Lucy Snape and the Half-Blood Princess (Book Six)

Salient Scars

Chapter 28: Salient Scars 

[Author's note: Happy Birthday, Severus Snape!  — 9th January 2014 ] 

When Lucy awoke she was vaguely aware of where she was, it took her a good few moments to realise she was at the Jarvin's house. She didn't have much motivation to move to prove her theory as her eyes stayed glued shut. It felt as though she'd been running all night so there wasn't much energy left in her. Despite this she sat up and didn't open her eyes until she'd stretched, even then she had to prize them open. 

"Matt?" Lucy groaned as she rubbed her eyes, it was like she was saying it on instinct. He wasn't with her and she'd expected him to spend the whole night next to her. In fact, she couldn't sense any movement in the Jarvin house at all which concerned her. 

Lucy untangled herself from the many sheets on the bed before getting up and walking over to the wardrobe where she'd temporarily stored all of her clothes. She stole a quick look inside before she pulled out a pair of jeans, a t-shirt and a long black cardigan. Lucy then picked up Merlin's sword and opened up her door. 

She looked left and right, as if she were about to cross a road, before she stepped out into the abandoned hallway. Lucy held out the sword in front of her, it was like she was certain she was going to come across danger (but after last night's episode, who could blame her?) 

Slowly, Lucy stepped into the living room where she stopped, not shifting from her protective stance, to look at the Christmas tree. Scott and Anna must have added more decorations to it while Lucy was sleeping because she knew there wasn't this many on the tree yesterday. The house looked even more welcoming than it had before which made Lucy smile, this helped Anna catch her off guard.

"Merry Christmas, Lucy!" Anna chirped as she walked through the open front door.

Lucy jumped then smiled back awkwardly. "Merry Christmas, Mrs Jarvin!"  

"Don't worry about the Christmas tree, dear, it won't eat you. I've checked it for any medieval traces," Anna assured as she noticed Lucy staring at it as if she was going to tear it down with the sword in her hands. 

"I know, I'm just a little on the edge because of yesterday," Lucy admitted, Anna patted her shouldler as she walked past. 

"I understand, I feel so sorry for you." 

Lucy opened her mouth to tell her that she felt more sorry for her because she had to put up with Lucy but then closed it because there was no point in trying to change the Jarvins' minds. Instead she decided to ask an appropriate question. "Where's Matt?" 

"Out in the forest, he just ran out this morning which is a shame because it's Christmas and I'd have liked it if he stayed," Anna wiped her hands on a tea towel and sighed. "But Scott saw what direction he went in so if you want to ask him, he's outside." 

Lucy said a quick thank you before heading out the front door, she found Scott standing there with his wand in the air, building something out of nothingness. Lucy approached him and then stood next to him. He saw her immediately and looked down at her. 

"Morning, Lucy, and a Merry Christmas to you!" 

"And to you too," Lucy replied. She really liked both Anna and Scott, it was as though if you made any mistake no matter how severe they wouldn't blame you and would probably end up blaming themselves. "Did you see where Matt went this morning?" 

"Oh yes, I saw him disappear into the forest. He muttered something about javelin and one only presumes he went to the place where I hung up all those targets for him," Scott shrugged, he put his wand down. "What do you think? I've been making this force field all morning and I'm almost done."