I added the final drop of Hellebore to my potion and watched as it turned a silvery colour. I looked up at Snape.
"I-I'm finished, sir," I said quietly.
He swept over to my cauldron, a look of shock evident on his face — albeit only for a fraction of a second — when he saw that it was the perfect colour and consistency.

"You get a P," he said, after some consideration.
"A P?!" I said incredulously. P stood for poor. "This is an O.W.L standard potion, and I did it without the instructions!"
"You did not, however, complete it in time," he sneered. "And ten points from Gryffindor for answering back. Dear dear, your classmates aren't going to be very happy with you. That's seventy points you've lost in just one lesson."
I stayed silent. I would not rise to his bait.

"Leave," he finally said after a few minutes of silence. "And come to my office at seven o'clock sharp for your detention."
"Yes sir," I said quietly.
I picked up my bag and put it on my shoulder, then walked out into the corridor, where the next class was waiting. I gave a sudden start — I was going to be late for Defence Against the Dark Arts.
Oh Merlin, I don't have my book!

I ran up to the common room as fast as I could, grabbed my book, and ran down to the classroom. Everyone turned to look at me as I opened the door and walked in, a stitch forming in my side.
"I'm sorry I'm late, sir," I said quietly to Professor Lupin. "Professor Snape, uh... kept me behind after Potions."
Lupin's eyebrows went up slightly, but he didn't comment on the fact we'd had lunch after Potions.
"It's fine, sit down," he said, "but please come and see me after the lesson."
I nodded and sat down, wondering fearfully why he wanted to speak to me without the rest of the class there.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was the end of the lesson, and I was standing by Lupin's desk, fidgeting with my sleeves and waiting for him to finish his conversation with Harry. Ron was standing nearby, and if looks could kill then I'd be dead ten times over.
"I'm sorry," I mouthed, but he just turned his back on me and walked out of the room, with Harry following close behind him.

I sighed quietly, then turned to look at Lupin, who seemed to be lost in thought.
"Sir?"
He looked up suddenly and said, "Oh, hello, Ivory."
"You wanted to see me, sir?" I said quietly, pulling my sleeves down absentmindedly.
"I did," he said.
I gave him a curious, yet somewhat fearful, look.

"Earlier," he started to explain, "you said you were late because Professor Snape kept you behind after Potions."
I nodded my head slightly.
"Surely he didn't keep you over the whole of lunch?" Lupin said shrewdly.
I nodded again, looking down at the desk and pulling lightly at the bottom of my sleeves.
"He did?" Lupin's tone was incredulous, almost disbelieving.
I nodded for the third time.
"Why did he do that?"

I hesitated for a few seconds, then quietly said, "I was an hour late to the lesson."
Lupin gave me a questioning look, so I explained a little more.
"I had an argument with Harry and Ron during Care of Magical Creatures, a big one." I gave a small sigh. "When it was over, I went... I went into the Forbidden Forest," I said quietly, a little scared that he was going to punish me for this. After all, students aren't allowed into the forest unless they have permission from a Professor.

To my surprise, he said nothing, just gave me a nod as if to say, "Go on."
"I think I fell asleep, and then when I woke up, I was an hour late for Potions," I continued. "Professor Snape — uh — wasn't very pleased with me, to say the least."
"But he kept you behind for the whole of lunch?"
"He made me finish brewing my Draught of Peace," I explained.
"The Draught of Peace is O.W.L standard, though," Lupin said, raising his eyebrows slightly. "You shouldn't be doing that until fifth year."
"I know," I said quietly. "And it's hard enough with the instructions."

"You didn't have the instructions?!"
Lupin was quickly losing his calmness now.
"Nope, but I know them off by heart anyway," I said. "Not that Snape knew that."
"But that's ridiculous!" Lupin exclaimed. "You could've been seriously injured if you'd done it wrong!"
"It's not that bad," I said, shrugging my shoulders slightly. "I mean, it's hardly the worst thing he's done to me..." The words had left my mouth before I'd had time to consider the consequences.

Lupin's face went dark.

"I didn't just say that," I whispered, but it was too late — the damage had been done.
"What's he done to you?" Lupin said, his hand clenched into a fist on the desk.
"N-nothing... uh... just... I... please forget I said anything..." I spluttered.
"Ivory." His voice was both gentle and firm. "Tell me. What has he done to you?"

I was silent for about a minute before finally saying, "He — he's used the Cruciatus Curse on me... a few times..."
Lupin clenched his fist tighter, obviously struggling to stay calm.
"Is there anything else?"
I shook my head, pulling down my right sleeve as I did so, trying to make sure the words weren't visible.
"No, sir."
He looked at me sharply.
"Ivory, this is important," he said, looking down at my sleeve for a second. "I need you to tell the truth."

I absentmindedly pulled down my sleeve again.
"I-I'm telling the truth, sir, honestly..."
Ugh, why am I such a bad liar?
"It's something to do with your right hand, isn't it?" he said, looking at my sleeve again.
"N-no," I said, but it was obvious I was lying.
"Ivory, you know you can trust me," he said gently. "All I want is for you to show me your right hand."

I hesitated, then slowly pulled my sleeve up, revealing the scars that said 'I must not defend Mudbloods and half-breeds'. I put my shaking hand on the desk in front of me, looking away so I didn't have to see Lupin's reaction.

After a few minutes, I chanced a glance at Lupin. He was staring at the words as if transfixed, his face pale, his hands quivering with rage.
"When did this happen?" he said finally, his voice filled with the anger and the sadness that he was trying not to show.
"November," I whispered, blinking back tears. "The sixth of November."

Lupin did a double take of sorts, before finally saying, "That was a full moon."
I nodded.
"What happened?" he asked. "How did you get — that?" He indicated to my hand
"I had a detention with Professor Snape," I murmured.
"Why?"
I paused for a second, then said, "I can show you, if you want."