Chapter Text
III.
“They infest the darkest, filthiest places; they glory in decay and despair. They drain peace, hope and happiness out of the air around them… Every good feeling, every happy memory will be sucked out of you. If it can, the Dementor will feed on you long enough to reduce you to something soulless and evil, being left with the worst experiences of your life. They consume a person’s soul giving their “dementor’s kiss””
Clarke was fascinated by Professor Marcus Kane’s class. He was currently teaching them Defence against the dark arts in classroom 3C on the third floor and the blonde Slytherin was loving it. Dementors both captivated and terrified her. She couldn’t contain her curiosity anymore and raised her hand to ask her most wanted question.
“How do you defeat them? Or at least make them step away from you?”
Clarke reminded Kane so much of Abby. She had that strong will and beliefs, and no one could stop these two. When the younger Griffin had been put into Slytherin, he couldn’t be more proud because she would be a huge and amazing addition to his house and he made sure to remind Abby of that and at the same time calm her down when she heard the sorting hat’s words.
With his long dark robes, Kane got closer to Clarke’s desk to answer her question “There’s no specific way to defeat them. However, you can use the Patronus charm for your protection and this is the only spell that works. It’s very difficult and it consists on an incantation, which will work only if you are concentration, with all your might, on a single, very happy memory. I hope that answers your question, Miss Griffin.”
Not giving any answer, Clarke simply nodded her head with confirmation and thankfulness for explaining it to her. She couldn’t wait to be able to cast a Patronus. She had heard about the spell but she also knew it was really advanced magic. Maybe one day…
Clarke finished her lessons for the day and headed to the Great Hall to meet the gang and spend some time with them. Spotting Monty and Jasper very focused on playing wizard’s chess, she made her way to go sit next to them and Raven and Octavia joined her as well.
“Hi guys. So how’s the game?”
“shhh Clarke, I’m on my way to victory. Don’t distract me now.” Jasper answered her friend while shushing her and not taking his eyes off of the chess match.”
“Bishop to C5.” Monty said to the chess set and just like that he remarked with a “checkmate”, winning the match and leaving a very upset Jasper in front of him.
“C’mon that’s not fair. You cheated” Jasper accused Monty, pointing his finger to him with rage.
“I do not cheat. It’s not my fault that blondie over here distracted you.”
Jasper turned to his blonde friend and said in a upset tone “See? This is all your fault Clarke.”
“How is this my fault? Learn to play better then, Jasper.” Clarke stated, clearly showing that the fault only relied on Jasper.
Octavia finally intervened in the conversation after being bored out of her mind “Anyway, now that you two ended this disgusting barbaric game, we can actually talk. So, tell me things, girls.”
“There’s nothing really going on right now. But looking over to Raven, I think she has something. She has that look she has been doing something really really naughty.” Clarke replied with a mocking voice and raised her eyebrows to make her clear point come across.
“Oh Clarkey, if you thought that would upset me, you’re so wrong. You know how I am, no complications whatsoever.”
“Who’s the victim now Ray Ray?” Clarke answered to her friend, using an innocent voice when it came to the nickname that Raven hated.
“It’s Wick, from year 5 of Ravenclaw.”
“Oh so now you like them younger?” Clarke giggled and thought of how carefree Raven was. She wished she could be just like her.
“It’s so fun to see how I much I can screw over his head. I’m the best thing that has ever happened to that kid.”
“So, you actually like him?” Octavia asked, surprised at this turn of events in her friends’ life.
“Oh please O, I thought you knew me better than this. I don’t do feelings. It’s just casual fun.” Raven replied and winked at the younger Blake.
The gang returned to the old teasing around and just laughing at everything. Clarke had learning with time to treasure these moments, memorize everyone’s laugh and keep it with you, replaying it over and over again. It truly made her happy.
The next day, Hogwarts was a mix of excitement, enthusiasm, delight, and chanting everywhere. You could see kids dressed as lions or others with snake symbols all over them. Later that evening, Gryffindor would be playing against Slytherin and everyone was beyond thrilled. It was also the perfect excuse to insult each others' house and cheer with passion, strength, motivation and fury for their own house. This way, Bellamy spent half of the morning studying and the other half trying to convince Raven, Jaspar, Monty and Miller to root for Gryffindor because they obviously had the best team captain and the best chaser. But he only had that luck with Monty and Miller. Miller was one of his best friends so he would for sure root for Bellamy and Monty had always admired the Gryffindor house.
On the other hand, Raven stepped in front of him and remarked with that known courage of her “Are you kidding me? I’ll be obviously rooting for the most badass in the Blake family. Always standing up for my girl Octavia.” As soon as she said this, Raven throws her arms around the younger Blake and tightened her hold just to reassure her support to her friend.
“I second that.” Jasper intervened in a matter of seconds, agreeing with Raven.
Bellamy’s day was going just fine. He had a good feeling about today’s game and he was more than ready to kick some Slytherin’s ass. He couldn’t actually wait to take off that stupid convinced smirk of Lexa’s face, the Slytherin’s seeker. The green house had won the previous game that they played against them because Lexa had caught the snitch. As usual, Collins was always slower than Lexa, making Gryffindor lose several games and he hated the Gryffindor Prefect with all the rage that he had flowing in his veins.
But he was confident for today. Bellamy didn’t like at all to take things for granted, to be sure that they were going to win the game. However, call it a gut feeling, an instinct, a shiver or even a sign because he was prepared as hell to give his best performance yet.
The match was at 5pm and Bellamy decided he still had some time to spare and went to the Library to study for an hour or so. If he wanted to be an Auror, he had to work for that. Things had never come easy for the Blake siblings and he had suffered right at first-hand what were difficulties at home. They didn’t have the easiest childhood and they were like a young fragile chestnut, exposed to the strong force of the wind that grew strong, tall and thick with time. After their mother passed away, it had always been only Bellamy and Octavia since then.
“My sister, my responsibility.”
He raised her. He worked two jobs during the day to keep their incoming flowing, dropping little Octavia at primary school at 9am and picking her up later in the evening. The day usually ended with O tucked in bed, ready to go to sleep while her big brother read her stories of ancient history and mythology, with beautiful, strong and brave goddesses and gods.
Bellamy thought that it wouldn’t get any better than this. This was their life and he couldn’t complain. The nights were the most difficult to the older Blake. While little O was asleep, Bellamy was awake, not being able to sleep with all the nightmares that usually haunted him and involved his mother or his sister and they always ended in their deaths. So, after a long time of trying, Bellamy slowly faded away in his sleep, reminding himself over and over again of “Fears are fears. Slay your demons when you’re awake, they won’t be there to get you in your sleep.”
Until one day, on a very hot day of July (very unusual for little old rainy England, I must say), that Professor Jackson appeared in their porch to give Bellamy his letter and explain him everything about Hogwarts since he was a muggle-born and he had no idea about all of this.
“HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Thelonious Jaha
Dear Mr. Blake
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment. Term begins on 1st September.
Yours sincerely.
Jackson.”
And that is how Bellamy ended up in Hogwarts, leaving Octavia behind at the care of a family friend of theirs and just to have her join him three years later. It had been really difficult for him to say goodbye to his little sister but they had this shot at Hogwarts and he just couldn’t pass it on. It concluded on being the best thing that had ever happened to the Blake siblings.
Blake was sitting alone with his eyes buried in a five hundred pages’ book when Clarke creeped around him, without him noticing her subtle presence. But suddenly, a strong smell of vanilla and sea salt hit his nose just to make him realize that was her and look up to just confirm exactly that.
With a shy smile on Clarke’s face, she whispered to him “Hello stranger. Need a study partner for the afternoon?”
“Princess, to what do I own the pleasure? I knew you couldn’t get enough of me but this is becoming too much, don’t you think?”
“You’re such an ass. All the other tables are full and you were here alone studying and I figured you wouldn’t mind the company.” Clarke replied with her books smashed into her chest, being ready to turn around and leave.
“Although I was absolutely loving your stalking of me, that’s an okay fake excuse that you came up with. If you wanted to have a fun time with me, you just had to ask.” He answered with that famous cocky smirk on his face and continued “but, please, sit, princess.”
Clarke let out a really profound groan because Bellamy irritated her so much. It was the truth. OWL’S were coming up and the library was full. It was completely not her fault.
After some time passed, Clarke noticed Murphy approaching Bellamy with a really impartial face. Excusing himself outside, Bellamy left to go talk with his loyal friend and his eyes on the ground. The blonde Slytherin started to get worried because Bellamy was taking too long and she feared something bad had happened. Making her way out of the Library, Clarke is faced with a really angry Bellamy; close to explode like a nuclear bomb and with Murphy's body screaming uncomfortable signs.
Getting near to Bellamy, she stopped him from pacing around the place and for him to look at her and finally, with the evident fear in her eyes, she asked “what happened, Bell?”
With the anger and fury that had taken over his body, he didn’t stop himself to notice the sudden change of the nickname that Clarke used. Usually it was Bellamy or Blake, but most times it was simply just asshole, never Bell. He also didn’t realize the gentleness and the delicacy she put on to touch him and reassure him everything was going to be fine.
“It’s Octavia.”
“Oh my god, what happened??” Clarke asked with a huge fear and concern in his voice, literally shaking with the worry that was held captive in her body.
“Murphy caught Octavia kissing Lincoln near the Quidditch field.”
As soon as his words were out of his mouth, Clarke smacks Bellamy’s arm with some good strength.
“What the hell Clarke? Are you mad?”
“No, you’re the mad one here. I was so worried that something bad had happened to Octavia and after all it was just an innocent kiss under the bleachers. Please, Bellamy.” Clarke replied and stepped away from him, rolling her eyes at his overreacting.
“Just a kiss? Lincoln is one of my best friends. He’s also two years older than her. What was she thinking? She’s just a child for fuck’s sake.” Bellamy said, exploding in a ball of rage, making Murphy leave them both to go to the Slytherin’s common room.
“You must be kidding me. Octavia is not a child anymore. She can make her own decisions and you have nothing to do with it.”
“What are you talking about? I’m her goddamn brother.”
“Yes, you are. And you’ve been protecting her all of your life but she has the right to take risks and see for herself.”
Lowering his head now, Bellamy whispered, showing an unexpected vulnerability “He’s going to hurt her.”
“You don’t know that. Lincoln’s such a great guy and you know that because he’s one of your best friends. And if he’s with your sister, knowing that if he ever landed a hand on her you would kick his ass with a bludger and kill him, he must be serious about this. They must be serious. They’re not just fooling around.”
“I don’t know. I’m just so mad! He’s so much older than her.”
“Enough, Bellamy. She’s your sister but she’s capable of handling herself. Just concentrate on the Quidditch match if you really think you have a chance against Slytherin. You know we’re the best of the best and we're so going to win.” Clarke finally cracked a smile and tried to change the subject to calm him down. And apparently it worked.
“You’re right. But you know deep down that Gryffindor is totally going to win today.”
“We’ll see about that, Blake.”
The Quidditch field was full of excitement, screaming and chanting, coloured in Green and Silver on one side and on the other, in gold and red. Clarke was standing up, rooting for Slytherin while her green and silver scarf hugged her neck because it was quite cold and rainy that day. Seeing Bellamy flying high and assuming his position, she could clearly see how nervous and instable he seemed. He was a Blake and he couldn’t forget easily. He was still dwelling on the whole Lincoln and Octavia situation and she hoped to God he wouldn’t mess this game up.
Lincoln took the Beater place and got himself ready to play. Exchanging glances with his team captain, he could see the anger and disappointment in his eyes directed at him and in that moment, Lincoln realized, “he knows. I’m screwed.”
The game started. Finn and Lexa made their way and flew around to see if they could spot the golden and sneaky snitch. On the other hand, Bellamy channeled his fury into the game, playing harder and stronger than he had ever played before, scoring several points. The match flew naturally until Bellamy was consumed by all of these thoughts of Lincoln and his sister together and with the rage inside of me and a very instable temper, the older Blake instead of throwing the quaffle into the ring, he threw it directly to Lincoln.
Surprised by the unexpected quaffle coming his way, Lincoln had no time to escape the certain destiny that awaited him. It hit him, making Lincoln lose consciousness and drop to the ground.
Everywhere you could hear an “ahhh” coming from the crowd while standing up to see how was Lincoln's condition. Clarke knew that Bellamy had messed up, big time. Octavia was going to be so pissed.
At the same time, Lexa caught the snitch and the victory went to Slytherin.
Octavia, with really clear and pure tears running down her face, ran into the middle of the field to see if Lincoln was okay. The Gryffindor beater stood there, lying down unconscious while the nurses took him to the infirmary.
Finally making his way down in his precious and loyal broomstick, Bellamy encountered a really furious and crying Octavia.
The younger Blake started beating Bellamy, throwing uncoordinated punches at his chest.
“Why did you do that? Why? You stupid asshole.”
Grabbing her fists, he stopped her punches and held them tightly to make her look at him.
“He deserved that. And so much more.”
“What are you talking about?”Octavia replied, making her eyes go bigger with shock as soon as she heard Bellamy's words.
“Oh for fuck’s sake, I know about you two, Octavia.”
Speechless at her brother’s words, Octavia was not going to back down so quickly.
“So? It has nothing to do with you. I date whoever the hell I want.”
“Yes, it has everything to do with me. You’re my little sister. It’s my job to protect you. He’s so much older than you.”
“Don’t come to me with that shit. Why does the age matter? He treats me right and we love each other.”
Bellamy felt that he had been spit out at his face with her words. On the other hand, Clarke stood there, watching the epic Blake fight unfold.
“Excuse me? You what?”
“Yes, we love each other. This has been going on for some time now.”
"What do you know about love? You're just a child, for god's sake."
"I sure as hell know much more about it than you. I'm not pathetic to the point of only sleeping around."
ouch that hurt.He though to himself but kept going anyway “And you never thought of telling me any of this, no?”
“Seeing your reaction now and what you just did, I’m so glad we didn’t tell you.”
“Don’t you dare telling me that. I care for you Octavia, goddamn it. I’m just trying to protect you.”
“I don’t need your protection. I grew up, you know? That tends to happen in this life.”
“Yes, you'll always need it. Don’t you see that I’m right? Trust me on this, he’s going to hurt you.”
“No, he’s not. We’re serious about this. And now everything went wrong because of you. Everything that has gone wrong is because of you.”
Not capable of handling this fight any longer, Bellamy exploded.
“I don’t care. You’re my little sister and you’re just screwing me all over. My life ended the day you were born and this is how you pay me back? I am protecting you. Everything that I did and have been doing has been to protect you.”
As soon as Octavia heard her big brother’s words, she felt like little sharp blades were entering her skin, trying to leave deep and bloody bruised marks. She felt betrayed. She was hurt. She was helpless.
“Fuck you, Bellamy.”
And just like that, Octavia tried to wash her tears away and turned around from her brother to go and see how Lincoln was doing.
Behind her, the Quidditch field was becoming lonelier, leaving a silent Clarke shocked at Bellamy’s words and a Bellamy regretful of the things he had just said, wearing a glazed look at infinity.
Bellamy Blake was definitely not having the best of days.