Tainted

Chapter 10 - Tears & Confessions

A/N Hey guys! So yes, I finally uploaded and I really hope you guys like this chapter. It's  a sad chapter but I don't know if any one of you guys will tear up because of it. Anyway, ENJOY and comment etc.. :)

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To my relief Severus didn’t come knocking on my door then on any of the nights after, so I’m fairly rested when I wake up. I’m beginning to wonder if I really know who I am or what I’m feeling. I’m fairly certain I know who I am and I was relieved that Severus hadn’t come by but I was also a fair bit disappointed. That was a few weeks ago and today is actual the day of the first task.

I swear this Triwizard tournament has gone to everyone’s head. To say the other students weren’t supportive towards Harry being in the Triwizard tournament was an understatement. I don’t even think his house likes it either. Almost as soon as the champions were announced I was seeing students with badges that changed from a picture of Harry and the words ‘Potter stinks!’, to a picture of Diggory saying something along the lines of ‘support the real Hogwarts’ champion’.

No matter how many points I take off it just never seems enough. I have more than a thousand sitting in the drawers of my desk because I have to keep confiscating them. I took points of students from all houses but I only had to give detentions to Hugglepuffs. They just took things way too far. Not to mention they started the whole badge thing which is a form of bullying and I can’t stand bullying.

 I’ve seen how it ruins people’s lives and that’s not something I want to happen to Harry especially since he’s already got a few things that could make him spiral down into depression. In the last two weeks I think the students have started to realise I’m not that different from Severus – just you know, maybe a nicer version.

Yesterday when I was walking through the courtyard, I saw Ickinstein pull Harry aside – undoubtedly to lead him into his office.  This, of course, only made me more suspicious and distrusting towards him.

The only person in that room the night the champions were announced who might have come to the same conclusion as I did was, Severus. And I don’t say that as an insult to Minerva’s or Albus’ intelligence. It’s just that Albus prefers to let things play out on their own.  Therefore he wouldn’t be coming up with conspiring theories, and Minerva’s mind most likely was clouded by her anger at the time thus impairing her ability to see with a clear mind.

So really, how Ickinstein came to the same conclusion I did is a huge mystery. He could have just said it for the hell of it, to make himself seem smarter but something told me that he wasn’t. I don’t know why exactly but my instincts told me to keep an eye on him. There’s just something not quite right with him. Not to mention his timing is rather suspicious and he has taken a rather odd interest in Harry.

Shaking those thoughts out of my head I continued walking to the Black Lake – far enough to pretend the tournament wasn’t close by and close enough to respond if anything went wrong. I sat down by the edge and pulled out my copy of ‘Last Sacrifice’ by a muggle called Richelle Mead. I absolutely adore it even though I know I shouldn’t.  I think it’s safe to say that this is one of my ‘guilty pleasures’.

It’s the only thing that I know for sure (besides Severus) that can make me forget about the world around me. I have to come out on my own accord and that’s what I love about books so much - that and the fact that male fictional characters are nothing less than insanely attractive.