Her shoulder was throbbing, her nose was still bleeding, and sticky blood was beginning to form under her chin, but the adrenaline pumping through her veins could have carried her through another attack. The part of her that was constantly indignant, always underestimated, and worryingly violent wanted to grab him by the throat and show him she would not tolerate the filth he had displayed. It was good Professor Ashcroft was there. For all of her ideology and sense of justice, Ace had yet to bend to the discipline of restraint. She knew she had it in her to act contrary to the ideals of peace and justice she spouted, and the beating pulse of hatred for the Hitchens boy was evidence enough of it. She was supposed to call for justice. Not revenge.
This defect, this trait (perhaps one of the only she shared with Hitchens) was to blame for the feeling of disappointment she had when Ashcroft broke it off. But, knowing it was over (for now) caused her body to begin to relax, the red in her vision to wane, and she came back into her senses. What message would it be to those she taught if she brutalized another person - if he could be called one, her mind added, though this time it was less spiteful and more petulant.
His eyes were still on her, his crowd having dispersed, but still he lingered. She took in a deep breath, still heaving with the effort of recovery and she reached up to wipe her bleeding nose on the back of her sleeve. The Slytherin with the sharp features, fully re-composed, every part of him in complete control and the frazzled Hufflepuff, with blood on her sweater, sweat on her brow, and emotion plain on her face. There wasn't a thing about them that matched-
save for their eyes. Each pair holding a new promise, a pledge. This was not over.
Her eyes finally tore away to look up at the professor. She gave Ashcroft a careful nod and then backed away, eyes darting back to Pavo one last time. And finally she turned on her heel to head out for Herbology, where Professor McKillon would surely be surprised by her appearance but Ace couldn't think about that now. She had much more important things to consider now.
by 
