How Prudence Became Imprudent (closed)

[alariclarsstouner]

Lars smiled and chuckled when she stated that she could boil and fry an egg. “Oh, that’s basic stuff. If you want, I can teach you cooking basics, in addition to potion brewing,” he said, winking at her. For some reason, he really liked teasing her. He did not know why, but it was actually the first time he got to interact closely with someone from the opposite sex. Although he attracted a lot of girls, they were not good enough to catch his eye. He used to think that girls liked him just because he was good looking and rich and not because of whom he was. And here he is, talking with a girl, as though it was a natural thing for him. He knew that the moment she sworn to help him change his fate and when she shed tears for him even though they have just met, she saw through his facade and was trying to know the real him. And he appreciated that. He wondered whether he would be able to know her more though. Man, I gotta stop thinking. I think I’m going crazy, he thought.

“See, I told you, eventually you will just have to wait for your mother’s reply,” he then said, apparently aware that she realized the implication of her mother’s action. “Well, I guess she was too intuitive and that’s where you got your keen sense of intuition,” he added, smiling at her. He knew her to be an extremely intuitive person, a common trait shared by seers like her and his mother. “I’m sure she has all the answers you’ll need, just give her some time to break it to you gently,” he added. “And oh, I shouldn’t have dropped the subject after all,” he then said, as he knew that Professor Drayton was an exceptional teacher although she was weird. Besides, he knew that she was scared of her. “I would have loved to take her class, I want to see that famed insanity of hers,” he said, apparently amused.

Suddenly, he then heard her question on whether he can see the past by touching images. He sighed. He knew that he shouldn’t have mentioned it in the first place. However, she had been open to him; he would have to return the favor. “I see, I guess I’ve been found out,” he then said softly. “My ability is called psychometry. It is a form of extra-sensory perception that is characterized by the ability to make relevant associations from an object with unknown history by making physical contact with it. In retrospect, it means that I can know the history of the object by touching it. It’s not limited to pictures though, it can be any object...however it won’t work with people so it’s kind of limited,” he explained, careful not to leave out details.

“However, it does not classify me as a seer, because I don’t have the ability to see the future at all,” he then added to point out the distinction between their abilities.

[Prudence Campbell]

She pursed her lips, deflating like a balloon, when he said boiling eggs and frying them were just ‘the basics’ of a much complicated art named cooking. “At least I can still live in the wilderness…” She said in mock defense before adding. “I just have to find a chicken egg and worry about the hen later.” She pouted at him for about five seconds more before nodding and smiling. “Fine, I’ll attend your classes Professor.” She grinned. Him… teaching her how to cook was a bit weird. Girls should be teachings boys the basics of cooking not the other way around. “Just promise me I get to taste it first. You don’t want to end up at the Hospital Wing, trust me.” She winked.

As Lars talked about her mother’s too familiar vexing tactic, she contemplated about the p.s. in her mother’s letter regarding a potion. She did not want to dare disobey her but the thing was just not edible. She almost vomited her stomach after drinking it. At least her mother was not there and after what she said to Lars… he surely was not going to force it down her throat. He did not even know it was for her.

When he started talking about the insane professor, her attention was back to him. “Oh you should totally get back to her class!” She said, suddenly excited. “You shall see not only her famed insanity but also the reason behind its fame.” She grinned, hoping she would convince him. The insanity of the professor was unnerving and she was hoping that not being alone in the classroom with her would lessen its impact on her. But then, something occurred to her. “Or maybe you should not go anywhere near her.” She said in a small voice. Maybe she was his murderer to be…

“Oh. That’s nice. I’ve never heard of it before but it’s brilliant.” She paused. “Maybe you can use it to solve our problem? Have you tried touching people’s things around Hogwarts?” She asked. If he could see the past and she could see the future… then it would almost like they were omniscient. She eyed him, sadly contemplating what would happen if he died.

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[alariclarsstouner]

“Nah, for sure, you’ll learn from me well,” Lars said, apparently assuring her. Despite his slightly reclusive nature, he loved to teach and hep people in anything. He believed that knowledge must be shared to everyone. “You seem to think that you’ll be killing someone with your cooking...is it really that potent?” he said, flashing her a smile while she pouted at him. “Don’t worry, it’s not really that weird or something...just think about the food you’ll be cooking in no time. “

He then downed his drink in silence, thinking about what to do with the potion she gave him. For some reason, he could feel that the potion was not really intended for someone else, although he just didn’t want to ask her. He then decided to browse the books he had about potions when he gets back to the castle. “I guess, I’m a bit curious and uneasy about this potion for some reason,” he then said finally, breaking the short silence. “For sure, I’ve never heard of such a potion. Maybe I should drink it first when I’m done with it to find out if it does taste great when I altered it,” he added, knowing that it would be the easiest way to know its effect. “Not to worry though, I’m not the type that gets poisoned easily.”

He then heard her encouraging him to go back to the arithmancy class he dropped. However, owing to the insanity of the professor, he knew that he couldn’t dare take such a risk, who knows maybe something bad will happen to him. “Nah, I took classes that have a densely packed schedule and I won’t be able to fit her subject in there,” he said. He chose this method to have more free time, since for sure, sleep was eluding him for too long.

“I never tried using it...until that time when I touched her picture,” he said, as he remembered the first time he used this ability. “Although I would’ve loved to try it on other things, then maybe I would be able to make my own version of Hogwarts, A History,” he added, apparently aware of the melancholic aura she was exuding. “Are you okay? Is there something wrong?” he then asked.

[Prudence Campbell]

“Actually, it just might be.” She snorted. “I’ve never been the brightest crayola in the box when it comes to Potions. Who knows what could happen if someone actually ate anything I cooked?” She said. She could not help but laugh at his optimism. “I won’t be such an optimist when it comes to me and cooking. My ever-so-not-very-patient-but-still-most-of-the-time-patient mother gave up on me.” She told him truthfully, recalling the moment her mother left her in the kitchen muttering about her being hopeless.

She brought the last piece of her cake to her mouth and chewed slowly. She almost gaped at him when he started talking about the potion. She did not know what its effect was but she did not want him trying it. It was written in the P. S. that it was not for anyone but her. “Nah, no worries Lars.” She said after a few seconds of silence, assuring him that the potion was good. “My friend had been drinking that for a few days now and she’s well.” She tried to hide her grimace when he said the word poisoned. It then hit her that it might be a possible cause of his death. Crap. “I really don’t think you should give it a try. I think it’s a specialized potion.” She paused, trying to decide the words that would convince him. “I have a bad feeling about you trying it.”

Professor Drayton made her nervous before they discussed her. Their discussion seemed to have amplified her bad vibes. “She is a piece of insane art. I kept getting bad vibes from her…” She said more to herself than to him. “She’s insanity personified. So are her daughters…” She said unconsciously. “Maybe I should drop the class too and stay the hell away from her.”

She laughed when he said that he’d create his own version of the famous book. “Oh it’s nothing.” She shrugged. “I was just thinking.” She bit her lip, not really wanting to drag her to negative land.

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[alariclarsstouner]

Lars almost choked on his drink when she told him that her mother gave up on her about her cooking. “I remembered dad suddenly. Mom was absolutely horrified when he made the stove explode and everything. We spent half of the year trying to fix her kitchen,” he recalled, laughing at the thought. “He got himself a lifetime ban on the kitchen.” He then took a gulp of his drink, still reveling on the memory. “I’m really that optimistic when it comes to teaching someone, although I just hope that I wouldn’t fumble or anything,” he then added, sighing.

The way she was trying to talk his way into drinking the potion confirmed his suspicion. “Fine, I won’t drink it however, I want you to take a drink of it when I finish it, just a little taste test to see if it’s effective,” he then said. Apparently he could not ask her directly, he was just waiting for the right time for her to tell him more about it.

“Wait, the professor has daughters here at Hogwarts?” he then asked to confirm what he just heard. Apparently he knew although he wasn’t really sure. “I’ve heard they’re twins however their personalities clash which I think is a natural thing,” he then added, knowing that possibly one of them might be someone prudent. “However, you are still not answering my question,” he said as he pressed his hand onto hers across the table. “You can always tell me anything, it would always help if you talk about it.”

[Prudence Campbell]

“Merlin’s belt!” She exclaimed. Someone could really be that bad? Then, suddenly she became defensive again. “And I did not blow anything up, thank you very much.” She remarked sarcastically. “I just burned or smashed the yolk of supposedly sunny side up fried eggs a little over too many times that’s all.” She said, smiling sweetly. At least I didn’t blow up a kitchen so badly it took a half a year to fix it. “Nah, you won’t fumble. You’re a Ravenclaw, Ravenclaws don’t fumble a lot and they most definitely don’t fumble while teaching.” She said dramatically, assuring him by reaching over and giving his shoulder a couple of taps.

“That’s better, I think.” She said, doubt evident in her tone. At least he isn’t intending to try it now. The taste of the potion still worried her though. It was the worst among everything she tried. And, man, she already drunk a lot. She hoped her face wasn’t giving away an expression of disgust. Her intuition informed her subtly about him being suspicious. “At least I don’t think I’m going to die if I took some of it.” She added, not wanting to blow her cover now or in the near or distant future. “After all, I’m not the one with the prophesized death as of the moment.”

When he said the daughters were twins, she raised an eyebrow. “Twins? I don’t know about that. But it’s a possibility, they seem to be of the same age.” She said, recalling their faces. Both were crazy, she was almost sure of it. For the love of Merlin she hoped they were not as crazy as their mother. “That’s really sweet,” She told him sincerely, taking a deep breath and continued. “Just be careful, okay?” The last thing she needed was another death of a friend.

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[alariclarsstouner]

“I know that you are more capable than just blowing up a kitchen.” He said, apparently trying to stop himself from laughing. “Well at least you had a kitchen mishap, no matter how minor it is,” he then added, smiling at her. “I don’t believe much in my ability to teach, but I can assure you that you’ll learn from me,” he said softly, as he drank deeply from his butterbeer bottle. He actually felt good as he was comforted by the fact that she believed in his ability.

“I could just feel that you were hiding something from me, I just know it,” he said, apparently sure that she was definitely hiding the real nature of the potion from him. Suddenly, he had an idea. “I’ll try and touch this vial and I’ll know where this came from,” he said in a mockingly threatening tone. “Haha, just joking though. I will just find out sooner or later,” he then added, winking at her. However he was bad at winking and he failed. He laughed derisively at what he just did.

“Don’t worry, I am very much capable of defending myself from harm,” he then said, when she told him to be careful. “I am very much capable of dueling anyone, I can match Viktor’s skill in terms of curses and defensive spells. However, there might be some other factors that contribute to me being killed,” he then added, gulping. He was scared and his hands were shaking.

“I know I’m trying not to look scared, but I am scared," he then said softly.

[Prudence Campbell]

She gaped at him, trying to look insulted. “I can’t believe you.” She huffed then laughed. He was being funny. She could not believe a guy with a prophesized death could make her laugh. She realized he was such a brave soul. For a moment there, she could actually see why he would die a hero. He could laugh at danger in the face.

“What makes you think I’m hiding something, from you, of all people?” She asked, surprised. “I promise you, you will be the first one to know when I finally get a glimpse of what’s gonna happen to you.” She added sincerely. She hoped she did not turn paper white when he threatened to explore the vial’s origin by touching it and using his ability. What he said made her contemplate about the potion and its entire situation. She was instructed when to drink it and what the dosage was. Her mother failed to mention anything about its effects or essence. Was she hiding anything from him? She kept asking herself. No, she wasn’t hiding anything. She can’t hide anything she did not know.

Upon hearing a certain name, all he said did not register anymore. “Did you say Viktor?” She had been staying away from the Slytherin boy ever since she first saw him. He was surrounded by bad vibes and she want to puke whenever he is near her. “You aren’t talking about rude Viktor from Slytherin, are you?” She asked.

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[alariclarsstouner]

“I know, I know,” he said, still laughing, although much more controlled this time. He knew that it’s not the proper time for him to get dejected. He knew that he had support and he was not going through the coping alone. Laughing off danger is one thing he’s good at, being very adventurous despite his reclusive nature. “You know, I’m willing to lay down my life for anyone who needs to be saved,” he then said. “Although…I feel so scared right now, as to what will happen,” he added, feeling a chill down his spine.

“I believe you when you said that I’ll be the first to know when you see something,” he then said. “Well, I know that time will come when I’ll actually know what this potion is supposed to be. Sorry if I’m a bit curious,” he then added. He felt guilty about being curious about the potion and that he shouldn’t force her to tell him anything. “It’s just that I’m worried about you, I just couldn’t help it,” he said while taking a drink from his bottle. He realized it was empty so he ordered for 2 more bottles.

“And yeah, I’m talking about Viktor, from Slytherin,” he said, when she asked him. “is there something wrong with him? Are you feeling something bad from him?” he asked. “I bumped into him once and then I saw his eyes. They were terrifying. And I said to myself, these are the eyes of a vicious killer,” he added, apparently contemplating.

[Prudence Campbell]

Upon hearing his readiness to actually lay down his life for anyone who needed saving, she remained silent and eyed him for a while. He must really be intelligent to have been made Ravenclaw instead of Gryffindor. For her, he sounded more like a sixth year Gryffindor than a sixth year Ravenclaw. Prue was proud of him for he had a beautiful soul… a soul that might pass away due to its genuine beauty. “Of course you are scared. You’re still young, young people are afraid to die for they haven’t really done what they wanted to do with their lives.” She spoke as if she was already in her forties.

She had been talking about seeing something like it was an event to anticipate. The first half of her wanted to see something; but, other half was really scared to death. Seeing something would mean using the same abilities that killed Melinda; it meant she would have to truly figure out what horrible event would cause the demise of the very much alive student in front of her; and, she would have to stop it. It was a big thing to handle for a fifteen year old girl who just found out about her abilities the day before.

“I know how you feel.” She told him sincerely. “I am just as curious about this potion as you are right now. I’ve never seen anything like it before and that makes me think it’s specialized. Like it was made for a specific purpose and or reason.” She sighed, wishing she knew anything about the unique potion. “Don’t worry, next time I see her, I’m gonna ask her a hell lot of questions and bug her until she gives me all the answers I want.” She took in some butterbeer, trying to relax.

Then, she waved off his worry. “You have nothing to worry about, Lars. I already told you my friend had been drinking it and she’s fine. Stop worrying about me. You are the one whose death is prophesized. I’m not an expert in these kinds of things but I think this is the time that you should worry about yourself.” She pointed out. “If it makes you feel better, I’m not going to try it after your necessary alterations.” I’ll just pray to Merlin that altering it would not affect whatever its effect was.

“Something wrong with him?” She asked rhetorically. “His mere presence makes me sick. It’s like his aura is completely composed of bad vibes. Never felt anything like it.” She shivered. Never had she encountered anyone emitting such terrible vibes. “Did I tell you about the bad vibes I got from the Arithmancy professor? His was still the worse between the two.” She said truthfully.

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[alariclarsstouner]

“What’s the use of being old if you haven’t done something significant in your life?” he then asked. “Judging from my way with things, it makes me wonder whether I was in the wrong house,” he added as he drank some butterbeer. “However, brave as I might be, I still have my qualms and fears and I have to come in terms with it as well.” He knew that ever since he heard the prophecy, a big part of him changed. He busied himself with work and schoolwork that he almost had no time to think about it and he knew that it was a mere form of escapism, not going to the bottom of his problem.

However, he felt that she was afraid of the consequences when she would use her seer abilities. He knew that she was really volunteering herself to help him however he was concerned with her. She seemed so fragile when she tries to use the ability and it makes him guilty. "I know you are doing your best to help me and I am happy for it. However, I want you to take it easy because I am just concerned with your safety," he then said, as he took another swig of butterbeer. He was tempted to order a firewhisky however he thought otherwise.

For some strange reason, the potion became his most pressing worry. He didn’t know why. Although he was ready to accept whatever she said about it, he just could not do it. He was already itching to start experimenting the potion’s effects. “Do not worry, altering the taste would not harm its effects and constitution so rest assured it would be alright.” He said, smiling at her.

He began to think about what she said about Viktor and Professor Drayton emitting the same vibes. “I guess it’s a natural thing, since they seem to like killing people,” he commented. “However, I agree that Viktor seems more sinister, more atrocious and shows no mercy. He seems to have no remorse at all.” He knew that most of the killers he dueled with show even the tiniest bit of remorse however, he felt that no matter what, Viktor will never feel such a thing. “I kind of look forward to dueling him however, I guess I have to work more on casting spells faster than ever if I wanted to catch up,” he then added, smiling broadly and twirling his wand.

[Prudence Campbell]

His statement made her ponder about her future both as a person and as a seer. What would be the use of her abilities if she would not be able to give anything back? Somehow, talking about death made her dwell on the possibility that she would end up exactly like the person Lars was sort of referring to – someone who aged without doing anything significant. She hoped that she would not be afraid to die when her time comes for she was able to win and finish the race. “The sorting hat is as wise as the founders. I doubt it would ever make a mistake.” She smiled at him.

“Again with the worrying, Lars.” She sighed and gave him a small smile. “Thanks though. But really, you don’t have to worry about me. I was born with this ability. I’m sure I will be able to control it in time.” She felt the truth in her words the moment each rolled of her tongue. “I’m sure this bracelet would be able to protect me.” She smiled. At least, for now. She sighed. Her life changed the moment her bracelet got lost. Even after getting it back, everything just did not went back to the way it was.

She smiled at him. “I know. I would not have trusted you with my friend’s life if I didn’t.” Then, she found herself wondering about his potion making/brewing skills. “You said your mother’s a potions master? I guess you got your awesome skills in potions from her. Just curious, do you normally alter potions or are you more of a… I don’t know, maker?” She was, after all, trusting him with her life so she felt like asking.

“Couldn’t agree more. The vibes I got from Professor Drayton, on one hand, is just logical. I can see where it’s coming from. It’s from the fact that she is crazy and… well no offence but she does look it.” She put into words what on her mind as she recalled the professor’s insanely wild hair and mad eyes. “Viktor, on the other hand, is not insane. He’s mentally stable and from what I’ve heard, he does well in his classes. He’s intelligent, smart and cunning. Meaning, the horrible vibes I’ve been getting from him comes from some sort of evil that resides in him.” She knew she looked scared and disgusted at the same time.

Did he have a deathwish? All of a sudden, she had the urge to strangle the life out of him. Was he even hearing himself talk? He was just saying how cruel Viktor was inflicted with a disability to feel remorse. Pissed, she took a deep breath to calm herself, hoping she was still keeping on a neutral face. With all that was going on with the potion and the bracelet, the last thing she needed was Lars to go try to kill himself. She wanted to ask him if he had gone mad but instead she said, “I don’t think it would be wise to want to duel with a person of his sort. Prophesized death or not, it just isn’t right.” She told him, looking at him straight in the eyes.

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[alariclarsstouner]

“I know that the sorting hat speaks the truth, yet you have the ability to choose where you would like to be placed,” he said, realizing that before he was sorted, he sort of chose between two different houses. “I had to choose between Ravenclaw and Slytherin when I was sorted. I guess if the hat wanted me to be in Slytherin, everything would’ve been different,” he added, apparently thinking about the memory. “What would you think if I was placed in Slytherin instead of Ravenclaw then?” he asked, curious. Surely, the way they would be interacting at this moment would be much different.

He listened carefully as she asked him about his potions skills. “Don’t worry, I’m adept both in potion making and altering them. You can trust me with regards to that,” he answered. “Apparently the only thing I’ve failed at was that green pill I gave to you before. It tasted really bad right? I was trying to perfect its constitution and I didn’t pay any attention to the taste at all,” he said, remembering the pill he made.

“You know, people do evil because they know and they are confident with their abilities. This certain cockiness in their personality contributes to their evil nature and I guess Viktor falls in this category,” he commented. “Nah, I think he wouldn’t be so confident if he’s not good enough and from what I could deduce in him, he’s done loads of stuff that are just horrifying,” he added, his hand on his head as he recalled bumping into him once and seeing horrible stuff.
Her piercing stare at him suddenly brought him back to reality. He realized that what he was saying was apparently like trying to catch death straight on. “I’m sorry if I was just thinking of being reckless,” he said, looking away. “I just didn’t know why I was saying such things.”

[Prudence Campbell]

Shocked at his revelations about almost being sorted to the Slytherin house, she just sat there and did nothing. Not even blinking. Him choosing between Slytherin and Ravenclaw was not what she had in mind. She thought he was asked to pick between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw. Apparently, there was still a lot about him she did not know about. The sorting hat wouldn’t have made a mistake. At the moment, she did not know the implications of her knowledge about him or the lack thereof. Little knowledge is dangerous… A warning rung in her head.

“Shunning away anyone because of their house is never clever, Lars. You said it yourself, we had the ability to choose our house. I, for one, could have willed myself to be sorted to Slytherin just for the sake of trying.” She tried to make a point. “I don’t think you being in Slytherin would have made me perceive or treat you differently.” She finished, silently hoping he got the point. “What made you pick Ravenclaw btw?”

She hoped the disgust did not show in her facial expression in any way. Seriously, the pill tasted like poop. “We are not even sure about that. For all we know it would have worked if I hadn’t spit it off.” She told him, trying to make him feel better. “The only thing I’m sure about is the fact that you did not do anything to fix its taste.” She told him frankly. He had to know so that he would be able to improve it.

Prudence was an all around smart girl but she was totally clueless when it comes to evil and creepy people. She never figured out what the hell made them all tick. When Lars talked about what’s going on with Viktor so casually, he seemed to know a lot not only about the aforementioned Slytherin but also evil people in general. Before even thinking, she blurted out. “How can you say that?” She paused and tried to think straight. “How can you say that Viktor actually did horrible things?” She paled. “You did not see anything, did you?” She asked in a small voice, sounding very young.

“It’s the Slyterin side of you. It’s your thirst to prove yourself that makes you want to do all those things you’ve been thinking of doing.” She thought aloud. Realizing what rolled of her tongue a little more than too late, she just prayed he would not take it personally and be offended.

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[alariclarsstouner]

“You know, it makes me wonder why I chose to be in Ravenclaw in the first place,” he said, apparently aware that he actually did not know why at all. “Maybe I felt that I wasn’t really at peace with people who only think about getting rid of muggles and purifying the wizarding world. I guess studying was more of my thing and besides, there are a lot of good looking people in our house isn’t it?” he added, winking at her. ”Besides, there are a lot of things and people that I don’t like there. However, do you think I would’ve done better in Slytherin?” he asked, curious of what she will answer him.

“Nah, I wouldn’t think that you would try and sort yourself into Slytherin, because apparently the Sorting Hat knows better,” he added, knowing that it was such an impossible thought. He was suddenly taken aback by a memory…something he did not wish to remember. “I guess there are some things that must be left unknown,” he said quietly.

He could see the ultimate look of disgust on her face as she was commenting on the pill. He laughed derisively and smiled. “I told you, I was just minding the effects of the pill and not its taste. I must then make sure that it tastes like heaven next time,” he answered. He knew that he had to work on it along with the potion; he felt that there was something the potion and the pill have in common.

“I guess, I’m pretty much an evil person myself,” he then said, sighing. “That is the reason why I know how their mind works. I did not really seen anything regarding Viktor’s past, I told you my ability does not work with people. However, I was sure that his mind was twisted and that he did horrible things. “Do you really want to know what kind of evil person I am before?” he then asked, apparently curious again. “Before, all I was thinking was trying to prove that I can actually be the best and that’s what made me thirst for power. However, a tiny event changed my life and made me into who I am now," he added.