Mrs. Black

20th December 1972

I stealthily hid myself behind a wall, waiting for Black to exit his common room.

I have been livid since yesterday.

That son of a bitch had the audacity to doodle on my face. I have been irate since yesterday.

Pince had woken me up last night when it was almost time for curfew. After I arose, I discovered a letter from Black beside me alongside my parchment where he had scribbled down the recipe. The book was positioned beside it as well. I was surprised and skeptical. I had checked the recipe on the parchment and the book once with the help of the napkin using which he had marked the page. They matched. I was extremely surprised. Helping me out like that was extremely out of character for him.

I sat there for solid five minutes, trying to comprehend the situation until I eventually gave up.

I messed up the letters on page using a spell so that the book won't be able to help out anymore students. I really do not fancy any more competitors.

On my way to my common room, I walked across a closed glass window and that was when I had seen my reflection and spotted the outrageous scrawls on my face. I was baffled. I had jolted immediately to the girls' loo and tried to wash it off but the doodles remained unfazed. I understood that Black had probably hexed the quill to leave behind permanent stains.

I eventually gave up on trying to scrub it off my face. Covering my face with my tresses, I made my way to my common room.

I didn't have dinner.

I had spotted Severus on my way to the common room. I snatched his scarf and told him I'd return it the next day. I went to bed so that I didn't have to face anyone with such a face.

Today is the 'next day'. I have been using it to pal my face since then.

And currently, I'm scheming to end that hellion.

There comes Black into sight with his friends environing him. He had his usual smug face that I wanted to break so bad.

'Aguamenti'

I lurched forward and shot the spell at him from behind so that he gets drenched. His friends jumped away from him and Black was taken by surprise as the spell that soaked him. He turned around and stumbled backward, caught off guard by the sudden ambush. His face was contorted with discomfort. "What the- Lierre?!"

"You son of a bitch!!" Throwing an end of Severus' scarf over my head, I darted towards Black, throwing a jinx at him.

"H-hey! Stop! What-" Black barely had time to protest as he had to start sprinting away from me as he dodged the spell. Each step was laborious because his entire body was saturated.

"Stay back, Potter, Lupin. Its between me and that menace." I hissed at Black's friends as I bolted past them. I threw more hexes at him. "HOW DARE YOU DOODLE ON MY FACE, YOU MORON?!?!"

Potter and Black obliged as they shot quizzed glances at one another.

Oh, so that menace to the society did not enlighten his little peers regarding the havoc that he caused?!

Black swerved through the corners, trying to shake me off his tail but I was determined to terminate his existence. Black roared a laughter despite his probable discomfort, "Oh, come on, don't be so mad. It was just a little bit of fun!"

"FUN?!" i launched a hex towards him, "YOU FUCKING USED PERMANENT INK AND IT WON'T WIPE AWAY!! I HAVE BEEN WALKING AROUND DRAPED LIKE A MUMMY SINCE YESTERDAY!! i WILL KILL YOU TODAY, SIRIUS ORION BLACK!!"

"Okay, okay, I admit, it was a bit extreme. But you've got to admit, seeing you walking around like that was funny as hell!!" Black ducked and dodged the hexes thrown at him.

Despite his condition, his cocky attitude wasn't wavering.

"FUNNY, HUH?!" I shoved the students of the hallway aside as I aimed more curses at him. I wasn't even slightly fazed that any of those curses might hit the students around, "I WILL MAKE YOU MEET YOUR DEMISE AND JUST LAND MYSELF IN AZKABAN TODAY!!"

I was fuming with rage.

"Whoa, calm down, calm down! You're acting like I committed the most heinous crime." Black frantically dodged the curses. His the nonchalance in his tone was faltering slightly. He must've realised how grave I considered this entire circumstance to be.

Black continued to glance over his shoulder to ensure a distance between us.

"YOU ASSUME YOU'LL BE ABLE TO GET OFF THE HOOK AFTER PULLING A PRANK ON ME?! SIRIUS ORION BLACK, I SHALL ANNIHILATE YOU TODAY EVEN IF I HAVE TO BE INCARCERATED TO AZKABAN!!!" I thrusted away any student that emerged in my way as I continued to aim more jinxes at Black.

"Alright, alright, you're really starting to scare me. You know that?" A hint of trepidation ghosted his voice as he desperately attempted to keep as much distance between us as possible.

I am not the most athletic person.

At least not on feet.

But the fire of wrath that was flaming inside me bestowed me with immense energy to run without feeling any surge of exhaustion.

"BE SCARED!! I SWEAR TO MERLIN THE MOMENT I LAND MY DAMN HANDS ON YOU, YOU SNEAKY COCKROACH!!" I yelled as a directed another curse at him.

"Oh, come on, I'm not a cockroach!!" Black swerved around a corner, "Also, is it necessary to jest like that?!"

I veered after him, "YOU'RE DARING TO JEST?! I'LL STRANGLE YOU TO DEATH THE MOMENT I CATCH YOU, YOU HELLION!!!" I targeted more hexes at him, unperturbed by who I was shoving out of my way as I chased Black.

"No need to be so violent!!" Black wasn't glancing back anymore. He was just focused on his way ahead.

"I WILL RIP THAT HEAD OFF YOUR NECK, SIRIUS ORION BLACK!!!" I shrieked.

Out of the blue, a notion arose in my mind.

I didn't aim at Black but at the floor right ahead of him. I reused Aguamenti and made the floor slippery.

"Hey- that's a little-" His protest was cut off as he slipped and landed on his arse with a loud thump.

"Furnunculus," I finally managed to hex him. I marched to him and towered over a very apprehensive Sirius Black who had now boils surfacing on his face. I grasped Black's collar and jerked him up. I was obviously not physically stronger than him but my ire fueled me with a different kind of strength. I bored my eyes into his and pressed my wand against his throat, "I will rip you apart, you filthy jer-"

"WHAT ARE YOU TWO DOING?!!!?"

My sentence was interjected by the interference of a stern voice. A very disdainful McGonagall suddenly towered over us. My eyes shot wide as I abruptly let go of Black, stepping away from him.

Black groaned as his arse again slammed against the ground. He quickly scrambled to his feet, the boils on his face were pulsing hideously.

"She attacked me, Professor!!" Black protested with a whiny voice, pointing an accusatory finger towards me.

"Shut it, you filthy blo- I mean, Black." I cut myself off as I had earned a sharp glare from the professor. I removed the scarf, unveiling the doodles that Black had scribbled on my face to her. "He drew on my face with permanent ink while I was asleep!"

Black had sniggered when I removed the scarf but held it when McGonagall glared at him sharply.

McGonagall examined the drawings on my face with a stern look.

"I-it was just a prank, Professor." Black said meekly. The excuse was lame, pathetic and abhorrent.

McGonagall shook her head disdainfully, "Look at the two of you! One is drenched from head to toe while sprouting boils from his face while the other has her face full of doodles. This is extremely unacceptable, Miss Lierre, Mr. Black."

"He did it first!" I protested.

"I was just playing around!" He objected weakly. But I was relieved to see the expressions on McGonagall's face that demonstrated that she was not really buying his act.

"You stup-" I abruptly cut myself off when McGonagall shot me an icy glare. i cleared my throat.

Through the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of Black smirking smugly, evidently relishing the fact that I was unable to insult him in front of a teacher. Oh wait until I find you alone. McGonagall sighed vitriolically. "Silence! Both of you!"

I lowered my gaze to the floor, trying to appear as contrite as possible even though the flame of my wrath wasn't extinguished.

McGonagall pinched the bridge of her nose, massaging her temples before she spoke again, "Miss Lierre, I understand your fury, but resorting to violence and hexes is not the answer." She shifted her gaze to Black who ate up his snort the moment the professor's eyes landed on him, "And you, Mr. Black, you know very well that your prank has gone too far. Your behaviour is unacceptable."

"Yes, Professor." I mumbled grudgingly.

What does she mean violence isn't the answer? What was I supposed to do? Take Black out for a cup of tea and discuss the matter diplomatically with him?

Black mumbled a reluctant acknowledgement of his responsibility in the situation. McGonagall shook her head disapprovingly, "You will both be serving detention with me for a week and I don't want to see any more incidents involving you two. Also, twenty points from Gryffindor and thirty points from Slytherin. Don't look at me like that Miss Lierre, you know you were aiming deleterious curses and hexes at your fellow year-mate."

Those weren't even The Unforgivable ones...

But losing house points didn't bother me currently.

"Detention with him?!" I shrieked but I diverted my gaze back to the floor again after earning another steely glare from McGonagall, "Yes, Professor."

A taunting snort escaped Black's mouth but he shut himself up as McGonagall shot a warning glare at him before turning back to me, "Yes, detention with Mr. Black. You will both be working together under my supervision. No more brawling or misbehaving, understand?"

"Yes, Professor," I muttered reluctantly.

McGonagall nodded, "Good. Your detentions will begin after you return from your holidays. Yes, Mr. Black, the very night you return. Seven o' clock every night for a week. Be punctual and don't be late."

Her eyes then flickered between me and Black. She grimaced at the obvious unpleasant sight of doodles and boils. "And for the love of Merlin, get yourselves cleaned up. Head to Madam Pomfrey WITHOUT FIGHTING."

"Do I HAVE to go with him?" I frowned.

McGonagall raised a brow at my protest, "Yes, you do. Its a part of your punishment, Miss Lierre. Got any problem with it?" Her tone made it evident that there was no room for negotiation on this matter.

"No, Professor," I sighed despondently, "I'll go with him."

McGonagall nodded, "Good. Now, head to the hospital wing and have Madam Pomfrey fix your faces before the classes start. You're both dismissed." She gestured us to leave.

Shooting a dirty look at Black, I walked ahead. I could sense Black sauntering behind me.

The journey halfway was extremely peaceful until my lovely nemesis decided he should talk again. "You know, you look ridiculous with those doodles all over your face."

I inhaled a sharp breathe to soothe myself down. Calm down, Y/n, this hellion just yearns attention. If you do not pay him any heed, that smart mouth of his would shut itself.

I pretended I didn't hear him.

Black chuckled under his breath and followed me closely. "Oh, come on, don't be so grouchy. I think the doodles suit you."

Oh Merlin! How could anyone be so annoying? I continued to pretend he didn't exist.

"You know, you're no fun when you're like this. Where's that feisty attitude of yours, eh?" Black taunted.

I presented him my middle finger.

But Black was somehow still sniggering even after being affronted by me like that, "There it is, the attitude that I know all too well."

"Can you shut up for once?" I groaned, finally giving in to talking, more like arguing with him again. This boy just boils my blood.

"Oh, look who's back!" Black exclaimed ecstatically as he managed to provoke me into speaking or snapping back at him again.

"URGH!!" I groaned and marched forward into the Hospital Ward.

Pomfrey was nowhere to be seen. Perhaps it was because it was still early. "She's probably in her office." Black yawned, despite the fact that the boils on his face seemed excruciating. But I felt no remorse. I was attacked first and hence its only ideal if I'm attended to first.

Black glanced over to me and then darted towards the office. I realised what he was intending. I dashed to the door as well.

We had reached the door at the same time. But obviously the entrance wasn't spacious enough for the two of us to enter at the simultaneously. Especially when we were trying to shove the other one out of our way. This resulted in a comical but awkward scene where the two of us desperately tried to squeeze into the cramped space, landing in Black's body pressed against mine. It was uncomfortable and weird.

"What the hell are you doing?" I snapped.

"What does it look like I'm doing? I'm trying to go in, just like you." He tried to shove me away but I held ground.

"Ever heard of the phase 'Ladies First'?" I snarled.

"Wow, Lierre, you're a lady?" Feigned incredulity that was full of sarcasm and mockery dripped from his words.

"I will rip all your hair from that brainless head of yours." I hissed. How can someone be so infuriating?

"Thank you, Lierre, but I don't want your filthy fingers in my beautiful locks." Black sneered with contempt, bringing his face closer to mine just to get under my skin. The worst part was that he was successful in doing so.

"You-"

My words were interrupted as Pomfrey appeared in front of us. She raised a puzzled brow at the scene unfolding infront of her. She gaze shifted from my face full of doodles to Black's boils. "What on earth is going on here?"

Black was distracted transiently. So, I seized the opportunity to give Black a vigorous push and entered the office. "Fix my face." I said to Pomfrey.

Black stumbled backwards fleetingly with an offended expression before positioning himself beside me. Pomfrey frowned at the scene. "Care to explain what happened?"

Is she bound to ask so many questions? "This blood trai- I mean, Black here doodled on my face with permanent ink."

"Is that true, Mr. Black?" Not questioning the interim slip of my tongue when I almost called Black a blood traitor in the presence of a teacher, Pomfrey turned to Black.

"Oh it, is," I spoke before Black could open his mouth, "We've already got detention and deduction of house points from McG- I mean, Professor McGonagall. Yeah fix his boils too I suppose. But attend to me first. I have classes."

Black abruptly swiveled his head towards me, "Excuse me, you're not the sole to have classes. I have them as well. I literally have excruciating boils all over my face. I obviously need treatment first."

"My face was attacked first!" I protested.

"Boils are far more portentous than some damn doodles, Lierre!"

"You know what? I can't really spot any difference. You look hideous with or without them. Oh wait, actually the boils are perhaps making you better-looking!" I sarcastically said.

"Oh yeah? You look utterly ridiculous with those doodles on your face! Its like looking at a poorly drawn picture by a kindergartener!!" He retorted.

Truthfully, I don't even have the slightest idea what a kindergartener is.

But the term sounded degrading.

"So, you're calling yourself a kindergartener?"

"Hey, I'm a damn good artist. Those doodles are just an evidence of how much of an artistic prodigy I am." A hint of pride lingered in Black's voice.

"Then those boils are my piece of art as well." I said with mock erudition.

"Oh, please. Your 'art' couldn't even compare to my doodles. Its like comparing a stick figure to a Picasso." He scoffed out a taunting bark of laughter.

"The hell is a Picasso?!"

"Oh, Lierre, you're such an airhead. Picasso was a muggl-"

"Oh I don't have any interest in you and your sickening muggle obsession. Why don't you stick that so called stick figure up your-" But Pomfrey cut my words.

"Enough!! Both of you, behave!!" She shot the both of us a sharp disapproving glare.

I turned to her and fluttered my eyelashes, "Me first please, Madam Pomfrey."

She sighed, "Alright, alright. You first, Miss Lierre." Pomfrey motioned me to take a seat on a nearby chair. As I went to the chair, I stuck up a middle finger behind my back at Black jeeringly, out of the sight of Pomfrey.

I didn't need to look at him to sense the grudging glare he was shooting at me.