Good enough. Abby didn’t need any further invitation. She cocked her arm back and aimed a punch squarely at Adelaide’s bitchy, little nose. Fuck it. She was going to get in trouble for being late to class on the first day, might as well go balls to the wall while she was at it.
Adelaide blinked momentarily, then cracked her neck at either side before smacking at Abby’s throat. If anyone asked, she was going for the face, but in truth she just liked that little gurgle coming out of her smartass mouth.
Abernathy was floored. Adelaide must have been picking fights over the break. It was a short one, but you could still lose your fighting edge if you didn’t have someone to practice on. Abby’s summer had been spent giggling and climbing trees and cheering for the Yankees (which was probably the dirtiest word one could utter in this hallway). She took a breath to steady herself and assess the damage. Her neck would probably bruise, but man wouldn’t that be a great story. She kicked out toward Adelaide’s shin while punching at the same time. She figured she was bound to hit something.
Her kick hit, but she overcompensated her own balance with the force of it. The resulting imbalance immediately sent both girls sprawling to the floor.
My fucking knee, Adde thought as she connected with the floor. God, if that fucked her up for Muggle Sports tomorrow... she snatched a handful of Abernathy’s hair. Yes, it was a ‘chick’ move, but once you had control of someone’s head it was pretty easy to control the rest of them too. The little heathen would probably bite next.
She leaned back, trying to keep her face out of reach of her opponent’s flailing hands. She had noticed the gathering spectators, and was considering pulling Abby’s shirt up over her head-- partly to incapacitate her, but mostly to humiliate her. Instead, she punched her in the boob. An old Quodpot accident many years ago had taught her how bizarrely painful that was.
Oh we’re pulling hair now? Abernathy was wondering where Adelaide learned how to fight. Bitch Fight Club? Abby wasn’t afraid to dig her claws in if they were already getting to the mud slinging part of this scuffle. She used what was left of her fingernails to drag them across Adelaide’s arm while she wrapped her leg around Adelaide’s knee to pin her to the floor. Abernathy was completely oblivious to the crowd that was assembling around the girls who were tussling on the ground; she was totally focused on making Adelaide bleed.
“Gah!” Abby was surprised at the exclamation that escaped her mouth as Adelaide punched her breast. “You. Are. Such. A. Twat!” she said punctuating each word with some kind of punch or slap. The adrenal hadn’t worn off yet, but she knew she’d be sore tomorrow. And probably in detention for the next week, but wouldn’t a nice fat lip on Adelaide be worth it? To that end Abernathy aimed a punch squarely at Adelaide’s mouth.
Leonard Fortis was just settling in for his next class when he heard the ruckus out in the hallway. "Freshman," he supposed shaking his head before he got up from his seat to go investigate and disperse the crowd. Once he stepped into the hallway he saw the cause of the commotion almost immediately, ah yes. He made his passage through the crowd quickly and with one expert swish he silently charmed both girls. They stopped tussling on the ground. He walked over calmly.
"Adelaide Legaux and Abernathy Ford, first day back and already getting along so well?" he asked genially. "Come along ladies, it's off to see Headmistress Pendragon. I'm sure at least a few days detention are in order," he said and with another flick of his wand he released Adelaide and Abernathy, quickly moving to help them up. "To the nurses office first I think," he said helping them along the hallway and expertly placing his large frame between them to prevent further fighting.
Addy touched at her lip gingerly. It hadn't split, but it was throbbing rather forcefully. Abernathy's aim had always been spot on, and today was no exception.
She would have suggested that the nurses' office was unnecessary as part of a snide remark about AB's weak fighting skills, but you didn't fuck around with Professor Fortis. She was pretty sure that the phrase 'if looks could kill' was coined by someone under his glare.
AB kept her mouth shut as they shuffled along. She didn't much like wizarding healing. She'd gotten used to wearing her bruises. The ache she would feel for the next few days was a good reminder not to get into another fight. She didn't want most of it taken away, even as her throat started to hurt.
She took a seat on the edge of an examining table and kept her eyes anywhere but in the direction of Adelaide as she was examined.
After the nurse had given them the all clear, Professor Fortis escorted both girls to the Headmistress' office. Both of them were yet to say a word, or offer any kind of explanation or apology.
Once in front of the headmistress' desk, Adelaide flopped into one of the chairs. They'd been in there so much the chairs should have their names inscribed on them already.
"Ladies. I hope your summer was fun?" Headmistress Pendragon stood looking out of the high arched window in her office. She signed mentally at the fact that it was the very first day of school and here were two of her top ten troublemakers already. Marissa had been thinking all summer about just what to do with these two, and she thought she had a solution.
"I'm happy you find it so comfortable here, Ms. Legaux and Ms. Ford. Almost like home. Are you having a good time already? Like your new dorm rooms? Seeing friends who you haven't seen and having a great time catching up?" The Headmistress of the Crescent City Institute turned to look at the two young miscreants in front of her desk with a smile on her face and waited for an answer from each of them.
Abby didn't know how to reply to the line of questions. Clearly this was some kind of trap. "This wasn't the start to the semester that I imagined," she answered carefully. She'd never gotten in trouble this early in the year. She had hoped to skirt around without causing so many waves, at least for the first week.
Adelaide simply pursed her lips and stared dead ahead, trying not to scowl. It was that dumb redneck's fault she was in here so quickly; and here she was pretending like this was some kind of shocking consequence? Maybe she really was that stupid.
She just wanted to get her punishment and go. Revenge could wait until another day.
"I understand that it wasn't the start that you wanted, Ms. Ford. be that as it may, I really hope you've been having fun here and that you like it here at CCI. Because you're not going to be here for much longer." The smile slid right off of her face, as Marissa Pendragon stared at the two girls.
"Both of you ladies will have detention, starting tomorrow, and going for five days afterward. You will be writing new labels for potions ingredients under the watchful eye of Professor Fortis. As a further word of warning to you, if I see either of you in here for anything other than to bring me flowers for the next three months, you will find yourselves expelled. Is this clear, ladies?" She looked at the two young women again with an icy stare.
Abernathy didn't know if she could make it three whole months without getting in trouble again. She knew when they started fighting that they were going to be in a good deal of trouble, but this wasn't the sort of ultimatum she ever imagined hearing.
Aunt Veruca would have her ass for this. There was no way to smooth this one over with her usual charm. She'd never let AB live it down if she got expelled. Her dad would have a different approach, happy to have his daughter home and probably enrolled in muggle high school before she even made it back on the floo network and the train home.
AB's stomach started to sink at the thought. What would Sam think? How would her best friend deal with this punishment and the possible repercussions of this stupid, stupid mistake.
Ordinarily she'd think that having detention with Professor Fortis as the worst punishment ever, but the lingering threat behind it all was so much worse. "Yes headmistress," she replied in a voice that was hollowed out and pale.
Addy couldn't swallow her scowl this time. That was a totally unfair ultimatum; she was in here all the time and it was hardly ever her fault.
"Yes ma'am," she groused, knowing that there was no way she would be able to negotiate a shorter probation at this point. Not even if she volunteered a whole month's detention. This was all Abernathy's fault, she'd probably go and start a fight tomorrow just to get her expelled. Like some muggle-born hick would even care about getting kicked out of wizarding school.
She looked away from Adelaide immediately. She didn't need to invite any more scrutiny from the headmistress. This was clearly not over between them, but they couldn't finish it here (or anywhere else where they might get caught).
AB rose from her chair on unsteady legs. She had to hold her hands together to keep them from shaking and then decided it would be better to tuck them into the straps of her backpack.
She was going to try to get through this, but she had no idea how to even start. She followed her escort to class and took down sketchy, distracted notes. There was no way she'd be able to focus today, no matter how hard she tried.
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