Skuld: making your mind up

I don’t own any of the Harry Potter characters; they all belong to JKR, alas.

Chapter 7

The start of term had arrived at last, and that evening the whole school, old and new students had gathered in the great hall for the traditional sorting feast. The now also traditional arrival of the new defence teacher was unexpectedly atmospheric. The grizzled old aura “mad eye” Moody had appeared to a crash of thunder and flash of lightening. If anyone had known his true intentions for the year then they might have said the manner of his arrival was an omen, but no one did, not even Mia.

After the feast was over, Mia was busying herself in the infirmary, making sure everything was tidy at the end of the day. She had not been at the feast as someone had to remain here to receive any emergencies and as the most junior, she remained while Madame Pomphrey went to the dinner. As she was finishing up there was a huge peal of thunder and she turned round she jumping at the sight of a man in the doorway.
“Gods! You scared me half to death,” she said, taking in his horrifically scarred face and bizarre carved wooden leg, “you must be Professor Moody, I’m Mia Skuld, madam Pomphrey’s assistant, can I help you with something?”
The huge over-coated figure of Alastair Moody stepped closer to her, “I’m sure you can Miss Skuld.”
Mia had unintentionally found herself backing away as he approached, his appearance was quite the worst scarring she’d seen and the look in his eye was strange, something she couldn’t quite put her finger on.
Within three steps his much larger stride had come within inches of her and she was now feeling distinctly uncomfortable.
“What is it I can do for you professor?” She had backed into a set of shelves and could go no further. Moody was now so close she could feel his breath on her face, she looked straight into his good eye for a second and let out a cry.
Immediately one of his huge hands came up and covered her mouth, “shh! The walls have ears in this castle” he hissed.
Mia lifted her hands, frowning in confusion; she ran them over his half missing face. Their eyes locked for this few moments, and then he stepped back,
“I would appreciate it if you would come to my office; I have some problems with my leg that I would like you to have a look at for me, I don’t want all and sundry looking at me here.”
“Yes of course, shall we go straight away?” she gestured to the door and they exited rapidly towards the DADA office.


Mia stepped inside the office in front of Moody and he quickly closed and warded the door.
“I can’t believe it, what have you done to yourself?” she asked, again reaching out to touch his face, horrified and yet captivated by his wild prosthetic eye.
“Ha, don’t you like what ya see? You should see what in the trunk”, he gestured to a huge trunk in the corner which rattled suddenly, “Ya wouldn’t want to see two of this believe me”, and he gestured to himself.
“What? You’ve locked Moody in the trunk? How? Look this is a bit of a surprise, what’s going on?”
“Haven’t you missed me, I thought you said you had?” he roughly ran his hand down her neck and onto her body, causing her to flinch in reaction, this just made him laugh, “You’re going to have to get used to it darling, this is what you’re going to see for the next 6 months. Yeah I’ve got him the box, but it’s better than him being dead isn’t it, I thought you might appreciate that, as to how, you’re the potions expert, what do you think?”
“Ah of course, polyjuice, but you’ll need a huge supply to last the year.”
“Well I was thinking that since we’re hoping for you to be, in bed with the potions professor , so to speak, that you would be more than able to get hold of the appropriate supplies.”
“Can we not talk about that right now? I can’t believe you’re here, I mean why are you here, It can’t be to keep an eye on me?”
“That’s not for you to know, it is the Dark lords business. You just worry about your duties, those to the lord and to me,” he whispered the last part, while stroking again across her body. She shuddered slightly again.
“Come now, I thought you of all people would be able to see past appearance! Look at you,” he grabbed her hair suddenly pulling her hair back, his tongue flicking wildly out of his mouth, then just as suddenly gently cupped her cheek, “who else could love you like I do, who else would want you?”
Mia looked down at the floor, “I know, it’s just, I just need a bit time to get my head round this.”
“Fine, you have till tomorrow, see I am good to you.” bending forward he sniffed her neck, “I will expect you here again, same time, and wear something nice, to make up for the wait.” His darting tongue flicked her neck, and she closed her eyes trying to forget what she was looking at.
“Go now, I’ve work to do, I can’t waste all night on you” he snapped and pushed her out the door, leaving a confused Mia to work through what just happened.