Skill and Seclusion [2] || Harry Potter x OC x Draco Malfoy

136. Never Have I Ever

DISCLAIMER

I do not own Harry Potter ... but this part is turning out to be so long

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Aguamenti.

Bel focused on the correct spell as she waved her hand over a small silver chalice.

It filled up with water right to the brim, as it had done a hundred times since she had started practicing that spell.

"Can I move on? I mastered the spell months ago", Bel complained to her mentor that was sat around the corner from her beanbag.

"You know the reason we are brushing up on your water charms", Dumbledore reminded her without looking up from his work.

Bel took in a deep breath and reversed her spell to try again.

The next challenge of the Triwizard Tournament would require her to be very well versed in water related spells.

It was her job to ensure none of the champions drowned.

It was Dumbledore's job to keep the merpeople in line and to sort out the challenge itself.

Needless to say, Bel refused to put some of her closest friends under a specifically crafted sleeping charm so that they could be placed under water.

It was briefly in discussion that she would be put there herself. Whether as Harry or Cedric's person of choice.

But Dumbledore had shut that idea down pretty quickly, saying she would be needed at the surface.

As well as the unspoken aversity he had to see Bel placed in a comatose state under water.

Such things hadn't helped the guilt Bel had been feeling in each of their lessons ever since she started her secret lessons with Professor Moody.

Dumbledore looked out for her.

He did what he could to keep her safe, and had always explained to her that the situation she was in couldn't be avoided so he would do everything he can to make it easier and better for her.

She owed everything to him.

All of her practice had pretty much saved her, and him bringing her to Hogwarts at all had bought unto her a wonderous life she couldn't have imagined in her wildest dreams before.

Keeping such a massive secret from him, knowing she was putting herself through dangerous suffering, was difficult.

And Bel didn't deal well with guilt as it is.

But it was his words she remembered every time she told a lie to cover it up.

Seclusion is key.

And she had been conditioned into believing duty was the most important thing to her.

It had to be.

So, she would continue to lie.

To rid herself of weaknesses and cement her strength.

Perhaps when she had done that, she could tell him. And he would be proud of her.

"Bel, come here", Dumbledore's voice pulled her from her spell casting towards the end of her wandless magic lesson.

The Hufflepuff stood from her exceptionally comfortable beanbag and walked over to the headmaster's desk, taking her usual seat opposite him.

As always, Fawkes flew over to perch on the arm rest, demanding a pet.

Bel swallowed her nerves that he had caught her out and tried her level best to suppress her physical symptoms post-torture.