Here is Chapter 11.
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I would really love to hear your thoughts. What do you think of Mio?
️ Warning: This chapter is quite difficult to read (mention of an attempted assault).
Enjoy your reading!
Chapter 11
Boom! A loud explosion had just echoed through the castle. The noise came from the entrance hall and had resonated all the way to the Great Hall, where a few students were finishing their reading or homework on this late evening.
Surprised, Mio dropped her quill and turned toward the Gryffindor table. It had become a reflex after these past months at Hogwarts. If something unusual happened, the Gryffindors and their friends were probably involved.
They looked just as surprised as everyone else. All of them—except for a few students she knew belonged to Dumbledore's Army.
That left two possibilities:
First, the rebels of the DA had planned something, and it had just happened.
Second, Peeves, Hogwarts' resident poltergeist, had struck again—to the great despair of Mio and Filch, who would have to deal with the situation.
She swiftly stood up, crossed the central aisle of the Great Hall, and pushed open the large doors to step into the entrance hall.
As soon as she saw the source of the noise, she let out a deep sigh. Peeves had scattered dozens of belongings—clothes, books, artifacts of all kinds—all over the floor. He had also set off paint bombs, splattering everything in bright colors.
Suddenly, one object caught Mio's attention. She stepped closer and picked it up, brushing off some of the paint.
It was a Death Eater mask.
She recognized it immediately—it belonged to Amycus Carrow.
All of these items belonged to the Carrows.
"Shit," Mio thought. "They're going to be furious."
– Peeves! Get down here! she commanded.
– Hee hee hee! He giggled. She's angry! She's angry!
– Peeves, don't make me go get the Bloody Baron again!
That final threat almost had the desired effect. Peeves immediately vanished—at least he wasn't throwing paint anymore.
– Move aside!
Mio turned just in time to see Alecto and Amycus Carrow storming in, roughly shoving aside the few remaining students still lingering at this late hour.
She couldn't help but notice, among them, a trio of seventh-year Gryffindors standing at the back of the hall, triumphant smirks on their faces.
– Who did this?! Amycus bellowed.
Silence was his only response.
– You don't want to answer? Then I'll question you myself!
At those words, he pulled out his wand and pointed it at the students. They all instinctively took a step back.
– Stop. Lower your wand, Mio demanded. Peeves is the one who made this mess. No student is to blame!
– Don't expect me to believe that idiot planned this all by himself, Alecto sneered. He's only good at breaking things or stealing. Where would he have found this paint?
Mio knew perfectly well that the Death Eater was right.
Peeves had been used as a tool to get revenge on the Carrows, and Mio was certain that the DA members were behind it.
Just then, the curfew bell rang, and the remaining students scattered toward their respective dormitories.
Only the Carrows, now visibly furious, and Mio remained in the hall.
– The Hogwarts storerooms are filled with all kinds of objects, she pointed out. It wouldn't have been hard for him to find some with a little resourcefulness.
– Ha! A little resourcefulness? Or a little help from students? Alecto scoffed.
– You can't keep blaming the students for everything! Peeves is the culprit—go after him! For once, try punishing the real troublemakers instead of innocent people.
That last remark clearly did not sit well with the Carrows.
Amycus grabbed Mio by the throat.
– What exactly are you accusing us of?
– Of… of going after the wrong people! Mio choked out, coughing.
Amycus violently shoved her away. She hit the ground hard and saw the man raise his wand against her, casting a non-verbal spell. She barely had time to react.
– Protego!
Seeing the murderous look in the Carrows' eyes, she decided to flee. As talented a witch as she was, she was no match for two enraged Death Eaters.
Mio started running, dashing into a long, dark corridor in one of the castle's towers. Her breath was ragged, her heart pounding in her chest as she searched desperately for a way to escape her pursuer.
– You won't escape me, you filthy whore! the man's voice bellowed behind her.
As she turned a corner she intended to take, she spotted Alecto's silhouette. She had to avoid her at all costs.
Pivoting right at another branching hallway, she kept running, but she didn't see the rug in her path. Her foot caught on it, and she crashed to the ground, sprawling forward.
She didn't have time to get up.
He was already there.
Amycus straddled her, pinning her down. Tears welled up in her eyes as Alecto joined them, smirking at the scene.
– Not so bold now, are you? No one to help you, no way to slip away! None of those students you try so hard to protect! No one! the man whispered in her ear.
Mio struggled against his grip, trying to push him off. But he was far too strong, his hold tightening around her.
– Hmm, where should I start? he mused. What should I do to you? Maybe let you taste the delicious tortures you're so keen on spying on when we deal with the Snatchers?
Mio didn't want to listen.
She kept repeating to herself: Please, help me. Please, let me go.
Months—this whole last year—of fighting alone, struggling to protect a world that had turned its back on her, had drained her will to keep resisting.
Amycus leaned down toward her, aiming to kiss her.
On instinct, she turned her head away.
Alecto rushed forward, grabbing Mio's face and forcing her to turn toward her brother.
– No, no, stop! Mio whimpered.
– Ahaha, they're even better when they beg!
At those words, he leaned in again and this time, he kissed her.
A wave of nausea surged through Mio.
With one final burst of defiance, she drove her knee up into the man's groin.
He let out a cry of pain and recoiled.
Seizing the moment, she tore free from Alecto's grasp and tried to scramble to her feet, but the nausea overwhelmed her. She couldn't stop herself.
Doubling over, she vomited in the corridor.
So focused on resisting, then on being sick, Mio hadn't heard the approaching footsteps.
– What is going on here?
A voice rang out, firm and sharp.
Mio lifted her head, wiping her mouth, and saw Snape standing tall at the entrance to the hallway.
Behind him, Draco was attempting to make himself as small as possible.
The young Malfoy, hoping to speak with his cousin after study time, had run into Peeves, then stumbled upon Mio's altercation with the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor and his sister. He had watched in helpless horror as Amycus' fury escalated—until Mio had fled, chased by the Carrows.
Uncertain of what to do and too afraid to intervene himself, he had sprinted to find his godfather and headmaster: Severus Snape.
Severus swiftly approached Mio, seized her arm, and pulled her behind him, placing her next to Draco.
– I believe you're targeting the wrong person, Carrow.
– Oh, am I? Amycus sneered. The wrong person? No, I have exactly the right one! That little whore has no place among us! All she does is seek to harm us, to harm the Dark Lord!
– That's enough.
The sharpness in Snape's voice made everyone jump—Draco, Mio, and even the Carrow siblings.
Snape stepped closer to Amycus and grabbed him by the collar.
– You can't talk to her like that! You have no right to touch her! The Dark Lord chose her himself! He wouldn't give her any mission, wouldn't let her attend meetings if he didn't trust her!
– She's deceiving him, deceiving everyone, but not me! Amycus retorted.
– Do you doubt the Dark Lord? Snape cut in. Do you doubt the Dark Lord himself? Well, he will be delighted to hear that!
– Come on, Severus, there's no need to bother him with petty quarrels, Alecto Carrow interjected.
– Petty quarrels? I wouldn't call an attempted rape a 'petty quarrel'! Severus nearly shouted.
– Rape? We were just having fun… teasing her, warning her, that's all!
– Well then, let me warn you too, Severus continued in a slow, menacing voice. I don't want to see either of you near her again. I don't even want you to think about her. You will forget her, or else, it won't just be me you'll have to fear, but the Dark Lord himself!
With those words, Severus drew his wand and cast Incarcerous on the two, followed by Cruciatus.
Snape turned around. Mio, her face terrified, trembling, was clutching Draco's hand tightly.
– You did well, Draco. You can return to your duties; I'll handle this.
Snape's tone left no room for negotiation. Still hesitating to leave his cousin in such a state with a man he knew could be harsh with her, Draco lingered for a second or two, watching the professor. The latter had stepped closer to the young woman, placed a hand on her shoulder, and was looking at her. Without glancing at the blond, he added:
– I told you to go. I'll take care of it.
Reluctantly, Draco walked away.
– Follow me, Severus ordered.
Mio, as if petrified, didn't move. Gathering all his patience, Severus added:
– Come on, let's not stay here.
But the young woman didn't budge, her head lowered, her entire body trembling. The headmaster withdrew his hand from her shoulder and gently took her hand instead. At this new contact, the young woman lifted her eyes. They looked at each other for a few seconds, and Mio timidly answered:
– Alright.
Without breaking their contact, Severus led her to the only place he knew was safe and quiet: his quarters. Even in the headmaster's office, he didn't feel secure. With all the portraits, he constantly felt spied on.
The evening was already well advanced, and curfew was in place, so they encountered no one. Upon reaching his quarters, he opened the door and let the young woman inside. Still trembling and frightened, she didn't even glance around. He made her sit on the couch, opened a small cabinet, and took out two glasses and a bottle of Firewhisky. He poured two drinks, placed one on the table in front of Mio, and sat in an armchair opposite her. In silence, he patiently sipped his whisky, watching her. After a few minutes of observing the trembling young woman, he finally broke the silence:
– It's just whisky. It won't harm you. In fact, right now, it will do you good.
Getting no response, he stood up, took the glass, and held it out to her. Having little choice, she took it. But to her surprise, the man didn't return to his armchair; instead, he sat beside her on the couch.
Mio took a sip of the burning liquid, which scorched her throat. She coughed at the sensation, put the glass down, and resumed her previous position—curled up, trembling. Suddenly, she felt a hand gently tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. Surprised by the gesture and realizing how close he was, she had thought he was sitting farther away. After a moment, Severus took a breath and murmured:
– I'm sorry.
At these unexpected words, Mio straightened and stared at Snape. Swallowing hard, she waited for him to continue.
– I should have… no, I shouldn't have… Ah… he sighed.
Following her instincts, Mio chose that moment to nestle into the professor's arms. A little surprised, he set his glass down but still tightened his embrace around the young woman. He could feel her heart beating rapidly. Mio, on the other hand, felt the slow, steady beats of his. Neither of them wanted to break the moment.
So much so that they remained like that until Severus noticed their heartbeats synchronizing and heard Mio's slow, steady breathing—she had fallen asleep in his arms.