Heredity vs. Solidarity (S. Snape)

Chapter Sixteen

Dedicating this one to Bear92, because she has commented on so many of my chapters, not to mention she's voted on basically every single one of them - if not every single one of them. Thank you so much. It hasn't gone unnoticed. :)

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The Hospital Wing wasn’t too crowded Monday evening. Poppy Pomfrey was seated in her office, filling out forms for several students who had hurt themselves whilst handling a dangerous plant in Professor Sprout’s class, and who were currently recovering in hospital beds. The only remaining amount of light in the room was from the torchlight, which cast its fiery glow over the rectangular room. Outside, the sun had long set, signifying that visiting hours were almost over.

The sound of laughter echoed throughout the room in an area where three students were located. Matthew Smith was seated on his bed, gradually sipping from a potion that provided healing to his still weak form. To his left, Marcy, who had a rather pleasant smile on her face, loving every second she spent with him, and never taking it for granted. And, finally, Selena sat across from her, eyes not watching Matthew, but staring knowingly at her friend.

If they didn’t get together soon, she knew she would have to intervene.

“When I get out Wednesday, I expect you to be the first one in here,” Matthew joked, eyes focused only on Marcy. Selena felt like it was one of those moments to slip away unnoticed, but with very few minutes left for visiting hours, she didn’t exactly see it as fair to leave now.

“Don’t hold me to that; I’ve hardly done any homework because of you,” she smiled, and then a look of realization crossed her face. “Oh! I have your homework, by the way. You missed loads.”

“Figures,” he rolled his eyes. “Seeing as it’s N.E.W.T. year and all…”

Marcy rummaged through her bag before bringing out – sure enough – a small pile of paperwork. Most of it appeared to be carefully copied notes, and the numbers of the pages of textbooks that they had been told to study. Though the pile was fairly small, Selena knew from experience that it piled up pretty fast.

“So, how have your study sessions been?”

Selena blinked, and realizing that Matthew was addressing her, she felt a nervous blush coat her cheeks. She hadn’t expected the table to be turned onto her so quickly – or that the focus would turn to her at all.

“They’re… going…” she confessed, feeling the red deepening.

“Are you…?” Marcy blinked. “You are! You’re blushing!” An almost evil look crossed her features, recognizing Selena’s distress.

“I am not!” she retorted, glaring weakly. “I was just shocked that Matthew decided to ask me that! I wasn’t expecting it…”

“So they’ve been going good, then?” Matthew conceded, shooting her a friendly smirk. Selena nodded once, and chose to turn her gaze away, pleased to see Madam Pomfrey walking towards them.

“Visiting hours are up,” she announced, while briskly gesturing for them to leave. “Mr. Smith will be able to leave Wednesday.”

“Yes, thank you Madam Pomfrey,” Selena replied gratefully, before turning back towards Matthew. “We’ll most likely see you tomorrow. Have a good rest!”

“Bye Matt,” Marcy smiled.

Matthew waved them farewell and sunk back into the covers as both Selena and Marcy retreated from the warmly lit sanctuary.

“He looks better,” Selena said with a content smile. “He’s been getting quite cozy with you, too, by the looks of it,” she continued, nudging Marcy with a wink.