the damage has been done `BRIDGETTE [CLOSED]

[Silvanus Kettleburn]

Silvanus exited from his office the moment Lena had left. Tears were no longer in his eyes as he had brushed them away hastily. Besides, panic was beginning to fill him. What was he to do now? He was going to be chucked out of Hogwarts. Not only was he going to lose his job, he was going to end up in Azkaban. He knew there were only two option: Either Lena wouldn't tell anyone (which he hoped), or he was going to have to come up with an alibi. A really good alibi. Before he even realized that he thought of her, Silvanus changed his direction in the corridor abruptly. His feet brought him in the direction of the staff room. It was probably the last place he should be, but if she wasn't in there... he wouldn't know where he would find Bridgette.

Right as he got to the staff room and wrapped his hand around the door knob, a horrifying thought struck him. What if this was where Lena had escaped to? It would have been the smartest thing she could have done. Silvanus took in a deep breath and made himself have a panicked look on his face - not that he exactly had to try. When he stumbled through the door, there she stood. He was lucky. Out of everyone in the school, many disliked Silvanus, many absolutely loathed Silvanus but Bridgette - Bridgette was his best friend. She somehow was able to look past his many, many flaws. Did they ever date? No. Bridgette was Silvanus' friend and nothing more. If he could get his eyes off of Lena for a moment he would have probably realized that this woman would have been so much better for him than a child, but he didn't think that way. There was just something wrong with him.

"Bridgette," her name came from his mouth almost like a desperate plea. He walked straight at her and his facial expression was begging. He needed her. He realized in that moment that he didn't have to pretend or act. This job was all that he had. If Lena could prove that Silvanus even made a suggestive comment or move on her whatsoever he would be sacked - Dumbledore had made that very clear after his last accusation. "Bridg - I don't know what to do."

Silvanus realized that his hands were shaking. He knew that in their entire friendship and as much as he had confided in Bridgette, she had never seen him like this. Well, no one had really. He didn't know what else to do. It was the middle of the night and his sleep-deprived brain seemed to think that this was the best idea.

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[Bridgette C. Hamett]

It had been a long day for Bridgette. She was exhausted. Today, there had been over ten students today it seemed like. Most of them seemed to have 'road rash'. The thing that made her upset was when she asked about them, they students said it was nothing, as if they were hiding something. She tried her best not to pester them about it while she fixed them up. It was quite a mad house though. She did enjoy the quiet times though, but today that was rare.

The moment her shift ended, she dragged her feet to her room, turning the light on to reveal a very clean room with a nicely made bed. Turning the light on before she happily took off her 'healer' clothes. She hung her white dress up in the closet, on the dirty side before moving to her dresser and putting the belt with the others. now in her black and white lacy underwear, she flopped on to her bed and sighed. "soo comfortable..." she murmured to herself. As much as she wanted to just fall asleep there, it probably was not the best Idea.

The light was on... which caused her to have to get up, turn it off and then sliding in to her bed. The moment her head hit the pillow... She was wide awake. A groan escaped from her lips as she stared up at the ceiling. Bridgette sat up and sighed, "maybe some tea will help". She slid out of bed before putting on a black silky robe and slipping her wand in the pocket. It was in the middle of the night, who was going to be in the staff room at this time? slipping out of her room and strolling down the corridor, her mind could not help but wonder about Iain. She found him attractive and wondered if something could happen between the two of them. What ever it was, she would be 100% okay with it... unless it was just casual sex, That would not do. There was a large difference between friends with benefits and casual sex to her.

Bridgette shook her head to loosen the thought from her mind so she should throw it away. As she entered the Staff room, It always seemed to be lit. Her feet brought her to a kettle, she moved it towards the faucet and started to fill it.

The kettle slipped out of her hand when her name was called. It scared her more then she expected too. She instantly knew it was Silvanus from his voice, but there was certainly something different about his tone. She turned and looked at him, the look on his face almost broke her heart. It wasn't like him to look so... helpless you could say. She quickly closed her robe and covered her mouth. "Sweet Jesus Silv," she paused before reaching for his arm, pulling him over to the couch that rested in front of the fire. She sat down and patted the seat next to her. "What's wrong? Did something happen? Are you okay?" she paused and gasped "Don't tell me your mother is in the hospital..." she was talking to fast it seemed to all mush together. Her dear friend looked almost horrified, she needed to know why. Her eye sight started to get blurry from the tears that were starting to form. The fact that his mother might be in the hospital really got to her. Staring at him intensely, her eyes started to become clearer as she dismissed any thought of anything to do with family issues unless he says something about it.

[Silvanus Kettleburn]

The way Bridgette's face changed when she turned to look at Silvanus made it feel like a hand had clenched on his heart. He was sick of seeing faces do that. The facial change immediately brought Lena's face to the forefront of his mind again. The way that her face changed, the way it contorted when he touched her... Silvanus was a muscular, large man, but he could feel his knees go weak. It was like he was battling his mind, and it was tearing him apart. He knew what he did was wrong, but he couldn't help that a sick part of him was proud that he got her. He overcame her strong personality and was able to shut her up, make her take him. He put Lena in a situation that she had done to him for months. She had made him feel trapped, and had he not done just the same to her?

Silvanus was eternally grateful that Bridgette brought him to the couch. When he sat next to her, he realized that his hands were shaking uncontrollably. What had he done? He had the overwhelming urge to wash his hands. He was already a germaphobe, but there was nothing 'germy' about what he had done. It just felt like it. In fact, all he wanted to do was take a long, hot shower. It was almost like he was fooling himself to believe that he was the victim.

"No, it's not mum," he said. He was surprised that he was even getting coherent sentences out. He glanced at Bridgette to see tears in her eyes. He looked back at his shaking hands and rubbed them on his thighs, trying to get rid of the sweat and nerves. "Bridg... you have to believe me... I need help..."

For a moment, he almost just came out and told her that he needed help for what was going on in his mind. He almost begged for her to help him get away from Hogwarts... go somewhere where he could professionally get help. She would know how. He could perhaps get better and stop fighting the demons in his mind. But it would mean he wouldn't see Lena again. It meant that he would lose the job he tried so hard to keep. It meant losing everything. He didn't even know if Bridgette would be there for him if he confessed the horrible things that he had done.

"I - I think I'm in trouble," he said. The panic was still completely evident in his voice. "That ... that Becket girl. S-she had detention with me and ... and she..." What did she do? "She came onto me. Bridgette, you know how much trouble this can get me in... I didn't do anything, I turned her away because you know what Dumbledore had said about if I got in trouble with something like this again..." Silvanus had to pause in order to take a few extremely deep breaths. "She ... she said that she was going to tell everyone. Get me fired. She... she was sick of me picking on her, she said. Said she didn't deserve the detentions ... she said.... Bridgette, please, I need help. Dumbledore loathes me, he's never going to believe anything I say."

Silvanus didn't have to fake the tears that came to his eyes. He buried his face in his hands. He didn't sob, but he couldn't let her see the tears. He was extremely worried. He realized his story sounded like it was being told by a pre-teen who just got caught smoking or something, but he couldn't help it - he was manic.

[/justify][/blockquote][/blockquote]

[Bridgette C. Hamett]

Bridgette was instantly relieved that it was nothing to do with family, well his mother. She noticed that his hands were shaking slightly before he started rubbing them on his thighs. Something must have him scared out of his mind. She's never seen him like this, it actually struck her heart rather hard. Her concern for him was greater than her concern for herself. She took a deep breath and placed her hand on one of his and looked at him. "I'm here no matter what happens. I will always, and I mean always be by your side no matter what." she tried her best to make it very clear to him that no matter what he had done or what was about to happen she'd be on his side the entire time.

Bridgette watched his face closely. studying it a little. Try to figure out what was going on in that mind of his while her imagination ran wild with ideas of what could be wrong as simple as he needed help grading things to he was being targeted by death eaters that want him to join their side so they could be more powerful and rule the world. but she didn't think he would get this shaken up about either of those ideas but still, her mind wandered. Thinking of what exactly is wrong and what could have caused him to become so skittish.

Her heart stopped for a moment when he declared he could be in trouble. It was like the world stopped for a moment before resuming as he continued to talk. Becket, the last name ran through her mind as if it was searching through a database. Something came up. Lena Becket, Bridgette knew OF Lena but she never treated the girl personally. As Silvanus continued his story, Bridgette's hand moved her to mouth as she covered it! This student was out of control! coming on her a professor and then exclaiming she would tell everyone that He started it all so he would get fired! This was outrageous! Bridgette become furious! How in the WORLD did this student get in to Gryffindor?! She sounds like a Slytherin! Not dissing on Slytherins but It was a bit true. "This is unacceptable!" she barked to herself mainly.

The moment Silvanus hid his face from her, she rubbed his back for comfort. "I refuse to let you get fired become of some horrible student." she rubbed his back more. Her eyes slid to the fireplace for a moment as she tried to come up with an idea of how to get out of this mess. "Perhaps if you have an alibi of the night she claims to Dumbledore, he will dismiss it that she is making things up just to get you fired?" she suggested.

[Silvanus Kettleburn]

It was such a relief for Silvanus to hear that Bridgette would be there for him. It almost made him feel like that perhaps he was a good guy. Maybe this wasn't as bad as his head was making it seem? If Bridgette could support him, there must have been something good in him. Sure, he didn't have any other faculty friends, but he had one, and that was the most important one. He looked up at her (as he was bent quite far forward) and smiled weakly.

"Thanks Bridg, it means a lot..." he trailed off. He was beginning to sound like a girl. What else was he supposed to say, though? Just ignored her words? She was the last person that he should ignore. Although he made many mistakes earlier that evening, he was committed to not making any more... but was lying through his teeth the best thing he could do? In this situation, most likely.

Silvanus would have almost welcomed Death Eaters coming to target him to join them. He was almost just as bad as they were, anyways. Could Silvanus actually go so far as to murder someone? He wasn't sure. What he was sure about that if this all fell apart he would need to do something. He knew Lucius was creeping down at Hogsmeade (although he never told another staff member). Perhaps he could help him if everything went to a place that Silvanus didn't want.

Silvanus rubbed his eyes quickly in order to try to make it seem like the tears had never been evident.

"Becket... she's the top of all her classes. I may have expected this from someone else, but not her. I'm going to lose my job because some brat did her research about me and knew I was so close to losing my job anyways. I need this job. Do you really think I would risk it? Silvanus was talking rather quicker than usual, but he couldn't help it. He looked at Bridgette seriously about her comments. "An alibi?" This time, his tears were actually gone. He hadn't thought about doing such a thing, but was she suggesting what he thought she was? "What did you have in mind?"

Bridgette's reputation as a staff member at Hogwarts was almost just as good as Lena's was as a student. If he had Bridgette behind him... well, that could work wonders for the position he was in. He was seconds from giving Bridgette the biggest hug of her life, but resisted in case for some reason she spat out something lame rather than useful.

[/justify][/blockquote][/blockquote]

[Bridgette C. Hamett]

Bridgette smiled happily towards him. He was her close friend, of course she'd do anything for him. anything that would put him at ease which is what she wanted right now. She felt the tension in the air and didn't like it at all. It started to make herself unease and edgy. Bridgette's hand moved to his knee for a moment as she looked at him. He was much larger than herself so she had to look up a bit to come eye-to-eye with him.

Bridgette moved back away from Silvanus. What this student had done was unforgivable. but knowing dumbledore, he'd probably believe the students before Silvanus. Sure, Silv has does a bit of bad things since he's been here and even in Hogwarts. If he was blamed for something he didn't do, he'd get fired! how would he make a living?! such things Bridgette didn't want to think about. "Yes, an alibi. back when I lived in the muggle world, my neighbor was murdered and I was questioned of course, never a suspect. but her boyfriend was a suspect but he was never charged because he had an alibi... It turned out that her ex-boyfriend murdered because he stalked her and once he saw her current boyfriend leave the house her ex became so possessive and murdered her." Bridgette paused for a moment of silence for the young girl. " the girl had just turned 20. She was such a sweetheart..." Bridgette's feels sunk through the floor as she thought about that night. She had been the one to call the police because of the ruckus that was coming form next door.

a little sigh escaped from her lips before she looked up at Silvanus and cracked a smile on her face. "enough about that now. " she tried to laugh slightly but nothing came out. " An alibi" she smiled happily. " like where you were on the night of the 'crime'" she stated. now, we just have to think of one...." she sat forward and rubbed her chin lightly.

Bridgette's mind wondered from saying he was helping Prince file books or he was at hogsmeade... but those would involve more people than just themselves. Her mind thought of saying he was out in the muggle world trying to get Bridgette some muggle ace-bandages for herself. he could go on about how Bridgette doesn't like the idea of using magic on herself and she didn't want to bother Madam Pomfrey or something.

That wouldn't work because then she'd have to walk around with something wrapped up and that didn't see very plausible. suddenly, it hit her! it hit her so hard she jumped to her feet causing her little nighty to bounce. "I know!" she called. "how about you were with me?" she suggested. "I mean like... we were together tonight... doing... that" she blushed with embarrassment.

[Silvanus Kettleburn]

Silvanus felt so awkward. He had never been in such a situation where he was so vulnerable before. Usually Silvanus was in charge - he always had to have things his way. It was one of the reasons he was a germaphobe and OCD. He needed Bridgette to be on his side. He needed to get her to be vulnerable too. In the very least, he needed to be able to at least somewhat control what she did so maybe he had a chance of staying at school and not being caught.

Silvanus listened to what he thought was an unrelated story considering he was being accused of rape, not murder. His mind was so clouded that he couldn't see what she was trying to get at, even when she used the word alibi. He kind of glanced at her in a 'and how is this related...?' sort of way when she started yammering about the young girl.

When Bridgette said they were going to come up with an alibi, Silvanus could practically feel his face light up. He tried to not let it show, though, but he was absolutely overwhelmed. Perhaps he was going to get out of this alright! Honestly, he was a little surprised about how trusting she was of him, even though he had been accused of similar things in the past. He supposed that's what made him her best friend - the fact that she trusted him completely. Problem was, Silvanus had been a Slytherin, not a Gryffindor.

Silvanus raised an eyebrow at her potential alibi.

"You and I? That will drag up all types of other rumours, you know,"

[/b] Silvanus warned her. It was a brilliant plan, but she wouldn't be able to take it back either. That potentially meant cockblocking her against anyone she might be interested in. Silvanus had been interested in a lot of people in his life, but Bridgette was never one of them. "I mean, I would absolutely appreciate it, but ... "[/b]

He trailed off. For him, there was no "buts". It seemed brilliant. Silvanus supposed that having at least one person have your back wasn't such a bad thing.[/size][/justify][/blockquote][/blockquote]

[Bridgette C. Hamett]

Bridgette looked away from him. thoughts ran through her head about exactly what she was doing... was she doing the right thing? would this make this all better? an alibi would probably make everything better and he wouldn't lose his job nor would she leave. she looked back at Silvanus and smiled slightly. her hand held his lightly and squeezed lightly. "I know exactly what it means." It was true, rumors would start and she'd basicly be 'off limits' to those who wanted her. but to be honest? who would want to be with her? at this moment, she had slight feelings for her co-worker Iain but she doubted that would go anywhere. What harm could it do? It couldn't be avoided. She certianly didn't want to lose Silvanus as a friend. just the thought of him getting introuble upset her. She wasn't sure if he'd do the same for her but that didn't matter to her. to her, he was family and she'd do anything for him to feel safe again.

Bridgette ran her free hand through her hair and shrugged a little. Bridgette would just have to get over the feelings she has for Iain. It had been a while since she actually started to like someone. It wouldn't be hard for her to put an end to her feelings for him. she did it fairly often in school. She could never really imagen herself being with another person. having an actual boyfriend. so this pretend thing wouldn't be too bad for her. things would probably be normal, everyone would just assume they were being professional and such. It wasn't anything different than what it was already. The two were... one could say, best friends but still, the two were very professional when it came to school. sure, the two would have a drink or two.. well silv would because bridgette was such a light weight it was never good for her to drink especially with a man around.

"I know... but I'd rather have my friend around and feeling safe than to have a mate but no friends." the way she said it, she kind of sounded like a robot. she simply smiled and blinked at Silv. " are you going to be able to control your self with the ladies you stud muffin?" that was her attempt at a joke as she nudged his arm wither he elbow. she was never really good at jokes...

[Silvanus Kettleburn]

Silvanus watched Bridgette's face carefully. He was looking for a sign of discomfort, or a sign that she didn't want to participate whatsoever. To him, at least, it didn't appear to be there. Perhaps there really was a good reason to have friends? Well, at least one really loyal one. Silvanus himself wasn't quite so loyal, but he wondered if he would be for Bridgette. Just because he was a Slytherin graduate did not mean that he necessarily had to be loyal-less. What would Bridgette ever need him for, though? She was so, well... good. The two of them were practically opposites. They were kind of liked magnets. Silvanus thought of himself as the negative pole and Bridgette could be the positive. Silvanus smiled at her comment.

"Just wanted to make sure that you, er, knew what you were getting into,"

[/b] he said quietly, looking at her hand on top of his. How easy it would have been if the two were actually attracted to each other. They were too plantonic though. It would never happen, even if he wanted it to. She was good looking, she was good - but he couldn't make himself see her that way.

Silvanus watched her run her hand through her hair. Although he was no longer panicking as much about the entire situation, his cheeks were still a bit red. He didn't really seem to register her tone which was off. All he was thinking about was himself - like usual.

"At least now I'll be able to get ladies and won't be seen as a child toucher,"[/b] Silvanus replied with a grin. He kissed her on the cheek as he stood up. "I owe you one. No, I owe you more than that. It's getting late though, I'll talk to you later, OK?"

It was indeed late and Silvanus was actually feeling a little embarassed about being so open with Bridgette. He couldn't imagine being able to turn Bridgette down for anything after this. Then again, he wasn't sure if Lena was going to go to anyone about this. If she did ... well, Bridgette would certainly have a lot of work. With that, he gave Bridgette the most genuine smile he could muster (it almost hurt - he wasn't good at smiling) and then departed, his heart feeling a lot lighter. Almost like his guilt about what he had done had disappeared.

Notes: After your post we can close this thread :3 [/size][/justify][/blockquote][/blockquote]

[Bridgette C. Hamett]

Bridgette nodded first at him, she knew exactly what she was getting into but she didn't see anything happening in her love life anytime soon to be honest. She added a half-hearted laugh at what he said about woman not seeing him as a child toucher. she didn't say anything more to this conversation. she didn't feel like she needed too. She nodded lightly again towards him as he dismissed himself.

Bridgette just stared in to space for a moment and sighed. She leaned back relaxing her shoulders and back. " What have I gotten myself into?" she murmured to herself before rocking forward for momentum to get up. she re-wrapped her robe around her before preceding to her room again. to get a good nights rest before her afternoon shift.

She didn't know if she was going to regret this decision to help her friend but she could only hope she wouldn't.

[Super Sirius.]

FINISHED.