His Mark
[Knowledge is Power]

1st October 2016
Saturday

I noticed Cordelia's small form tense up as I mentioned my father's name.
She stuttered to a stop and dug her nails into her arm so hard that she almost drew blood.

Well it's better that I told her now, otherwise she might have gone nuts like that time with the flies if I told her on the same day... I recalled Cordelia's flustered self running about the Potions classroom, and ripping her shirt of.

"What's wrong?" I looked at her with true concern, as she digged her nails harder into her arm.
"Is it a weird name or something?"
I continued playing the clueless Muggle raised boy.

"I was correct...at least partially correct..."
She muttered under her breath.
She turned her anxious face to me.
"Do you know anything about your-er uncle's...achievements?" She stuttered nervously.
"Well, I know that he was in Slytherin, a prefect and later on Head Boy- there's even a trophy with his name on it in the trophy room- but that's it." I answered in the most innocent voice that I could muster.

Where is the nurse anyway?
I really don't feel too well...

"Is there a particular reason why you want to change into him where you could go as, oh, I dunno one of your friends?" Cordelia had already pierced her skin and droplets of blood were already starting to form.
"Well he was family, and I thought that maybe we could go to the Halloween ball together and take a picture when we change- Professor Nova said that we can't turn into anybody who will be here on that day..." I saw Cordelia's face relax slightly, seemingly understanding my reasons, as I suddenly felt another wave of dizziness rush over me.

"Wait, why do we have to do it on the Halloween Ball?" She squeaked, her initial signs of panic coming back again.

"Because I wanted to go to the ball with you, and this way you had to agree? Well you'd have to check up on the effects of the potion even if you declined my request- but this way we could go to the ball together..."
I answered and glanced worriedly at her, my cheeks turning slightly pink as I realised what I had just said.

Her mouth made a perfect 'o' as she gaped at me.

"I'm flattered, but as I said earlier, I'm not comfortable with relationships yet and I hate parties. And the effects only last one hour...and the party is five so..." She wrung her hands as she spoke, growing more flustered by the second.
"So... you're not interested in a friendship with me?" This time the disappointment in my voice was real.

And here I thought that she liked me at least as a friend.

"No, I mean...look, I'm eleven and I'm not ready for a romantic relationship now. I'm fine with being just friends,it's just...you know what I mean?" She asked desperately while waving her arms in an attempt to convey her message.
"I'm only one year older than you- and who said anything about a romantic relationship?" I asked her as I made my way towards a bed, and she sat down on the chair next to it.

"Generally when a guy asks a girl to a ball,it's out of romantic interest." She replied before burying her head in her hands as she realised the weight of her words.
"This is so awkward" she added through her fingers.

She's such fun when she's all flustered...

"Weren't you the one who said that we were too young for such things? Now I realize why you acted that way earlier..." I muttered the last part in fake sudden recognition.
"I made you uncomfortable didn't I? I'm-I'm sorry... I didn't mean to..." My eyes were scanning the Hospital Wing for any signs of the nurse or other students, Merlin forbid that someone hears this...

"No! I'm sorry for jumping to conclusions...and threatening to hex you. Merlin's beard, I swear half of our conversations are just purely apologies to each other." She said with small sound of amusement.
"At least that way we don't stay mad at each other." I answered with a slight smile and looked into her still red face.
"You're looking like a munchkin again..." I trailed off as she huffed indignantly and covered her bright red cheeks.
"Shut up, I'm not that small." Cordelia grumbled.
"And for the love of of Merlin, why do you always comment on my blushing!"
"Because you remind me of a little Hamster- adorable and fluffy..." I added with a straight face.

Its true that she's cute when she blushes, but I'm not really into fluffy animals- except Momo of course.

"I am not fluffy! How am I fluffy?" She was staring determinedly at the floor, letting her hair fall into a curtain to conceal her face.
"Well...your hair is pretty..." I said as I looked over at her shiny black hair covering her face, and cascading over her shoulders.

What did I get myself into...

"Nice one Casanova" she teased,looking up with sparkling amusement.
"Well it's true- it's dark and shiny like the night sky...not like mine, my hair has the colour of a stop sign..." I trailed off slightly confused at my own behaviour.

That fall must have given me a concussion- or I'm delirious from the fever...

"I think I'll go get the nurse...you're not yourself today, Casanova." Cordelia pulled herself from the chair and turned her head away,but not before I saw the highly amused smirk on her face.

She will never let me forget this day...
I slammed the pillow onto my face and waited for the sound of approaching footsteps.

Your hair is shiny like the night sky? By Merlin's beard! I must have a concussion...
****

"He's been looking feverish...no I haven't checked his temperature ma'am, but he's complaining of fatigue and he's been close to fainting several occasions today..."
"Miss Yaxley, Im sure he's fine please just send him to bed."
"Mam', with all due respect can you please just check on him, he looks like death himself."
I hear the concealed annoyance in her voice.
"Fine, administer this to him"
"Mam', I have no-"

After a minute or so Cordelia returned with a large bottle that was labeled with PEPPERUP- A Hot Solution for a Cold Problem and an irked expression on her face.

"That woman is the most unprofessional person I have ever had the misfortune to met." She told me in a hushed whisper.
"She only does this with me... I was here two days ago and she told me to go get a potion from Professor Nova..." I trailed off as I thought back on that particular day.
The nurse had grown visibly uncomfortable as I entered her office and caught her looking at a Muggle magazine.
"Still unprofessional. Anyways, you're suppose to take one cup of this," she squinted at the label and poured the fiery red liquid into the goblet.

"I must warn you, it burns like liquidised ghost peppers and with your hair, you'll look like you're on fire for a day." She told me as she handed me the goblet.
"Here goes to looking like a human fire extinguisher..." I said with a hint of irony, and downed it in one go.