 Rhibear ~ Madam Solo ~ ❄ Showtunes > Everything ❄ ~ Accio Jedi ~ Gryffinclaw ~ Just a doll
O_____________O GREAT GALLOPING GUNGANS, WHAT WAS HAPPENING?!?!?! All Heath could do was stare in shock and horror as the word liar appeared on several of his classmates’ foreheads. Any other time, he might’ve felt relieved that he decided not to lie on his own form - a visible and most likely permanent mark like that would’ve put an end to his acting career for sure - but he couldn’t think of himself now. He was too distracted by the fact that there were a few students with no mouths, and Rosier Crucio’ed a student! He actually tortured a student!
Heath flinched, dropping his gaze. Unlike their new headmaster, he didn’t like seeing others in pain. If he forced himself to watch Kale on the floor, there was no guarantee he wouldn’t burst into tears, and that could not happen! He’d met enough bullies in his life to know that the first rule of dealing with one was to never let them see you break. He stood frozen in place, his jaw tightly clenched against any sound that threatened to escape. His arms were folded across his chest because that was the only thing stopping him from grabbing Claudine’s hand right now!
He was so focused on keeping up a (mostly) impassive facade that he almost didn’t hear the question, and Merlin, how he wished he hadn’t! He didn’t want to answer that! Doing so would be betraying his dad and grandparents who took care of him and accepted him the wizarding side of the family did not, but… What would happen to him if he didn’t? Somehow he suspected silence on this question would earn worse than an essay as punishment. What if Rosier tortured him too? What if he lost all patience entirely and started killing students next? Or worse, what if he decided to punish him by doing either of those things to Claudine? Surely his family would understand. They’d want him to do what he had to do to survive, right?
Then another thought occurred to Heath. Would that liar mark also appear on anyone who Rosier suspected didn’t believe what they were saying? Just in case, he’d better make his answer convincing! He thought back to the muggle children who bullied him in primary school, of the teachers who allowed it to happen without so much as batting an eye, and only when his anger had built did he raise his hand. “Historically, there are examples of muggles subjugating wizard children to the point that they’re too afraid to use magic, sometimes with catastrophic results. Ariana Dumbledore, Credence Barebone, Harry Potter - all examples of wizard children abused by muggles!”
He blinked as he finished speaking, shocked by the edge in his own voice. Had he really just said that out loud?
__________________ Old voices I had thought long since dead whisper of another life I might have led
If I could take that second chance, If I could make my life anew, If only dreams came true... |