The Crazy Witch

I saw Edward walking towards the school building when I reached school the next day. I ran to join him.

"Hi." I said, breathless.

"Hi. I didn't expect to see you here today." Didn't you?

"I wanted to talk to you about something. There have been more 'animal attacks'."

"So, I've heard."

"C'mon, you can't possibly think they really are animal attacks. I don't think any evidence of a man-eater has been identified."

"You think? I thought you worked at the forest department?"

"I quit." The bell rang at the moment.

"Let's talk during lunch." He said, taking out a leaf out of my hair.

I went inside the class, smiling.

Jessica and her gang were giving me hatred filled glares every chance they got; but otherwise they didn't do anything to 'make my life miserable'.

I wouldn't admit it to myself but I was secretly looking forward to meeting Edward at lunch. I saw him sitting alone when I entered the cafeteria. His tray contained a little too much food, even for someone who was pretending not to be a vampire.

"Your family is hiking again?"

"Mmm Hmm." He answered, taking a bite of the pizza. I sighed at the lengths he was going to prove he was human.

I tried to think of something to about the murders without giving away that I was a witch and that I knew that they were vampires. I came up with nothing.

"What are you thinking?"

It must be frustrating for him to not know that, listening to everyone's thoughts but mine. I wondered what was the reason for my immunity to his powers. Maybe all that Occulmancy practice with Harry paid off.

"I was thinking that if it is a vampire who is doing all this and if he is caught, what is supposed to be done with him." I didn't expect any help from the Ministry and even Azkaban wasn't as secure as it previously was.

He didn't hesitate. "It's obvious, isn't it? If he is a vampire, he must be evil and he must be killed."

I was shocked at his unflinching reply. "That's racist, you know."

He raised his eyebrow. "Racist?"

"Yes. You can't say someone is evil just because he is a vampire. Well, this one definitely is, but not all of them are."

He smiled. "You should become a vampire rights activist."

"I might." I said.

Oh my God! Was I flirting?

.......................................................................................................................................................................................

"So, how did you know about Jessica's plan?" I asked Edward, already knowing the answer, as we walked towards the nearly empty parking lot.

Edward had told me to 'watch my seat' when I was entering my Physics classroom. I was puzzled as to what it meant until I saw the carefully concealed red paint on my seat, which would look nothing less than period blood on my white pants. This was low, even for Jessica.

"Just heard some gossip." Edward answered.

I stifled a smile.

Suddenly, as if in a dream, I heard a voice. "Crucio."

And all the nerves in my body were on fire. I could not feel anything except the pain. It was too much. The only thing I was aware of except the pain was the high pitched cry. It grew louder and louder till it hurt the ears.

Then, as quickly as it had come, the pain stopped. So did the cry. I found myself lying on the ground. Edward was kneeling beside me, holding me. He looked worried. Before I could get up, I heard her.

"That must've hurt a lot." I could recognize that venomous child-like voice anywhere. It was Bellatrix Lestrange. She was standing at the edge of the forest.

I got up as fast as I could. Not now, not here, I prayed, not in front of Edward. As if answering my prayer, she turned back and walked into the forest.

"Please stay here." I told Edward.

"But..."

"Please." I insisted.

I didn't look back to see if he was following, as I walked into the forest. I really hoped he wasn't.

"What are you doing here?" I asked Bellatrix, as I reached her. I tried to keep my voice as firm as I could, regretting leaving my wand at home.

"Oh, I was visiting someone. Thought I'd stop by and see how you were doing."

Visiting someone? Was Voldemort recruiting?

She stroked my cheek with her fingernail. "Although I'm really tempted, you know. The Dark Lord would be really pleased if I got rid of you."

I sucked in a quick breath.

"Maybe some other day." She said, before disapparating away.

I breathed a sigh of relief and turned back only to see Edward standing there, looking at me.

"So, you really are a witch!"