The Challenge | James Potter

Chapter 9 - Ambrose

AS THE CLOCK STRUCK QUARTER TO SEVEN IN THE POTIONS CLASSROOM, MEISSA QUICKLY RUSHED OUT WITH A FULL VIAL OF SOME DEEP PURPLE COLOURED LIQUID IN HAND. She began to panic that she wouldn't make it to Kent's classroom in time as she secured the vial safely in her gown. "He's going to kill me" she thought to herself as she picked up the pace but refused to let anyone see her run. Meissa looked exhausted as she made her way towards his classroom, her pale face was accompanied with deep eyebags and multiple yawns, Meissa Black was becoming a shadow of herself and her confident and powerful facade was slipping away. Every time she was alone, her mind was overcome and trapped with memories of her summer, the horrors it entailed, the strain on her body and the loneliness and pain she felt every single moment of the day, when other students were having the best time of the year, but most importantly she was constantly reminded of the searing guilt she felt every second after that traumatic day when ---, "Miss Black, just on time, was beginning to think you wanted another detention, this time for punctuality" Meissa just stared directly at him and didn't so much as give him the courtesy of a response, her blank gaze was broken at the boisterous sound of two what must be elephants running down the corridor. "Sorry we're late Sir, got held up with head boy duties with Ms Mc Gonagal, here is a letter from her explaining everything." They were panting as Meissa scoffed thinking that was a likely story. Kent grabbed the piece of parchment and quickly scanned before he said "I'll let it slip this one time boys, now everyone follow me"

Meissa was not looking forward to this evening to say the least, she wondered what Hagrid would have them doing as she didn't know the cheerful fellow at all. She could hear Potter and Sirius aimlessly talking behind her, something about a moony being angry, but she quickly zoned out into a world of her own, as they made their way to the grounds keepers cabin. "Good evening Hagrid, hope your summer treated you well," Kent seemed to want this over as quick as possible as he didn't even allow Hagrid to respond "as discussed earlier, here are the three juveniles that are to spend the evening helping you" Kent began to walk hurriedly back to the castle, perhaps he was scared. "Well Hagrid, how have you been, haven't seen you in ages" came the infuriating chirpy voice of Potter, of course he knew Hagrid Meissa thought to herself scowling. "Eh good yeah, James, was ere for the most part" "Any women??" Classic Sirius Meissa thought, his obsession with sex and relationships must be studied she thought. "Haha funny boy you are Sirius, no no, no women for me, they'd need a stepladder to talk to me" he jovially chuckled out and the boys laughed with him "You'll find her one day, don't worry and she'll be as tall as you" 

Meissa began wondering if anyone would notice her gone if she left until Hagrid turned to her and asked "And who might you be Miss?" "Meissa, Meissa Black" a look of confusion spread across his face and an embarrassed one accompanied Sirius's "Oh are you two related then" Hagrid clearly couldn't read the room as he pointed to Meissa and Sirius, Meissa turned to look at Sirius to see if he would even look at her, but he didn't he stared directly ahead as if she wasn't there, she turned back to Hagrid  "No. Seen as Sirius has lost his tongue for once I'll answer your question, we were a long time ago but not anymore, his family is the Potter's now and they'll live happily ever after." The tension could be cut with a knife as this time it was Meissa who ignored Sirius's eyes digging holes into her skin. Hagrid scratched his neck clearly uncomfortable and wishing he hadn't asked "Er alright then, follow me, tonight we're going out looking for hippogriffs, I lost them during the summer see, and need them for Professor Florence" Professor Florence was Meissa's favourite teacher, she was the care of magical creatures teacher which was Meissa's favourite class and Florence always had a soft spot for her. "I'm not too sure where they might be but we'll split up in twos, and if it's 10:30 and no one has found one just make your way back to me hut" Hagrid was clearly nervous about not finding them as he couldn't keep still and had already began walking towards the forest "Em Sirius you stay wit me, and James and Mrs Black you two head east, yous can take Eric too" Eric was what seemed to be a young Irish wolfhound, who already took a liking to Meissa as he kept looking for her attention. "Hagrid don't you think it would be better if Black went with you instead of Sirius, I mean just in case she gets scared?" "Scared?, I'm sorry but have you gone mad, if anything you seem scared" Meissa retorted scoffing at James's audacity "Er no , need to talk to Sirius about some stuff, but we best be off now, we're losing light and take care of Eric" Hagrid took off with Sirius at his side as James groaned loud enough for all of Hogwarts to hear, Meissa had already started walking into the forest heading the opposite way to where Hagrid said with Eric trotting alongside her. "That's north not east Black" she kept walking "Which means you're going the wrong way" she didn't stop. James began to jog to catch up with her "Black, this is the wrong way and your going to get us lost" Meissa sighed at this turning around "Look go whatever way you want Potter, I'm going this way, the way in which we will actually find the hippogriffs, come on Eric" James stood still for a moment, baffled, how did she know her way around the forest, that was his friends thing "Stop acting like you know where you are Black, I know you don't, you wouldn't dare coming down here" "Just stop talking" Meissa was losing will to live as she continued walking as if it was her very own house, dodging holes and roots and centuer traps.