MEMENTO MORI | DRACO MALFOY

NINE

CHAPTER NINE

The day before the First Task dawned quicker than anyone could have expected. While excitement and anticipation rippled amongst those who were not chosen as Champions, Harry Potter, on the other hand, looked almost green while sitting in Defense Against the Dark Arts class that afternoon. Ophelia couldn't help but glance over at the Boy Who Lived and wonder whether he was about to vomit all over his desk. There was absolutely no way he was paying any attention to the lesson Moody was giving at the front of the room. No one was, really.

     Ophelia's knee bounced beneath her desk as she watched the clock's small pendulum swing above Moody's head. They were to meet after class that day, and the anticipation was nearly killing her. Moody had ceased following her about the castle ever since the night she'd left the Hospital Wing, much to her relief, but it made her that much more curious about what conclusions Moody may have come to in regards to her strange knack for resisting the Imperius curse. She hadn't even told Blaise about her meeting with Moody, but he'd certainly noticed her change in demeanour during their class that afternoon. He'd constantly shoot glances down at her bouncing knee— an out of sorts movement for her.

     By the time Moody had dismissed the class, Potter appeared even more sickly as he rushed from his seat and out the door before anyone else had the chance. Ophelia rolled her eyes before smoothing out her skirt and throwing the strap of her book bag over her shoulder.

     "I'll meet up with you later, yeah?" She said to Blaise quietly as he appeared to be waiting for her. "I want to speak to Moody for a moment."

     Blaise nodded and set out of the classroom with Draco, who eyed her curiously as she slowly stepped toward Moody's office door. He'd already disappeared behind it, he didn't often linger long once class was dismissed. She held up her dainty fist hesitantly before taking a long breath. Just as her fist collided sharply with the wooden door, it swung open, revealing Moody's unpleasant stare.

     "Miss Rosier, come on in." Her grunted, moving away from the entrance to allow her to step inside.

     Moody's office was fairly plain, though strange looking objects scattered the room in no particular organized fashion. She could feel Moody's eye fixated on her as she glanced around. She assumed they were all objects Moody had collected during the time he was an Auror.

     "I've obtained quite the collection over the years as you can see." Moody interrupted, breaking Ophelia from her thoughts.

     "It's very fascinating." She replied, passing a mirror-like object that, if she wasn't mistaken, she could see several faces floating around the glass.

     "Why don't you have a seat?" Moody suggested while lifting a pile of books from the chair on the opposite side of his desk before he hobbled over to his own seat, sinking comfortably into it as though he'd been on his feet for days. Ophelia couldn't imagine walking on a wooden leg could be entirely comfortable.

     Ophelia sat down on the edge of the chair, and placed her palms on top of each thigh in order to keep her knees from bouncing. She was not impressed with this new tic that she acquired, and she could merely hope it'd just go away on its own once this meeting was concluded. Her mind had been so preoccupied for days with what Moody was about to tell her, that she hoped to find relief once it was over.

     "I suppose we should get straight to the point then." Moody finally spoke after a long silence. Ophelia nodded curtly, feeling the urge to bounce her knee once again. "I was completely astounded by your innate ability to resist the Imperius curse, though once I was able to sit and really read into it, I believe I may know what caused it."