Serena Black || 𝑨𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒂

Cold Turkey

• Serena Black •

"Some people remain as a mystery,
that's just the way it is."

The week after the party had begun and, after Serena had already caught a few wry looks in the Great Hall, a light green scarf with daisies on it now adorned her neck. It probably wasn't the most fashionable choice, but she hadn't been able to find anything better and at least it had the desired effect. She was still being looked at strangely, but no one seemed to be taking a second look so the rumour mill would be once again boiling over.

It was Tuesday and the Gryffindor was beginning to question her apparent luck. So far, no one had mentioned her supposed night with the Slytherins and the scarf remained in place. She had also managed to successfully avoid Harry and Edmund without being particularly noticed. However, there was the deceptive appearance that this luckiness was about to end and this appearance was called Snape.

Not suspecting anything bad yet, Serena settled down in her usual seat next to Hermione and took out the utensils she needed so that the Potions teacher would have the honour of reprimanding her at the beginning of the lesson. But Snape wouldn't be Snape if he didn't find something to criticise, "Miss Black, take off that silly scarf."

"I-I can't," she stammered, knowing at the same moment that it would do her little good to talk her way out of it. Still, it was probably worth a try. "I'm ill."

Her teacher raised an eyebrow as he fixed her with his dark eyes and a mocking expression crept onto his waxy face. "Ill?"

Serena hastily averted her eyes, because she had not forgotten how he had read her mind in the previous school year. She was aware that he didn't believe a word she said, but she certainly wasn't going to back down and so an uncertain expression left her lips. "Yes."

"Then you should go to the hospital wing after class and now take this thing off," he replied coldly. She bit her lips and had known the battle was lost before she had even opened her mouth. Hesitantly, she fiddled with the knot, slowly slipping the silky material from her skin as she tried to drape her hair over the affected area like a curtain.

But in vain, on Snape's face his lips had long since curled into a thin line, "Perhaps you should concentrate more on your lessons and try less to follow in your father's footsteps."

Serena watched with a scowl as he finally let go of her and began the lesson. Hermione, however, like quite a few students, still hadn't turned away from her and was staring at the mark on her neck, which had now turned an even darker colour. "Um... Serena, you have there..."

"I know," she replied quickly, trying to pretend that she was following the lesson, which for once her friend didn't seem to be doing at that moment. The thing on her neck must looked really interesting when even Hermione seemed distracted by it. "Who...?"