Competition
“You’re not serious, right?! ”
“I am dead serious, Bellamy” answered Clarke. The whole group sat in the great hall. Clarke’s friends didn’t hesitated once before telling the rest what Clarke had agreed to. “Cage is an asshole who thinks that, because of his money and family, he can treat everyone like shit. I’m just going to show him who’s the piece of shit in this school.” Clarke’s veins popped out of her neck as she felt her nerves give up. She hated everything about Cage Wallace. Most of the detention hours she had were because she had stood up for students being bullied by this same person. “Plus maybe I’ll be able to bring down Ontari. She’s a little too cocky and proud for my liking.”
In fact, there was another reason why Clarke wanted Ontari to be a part of it. She had noticed the girl always seemed to stare at Lexa. She didn’t know why but she didn’t like it at all.
“Clarke, you know Cage. Our professors love him; he’ll find a way to stay out of trouble. You won’t” added Octavia.
“Thanks” replied Clarke ironically with a little smirk.
“You know what I mean.”
“Yes, well, stop worrying about me guys. It’s just a friendly competition. If anything gets out of control, I’ll quit.”
“Yes everybody knows you three are great ‘friends’” added Bellamy sarcastically.
The blonde rolled her eyes and gazed back down at her food. Her friends waited a few seconds before dropping it and engaging in a new conversation.
Clarke knew that anything involving Ontari McCole or Cage Wallace could go wrong easily but she had a chance to show the school they didn’t have to bow before these two. Even though they wouldn’t gather a big crowd for their little tests, rumors go around pretty quick at Hogwarts.
The blonde felt an insistent gaze on her as she brought her fork to her mouth. She turned her head and melted in green eyes, like every time she stared at a certain brunette.
“What?” she asked, raising her eyebrows.
“You know it is a stupid idea.”
“Yes, I know. But what do I risk?” Clarke argued maintaining Lexa’s stare. “A few weeks of detention at worst.”
“Or expulsion.”
“I won’t go this far.”
“Well,” said Lexa, rising from the bench with her books under her arm, “that’s still a bad idea.”
“Where are you going?”
Lexa couldn’t help but feel happy to see this look of deception in Clarke’s eyes.
“Library.”
“I’m coming with you” replied Clarke with a big grin.
Lexa’s eye roll made the blonde chuckle as she followed her closely. Clarke knew the brunette couldn’t be pissed at her for long and she had learnt to reverse the swing quicker with time. She jogged to catch her up and passed her arm around hers. Lexa looked at her, failing to hold the smile that built on her face.
***
The Hufflepuff common room wasn’t too crowded. Lexa had taken the habit this year to follow Lincoln in it sometimes and wait for her little brother to show up.
“How are your quidditch trainings?” asked Lexa with a smirk.
“I see where you’re going, Woods.”
Lexa chuckled at her friend’s answer.
“What can I say? I’m a Slytherin” she said raising her shoulders.
“Oh yes you are” added Aden entering the room giggling.
“Hi lil’ brother!”
“Hi sis’.”
The brunette rose from the couch and went to hug the boy.
“How was your flying class?”
“Great. Miss Galmon said I had a chance to enter the quidditch team next year.”
“Not surprising coming from a Woods” said Lincoln.
Lexa gave him a small smile. She was glad for her brother but couldn’t help but feel a little worried. She knew Aden would definitely want to enter the team. And quidditch was a dangerous sport. There had been a lot of accidents in Hogwarts history. But she couldn’t forbid Aden to play quidditch when she was herself in the Slytherin team.
“I’m proud of you.” She was. “But don’t come crying to me when my team will drag yours down the path.”
“Same for you.”
“Well said!” Lincoln high fived the blond boy. “The team will be in good hands with you when I’ll leave” he added before shaking Aden’s hair.
“Thanks Linc’” said Aden with a big grin.
The three of them sat back on the couch and talked for at least a full hour about their classes and the numerous mistakes the first years did.
Lexa loved passing time with her brother. Since the moment he was born, the girl had been glued to him. He looked just like their mother while Lexa was the spitting image of her father. The perfect family. The problem was: they were everything but a perfect family. Between the lack of communication, the regulatory requirement and the ruined vacation, Aden was all she had outside of Hogwarts. Just like Lexa was to him.
“Well, I’ll let you badgers in your cheesy common room and I’ll return in the dungeons.”
“Good night snake!” said Lincoln with a wink.
“Good night” she replied giggling.
“Good night sis’!”
***
Clarke scanned the area as she rose slowly from her sit. She spotted Ontari and Cage sitting at the Ravenclaw table apart from the other students. Clarke hardened her face features and started walking towards them, her friends never taking their eyes off the scene. She had somehow convinced Lexa, Raven and Octavia to let her do this alone. They were just going to chat after all.
The blonde sat next to her rivals with a huff and crossed her arms waiting for the person she hated the most in this school to speak.
“So you came” he said in a patronizing tone.
“Of course. Why? You hoped I wouldn’t?” she smirked.
The boy chuckled and bent forward on the wooden surface.
“Oh god no.”
“Are you two finished already?!” said Ontari rolling her eyes.
Cage straightened back on the bench and took a deep breath.
“So, I thought about something.”
“Remember, we have to agree” said Ontari.
She, too, knew Cage Wallace’s operating mode and she wasn’t going to play his game if she sensed any dirty trick.
“Yes!” he replied drily. “It’s simple; the first one to bring back a bowtruckle will win. We’ll meet tonight at midnight in front of the forbidden forest…”
“Of course” said Clarke with an eye roll.
“Which means you have about five hours to find out what it looks like if you don’t already know.” Cage stood up. “Be discreet!” he added with a wink before walking away.
Clarke glanced at Ontari briefly and stood up to join her friends. She quickly crossed the distance between them and chuckled before their awaiting eyes.
“You guys should see your faces.”
“So?” asked Octavia.
“So, midnight – forbidden forest – the first one to bring back a bowtruckle.”
“What’s that?” asked Octavia.
“It’s a small insect-eating tree dweller which basically looks like a flat-faced stick made of barks and twigs which serves them as camouflage. So it’s really difficult to spot one” explained Monty quickly.
“Thank you nerd!” replied Octavia with a frown.
“How are you going to do that?” asked Lexa.
“I don’t know yet. Any ideas?”
“I think I read something saying they ate wood lice” said Raven.
“Well let’s hope you’re right. I am going to steal some in the potion class to attract them. I’ll come back in ten minutes.” And with that, Clarke left.
***
The tall dark trees were forming an intimidating wall that represented the forest outskirts. They were all trying to see through the thick trunks but it was practically impossible once night had fallen.
Ontari had come with her brother Roan from Gryffindor. Clarke only with Lexa and Raven since Octavia had wanted to go to bed early for the Gryffindor quidditch training the next day. Clarke would definitely have a hard time playing but she knew that failing one training session wouldn’t get her out the team. And finally Cage Wallace had come with his whole crew, all Slytherin boys. Clarke rolled her eyes at the machismo of the scene.
“Well, I guess it’s time” began Cage. “Emerson will supervise who comes out first and if the bowtruckle is authentic.”
“I say everyone staying out of the forest should monitor. For the sake of fair play” Ontari said with a wink towards the cocky boy.
Cage waited a few seconds, his teeth clenched, before softening his glance in a provocative manner.
“Fair enough.”
“Ok then, set up in a line” said Carl Emerson.
He waited for the three of them to take a step forward towards the forest and to take their stance ready, preparing to run. Raven couldn’t suppress the worry from her face while Lexa’s remained stoic, her ‘commander’ facade firmly in place. Clarke couldn’t say she wasn’t a little nervous because she clearly was. Of course they had wandered in the forbidden forest once with Bellamy and Octavia, and it had been the scariest night of her life.
“Three,” Clarke placed her hand above the small bump low in the pocket of her cardigan, “two,” the three of them seized their wand firmly, “one. GO!”
They rushed through the trees and were out of view in a matter of seconds. Clarke slowed her pace after several yards to try and put some distance between her and her opponents. She deviated on her left, ran a little more and then stopped. The blonde plunged her hand in her pocket and withdrew what looked like a small grain of brown rice. Placing it in the center of the palm of her hand, she pointed her wand at it.
“Engorgio!” she said half screaming half whispering.
The wood lice became a giant black ball as she dropped it on the ground. The luminous flashes stopped circling the bug and it started wriggling to get on his now big legs and run.
“Wingardium Leviosa!”
It rose in the air and Clarke started walking slowly, her wand pulling the lice with her. But suddenly, she heard a *crack* a few feet next to her which made her instantly freeze.
“Petrificus Totalus!” whispered Clarke not wanting to lose her best chance at finding a bowtruckle rapidly.
The blonde turned a little to face the shadows where the noise came from. She kept her stance steady, her wand creating a protection between her and the mysterious thing. Clarke heard another *crack* closer and her breath stopped abruptly. With an audible grown, a forest troll came out of nowhere rushing towards her.
“Holly sh…”
She didn’t even have the time to finish cursing as the troll’s arm collided with her brutally. The blonde flew high in the air until she hit a thick tree full force, a few yards farther. She tried to let out a cry of pain but she couldn’t since her breath had suddenly been taken away. She stood up as fast as she could when she was able to inhale fresh air again. She greeted her teeth when she put pressure on her right leg and her ankle sent a harsh jolt of pain all the way up her leg. Must be sprained. At least I have another one. She thought to herself ironically. She settled back in her stance, wand at the ready and a trail of what she assumed was hot blood falling from her brow bone. The troll was already running towards her again but this time she was ready.
“LOCOMOTOR WIBBLY!” she shouted this time.
The troll growled loudly before his legs gave out under him and he fell forward. Clarke had just the time to plunge on the side before the large body crashed on the ground, making the forest floor tremble.
Clarke stood up once again and pointed her wand at the creature wriggling.
“CONFUNDO!”
The forest troll stopped moving, his eyes lost in the hollow and his eyebrows slightly gathering in a frown.
Clarke put her hands on her knees bending over and let out a heavy breath. She regained her spirits before straightening up again and glancing at the creature. It was around eight feet tall so it was probably still a child. The blonde brought her hand to her right brow, wincing at the contact, and looked at her now blood stained fingers. She sighed before wiping her hand on her robes and turning around searching for the floating petrified giant wood lice. She walked a little and spotted it quickly. Getting closer, she saw a small thin figure under it, looking amazed.
“There you are” Clarke said in a low tone.
She stopped moving, withdrawing her wand as slowly as she could.
“Petrificus Totalus!”
The bowtruckle didn’t have the time to understand what was happening due to his almost state of trance. Clarke kneeled and seized the creature firmly. She then pointed her wand at the dark insect.
“Finite!”
It started wriggling again before falling to the ground, his size returning back to normal. She let it escape and ran as fast as she could with her ankle, towards the edge of the forest. She saw the surroundings become clearer and when she didn’t hear any noise behind her she slowed her pace, passing through the last ranges of trees.
“Yaaay, that’s my girl!” yelled Raven.
“Am I the first one?” the blonde asked panting.
“Yes you are” replied Emerson, an obvious glare of fury in his eyes.
Clarke closed the distance between her and her friends and brought them in a hug.
“Good job, Griffin!” added Raven.
“What happened?” asked Lexa analyzing Clarke’s approach and frowning on the blood covering the right side of her face.
“Just a little troll, not a big deal” said the blonde joking.
Lexa sighed out her frustration at the stupidity of this competition but didn’t say anything. She just kept her stoic face as Ontari and Cage appeared at the same time, some scratches decorating their bodies. Their faces dropped as they saw Clarke standing before them, the bowtruckle still in her hand.
“Well, I guess you wish I didn’t come now…”
Cage said he would get in touch with them as soon as he’d have an idea in mind for the next step before walking away hurriedly, his friends, Ontari and Roan, close on his heels.
Clarke started walking slowly behind them, Lexa and Raven offering their help to provide her some support. She decided she would go to the infirmary the next morning since it was already pretty late. She realized she had to wake up earlier now because she couldn’t go to her quidditch training with a sprained ankle, obviously. Or else Bellamy would be really mad at her. Four hours sleep is good enough. She tried to reassure herself but couldn’t avoid the thought in her head that it would be the worst training of the year.
***
The sunrays were reflected wonderfully on the Black Lake surface due to the light mist dancing above it. Clarke and Lexa were standing peacefully two meters from the water, talking about anything and everything. They spent a lot of time together since a few months now; either with their reformed group of friends or just the two of them. And Clarke couldn’t say she didn’t like it. She had never felt more at ease and protected with someone before.
“I think Bellamy is avoiding me” said Lexa from nowhere.
“What?” Clarke frowned but stopped quickly, the stitches in her brow hurting. “Why would you think that?”
“Well, one : he barely looks me in the eyes when I talk to him and two : I don’t know if you remember but we have a quidditch match at the end of the week.”
“Yes I remember you moron” replied Clarke with an eye roll.
Lexa threw her a dark look like daring her to call her that again so Clarke burst out laughing. If she didn’t know the commander well, she would have peed her pants with this gaze alone.
“Anyway. I think he knows you’ll lose so he…” Lexa continued but was interrupted by a hand before her face.
“Hold on. You really think Slytherin is going to win? Oh you’re naïve, it’s so adorable, commander.”
“I don’t think so, I know it” the brunette added with a big smirk.
“Then we’ll see about that.” Clarke arched a brow. “And concerning Bellamy, I am pretty sure it’s not about quidditch,” she said, “since we’re clearly going to win” she mumbled in a cough.
“Whatever” said Lexa with a huff, waiting for the blonde to continue.
“Bellamy has a ‘thing’ for me since I came to Hogwarts and became friend with Octavia.” Clarke flexed her fingers on the word thing, a little embarrassed. “So he may be jealous of you.”
“And why would he be jealous exactly?” asked Lexa feeling confident all of a sudden.
Clarke blushed and adverted her gaze towards the lake.
“Well, I don’t know, I’m not in his head” she said, nothing better coming in her mind. “Maybe because we spend a lot of time together.”
“Oh, I see.”
The brunette smiled contently at the redness of Clarke’s cheeks.
“Well if he has a problem with me, he better come and tell. I hope he’ll stop acting like a child” said Lexa raisin an eyebrow briefly. “Plus, maybe he’ll stop having a ‘thing’ for you with that ugly scar above your eye.”
“Oh stop with that already” cut Clarke. “Besides, I’m sure you love it. I look badass.”
She did.
“I don’t.”
“Whatever you say.”
Lexa wanted to argue and hide the fact that; yes, badass Clarke may turn her on a little, but she stopped in her track as small noises came from behind them. They turned around and spotted a flying paper bird. Clarke grabbed it with a little jump and opened it.
“It’s Cage! ‘Next test tomorrow at 7pm around the lake’” Clarke read.
“Well, at least we’re already there” joked Lexa rolling her eyes at the mention of the competition.
She didn’t notice the worried gaze Clarke had as her eyes widened.