Moon Dust | Mattheo Riddle

Chapter 16: Why can't everyone just go away

Nova gave her most convincing smile and pulled the sleeve of her robes up to show off her nearly healed arm, there were still the slightest burn marks from the silver but they had mostly faded by now and the cuts were still covered with bandages. There were also a few small plasters on the cuts on her cheeks, causing a strain in her eyes when she smiled, but she ignored the pain in her attempt to appear sincere.

"Really, Professor, I'm okay. There's no need to worry him," she tried.

McGonagall sat opposed her, arms crossed on the table with stern, unconvinced eyes. She glanced over at the brunette girl's arms and neatly placed the letter she'd written to Remus down on the desk. "I'm sorry, Miss Lupin, but it is protocol to inform the parents when their child is injured in our care," she exhaled softly.

The corners of Nova's smile crumpled, and she dropped her facade, pulling the robes down her arms as her eyes glossed over the letter, the detailed evaluation of what had happened addressed directly to her father. He didn't need that right now with everything going on, especially since he wouldn't even be allowed to come see her, instead he'd just be forced to sit at home worrying.

"Professor, if I may," Nova breathed out, closing her eyes briefly to push away the feeling in her stomach, the one she got every time her eyes would change colour.

The head of Gryffindor house seemed to unwrap her arms earnestly and give a little nod for the girl to carry on.

"I understand that for normal cases you have to inform student's parents... but this isn't a normal case, you know that and you know my father... You know that even though he'd be here in an instant if he could, he wouldn't be able to, and instead, he'd have to dwell on his worries alone... With everything already going on, I don't want that for him, please... there's only a few weeks left... please don't send this letter," she strained. By the end, her eyes were burning uncontrollably, pleading with the woman across from her.

McGonagall let out a deep breath, keeping her eyes on the girl for a few seconds before raising her hand above the letter. It rose into the air a little, then tore in half. Nova widened her eyes and smiled, for real this time, looking over gratefully though before she could say anything the professor rose her hand.

"This is only under the circumstances that you will come to me if anything else happens. If anyone else is saying things, hurting you. Then you are to come to me before things escalate. Is that understood?"

Nova nodded enthusiastically, using practically her whole body.

"Very well, Miss. Lupin, I won't keep you from your lessons any further," the older teacher replied, grinning a little as she magically tossed the remaining pieces of the letter into the fireplace behind her.

The Hufflepuff thanked her, then stood up briskly and turned towards the door, the one she could sense her cousin already lingering behind. She pulled her bag tighter over her shoulder and then pushed it open, coming face to face with the bespectacled boy.

Nova shook her head at him fondly, and he gave her a coy smile in return. Ever since the incident in Snape's class, Harry hadn't left her side. Even when he wasn't with her, she knew he was watching on the map because if she even happened to step a little too close to the dungeons or walk within any proximity alone to certain Slytherin's then her cousin would suddenly appear and although she adored him, it was starting to become a bit overwhelming.

"Are you o- " he started to ask, only to be interrupted by an overly enthusiastic Nova who was fighting to keep her smile from turning into a frown. "Fine Haz, just like I was yesterday and the day before."

The lightning scarred boy gave her a sceptical look but stepped in pace beside her anyway. "Shouldn't you be in class?" she asked. It was mid-day now, meaning they only had one class left till lunch. Being a third year, Harry definitely should have had somewhere to be.