The Art of Secrets

Chapter Six: Cornish Pixies

"Come in," Severus' voice called out, muffled by the closed door between them.

Draco glanced at her once before opening the door and stepping inside, leaving her in the open door way.

"Ah, Mr Malfoy, to what do I owe the pleasure?"

She peered in and saw the rest of the people looking back at her before leaning back. It was a fourth-year class, and she saw Fred and George together with Lee, and vaguely recognised a few of the Hufflepuffs from around the halls, but when Fred winked at her and raised an eyebrow it was all she could do not to run away right then.

She was pretty sure that Draco was saying something about her and problems down at the Herbology and that they really needed him right now, and then Severus was glaring at the class and sending out instructions before whirling around and stalking out of the room, Draco trailing him before the door closed and he was facing her.

He took one look at her, at her shaking hands and the colour fading from her cheeks, before turning to Draco. "Go. Tell Professor Sprout that Erica will remain with me for the remainder of the lesson and that she will complete all catch up work within her own time. Erica, follow me."

She did so, Draco hurrying off in the opposite direction as Severus led her deeper into the dungeons, to where his private quarters were. They didn't speak until they were inside, and even then he waited until she was seated in front of his desk before he spoke.

It was quite simple really, and she was glad for that. Just two words, voiced as a question. "What happened?"

"I'm not entirely sure," she shook her head, ran her hands through her hair, did everything that involved not looking at him because she was more than half-sure that if she did then the tears she was trying so hard to hold back would flow down her cheeks and that would be the end of holding herself together to make it through this conversation. "Everything was perfectly normal, and then suddenly there was a burning rage and I... I wanted to tear the whole world apart Sev, and I didn't care who got hurt in the process. It was all I could do to stop myself."

"This was not a... normal rage?" The way he said it was more like a statement, merely a question of fact, and yet still she answered, the words feeling ripped from her lips as she balled her hands in her lap.

"It was all-consuming, Sev," she whispered, "Like nothing I've ever felt before."

He walked around the side of the desk, made to reach for her hand but stopped halfway before pulling it back, resting it on his desk behind him as he lent against it slightly, waiting until she looked up at him until he replied. "Was this anger... aimed at anybody?"

"Lockhart," she tilted her head to the side, crinkled her nose, "But I don't think that means anything, does it?"

He looked distinctly amused for a few seconds before the seriousness of the situation set back in and he smoothed his expression out into blankness once more. "It may not mean anything, but then it may mean everything. You have him this afternoon for Defence Against the Dark Arts after Transfiguration, yes?"

"Yes," she whispered, not needing to check her timetable to know. If what happened down near the greenhouses happened again whilst she was in lesson, then she didn't know what she would do, or who would be able to stop her, especially if she had access to her wand.

"Then we have less time than I thought," he frowned, "Was there anything peculiar that happened other than the rage? Did you experience any headaches, tingling sensations, pain?"

She felt her pendant tucked beneath her robes throb once more, and wondered whether she should tell him about it. How it turned ice cold and how it beat in her hands, as though it had a pulse, as though it was alive. The chain seemed to restrict slightly even as she thought it, and her fingers found her throat instinctively to relieve the pressure, Severus' eyes following the movement.