The Secrets of The Sighted (Golden Trio Era) {3}

Lost

As Hermione had predicted, the sixth-years' free periods were not the hours of blissful relaxation Ron had anticipated, but times in which to attempt to keep up with the vast amount of homework they were being set. Not only were they studying as though they had exams every day, but the lessons themselves had become more demanding than ever before. Harry barely understood half of what Professor McGonagall said to them these days, even Hermione and Mikayla had to ask her to repeat instructions once or twice. Incredibly, and to Hermione's increasing resentment, Harry's best subject had suddenly become Potions, thanks to the Half-Blood Prince.

Non-verbal spells were now expected, not only in Defence Against the Dark Arts, but in Charms and Transfiguration too. Mikayla frequently looked over at her classmates in the common room or at mealtimes to see them purple in the face and straining as though they had overdosed on U-No-Poo, but she knew that they were really struggling to make spells work without saying incantations aloud. It was a relief to get outside into the greenhouses; they were dealing with more dangerous plants than ever in Herbology, but at least they were still allowed to swear loudly if the Venomous Tentacula seized them unexpectedly from behind. One result of their enormous workload and the frantic hours of practising non-verbal spells was that Harry, Ron, Mikayla and Hermione had so far been unable to find time to go and visit Hagrid.

Hagrid had stopped coming to meals at the staff table, an ominous sign, and on the few occasions when they had passed him in the corridors or out in the grounds, he had mysteriously failed to notice them or hear their greetings, except Mikayla's, he made a point of talking to her whenever they crossed paths, ignoring the others. "We've got to go and explain," Hermione planned, looking up at Hagrid's huge empty chair at the staff table the following Saturday at breakfast. "We've got Quidditch tryouts this morning!" Ron exclaimed. "And we're supposed to be practising that Aguamenti charm for Flitwick! Anyway, explain what? How are we going to tell him we hated his stupid subject?" Mikayla rolled her eyes at Ron's words, "we didn't hate it!" Hermione snapped at Ron. "Speak for yourself, I haven't forgotten the Skrewts, and I'm telling you now, we've had a narrow escape. You didn't hear him going on about his gormless brother- we'd have been teaching Grawp how to tie his shoelaces if we'd stayed."

Mikayla informed the group that she still goes and visits Grawp when they're preoccupied with work to socialise with her. Mikayla knew she had it easy, being able to perform non-verbal and wandless magic for over a year, whilst the others struggle with each spell, she did try to help them but they would just snap at her and telling her to leave them alone. It got to the point where Mikayla had given up, and spends most of her free periods alone, she didn't even feel like she was apart of the group anymore, she felt out of place, "I hate not talking to Hagrid, he's ignoring us, we need to clear the air," Hermione argued against Ron looking upset. "He's not ignoring Mikayla, maybe she can talk to him." Ron argued, and the three of them look at the blonde who was trying to disappear in her transfiguration book, "well, will you?" Ron asked, Mikayla she couldn't ignore his question anymore, "yeah, I will but I really think you should talk to him-" Ron interrupted the blonde, "should've known you wouldn't help."

Mikayla closed her book with a loud bang, and hopped up off her seat, "see you at Quidditch." Mikayla walked away as fast as she could. "Hey Mikayla!" Eva chimed as she saw the blonde walking out of the Great Hall, despite how upset she was, Mikayla always made time for Eva, "hey Eva, I heard you're doing well in Charms, Flitwick told me that you've shown a lot of potential." Mikayla praised the younger girl, who beamed brightly, "good, your notes have helped me a lot, Lizzie and Marcie still think you're supposed to be a Ravenclaw." Mikayla chuckles lightly, "Nah, I look good in red." She jokes and Eva chuckles smiling up at Mikayla, "I'll see you later okay?" Mikayla promised, Eva nodded and watched as Mikayla left the hall, the smile she had when talking to Eva fell from her face as she rushed away.

Mikayla was close to tears when she arrived at the Quidditch Pitch, she thought that if she got there early maybe she'd get rid of her pent up anger, what she didn't expect was to see the Slytherin Team doing Try Outs. Mikayla quickly went to leave but someone calling her name made her freeze in her spot, an unfamiliar face came into view. "Sorry, I thought the pitch wasn't being used, I was just leaving." She told the older boy as she tried to walk away, noticing that she was surrounded by Slytherin, she took a small gulp, "Urquhart, leave her be." Brian's voice sounded, I look over to see him and Avery standing side by side, "she was trying to spy on my TryOuts Smirnov, I can't leave that unpunished." Mikayla rolled her eyes at the boy, "why would I want to spy on your team? It's not like you have a chance of beating us." Mikayla shot back, pushing her way around Urquhart and storming towards the exit, before Malfoy blocked her off. "Look, I'm not really in the mood for this," she admits honestly, Malfoy's sneer faltered for a split second but he quickly snapped back into his usual self.

Without warning Malfoy performed the Levicorpus Jinx, she was flipped upside side down hanging by her ankles, she shook her head at Brian and Avery, who went to retaliate, Mikayla had excepted her fate, "Alarte Ascendare" Mikayla squealed as she shot high up in the air, "Circumrota," Mikayla began spinning uncontrollably, Mikayla could hear the laughter of the Slytherin's as she was starting to pale, feeling as though she was ready to vomit, "Descendo." Mikayla started spiralling down towards the ground, before hit the ground she screeched "Impedimenta!" slowing her fall and letting her hit the ground softly. "MR MALFOY!" A voice roared as Mikayla just rolled over onto her back, trying to catch her breath and ease her upset stomach. "20 points from Slytherin." McGonagall came into Mikayla's view, "Miss Black, are you alright?" Mikayla nodded slowly, "I'm okay, Professor."

Mikayla sat up, trying to ground herself before Quidditch tryouts, she saw Hermione, Harry and Ron make their way over to her as the Slytherin's leave the pitch, Mikayla could still hear McGonagall scolding Malfoy. "What happened to you?" Ron questioned Mikayla, "nothing, I'm fine." Mikayla spoke quickly as she got up, she wobbled a bit as stood trying to stabilise herself. She had a small frown playing on her lips, she realised how much of a coward she is for not talking to her friends about she feels, but right now she's not even sure of her role in the group anymore. "Excuse me.." Mikayla went to walk away but Hermione stopped her as if she could sense Mikayla's sadness and isolation, "Mikayla, what's wrong? For the last two weeks you've been distant and now you're keeping secrets, please just talk to us." Mikayla looked away from Hermione's begging eyes, "I'm lost..." Mikayla whispered to Hermione, "when I try to help, I can't and I don't even know my role in our group anymore, I'm lost." Mikayla walked away sadly, heading to the changing rooms to get dressed in her Quidditch Robes.