Chapter 63: Ancient Magic (2)

Warning: This chapter could be triggering for people who experienced any sort of bullying. Proceed with caution.

Catherine McMahon had always embraced new challenges, especially when it came to experimenting with spells. In the weeks that followed, she seized every opportunity to perform simple spells without relying on a wand. Contrary to her initial expectations, however, the transition proved to be less smooth than she had imagined. While the spells she had invented as a young child posed no difficulty, even a seemingly straightforward charm like Wingardium Leviosa presented a significant challenge for the young witch. 

"Why are you constantly muttering 'Wingardium Leviosa' under your breath?" – finally asked Sirius over breakfast one gloomy Thursday morning – "Is this some kind of a calming exercise?"

Catherine glanced annoyed at her friend and gave up on the spoon she was attempting to levitate. 

"I'm trying to perform wandless magic." – she answered flatly. 

"Wow! Amazing! Does it work?" – inquired Peter enthusiastically.

"Yeah, it works splendidly!" – chuckled James – "You can tell by Flame's genuine happy smile."

The girl pursed her lips and grabbed her school bag.

"Whatever! We shall leave now or will be late for Care of Magical Creatures." – she said, looking impatiently at her friends who were still chewing their respective breakfasts of choice. 

"Oh, no! Who's gonna feed the flobberworms?!" – chuckled Sirius, taking another toast from the plate in front of him. 

"Suit yourself, but last time Professor Kettleburn said we were done with the flobberworms." – said Catherine, fighting a smile. She would have rather eaten one of the said worms than admit that Sirius was completely right, and she was also bored with the mushy creatures. 

Eventually, the third-year Gryffindors arrived at the clearing close to Hagrid's hut, where the lessons were taking place. It was a convenient location because Hagrid often helped Professor Kettleburn by taking care of the creatures the students were working with. Catherine waved at the Keeper, who smiled in return and set down a bunch of tree trunks he was carrying. 

"Gather round, everybody!" – the Professor shouted above the heads of the students – "Thanks for the help, Hagrid! That will be all for now!"

Catherine squeezed through the group of her peers and managed to reach the front row, next to Alice Fortescue. Due to the big number of third-years who had picked Care of Magical Creatures as an elective subject, they were divided into two groups. On Thursdays, Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs shared the first period, followed by the second group, which consisted of Slytherins and Ravenclaws. 

Professor Kettleburn did follow on his promise, and the tree trunks that Hagrid delivered contained a branch of Bowtruckles. The twig-like creatures were generally shy, but they were much more interesting than the flobberworms. After feeding the Bowtruckles with their favourite woodlice and fairy eggs, the students split into groups of three and observed the behaviour of the little tree guardians, taking notes about interesting patterns. If it weren't so damp and cold outside, Catherine would have considered this a very pleasant lesson. 

After the class concluded, Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs were walking together towards the castle when an ugly scene unfolded before their eyes. Slytherins, on their way to Hagrid's hut for the Care of Magical Creatures class, seemed to have encountered a few second-year Hufflepuffs returning from Herbology.

Apparently, an argument had erupted between the second and third-years, leading to the current situation where Volumnia Travers had coerced a petite ginger girl from Hufflepuff onto her knees, violently shoving the poor witch's head into a large puddle. On the sidelines, a group of Slytherin boys, along with Tullia Parkinson, were laughing, wands at the ready in case any other Hufflepuffs dared to interfere. This was highly unlikely, as besides Volumnia's victim, the only remaining second-years were a crying dark-haired girl and a chubby boy. He had his wand out but appeared too frightened to use it, his eyes darting madly between the Slytherins. 

"Come on, Mudblood!" – laughed Volumnia, dragging the Hufflepuff's head out of the puddle – "Will you repeat what you said to me or you're ready to beg for forgiveness?"

The miserable girl spat some water out and tried to wipe her eyes so she could see, while the Slytherins were howling and whistling in encouragement. 

"Grace!" – cried Alice, who had stopped in her tracks and was staring in utter disbelief at her housemate. 

Catherine, on the other hand, was completely fed up with Volumnia and her sense of entitlement, believing, she could act without consequences. The painful memory of the Gryffindor's own humiliation at the hands of Slytherin girls last year still seared in Catherine's mind. A red-hot anger blinded the young witch, and for a fleeting moment, she envisioned reducing the sneering Volumnia to crisp. However, instead she quickly drew her wand and pointed it directly at Volumnia without warning or hesitation.

"Petrificus Totalus!" – the Gryffindor shouted, and her target collapsed heavily to the ground, completely paralysed by the Full Body-Bind Curse. Catherine wasted no time; she quickly closed the short distance between herself and Volumnia. The remaining Slytherins stared in shock with their mouths hanging open. The black-haired girl knelt down, grabbed a handful of mud, and forcefully shoved it into the paralysed witch's mouth. 

"There!" – said the Gryffindor with a devilish smile, enjoying the pure horror in Volumnia's eyes – "Since you enjoy the mud so much, it's only fair if you get a taste of it!"

"What the fuck!" – screamed Cassius Mulciber, finally breaking out of his trance – "How dare you, dirty…"

"Scourgify!" – James' voice rang loud and clear, and Cassius choke, his mouth full of white foam and soap bubbles. 

"Don't even think about it, Snivelly!" – Sirius warned Snape, noticing that the black-haired boy was lifting his wand.

"By the blooms of Flora! What's happening here?" – Professor Sprout had finally arrived, accompanied by a bunch of terrified second-years. After an unsuccessful attempt to receive a coherent version of the sequence of events that had occurred, she took Volumnia, releasing her from the curse, as well as Grace and Catherine, to the Greenhouse to continue her investigation.

The remaining students slowly dispersed—Slytherins headed toward their Care of Magical Creatures class, while Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs made their way back to the castle for Transfiguration and Charms, respectively. 

"I can't believe you could do such a disgusting thig!" – said Lily angrily, stopping briefly next to Snape, who looked at her with a rather guilty expression. 

"I didn't do anything!" – he tried to explain.

"Sure, just laughed at the poor girl and was ready to hex us!" – countered the red-headed witch, her hands on her waist and her green-eyes flashing.

Snape couldn't help but feel she was the most fearsome and beautiful creature he had ever seen. 

'Like one of the Muggle's goddesses of old!' – he thought, mesmerised – 'What a darn bad luck she had to witness this! Volumnia has zero sense of awareness and self-preservation. What a stupid girl! Now, somehow, I got into hot water because of her crusade against Mudbloods.' – the young wizard thought, carefully picking his words.

"I would have never hexed you in a thousand years! It was just a reflex because Plantier, Potter, and Black were throwing spells left and right. You know how much they enjoy practicing on me!"

"Nonsense!" – snapped Lily – "You know, Severus, it is amazing that for someone who's often bullied, including by your own housemates, you enjoy the sight of other people going through the same!"

"Nobody bullies me at Slytherin!" – objected the black-haired boy – "And the Hufflepuff girl was incredibly arrogant. I'm not saying that Volumnia didn't overreact, but it was not only her fault."

"Fine, if you prefer to live with your delusions, it's your choice." – said the young witch with a cold voice – "But don't try to persuade me this situation was not entirely due to that Travers girl's chronic hatred towards Muggle-borns. I wonder how you would react if it were me instead of Grace Taylor."

Snape's face grew even paler than usual. This small incident was already turning into the worst fight he had ever had with Lily.

"You know very well that I would have protected you, regardless of who's the one trying to hurt you!" – the Slytherin said with complete sincerity, though it was not enough to sooth Lily's anger.

"Words are cheap, Severus! Plus, this had already happened to me, or it would have if Catherine weren't there. She took quite a beating for stepping up by the same excuse of a witch you are so passionately sticking up for and her friend with the face of a dog!"

Severus' black eyes widened in panic. This was the first time he had heard about such an incident. 

'Did Volumnia and Tullia hurt Lily?! I can't believe it! I had explicitly warned them several times! I must get to the bottom of that!'

"Why didn't you tell me?" – he asked hoarsely.

"What was the point? I refused to believe it, but you keep showing me your true colours." – said Lily, her voice trembling with disappointment. She tossed her red hair back and quickly sprinted towards the castle, already late for Transfiguration. 

Snape stared after her in desperation. His entire world felt like it was crumbling around him, unable to withstand the sadness and betrayal in his best friend's eyes. He slowly walked towards his class, his mind completely drained and unwilling to deal with magical beasts and their needs. 

'I must find a way to apologise! She must forgive me! I can't accept losing her, and I won't!'- he thought franticly.