Stronger for You

Chp. 35 A Few Ultimatums

Author's Note: Here it is! Enjoy, sorry for the late, late, late posting but school... 

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Chapter Thirty-Five

“There are worlds of experience beyond the world of the aggressive man, beyond history, and beyond science. The moods and qualities of nature and the revelations of great art are equally difficult to define; we can grasp them only in the depths of our perceptive spirit.” – Ansel Adams

You know those fancy office-desk adornments, where it’s a rack of metal balls that clack against each other, constantly swinging left, right, left, right…well you get the picture. I was like that for an entire week. I couldn’t decide what to do, what my path would be. Thankfully, Blaise was there to caution me against the more stupid ideas and together, we came to the best option. The others wouldn’t like it, but it was a good thing they didn’t know about it.

Blaise was here now, in the darkest hours of the night, to smooth out the final details. The others permanently stuck here were off setting free a couple of knuckle-headed idiots who had set off WWW fireworks in Transfiguration. “I say you leave a letter, carry out the plan, and let them find it after you’re gone.”

“Zurückwerfen!” I grunt, dodging his nonverbal curse and shooting off my own. He smirks and swipes my own aside with a string of Italian. I thank my lucky stars for my Guardian reflexes that allowed me to dodge those and shield the rest. “Good idea. We’ll do it tomorrow. Make sure you get permission tonight so as not to gather suspicion.” He lunges forward as I am in the middle of another curse, grabbing my ankle and landing me flat on my back. “Damn you, Zabini.” I groan as I sit up to find him sitting on his heels like a smug puppy.

“I’m already damned. Try again.” He comments while picking dirt from under his nails with bland curiosity.

“Go f*ck yourself?”

“Too late.” I scrunch up my face.

“That’s just too much information. Screw you?”

“Again, too late. You’re welcome to give it a go, though. I won’t object.” He adds teasingly, his lips finally twitching up into a smile. I sock his arm and snort.

“You smell like the Giant Squid.” He gasps and places a hand over his heart.

“Now that’s just cruel.”

“Thank you. Thank you.” I bow to the invisible audience.

“So, how are you going to do this?” He asks while we heave ourselves up and begin restoring the room to cleanliness after our duel. I pause from pushing the boxing bag back into its corner and wipe my forehead with the sleeve of my robes.

“I was thinking of—” At that moment, Neville and Seamus burst in with Ernie, Susan, Padma, Grant, Hannah, and Parvati right on their heels. The room seals itself instantly behind them and Blaise and I rush over as we see that they are injured.

“What happened?” I demand while pulling out my wand and waved it over Neville in search of nefarious wounds.

“They’ve brought in more death eaters to patrol the halls. Caught us freeing the kids. These four are here to stay.” The room expands to add four more hammocks at his words and Neville nods appreciatively. “We fought back this time because they enraged us with the news of our new school crest.” I hold my hand out silently and he places a crisp piece of parchment into out.

The dark mark was emblazoned in the center with a motto in Latin writhing beneath it. I didn’t bother to translate, knowing it would be horrible. “Hogwarts” hovered above the skull, causing my mouth to twist up in a Malfoy-worthy sneer.