Gypsy

Chapter Fifteen

It had been one week. One week of them not looking at me, speaking to me or even cursing me. We were still partnered together in most classes but even then it had only taken one glance from Riddle at the beginning of each class to make it clear to me that I wasn't to speak or help them in assignments. After that initial warning neither of them had even glanced my way. I hadn't realized how much of my social life was based upon their tormenting, if not for other students casually casting the occasional hex my way I might have never interacted with anybody beyond teachers and Jennifer.

"Locomoto Wibbly." I heard the jinx before I felt my feet go out from under me. Knees scraping the stone floor and harshly thrown out of my musing, I landed in a heap beneath several giggling paintings on the first floor.

"Damn..." students around me dodged my fallen form, apparently so used to the image that I blended away. Carefully pulling myself out of the danger of being stepped on, I leant my back against the wall and checked for injuries. Blood welled beneath the thick material of my tights, staining them red. Wincing I pulled on them a little bit, but already the wounds were healing around the material. So far the only good thing I had discovered about my newly emerging gifts was the ability to heal faster, sadly it came at a price. With every injury I sustained, I got a little bit weaker as my body healed it. Riddle and Malfoy's blood had given me quite a bit of magical reserve, but I knew it was running out quick. And I couldn't allow myself to consume anymore, already I could feel the urge to complete the bond with them. We had obviously skipped a step or two when Riddle had me simply feed on them.

"Are you quite alright Miss Zima?" A soft voice asked from above me, startled I glanced up into the constantly sparkling eyes of Professor Dumbledore.

Wincing slightly at the feel of the tights stuck in my skin pulling, I accepted his help standing. "Yes, I just fell over Professor."

"Hmm," offering me his arm he led me through the throngs of students rushing to their next class. "Might I make a suggestion my dear?" I nodded. "It might be an idea to pay more attention to your surroundings, there are ways to avoid such accidents."

I blushed lightly, Dumbledore must have seen me flinch slightly before the hex hit me. "Thank you sir, I'll keep that in mind." It would be pointless to step aside from any 'prank' a fellow student pulled on me, they would just be twice as mean if I avoided the first.

We thankfully reached the Transfiguration classroom before he could ask me any questions or offer anymore advice. Stopping outside he released my arm. "Miss Zima, is there anything you would like to tell me?"

The words were on the tip of my tongue. I so wanted to confess what Riddle and Malfoy had done to me, what I now knew I was and beg him to help me reverse what they had put in motion. But I held it back, instead offering a tight smile and shake of my head.

"Very well." The two words from Dumbledore that always managed to make me feel about three inches tall. Opening the door to his class he walked in, leaving it a little ajar for me to follow. As per usual the students were already in their assigned seating, which meant Slytherin green surrounded Hufflepuff yellow. Stiffly I shuffled over to my seat, right between the only two Slytherins that weren't currently cursing me every time they got a chance. Riddle stared stoically ahead, not even bothering to glance my way; Malfoy's back stiffened considerably when my leg accidentally brushed up against him.

"Sorry," I mumbled. Jaw and fists clenching he didn't reply. It was then I noticed how gaunt they both looked. Riddle had black circles under his eyes and a gaunt look to his face, Malfoy was much the same. Curious I studied them further, hopefully without them noticing. It seemed that every few minutes Malfoy's leg moved closer to mine and then darted away, as though he had to forcibly stop himself from touching me. Riddle on the other hand was staring studiously ahead at Dumbledore, all the while his fists clenched and released atop the table.