What the Heck -Open-

[Prudence Campbell]

Prudence Campbell was wandering down the famous Diagon Alley. It was 12 midnight so it was officially Friday morning. After having a delicious cup of hot chocolate and several doughnuts from her favorite shop, she went out for a stroll, trying to clear her head. It was weird though since she was totally blank at that time. Her pale face looked as blank as her brain as she absently sauntered alone, the only sound she heard was her footsteps.

Not really knowing where she was headed, she just let herself be taken wherever her feet decided to go. Maybe that night she would be able to get the vision she had been wanting to get... Or maybe she would get her first useful vision of the real future and not the future she had when she was eight or nine years old. What she needed was a strong psychic energy…

Oh my God. She shivered as she felt a real energy, a very negative one. She then heard a scream and turned toward the voice. She saw a person looking down a figure on the ground; and, whoever the figure was, he or she was not moving. Her eyes hastily looked for any sign of her current whereabouts. Shock filled her as she realized where her feet had decided to take her. She was in Knockturn Alley and she, possibly, was the only witness to a murder.

[justinlaw]

Justin Law was strolling along Knockturn Alley, armed with some items he brought out of a whim at a hidden shop nearby. He looked around, and he knew that not many people ever dared to stroll on these streets at this time of night. Knockturn Alley is a Dark wizard’s paradise and knowing this, he always keeps himself at the ready. He wondered if he could sense some excitement at this moment in time.

Suddenly, he saw a flash of green light. He then ran towards the direction of the light and when he found it, he hid against a wall to see who it is. He was surprised to see that someone was killed right in the middle of the street. What’s worse, as he saw the killer gloating over his kill, someone else was there…another witness besides himself…an innocent girl. He watched as the killer, after being found out, turned to her and was advancing his wand towards her. He could not bear to see her in harm so he quickly pointed his wand at the killer and muttered, Petrificus Totalus! The killer’s body went rigid and dropped to the ground.

He then waited a few minutes before he came out from his hiding place. “Are you alright?" he then asked. “What are you doing here in Knockturn Alley?” he asked upon seeing that she was a familiar girl in his year, although from a different house.

[Prudence Campbell]

The killer noticed her and Prudence watched with wide eyes as the killer started to advance on her. Her feet remained rooted on the spot and her hands shakily fumbled for her wand. She still saw the dead body and she had a feeling the two of them would be both six feet below the ground if she did not get her wand out in time.

As the killer advanced and her wand was nowhere in her pocket, she finally got her legs to work and started stepping backwards. Oh dear Merlin… Then the killer dropped to the ground, petrified. Prue gaped at the killer but did not dare take a step toward him.

“I’m not dead. I’m okay.” She said slowly, taking deep breaths and trying to convince herself as her eyes darted from the petrified murderer to his victim then back again. She almost jumped when somebody turned up beside her and spoke. “I’m okay.” She said and turned to the person and became face to face with Justin Law. “Thank you for um, that.” She stammered, gesturing to the petrified murderer. “You did that, right?” She asked lamely. Why Law? Of ALL people. She wanted to cover her face with her hands and stomp her feet.

[justinlaw]

Justin merely watched her look at him. It seemed to him that she's okay. However, there was something in her that seemed very weird to him. "Is there something wrong?" he asked. She seemed uneasy so he took a step backwards and bowed. "Sorry if I scared you. I know that you already know me since we're together in some of our classes. Pardon my intrusion but I really want to know your name," he said. If he wanted to make her feel at ease, he must be just as natural as possible.

He couldn't really understand why she was there in the first place. He really wanted to know. "Again, what are you doing here in Knockturn Alley? I guess you know very well that this isn't a place for people other than dark Wizards," he said. "don't tell me you were curious or something?" he added, apparently appalled.

[Prudence Campbell]

Prudence never really said hi to him along the corridors or even sat next to him in class so she had no clue about him. The last thing she needed now was for him to think she was weird or something. All she knew was that his name was Justin Law and he’s been confusing her since day one. She was surprised to hear his formal choice of words. Prudence was nowhere near formal so she decided to just be herself and did not bother with formality. “I’m Prudence Campbell, and yes we’re classmates in a number of subjects.” She told him, sounding casual.

“Heavens no.” She said calmly when he said something about being curious. “I don’t even know how I ended up here. I was just walking down Diagon Alley absentmindedly, you see.” She tried to make him understand and decided that throwing a question back at him would be a good idea. It would remove his entire attention from her. “I’m just curious. What are you doing here, um Mr. Law?” She really did not know what to call him.

[justinlaw]

When she finished introducing herself to him, he then extended his left hand for a handshake. “Pleased to make your acquaintance, Prudence,” he said to her. He knew that she was not really the type of person who would eagerly shake his hand. Nevertheless, maybe she was just too shy to do so. “I’ve been classmates with you on Defense against the Dark Arts right? I wasn’t exactly pleased on what happened,” he added.

As she told him the reason why she was in Knockturn Alley, he seemed skeptical, almost to the point of him wanting to ask if she did really made herself go there out of her being absentminded. When she finished speaking, he sighed then said, “You must know better than to set foot in this place. There are many Dark Wizards here and as you have just witnessed earlier, they are on the prowl, looking for a kill.” He was a bit caught off-guard when she called him Mr. Law. Yet he smiled and said, “Calling me Justin would be okay for me. Anyway, I had to consume my free time so I went here. Well apparently I found some good stuff here and I decided to do a little shopping for my mother.” He knew that she was equally curious as to what he was doing there.

[Prudence Campbell]

A small smile played on her lips as she listened to him talk. She found his formal tone quite amusing and at the same time, she could not help but think that probably he was always formal. “Yeah. Me too.” She said almost automatically, surprise apparent in her face. “I think Professor Fletcher went too far. Nobody deserves to be cursed like that.” She added, recovering from her astonishment.

She nodded, knowing that she should have known better. Knockturn alley was always filled with dark witches and wizards. Gallivanting around the alley at night was like doubling the risk a person who walked around the place in broad daylight. When he mentioned about the killing, Prue’s eyes was once again focused on the petrified murderer and his victim. She averted her eyes from the victim and focused on her schoolmate. “Is she really dead?” She said, her voice cracked at the end of sentence. She wanted to walk over to the allegedly dead teenage girl but her legs weren’t working right.

Prue did not really hear what he was saying. It was not an easy task to talk to someone when there was a person whose life was just snuffed out in their midst. But, when he said he something about shopping and his mother, Prue turned to stared at his face. “You shop here?” Prue blurted out then blushed as she realized how blunt she must have sounded. “I’m sorry, you just told me how dangerous this place was and all…” She trailed off.

[justinlaw]

Apparently, Justin would have normally called the professor a ‘mudblood’ even in ordinary conversation; however, he could not bring himself to do it. Maybe because he wasn’t talking to someone who shared his opinion like he did or maybe he was already conscious that it was offensive for her. “I guess maybe I defended Helena too much. The professor does not really know that she did not really mean not to follow her instructions,” he said casually. When it comes to Helena, he could talk for hours about her and still not get bored.

When she asked him if the girl was really dead, he nodded slowly. “I’m sure that it was a Killing Curse which hit her, she would not feel what I am about to do to her,” he said as he walked over to the dead girl. He took out his wand, and made light appear on it. Then, he made the light focus into a single point. He pointed it onto the girl’s chest and he traced a purple cross onto it. The girl did not respond. He just sighed and made the wandlight disappear. “Normally, a person would cry out in pain after what I did, considering that the spell I did has a diminished effect nonverbally,” he said as he looked at her. Then, he conjured a blanket to cover the body and he sent red sparks onto the air to alert aurors. “I guess in a few minutes, aurors would come here to retrieve the body and send this man to prison,” he added.

Justin nearly laughed when she asked if he did shop here. “I hope you wouldn’t think of me as a Dark wizard now that you know that I do shop here,” he said as he was holding on to the purchases. “Besides, she just told me to go here and shop for the items she asked. I bet she’s going to do experiments again, my mother,” he added, sighing. Her experiments were so disastrous, she nearly killed the servants in their manor and he had to help them clear up the mess she made.

[Prudence Campbell]

Prudence nodded in agreement solemnly. She appreciated his boldness in defending Ravenclaw’s daughter but using the m word to refer to the teacher, especially in front of her whole class, was too much. “Yes, well I’m sure she did not mean it. Helena’s very bright and all so I see nothing wrong in defending her. However, it would have been nicer if you treaded a different path while you were at it… but I could not blame you, what the professor did was very… provoking.” She told him frankly and eyed him, wondering what kind of person he really was.

The fifth year Ravenclaw watched in horror as he traced a purple cross on the dead girl’s skin. What in Merlin’s name is he doing? She continued to stare at him, eyes wide, until he turned to her. “What the hell did you just do?” She blurted out hotly, her eyes narrowed. Watching him play with the dead girl’s body got on her nerves. Yes, she was dead and unable to feel pain. But, did he have to do that to her skin? Prue then looked at the man who killed the girl and hoped he rotted in prison. For a moment there, she was filled with hate.

Justin’s mother experiments required ingredients that were bought in Knockturn Alley and he was her shopper? There was nothing except dark items in that alley. Prue wondered what kind of experiments required such dark ingredients. “No, no, I don’t think of you as a dark wizard.” Not yet, but I have a feeling I’m going to get there, and fast. She thought to herself, her face completely neutral. She sucked at lying but she was good in keeping her thoughts to herself. “So, what did you buy for your mother today?” She asked, hoping he would tell her about the dark items he just bought.

[justinlaw]

“I know that. I must have been too critical of Professor Fletcher. However, I do think that what she did to her was too much. I just could not stop myself from uttering such hurtful words,” Justin said, in response to what Prudence said about him using a much different approach regarding the matter. “My mind just went blank upon the attack and I guess that what made me act like so.” He never really meant to do it, however he had to because Helena was in danger.

He seemed to notice that the spell he performed on the girl did not please her. In fact, she wasted no time expressing her fury regarding what he did. He then sensed what she must have been thinking and said, “I know you might be thinking that I was violating or even playing with this girl’s body but I would have to say that you are wrong,” he said, apparently hurt with what she said. “I was just jesting regarding the spell causing pain, although it was also one of this spell’s particular properties.” He then took out his wand and did the spell again, this time; he used it on his wrists. Blood began to trickle on it; he muttered, Episkey! and the wound closed up. “What I did on her involved checking out the extent of the damage of the spell on her body. I guess I wasn’t able to explain the procedure fully, I’m sorry,” he said.

“Well, I brought her a rare moonstone. She needed it to study its properties. You see, this stone has particular effects on werewolves and she wanted to know more about it,” he answered, upon hearing her question about what items he brought here. “After that disaster, she stopped experimenting with potion, contenting herself with exploring properties of different stones.” He fingered the moonstone on his hand, feeling its smoothness. “What kind of items were you exactly thinking that I brought here?” he asked, a curious smile playing on his lips.

[Prudence Campbell]

Prudence just nodded. “I know, I understand. I had a hard time pinning myself on my chair. What she did was too much and it is hard to control your temper. I get it… no need to explain.” She smiled at him, realizing just then that there was a huge part of his personality that believed in Slytherin’s ideals. Prudence knew that if she defended Helena, she wouldn’t have called the teacher using the dirty word. “So the rumors are true, you like her.” She stated softly and kept looking at him.

Prudence’s mood wasn’t exactly friendly. It was not everyday one witness a murder. Prudence just nodded at him when he apologized. She did know what was up with her, she just could not bring herself to say ‘it’s okay’ to him like she normally would have done. What she saw him do still felt like he was violating the girl’s body, no matter what he said. There really was something dark about him and she was vexed at herself for being confused about him when it was all so clear.

Prue raised an eyebrow. “Wait, disaster? What kind of disaster are we talking about?” She could not help but ask, hoping, deep down, that the disaster did not claim anyone’s life. “Actually, I had no idea that’s why I asked.” She smiled at him sheepishly. “Although, I was thinking you brought something that might unleash any form of evil in the wizarding world.” She bit her lip and looked at the floor, truly ashamed of herself.

[justinlaw]

Justin knew everyone who were present when the unfortunate event happened. And he was willing to bet that everyone felt indignant with what happened, although for different reasons. “You know, we all did share the same thoughts regarding the matter. Some, like Viktor and Viola were after the fact that a pureblood was attacked by someone like her, the rest seemed to care for Helena’s safety. I live in both spheres,” he said seriously. “I value blood purity and not many people share my beliefs however, just the same, I do care for Helena. I really like her very much,” he added, sighing. He knew that Prudencewas one of those who do not share his beliefs that is why he chose his words carefully, not wanting to create an atmosphere of animosity between them.

He realized that despite everything he tried to do, the vexing feeling that she felt towards him would never go away. He just sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. “I guess no matter what I do, your impression of me would never change and I guess I just couldn’t do anything about that,” he said. “I have two sides of me and I guess you are seeing the darker side of me now,” he added as he twirled his wand; it emitted bright green sparks that stung his hand like hell. “Would you grant me the opportunity to explain myself?” he then asked her, feeling that she had a lot of questions on her mind right now.

“My mother ruined our house when one of her potions failed. Since then, she devoted her research into other things beside potions. We were never advocates of dark magic, yet I was taught at a very young age. I never used it on anyone though, because I do not believe in attacking someone helplessly without a means of defending oneself. I instead practiced simple and complex curses, charms and hexes to help others and to fulfill my rightful role as..” he then stopped, apparently horrified. It was only Helena who knew who he really was.

[Prudence Campbell]

“Yeah, I guess we all felt the same thing after what happened.” She sighed, not knowing what more to say to him. Why am I even talking to him? I managed five years without doing so? She heaved a sigh inside and kept looking at him. He was a puzzle that seemed to be difficult to put together. To her, his personality was scattered all over the place. No wonder he was the biggest source of her confusion for her entire stay in school.

Prudence suddenly wanted to bang her head on the nearest stone structure that she could get her hand on. She was starting to classify him as a bad guy; but, he showed that he cared by his delicate choice of words in explaining his views on the Helena attack. However, after hearing him say he liked somebody else, a part of her sunk… And now, he wanted to be given a chance to explain himself, as if he was interested in how she was going to view him. “Alright, alright.” She sighed, she wasn’t coldhearted so she gave him another chance. “I’m sorry if I’ve been acting weird, it’s just that… my emotions are all over the place.” She sighed, again.

Prudence’s smile started from nothing to an all out grin. What he said made her think that liking him wasn’t a bad idea. Maybe he really was a good person. But then, the fact that he believed in blood supremacy and the possible dark things that was possibly rubbed off on him by his family made her confuse all over again. The conceited guy. The three words she used to refer to him in her brain all the time rung in her head. She raised an eyebrow when he trailed off. “…as a good citizen of the wizarding community and the world in general?” She finished for him, smiling.

[justinlaw]

Justin’s puzzling personality was essentially one of the major things that made him very interesting to people. Virtually anyone who actually crossed paths with him would all feel this way, despite the fact that they managed to survive for years without talking to him or even have an encounter with him. This is what Justin actually saw through her. He knew that she was in his year and that for some reason, have never even talked to him...until now. He just smiled and said, “I’m that puzzling as a person am I?”

For some reason, he could sense the apparent uneasiness in her. He could not blame her, after all he was really like that in the first place. That is why he chose his words very carefully in order not to make her think like he was someone deliberate. He carefully studied her face while he was mentioning about liking Helena. Her face gave her away; now he knew why she was confused. However, he chose to keep it to himself.

As he watched her smile at him, a part of him softened up his tough and potentially hurtful side. He couldn’t believe that such people still exist. The sincerity she was showing towards him was incomparable. He just nodded as she finished his sentence and said, “yeah, that’s right.” I guess she has a right to know...well not yet, he thought. “I just couldn’t believe that a person like you still exists in this difficult world of ours. And let me start on me explaining myself to you,” he said to her, as he took a deep breath.

“I guess you’re already aware of it, but I am someone whose personality can never be deciphered. I do not really have close friends and so far, one has managed to close in on the real me...however not that close yet,” he began, as he started twirling his wand again, this time emitting blue sparks, which calmed his nerves. “I guess I made people confused as to my true nature and that made me famous...however, I could see that there would be a second person who would be close to finding out...and I think that’s you,” he finally added, as he continued to gaze intently at her.

[Prudence Campbell]

Prudence snorted at his remark. “Yeah, well, you bewilder all.” She blurted out without really thinking. Again, after the words left her lips, she wanted to bang her head on the nearest stone structure. She really ought to start thinking before she talked. When he nodded his head in agreement to her last words for his sentence, she grinned. I just couldn’t believe that a person like you still exists in this difficult world of ours? What does that mean? She wondered as she listened to him explain himself. At the back of her mind, she tried to assess if her decision to let him explain himself was a mistake.

Ya think? She wanted to say when he said he can never be deciphered but she bit her lip instead. Me? Oh please, what are you trying to do? Confuse me to death? A sarcastic Prue responded deep within. She was resisting the sudden urge to roll her eyes when she realized he was waiting for some sort of a reaction from her. “Um, wow. I’m impressed you were able to, indeed, explain yourself. You must be very skilled.” She rambled incoherently, her eyes darting all over the place as his gaze felt heavy on her face. “What made you say that?” She couldn’t help but be curious as to why he decided that she was the second person who would know the real him.