Chapter Twenty-Five: The Professors’ Grudge
Professor Waterman waited with pursed lips in the doorway of the hospital wing. “Broken nose,” she tutted as Lottie and Andrea rounded the corner. “Poor thing.” Lottie almost believed her, but the professor’s furrowed brow and steely eyes hinted otherwise. Lottie stood, dumbstruck in the threshold. “You do want to get fixed up, don’t you?” Waterman continued, waggling her eyebrows. “Professor Palmyitor wouldn’t have it otherwise, right? Got to be big and strong for your trip this summer, eh?”
Lottie could only shrug. She had known Waterman fairly well”spent a good amount of time in the hospital wing, but she had never seen her act like this. “How do you know about that?” she stuttered as Waterman dragged her to an empty hospital bed. Andrea hesitated in the doorway.
“Oh, we all know about your little trip. Professor Palmyitor sent all of the staff an owl to tell us of your upcoming adventure.”
The bitterness in her voice made Lottie uneasy. “You know, my nose doesn’t even hurt that much,” she said cautiously. “I bet I can go and it’ll fix itself.
“Oh no, no, no, no, no.” Waterman patted Lottie”a bit too forcefully”on the shoulder. “Neasa wouldn’t have it. Must keep her little star nice and well.” She whipped out her wand and jabbed it silently in Lottie’s direction.
Lottie winced. She could feel the bone straighten itself, crack and lock into its right position.
“Now we must do something about all that blood,” Waterman tittered, throwing a generic, eggshell nightgown at Lottie’s face. “You will stay here tonight. It wouldn’t be proper for you to mingle with common students in our state. You.” She looked up at Andrea, who was still lingering in the doorway. “You may leave now. Go on, head back to your common room. Your little friend is fine with me. What are you waiting for? Go! Go, go, go!”
Lottie sunk back against the wall and stared at Andrea’s retreating back. She didn’t understand why Waterman was so angry. Silently, she pulled the curtain shut around her bed and changed into the hospital nightgown.
Waterman returned, carrying a tray with a tiny, scarlet bottle on it and muttering obscenities under her breath. “Here.” She thrust the bottle in Lottie’s direction. “Drink up.” Lottie’s face split into an uncomfortable grimace; Waterman sighed dramatically and shifted her weight. “Honestly, child, it’s not going to kill you! It’s just Blood-Replenishing Potion.”
Carefully avoiding Waterman’s gaze, Lottie let the chunky potion slide down the back of her throat. It tasted like iron. “Good,” Waterman said. “Now sleep.” With a flick of her wand, the lights above Lottie’s bed were extinguished and the curtains flew shut.
Darkness engulfed her. Lottie rolled onto her side and pushed the corner of the curtain to reveal the empty hospital wing. “Don’t know why she always acts like this,” Lottie could hear Waterman saying from her office. Her silhouette was charcoal against the golden light. “It’s always the trouble makers. Have you seen how she treats that dreadful Stanley? A prefect, with his marks?”
“Oh, it’s not completely out of the normal,” replied a deep, resounding voice that Lottie immediately recognized as Breckenridge’s. “It’s just how Naesa is. And she’s got a good reason.” Lottie saw his large silhouette move toward Waterman’s. Her eyelids fluttered with the weight of drowsiness and in her disillusionment, their figures almost melted into one. “Even,” Breckenridge’s voice continued, lower and more serious now, “if we can’t see why at the moment.”
Heaviness overtook Lottie, pressed down on her like a stone. The bed seemed to disappear beneath her as she fell into her dreams.
She was drowning in light. It wove through her arteries and sent pain shooting into each limb. The tips of her fingers throbbed. Shadows and colors all blended into one, blurry image, making her eyes water and her stomach churn. “Up!” Professor Waterman’s voice was shrill. Every syllable felt like a cheese grater running its way across her eardrum. “Time to get up! Don’t want to be late for classes, do you? Your little friend was nice enough to bring you a fresh uniform. The house-elves are taking care of your blood stained one.”
Lottie rolled over. Every limb ached as though the weight of the entire castle had been pressed on it.
“Get up!” Waterman shook her by the shoulder. Lottie groaned. The skies could fall and it wouldn’t’ be as painful as this.
“I’m dying,” she moaned. “I can’t move.”
“Don’t be stupid!” Waterman tapped Lottie’s head with her wand; jets of pain shot down Lottie’s body, lingering in her toes. “It’s a common side effect of the potion you took. You’ll just have to manage for today. It should be gone before nightfall. Now hurry up. Classes start in ten minutes”and I doubt Naesa would be very happy if you thanked her by missing your classes.”
“Oh”Merlin’s beard,” Lottie groaned, sitting up. Her uniform sat at her feet. She picked up her wand from the bedside table, flicked it to close the curtains around her bed and changed. The thought it took to pull her uniform on alone sent knots down her spine.
“Hurry up!” Waterman called, a grim smile splattered across her face. “Only three minutes left.”
Boots tucked under her arm, Lottie slung her bag over her shoulder and dashed out of the hospital wing. She ran up a flight of steps before realizing that she had Potions first in the dungeons. Each step sent shots of singing pain through her veins. Her lungs were on fire. The world around her spun in circles as she took the last four steps with a leap and staggered, leaning against the wall.
The door to the Potions classroom was shut. Lottie pushed it open with her shoulder and stumbled, still barefoot, to her seat beside Andrea in the last row. Professor Dyer, whose back was to the class turned around slowly, one manicured, peppered-with-grey eyebrow raised. “Rowe,” he said.
Lottie, wheezing, glanced up. Dyer swam in and out of her focus. “Professor Dyer,” she coughed, clutching her stomach.
“Don’t take that tone with me,” he snarled. “Late? After a restful night in the hospital alone?”
“I wouldn’t exactly call it a restful””
“Don’t talk back,” hissed Dyer, raising his wand between them so it divided his face in two. “Get started on your potion.” He whipped around, his thicker, leather robe swaying after him. “And put your shoes on,” he added with a sharp glance back at her.
“I’m sorry,” Andrea breathed in the next seat. “I came in trying to get you for breakfast, but Waterman wouldn’t let me in.”
Lottie smiled weakly and whispered, “That hag.”
“No talking.” A jet of sparks shot from Dyer’s wand and flew right between the pair. Wisps of hair next to Lottie’s ears fluttered in its wake.
Lottie looked from Andrea to Dyer and back again. Andrea shrugged and nodded in the direction of the blackboard, where Professor Dyer’s slanted handwriting meticulously instructed the students on how to create the perfect Scab-Strengthening Elixir. Lottie pulled her cauldron toward her. The directions were simple enough. She could see Andreas thin, watery potion boiling hopelessly next to her.
She began following the instructions, carefully stirring the exact amount of times. Occasionally, she tried something different when she spotted a flaw in the directions”an extra beetle wing here, two more pinches of Doxy droppings there; it all made sense.
The class period was winding down, and students who had finished were cleaning up and leaving early. In a fit of annoyance, Dyer had sent Andrea sulking out into the corridor, scolding her “pathetic excuse for a liquid.” Lottie tapped her stirrer against the side of the cauldron and raised her hand to be marked.
“What is this?” Dyer asked, his face contorting like a raisin.
“It’s my”my potion, Professor,” stammered Lottie.
“Did you read the instructions?”
“I did, b””
“Did they not explain that it should become a rich shade of maroon?”
“They did, but””
“And what color is this?”
Lottie mumbled a swear into the cuff of her sweater.
“Excuse me?”
“It’s blue. Sir.”
“Can you tell me why?” Dyer straightened and stared down his nose at her, his blue eyes as piercing as the shade of her potion.
“Please, professor.” Lottie rose to her feet. She was nearly his height. “I just altered the instructions slightly to””
“Altered?”
“Please””
“Did you not think there was a reason for the way they are? Did you not stop to think of the danger you were putting your classmates in? Or are you so selfish that you don’t care? You wanted the glory”destroying the castle, a few petty lives”these things don’t matter when you’re destined for great things, do they?”
Lottie stared at him, through his wrinkled brow into his icy eyes. Rage and nausea intermingled in the pit of her stomach to make her fingertips quiver. “Have a good day, sir,” she hissed, picking up her bag and sweeping to the door. “And try the potion,” she added. “It works better than yours.”
“You,” he growled, “insolent, little””
Lottie didn’t wait to hear what else he had to say about her. She stepped out into the corridor and slammed the door behind her.
“He’s in a good mood, huh?’ Andrea asked, perched in an alcove a few feet above the ground.
“I don’t understand his problem. Waterman too”she was cursing and swearing at me the entire time. Why is everyone so angry with me?”
Andrea averted her eyes and shrugged.
“I don’t care though,” Lottie went on. “My head is killing me. Apparently a side effect of Blood-Replenishing Potion is wanting to die.”
Grimacing, Andrea hopped down from the wall. “I thought that might have happened,” she said as she rummaged through her bag. “It’s a pretty easily cured problem, but I guess Waterman was too angry to tell you. Hold on.”
Andrea dropped her bag and dashed up the stairs. Lottie leaned against the wall and shut her eyes. The lights from the flickering torches burned through her eyelids, which throbbed with the same rhythm as her pulse.
“Here,” Andrea panted, emerging from the stairs again. She tossed a flask into Lottie’s hands. Seeing Lottie’s skeptic face, she sighed, “Oh go on. It’s not poison. What”do you think I would attempt to murder you or something? Go on”drink up.”
Frowning, Lottie took a swig of the flask and coughed. “Orange juice?” she asked, wiping the bright liquid from her chin.
“Don’t ask me. I just read the books, not write them. Drink the whole thing though, or your headache will come back.”
Lottie finished the rest of the juice in one gulp and handed the flask back to Andrea. “Thanks,” she said. Already, the weight against her forehead was beginning to alleviate.
“Now hurry up,” Andrea went on, making her way to the staircase. “We’ve got Breckenridge next.”
Lottie groaned as they headed up the stairs. “At the rate I’m going, I’d just be better off avoiding all teachers,” she mumbled as they climbed up to Breckenridge’s classroom.
“Yeah. Well. I think you’ve got more to worry about with the students,” added Andrea. Devin Hackett and Edgar Payne rushed by, shooting glares as they climbed up the stairs.
“The gits,” Lottie growled at their backs. “What are they mad about?”
“Well your little stint last night may not’ve seemed that unusual to you, but it was pretty remarkable”the scene you caused and not one day of detention? Especially those two, who get caught for putting one toe over the line.”
Lottie rolled her eyes as they filed into the classroom. “Well that’s dumb,” she said, finding a seat on the floor against the wall.
“’Morning, everyone,” grunted Breckenridge from the front of the room. The class mumbled an unenthusiastic hello. He surveyed the class, only pausing for a moment to exchange a glance with Lottie. “In order to properly evaluate how we’re progressing, we’ll be having a pop quiz on Occlumency” The class moaned its disapproval. “And”since we don’t have time to get the whole class in one go, I selected four students”at random. So. Payne, you first.”
The other two boys whispered encouraging words of advice as Edgar stood to face Breckenridge. Andrea, brow furrowed, leaned over to Lottie and whispered, “This is weird.”
“I’d say. Payne is a pathetic example of our class,” Lottie responded. “What’d he choose him for?”
“Not that,” Andrea hissed. “I mean””
“Legilimens!”
Lottie smiled grimly as Edgar struggled under Breckenridge’s curse.
“I mean,” Andrea went on, “that there are only seven of us. We could fit everyone into one class, if he planned efficiently enough.”
“Oh. That’s weird.”
“Yeah…” Andrea trailed off into her thoughtfulness as Edgar Payne stumbled back to his seat. “Valiant effort, Payne,” Breckenridge said. “Woolbright”your turn.” Andrea looked up and gulped. “Yes, that’s right,” Breckenridge went on. “Hurry up now.” Andrea got to her feet warily. “Legilimens!”
Lottie rested her head in her hands as she watched Andrea struggle to defend herself. Andrea sank to her knees and fell against the gold, granite round. Breckenridge let it go on longer than was necessary, Lottie thought. It was pretty clear Andrea never had a gift for the art”it seemed it was almost for Breckenridge’s own amusement. “Well, we’ll work on it,” he said while Andrea got to her feet. “Hm. Hackett”your turn.”
Devin stood up. He was almost as tall as Breckenridge already. His black hair flopped casually in front of his face. He smiled at Sophie as he faced Breckenridge. “Legilimens.”
Devin did considerably better than Andrea. He didn’t fall to his knees, though he did swagger to the desk and held it for support. His eyes were blank with concentration. He was about to crack”Lottie could tell by his expression. Breckenridge had him cornered and he was about to fall into his own memories.
Like clockwork, everything fell into place. Devin shouted, “Merlin!” and slumped against the desk.
“Close,” Breckenridge hummed. “Very close to the appropriate level, in any case. Let’s hope the next one doesn’t prove my failed teaching any more. Hm.” He glanced between Julianne and Lottie in feigned conflict. Julianne shrank. “Ah”Rowe. Let’s give it a try, then.”
Lottie glanced at Andrea, who was still panting against the corner, and stood up. Her wand flittered nimbly through her fingers as she squared off with Breckenridge. She took a gulp of air forced her mind to go blank. “Legilimens!”
First, there was nothing. A chilly blankness filled the voice between them as they determined who had dominance. And then it hit her like a wall. Memories from days ago”years ago”filled her entire being. No… She couldn’t feel the memories slipping away as her defenses fought him off. She could see the classroom now”Breckenridge with his wand pointed between her eyes and the class gaping at the pair from the floor. She was still standing.
Voices echoed through her head. She tried to blink them away. Clynalmoy’s soft mumble, “All of the heads would like to thank you for your actions tonight.” Her mother’s warm voice, “Lottie, dear?” “RUN!” It was Gabaldon. “RUN!”
Breckenridge was smiling now. No”
It was like the sound completely evaporated from her surroundings. The memories were gone. Breckenridge frowned and tightened his grip on his wand. Other students whispered to each other”Lottie couldn’t hear any of it.
And then it stopped.
Her knees had locked, but she was still standing. “Rocky beginning,” said Breckenridge with a pat on her shoulder that made her legs quiver. “But impressive”very impressive. Well”” he turned to the rest of the class ““I guess that’s all for today. Have a good day, everyone. Rowe”stay behind, will you? Woolbright”you too.”
Lottie leaned against the wall and watched the class leave. Her chest swelled with pride. She had done the best”she was the best in her class, better than Andrea, even. She was going to France to investigate for the war; Palmyitor had let her off for stealing because of her skill.
“Don’t get too excited, Rowe,” Breckenridge said grimly. “You’ve got a lot to go. It seems you two are”ah”at very different levels. We’ll get you started on advanced classes tonight”intense rounds of Occlumency. We usually don’t start that until fourth year, but it might prove useful for you.” He flicked his wand and the door creaked open. “Have a good day,” he said, ending the meeting. “See you tonight.”
Lottie turned to Andrea, and together they headed to the Great Hall for lunch. “I just don’t understand why they’re all so mad,” Lottie said as they sat down, jerking her head in the direction of the other students. “Just because I’m better than them, doesn’t mean they should be mad.”
Andrea looked up from her sandwich.
“I mean”‘m not a better person. I’m just better Occlumency”and Legilmency too, I’d wager. Poor Edgar looked like he was about to cry.”
With a well timed mouthful of sandwich, Andrea shrugged and mumbled a muffled, “Mmphfffm.”
Lottie sighed and let her spoon sink into her soup bowl. “Whatever.”
That night, Lottie and Andrea waited anxiously outside of Breckenridge’s classroom. “Should be interesting, don’t you think?” Lottie said, rolling her wand between her thumb and her forefinger. “Intense rounds of Occlumency. Sounds like a good challenge.” She surveyed Andrea’s expression before adding, “Class is getting pretty boring.”
Monstrous footfalls thundered up the corridor as Breckenridge’s shaved head rounded the corner. “Sorry ‘bout that,” he puffed. “Was ‘aving a meeting with your head of house. She’s interested in the progress you”ah”you two are making.” He unlocked his classroom door. Torches leapt to life immediately, licking the dark, stone walls.
“Why are we having such intense lessons?” Andrea asked suddenly. “Are we planning on spying on Death Eaters? I thought we were just going to get in contact with””
“Well”ah”” Breckenridge cleared his throat. His eyes went blank”his face, dark and expressionless. “Our dear Professor Stainthorpe is not as gifted with the subtle art. It is just a precaution, you see. We want you fairly confident in case if something”hopefully not”should happen.”
Lottie nodded. “That’s a good idea,” she said.
“But”” Andrea frowned. “Wouldn’t it””
“You know, we better get started,” interrupted Breckenridge, his voice raising. “Woolbright, your main problem is that you get frustrated if anything doesn’t work. All one has to do is break your preliminary defense and your memories come spilling out.”
Andrea sighed heavily and leaned against the wall. “Does it matter that much?” she asked. “What can a Death Eater do with memories?”
Breckenridge narrowed his eyes. “I think you know the answer to that question,” he growled. “If you want to be caught by a Death Eater with no way to escape”feel free to leave now. If not”” he pulled his wand out “”get ready.”
Lottie watched shrewdly as Breckenridge easily broke Andrea’s defenses. He was right”she seemed to be doing okay at first, but once one thing went wrong, it was all over. Andrea’s knees buckled her eyes were wide open and glazed over behind her glasses. “No…” she whispered, face contorting with grief. Lottie wondered what she was reliving”what secrets she had to hide. At last, Breckenridge let it stop. “Even worse than before, Woolbright,” he said, his thick shoulders twitching in annoyance. “I know some prefer to wear their hearts on their sleeves, but in a war like this”it is quite foolish.”
“I’m trying,” Andrea mumbled from the ground. “I just don’t”don’t understand what to do.”
“Empty your mind!” bellowed Lottie and Breckenridge at the same time.
Andrea whipped around and glared at Lottie. “I know that,” she retorted. “But if I concentrate on emptying my mind, then I’m too busy thinking about that and how to do it”and then my mind isn’t very empty, is it?”
“Not like that,” Lottie laughed. “You can’t just think about a blank wall and hope the Death Eater goes away. It’s just something you have to let happen. You have to hide your feelings from the world. They can search as much as they want, but they won’t find anything.”
“Well said, Rowe,” Breckenridge beamed. “It’s not as much about becoming a mindless fool than it is about hiding your real thoughts behind a labyrinth of defense. You will learn that keeping this defense up can be taxing”and the former option is generally easier”especially while sleeping. That being said, there may be times when you must keep your mind protected for days”weeks”on end. Not for this trip, most likely, but in the not so distant future.” He raised his bushy eyebrows.
“With that in mind,” he continued, “I may ambush you at some points before you leave, when you least expect it. You must begin to keep at least a basic defense up at all times.” He pulled out his wand once more. “Now. Woolbright”again. Legilimens!”
Halfway to Infinity by Eponine
Chapter Notes: Yay! New chapter! I love this time! Haha.
Thanks again to the amazing TheBird for catching an embarrassing amount of typos and awkward sentences in this one! Yay!
A reviewer requested this and I think it's a good idea. In the previous chapter, Palmyitor caught Lottie, who just stole the Phoenix charm. They figured out that Neville Longbottom is living in France, under the alias of Victor K. Lontelles. Lottie volunteered her and Andrea to travel with Professor Stainthorpe to find him, and after a long discussion, the professors finally agreed to let them go to France.
This chapter is dedicated to the certain man who was the inspiration for Professor Dyer.