Chapter 2
I was giddy. No words could describe this feeling, sitting here amongst other first years, in various magic classrooms I've always dreamed of being in. Sure, I’ve learned some spells and knew my way around a wand; only because I snuck some charms and many different books over the years of living in this castle. It gets lonely and boring around here.
Noticing the people around me more, while ignoring the droning voice of Professor Snape’s introduction of the year to come. A certain albino boy I remember seeing from the sorting caught my eye again, I mean how could he not? Looking like a highlighter and all.
Not sparing him a second glance, I got a feeling he might be trouble based on the look he gave me at the sorting, just from looking at him.
Snapping back into reality by Snape's booming voice as it grew louder. Did he notice I wasn’t paying attention? Shaken by that thought, it was only the first day I can’t be getting in trouble now. I calmed down once realizing the source of his anger was directed at a different student.
“Tell me, what would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?” I shifted my eyes over to the boy waiting to hear his answer, but there was no response. Snape decided to question the poor boy again, “You don't know? Well, let's try again. Where, Mr. Potter, would you look if I asked you to find me a bezoar?”
“I don't know, sir.”
“What is the difference between monkshood and wolfsbane?”
“I don't know, sir.” His reply was the same as the last.
Snape was staring him down from his pedestal as he said, “Pity. Clearly, fame isn't everything, is it, Mr. Potter?”
Potter? As in Harry Potter? He’s also at Hogwarts this year? How didn’t I notice this before, his name was said at the sorting. Did I not hear it from my distress of being sorted as a Slytherin?
“Clearly, Hermione knows. Seems a pity not to ask her.” My jaw almost dropped at his remark to the Professor. The rest of the first years started giggling, whilst I still couldn’t believe he said such a thing to one of the scariest teachers at Hogwarts. Snape's nasally voice cut in again, to quiet the chuckling students.
Professor Snape briskly walked in Harry’s direction after his previous words. Barely sparing a glance at the girl called Hermione. “Put your hand down, you silly girl.” He took a chair, sitting directly in front of Harry.
“For your information Potter, Asphodel and Wormwood make a sleeping potion so powerful it is known as the Draught of the Living Death, a Bezoar is a stone taken from the stomach of a goat and it will save you from most poisons. As for Monkshood and Wolfsbane, they are the same plant which also goes by the name of Aconite. Well, why aren't you all copying this down?” he says to the other students, though never taking his eyes off the boy.
Everyone hastily grabbed a piece of parchment and their quills, scribbling down the words Snape had just spoken.
The lesson dragged on with our emo teacher, his lack of enthusiasm for teaching made the class less desirable to be in. I almost let out a sigh of relief when the bell for dismissal finally rang. The tension in the classroom did not dissipate, still lingering during the rest of Snape's teaching.
Breathing had become easier as I stepped out of the room, making my way towards my next class. So far, today has started a bit differently than I had fantasized.
. . .
It was now flying class; the open field is a refreshing sight after being stuck indoors for the past couple of hours. I noticed a lot of the same faces kept reappearing in each of my classes so far; such as Cotton swab, Shemione, Harold Pooter, Rob as well as some of my fellow Slytherins that I’ve become friends with.
Chuckling at the newfound nicknames for the people I didn’t even know yet; However I stopped when another familiar Professor came into view, Madam Hooch. Her yellow eyes piercing the crowd of first years, as she told us instructions for summoning our brooms to our fingertips.
Everyone collectively started saying the phrase ‘Up’, trying their hardest to make their broomstick come to them. For some, it was easier than others. Harry had gotten it on his first try, Mayo boy did as well. I on the other hand had taken a few tries. There were a few stragglers having difficulty getting the broomsticks up.
“With feeling!” Madam Hooch announced. The remaining students finally got their brooms, as our Professor went on with the next set of instructions. “Now, once you’ve got a hold of your broom, I want you to mount it.” Everyone did as she said, “And grip it tight. You don’t want to be sliding off the end.” She advised, “When I blow my whistle, I want each of you to kick off from the ground hard. Keep your brooms steady, hover for a moment, then forward slightly, and touch back down.”
“On my whistle: Three, Two.” Then she blew the whistle, and a kid started floating on his broom, looking quite scared. Madam Hooch Stuttered out, “Mr. Longbottom!” trying to get him to stop levitating off the ground. He just kept floating higher and higher in the air. Everyone was trying to tell him to come down, when suddenly his broom sped off, taking the frightened boy with it, as he held on with his life.
He was screaming for help, while Madam Hooch yelled at him to come back. His broom began swaying and spinning him around, rocketing towards a wall and hitting it, and spun him around a few more times, still hitting that wall. Before making him dive straight towards the ground, then all of the sudden he headed straight towards us. With panic rising in me, I hurried out of the way, not wanting to get hit by the rogue broom.
I heard the Professor shout at the kid again but he was already back up high in the air, at that point. His robe got caught on a statue's spear and his broom zoomed off, we all gathered below him. It was silent for a moment. All of the sudden, I could hear the cloth of his robe starting to rip.
I let out a gasp at the scene before me, the boy was falling, his robe didn’t hold out and ripped from the spear. He landed with a loud thud. Madam Hooch pushed people out of the way, hurrying to the student. A girl next to me whispered, “Is he alright?” I turned my head and realized it was Hermione. “I hope so.” My attention was brought back to the kid on the ground, Madam Hooch strictly telling us to not get on the brooms until she returned, or there will be consequences.
“Did you see his face?” I noticed it was the snowball-looking boy speaking. He looked down at the ball in his hand before speaking again. “Maybe if the fat lump had given this a squeeze. He’d remembered to fall on his fat arse.” I took a step toward the rude boy, “That’s not yours, give it back.” Placing a hand on my hip with this statement. He scanned me up and down, shooting me an icy glare. “You should respect your superior.” He replied with a sneer, I scoffed at this, “Superior my ass” I said under my breath, but my words didn’t reach his ears, as he simply ignored me and mounted his broom.
Another voice chimed in, startling me from my anger. “Give it here, Malfoy.”
I tried to see who said those words, but it was hard, as too many people were in the way. Suddenly, another person was on their broom, I recognized it as the one and only Harry Potter. “No. I think I’ll leave it somewhere for Longbottom to find.” The kid now known as Malfoy spoke smugly. “How about on the roof.” It almost sounded like he said woof. Malfoy flew a bit higher, glancing back at Harry.
“What’s the matter, Potter? A bit beyond your reach?” Man, was he getting on my nerves. I almost got on my broom, but then I stopped my own actions, once I saw Harry had taken initiative. He was now face to face with Malfoy, I heard Hermione exclaim loudly that he was an idiot. I smiled at her choice of words, I couldn't agree more.
The two boys were a bit too far from the rest of us to understand what they said clearly. My Slytherin friends were cheering Malfoy on, I lowkey forgot they were here at all. I had been so focused on everything that had unfolded to take them into account. Pansy was snickering with Daphne. “Who’s the dude, Malfoy?” I had questioned them, a bit confused from his statement earlier about being my superior. “That’s Draco Malfoy. A pureblood Slytherin, from one of the most wealthy families in the wizarding world.” I let out a hum of recognition, turning my attention back, I noticed Professor McGonagall was now out on the field, whisking Harry away with her. “Ooo he’s in trouble now.” I heard Daphne say behind me to another fellow Slytherin. I let my thoughts linger, as I recall back to my interaction with Malfoy.
What is it with him?
. . .
It was the end of the day, I was in my final class, Charms. We were learning a levitating spell and to my unfortunate luck, I was seated next to Malfoy. I got the feeling that I’m going to be seeing a lot more of him, that thought alone is enough to make me shiver. I was listening intently, to hopefully help me recite the spell perfectly.
I tried to cast the spell as the professor had shown, but nothing happened, my feather remained still. Unaware that Malfoy had watched my attempt, the next set of words irritated me to no end. “As I thought, you’re worse trash than those Mudbloods.” I gritted my teeth, trying to remain calm, I wouldn’t show him those words had affected me. Even if they did.
“Well go on, do it then. Since you think you’re a prodigy.” I edged him on, smiling sweetly trying to get under his skin. I gesture for him to show me his skills. He smirked before waving his wand, repeating the spell used to levitate things. Just like my attempt, nothing happened. I laughed, “Yeah, you’re a prodigy alright.” My sarcastic response left him fuming in humiliation.
A loud booming sounded throughout the class, making me jump at the sudden noise. I heard Malfoy laugh at me, I shot him a quick glare before looking around the room for the cause of such noise.
A kid was covered in soot, his visage dirtied, with his hair standing up in all sorts of directions. It was a sight to behold, not every day do you see someone looking like einstein. The room accumulated into fits of laughter, our age showing through. “I think we’re gonna need another feather over here Professor.” Harry piped up from beside the starstruck boy.
The class continued, no more explosions going off, thankfully. Malfoy was getting on my nerves, he just wouldn't shut up. He boasted when he got his feather to float, his little sidekicks praising him, making me roll my eyes. “I bet you can’t even do the spell, bomb boy at least did a spell. Are you sure you’re a witch? You don’t belong here.” He seemed quite pleased with his words, but I felt the opposite. Without thinking, I whipped my wand in his direction, reciting the spell.
He started floating up, letting out a strangled cry for help. Everybody's attention was now on the two of us. The Professor was shouting for me to put Malfoy down, but his words fell on deaf ears; I was so fed up with Malfoy. I felt a hand placed on my shoulder, snapping me out of the trance. A yelp was heard, as Malfoy fell to the ground. His slick back hair was messed up and no longer neat.
I looked to see who was touching me and noticed it was Dumbledore, giving a displeased look. My face became crestfallen, my gaze shifting downwards, I could feel the disappointment radiating off of him. “I want you to come see me after class.” With that, he was gone.
The atmosphere was thicker than in this morning's potions class, the room was hushed, as the students were talking about the display that just occurred. The Professor cleared his throat about to speak, but the bell cut him off before he could do so.
I sighed, reluctantly deciding to get up, dragging my body out the door and into the hallway. I felt someone harshly hit my shoulder as they passed by me, just as I thought. It was Malfoy. I ignored his rude action, trudging my way to Dumbledore's office.
The people around me seemed so happy and others seemed not as excited to be here again. I paid them no mind, I was too self-absorbed in my own personal matters. Ron’s voice spoke up behind me, “It's leviosa, not leviosah.” His friends giggled at his comment, “She’s a nightmare, honestly. No wonder she ain’t got any friends.” Hermione sped in front of me and briskly walked past many students.
I feel you girl, boys suck.