Pastel pink

Right thing

Chapter 18: Right thing

17th, January 1976

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"Miss Avery, would you come in here a moment- I'd like a word." McGonnagall called from her office, an unreadable expression on her face as struggled with a hefty stack of books that she was taking to the Ravenclaw common room.

"Could whatever you need to tell me wait until Monday? Like, not a weekend?" Grumbled Abellina before sticking out her bottom lip, staggering into the room unceremoniously, dropping her books onto the floor with a loud thunk and then collapsing in the chair opposite McGonagalls desk.

"No, Abellina, this is important." McGonnagall replied sternly, shuffling papers on her desk before looking up and surveying Abellina cooly.

"Is it that i'm failing transfiguration? Because that's embarrassing." Abellina mumbled, dramatically flopping forwards so that her forehead rested on the desk. The emotional strain of the past two weeks was beginning to take its toll on her and the stress of O.W.L.'s had increased tenfold since christmas which had led to many sleepless nights and trips to the hospital wing amongst the 5th year students.

"No, Abellina, you are not failing transfiguration, despite what your lack of effort may suggest." McGonagall assured her, raising an eyebrow as if daring the girl in front of her to challenge her assumptions made about her effort. "I wanted to talk to you about Potter."

"You've got to be shitting me." She groaned into her hands, raising her eyes to meet McGonagalls disapproving stare.

"As a matter of fact, no, I am not 'shitting' you. What he said to you was hurtful and stupid but he didn't mean it. He was upset, emotional and angry at Lucius but because he is an emotionally unstable teenage boy he took this anger out on you. When he came to me he was absolutly broken. He thinks that he's lost you. Not only does he think that he's lost you but he thinks that you are in danger. To be perfectly frank, after hearing about what happened with Mr Daniels last term then I must agree with him." McGonagall explained tartly, her lips pursed and face drawn into a tight expression as she surveyed the teenager who was slumped unceremoniously in front of her.

"I told him not to tell you!" Abellina growled, tensing every muscle in her body as she spoke in a gravelly tone through gritted teeth. Her knuckles were clasped so tightly that her nails had gone white and there were crescent shaped bruises blossoming on her palms.

"He should have told me months ago! Or did you forget that you almost killed yourself?" McGonagalls voice rose into a shrill stab which made Abellina hesitate for a moment before gritting her teeth and sitting up straight to face her professor.

"It wasn't his place!" She ground out, spittle spraying across the desk as blood rose to her cheeks.

"It was precisely his place! And it is my place to tell you that Daniels is a slow-acting poison and that once he takes hold then it is near impossible to shake him off. Now, I suggest that you talk to Potter and get over yourselves before it's too late!" At this McGonnagall stood up so that she was towering over Abellina, her voice trembling with emotion as she pressed her hands flat against the desk so that each bone stood out through her skin.

"And what's that supposed to mean, professor? As far as i'm concerned then you are my teacher- it's your job to make sure I don't fail my exams or get detention- who my friends are is none of your business." Abellina stood in an effort to match her professors stance although she was still several inches shorter. It took almost all of her strength not to scream at the elder woman as she turned sharply on her heel, forgetting her books and storming to the door. "Oh, and for the record, Oscar forgave me!" She spat venomously- tears pricking at her eyes and hurt showing through her voice.