Forbidden

12

An excitement filled the air at Hogwarts with everyone buzzing about the upcoming Yule Ball. Our dance class with Professor Snape happened earlier on today, and fortunately, Draco was quick to claim my hand. We were used to dancing as we were taught from a young age. The Malfoys always held balls, especially one at Christmas, where we had to show our skill.

Before dinner, Professor Snape enlisted my help with a sleeping draught potion. As I added sprigs of lavender, he expertly crushed wormwood.

"Sir, I don't mean to pry. But what are we making the sleeping draught for?" I questioned.

He briefly lifted his eyes to mine before proceeding to the next ingredient. "Professor Moody, he seems to have a problem with sleeping," he muttered.

"I see," I nodded, although I wasn't exactly a fan of professor moody. My mind started to wonder to the first class we'd had with him.

"Take your seats!" Professor Moody's booming voice echoed through the classroom. I settled next to George, with Fred and Lee behind us, this being one of the few classes they managed to secure OWLs in.

Professor Moody's ever-watchful eye caught mine, and his face contorted into a vile smile as he hurried over to our table. My hands started to sweat under the intensity of the professor's unsettling gaze.

"My, my, if it isn't Bellatrix LeStrange's daughter! I'd heard rumors about how similar you look. But I couldn't imagine anyone sharing her beauty," I cringed at his words, once again reminded that I was often compared to my mother. "You're definitely the double, except your expression, and your eyes, that's all your father."

I tensed, feeling George's gentle hand on my knee, a comforting gesture that was swiftly withdrawn.

Professor Moody delved into his lesson, the room hushed as he discussed the three unforgivable curses. My stomach churned; these curses were all too familiar, woven into the fabric of my past until my mother's incarceration in Azkaban.

"The Imperius curse, a favorite of your mother's, Scarlett," he announced, causing the entire class to turn and fixate on me, many sending accusatory glares. He manipulated a spider with the curse, making it move around the room, a display I found nauseatingly familiar.

Approaching our table, he placed the spider on my open Defense Against the Dark Arts book. "Now, let's see the next spell. In fact, I believe this one was Bellatrix's favorite," he continued, casting the spell. The spider thrashed in pain, emitting a screech reminiscent of the Muggle-born wizards my mother had tortured. I tightly closed my eyes, unable to bear witnessing the relentless torment.

"Miss LeStrange, you know the last curse, you could end his pain so easily," Professor Moody practically tormented. The truth stung, and I knew it, but there was no way I was using it today.

In response, I slapped the book shut, putting an end to the spider's misery. I rushed out of the classroom, the guilt of my actions building up. Tears spilled from my eyes as I collapsed in the hallway, overwhelmed by the weight of what had transpired.

"Scarlett, are you quite alright?" Professor Snape snapped me from my thoughts, genuine concern etched on his face as he studied my expression.

"Oh, yes. Sorry, sir," I muttered, regaining my composure before continuing with the task at hand.

"Scarlett, is Moody still causing you problems?" he inquired, his tone taking a darker turn. Professor Snape had been the one to find me in the hallway, livid at how Professor Moody had reduced me to tears. Even George, Fred, and Lee were beyond angry at the state I was in after the lesson, cheering me up with some pranks on Filch.