The Queen of Vipers || Fred Weasley

II.XVI

"Oh Merlin, my eyes!"

Electra was so fucked, she could hardly see straight, but she sure saw that. And heard it too.

Cho smacked Cedric's hands from under her skirt as they broke apart. It seemed tying for first place with Potter didn't dampen Cedric's mood at all.

Mortifying didn't even cut it. Naturally she would run into these two. Electra wished she'd stayed for one more fire whiskey with Adrian before bailing for a smoke. And to insult to injury, her shock was sobering her from whatever pill Adrian had given her a while ago. Pity.

She supposed this was karma for this summer. Still gross. 

"Hey Lex," murmured Cedric stupidly. He had Cho's red lip gloss all over his mouth. And collar by the look of it.

"Ugh!" wailed Electra. "Cedric, really?" Her judgement blatant in her voice. "The Grand Staircase?" Cedric shrugged a shoulder in an admission of guilt. Cho's cheeks flushed as she held together her shirt over her chest, but Electra had already seen the blue lacy number underneath. Electra let out a sound between a sigh and another groan of disgust. "At least have the class to fool around in the boathouse. No one, not even I, would find you there."

Cedric grinned like the drunk goofball he was at the bone Electra had so obviously thrown him.

"You're a legend, Lex." He took Cho's hand and breezed by his best friend. He reached out to clap her on the shoulder, but Electra dodged his hand.

"Don't touch me. I'm afraid I know exactly where those hands have been." Her eyes shifted to his girlfriend. "No offense." Cedric laughed, which won him a smack on the chest from his girlfriend as they disappeared from the Grand Staircase, their giggling echoing off the stone walls.

She was going to need a very strong drink to get her to forget that. But first... Electra chewed her bottom lip, ruminating for only a moment longer before she bent down and picked up her pack of cigarettes. Above her, a staircase shifted, stone grinding loudly.

Unfortunately, her little run-in had sobered her up enough that as she looked towards the Quad, she found herself faltering in her stride. Maybe if she went a different way... It was already well past midnight anyways, maybe she should just call it off...

She mentally shook her head. No. She was fine. Hadeon was already off Hogwarts grounds. No one was after her anymore—

"Black?"

Electra started and snapped around, her hand instinctively going for her wand tucked in the knot of curls behind her head. "Watch it, lass," warned Mad-Eye.

It took a second too long for Electra to drop her hand. "Professor," she breathed, shoving her cigarettes into her cloak. The last thing she needed was for Moody to see her cigarettes while crossed.

A misshapen eyebrow rose over the eye that was still intact. "Surprised I startled you with this thing." He lifted his false leg.

Electra blinked at it. "Staircase was changing." Moody grunted and moved across the first floor landing. Her eyes traced where he had come from. What would he be doing in the dungeons?

"I heard what you did yesterday." Electra's gaze shifted back to her professor, whose face was unreadable. She frowned at him and braced herself for a lecture. "You didn't need to show off like that." He gave her a pleased, warped grin.

A breathless laugh left her in relief. "Truth be told, he wasn't much of an opponent. He lacked discipline."

Mad-Eye let out a gruff laugh. "Yes. It sounded like he let his emotions get the better of him. You may be quick tempered, lass, but your focus is something to be admired." He gave her a heavy pat on the shoulder and climbed the first step of the staircase. "Don't let me catch you with contraband again." He tipped his head toward her pocket.