The Nightblood Wand

               Since their return to the school, the group had spent a lot of time together; each one talking about their holidays and Octavia and Bellamy talking about what happened in the castle. There always was something happening at Hogwarts during holidays.

               They were all sat in the courtyard, next to the fountain. Clarke, Lexa, Octavia, Raven, Bellamy, Anya, Lincoln, Jasper, Luna, Monty and Miller; they were all there.

“Of course, you finished your night on the sofa Raven” said Octavia laughing.

“Hey, I wasn’t the first one to go to bed. Isn’t it, Clarkey?” Raven smirked.

               The blonde rolled her eyes and snuggled further into Lexa.

“It was the first time I met drunken Anya by the way” said Lincoln with an evil grin.

“I wasn’t drunk” replied Anya a little too abruptly.

               All the persons present at the party laughed out loud. Of course Anya wouldn’t admit she was a little more than tipsy the night before.

“Uh, yes you were, babe” said Raven.

               All of a sudden, even the tiny movements ceased around them, the wind being the only sound audible. Raven’s eyes widened when she realized what she had just said and Anya’s cheeks reddened by the second.

“Babe?!” asked Octavia somewhere in between anger and delight.

               Raven huffed and looked at Anya. The blonde shook her head but Raven nodded and turned her head, knowing very well that she wouldn’t win this fight with her best friend.

“Well…” she began looking at her friends for any sign of resignation, and continued. “Anya and I, have been – a thing, since a few days…” Raven felt Clarke’s stern gaze on the side of her face, “or weeks.”

               Octavia’s smile faded as everyone let out gasps with their mouths wide open. Lexa just smiled. She had thought something was up the night before.

“WEEKS?!” Octavia almost shouted.

               The two girls offered guilty smiles but Octavia didn’t calm down. The point is: Raven and Anya weren’t sure of what they were doing just yet. What Raven was sure of by now, was that she had a great time with Anya and she felt really cared and protected. In Anya’s case, Raven was a wave of fresh air in her ready-made path and she couldn’t lie and say she didn’t felt more than great every time the girl was around.

“And you say nothing?” asked Octavia turning to Clarke.

“Well, I may have discovered it two weeks ago.”

“You did?” that’s when Lexa came in. “And you didn’t tell me?!”

“Can we just focus back on Raven and Anya here?” said Clarke, feeling that the situation was turning against her.

Octavia and Lexa huffed simultaneously and turned back to Raven and Anya. The two of them explained themselves quite awkwardly since expressing feelings is hard and the tension in the air decreased more and more.

               When the sun went down, they all ushered towards the great hall to appreciate their return meal. The laughter and good vibes flew into the castle and that drew smiles on the students’ faces.

Home sweet home.

***

Here it was, the first Hogsmeade outing since Christmas holidays. Clarke and Lexa were wandering from shop to shop, buying candies and school equipments. They were holding hand and Clarke felt like nothing could retire the grin hanging on her face. But, of course something would. As she turned her head, sat on a snowy bench, she recognized the guy that had approached her earlier this year to talk about her dad.

Clarke felt her breath catch in her throat and her heart stopped. She stared at the ground trying to regain them back.

“Clarke? Clarke, what’s wrong?” asked Lexa, seizing her by the upper arms.

“No – nothing.”

“Clarke, tell me.”

               The blonde looked into worried green eyes and felt her heart clench. She turned her head and couldn’t see the man anymore. Her erratic breathing slowly came back to normal and she looked back at her girlfriend.

“I – I’m sorry. I thought I saw something, and I panicked.”

“What did you see?”

“Nothing really. No need to worry about it.” She kissed gently Lexa on the cheek. “Come on!” she said pulling her towards yet another shop.

Clarke couldn’t focus on anything anymore and Lexa seemed to notice it because a frown wasn’t leaving her forehead. The brunette saw something interesting in the quidditch shop they were in.

“Look at those mittens; they would be perfect to replace mine.”

               Lexa grabbed them and went to the register.

“Go on, I’ll be waiting you outside” said Clarke with a big smile.

               The blonde left the store and let out a long deep breath, white fog escaping her mouth. She couldn’t help but do a quick scan of the area and she found nothing. She thought she would walk a little to try and clear her head off. Her footprints appeared behind her as the thick snow packed under Clarke’s weight.

               Suddenly, she felt a strong grip on her right arm as she was yanked out of the crowded street. She didn’t have the time to see what was happening because she followed the flakes fall and her arms absorbed the impact instead of her body. Clarke regained her spirits and turned herself as fast as she could but the man was over her in a flash.

“You recognize me, don’t you?” he said, anger filling his voice.

“Yes” the blonde tried to sound harsh but the fact that she was still pressed against the ground wasn’t helping.

“Well, that means you remember what we talked about. Then, I have a question that has been going through my mind for the last weeks. What didn’t you understand in the phrase: contact me in five months?” his voice louder but still low enough so the bystanders wouldn’t hear them.

“I – I changed my mind,” she tensed when she saw the look of fury and fear in his eyes, “I don’t want to help you anymore. I don’t have any information to give you about Lexa Woods.”

“’Lexa’” he repeated with a false laugh, “right. You see, when I understood you wouldn’t have what it takes to ensure justice for your father, I talked to some people and rumors circulate fast at Hogwarts.” His evil laugh disappeared and his gaze hardened as he got closer from Clarke’s face. “I know you and miss Woods are closer than you might say. So you better talk right now or you’ll be in real deep trouble Clarke Griffin.”

“So I’ll rephrase; I won’t give you any information about Lexa Woods!” she replied firmly.

“Alright!”

               He seized her and brought her back to her feet, his arm blocking her any move.

“Clarke?”

               They both stopped and turned to look towards the voice.

“Speak of the devil. Plan B!” the man said. “Sorry Alexandria but Miss Griffin and myself have to go.”

Lexa frowned, her hand ready to grab her wand, as Clarke started struggling again. How did he know her name?

“Oh, I almost forgot, Clarke did tell you the reason why she got close to you, right?” he continued and Lexa’s hand became hesitant. “No? Well, it’s because I asked her.”

               The brunette’s face fell apart. She tried to look into Clarke’s eyes to find the truth but the blonde was looking downwards.

“Clarke? Is that true?” she asked. It couldn’t be true.

               Her girlfriend rose her head, her eyes filling with tears when she saw Lexa’s face.

“Lexa, I can explain, I swear…”

“Well, like I said, I would love to tell you the whole story but we really have to go!” The man spoke again.

               He hold Clarke with more force again and prepared himself. Lexa seized her wand, too late.

“Wait, Lexa, I promise. I lov –”

               Before the brunette could react, trapped in the haze of what had just happened, Clarke and the mysterious man had disappeared. And for the first time in years, a tear silently escaped Lexa’s eye.

***

               What had just happened? Lexa was still standing motionless in the dark alleyway. She didn’t know what had happened to Clarke and yet she felt this feeling of pure hollowness deep down in her pit.

               As Lexa started falling apart, Octavia, Lincoln and Raven spotted her in the dark.

“Lexa?” called Octavia while the group walked towards their lonely friend. “Are you okay?”

               The brunette’s gaze didn’t move at all, as did her parted lips. The two girls exchanged worried glances. Octavia moved Lexa’s head gently so their eyes met.

“What happened?” she asked. “Where’s Clarke?”

               Lexa’s facial expression changed completely at the mention of the name.

“She left with a man” she answered still evasively.

“What? Who?” Raven intervened.

“Did you know?” Lexa turned abruptly towards the girls.

               Lincoln seemed to sense his friend anger build up inside so he took a step forward and put himself slightly in front of Octavia, keeping an eye on Raven too.

“What is this Lexa, what are you talking about?” he asked.

“Did you know Clarke has been lying to me since the beginning?” Lexa continued.

“What the hell? Clarke would never…” began Raven.

“Did you know Clarke was just using me?”

               Lexa’s voice shot up. She hadn’t felt this hurt in years and it was making her mad.

“Lexa, just calm down, there is no way Clarke would want to hurt you!”

               The brunette didn’t answer this. Because, deep down, a part of her still thought Clarke truly cared about her. She couldn’t help but tell herself Clarke couldn’t do something like that. She relived the previous scene and tried to understand it.

“A man was with Clarke. He knew my name but I can’t put a name on his face.” Her friends frowned listening carefully. “He said – he said Clarke had gotten close to me just because he had asked her.”

“And why would you believe him?”

“Because, she didn’t deny it. I saw, in her eyes, that she has hidden something from me.”

               Nobody replied at that point, their mouth slightly falling open. Lexa’s demeanor changed as she remembered Clarke’s eyes. She was sure she saw regret but she now understood she had seen something else: fear. And that’s what made her blood go into her head at this point.

“Guys, I don’t know what the whole story is but one thing’s for sure, Clarke is in trouble. We have to do something.”

               It seemed like the four of them realized, a little too slowly, that their friend may have just been kidnapped.

“How did they leave? What did he looks like?” asked Raven frantically.

“He apparated them. She seemed to be fighting him back.” Lexa felt fear overwhelming her even though the feeling of betrayal was still here somewhere. “He was taller than Clarke but, I guess, smaller than you Linc’. He was bald and had strange tattoos on his skull.”

“Seems like someone you would remember” said Octavia.

“Yeah” Lexa frowned, thinking.

“So, they had time to talk with you…” asked Raven.

“Yes” answered Lexa.

“Then, why didn’t you do anything?”

“Raven!” said Octavia.

“No wait, I want to know. She could have avoided that and yet, she didn’t. Why, Lexa?” She asked facing the other brunette.

“I don’t know, I was…”

“YOU DON’T KNOW?”

“I was shaken” Lexa replied sternly, clenching her fists.

               Not only she hated the feelings she was experiencing right now, but Raven was making it way much difficult.

“Oh sorry, Commander. Well, you better find a solution because now, Clarke is probably in danger.” Raven finished, tears threatening to fall.

               Nobody said another word so Lexa took off.

“Lexa!” yelled Octavia.

“Let her go,” said Lincoln stopping his girlfriend, “she surely needs to be alone right now.”

               Octavia turned to her best friend and squeezed her upper arm.

“We are going to find her Raven!”

               The latina nodded her head before Lincoln spoke up.

“We should start by searching your room. If she hided something from Lexa she may have left traces.”

***

“Mmh…” escaped Clarke’s mouth.

She lifted her own head and tried to open up her eyes but frowned as everything remained black. She slowly patted her surroundings and only felt old cold parquet flooring. She was cold, so cold she could feel goose bumps all over her body. Someone had removed her coat so she only wore her oversized black sweater which wasn’t enough since they didn’t seem to be aware of heating where she was. Her frown deepened as she tried to remember where she was and what had happened. Her heartbeat fastened when she realized everything she remembered wasn’t from a dream.

“Crap!” she whispered, standing up.

               Her head was throbbing. She brought her hand to the back of her skull and felt a bump here. Suddenly a bright light entered the room and the blonde placed her arm before her eyes. More lights filled the room. Clarke’s reflex was to back off until she felt her back collide with the wall she was previously sleeping against.

“Hello Miss Griffin!” a woman’s voice sounded.

               The blonde somewhat moved her arm to try and see its owner, but her eyes wouldn’t adapt to the lightness.

“I reckon you’ve already met my brother, Titus?!”

               The woman gestured to a darker corner of the room and Clarke recognized the man of Hogsmeade.

“Yes, but he didn’t bother to mention his name. He directly kidnapped me” replied Clarke in a furious tone.

“Fierce!”

               The woman moved a little and Clarke was able to see what she looked like. She must be in her 40s, her face features were severe and her blonde hair, much darker than Clarke’s, was perfectly tied back.

“My name is Nia. My brother said you didn’t want to share the information you agreed to seek for us, is that true?”

“Technically, I never said I agreed.”

               Nia sniggered dropping her head. She took a few steps towards Clarke, her chin still resting on her thorax.

“’Technically’.” The woman chuckled slightly. “I have to say Clarke, I wasn’t expecting that.”

“And what were you expecting?”

               She wasn’t thinking. She was just afraid of what would happen to her and what they wanted to do to Lexa. But she didn’t want to show off any of that so it came out as insolence.

“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe a little more fear. You are a half blood after all. But that’s not the point. The point is,” her face was now very close to Clarke’s, and the woman’s height didn’t help her relax, “I don’t recommend you to play with words in my company.” She seized Clarke’s chin. “You don’t know who I am, yet. But don’t worry. You soon will.”

               Nia let go of her face, threw her one last evil grin and turned tail. The door was closed loudly, leaving the room empty. Except for Clarke, whose face had not moved an inch. She had never met that woman but she didn’t look like someone you should hang out with. She was still trying to process what was happening when she realized her breath had fastened.  I wasn’t the moment for a panic attack. She let her body slide along the wall and brought her hands to her face.

“Happy place, happy place…” Clarke repeated in her head.

               She remembered this technique from her long hours of psychoanalysis sessions with her mother’s friend. The blonde closed her eyes firmly and focused on her thoughts. She found herself sat on the couch of the Gryffindor common room, all snuggled into a certain brunette’s side. Her body relaxed and her breath started to calm down. But her heart clenched as she thought about what might happen to this relationship. It was only beginning but it already counted so much for her. And she feared it could be over. Lexa must think she got closer to her because she needed to. And a part of it was right, but the second she started talking to that beautiful girl she knew she couldn’t do it. Deep down in her soul, she knew she was in trouble, but the good kind of trouble, aside from the whole kidnapping thing of course.

She dropped her hands on the floor, let out a loud breath and thought. She was probably in danger. Nia didn’t seem to be a nice woman. One thing was for sure; she wasn’t going to say anything about Lexa. But how was she going to get away from this?

***

               Lincoln opened the door of Clarke and Octavia’s room and came nose-to-nose with Lexa redoing Clarke’s bed. Octavia and Raven entered after him.

“Hey” said Raven to Lexa.

“Hey” she answered.

               Lexa went back to what she was doing. Everybody got to work during several minutes, returning all the stuff in the room.

“Argh, it’s pointless, there is nothing” said Lexa punching the bedside table.

“Lexa calm down, we’ll find something.”

               He had already seen his best friend get out of control out of anger and tried calming her every time he could.

“This guy, he doesn’t remind you of anyone?” asked Raven.

“I don’t – I feel like I know him but I don’t know from where or how.”

               She sat roughly on Clarke’s bed and ran her hand through her hair.

“Maybe someone suppressed your memories about him. This story seems nebulous” said Octavia.

               They all looked into each other eyes. Lincoln found Lexa’s gaze and knew she was thinking about the same thing.

“Do you want me to do this?” he asked.

“That guy definitely knew something about me and we don’t have any lead to find Clarke. I trust you Lincoln!”

“What? What are you thinking about guys?” Octavia asked.

“Legilimency” understood Raven. “Seriously? You guys are able to do this?”

“Uh, yeah” said Lexa.

“One day, professor Forest told us, Anya and two others of her favorite students, to join her in the room of requirement and taught us Legilimency.”

“But that’s against the rules” interrupted Octavia.

               It wasn’t originally taught because it could be dangerous and was considered as an invasion of someone’s mind. Some people had lost their mind because of it.

“Yes, well, Indra isn’t really fond of rules.”

“We should do it somewhere where no one could enter at any moment” said Raven.

“I know a place,” said Lexa, “follow me.”

               They walked and climbed stairs in a direction while all the other students went the opposite direction, towards the great hall. Lexa opened a wooden door and they all stepped in.

“A broom closet? Really?” stated Raven rolling her eyes.

“Ok, one of you could stay out there to prevent anyone from entering and the other could keep an eye on us, in case anything happened” said Lincoln.

               Lexa and he already started meditating as they both sat cross-legged, face to face. Lexa had to concentrate on opening her mind and not use occlumency, like Indra had taught them. Raven went out the small room and stood there crossing her arms. Her heart was racing; she couldn’t wait to have an update of the situation. Octavia remained silent in a corner of the closet, already analyzing her friends’ faces.

“Ready?” asked Lincoln, slowly meeting green eyes.

               Lexa nodded her head and let Lincoln dive into her gaze. He raised his wand and said.

“Legilimens!”