Choice's Curse

Long day was right. It was the first day of classes, and all the sixth years had to meet up with their Head of House to determine if they could take the classes they wanted based on their O.W.L. score. I was hoping I did well enough on mine to continue with Potions and Defense Against the Dark Arts, while Cho and Hermione were both hoping to continue with Transfiguration and History. It made me a bit sad that they would have more classes with each other than with me, but we would still see each other a fair amount.

My meeting with Flitwick went incredibly well, and I was going to be able to continue with my desired classes. Cho, Hermione, and I chatted about our results all the way down to breakfast, all relatively pleased with them, though of course Hermione was being incredibly harsh on herself.

“I could’ve done much better than I did, if I had just studied a bit more!” She exclaimed frustratedly, and Cho and I shared a look.

“Hermione, you spent every waking moment last year studying. You did great,” I assured her. “You’re probably the smartest girl at Hogwarts, with two exceptions.” I joked, pointing at Cho and myself.

We had just rounded the corner into the hallway just outside of the Great Hall, when a painfully familiar voice said, “I hope you weren’t referring to yourself, Adler. You’re about as stupid as it gets.” The three of us stopped in our tracks as Draco Malfoy, the boy who had been practically my sworn enemy since our first year, came into view. He was, as always, a cold, stony picture of perfection; his eyes were the silver of a sharp knife, his cheekbones and nose high and elegant, his skin paler than the snow that fell every winter and covered the castle. There was something different about him this year, something...stronger, more confident, something that made me feel like his eyes on me were sucking the air out of my lungs.

“Excuse me?” I replied, my voice a mix of anger and confusion, my nails digging into my palm at my side. 

“You heard me, Adler. You’re about as bright as a rock. I’ve seen your scores in Potions before.” Malfoy drawled, leaning back against the stone, his dark robes blowing gently in the light breeze. 

My face flushed an angry red, and my hands were shaking with frustration. “I’ll have you know, I passed that portion of my O.W.L.s just fine, according to Flitwick.”

Malfoy barked a laugh. “Anything is impressive to that imbecile. I wouldn’t brag too much about it. Besides, it’s going to be much harder this year. I doubt your little Muggle self will be able to keep up.” He pushed off the wall and walked closer to where I was standing, with Cho and Hermione a step behind. “I’ll say this slowly, so that even you can understand me.” Malfoy said, his voice dripping with a sickly sweet sarcasm. He towered now, I noticed, a good six inches over me. When did he get so damn tall? “You don’t fucking belong here. Every breath you take in this castle is an absolute waste.” His icy eyes scanned my face, waiting for his words to sink in, searching for any sign of hurt to flash in my eyes.

My nails dug so hard into my hand that I was sure they were going to leave a mark, the pain focusing my thoughts. I opened my mouth to give a reply right as Professor Slughorn, the newest professor to join's Hogwarts' staff, rounded the corner. “Is there something wrong, my dear?”

Malfoy feigned innocence, tilting his head to one side. “Is there?” Though his face was calm, I could see the hatred in his eyes. His hands slid into his pockets, his stature radiating ease, though the air between us was filled with anything but. 

I knew if I said there was, Malfoy would win, and would hold it over my head probably until the day I died, would bitch about how I was a coward, weak. “No, sir. Just talking about the O.W.L. results is all.”

Malfoy’s eyes glared at me, shooting daggers into me, but Slughorn replied, “Ah, yes, you're Ms. Adler, aren't you? I was just speaking to Severu-uh, Professor Snape, about your scores. I hope you’re pleased with your results, Ms. Adler, because I certainly was very impressed. I am very much looking forward to having you in my class! You as well, Mr. Malfoy. I think I can speak for all of the professors when I say you did very well indeed.” He clapped a meaty hand on Malfoy’s shoulder before heading on his merry way, oblivious to the tension between the four of us.

I couldn’t help the surprise that blossomed in me. I had no idea Malfoy was even capable of exerting effort when it came to school; the way that he constantly skipped classes and verbally berated teachers suggested otherwise. 

“I don’t care what that fat idiot says. Stay out of my way.” He glanced me up and down, making me squirm under his intense gaze. His eyes caught the worn hem of my shirt, the way that my skirt was just slightly too short because of my growth over the summer. “Parents didn’t have enough money for new clothes this year? Or could they just not be bothered?”

Fucking prick.

Hermione stepped slightly in front of me, her face cold as she regarded Malfoy. “Shut it, Malfoy. Money doesn’t mean anything. It did make you an absolute asshole, though. Bet your daddy is proud you pick on innocent people, just like he does.”

Malfoy scoffed. “Sweet that you Mudbloods look out for each other. Nice crowd you run with, Cho.” He turned on his heel and headed out the doors to the courtyard beyond, his strides long, his hands still tucked in his pockets.

They both turned to me. “Elaine, are you okay?” Hermione asked softly, her brow furrowed with concern.

“Yes, I’m fine,” I snapped, already becoming very fed up with Malfoy and the target he constantly had on my back. Bitterness swirled through me, suddenly erasing the previous hunger that had grumbled in my stomach. “I’m not hungry anymore. Eat without me.” Both Cho and Hermione’s faces fell, and I felt a twinge of guilt before turning and making my way outside as well, wanting nothing more than to just be alone for a few moments. 

I stalked to the lake, frustration growing at every footstep. Sitting down beside the tree that had become so familiar to me, I angrily wiped my face and stared out at the calm, blue water, the waves lapping gently at the sand that bordered it. I truly did not understand why Malfoy hated my guts; Hermione was Muggle-born as well, and he didn’t seem to despise her nearly as much as me. I had never been kind to him, true, but I had never gone out of my way to antagonize him like he did to me. Over the years, he had said some quite unkind things, but nothing about my family or blood until this year. Where had he even learned all of that? I didn’t doubt he would go to extreme lengths to torment me, but that seemed excessive even for him.

I let a few minutes pass to gather myself, the September air cooling my flushed cheeks and calming my pounding heartbeat. Telling myself that this year I wouldn't let Malfoy get to me like he always did, I sighed then stood up, wiped the sand off my robes, and made my way back into the castle to go to my first lesson of the day, Defense Against the Dark Arts.

Which, of course, I had with Slytherin.

Walking into the class, I spotted Luna sitting by herself. I rushed over and took the seat, breathing out a soft, “Hey,” before Snape glided into the room, his dark cloaks swirling behind him.

“In years past, this class has been taught by a parade of woefully underqualified teachers who had little interest in actually teaching you what you need to know.” Snape’s nasally voice droned, and I could tell I would be fighting sleep most days. Defense Against the Dark Arts had been my favorite subject since the very first day, even though Quirrell had been utterly boring, and, horrifically, somehow Voldemort's vessel. Though coming to Hogwarts having no previous knowledge that magic existed, it was easy to learn that there was nothing that couldn't happen at the castle, especially where Harry Potter was involved. 

A crumpled piece of paper hit the side of my head as Snape turned around to write something on the board. Confusion twisted my face, and I opened it. On it was a moving drawing of me getting knocked off my broom during a Quidditch match in a quite unpleasant and rather violent manner. Underneath was the title: Watch your back, Adler.

The drawing was unnervingly realistic and I already had a solid idea who the prick of an author was. 

“Passing notes in class, Ms. Adler?” Snape was suddenly standing by my desk, looking over his large nose at the wrinkled paper I held.

“No, sir, someone threw it--” I started.

“Five points from Ravenclaw, Ms. Adler. Next time, it’s detention.” Snape whisked back to the front of the classroom, and I heard snickering behind me as my face flushed bright red.

An hour and a half later, I stormed out of the classroom to find Malfoy. He was filing out, talking with his oaf of a friend, Crabbe, when I found him. I blocked his path, my hands curled into fists, one holding his note. 

“What the fuck is your problem, Malfoy?” I demanded, crossing my arms in front of me.

Malfoy gestured Crabbe to go ahead, then turned back to me. “No clue what you’re talking about, Adler,” He responded, his voice full of boredom and disinterest. 

“You threw that fucking paper. Don’t play dumb. You’re the only person in this entire school that hates me that much.” I still had the paper crumpled in my hand, and I unfurled my fist, showing the threatening piece of parchment.

“Huh. Whoever drew this is a wonderful artist. Dunno why they'd waste such talent on a worthless bitch like you,” He drawled, snatching the paper out of my hand and turning it as if he were examining an expensive piece of art. Malfoy was calm, relaxed, and that caused annoyance to bubble up in my chest as it so often did with the pale Slytherin in front of me.

“Look, I don’t know what your problem is, and I don’t know what damn hole you crawled out of that made you so fucking awful, but it would be in your best interest if you would leave me the hell alone this year. I'm sick of your shit," I snapped.

Malfoy crossed his arms. “Oh, how terrifying," Malfoy leered. "Threatening me, are you, Adler? Pretty ballsy for a Ravenclaw. I wonder what Professor Snape would think.”

“You don’t need to go running off to your little professor and tattle on me like a child. Let’s just stay away from each other, okay?” I took a deep breath to calm myself down. “I don’t know what the hell I did to make you hate me so much, but I suggest you get over it so we don't have to deal with each other anymore.” Good, let’s be the bigger person. That always works out best, right?

I was so very wrong.

Malfoy feigned thinking for a few moments before thinking. “I was going to consider your offer. Then you insulted me. I guess Muggles don't teach manners, do they?" Malfoy shook his head. "How unfortunate."  He turned and walked back into the classroom, calling out as he entered. “Professor Snape?”

Great going, Elaine.

Detention was bad enough, but detention with Snape? No one enjoyed that, not even Slytherin. After Malfoy had tattled on me like the child that he is, Snape scolded me in the terrifyingly calm way that he had perfected over the years, telling me that my rude behavior would not be tolerated, and I was to meet him in his classroom later that night. After classes, my mood was so bad that during dinner I barely ate anything, my stomach sour with disdain for both Malfoy and Professor Snape. My friends were sharing very obvious, worried glances, and they finally suggested we go out and walk around the grounds for a while before I had to go to detention.

Harry, Hermione, Ron, and I headed out to the grounds, leaving Cedric and Cho behind to “study”. The air was biting cold, and even our scarves barely held back the chill that seemed to seep into my bones as we walked, and my friends curled their shoulders to shield from the sharp wind, but I embraced the cold, having missed the feeling after such a long and sweltering summer.

“Listen,” I began, picking bits of grass up from next to where I was sitting and tearing them up, “I love Cho and Cedric, but---”

“The PDA? Merlin’s beard, it’s enough to make me gag!” Ron interrupted, sending all of us into a fit of giggles. “Seriously. Do they have to kiss each other every single time one of them leaves or comes back?” He made a disgusted face, and I glanced at Hermione, who's face was warm with the evidence of her crush on our friend.

“C’mon, Ron, you can’t tell us there isn’t a girl you’d love to be doing that with?” I teased, shoving his shoulder with mine.

Ron’s ears flared bright red and he coughed, shocked by my question. “I mean, uh, I guess, but uh--”

“Aw, little Ron-Ron’s got a little crush on someone,” Harry called out in a sing-song voice. “C’mon mate, tell us who! Friends don’t keep secrets.” 

I could practically see Hermione’s nerves as Ron tried to speak, but the chime of the clocktower stopped him.

“Shit!” Both Harry and I exclaimed.

"You too?"

Harry nodded grimly. "Wouldn't want to break my streak of getting detention in the first week, would I?"

"You're ridiculous," I stated. 

"Little hypocritical, aren't we? As I recall, you got detention too," Harry joked. 

I shoved him. “Not for a good reason, git.”

Harry grinned. “Hey, mine’s with Snape, too, so at least we can suffer together.”

I didn’t want to admit it, but the thought of being alone with him made my heart race faintly, a new, but not unpleasant sensation. We said goodbye to Hermione and Ron, and made our way to detention.

We barely made it on time, but we made it. Snape had us cleaning out old desks in his new classroom, which was about as fun as watching paint dry.

“So,” I said as I scraped yet another piece of chewing gum off the desk, “are we going to talk about Ron and Hermione?”

Harry froze. “What about them?” He asked, trying not to seem suspicious, and failing miserably.

“Oh, just the fact that they absolutely both fancy each other, but they’re too afraid to say it,” I tossed out nonchalantly.

“Hermione likes Ron?” Harry said, stopping his cleaning of the top of the desk, his eyebrows raised in surprise.

“Yes, and you’re both idiots for not seeing it by now. She looks at him every chance she gets! He does the same.” I replied, turning towards him. I rested my hand on the desk and put my weight on one leg to give the other some rest from the standing I’d been doing. “I think they would be a wonderful couple.” 

“You don’t think it would be weird?” Harry asked, his green eyes intently studying my own.

“Do you?” I countered, suddenly very interested in my nails.

I couldn’t see it, but Harry was grinning. “No, I don’t think it would.”

Snape’s voice sent a bolt of fear down my spine as he spoke from behind me. “Less talking about Granger and Weasley’s disturbing love life, and more cleaning, or it'll be another detention for both of you," His nasally voice droned. 

He walked away, and Harry and I stared at each other in fright before bursting into a fit of laughter.

"So, what did you do to get detention anyways?" Harry asked as he went back to scrubbing a dark ink stain on the surface of the desk. 

I sighed. "Malfoy was being an asshole, as usual, and I told him to leave me alone, and he thought I was threatening him, the stupid git."

Harry snorted. "God, what a fucking dick. Is he still being awful to you?"

"Of course he is. I would be concerned if he wasn't. That would mean something really wild was going on."

"Well, for what it's worth, I'm sorry. I know how hard it gets sometimes with him," Harry told me. "But who knows, maybe this year will be different." 

I laughed. "Yeah, and maybe I'll grow horns and a tail." 

"Now that would be a sight to see," Harry exclaimed, reaching over for more cleaning solution, his worn grey shirt lifting up as he did, exposing his sharp hipbone. My cheeks flushed and I quickly looked away, the image of his newly muscular torso stuck in my mind as I worked.