Ivory

[Chapter 11]

Professor Redrum's golden gaze didn't waver as he stared at me. More like stared through me. The funny thing is, my crest has been unusually silent today. As the rest of the students poured in, he finally took his eyes off me and started the lesson.

According to Redrum, pain tolerance is an exceptionally useful skill in the "real world". Because Voldemort has returned, the Ivory Towers suspect that people might be tortured into giving up information to the Dark Lord by the Cruciatus Curse.

"Now, does anyone know about the curse called Sectumsempra?" Professor Redrum asked. Nobody raised their hand. "Well, the spell was invented by Severus Snape in his childhood to retaliate against bullies. You may ask, how do I know the spell? Well, I was Severus's classmate in Hogwarts."

My Legilimency told me that he was lying. Unfortunately, when I tried to reach into his mind, I felt my ring tighten around my finger and a splitting headache occur. "Sine Sensu," I muttered. The pain eased.

"Mr. Orval, is there something you'd like to share with the class?" Professor Redrum asked. I shook my head. "Well, since you're talking, you must think you're great at pain tolerance. Come up here and demonstrate."

I stood up hesitantly and slowly made my way up to the front of the room. I nearly tripped twice as I muttered numbing charms to prepare for the pain. Redrum smiled coldly as I got a few meters away from him.

"Let's see what you can do," Redrum said softly. He pointed his wand at me as I prepared for the blow. "Vulnus!"

I felt an invisible sword rake its blade across my chest. I tried to remain standing as my vision swam.

"Scalpere!" Redrum commanded. Another gash appeared on my chest. I leaned on the wall for support as I felt myself bleed profusely. Redrum just smiled as if he was enjoying this.

"Disrumpam!" He shouted. I screamed as I felt my collarbone snap with sickening crunch. Tears welled up in my eyes but I forced myself to hold them in.

"Disrumpam!" Redrum repeated with more vigor. I screamed again as I felt three ribs break. He stalked towards me with an insane look in his eyes. Tears streamed down my face. Each time he flicked his wand, a small cut appeared on my hand.  When I looked at my hand, the scrapes had spelled out, do you give up?

I shook my head, determination filling me. "Sine Sensu," I said. The pain eased a little as I grit my teeth, trying to focus on something other than the unbearable pain.

Redrum smiled. "I'll say, you do have a fighting spirit. I say we take it up a notch," he said. He then raised his wand and smirked. "Crucifigere!"

The same invisible sword impaled me. I took my sleeve and bit down hard on it. The sword turned clockwise in my chest. How am I not dead? I asked myself.

"Crucio!" Redrum finally said. A thousand hot knives pierced my skin. I screamed louder than I ever have in my life as the pain intensified. I tried to focus on breathing. Redrum noticed my strategy. "Don't breath heavily, Mr. Orval. It'll give your opponent the upper hand. Expellere Aerem!"

All the air disappeared from my lungs as I gagged. "It's kind of hard to stay calm when I'm being tormented," I seethed. Redrum smiled again.

"That's what I'm here to teach you," he said. "Now, I think you've made a brilliant example. Go to the infirmary to get checked up."

I nodded. I stumbled out of the room clutching my side. "Introitus," I said. A doorway appeared in the middle of the hallway and I staggered through it. 

I was in the infirmary. There was a girl treating a patient on the far side of the room. When she saw me, her eyes widened and she dropped a tray with a dozen medicinal treatments.

"Hey Cora," I said casually, as if we were having a nice conversation. I tried to ignore the unbearable pain as our teenage, resident doctor rushed over to me.

"Have you done this time, Kylan?" She asked as she brushed her blonde hair out of her eyes. She conjured a small cup filled halfway with a clear liquid.

"Is that water?" I asked. I didn't wait for her response as I took the cup from her hand and downed the liquid. I immediately gagged. It was not water.

"You okay?" Cora said with a smile. I nodded. An icy feeling spread across my body, numbing all of the pain. Cora conjured another cup. She took out her wand and said the incantation, "Somnum!" I felt my eyes close and I slipped into a dream.

I was eight years old. I was with my sister in the living room, playing a board game late at night. My mother didn't really care about the two of us, so she let us do whatever we wanted. My father was out with his friends at a bar.

I heard the door open and someone stumble in. Speak of the devil, it was my father. He staggered into the living room. He looked at us with drunk anger. "What are you doing up you brats?" he slurred his words so badly I could barely understand him.

"We were waiting for you," I said. I then looked him up and down. "I guess we were waiting for nothing if you're in this state."-I turned to my sister-"Come on Nora, let's go to bed."

"What the hell did you just say to me?" my father asked. I wasn't afraid of him anymore. I've been hit by him enough times to not care anymore.

"I said that you are a stupid idiot who doesn't know how to control himself," I replied, glaring daggers at him. He tried to walk towards me menacingly but in his current state, he walked sideways and stumbled twice. I knew what was going to happen. I taunted him. "Are you going to hit your own son?"

"Hell yeah I am," he said as he punched me in the face. I staggered back, clutching my face. He punched me in the stomach. He punched me again in face and pushed me into the wall with such force that when I hit my head my vision swam.

"No!" Nora screamed, coming up to our father. She started kicking and punching him repeatedly in the leg, showing how small she was. My father flung her away like she was doll. Anger boiled in my veins as I looked back at my father. He had a wild look in his eyes.

I snapped. I finally had enough of this crap. I pointed a singular finger at him and he began to levitate. His eyes widened in shock as a voice whispered in my head. You know the spell, it said in a raspy tone.

"Avada Kedavra!" I cried, the words rolling off my tongue like I'd said it a million times. A jet of green let shot out of my finger towards him. I'll never forget the lifeless look in his eyes as he dropped to the floor.

When I woke up, I was in a bed. I wondered where I was, still not opening my eyes. Suddenly, the memories came rushing back of what happened.

"Kylan, please wake the hell up," I heard Alex say. "I'm not going to the Ivory Ball without a friend and Lewis is too scared. Come on, man."

My eyes flew open. When I sat up, pain erupted throughout my entire body. Alex laughed.

"I knew that would wake you up," he said. I was still confused at his words.

"Ivory Ball?" I asked. He nodded.

"Professor Astra gave an entire speech about the event. Apparently it's a dance that was supposed to occur every year but was shut down because of educational purposes. Unfortunately, Dumbledore thought it would be a good idea to bring it back."

"I swear to god, if time doesn't kill him I will," I muttered. 

Bold words, the crest whispered. 

Shut the hell up, I retorted.