Spawn of Azkaban

Chapter Twenty-Two

Bianca just sat down quietly at the one seat left. It was right next to Cassie and directly across from Moody. Cassie gave her a sideways glance then rolled her eyes before turning back to Moody. "I still don't get why we have to have detention together," she huffs, crossing her arms in front of her chest.

Bianca wills herself to stay calm. She clenches her fists and feels her fingernails digging into her palms. As the tension in her fists grows, her anger lessens.

"I know neither of you is particularly fond of this arrangement," Moody says. His glass eye was looking at the table, most likely seeing through it at Bianca's clenched fists. "But I thought it'd be the fittest."

Neither of the girls said anything so Moody nodded before continuing. "Well, two months is a long time. I figured you two could use this time to bond. I think you'll find it that you two have more in common than you may think."

"Not likely," Cassie snorts giving Bianca another sideways glance. You don't know the half of it, Bianca thought.

"Well, for your first detention I want you two to go through this book and circle all the As," Moody grins pulling out an old Defense Against the Dark Arts book. It was at least two inches thick and barely holding on at the seams.

"You're kidding," Bianca says, her first words since entering the office.

"Oh, so she speaks," Cassie says with a devilish grin.

"Alright girls, play nice. I'll be back in an hour or so to see how you're coming along," Moody says before getting up and hobbling towards the door. "Oh and no using magic."

The door slams behind him and Bianca sighs. She grabs the book, dust flying in the air as she does. She flips open to the first page and finds an A in the title. She circles it with her quill.

"So do you want to take turns or what?" Bianca asks feeling Cassie watching her.

"I have no intention of helping," Cassie chuckles coldly. Bianca clenches her fists again to calm herself down. Cassie was so infuriating, it took Bianca every ounce of willpower not to tackle her again.

"Of course, you don't," Bianca sighs. "Look I'm not thrilled about being here either, but I'm not going to be stuck doing all the work for the next two months."

"Do you think some half-ass motivational speech is gonna make me like you?"

"For fuck's sake you don't have to like me! Just do your part of the work!" Bianca practically shouts. She could feel her body growing hot with rage. These past few days had been hard enough, she didn't want to deal with this right now. If she couldn't calm herself down she knew she would do something she regretted. She decided to do the grounding technique Angela taught her.

"What are you doing you freak?" Cassie interrupts Bianca's thoughts. Bianca had been looking around the room for things she could see.

Bianca decided it was no use trying to argue with Cassie. She grabbed the book and quill and got back to work. The rest of their time in detention went similar to that. Cassie would make snarky comments to try to get a rise out of Bianca and Bianca would ignore her.

By the time Moody came back, Bianca was barely a quarter through the book. "Doing all the work are we Lestrange?" Moody asks peering behind her shoulder.

"Unfortunately," Bianca mutters. She wasn't going to lie for Cassie.

"The whole point," Moody grumbles angrily. He slams the book shut, "Was for you two to
work together. If you guys can't follow directions, you'll be in detention for a lot longer. I'll see you guys tomorrow, same time, same place."

Bianca sighs defeatedly before getting up and hurrying out of the room. She can feel Cassie close behind her. This makes Bianca walk even faster.

"What was that back there?" Cassie shouts once they're out of earshot from Moody.

"What was what?" Bianca spits venomously. She was tired of Cassie trying to boss her around.

"You threw me under the bus," Cassie yells pointing her hands back towards the office.

"Maybe next time try helping?" Bianca snaps back. "Sorry if I'm not jumping to rescue the psycho bitch that thinks she's God's gift to the world!"

Cassie's face flickers with hurt for a second before she masks it with anger. "Whatever, at least I'm not part of one of the darkest family's in wizard history."

"That's funny coming from you," Bianca chuckles humorously before turning and stalking down the hall. Bianca caught the glimmer of curiosity in Cassie's face though. That was satisfaction enough for her. She didn't think about the potential consequences this could have. Bianca now had a one-up on Cassie and that was all that mattered.