Aymee Parker B2 - The Cursed Mark

Chapter 32 : Imprisonned in a painting

"Pleaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaase!" insisted Aymee.

"I already gave you my grade, let me go!"

"But you didn't tell me what you failed at!"

Poole tried to avoid her by suddenly changing lanes, but Aymee was too nimble to be fooled by this rookie manoeuver. The boy groaned before turning sharply to face her. He was visibly at his wit's end.

"And can I know why it concerns you?"

Aymee crashed on the spot.

"You said you were okay with being my rival."

And it was you who started it all last year with the tournament. What's up with you? The competition is getting too strong, so you want to back out? It's too late! You should have thought of that sooner!

Aymee couldn't help smiling. Poole grimaced even more as he took a step back.

"Parker!"

Aymee turned her head towards the source of the call. Poole took the opportunity to slip away. Aymee would have run after the fugitive, but Hepzibah Smith of Hufflepuff blocked her way. Aymee cupped her hands for Poole to hear, giving the same greeting he had given her the other time:

"Beat you in Transfiguration!"

She was looking forward to said Transfiguration class. The students were learning the repair spells, and Aymee knew it would come in very handy at camp. Hepzibah waved her hand in front of her eyes, so Aymee didn't see Poole's greeting if he bothered doing one.

"Hey, I'm talking to you."

"What?"

Aymee did her best to hide her slight annoyance. It wasn't as if the Giantess had come here on purpose. The latter reached into her pocket before pulling out a crumpled letter.

"DADA teacher wanted me to give you this."

Aymee raised her eyebrows as she opened the letter. She quickly understood what it was about.

"Ah! Oh, yes, that's true. I had forgotten."

"Forgot what?"

Aymee couldn't just tell her it was a list of exercises to practice killing monsters during the holidays, so she jumped on a second topic she had also forgotten.

"Hagrid was wondering when you'd be back for tea with us."

"Oh," Hepzibah said, sniffling. "Nah, I won't go back."

The Giantess set off. Aymee stuck to her, too curious.

"Really? Fang misses you a lot, you know?"

"Who?"

"Fang. You know, Hagrid's dog."

"Ah," Hepzibah said jadedly. "Nah."

"Oh..."

Aymee pursed her lips. It was Hepzibah's choice, after all. She wasn't going to force her. Aymee's gaze lingered on the loosely knotted tie of Hepzibah's uniform. It reminded her of another badly put-on Hufflepuff uniform. Aymee hesitated for a moment before asking her question. Considering how badly Jazia and Beatrice had reacted, it was perhaps too sensible of a subject.

But Hepzibah is not one to be sentimental.

Aymee finally took her courage in both hands.

"I was wondering... What happened to Beatrice Haywood last year?"

Hepzibah stopped so abruptly, Aymee nearly crashed into her. The Giant stared at Aymee in amazement, as if seeing her in a new light.

"Huh," she finally said.