Icarus

Thursdays were Dorcas' favorite day of the week. Not only was the weekend fast approaching, but she was also able to participate in her favorite extra-curricular activity, the Frog Choir. When she started her studies at Hogwarts a few years ago, she knew immediately that she wanted to belong to it. She has always liked to sing. Even from the first years of her life she gave performances to her parents, to which they always responded with great enthusiasm. For this reason, her first pet, which was living in her dormitory now, was a magical toad received as a gift from them. Dorcas named her Jelly. After a while, the name seemed funny, but she couldn't blame herself. She figured it out when she was only eleven years old.

That day, as usual, after all standard classes, Dorcas came back to her room and prepared a transporter, in which she always carried Jelly to music classes. The toad, as soon as she saw it, began to move more enthusiastically, as if she also enjoyed what was coming.

"Hi beautiful, do you want to sing a little?" Dorcas smiled and took the toad out of the terrarium than placed it carefully in the carrier. At the same time, Amelia's red lock of curls emerged from behind the curtain of the bed beside her.

"She's been warming up those tiny vocal cords of hers for an hour now, not letting me study!" The girl sighed with fake anger, then slid down from the bed looking at Dorcas lying upside down with a book on her nose.

"Ami, you know very well that if you want to, all you have to do is cast a silencing spell." Dorcas crossed her arms looking at her friend with a smile, she knew her weakness for animals very well.  Amelia rolled her eyes.

"Duh, I know, but she's just too cute!" She reached for the transporter, causing the rest of her red curls to touch the floor. "Once I work at the Ministry, I'll pass a law against such cuteness!"

They chatted a bit more about the essay they were going to do together over the weekend, then Dorcas took Jelly and headed off to class. She was very excited because it was the first music meeting after a long summer vacation where she could sing mostly in the shower. Besides, always at the beginning of the term, Professor Flitwick would call for singers who would get solo parts. Dorcas succeeded every time. Even in her first year at Hogwarts, she sang a short tune at Christmas dinner. Maybe it wasn't much, but the fact that the whole room was listening only her voice for a few fleeting minutes gave her great satisfaction.

This time, however, she aimed higher. The most important celebration, with the longest solo part, always given to the last years students, was the one at the end of the school year. The winning person could present a song of their choice and shine in front of the whole Hogwarts. Dorcas did not care about fame, but she really wanted to write down in the history of such a unique place. Each of the solo finalists could sign in the choir's huge memory book. Her name would be next to Celestina Warbeck, the legend, also known as 'The Singing Sorceress'. Dorcas loved listening her perform on Wizarding Wireless Network when she was little. Her parents even took her to a live performance a few times, which was one of her favorite childhood memories. Huge stage, colorful lights, loud music. It was something that spurred Dorcas to life. Perhaps Celestina was also her first crush. She couldn't help it, the singer had something literally magical about her, which attracted viewers without restraint. And of course she was stunningly beautiful with her spiky black hair and red lipstick.

The entries in the book were also specially enchanted, so that after selecting a name, the entire performance of a chosen singer could be heard. Dorcas listened to Celestina's performances many times, as she was one of the few students who sang the final solos already in her fourth year of Hogwarts. As she and Jelly walked down the corridor from the Slytherin dormitory, Dorcas could only think about how someday someone would open that book and hear her voice. She looked forward to today's auditions even more and quickened her pace.

After a while, however, she heard someone trying to catch up with her. She turned to see Evan, as he ran, straightening his blonde bangs that were perpetually falling over his eyes.

"Hey, wait Doors!" He waved his hand, stopping with a loud pant and the huge smile on his face that seemed to always be there.

"Evan. How many times do I have to tell you, call me Dorcas. I'm not the door." She sighed hastily and started walking, but the boy kept her pace.

"Oh Doors, you know that nickname is perfect for you! You're always as interesting as a door that no one has a key to!" He seemed very pleased with the metaphor he had invented. Dorcas looked at him out of the corner of her eye and smirked.

"You've been thinking about this comparison for a long time, haven't you?" Even though Evan was irritating at times, she couldn't act serious for long with his glowing puppy dog eyes. His sister had the same ones. She unintentionally smiled as she listened to his further theory.

"Not at all! You just seem mysterious. What secrets does Dorcas Meadowes hold?" As he considered this, his hand on his chin, he really looked just like Pandora. "Maybe... I know!"

Evan stopped her by grabbing her shoulders and made a serious face. Dorcas instantly forgot that this conversation had started out funny. What could he know about her? She froze as if paralyzed looking into his terribly blue eyes. Could it be... Impossible...

"You're actually bald!" Wait, did he really say that? Dorcas opened her mouth in disbelief, still unable to utter a word as Evan began to giggle uncontrollably. "Just kidding! I know the braids are attached to real hair!" After a moment, he straightened a bit, shaking his head. "Merlin's beard, if you could see your face! So you have some serious secrets after all!"

A simple conversation with Evan was always about extracting information. Perhaps that was why he adored Dorcas so much. She was one of the few who didn't fall for his tricks. She chose not to answer and just walked away without saying a word. Evan seemed like a silly boy, but he was in Slytherin for a reason. Dorcas knew perfectly well that he loved to know everything about others and regarded this as his greatest power. In uncertain times, any information can be used against you.

Fortunately, seeing Dorcas's reaction, the boy must have understood perfectly well that he would get nothing out of her. So they spent the rest of the way talking about the upcoming first Quidditch match and one of the many teenage dramas currently going on at the school. This is how Dorcas found out about Emmeline Vance breaking up with Remus Lupin in the summer. This case, like so many others, was of no interest to her. However, she let Evan do the monologue, so he wouldn't ask her any more awkward questions.

When they finally made it to the door of the music room, the boy waved goodbye and ran off to look for Pandora and Barty. Dorcas was a bit relieved when she finally got rid of him. After a while she entered the hall where all the members of the choir were already warming up before the audition. In addition to the freshmen gathered around the fireplace playing harmonicas, Dorcas noticed another new face.

The girl was sprawled out by the fireplace, taking up more space than many proud purebloods in the corridors. She was wearing black jeans with holes in them and a T-shirt of some Muggle band. Dorcas wouldn't have recognized her, however, if it weren't for the distinctive golden curls that gleamed in the light of the stained-glass window. It was Marlene McKinnon.

She had no idea what the girl was doing in that room, but she definitely looked like she didn't want to be here at all. Dorcas knew her from numerous Quidditch matches and practices. Marlene, like herself, was one of the chasers. She always saw her in the company of James Potter. These two couldn't be missed. If by some miracle they couldn't be seen, they were always loud enough for everyone to know if they were around anyway. Also, they were probably a couple because they acted like the world already belonged to them. Dorcas hated such behavior.

Thoughts on the new participant, however, were interrupted by the professor who finally appeared in the room, putting everyone on their feet. Dorcas immediately stopped staring at the golden-haired Gryffindor and her full attention shifted to the upcoming audition. She repeated the words of the song over and over in her mind.

As usual, the details of the Halloween performance were agreed at the beginning. Preparations were to start the following week. The first years were assigned to the back choirs, a few of the older contestants announced what instruments they could play, and finally the number of toads that would take part in the singing was counted. Dorcas stroked Jelly's slippery skin gently, then lifted her from the carrier and placed beside the other toads.

The time has come for the most important moment, the choice of this year's soloist. Dorcas had a lot of competition, but she knew perfectly well that she had been practicing for this role for years. She was not afraid of failure. In fact, when it was her turn to sing, pleasant shivers of excitement ran through her body. The song she chose was one of her favorites. It was ‘Summertime’ by Ella Fitzgerald. The perfect piece to end a year full of learning.

So she stood in front of the whole room of people waiting for her performance and simply started singing. As always, she felt like she put her whole soul into it. The expressions of those listening to her told that she was doing well, and because of that she felt even more confident. When she finished, thunderous applause could be heard throughout the room and she knew, she had won.

"That was perfection my dear! I think we all agree that you should be the one to perform, right class?" Professor Flitwick continued to applaud even though everyone had finished. Dorcas felt hot, but was about to boil when her incoming thanks were interrupted by none other than Marlene McKinnon.

"Yeah, I guess that was something, but don't you think this song is a little too sad for the end of the year?" The girl got up from her previous position and started walking towards the rest of the gathered with her arms crossed. "I mean, we should all enjoy the upcoming holidays, not mourn them."

Everyone started giggling. Dorcas was still standing in the middle of the room, waiting for the professor to tell the intruder to return to her seat. However, that didn't happen.

"Hmm, perhaps Miss McKinnon is right. What would you suggest then?" Flitwick asked with genuine curiosity. Dorcas could not bear such humiliation for one more minute.

"Why would she have anything to say? This is the first time I see her here. What are you even doing here anyway McKinnon?" She tried to contain her irritation so as not to give the other girl satisfaction. But her voice must have betrayed her, because a sinister smile appeared on Marlene's face.

"Since I'm here, I guess I can say what I think? It's just constructive criticism, they don't teach you that in Slytherin?" When she said the last sentence with a hint of sarcasm, Dorcas considered turning her into one of the harps standing in the corner.

"Girls, there's no need to argue. I think every member's opinion counts. Miss McKinnon, we'd love to hear what you propose." Flitwick tried to smooth things over by stepping between them. Marlene dared to step forward a few steps.

"I think every year all the songs are so boring and sad. Maybe this time we can change that? Maybe instead of a solo, everyone could join in the final performance?" Marlene looked at the gathered people, who started to nod their heads eagerly. "And maybe add other instruments like guitar or..." Dorcas couldn't listen to this nonsense any more. She had to stop it immediately.

"But it's a tradition that at the end of the year a soloist chosen by the group gets a performance!" Anger could be read in her eyes a mile away. What did this girl want to achieve? Who did she think she was? Unfortunately, the rest of the choir seemed to share her opinion.

"Yeah, we want to perform too!" One of the first year Hufflepuffs shouted and the others followed. Chaos reigned in the room. Dorcas could only stand and watch Marlene McKinnon's self-satisfied face. This drove her crazy until Professor Flitwick decided to calm down the students.

"Silence, silence!" Although the professor was young, his pleasantly firm tone instantly made everyone fell silent. "Thank you." He added, turning back to Dorcas. "Miss Meadowes and Miss McKinnon are both partly right. I'm a fan of tradition, so the final performance will focus on the soloist." A murmur of disappointment could be heard throughout the room. Professor Flitwick held up one finger as he continued. "However, that doesn't mean the rest of the group can't take part. Miss McKinnon is a new addition to our choir, but after talking briefly before class, I know she knows her stuff. So I trust that she and Miss Meadowes will create a repertoire suitable for the whole group." He took a deep breath and clarified after a moment, looking at the consternated faces of those present. "I suggest that Miss Meadows choose a song that will be suitable for the whole choir. Since Miss McKinnon is so eager to help, I believe that together they will be able to create the perfect repertoire by the end of the school year."

Dorcas was speechless. She came to this audition confident that the stage was hers to take. But now they had her preparing something completely new? And with a girl who looked like she could blow up a music hall in one move? Besides, Marlene herself now looked as if Flitwick's idea didn't appeal to her too. At one point, her gaze met Dorcas and pierced her with a huge note of uncertainty.

"But Professor, I don't think I can..." The golden-haired girl began to explain hastily, but it was obvious that Professor Flitwick had already made his final decision.

"I believe in you girls, I look forward to presenting your idea by the end of the year, then we will start rehearsals." He sounded very pleased with the turn of events. "Meanwhile, we're done for today, see you next week!" Everyone hurriedly gathered up their instruments and toads, probably heading to dinner as soon as possible.

Within a few busy and noisy minutes, Dorcas looked around the classroom and saw that she was practically alone in it, still standing in the same place where she had been singing a moment ago. However, Marlene McKinnon materialized very quickly next to her.

"Hey, it's a bit weird, but I think it'll be fun! We can meet up one day to discuss songs and..." Dorcas, ignoring the chattering girl, started to put Jelly in the carrier. She just couldn't find the words for what had just happened. Rage spilled over her heated body, but she chose not to show it. At the same time, Marlene nearly jumped with joy as she went on talking. "Oh my gosh you've got a toad! Can he sing? Well, I guess so, finally you brought him to choir class... You know what? I have a ferret!" She didn't stop asking questions, which she answered herself, even when they started leaving the room. Dorcas was slowly losing her patience.

"McKinnon. Stop talking." She stood in front of the Gryffindor, who now looked surprised. "You came to this class out of nowhere. You have the audacity to embarrass me in front of the whole choir and take away my performance I've been working on for years. Now for some reason you pretend to be nice and ask about my toad, which by the way is not a male. What is… what's wrong with you? What do you want from me?" Dorcas felt her voice rising with each sentence. The other girl looked troubled.

"I didn't want to take anything from you!" Dorcas, hearing this, rolled her eyes and started heading towards the dungeons.

"Hey, really! I didn't want to take this stupid class myself, but I thought if I had to, maybe I could improve it a bit, you know?" Hearing this, Dorcas stopped once more, looking at Marlene again with eyes that might have burned the girl alive.

"What do you mean you didn't want to attend these classes?" She asked as calmly as she could, but also began to move closer, so that McKinnon slowly backed up towards the wall.

"Oh you know, we did some stupid prank with guitars and they just caught me... McGonagall gave me an ultimatum, either take this class or suspend me from Quidditch for the rest of the term. Well, I had no choice." She spread her hands nonchalantly. Dorcas couldn't believe what she had just heard. This girl was only here because she made some stupid joke? Because of this, they had to spend a whole year together preparing something that she suddenly came up with? It couldn't be real.

"Are you telling me that because of your stupid jokes, I have to give up a performance I've been rehearsing all summer?" Only now did Dorcas notice how close she had come, making Marlene almost lean against the column.

"Well, technically it was James' idea to..." Marlene laughed as if what was happening at that moment meant nothing to her. Dorcas took a deep breath and came even closer so that the girl's back lightly hit the wall behind.

"I don't care if it was your idea or your stupid boyfriend McKinnon!" Dorcas tried to stay calm until then, but the smile that never left the Gryffindor's face made her want to rip it off.

"Wait, he's not..." Marlene tried to protest, but Dorcas dug a finger into her shoulder and stopped her.

"No. Now listen carefully. I don't care why you're here. I don't care what you did to be here. And most importantly, I don't care about you." Hearing these words, Marlene finally straightened up and became serious. "Shall we do a show together? Fine. But you're just a pawn in my game." She pressed the girl tighter and tighter until she decided she was too close and slowly pulled away. Marlene looked like she was about to add something else, so Dorcas cut her off before she could even begin. "I think you've said enough. I'll think about the repertoire changes and let you know. Until then, leave me alone."

Dorcas didn't wait for a reaction, she just quickly walked towards her dormitory. She felt that hot blood was flowing through her veins, agitated by one small, talkative Gryffindor girl. Marlene McKinnon appeared in her life like a light gust of wind, which was about to turn into a tornado destroying everything in its path.

She couldn't help thinking that she had to go along with such a ridiculous idea. Not only did changing the repertoire required much more work, but she also had to consult her decisions with someone so incompetent. She was so furious with the whole situation that she decided to go to the nearest bathroom for a moment to cool herself down with cold water. Fortunately, the nearest toilet was the one where Marta was officiating, so she didn't have to worry about anyone's presence.

When she finally reached the sink and felt a pleasant relief, she heard a strange sound coming from behind one of the toilet doors. A moment later Marta appeared next to her, pressing her finger to almost transparent lips.

"Shh, let's not disturb our love doves!" She started to giggle and flew towards the cabin where the sounds were coming from.

It was obvious that the people behind the door were very much engaged in each other's company. Long-winded 'ahh' and 'ohh' could be heard. Dorcas decided not to get involved with the other students life, who had probably just found a place to make out.

As she slowly backed out of the bathroom, none other than Evan Rosier and Barty Crouch emerged from the stall. They kissed one last time, passionately, then Barty began to help Evan with his tie. Dorcas couldn't believe her eyes.