Chapter 5
The next few days, Helene had managed to avoid the Weasley twins that had seemed to be popping up just about everywhere since the night they had walked to the infirmary together; it didn't help that Celia was also hanging out with the twin brother she had developed a crush on. Of course, she couldn't do much in the classes that she shared with the Gryffindor sixth years, but she damn well tried, anyway. She had made it to where she would arrive just in time to find a seat with a fellow Slytherin so that he couldn't approach her, and she also made it to where as soon as class ended she had left before he did. She didn’t want to risk yet another awkward moment with the tall ginger-headed boy.
Of course, it was fair game though, seeing as the boy had made it his mission to get her to simply look in his direction. Whether it be from throwing a balled-up piece of paper or staring her down in the great hall, he always seemed to make the situation more awkward, and other students were starting to notice.
“Celia, this is getting ridiculous, Draco is starting to get word and I don’t know about you but I can speak from experience that I do not want to be interrogated by the little devil,” Helene found herself complaining to her friend for the fourth time that week.
“Really, Helene, it can’t be that bad. Besides, it’s not like he’s done anything wrong, just a little staring,”
“Speak for yourself. If I get another paper ball thrown at me, I think I may hex him in the middle of class.” Celia did nothing but laugh at her friend.
“I wouldn’t expect you to understand, George Weasley has been practically glued to your side as much as he is with his brother since you two talked on the way to the infirmary,” Helene said as they both made their way outside into the courtyard, it seemed like this was the first time since arriving back at Hogwarts that the skies were clear, this also meant that they weren’t the only ones with the same thought because half of Hogwarts were outside lounging on the grass.
“It’s not like that,” the girl blushed. “We just so happen to both seem to really like potions and we were sharing some thoughts on a few things, that’s all,” Helene shot her an unbelieving look.
“Right, and it has nothing to do with the fact that he could also possibly like you as well?”
“As if, do you see that boy? With his long hair and lean body? He’s got half the girls in our year nipping at his heels and that’s only our year. Let’s not even talk about the others.”
“Right, and it still seems that the only person he’s given the time of day is you.” Helene rolled her eyes.
“Hey, isn’t that Draco?” Celia called out, pointing in the direction of her cousin standing under a tree, with Potter in front of him.
“Oh no,” Helene walked over, just as Professor Moody shot out, wand drawn, and transformed the boy into a ferret. On instinct, Helene drew her wand, and it was pointed at the Professor.
His eye flicked to her; Draco was left dangling in the air.
“Ms. Lestrange,” he said her name, eyebrows raised. The students around gasped at the sight of a student drawing a wand on a teacher.
“Let him go,” she snapped, holding still firm. She had absolutely no clue what she was doing, and why she thought it was a good idea to draw a wand on an ex-auror, but here she stood, wand frozen in the air, face firm and anger flared in her eyes. Since her first class with the man, she has felt nothing but bubbling hatred, and this took the cake. Everyone knew not to mess with Draco, not only was it due to the fact that he was a Malfoy, and his father could practically destroy any family in the Wizarding community if he wanted, but it was also due to the fact that everyone knew how protective the Lestrange girl was of the boy. Usually, she wouldn’t strike out in such a public place as she was now. However, this wasn’t a normal situation.
“You should know better than to raise a wand to a teacher,” the man practically spat.
“And you, Professor,” she spat back with the same vigor. “Should know better than to cast spells on students. How undignified of you,” The crowd was still silent, everyone waited for the next move when McGonagall appeared wand raised, ready to pounce on the other teacher. Moody dropped the ferret down and the woman quickly changed it back to its original form. She wasn’t sure what was said to the man simply zoning him out as her cousin ran off in the direction of the dungeons. Pure fear and embarrassment riddled his face.
“Ms. Lestrange,” the woman said aloud, the younger girl's eyes still trained on the other Professor, filled with a tinge of madness. The girl finally zoned back into the situation.
“Yes ma’am,” the girl looked at the other adult.
“You know that it is never okay for a student to raise their wand to a Professor. You will report to my office immediately. Is that clear?” She snapped.
“Yes Professor,” the girl nodded, as the other turned around and stomped off. Next thing she knew, Moody had grabbed Harry and had him follow the Professor. The girl's eyes never left his retreating figure.
“Helene, are you fucking mad!” Celia yelled as she grabbed her best friend's arm. “What the bloody hell was that?!”
“I don’t know, I just reacted. Something about that man Celia. He just rubs me the wrong way,” Helene whispered to her friend as she brushed her hair back. Some students were still lingering watching the two. “And when I saw Draco just dangling in the air like that, I-” She broke off with a gulp, everything coming back to her quickly. “Bloody hell, what did I just do?” Helene whispered, face cast into a look of worry mixed with confusion. Her friend was looking at her with concern.
“I need to go see McGonagall,” Quickly, without saying another word, she scurried off to the office, shoulders bumping with a few students as she made her way out of the courtyard. Her friend left in her wake, worrying after her.
~~~
Upon making it to the Gryffindor head of the house office, she took a deep breath. She was prepared for the immense trouble she knew she was about to be in, but how else was she supposed to act? What kind of school allowed a teacher to transfigure students and humiliate them in front of half the school?
Sighing, she knocked on the door, and the voice on the other side responded with a very displeased “Come in,” Helene opened the door, face impassive, shoulders squared, and head held high, as would be expected of someone raised in Malfoy manor.
“ Professor,” Helene spoke.
“Ms. Lestrange, come in and close the door,” and Helene did just that. She closed the door and looked straight at her teacher, who sat at her desk, hands folded, with her face screwed up as if she tasted something sour.
“Sit,” she gestured towards the seat in front of her.
Once sat, Helene could hear her heartbeat in her ears, she wasn’t one to get into trouble, even that one time she had sent a student to the infirmary for harassing her about her father, no one could prove it was her, and the student never ratted on her either, too scared that she would do something worse.
“Where shall we begin?” McGonagall asked rhetorically. “How about let’s start at the beginning. What happened?”
“I do apologize, Professor. I am not aware of what happened before I arrived, just that Professor Moody had Draco transfigured and was using his wand to throw him about,” Helene answered truthfully.
“And you thought the appropriate response was to what? Raise your wand?” The gray-haired woman asked in disbelief,
“I acted on instinct Professor, I now realize it was very idiotic of me,” Helene said.
“As admirable as that is, Ms. Lestrange, no matter how unorthodox Professor Moody may have acted, it was not wise of you to raise your wand to a teacher, let alone an ex-auror,”
“Yes, Professor,”
“As I am sure you know, I will need to write to the Malfoys about this, seeing as they are your guardians, and of course, you cannot come out of this without a punishment,” McGonagall expressed. Helene simply nodded her head.
“So, I will be taking 50 points from Slytherin, and you will be sentenced to detention with me every week for the next month,” Helene lifted her head, eyes widened just a tad. She had fully expected a worse punishment. Truth be told, she was expecting to be expelled. No student in their right mind would raise their wand to a teacher, no matter what the situation was.
“Yes Professor,” Helene nodded.
“Listen well Ms. Lestrange, I can understand how uncomfortable it may be to have Mr. Moody as a Professor, especially with your past, but he is still a Professor nonetheless, and it is expected of you to show your respect. If, however, a situation occurs and you feel the need to raise your wand again, I will expect that rather than listening to your instinct, you will search me out personally, and I will be able to handle the situation myself.” McGonagall proclaimed, eyes holding a faint look of what could be mistaken as sympathy. “You are an excellent student, Ms. Lestrange, and I will be expecting better than this in the future. Is that clear?” Helene quickly nodded her head.
“Yes, Professor, I understand, and I would like to apologize for my actions. They were rash and idiotic and it won’t happen again,”
“Good, every day after classes have ended, I want you to report to my office for your detention. You are dismissed.”
Helene quickly stood up and rushed to the door, making her way out before another word could be said to her. She knew her Hufflepuff friend would likely be worrying her little head off, so she went to their usual spot, the library.