See, Camilla? I told you. Chapter Seven.
Chapter Seven - Dual Minds
Sara, Annie, Stephanie, and Rikki ran into Hagrid on the way to the hospital wing. When the girls saw Hagrid down the hall, he seemed to know what had happened; he had a look of “I knew this was going to happen” on his face. Hagrid insisted that they go back to their common rooms while he would take both Camilla and Brent. Of course, the girls refused, but Hagrid wouldn’t let them come.
Sara couldn’t sleep that night. Images of Brent lifeless on the floor and of Camilla’s horrifying orange eyes floated in her mind. Those orange eyes …. They had been the same ones she saw the night her parents died. But it couldn’t have been Camilla that night. The figure was taller, but not by much ...
Before she knew it, the sun was already rising. She got her bookbag ready for Double Potions and headed off to the dungeons. She prayed for Brent and Camilla. She couldn’t lose her two best friends one week into term.
Her prayers were partly answered when she let herself in the classroom: Camilla was sitting in her desk. They got up, ran to each other, and hugged like there was no tomorrow. But then they heard “Ms. Tijerina and Ms. Sharpe, to my office, please.” Snape had called them over. They both looked at each other and mouthed “Brent”.
Snape closed the office door behind them and commanded them to sit down. “Brent is in a serious condition right now. His whole ribcage has been broken and his right lung has been punctured. Healers have come down from St. Mungo’s and they are working their best to bring him back.”
“But he …”
“There is no guarantee, Ms. Sharpe. He may not come back.”
Camilla started to cry. Snape immediately sat back. “I know this may be difficult, Camilla..” Sara looked up. This was the first time she had heard Snape show any sort of compassion to anyone, or even called someone by their first name in a conversation. She could only think that only Slytherins gained this favor. “You were not in control of your own body. Forces outside our control inhabited your psyche and took helm of your movements and actions. What you did to Brent would have been one of the greatest of crimes if it were you. You will not be harmed or taken to Azkaban, Camilla.”
*sob* “I just … want … my friend … back …” Camilla spoke between sobs. Sara hugged her tightly; she felt the same way as a tear was streaming down her face.
“However, that was not the only thing I was instructed to talk to you about. Your grades have been topnotch. I have not been more impressed by a student since …” Snape hesitated from saying Brent’s name, keeping Camilla from plunging into further despair. “Anyway, Professor Dumbledore thinks it appropriate that you two receive a special course in Defense Against the Dark Arts from Professor Quirrell during the holiday season. His teachings as of now will be sufficient for the time being, but this course shall prepare either of you in case an incident like this was to happen ever again.”
Sara nodded. Camilla just stared at the floor. Soon afterwards, they rejoined the class and learned a basic Sleeping Potion. Of course, Neville Longbottom had misweighed the amount of asphodel in the potion, giving Dean Thomas a nasty bitter taste in his mouth as well as a tendency to fall asleep snoring randomly during the rest of his classes.
Camilla and Sara went through the early weeks of term without another incident. Their top grades qualified them for a special exemption from any one exam before the beginning of the holidays. The only others to receive this were Hermione Granger, Brent, and some random chap named Tom Riddle.
After dinner one Friday night, Stephanie and Rikki decided to hold a little party in the Slytherin common room. They sang exceptionally good karaoke, pulling tracks from some of their favorite Broadway shows as well as songs from the Weird Sisters. Annie sat in the back bobbing her head to the music and Camilla and Sara literally danced their worries away.
Soon afterwards, the party died out and everyone got tired. The common room was nearly empty except for Camilla, Sara, Stephanie, Rikki, and Annie. Still not tired, the party of five decided to have a romp around the grounds. However, the grounds were dead dark, as it was raining outside heavily. Annie took out her wand and muttered “Atraspecto!” This was a charm to help everyone see in the dark, night-vision, if you will.
The girls soon got bored. There was nothing really exciting to snoop around for and dodging Filch and Mrs. Norris every few minutes started to tire them out. Stephanie, Rikki, and Annie all headed back to the common room, but Camilla and Sara decided to go to the hospital wing to see if Madam Pomfrey had any information on Brent.
On the way there, they passed Professor Quirrell’s office. Sara noticed voices coming from the door. “Camilla, come back! Have a hear at this.” They crouched at the door leading to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom and put their ears to it. They could hear Professor Quirrell in the room speaking to someone. A low, horrible, drawling voice responded to every sentence Quirrell muttered.
“And the boy? Is he still alive? Yes, Master. The Healers from St. Mungo’s have successfully repaired his ribcage. He should be released before the beginning of the holidays. I wouldn’t think the littlest one would have the most power. It will be interesting seeing the three of them face off against each other at the end of the year. Have you accounted for the limits of their powers yet? The two girls, yes. The boy, no. His Cruciatus Curse was put on a cat, not a human. When he gets out of the hospital wing, I will test his strength on a Ravenclaw…”
Camilla and Sara looked at each other. There was no doubt in their minds that whoever was talking in there was talking about the three of them. They scurried about back to the common room and went to bed straight away. They were horrified.
Camilla had already gone down to the Great Hall to grab some breakfast. Annie was sitting in front of her, munching her oatmeal and reading the Daily Prophet. Camilla had not told anyone about what happened the previous night. Sara appeared just as the morning post arrived. A letter had fluttered down in front of Sara just as she sat down. Seeing the name on the parcel, she opened it hurriedly.
“What? Who’s it from?”, asked Camilla.
Sara didn’t reply. She was too occupied with reading the letter. She breathed a huge sigh of relief and handed the letter to Camilla.
“Dear Camilla, Sara, Stephanie, Rikki, and Annie,
I’m fine. You don’t have to worry about me anymore. I’m 99% certain to pull through. The Healers did their charms and spells and potions and whatnot, and everything was corrected. They want me to stay in the hospital wing until the beginning of the holidays. Don’t feel like I’m getting off easy though. I’ve got loads of homework to do. And for some reason, Professor Quirrell has been paying special attention to me. It seems like he pops up in the hospital wing at least two or three times a day. It’s a bit weird if you ask me. I could have sworn his turban moved at least once or twice. But, eh, nothing to worry about. Its probably some sort of malady he suffered while vanquishing some dark creature. You five keep clear of Malfoy and his gits. He’ll rile you up and cause another accident. Have a great term and good luck on your exams.
Love,
Brent
Camilla smiled a bit, but was now more worried because of Professor Quirrell. Something wasn’t right. Camilla and Sara weren’t sure to look forward to the holidays to see Brent again or to dread the coming holidays because of their special Defense Against the Dark Arts course with Quirrell. Camilla then shoved a muffin into her mouth.
Sara, Annie, Stephanie, and Rikki ran into Hagrid on the way to the hospital wing. When the girls saw Hagrid down the hall, he seemed to know what had happened; he had a look of “I knew this was going to happen” on his face. Hagrid insisted that they go back to their common rooms while he would take both Camilla and Brent. Of course, the girls refused, but Hagrid wouldn’t let them come.
Sara couldn’t sleep that night. Images of Brent lifeless on the floor and of Camilla’s horrifying orange eyes floated in her mind. Those orange eyes …. They had been the same ones she saw the night her parents died. But it couldn’t have been Camilla that night. The figure was taller, but not by much ...
Before she knew it, the sun was already rising. She got her bookbag ready for Double Potions and headed off to the dungeons. She prayed for Brent and Camilla. She couldn’t lose her two best friends one week into term.
Her prayers were partly answered when she let herself in the classroom: Camilla was sitting in her desk. They got up, ran to each other, and hugged like there was no tomorrow. But then they heard “Ms. Tijerina and Ms. Sharpe, to my office, please.” Snape had called them over. They both looked at each other and mouthed “Brent”.
Snape closed the office door behind them and commanded them to sit down. “Brent is in a serious condition right now. His whole ribcage has been broken and his right lung has been punctured. Healers have come down from St. Mungo’s and they are working their best to bring him back.”
“But he …”
“There is no guarantee, Ms. Sharpe. He may not come back.”
Camilla started to cry. Snape immediately sat back. “I know this may be difficult, Camilla..” Sara looked up. This was the first time she had heard Snape show any sort of compassion to anyone, or even called someone by their first name in a conversation. She could only think that only Slytherins gained this favor. “You were not in control of your own body. Forces outside our control inhabited your psyche and took helm of your movements and actions. What you did to Brent would have been one of the greatest of crimes if it were you. You will not be harmed or taken to Azkaban, Camilla.”
*sob* “I just … want … my friend … back …” Camilla spoke between sobs. Sara hugged her tightly; she felt the same way as a tear was streaming down her face.
“However, that was not the only thing I was instructed to talk to you about. Your grades have been topnotch. I have not been more impressed by a student since …” Snape hesitated from saying Brent’s name, keeping Camilla from plunging into further despair. “Anyway, Professor Dumbledore thinks it appropriate that you two receive a special course in Defense Against the Dark Arts from Professor Quirrell during the holiday season. His teachings as of now will be sufficient for the time being, but this course shall prepare either of you in case an incident like this was to happen ever again.”
Sara nodded. Camilla just stared at the floor. Soon afterwards, they rejoined the class and learned a basic Sleeping Potion. Of course, Neville Longbottom had misweighed the amount of asphodel in the potion, giving Dean Thomas a nasty bitter taste in his mouth as well as a tendency to fall asleep snoring randomly during the rest of his classes.
Camilla and Sara went through the early weeks of term without another incident. Their top grades qualified them for a special exemption from any one exam before the beginning of the holidays. The only others to receive this were Hermione Granger, Brent, and some random chap named Tom Riddle.
After dinner one Friday night, Stephanie and Rikki decided to hold a little party in the Slytherin common room. They sang exceptionally good karaoke, pulling tracks from some of their favorite Broadway shows as well as songs from the Weird Sisters. Annie sat in the back bobbing her head to the music and Camilla and Sara literally danced their worries away.
Soon afterwards, the party died out and everyone got tired. The common room was nearly empty except for Camilla, Sara, Stephanie, Rikki, and Annie. Still not tired, the party of five decided to have a romp around the grounds. However, the grounds were dead dark, as it was raining outside heavily. Annie took out her wand and muttered “Atraspecto!” This was a charm to help everyone see in the dark, night-vision, if you will.
The girls soon got bored. There was nothing really exciting to snoop around for and dodging Filch and Mrs. Norris every few minutes started to tire them out. Stephanie, Rikki, and Annie all headed back to the common room, but Camilla and Sara decided to go to the hospital wing to see if Madam Pomfrey had any information on Brent.
On the way there, they passed Professor Quirrell’s office. Sara noticed voices coming from the door. “Camilla, come back! Have a hear at this.” They crouched at the door leading to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom and put their ears to it. They could hear Professor Quirrell in the room speaking to someone. A low, horrible, drawling voice responded to every sentence Quirrell muttered.
“And the boy? Is he still alive? Yes, Master. The Healers from St. Mungo’s have successfully repaired his ribcage. He should be released before the beginning of the holidays. I wouldn’t think the littlest one would have the most power. It will be interesting seeing the three of them face off against each other at the end of the year. Have you accounted for the limits of their powers yet? The two girls, yes. The boy, no. His Cruciatus Curse was put on a cat, not a human. When he gets out of the hospital wing, I will test his strength on a Ravenclaw…”
Camilla and Sara looked at each other. There was no doubt in their minds that whoever was talking in there was talking about the three of them. They scurried about back to the common room and went to bed straight away. They were horrified.
Camilla had already gone down to the Great Hall to grab some breakfast. Annie was sitting in front of her, munching her oatmeal and reading the Daily Prophet. Camilla had not told anyone about what happened the previous night. Sara appeared just as the morning post arrived. A letter had fluttered down in front of Sara just as she sat down. Seeing the name on the parcel, she opened it hurriedly.
“What? Who’s it from?”, asked Camilla.
Sara didn’t reply. She was too occupied with reading the letter. She breathed a huge sigh of relief and handed the letter to Camilla.
“Dear Camilla, Sara, Stephanie, Rikki, and Annie,
I’m fine. You don’t have to worry about me anymore. I’m 99% certain to pull through. The Healers did their charms and spells and potions and whatnot, and everything was corrected. They want me to stay in the hospital wing until the beginning of the holidays. Don’t feel like I’m getting off easy though. I’ve got loads of homework to do. And for some reason, Professor Quirrell has been paying special attention to me. It seems like he pops up in the hospital wing at least two or three times a day. It’s a bit weird if you ask me. I could have sworn his turban moved at least once or twice. But, eh, nothing to worry about. Its probably some sort of malady he suffered while vanquishing some dark creature. You five keep clear of Malfoy and his gits. He’ll rile you up and cause another accident. Have a great term and good luck on your exams.
Love,
Brent
Camilla smiled a bit, but was now more worried because of Professor Quirrell. Something wasn’t right. Camilla and Sara weren’t sure to look forward to the holidays to see Brent again or to dread the coming holidays because of their special Defense Against the Dark Arts course with Quirrell. Camilla then shoved a muffin into her mouth.