Ivory

[Chapter 14]

For the next couple weeks, the only things I knew was pain, anger, and more pain. Visits to the infirmary became a frequent occurrence and each time, I'd have to be sedated or the pain would drive me insane.

During this time, although I regret it, I became really snappy and an absolute jerk. Can you blame me? I've been in the infirmary more times than I can keep track of, even with my "photographic memory", and I've been given so many pain killers that I've become addicted.

My crest still was deathly silent during this time which alarmed me and my hair completely changed. At this point, it was completely stark white. My eyes changed into a multicolor madness of gold and arctic blue, and splitting headaches became my best friend.

The funny thing was, everybody knew that I've changed. I can thank Sabrina Skeeter for that. The blonde was a gossip vending machine who required no payment. As I walked out of the infirmary and into the courtyard on a fine Sunday evening for what felt like the one thousandth time, everybody stared at me. But it wasn't the usual admirable or envious glance, it was a stare of pure fear.

I mean, they have every right to be afraid of me. My stygian blue cloak swished behind me as I brushed a stark white strand of hair out of my eyes. My eyes narrowed in pity as I saw Harry Potter getting followed by a group of fangirling Gryffindors. Apparently, Dumbledore thought it would be a great idea for Hogwarts to explore the Towers. I feel bad for Albus. He must have hit his head pretty hard for him to come up with that decision.

As I walked through the field of grass, students scattered as I came within three feet of them. I wondered why they did that besides the fact that Skeeter portrayed me as a monster in her newspaper. I almost laughed at the thought of the title of the newspaper. It was probably something like, Ivory Prodigy Revealed as a Monster.

"Kylan?" I heard a daring voice ask. I turned around to find Cho Chang a few feet away from me. When I turned to her, she gasped. I rolled my eyes. "Wow."

"What do you want?" I said a little harsher than I intended. She almost recoiled at my ferocity. "I'm surprised you can get within a few feet of me. Apparently I'm a monster, you know."

"Sabrina Skeeter is an idiot," Cho Chang replied. A smile spread across my face. "I don't believe you're a vampire like the newspaper says."

"Finally. At least one person is coming to their senses," I said while glancing over at Weasley. He was on the other side of the courtyard speaking with Hermione and Harry. Hermione glanced at me and we made eye contact. I immediately tore my gaze away from her. I did another 180 degree turn and ran straight into Cho trying to walk away from Granger.

"Sorry," I said, jerking away from her.

"Kylan?" I heard her say. I simply sighed and turned around. Her eyes widened when she saw me. "Woah."

I rolled my eyes. "Is there something I can help you with?" I asked her. She was about to respond when she looked at my stygian blue cloak.

"What are you wearing? What did you enchant it with? It keeps blurring out of vision."

I was about to respond when Draco Malfoy cut me off. "It's a color called stygian blue, Granger. Apparently, Muggles can't see the color. That must be the case for you, mudblood."

I had the sudden urge to hex Draco but I calmed my nerves as someone else did my job for me. Ronald Weasley was her savior, if you can believe it. I simply scowled, turned around, and exited the courtyard.

I felt someone behind me. I rolled my eyes. This was getting old. I felt the air turn subzero around me as I curled my fingers around clumps of ice that I summoned on accident.

"W-where a-are y-you g-going," Hermione said behind me, her teeth chattering. When I turned around she was on the floor, shivering like crazy. I sighed, took my cloak off, and put it around her. I quietly put a heating charm on the object. When the cloak brushed her shoulders, it was like she was revived.

I exhaled as she got up. I saw her knees buckle and I had to catch her before she fell. She looked up at me with a thankful gaze.

I rolled my eyes and she steadied herself against my shoulder. "This is getting old, you know," I said. She looked at me confused. "You know, me leaving and you following me."

I saw a smile appear on her face as we walked down the corridor. "I know about you, you know," she said out of nowhere. I stopped and turned to her.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"You know what I'm talking about," she responded. "I know about The Veiled." I felt the temperature drop again and she crumpled to the ground. I kneeled in front of her.

"I'm sorry Hermione, but you can't know about that. I'm lucky that Skeeter hasn't wrote an entire article on it at this point," I said while getting up and taking out my wand. I pointed the object at her. "Obliv-"

"Don't touch her!" I heard someone cut me off. I recognized the irritating voice instantly as I turned to the redhead. Weasley took out his wand. "If you touch her I'll kill you."

"Oh, look," I said to Hermione. "Here comes your knight in shining armor." She looked back up at me with fear in her eyes.

"Kylan, please," she pleaded. "Don't hurt Ron. He's not in his right mind." I simply smirked. I heard more footsteps as Harry Potter entered the hallway.

"What the hell do you think you're doing to Hermione," Harry snarled. I simply looked at them unimpressed. I knew that if they tried to duel me, they'd fail miserably.

"Look, I'm not doing anything-"

"Fulgur!" Harry yelled. I sighed as I blocked the lightning bolt with my wand. I then sprinted at him with a speed enhancing charm and kicked him back.

"You don't want me as your enemy, Potter," I said to him. He winced on the floor as Weasley backed up. I eyed Ron. That's right, I thought. Back away you coward.

Harry tried to get up. "Deprimo," I said. He was immediately slammed against the ground. I sighed as he struggled. "You know, Potter, I really wasn't doing anything. I'm sorry it had to play out this way."

"Expilliarmus!" I heard Weasley say behind me. I flicked the charm away. I waved my hand and his wand flew out of his hand and into mine. He backed up. I smiled as I snapped my fingers. I saw shadows melt off the walls and encase him. I walked past him as the shadows overtook him and pulled him into the floor.

When I got to Hermione, her eyes were contorted with anger. Well, as contorted in anger as a hypothermic person on the floor can be. She tried to talk but I cut her off. "They'll both be fine," I said. I grabbed Hermione by her arm and Apparated her into her room. I put a Somnus charm on her so she'd fall asleep immediately.

I sighed as I walked down the marble hallways, brushing invisible specks of dirt of my cloak. When I got the weird looks, I didn't entirely know how to feel. On one hand, it was annoying and I simply wanted people to talk to me. On the other hand, I felt a surge of confidence and power course through me.

I gave someone a predatory smirk as they started to run away from me. I started to feel a burning sensation near my collarbone. I blinked in discomfort as I adjusted my collar. At one point, I don't know when, my vision became blurry.

I leaned against the wall for support as I fuzzy figure had started to consume my vision. Some of his more distinct features came into view as he eyed me with two different colored irises. His short, stark white hair stood up as he gave me a cold smile. Holy crap.

"Hello, son," Gellert Grindelwald said to me.