Gillygate - 3. Temptation & Betrayal

Last class of the day was Potions with the Gryffindors, taught by Professor Melisend. A hook-nosed witch who prowled between the dungeon benches after instructing we pair up beside big cauldrons. I was setting out my ingredients when I caught Rodney's eyes from across the room. He was giving me the crudest and filthiest up-down look I'd ever seen, as if he wanted to fuck me right here and now. I quickly averted my gaze. There was a hot squeaming in my gut. It didn't matter how hot he was, I wasn't going to cheat on Quintin.

"Today we'll be recreating the Draught of Living Death. It's a very dangerous potion. For that reason, as well as to save time I've paired you up. It's a sleeping draught but more dangerous and complex than anything you've attempted before." The silver-cloaked witch explained while pacing "I don't expect anyone to get it perfect."

"Cool, we get to work together!" Kiena stated from beside me, I was pulled out of my thoughts. She set down the powdered root of Asphodel before noticing something was up "Are you okay?"

"Yeah… I'm just worried about Quintin."

"Trouble in paradise?" she smirked.

"He's off. And now that I think about it, he hasn't been making time for me this whole week."

"Just talk to him."

Kiena was muggle-born, like me. Not only was our outlook quite similar but we had the same sense of humour too.

I decided to bring my attention back to the lesson. "Yeah… I will. After class."

As Professor Melisend predicted, nobody did perfectly. Kiena and I were abysmal. On our first attempt we stirred the wrong way and then my partner shrieked with disgust and laughter while handling the sloth's brain. Just like with Herbology and the Bouncing Bulbs I'd have to practice when alone to get this right. I'd been avoiding Rodney's lustful stares throughout. I shouldn't be surprised he was in this class. Despite his athleticism he also did well in the classes he needed to become an Auror. Just an impressive and masculine dude all-round. I told Kiena to go ahead when class finished and I made my way over as everyone was leaving.

"Changed your mind, Philkin?" his eyes alighted with cockiness.

"No. I just have to ask you something." I clutched my books uncomfortably. "Did you send me a note?"

"No?" the confusion on his handsome face was genuine.

"I thought so…" I lowered my voice, looked aside at our teacher who was magically disappearing the contents of the cauldrons with her wand. She'd notice us soon.

Rodney leaned in to whisper "What was it, a love letter? I'm no threat to your relationship, Philkin. What I want with you is purely sexual."

His voice was sultry and I shivered. Stepped away to leave.

"Please stop staring at me from across the classroom. And if you do try to pressure me you'll see that Pimple Jinx first hand. Just a warning…" I left him and the room quickly.

When Quintin couldn't be found in the library or the Great Hall I started pacing the grounds. I couldn't afford to spend too much time looking for him. There was a lot of homework and if I fell behind it'd be impossible to catch up. 'Nastily exhausting wizarding tests' was a good name for it.

I saw the Whomping Willow in the distance beyond hills of greenery. Flexing its branches in the evening light from behind the stone pillars. It was there I caught sight of Quintin. I slowed to a stop, feeling my expression freeze and start to drop. He was kissing another young Ravenclaw, cupping his face. The two of them were outside sneaking like rats. My wand was out before I knew what I was doing.

A loop and flick "Secto Apocrui!" White light from between forced them several feet apart. They staggered, the spell was so strong it left cracks in the pillar.

"Ph-Philkin!" my boyfriend's eyes were wide as he watched me storm closer.

"You dirty, cheating snake! I was loyal to you!" I watched him fall back from my advance. "Get out your wand!"

"Baby, please. Listen." He had his hands raised while backing away from me, glasses askew.

"Don't you 'baby' me-!"

"Locomotor Mortis!"

"Protego!" I turned, fast duelling reflexes. The boy who'd been snogging my boyfriend saw his purple curse bounce off an invisible shield that rippled silver. Now he stared at me like a deer in headlights, holding his wand aloft.

"No, Huet! Let me take care of this!" My boyfriend was trying to deter the younger guy.

Even as mad as I was I couldn't turn on a less experienced wizard, that nothing spell of his was probably the only fighting magic he knew. But I wasn't going to let him try hexing me again with my back turned.

"Expelliarmus!" A flash of scarlet sent his wand flying and he squeaked with fear. My wand was back on my main target in less than a second.

Quintin took a careful breath but didn't know what to say. He still hadn't gone for his wand. "Philkin… Look-"

"Furnunculus!" My jinx hit him full in the face with enough force to knock him over.

I didn't wait to see the pimples and boils that were breaking out. I turned away and left them, my eyes stinging with tears. The other boy ran over to help Quintin sit up. Storming into the castle I hastened to the Hufflepuff common-room. Angry, upset, heartbroken.

o0O0o

spellman's syllabry

Secto Apocrui - I invented this spell. It forces two unbound things to repel each other like magnets, for a quick moment. Derived from Greek words "ξεχωριστό" (sekawrioto) which is "separate" and "αποκρούει" (aporoyui) which is "repel". I know nothing about Greek pronunciation.

Locomotor Mortis - Leg-locker Curse.

Protego - Shield Charm.

Expelliarmus - Disarming Charm.

Furnunculus - Pimple Jinx.