She Traitor

Professor Flitwick showed a procedure that didn't make much sense to Sarah.  It was never that she didn't know what to do, it was actually disconcerting that they had such a class together.

It could be expected that the school will also prepare its students for life.  In this case, for life in the war that awaits every student who left Hogwarts and stayed in England.

“So… shall I start?  Or you?” She looked uncertainly at Dorcas Medowes, who already had her wand ready.

Dorcas just shrugs her shoulders but her tone is calm as he speaks to her “Begin.  I'll be happy to see how you get on.” Both Sarah and Dorcas knew it wouldn't be worth it and that was one thing that really pissed off Sarah, but she had no business arguing with a sixth year Slytherin girl right now.

Sarah concentrated and cast the spell, but the spell was weak.  There was only a flickering light from the wand and Sarah was so glad at that moment that Marlen and the Gryffindor girls were on the other side of the classroom.

Dorcas tilted her head to the side and raised her eyebrows slightly “Um, I guess you should have held your wand tighter.  And the incantation is pronounced with the emphasis on the second syllable, you know?"

She knew Dorcas meant well

Still, Sarah could only smile convulsively, feeling the blood rise to her cheeks.  She hadn't been very focused in recent weeks.  The professor had already pointed it out to her.  "Sure, thanks for the advice.  Now that's sure to be great.” She tries the spell a second time. Sarah could only sigh as a faint shield came out of her wand.

Dorcas is confused for a moment, then gently places her hand on Sarah's wand to guide her.  "Look, like this.  Bend the elbow slightly.  Now try again.”

Sarah glances down at Dorcas' hand, a little annoyed that she's fixing it, but tries the spell again anyway.  This time the shield is stronger.  "See? I'm getting better!"  She said with a slight smile, but she couldn't be happy about such a trivial thing.  Now she had other stimuli in mind.

Dorcas smiles slightly.  "Yeah, it looks like even a freshman might not beat you." Only then did she realize how her sentence must have sounded and looked at Sarah uncertainly.

Sarah frowns, but her expression is more playful than offended.  "Well, Miss Perfect, I want to see you now."

Without hesitation, Dorcas raises her wand and displays a perfect shield that is stable and glows with a soft golden light.

Sarah feigns surprise as she puts her hand to her mouth and gasps.  "Well guys, I guess I should give up and just watch, huh?"

Dorcas shrugged “That's not a bad idea.  Watch and learn from the better.” Dorcas said in a tone of voice that could have been considered playful, even Dorcas noticed that Sarah was tired.

Class is over and Dorcas begins to clean up her things.  Sarah is about to make a comment, but Dorcas leaves before she can say more than, "Well, thanks for your help."

•••

Sarah never understood the point of evening workouts when she can barely see through the night.  The sun is slowly setting behind the castle walls, casting long shadows on the quidditch court.  Sarah arrived a few minutes later, her gaze downcast.  Without greeting, he takes the Quaffle and immediately joins the other shooters.

Sahara's movements are jerky, as if she wants to beat out her inner disapproval through training.  She throws the ball with unnecessary force on every hoop, as if trying to release an excess of emotions.  It is hit accurately, but without elegance - the balls hit the hoop with such force that even Frank on Sarah later shouted. To which Sarah doesn't answer, she just grips the Quaffle and sends another shot at the hoop.  Of course, Sirius had a good day and provoked Sarah during the training, lucky for him that Sarah completely Ignored him.

"Do you think she's going to become the next Harpy attacker or just kill someone?" Sirius asked as he flew to the hoops within earshot of Frank. Even though he was in a really good mood, he didn't want to risk getting hit by the Quaffle.

Frank gave him a sharp look.  "She looks angry.  I probably wouldn't provoke her too much." He said and his look clearly indicated that he didn't want to talk about it. He liked Sarah and was quite able to guess what could happen.

Sirius just shrugs, not daring to joke any further.  Hovering over the field on his broom and watching the entire practice like a proper captain, James finally notices his sister's erratic behavior.

•••

Three hours passed quite quickly and it was already pitch black.  Training is over and the team is slowly descending to the ground.  Sarah was the very last one to land and her demeanor seemed to calm down during the training.  She threw Quaffle back into the crate and turned to the dressing room without saying a word.

James, who had been waiting for the right moment all this time, quickly stepped in front of Sarah as she walked past him.

"Sarah."

Sarah stopped but didn't even turn to him as she answered.  "What?"

James grabbed her elbow and turned her in his direction with one jerk.  "Can you explain to me what happened to you today?"

It could be seen that Sarah was not satisfied with the fact that James reached for her and she pulled her hand out of his grip "I was training.  Is that wrong?"

Her brother rolled his eyes at the answer.  “Yeah, but it wasn't a normal training session.  You throw like someone set your broom on fire.  What's going on?” Sarah sighs tiredly and shakes her head.

“Nothing is wrong, James." She said and was about to turn to leave again, but James stepped in her way. Little did he know that this was fueling her anger, as he was partly the reason for her behavior. Emotions kept under wraps are not the best.

“It's not 'nothing'.  i saw you  You are not well.  What's on your mind again?" Sarah let out a little when he used the word 'again'.

"I don't know, maybe just a... busy day, that's all."

James tilted his head, his usual goofy grin on his face, which turned Sarah on even more, but it was still nothing like what he said next.  “That's all, right?  What about Pandora?  Doesn't it have something to do with her?  That girl is strange, Sarah.”

Sarah straightened as if he had hit her.  "Strange?  How can you say such a thing?  You don't even know her!"

James's patience had also begun to wane.  "And I don't even want to!  Look at you, you're completely different since you've been hanging out with her.  You argue with people, you explode at every stupid thing..."

Sarah drove off.  "That's not true!"

James raised his voice.  “But it is!  You can't see it, but your Pandora is just pulling you down.  You don't even hang out with Lily, Marlen and Mary anymore.  You pushed everyone away for her."

"Because they don't understand me!  Pandora is the only one who understands me!  Maybe you'd understand if you weren't so biased against people who aren't like you!” Tears formed in Sarah's eyes, but she rejected the poster in front of the entire Gryffindor team.

“This has nothing to do with me!  I'm just telling you the truth - your 'friend' is changing you for the worse!"

Sarah just stares at him for a few seconds, shaken by his words.  Then she turns on her heel and runs away, ignoring everyone around her.  The team, who have been watching the entire altercation, are left standing in shock.

•••

Sirius felt an uncomfortable feeling in his chest when he saw tears in Sahara's eyes.  "I'll go find her in a moment."

Before he could start, Frank Longbottom stopped him.  "No, leave it to me.  I have a feeling your presence might make it worse."

He runs after Sarah, leaving a confused Sirius behind him, but when he reaches the dressing room, Sarah is gone.  On the floor is her training jacket and gloves propped up against a bench, suggesting that she left in a hurry and in a rage.

"Damn it, where did you go?"