Scars

Chapter Twelve-Daggers

"What's with them?" I ask, seeing the dirty looks they're sending us from the corner of my eye. Garrett sighs and sends a few looks of his own.

"Supremacists. They think they're better than everyone else because of their little club." The disgust is clear in his voice and in his curled lip. "Children. They don't get it. Things are getting bad now. My dad, he works at the Ministry, says there are more disappearances than ever before. The people that manage to come back, or at least their bodies do, are tortured nearly beyond recognition. Then we have these haughty assholes so full of themselves they want to play war. They don't have a clue what war really is. What my dad sees-"

"Garrett," I call his name so he looks to me, body tense like a coiled spring. "Breathe," I tell him and the corner of his mouth flicks up in a humorless smile. His body laxes slightly as I squeeze his shoulder. "I know...I know that times are uncertain. Believe me, I know, but you can't let the actions and choices of others turn you against yourself. Despite the hatred of others you have to stay kind. Otherwise, they win." My eyes are steady on his deep green as he softens even further.

"You're sure we're only friends material?" He asks and we both chuckle. "It's good to have you back in here with me. Too many Slytherins in one room is sometimes...too many."

"Mm. Glad to be back. By the way, would you mind if I borrowed your notes after class? You're my only friend in this class." He nods without a second thought. "Thanks. Now, what do you think about just a little fun?" My voice lowers and he automatically leans closer to me. My head angles towards the dickwads in the corner and a slow smile works its way onto his face.

"Thought you'd never ask."

We go through the plan pretty quickly, then everyone settles in for class. Since I'm still a bit impaired and don't want to blow up the jerks, Garrett does the casting. Then all there is to do is wait until class ends. There's a collective sigh when the professor dismisses all of us, but while Garrett and I slowly get up there are others that just seem to be having a little more difficulty. We smother our chortles as certain students stand with their seats still firmly attached to their butts. They're benches too, so the students that sat together are now permanently attached. At least until someone figures out the counter-curse.

It's only when others start laughing that Garrett and I can laugh too without suspicion. Still, Severus' eyes go to me and I wiggle my fingers at him as I duck out. We fill the halls with laughter on our way to the grand staircase. "Not too bad execution there, Fenway."

"Not too bad a plan, Ackley. Thanks. I needed the laugh." We're all smiles as we come to the bottom of the stairs.

"Trust me, I did too. Thanks again for the notes." I nod as I slowly back up.

"Sure. Watch your step." He gives me a wink and heads down the hall as I turn and jog up the steps. I'm turning the corner when I'm yanked to the side and pressed into the wall with a wand at my throat. For a moment, I'm frantic, then I'm chuckling.

"You're kidding." I shake my head as much as I can as I find Severus scowling at me. "Managed to get that bench unstuck from your ass?"

"Shut up!" He yells, but his voice quavers. "You don't know anything about anything."

"What are you doing? Lily is my friend too. You really want her hearing about this?" His expression wavers, but his wand digs harder against my neck. I'm done giving him chances. While he's distracted, my knee comes up and hits him in the nuts. Something wizards just never seem to expect. Severus instantly crumples into a ball on the floor and I draw my wand as I back away.

It's only when I see his wand rolling down the steps behind him do I put my wand away. As I look at him sprawled on the floor, I don't feel angry. I just feel sorry for him. "You're wasting your life, Severus. The world doesn't owe you anything. Neither do the people in it. If you keep choosing hate then you will end up alone. Without even Lily."