorm mate told me that the lake had leaches in it a few years back, but I didn't really believe him. Today I decided to find out. I used a conjuring charm and got three of them right into my potions cauldron. Then I just slipped them into Heather Toy's soup while she was fussing with her books before she started eating. I really did need to pay her back for hitting me in the nads." He smiled almost placidly.
"I really am over it now." The three went back to eating. Though Severus was still quite shocked, he was also hungry. As he was focused on his stew, he nearly missed the flash of movement speedily approaching Raislen from behind. Something in Severus's reflexes did not like that movement, because he was on his feet before he fully registered it. Heather was flying at Raislen with an old rusted pipe in one hand that she was swinging right at the back of his head.
"Heather!" Severus shouted. "Azkaban!" That was all he had time to get out. He hoped that Heather would understand that he was saying that braining Raislen with a pipe as revenge for putting leaches in her soup was not worth going to Azkaban. As he shouted, Severus flew at her, throwing his entire weight hard on her out flung arm. Heather let out a sound half between a moan of misery and a scream of rage at being thwarted, then she sagged against Severus's chest as she began to sob. The rusted pipe fell from her hand and clattered to the floor. "I had a fucking leach stuck to my gum," she sobbed. "I had to pull it off, and blood squirted out everywhere! They feed on our blood! What sort of person does that to someone? I hate him so, so much, Severus! I wanted to kill him!"
"She's crazy," Raislen exclaimed. "I didn't want to kill you for hitting me in the nads, Heather. I just wanted to pay you back."
Heather let out a hysterical laugh in the midst of still crying. Severus silently rocked her back and forth gently as Slughorn approached.
"Oh no," Regulus murmured. "Here it comes now."
"What on earth," Professor Slughorn demanded.
Heather shook her head, sniffling as she drew away from Severus. "Just Raislen being a git," she muttered without clarifying.
"Does anyone else have anything else to say in way of an explanation?" Professor Slughorn asked. When no one commented, he sighed. "Very well, then. Mr. WestCraven, Miss Knight and Mr. Snape. All of you shall have detention with the Headmaster after classes are done for the day. There you may explain to him why you have each cost your esteemed house 10 points."
At that, Severus couldn't stop a laugh from escaping him. Thirty points was exactly how much Professor Flitwick had taken from the Gryffindor Gang of Gits. "Is something funny, Mr. Snape," Slughorn demanded.
Severus quickly lowered his head. "No sir. Not at all," he assured solemnly.
"Good. Then report to Dumbledore's office directly after classes," Slughorn said. He began to turn away, but Regulus spoke.
"But Sir! Severus did not do anything." Slughorn paused.
"He was standing with Miss Knight and failed to offer an explanation," he replied. "Now unless you would like to join them, I do hope you are satisfied with my reasoning on the matter, Mr. Black."
"Yes sir," Regulus replied hastily. He waited for Slughorn to depart before turning to Heather. "Where did you get the pipe?"
"From Hagrid's shed," she replied dully.
Regulus stood. Bending he scooped it up from the floor. "I'll go return it for you."
She gave him a wan smile. "Thanks, Regulus."