Uncanny Snake

XXVIII - Toil and Trouble

I was taken aback when the moon loomed overhead, momentarily forgetting timezones were a thing. The parking lot was empty, and I stuck to the shadows as I felt around in the dark, following the brick wall leading to the gymnasium doors. When my hands connected against the steel doors, I smiled to myself, and as expected, the doors were locked. I whipped out my wand, and with a small flick, the mechanism shifted, and the door opened—like taking candy from a baby.

My old high school hadn't changed all that much, and as I wandered the halls, I was reminded of Smith. I hoped an incident like that would never repeat itself, but again the parking lot was empty, and the clock on the wall read five a.m. Nostalgia hit me hard, remembering my teenage years. Even then, I hated the company of others and mostly stuck to myself. I'd spend my free time helping teachers or reading in the back of the library. Funnily enough, that's how I got roped up in delivering papers, and running errands.

During my senior year, I remember a junior falling for me hard, it was incredibly awkward, and I did my best to avoid him. I even ducked inside the bathroom once and hid there until classes started. Looking back on that, it was childish, but the memory was a fond one. I still felt guilty treating him the way I did, which is why I decided to give that Slytherin a chance, but—I really did have bad taste in people.

I've been in a lot of toxic relationships, but breakups are hard and taxing, mostly because the other party never takes it that well. Even knowing the relationship was toxic, sometimes I just wanted to be hopeful, so I would turn naive and hope for the best. Merlin knows those were god awful decisions. With everything that has happened, while it was never made official, I'm pretty certain that Severus wordlessly broke up with me. Part of me was somewhat glad it did not end in a shouting match, or worse.

I shook away the thoughts, deciding to concentrate on the task at hand. Having a clear goal in mind kept the rambling thoughts at bay, and for the time being, that's all I needed. I dispelled the enchantments around my locker and gently pried it open. Behind the trashy romance novels, my dagger was tucked in its sheath. I slid the blade out of its casing and gazed at the Slytherin engravings. A basilisk adorned the hilt of the blade, and despite the enchanted dagger, it was awful in a fight. The weapon was enchanted with basilisk venom, and I mean, imagine accidentally grazing yourself. That would be an embarrassing tragedy.

I reached inside my hoodie and pulled out the locket, popping the lid open as I retrieved the cursed ring from its protection. I kept my eyes on the locket, knowing I should destroy it as well if  the dagger could even do its job. Only one way to find out, I guess—the window down the hall shattered, glass flying every which way. I barely had time to dodge the incoming spell, the ring slipping from my fingers as it fell with a dull clink and rolled away.

"No, no, no," I murmured, watching the Horcrux take off down the hall. I reached for my wand and deflected the next spell towards another Death Eater, knocking them unconscious. I gazed back at the ring and turned my attention to the shattered glass, I picked up all the pieces and shot them towards the Death Eaters, keeping them momentarily occupied. I turned and made my way towards the ring. The glass was only able to keep the Death Eaters at bay for so long, and the lockers on either side of me came unhinged, flying towards me.

I dropped down and slid between the small gap of the incoming lockers as they crashed together. If that stupid ring wasn't cursed, I could have just called it back to me, but no, that would be too damn simple. Life always had to be so complicated. I scurried back to my feet, and my eyes widened at the sudden appearance of the Death Eater before me, his lips parting for an upcoming spell, but I kept on running, closing the distance between us quickly. Without hesitating, I punched him square in the jaw, the weight of my body weighing my punch down, and I didn't stop as I swooped down to gather the ring.