The Herbology Assistant

Chapter Sixty Six

"Clarice?"

Cold hands trailed her chin and cupped her cheek causing her eyelids to flutter open. Her hand immediately went to her head as she tried to sit up.

"No no. Don't sit up yet. Just relax." She heard her husbands soothing voice speak to her, though she could hear a tone of worry.

The metallic taste of blood lingered in her gums still and she felt a tickle in her nose from the nose bleed.

"Do you always bleed this much?" Severus asked and Clarice chuckled slightly knowing very well this situation wasn't funny at all.

Finally gaining the momentum to sit up, she pushed up on her elbows. Whenever she pushed too far, it always ended like this. Blood had escaped through her nose, mouth, ears, and even her eyes. She looked fresh out of a horror movie.

Even though she blacked out, she still remembered everything she saw. She stared at the man who had asked her to do this to herself, just so he could get a better understanding of his life... or what he had left of it.

Clarice needed time to adjust to what had just happened. She was feeling too many emotions at once. For one, she was angry at Severus for putting her through that for his own benefit. She was sad that she had found out he could die within the next four years. She felt guilty for refusing to show him what she had seen. She was clearly overwhelmed.

"Can you talk? I mean, what happened?" Severus asked as her eyes continued to stare through him.

She couldn't tell him. She didn't even want to talk to him anymore. Silently, on wobbly knees, she stood up and apparated.

Knowing she had just threw Severus a curve ball, she walked the corridors alone, humming out of tune, hugging herself tightly.

"If anyone saw you in this state you'd be sent to the loony bin." She heard someone say. She froze in her tracks, recognizing the voice.

"I suppose I'll consider myself lucky that you were the first one to spot me." Clarice said with no edge in her voice. Alastar approached her and stood about two feet away.

"May I ask why you look like the bloody baron?" He asked.

"No." She stated simply, but held her gaze.

"Hmph." He started and went to walk away.

"I know you're not the real Alastar." She spoke bravely. He stopped.

"Then who am I?"

That's the only issue. She didn't know. Her visions never provided her with an answer to that.

"I just know." She stated firmly. "I know you put Harry's name in that goblet. The real Alastar would never."

"What makes you so sure of that?"

She just shrugged.

"If you're so sure, why hasn't Albus turned me in?"

"Says he has no proof." She muttered. "Why are you up anyways? You're not on patrol."

"Just needed some lacewing flies and leeches for tomorrows lesson." He grumbled quickly while searching for his flask. He took a swig. She eyed him carefully.

"Mind if I?" She gestured to the flask. "I've had a rough night."

"It's empty." He said quickly and walked away just as fast.

She understood now what was really going on and why she couldn't see who was truly hiding behind that mask. Polyjuice potion was a tricky thing when it came to her visions. Nothing ever made sense, but now it did.