Keep Calm Simon

•A Plan•

Baz couldn't believe it.
In fact he'd looked up several times to make sure he wasn't just imagining it. He was in fact, working with, Penelope Bunce. It was no secret that they both detested each other, and that was the way he liked it. But suddenly Snow is in danger and he finds himself sharing library books with her, and discussing theories.

"I think I found something..." She said, her eyes snapping up to meet his and tearing him from his thoughts.

"Alright."

    She readjusted the book in her lap and read in a clear, steady voice,

"Though many powerful Mages have gone wrong in the past, the most terrible, and perhaps most powerful, is the one know as William Crowley. Though some have believed him to be a legend or an old folklore, Crowley was actually a great and powerful Mage. He dreamed of one day ruling all magicians and being able to wield power over all who walked the earth. Crowley was known for using dark means to achieve his ends. These aspects of his true nature had yet to be revealed until he's charmed his way to the top of the magicians hierarchy. At one point he went so far as to massacre twenty students after his first month of being Head Mage. This lead to his arrest, or at least the attempt. Crowley is said to have been killed in a duel with some government magicians. However, no trace of his body was found."

"Crowley!" Baz exclaimed, brushing his hair back, and accentuating his widows peak.

"Exactly." Penelope replied, looking up from the book.

"But how do we know he's the one who's torturing Snow, and killed the Mage?" Baz inquired skeptically.

"We don't," She said pursing her lips and glancing back down at the book,
"But we've been searching all night and it's the only lead we've got. I think we should search for more on Crowley. Perhaps we could find someone who knew him when attended Watford?"

"Good idea." Baz replied grudgingly.

Penelope looked relieved, and as Baz really looked at her, tired. Her eyes were a little puffy and she didn't sit quite as ram-rod straight as she did hours earlier.

After a moment he added,
"I can search for the rest of the night. You should keep an eye on Snow and make sure he doesn't do anything stupid. I'd do it myself, but I think my company may be ... unwanted at the moment."

"With good reason." She countered simply before dropping the book on table top, and readjusting her funny rimmed glasses.

Once she had disappeared behind several shelves, Baz stood up, and made his way deeper into the labyrinth of Watford's library.

_________________________

   Snow was breathing hard and glaring at the boy in front of him. His name was Josh, and he'd been one of Baz's "friends" before Baz had snapped at him. The boy scowled right back and his mouth turned in a grin. His blond hair hung in his face, and his blue eyes were cruel and taunting.

"You've been off your game tonight, Snow. I heard Agatha's broken up with you! Left you for Baz if I'm correct. I bet you were pretty ticked that the pale devil stooped so low. Left you lonely and frustrated." Josh practically cackled and sent a needle curse Simon's way.

Simon deflected it easily, though, he was sure the tiny needles would feel like nothing with the rage that was beginning to consume him.

  He was currently trying to decide what the worst curse you were allowed to use in a school duel was, and he'd had quite a bit to choose from. Eventually he decided upon one.

"Squirm and writhe like worms inside." He muttered under his breath as he whipped his wand towards the other.

Josh's eyes narrowed and his brow furrowed in confusion. As Simon had guessed, Josh didn't know this curse. Snow wasn't surprised though, seeing as how they weren't supposed to learn it for two more years. He only knew it because Penelope wanted to practice them one day during a free period. This was a particularly nasty one.

  Josh's eyes widened and his mouth twisted as the curse began to take effect.

  In essence the curse caused a feeling of worms crawling through your skin like corpse, and then it left a scorching burn inside wherever the "worms" had slithered. It was painful and disgusting. Normally he wouldn't think of using such a curse in a duel, but he was angry, and he was starting to care less and less about who actually "won" the duel.

   Josh dropped his wand and began to shriek, "It's inside me! What the bloody hell! They're inside me. Aghhhh!"

   Snow smiled and narrowed his eyes.

   Josh turned back to Snow and started to yell, "This isn't even aloud you bloody psychopath! Crowley! Just because I taunt you about your stupid love life... Maybe you didn't even care about Agatha. If you're this messed up you were probably after Baz! I thought you couldn't get worse then a waste of potential and a loser who's friends with the ugly red-headed nerd, but no. You're an evil psychopath who's in love with the pale git who stole your girl!"

That was it.

   Next thing Simon knew he was standing in front of Josh. Actually he was looking down at Josh who was crouched on the floor and cupping the right side of his face. It didn't take long for Simon to realize he had decked the bloke.

  He looked in the crowd to see if someone would come pull them apart, but he grimaced in disgust as he saw that the crowd was cheering like they liked the whole fight. His eyes stopped scanning when he saw Penelope staring at him like she'd never seen him before in her life. It was the horror on her face that brought the wave of guilt and shame crashing over him. He turned his head away and made his way out of the dueling room.

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A/N

  I thought it was time I showed Simon's dark side. So far he's been a bit too fluffy, and I wanted to make sure it's known that he is strong enough to be a hero, but he's definitely not as perfect as he lets on...

-Ree