Something Wicked This Way Comes

CHAPTER SEVEN

The class was finally over. Don't get me wrong, I loved that class, but my mind was elsewhere, and I needed to leave. To disconnect myself from the place that the negativity birthed from. It's what I learned and the best trick I had. It seemed though, Mr. Lupin had other ideas, "Mr. Emerson? Could you stay behind for a moment?" I watched as my group of friends left, all bidding me farewell and good luck. I adjusted my sleeves after I stopped in my tracks. I waited for the rest of my classmates to leave, feeling Professor Lupin behind me.

Once all of them trickled out of the room I spun around and gave him a fake smile, "Yes, sir?" I watched as he tilted his head, "Is everything alright?" I frowned, "Everything is fine, sir, why?"

He titled his head down, giving me the disapproving look he gave me when he believed I was underestimating myself, "Oz, we've discussed you not telling the truth," I sighed and steeled myself, readying for my possible outpour of emotions, but I would do my best not too, "Honestly sir, I'm disappointed in myself," I began not being able to meet his eyes, "I had higher expectations of myself..."

"Oh dear, I believe this might have been my own doing," I heard the professor muttered. My head shot up and I shook it, "No sir, it's not your fault! How could it be?" Professor Lupin stepped closer, leaning his tall frame once more on the table with his back to it, "I had told you that you were impressive and gave you a higher expectation of yourself when discussing your knowledge on the subject. I can understand the feeling-"

"No sir, it..." I gave an exasperated sigh, "It's nothing you did, I held that expectation myself, you didn't force me into it!"

He grinned softly and tilted his head to the side, "Well, maybe so, but I didn't help," He stood up. "Cheer up though!" How could I possibly cheer up? He must have read that as he replied, "No one has ever gotten it the first try, not even me..."

I'm glad he isn't seeing that's not the true reason why I was upset. I smiled fake once more, "Thank you, Professor.." I turn around and walk towards the door-

"Oh, and Oz?" He was really good at interrupting what I was doing. I stopped there in the doorway, but didn't turn to look at him as he continued, "If you need help with anything, you only need to reach out."

How did he- I shake it off and glance back at him and thank him before taking my leave and walking down the hallway.

–"I'm sick of your shit!" CRASH. I flinched and stood still, it was the only way to keep still. The only way to keep safe. If I became a deer in headlights then the noise would go away.

"I'm gonna kill you!" he growled, "You fucking bitch I should have never married you!" SMASH. He wouldn't stop. Why won't he stop? This wasn't the father I knew. This was a monster. I gazed over at my mother who stood there, speaking calmly, telling him to calm down, that she wasn't doing anything. That she wouldn't do anything.

"Fucking try me! I'll break your shit! I'll break that goddamn cuckoo clock!" He went too far in her eyes at that point, but honestly, he crossed that threshold the moment he screamed at her. She rushed to the hall to go and grab it and all I could do was sit there and stare in disgust, seeing his reflection around the corner off of the window pane of the door.

"The fuck are you looking at?!" I guess he could see me back. And all I could do was walk through the door and shake my head at him.--

– "Go ahead! Fucking leave! Don't come back!" It was another blow-up. I sighed and tried keeping my calm, but I was already shaking. Up until this point I had kept calm, but he was becoming borderline violent with a hammer in his hand. Even if he was disabled in his wheelchair, he was determined to swing it around. I didn't know what to do. I guess my fear radiated off of me enough, the old man got a whiff and he scoffed, "The fuck are you gonna do about it?" He growled. What am I gonna do? I can take that hammer and put it through any part of his body, put it through his joints, his head. No, he deserves to live and suffer.

I swiped the hammer from his lap and she screamed, "No don't do it!" But I wasn't going to do anything, I knew better. As much as I wanted him to crumble in fear from me, I couldn't.--

I shiver and clutch my robes tighter around me. Everyone was talking too loud. They were too much. Everyone's laughing and yelling and hollering. Why can't it be quiet for just a moment? It never was. I needed to find a quiet place, quickly. With all of the noises going on in the hallways it was starting to etch into my skin. I needed a place where no one would bother me. The only place where anyone would leave me alone. The Whomping Willow.

I rushed down the rocky path and down into the swoop of the valley and gazed up. I heard the creaking of the tall tree, its thick branches swayed from left to right. I sighed, realizing then, when my breath finally calmed that I had tears streaming down my face.

I glimpsed up and sniffed, "Hello Willow..." I muttered. It swayed, shifted, and opened up to its trunk for me. Don't ask me how this happened, I discovered it in 2nd year, and it had been a thing since. It groaned, greeting me as it always did. I approached the trunk of the tree and sat beneath it, "What is happening to me, Willow?" I muttered staring up at the trunk and the thick and thin branches and twigs. It groaned again. I shook my head, "I don't know how to make all of these horrible feelings go away. I know we've spoken a lot about home life but... this time it got worse... much worse..."

The tree leaned down a branch and one of the thin twigs nudged my cheek. I sighed sadly and sniffed, trying not to sob, "Dad... Leroy..." I spat, "He's not who I thought he was..." I grumbled, "I thought he was a good man, but all this time behind my back... He was abusing Mum..." I aggressively rubbed my eyes, "Ann isn't any better... She's gotten worse, she's been forcing me to clean the entire house while she smokes and tells me it's not good enough. She works me to the bone, then tells me I'm not worth a damn..." I shook my head, "Who tells their children that..."

The tree groaned, its branches shaking. I cracked my neck, "They told me that I can't be an Auror... because I'm not skilled or smart enough..." I heard the tree seemingly growl out. I curled into myself, "I just... don't know what to do... I feel like my life is falling apart..." The twig patted my shoulder and rubbed against my hair. I gave a small chuckle, it was always so kind to me. I stand up and open my arms, wordlessly the tree leans one of its large branches down and I hugged it, "Thank you, Willow... This is just what I needed..."

The lunch bell began to toll, I took a moment to collect myself, "I sadly must be off, but I will come to visit soon!" The tree groans one last time, opening its branches once more and giving me an opening. I nod to the tree, "Goodbye Willow!" I needed to hurry there or my seat might not be saved in time, as much as my friends would try.