The Boy With Black Eyes

Dust and Discovery

Seventh year of Hogwarts is supposed to be a breeze, according to former graduates. Melissa learned quickly that the lot of them were bloody liars. Even with two double periods a week left for free time, which was used by her in a desperate attempt to catch up on her homework that piled up like a huge drift of snow.

The unexpected meetings from the Headmistress were getting increasingly annoying. With her classes and marks the way they were, she was going have to secure at least one apprenticeship to stand out from anyone else trying to get into her field. She wanted to be a Healer, specializing specifically in Potions Brewing. She had been reading The Daily Prophet and knew the current potions specialist was due to retire in a few years. She was desperate to get that job, but there was only one problem.

The healing apprenticeship from St. Mungo's had been standardized and streamlined - so all the junior healers knew everything. Incredibly annoying. She was also convinced the one Potions Master she could approach was the one who was determined to quash her dreams. Snape hadn't given her a mark over "Exceeds Expectations' since sixth year. An apprenticeship was out of the question until she truly impressed the sallow wizard.

She figured it was her house, and had a repetitive dream about letting the Sorting Hat put her in Slytherin, then fast forward to present day. Her whole life was changed, and all of it for the better. She always hung on the arm of a fabulously rich pure-blood, wore the silver and green proudly, decorating the chambers of the Head Girl with posters of the Snake Crest, even had green lacy lingerie that she wore just for the faceless pure-blood. She was quick, cunning, and had an 'Outstanding' in Potions, getting scholarships and apprenticeships offered to her on silver platters. The fantasy was just that though, and she knew when she woke up in the bronze and blue sheets, surrounded by the image of the Raven, that Snape was a brutal marker and a grumpy old codger who was beginning to go grey at his temples.

She walked the halls with her one friend, a boy named Christopher who she secretly had a crush on, but knew he would never return it. He preferred men. He accepted her because no one else would, and that hurt at first, but she soon learned that it was reciprocal. One of her guilty pleasures was making him uncomfortable around other guys by flirting with them incessantly, and claiming that she wasn't doing it.

"You know," he said to her, "If you want an apprenticeship that bad, why not just ask him?"

"Are you crazy?!" She lowered her voice, eagle eyes darting around, "I heard that Snape'll eviscerate kids for pieces. We do use human liver and hearts in NEWT Potions..."

Christopher grinned. "C'mon, Melissa. I'll go with you."

He dragged his friend by the arm to the dungeons, smiling widely. She backpedaled furiously, squirming to get away.

"Christ, Chris! Let me go!"

"You're going to thank me for this later." He put his hand on the ebony door, and fumbled with the brass doorknob. She smacked his hand angrily, and snarled, her amber eyes flashing.

"Do you have any idea how much trouble I could be in?!"

Christopher smirked softly. "It'll get his attention. Isn't that what you want?"

"Not really. I want to earn a scholarship. Not get used for next year's NEWT students..."

Christopher forced the door open, and shoved Melissa inside, cackling with laughter. "Go on..."

Melissa's eyes were petrified. "Don't teachers normally have..."

The heavy ebony door slammed shut, a string of glowing runes running around the edges. They burned hot white, sharp and angry. Melissa grabbed the brass doorknob, then recoiled with a shriek, clutching at her hands. She cursed violently, and looked around madly for the professor, knowing he would figure this to be some sort of cruel joke. She was panicking, realizing that the wards weren't designed to keep people out, but to keep intruders in. A chill ran down her spine; would she loose the title of Head Girl? What about any chances she had for that bloody apprenticeship?