I just wanted to say thank you to everyone for all your awesome reviews and kind words of understanding and encouragement. I really appreciate it :)
Here is the next chapter. I hope you enjoy it :)
Chapter 46
Her voice rang out loud and clear in the now deathly silent Great Hall.
Lauren made the first move and stormed over towards Dumbledore, a thunderous scowl plastered on her face. All eyes in the room were glued to her, though she barely took any notice of them as her temper overrode all other emotions of embarrassment and self consciousness. When she reached the Headmaster, she snatched the singed piece of paper from his hand and glanced down at it, seeing as plain as day both hers and Harry's name scrawled upon it in black ink.
Her head snapped up, her glower becoming even more pronounced, if that was even possible. "No. Absolutely not. I refuse! I -." Lauren's gaze flitted past Dumbledore and landed on none other than Mad-Eyed Moody, who was seated at the staff table and was watching the scene play out with a certain calm detachment.
That bastard put my name in the goblet!
Unimaginable fury flooded every sense she possessed, and what little common sense she might have had in this very moment was instantly cast away. She withdrew her wand from the sleeve of her robe with a swift flick. She had only one goal in mind.
"I'm going to kill you, you son of a -."
Crack!
The sound echoed loud and sharp throughout the Hall, and Lauren suddenly found herself being flung through the air with great force, landing hard on the polished stone floor. She blinked up dazedly at the enchanted ceiling, vaguely aware that the floating candles appeared rather blurry and unfocused.
I think...I think someone just hexed me.
Before she could become seriously spitting hopping mad at this revelation, cool long fingers curled around her wrist in a vice iron grip and yanked her roughly to her feet. She barely had enough time to register that it was none other than Severus Snape who was manhandling her in such a manner when he all but dragged her towards the room situated to the left of the staff table, his features set in a stony mask. She stumbled, barely catching her footing, but Snape did not let up. In the back of her mind she vaguely aware that he was heavily shielding himself with Occlumency. It would explain why their magic was barely reacting to their physical contact in this moment.
Snape yanked open the door and all but hurled her inside the passageway beyond, where she barely managed to catch herself in time from slamming into the rough stone wall. The door slammed shut behind them and she whirled around, ready to give him a piece of her mind.
"Let me out! I'm going to kill that bastard! I'm going to kill him!" she snarled, her hands balled into fists at her sides.
She made to push past him but his hands were suddenly gripping her shoulders as he roughly pushed her up against the wall with more force than necessary. "Miss Ward, I need you to listen to me."
"Fuck you!" she snarled and spat like a rabid animal as she struggled to free herself from his grasp, but Snape was stronger than he looked and essentially had her pinned to the wall. "Fuck you to hell and back. That bastard put my name in the Goblet. Don't you get it?! I'm going to die. My life is on the line here -."
"As is mine."
His softly spoken statement managed to pierce through her white hot rage, and Lauren paused in her struggles.
She stared back into his fathomless black eyes, which were swirling with raw emotion. His mask had slipped and for once his expression was easy to read. Severus Snape was scared. Very scared.
She momentarily pondered whether this fear was for her or for himself.
"I need you to listen to me."
Lauren was about to tell him to do something anatomically impossible to himself when he continued, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Lauren...Please..."
The use of her name uttered from his lips stunned her into complete silence. Snape rarely called her by her first name.
"You need to remain calm and focused. Especially now."
Easier said than done.
Her mind was currently buzzing like a live wire, though her anger was starting to dissipate and subside. But that rage was now being replaced with cold hard terror as the images of fire-breathing dragons and Voldemort draining her of her blood, which he believed would grant him immortality, came into sharp focus in her mind. Knowing Voldemort, he would make her death as agonizing and prolonged as possible.
Her body started to tremble at the prospect of her looming death, and she choked out, "I don't think I can, Severus. I'm going to die."
"No, you won't."
"Yes I will! Did you forget about the dragon?! And Voldemort? That lunatic thinks my blood will give him immortality!"
Snape stared down at her, the moment stretching out poignantly. "I'll do everything in my power to make sure you don't die."
Lauren observed the conviction of his words reflecting in those dark eyes. But she was not a naive gullible little girl.
"Don't make promises you can't keep," she whispered.
Snape drew in a deep breath. "Do you trust me?"
"Yes, of course I do."
Snape remained silent as he stared back at her for what felt like a lifetime, his hands still firmly gripping her shoulders, and finally replied, "Then know this. I'll do whatever it takes. I will keep you alive, Lauren."
And Lauren believed him. She truly believed that he would do everything in his power to keep her alive.
She finally gave a nod of her head.
Snape searched her face for any doubts, and finally dropped his hands from her shoulders, straightening to his full looming height as he stepped back.
Lauren, though, could feel the panic starting to creep back into her veins like poison working its way to her heart.
"We don't have much time," Snape stated in his deep rich voice, which now held an edge of urgency to it. "They'll be here soon. Unfortunately I don't have any Calming Draught on me. Do you think you are able to fortify your Occlumens shields enough to get through this next part, which will involve Barty Crouch Jr.?"
Lauren tried to suck in a steadying breath, but she felt as though she were standing on the precipice of a void. One step and she would plummet into hysteria.
She swallowed hard and gave a shake of her head. Occlumency required mental preparation, and right now she had been thrown into the midst of all this chaos with absolutely no warning whatsoever. Emotionally, she was an absolute mess right now. "I don't think I can."
Snape hesitated and then reached out, cupping her face in his hands as her stared into her eyes. Her pulse started to quicken at his touch. Not being able to share physical touch without consequences somehow made this rare connection almost intimate. Before her own magic had a chance to react, he channelled his magic to the surface and pushed it into her, causing her to gasp at the alien sensation of his essence flowing through her veins. Oddly enough, it felt natural, almost as though he belonged there. A warmth started to encompass her and she was vaguely aware that Snape had slithered into her mind. Then she felt something shift and solidify within her her mentally, and she realized that he was rectifying and strengthening her Occlumens shields using his own magic.
A sense of calm washed over her being, and it was suddenly easier to breathe and concentrate. Although Snape's magic felt untempered, powerful, and almost cool in sensation as it pulsed through her veins, it somehow made her feel safe and protected. Like home.
Snape dropped his hands to his side.
"What did you do?" she asked.
"Our shared bond makes it possible for me to share my magic with you. I merely transferred some of my magic into you to help fortify your Occlumency Shields. It should be enough to keep your emotions stable for a bit."
"We can share power?"
"It would seem so."
"How long will it last?"
"I don't know. I've never done this before."
"Then how did you know this would work?"
"I didn't. But logically and in theory we share a magical bond and therefore we should be able to share both our magic and power with each other."
Lauren stared back at him, at a loss for words. Then her eyes widened as a new comprehension dawned on her, pushing this new revelation they had just discovered to the back burner. "Oh shit. Moody knows I suspect him. I was about to attack him before you stopped me."
"I wouldn't worry about that too much. From everyone's perspective, it looked as though you were about to attack Dumbledore. But I should caution that you exercise extreme caution around him from now on."
Lauren gave a nod of her head.
"Ready?" he asked. "They will be here very soon."
Lauren shook her head. "No. But I really don't have a choice, do I?"
Snape did not reply and she knew her answer right then and there. She really did not have a choice now. She was being forced into this and all she could do now was play along as best she could and try not to give anything away.
She pushed away from the wall and drew in a deep breath. With one final glance at the man standing before her, she gave a single nod of her head and started to make her way down the passage that led to a cozily furnished room where a fire crackled invitingly in the hearth. Both Fleur and Viktor were patiently waiting by the fireplace, warming themselves from the chill of the oncoming winter.
They turned around at the arrival of Lauren. Fleur looked Lauren up and down, sizing the petite girl up and forming her own impression. "Iz something ze matter? Do you 'ave a message for uz?"
Lauren scowled. "Do I look like your fucking messenger girl?" she snapped.
Evidently Occlumency had aided in calming her down enough to prevent hysterics. It did absolutely nothing about her attitude, which Fleur did not seem to appreciate if her own look of consternation was anything to go by.
Right now Lauren did not give a flying fuck.
She glanced around and spied a worn yet comfy looking armchair nestled in the corner of the room, and seated herself with a heavy sigh, cradling her head in her hands. She needed a moment to think and collect her thoughts. Severus Snape chose to remain standing to the side and out of the way, unnoticed as he observed from the shadows everything that was about to transpire.
A loud commotion could be heard in the corridor, and then Harry entered the room closely followed by Ludo Bagman, who was spouting excitedly about the recent turn of events. A few seconds later Dumbledore, Madam Maxime, Karkaroff, Professor McGonagall, and Mr Crouch walked in, confusion and outrage seeming to be the two main emotions. The room was soon drowning in a cacophony of raised voices, followed by outbursts, exclamations, and rising tempers as everyone tried to make sense of this whole mess. There were also a lot of accusations being thrown around.
Lauren watched the scene from her position in the corner of the room.
"C'est impossible," Madame Maxime declared, her voice raised. "'Ogwarts cannot 'ave two champions. It is most unjust."
"I wholeheartedly agree," Lauren exclaimed loudly as she pushed herself to her feet. Everyone turned their attention on her. "It wouldn't be fair. So I'm voluntarily withdrawing my name." Mentally she crossed fingers and toes, praying that she could somehow wriggle out of participating in the Triwizard Tournament.
"I'm afraid it's not as simple as that," Ludo Bagman replied, looking towards Crouch for backup.
Crouch gave a curt nod of his head in agreement. "Once a name is drawn from the cup, it cannot be withdrawn."
"Yes it can. You're in charge of this whole operation. Simply erase my name from whatever list there is and I'll be on my merry way."
"You see," Bagman explained, "the cup abides by magical laws, and once it selects a name nothing can undo its choice. The person selected has to participate. Unfortunately there's nothing we can do to withdraw you name, Miss Ward."
"Of course not," Lauren snapped bitterly. "No surprise there."
"How were they able to cross the Age Line?" Karkaroff asked, addressing the adults congregated in the room.
"Simple. We didn't," Lauren snapped.
There was a derisive snort and her gaze was drawn to Snape, who was melodramatically stepping out from the shadows and into the light of the room. "You expect us to believe that, Miss Ward? You have been nothing but a magnet for trouble since your arrival here. I've lost count of how many detentions I have given you."
Lauren gawped at him, her mind having trouble trying to comprehend that he had just thrown her under the proverbial bus, when not a few minutes ago he had vowed to keep her alive.
It's an act, Lauren, her mind reasoned as it finally cottoned on to what he was doing. He needs to act as though he despises you. And now you need to act your part as well.
Lauren plastered a sneer onto her face and snarled, "Fuck you, asshole!"
Two can play that game.
"Twenty points from Slytherin," Snape stated, his lips curling back into a contemptuous sneer. He turned those dark eyes onto Harry. "And Potter here has been breaking rules wherever he can. He has been crossing lines since he started school here -."
"Thank you, Severus," Dumbledore cut in with a hint of exasperation, causing Snape to fall into silence, though his black eyes glimmered with nothing but pure malice.
He is a remarkably good actor. He makes it really easy for a person to hate him...which is his intention.
Dumbledore peered over at Harry through his half moon glasses, calculating.
"Did you put your name in the Goblet of Fire, Harry?" he asked.
"No," Harry stated, sounding a tad bit nervous.
"Did you ask an older student to put it in the Goblet of Fire for you?"
Again Harry denied it.
Dumbledore turned his attention next to Lauren. "And you, Miss Ward?"
Lauren levelled the Headmaster with such a disdainful look that it would have made a certain acerbic Potion Master very proud. "What the fuck do you think?!" she snapped.
There were a few gasps that punctuated the air, most in absolute disbelief that she had just spoken to Dumbledore in such a manner.
Strange, no one seemed to object when I swore at Snape...
The Headmaster merely held up his hand in platitude. "Fair enough, Miss Ward."
The entire room erupted into chaotic shouts and declarations of lies. Finally Ludo Bagman and Barty Crouch Sr. intervened.
"We must follow the rules, and the rules state clearly that those people whose names come out of the Goblet of Fire are bound to compete in the tournament," Crouch explained.
"That's bullshit," Lauren fumed as she stormed over to the group, some of them regarding her with varying degrees of wariness. "I did not put my name in that Goblet, therefore I should be exempt from participating!" She resisted the urge to stomp her foot.
"But the Goblet of Fire selected your name. You have no choice but to compete."
Lauren was so tempted to reach out and slap the Imperius Curse right out of Crouch until he was back to his normal frame of mind. It was so tempting to do just that, but she suspected that Snape was watching her closely and would not hesitate to hex her again if she tried just that.
She turned to Dumbledore. "You're supposed to be one of the most powerful wizards in the world. You can put a stop to this." Her voice had risen in pitch, almost pleading.
Dumbledore let out a resigned sigh. "Unfortunately, I cannot. The contract is magically binding, Miss Ward. There is nothing I can do."
Lauren wanted to scream in frustration.
"I insist on resubmitting the names of my students," Karkaroff stated. "You will set up the Goblet of Fire once more, and we will continue adding names until each school has two champions. It's only fair, Dumbledore."
"But Karkaroff, it doesn't work like that," said Bagman. "The Goblet of Fire's just gone out. It won't reignite until the start of the next tournament -."
"- in which Durmstrang will most certainly not be competing!" exploded Karkaroff. "After all our meetings and negotiations and compromises, I little expected something of this nature to occur! I have half a mind to leave now!"
"Empty threat, Karkaroff," Moody growled from near the door, causing everyone to startle at his unheard entrance. "You can't leave your champion now. He's got to compete. They've all got to compete. Binding magical contract, like Dumbledore said. Convenient, eh?" He made his way over to the fireplace, his wooden leg clunking with every alternate step on the stone floor.
It took everything in her not to charge at Moody aka Barty Crouch Jr. and gouge his remaining eye out with her wand. He had put her goddamn name in the Goblet. She was going to make him pay for what he had done. Her hand twitched at her side, yearning to withdraw her wand and do just that. But in that moment Snape caught her eye, subtly giving a slow, almost imperceptible shake of his head, warning her not to do anything.
"Convenient? I'm afraid I don't understand," Karkaroff stated as he watched the other man.
"Don't you?" asked Moody in a quiet tone. "It's very simple, Karkaroff. Someone put Potter and Ward's name in that goblet knowing they would have to compete if it came out."
Gee, I wonder who?
"Evidently, someone 'oo wished to give 'Ogwarts two bites at ze apple!" said Madame Maxime.
"I quite agree, Madame Maxime," said Karkaroff, bowing to her. "I shall be lodging complaints with the Ministry of Magic and the International Confederation of Wizards -."
"If anyone's got reason to complain, it's Potter and Ward," growled Moody, "but...funny thing...I don't hear them saying a word..."
"Miss Ward has been complaining plenty," Snape said silkily, his words holding an edge of barb and disdain. "As is in her nature."
Lauren glared at him, mentally applauding herself for her acting skills.
"Why should they complain?" burst out Fleur Delacour, stamping her foot like a petulant child. "They 'ave ze chance to compete? We 'ave all been 'oping to be chosen for weeks and weeks! A thousand Galleons in prize money -."
Lauren was unable to stop the derisory snort that escaped her. "I'm stinking rich. One thousand Galleons is nothing to me. Certainly not enough to risk my life for."
Fleur stared at her and then dismissively shook her head, her sleek blonde hair swaying with the movement. "Then it for ze honour. Zis is a chance many would die for!"
"Maybe someone's hoping they are going to die for it," said Moody, with the merest trace of a growl.
The tense silence that followed this insinuation was as thick as sludge.
"Well, I don't really care about honour and glory and all that bullshit. What I do care about is living," Lauren intercepted, "And what I really want to know right now is what all the adults in this room are going to do to rectify this so that two underage children," she said, emphasizing those two words, "aren't forced to partake in any of this and potentially die in the process." She crossed her arms over her chest and gazed pointedly at all the adults who were supposed to be in positions of power and able stop this madness.
The room fell into silence as they all glanced at each other.
"The rules clearly state -," Crouch finally reiterated.
"Fuck the rules. We're underage. There's no way in hell we should be allowed to participate." The irony was not lost on Lauren that any other time she would be arguing that she was not a child and should not be treated as such. Right now, though, she was going to play the child card for all it was worth.
"Miss Ward," McGonagall chastised. "Watch your language, young lady."
"No offence, Professor McGonagall, but it's not your life on the line here. I think a bit of swearing is called for."
"The girl does bring up a valid point. She and Harry Potter are both underage. How was the Goblet of fire tricked?" Karkaroff asked.
"I think that a very strong Confundus Charm was used to trick the Goblet into overlooking their ages," Moody mused, his eye whirring in all directions. "It would also explain why they were chosen as joint partners. Someone wanted them both to be in this tournament. Together, as a team."
Dread pooled at the bottom of her stomach. Not only was she being forced into this tournament against her will, but she was going to have to work with Potter of all people.
Fuck! I think I'd rather take on the dragon!
"You've given this a great deal of thought," Karkaroff pointed out, suspicion lacing his voice.
"There are those who'll turn innocent occasions to their advantage," Moody retorted in a menacing voice. "It's my job to think the way Dark wizards do, Karkaroff – as you ought to remember..."
"Alastor," Dumbledore warned. Moody fell silent, though he was surveying Karkaroff with satisfaction at this jibe. Karkaroff's face was burning red. Dumbledore now addressed the whole room. "How this situation arose, we do not know. It seems to me, however, that we have no choice but to accept it. Both Lauren and Harry have been chosen to compete in the Tournament. Together. This, therefore, they will do..."
"What?" Lauren exploded. "You're supposed to protect us! Not hand feed us to the wolves."
"I'm sorry, Miss Ward, but there is nothing else that can be done."
Lauren wanted to rant and rave, but she knew that it would do no good. Dumbledore could not (or would not) help her, that much he had made clear. Nothing she said or did was going to change anything. She turned her back on him and flung over her shoulder, "Well, I hope you enjoy watching me die."
"Miss Ward..."
"Save it. We all know you'll do whatever to takes to keep Potter safe. He is your favourite after all."
She happened to glance over at Snape at that moment and saw that his features were set in a hard unreadable mask. But those black eyes glinted with pitted fury.
Ludo Bagman coughed, breaking the tension that was building up in the room. "Well, shall we crack on, then?" he said, rubbing his hands together and smiling around the room. No one smiled back. "Got to give our champions their instructions, haven't we? Barty, want to do the honours?"
Mr. Crouch seemed to come out of a deep reverie. "Yes," he said, "instructions. Yes...the first task...The first task is designed to test your daring," he told Harry, Lauren, Fleur, and Viktor, "so we are not going to be telling you what it is."
We have to go against fire-breathing dragons, Lauren mentally screamed out.
"Courage in the face of the unknown is an important quality in a wizard...very important...The first task will take place on November the twenty-fourth, in front of the other students and the panel of judges. The champions are not permitted to ask for or accept help of any kind from their teachers to complete the tasks in the tournament. The champions will face the first challenge armed only with their wands. They will receive information about the second task when the first is over. Owing to the demanding and time-consuming nature of the tournament, the champions are exempted from end-of-year tests."
I'll be dead, so I'll no longer have to worry about exams. Yay me.
Crouch turned to Dumbledore. "I think that's all."
Lauren didn't wait around. She turned on her heel and stormed out the room, making sure to slam the door shut behind her. Childish as it was, she wanted all of them to know exactly how very unhappy she was right now. And there was nothing like a good door slamming to convey just that.
The Great Hall was empty and deserted, and eerily quiet. She knew Snape would not follow her, as he now had to remain behind and keep up the facade.
As Lauren exited the Great Hall she sensed Snape's magic within her dissipating, the shields he had strengthened now weakening with every step she took further away from him.
It would seem this connection and sharing of magic cannot withstand distance.
Right now, though, this was the last things she was concerned about. Her mind was now solely focused on the upcoming Triwizard tournament and how she was going to come out of all of this alive.
The trek back to the Slytherin Common Room went by in a hazy blur, Lauren's mind buzzing like static electricity. By the time she reached the doors, Snape's Occlumency Shields had long since dissolved and her temper was at an all time high. She flung open the doors and came face to face with the Common Room packed with every single Slytherin student. All heads swivelled in her direction and all Lauren could do was scowl darkly back at them.
Tracey pushed through the staring crowd and pulled Lauren into a tight hug.
"Are you okay?"
"No, I'm not bloody okay. I'm being forced to take part in the tournament."
Tracey pulled back, horror written all over her features. "What?! But that's preposterous. You're underage."
"That's what I tried telling them. Windbag Crouch basically said I had no choice. My name was drawn from the Goblet and there's no way to get out of it."
"Maybe you shouldn't have put your name in there in the first place then," Pansy piped up.
Lauren's eyes narrowed into dangerous slits. "I didn't put my name in the Goblet, Woof-Woof."
Pansy scoffed. "Of course you did."
"I don't think she did," Draco interrupted. "Didn't you see the look on her face. She was shocked when her name was called. And then she was pissed. That's not the reaction of someone who wants to be a contestant in the tournament."
Pansy waved her hand dismissively. "Everyone wants to be in the tournament."
"Well if you feel that way then I'll gladly trade places with you. Come, we'll go see Dumbledore right this minute and let him know that you wish to take my place. I'll gladly watch from the sidelines while you die a cruel and horrible death. Shall we go?"
Pansy visibly paled, her lips now pressed into a thin line, and offered no further remark.
"Thought not, you coward," Lauren bit out. She then turned to Tracey. "Actually, is there anything in the rules saying whether another person can take a tributes place?" she asked hopefully.
Tracey bit her bottom lip. "I don't think so, Lauren."
The last slither of hope Lauren had been holding on to deflated like a balloon. "Fuck." She sucked in a deep breath and leaned against the wall for support, closing her eyes as she willed herself to stay calm. But the terrifying image of a beastly dragon opening its jaws wide and raining down scorching fire onto her surfaced in her mind and she blinked open her eyes. "Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!" she screamed. "I'm going to die."
She hastily pushed away from the wall and made a beeline for the corridor that led to her dorm room.
"Lauren, where are you going?" Tracey called out after her.
"I think I'm going to be sick."
Lauren made it just in time to the en-suite bathroom of her dorm room before she threw up in the toilet. She flushed away the remnants of her dinner and made her way to the sink, splashing cold water onto her pale face. It helped, but her nerves were still jittery and frayed.
"Lauren?" came a tentative voice from the doorway.
Lauren glanced up at the mirror, seeing Tracey's reflection standing in the doorway, Draco right beside her. She wiped her face dry with a towel, tossing it aside, and turned to face her friends. She gripped the porcelain sink behind her for support.
"I didn't put my name in the Goblet."
"We know, Lauren," Tracey affirmed.
"Wait, you believe me?"
"Of course we do," Draco stated. "You may be many things, Ward, but you're not stupid or suicidal."
Well, that's...unexpected.
Lauren had half been expecting them to start acting like Ron, all jealous and disbelieving.
Tracey made her way over to her friend and pulled her into a hug. Lauren didn't try to resist or pull away, instead clinging to her like a lifeline.
"You're trembling."
"Of course I am. I have to go up against a dragon. I'm going to get roasted to a crisp. Do either one of you know of a way to make me fire resistant?"
Draco pressed his lips together, his ice blue eyes glinting as he watched his friend cling to Tracey, clearly scared out of her mind. He was visibly unsettled by how Lauren, usually full of fire and fury, was seemingly so terrified right now.
"Do you want me to speak to my father? See if he can somehow withdraw you from the tournament?" He had stepped further into the girl's bathroom, his gaze trained solely on Lauren as he made this offer.
Lauren extracted herself from Tracey's embrace and turned her attention to the boy, a defeated sigh escaping her lips. "Crouch, Bagman, and Dumbledore can't change anything. They basically said as much. I doubt your father will be able to do anything either."
Plus, I'd wager anything that Daddy Dearest will be in the stands cheering with pompoms in hands while I get barbequed.
She ran her hand over her face. "I'm so going to die."
"No, you're not," Tracey stated firmly. "Draco and I are going to help you in any way that we can."
Lauren had the urge to lash out a sarcastic retort at her friend's rather childish and idealistic sense of hope, but she bit her tongue, the logical part of her brain reasoning that they were just trying to be supportive.
"But in the event that you do die, can I have your mansion?" Draco asked slyly.
Lauren whipped her head up to find the infuriating prat grinning devilishly at her.
"I'm so glad my impending death is amusing to you."
Draco chuckled and closed the distance, draping his arm casually over her shoulders. "This is you we're talking about, Lauren. You're a hurricane with that foul temper of yours. A force to be reckoned with. No dragon stands a chance against you."
Lauren smiled despite herself.
"That's the spirit, Ward." Draco ruffled her hair, narrowly escaping a swift smack upside the head from the girl. He then placed his hand upon her shoulder, his mood more serious now. "We're both here for you. Tracey and I will do whatever it takes to help you through this."
Lauren stared at him, the insufferable boy that annoyed her to no end. Despite all his faults, he was now standing by her and offering his help and support when she really needed it. He and Tracey would be there for her through thick and thin.
They really are true friends...
"Thank you," Lauren said thickly, hot tears pricking her eyes, which she hastily blinked away.
"I do wonder who put you name in the Goblet, though," Tracey mused out loud.
"Somebody that wants me dead," Lauren stated, her blood starting to boil at the thought of that rat Barty Crouch Jr. If she somehow miraculously lived through all of this, she was going to personally kill the son of a bitch herself.
"Well, that really narrows it down," Draco said sarcastically. "Almost everyone you come into contact with wants you dead."
"Draco!" Tracey hissed.
"Okay, only those that you've pissed off want you dead...wait, that doesn't really narrow it down either. You have a knack for pissing off almost everybody."
Lauren elbowed the boy sharply in the ribs, but he merely laughed at her annoyance.
"So what about Harry?" Tracey asked. "His name was drawn along with yours."
"In a nutshell, he and I are basically a team. We're going to have to work together."
Tracey and Draco shared a look. Then Draco turned his attention to Lauren, his eyes round and large. In all seriousness, he stated, "You're going to kill him before the dragon even has a chance to."
Lauren scowled. "Hey, I'm not that bad!"
"No, of course not." His tone, however, implied otherwise and she aimed another jab at his ribs, which he swiftly sidestepped.
Tracey ignored them, tapping thoughtfully at her chin. "So there's three tasks. Any idea what the first task is?" she asked. Her brilliant mind was working hard, gathering all the facts as she started to prepare a plan.
"The dragons," Draco answered before Lauren could utter a single word. "My father told me."
Silence settled heavy in the room as all three of them contemplated what was in store for Lauren. Draco visibly shuddered while Tracey on the other hand seemed to be overcome with a fierce steely determination.
"I'll see what I can find out about them. There's got to be a weakness...or something. We'll figure it out, Lauren. Just remember, you're not alone. You have us."
She half expected a witty or sarcastic remark from Blondie, but he remained silent as he gave a nod of his head, silently conveying his support.
Wow, I think he may just become the perfect gentleman...when he finally matures. Tracey is going to be a lucky gal.
"Thanks guys," Lauren said softly.
Tracey returned her smile and then arched a questioning brow. "Group hug?"
"Now you're pushing it," Lauren replied, wagging her finger at the girl. "You already got a hug from me which, I might add, you were only able to do so because you caught me in a moment of weakness."
Tracey's smile morphed into a Cheshire grin. "Good to see you're getting back to your old self."
"Yeah, the pity party was getting kinda pathetic," Draco chimed in as he looped his arm through hers. "Now let's head back to the Common Room and strategize."
The last thing Lauren wanted to do was head back to the Common Room where her fellow Slytherins would surely be staring at her with accusatory glares.
As though reading her mind, Tracey quipped, "Just tell them to bugger off. You've done so before plenty of times."
"Actually, I think she's used much stronger language than 'bugger off' on them in the past," Draco stated.
"I know. I just didn't want to encourage her."
"You don't need to encourage Ward to use foul language. She's quite adept at doing that all by herself."
"I'm right here," Lauren pointed out.
"Yes, and your point?" Draco asked. "We don't say anything behind your back that we wouldn't say in front of your face."
Lauren shook her head, though she was grinning along with her friends. As she let them drag her back to the Common Room, she somehow knew that she had lucked out and had managed to find a much better support system of friends than Harry. Draco and Tracey weren't acting jealous or resentful of the fact that she was now a contestant in the Triwizard Tournament. They emphatically believed her and were vowing to help her in any way that they could. They were standing firmly by her side. She really had hit the jackpot when they had chosen to be friends with her.
But what was even more surprising was the Slytherins themselves. When she reentered the Common Room with Draco and Tracey by her side, all eyes focused on her. But instead of suspicion, hatred, or jealousy (except maybe from Pansy), they were now regarding her with sympathy, some even giving her comforting and supportive pats on her shoulder as they passed by. There was even a tinge of respect in the way they were now interacting with her.
"Anybody with half a brain cell could figure out just by your reaction alone that you didn't put your name in the Goblet, Lauren. And Slytherins are loyal to their own. We may not say as much, but we'll all be rooting for you," Draco explain when he glimpsed her puzzled expression.
They chose to sit at a table near one of the windows, the murky water of the Black Lake beyond dark and still. Tracey had a parchment of paper and quill ready as the three of them brainstormed and tried to come up with any helpful information they might have about dragons. It became painfully clear that none of them knew anything about dragons, except that they breathed fire. The blank parchment resting on the table was testament to that.
"I'll stop by the library tomorrow and see what books I can find," Tracey finally said, stifling a yawn behind her hand.
"And I'll write to my father and see what information he can give me," Draco inputted.
"Thanks guys." Lauren glanced at the clock on the fireplace mantel and saw that it was almost midnight. "You two had better head off to bed. It's getting late."
"Aren't you going to sleep?" Tracey asked as she rose to her feet.
Lauren shook her head. "I doubt whether I'll get any sleep tonight."
"You should at least try."
"I will, in a bit."
Tracey came over to Lauren and bent over, giving her a reassuring hug. "It's going to be okay."
Lauren merely nodded her head, but remained silent. She watched as her two friends headed to their dorm rooms. Once they were out of sight she glanced around the Common Room, the emptiness almost hollow in feel as everyone had departed for bed not too long ago. She remained seated and waited a few minutes. Then she rose from her seat and made her way over to the tapestry hanging on the wall. She glanced over her shoulder once more to ensure that the coast was clear and she wasn't being watched. Then she withdrew her wand and muttered the password, causing the tapestry to swing open. She entered the tunnel beyond and closed the painting shut behind her.
Soon she arrived in Snape's study. As she surveyed the room she was not surprised to find it empty and devoid of the presence of the Potion Master. The fireplace had long ago died down to ash and the lanterns hanging on the walls were dimly lit.
She headed straight to the door that led to his private chambers. She didn't bother to knock and instead turned the handle. His magical wards recognized her and the door swung open, allowing her entrance. She paused on the threshold, noting that the living room was also currently empty, except for Artemis who was perched on the bookshelf and asleep with his head tucked under his wing. He didn't even bother to wake up and acknowledge her.
No Snape anywhere. Maybe he's asleep...
She eyed the door that led to his bedroom, contemplating whether to check and see if he was in there.
One little peek won't hurt, she mentally reasoned. I need to see whether he's here or not. The more logically part of her brain cautioned that she was as good as dead if he caught her.
Lauren decided to risk it and made her way over to the firmly shut door, her heart pounding in her chest. She curled her hand around the doorknob and turned it, somewhat surprised when it opened. She cautiously poked her head inside of the room, noting that it was dark, the black curtains drawn tight and a fire burning low in the fireplace, the embers flaring crimson red. It was sparsely furnished with just a neatly made bed, a bookshelf full of book, and a desk neatly organized with a stack of paper and quill and ink the only furnishings occupying this room. She detected a feint whiff of his scent permeating the room, the familiar smell of parchment and herbs, and she drew in a deep breath, closing her eyes as she imagined him standing there beside her. She blinked open her eyes, shaking herself out of her daydreaming. Now was not the time.
She quietly closed the door shut, satisfied that Severus was not here and she would have to wait for him. She made her way over to the couch and settled into the plush cushioning, leaning her head back and closing her eyes while she waited.
Finally the door swung open and Snape strode into the room like a dark ominous cloud that was swirling with a violent storm building up from within. He seemed unsurprised to find her seated in his living room as he made his way over to the fireplace. He stood before the smoldering flames, his gaze drawn to the interwoven dancing hues of orange, yellow, and red. Lauren watched as he clutched the mantle, his head bowed, all the while not uttering a single word.
Finally he turned around and faced her. Lauren silently stared back at him, noting the obsidian black of his eyes were swirling with an enraged fury that he was barely containing. Severus Snape was pissed.
Thankfully, for once, he was not pissed at her.
"I finally managed to speak with Dumbledore in private."
"And?"
"He still claims he cannot do anything. The contract is magically binding and there is no way to get you or Potter out of it."
Lauren eyed him, noting the tightness to his jaw and the way his hands were fisted at his sides, his knuckles almost white. "There's more."
Snape breathed in deeply through his nose and then out, causing his nostrils to flare. "As always, his concern was mainly focused on Potter and his safety during the Triwizard Tournament."
"But not mine." This was a statement, not a question.
Snape simply stared back at her, his silence answer enough.
Lauren sighed. "I expected as much."
Snape's eyes flashed. "It doesn't make it right. Or fair."
"Hate to break it to you, but life is not fair," she stated, half smiling to herself as she recalled the scene where Snape would tell Potter the exact same thing.
How ironic.
"I'm glad you find this amusing."
Lauren shot him an irritated look, her mood souring. "No, I don't find this amusing. I'm going to be roasted alive by a dragon. There's nothing amusing about that! And let's not forget about Voldemort and what he has in store for me, which I'm damn sure is not going to be very pleasant." Snape observed her while she ranted, the cogs of his cunning and calculating mind turning as always. "But I can't keep fighting with Dumbledore to care about me or to try and protect me when he obviously doesn't want to. We both know his sole focus is on Harry. There won't be any help from him. So all I can do is worry about myself and try and think of a way to survive all of this. Please tell me you have a plan," she said, waving her hand about for emphasis.
Snape's gaze followed the movement of her arm, and then in a movement as quick as a striking snake, he strode forward and snatched her wrist in his hand, yanking her to her feet as he pulled her arm closer for inspection. Lauren let out a shocked yelp. Her magic, oddly enough, remained subdued and she suddenly realized that Snape was heavily Occluding himself and keeping his own magic buried deep below the surface where it could not reach out to hers. But his fury of recent events still bubbled beneath the surface, and if it weren't for those carefully erected Occlumens shields, Snape would have rained down fire and brimstone by now.
Lauren gulped at his close proximity, his familiar and heady scent infiltrating her senses and causing her to lose focus on everything except for the man standing before her. Her pulse quickened and her head became hazy. Nothing else existed except him and her in this very moment.
Snape's sharp gaze, however, was focused on the charm bracelet dangling from her slender wrist, his sights in particular focused on the obsidian charm he had gifted her a while back. He fingered the gemstone thoughtfully with his free hand, his body unconsciously shifting closer to hers. Lauren's breath caught in her throat, a jittery sensation coursing through her body. Somewhere along the line she had stopped breathing.
Finally he met her gaze. "You still have this?"
Lauren blinked out of her stupor. "Of course." She coughed, hating how breathless her voice had just sounded.
Snape was silent for a few moments. "May I borrow it?"
Lauren blinked and then frowned, finally starting to regain her senses. "No."
"Why not?"
"Because I'm rather attached to it."
Snape raised a brow, and Lauren flushed when she realized what she had just admitted.
"I didn't think you were the sentimental type."
"Yes, well..." Lauren coughed again, unable to meet his gaze.
"I shall return it."
"And what exactly are you going to do with it?"
"You shall see."
The thought of parting with the charm did not settle well with her. "No," she refused, shaking her head. She was not willing to part with something that meant a great deal to her and was a reminder of the man himself.
Snape seemed to have finally lost his patience. "Miss Ward, either you give it to me or I shall take it by force."
Lauren believed him. "Fine, take it. But you had better not damage it," she grumbled.
Snape appeared rather amused at her attachment to something he perceived as frivolous, and he unclipped the charm from the bracelet and released his hold on her. Lauren stumbled back and fell heavily back onto the sofa.
Poise and grace are definitely not qualities I possess.
She felt she could finally breathe again now that he had released his hold on her, though her heart was still racing in her chest. Snape, though, seemed completely unaffected as he eyed the obsidian charm before eventually pocketing it. He settled into the armchair in a fluid motion and his expression turned serious when he turned those fathomless dark eyes upon her once more.
"I promised you that I would do whatever it takes to keep you alive...I intend to keep that promise, Miss Ward."
Lauren was still valiantly trying to tamper down her traitorous reaction to the Potion Master. "No offence, but I hope you know you've got your work cut out for you."
A humourless smile curved his lips. "Indeed."
"Well, in the event that I should die before I have a chance to say it, thank you."
Snape waved away her thanks dismissively and fell into silent contemplative thought. "It would seem that I am the only one trying to keep you alive, if the Headmaster's questionable attitude is anything to go by." His voice had taken on a hard edge. Lauren had to wonder exactly how his conversation with Dumbledore had really went down for him to be talking like this.
He's really pissed at the old coot...
Lauren sighed. "Yeah, well, I've never been his favourite."
Snape gave a soft snort as he deadpanned, "You're nobody's favourite, Miss Ward."
"Gee thanks." She drummed her fingers against the armrest of the sofa. "What are we going to do?"
Snape rubbed tiredly at the spot between his brows and sighed warily. "Give me some time to formulate a plan of action. In the meantime I cannot impress enough the importance of working on your Occlumens shields. You need to be able to control your emotions, especially if you are to come face to face with the Dark Lord himself. And you also need to control yourself better around Barty Crouch Jr...which means no more trying to attack him." He said this with a pointed look.
"I wish you had let me kill him," she growled darkly.
"Miss Ward, he's an accomplished wizard, not to mention a Death Eater. The house-elves would have been cleaning up pieces of you for weeks after if you had gone up against him."
Lauren pressed her lips together, realizing that he was probably right, though she was not going to tell him that.
"Now I think it's time for you to head back to your room and try and get some sleep. We've got a long road ahead of us. And as you so clearly pointed out, I have my work cut out trying to keep you alive."
Lauren rose to her feet at his clear dismissal. "Fine. Hopefully I can survive all of this with all my limbs still attached and my hair undamaged."
Snape arched a brow.
"What? I quite like my hair," she stated, reaching protectively for her waves.
Snape shook his head, but Lauren thoughts she detected a shadow of a smile on those lips.
"Good night, Severus," she said as she made her way to the door.
As she exited the room and made her way to the painting that hid the secret passageway beyond, she did not hear his usual protestations of 'Professor Snape'.
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