𝓢𝓽𝓾𝓹𝓲𝓭 𝓖𝓲𝓻𝓵!

C17 Uh-Oh

Umbridge. Professor Umbridge. Inquisitor Umbridge. Headmistress Umbridge. This woman is going to watch the world burn, starting with Hogwarts. She favored the Slytherins, she favored those who obeyed. More rules were made and put up by Filch who also seemed to obey Umbridge's every command. He had worked with the Slytherins to bust Harry Potter. This school used to feel like home for everyone and now everyone couldn't wait to go home, what's worse is the ministry was endorsing this and most parents went along with it. Sadly, most likely ignoring their child's pleas that this was a mad woman.

I had no parents and now was left without a guardian thanks to him taking the blame for Harry's little club. It's not that I blamed Harry, no I blamed Umbridge. I blamed the ministry. The people who were supposed to protect us were hurting us. Who could we turn to? The boy who lived says the dark lord would return and the ministry says he is not going to return. Of course, I sided with Harry, his friends believed him, and ever since they pulled him off, Cedric... Yeah, I believe. Every word. Umbridge and the ministry not so much.

They are delusional if they think he isn't back. From the first war, we learned his followers are called death eaters and he bestowed a dark mark on their arms, when the time came he could summon them all. The mark was pretty much a tattoo, a skull with a snake coming out of it. As I sat at lunch, picking at my steak and broccoli I just pondered everything. At this rate, I wasn't even sure if I would make it to be an adult. Surely Umbridge would make sure of that, her and her Slytherin spies.

I think a trip to the forbidden section was starting to become a necessity, Jackson had bought me some assorted chocolates that came in a heart-shaped box, I could spike them with nightshade essence and he'd never know, especially because I had made a kitty treat a year ago for his cat for that purpose if I ever so needed it, I hadn't until now. I still felt off when I tried to remember things, my dreams had become increasingly weird. I couldn't just bring them up to anyone. What was a girl to do? Jackson came over and sat down.

"Can we talk? About our date and why you ran off like that?" I sighed. "Jackson, I left because I had to talk to Dumbledore before he was hauled off or worse, which worse did happen. I felt like I could trust him to tell him things. I'm so sorry I ran out on you... Truly I am." I frowned and my brows furrowed. I kept Snape's promise and lied to Jackson, which wasn't really that hard. Sure I cared about him but I don't think he's the one. I think he felt the opposite, honestly. He showed that he cared.

"It's alright, maybe we could try again?" I looked down at my lap. "Jackson, why do you like me?" He scratched his head. "Your... Beautiful... Your eyes are so unique. Your hair is soft. You are shy and quiet, most of the time anyway. When we kissed... I felt so many things, it was like fireworks going off. Your amazing Raylona, you deserve to be happy and appreciated. I think I can make you happy if you give me a chance. I really think I could, all I need is for you to try and I mean really try, because before you just kinda zoned out on our date, not just then either. I've noticed you kinda do that a lot actually." Jackson looked away.

I looked back up and smiled faintly. Ugh... I guess I hadn't really tried. I wasn't sure that I wanted to. He was a good guy and he was a great catch. Something just told me he wasn't for me. I didn't want to get his hopes up. "I think maybe...We should just be friends for right now." Jackson scoffed and stood up. "You think you can do better?! Do you think you can just reject me?!" He shouted and everyone turned to look, my face went red and Jackson stormed off. I sighed internally and looked toward the professor's table, Snape's dark eyes bore into mine and the rest of the room seemed to disappear until someone placed their hand on my shoulder. I turned around and Wednesday was giving me an odd look. "What happened?" She sat down beside me. "He's upset that I just wanted to be friends..." I crossed my arms and she groaned out loud. "I thought you liked him?" I shook my head slowly. "Jackson's great and I did feel something when we kissed but I just don't think he's for me. Honestly, I think he's more your type." I weakly smiled and she tried to hide her blushes. "You really think so?" I laughed meekly. "Yes. You two can laugh each other's ears off." We rambled on about some more things before leaving the great hall. Classes continued and I completed my homework early.

Once back in the common room, I grabbed my mokeskin bag and added an undetectable expansion charm to the bag, I grabbed my remembral which glowed red when I picked it up, meaning I had forgotten something and my spellotape from the nightstand. I dug around in my trunk at the end of my bed and grabbed my broomstick, I wasn't amazing at riding but it would be better than trying to take the stairs while everyone was coming out of the great hall. I grabbed my Comet model broom and added it to my bag, it had been a first-year present from Dumbledore to calm my nerves. Then I added the chocolates and cat treats. I changed out of my student uniform and into some jeans, a T-shirt, and my black hoodie. I tied my mokeskin bag onto one of the belt loops of my pants. So the plan:

Go to dinner, when everyone starts to leave rush to Filchs office. Sign a note for the gifts from Umbridge. Wait until everyone is asleep and hurry to the library. If I can't find anything in the main section of the library, go to the restricted section.

Hopefully, everything would go according to plan but knowing my luck it probably wouldn't. I shook it off and continued to the great hall, Wednesday was walking with Jackson who was unusually quiet. I tried to avoid them, I jogged ahead and went straight to my usual seat at the Ravenclaw table. Crowds came in and soon everyone was sitting. I piled some food on my plate and scarfed it down, earning me some glares from the other Ravenclaws. I wouldn't usually eat like Ronald Weasley but I had to be quick. I kept going over the plan in my head, mumbling to myself and all honestly I probably looked like a crazy person. I think I am crazy. If I get caught I could be expelled or worse... Umbridge could come up with something worse.. but I shook it off. I also had to watch out for Peeves. He loved to cause trouble.

I stared at my wristwatch, watching the time tick by, and then students got up bit by bit but I was the first out the door. I dashed all the way to Filchs office, I neatly wrote a note signed by Umbridge and left the box of chocolates and kitty treat. I then took off to the girl's dorm and face-planted into my bed, earning me a sleepy look from Lady who laid on my pillow. I breathed in and out, trying to calm my nerves. Please work. It had to work. To pass the time I dug into my trunk again and pulled out one of my long candles that were many different colors and slid them into my mokeskin bag. Some quills, ink, potion vials, parchment, I even threw in my sketch pad and diary. Then goggles that I had gotten for Quidditch even though I was never good at it. I just ended up putting in all my books and my gloves as well as my house scarf, some sunglasses and a pair of Spectrespecs I had gotten from Luna. The girl was weird but not in a bad way, she was really nice. Why was I putting everything in my bag? I didn't feel safe anymore, especially with Umbridge around. I probably should get more things like a tent or something just in case I had to escape. I eyed my watch and noticed everyone else was in bed, sleeping peacefully. I got up and quietly exited the dorm room and then soon enough the common room. I quietly move through the halls, my wand in my back pocket and a lit candle in my hand, the other hand around the flame as to try to keep it dim. I didn't want the portraits waking up to yell at me.

I was soon at the library, searching through the main section. There wasn't any that went into detail on memory spells but some that just mentioned them. I ventured into the restricted section, placing my candle on the shelf, I looked at all the advanced books. "Transfiguration: Animagus transformation." I grabbed it and untied my mokeskin bag, slipping it inside. "Potions: a cure and curse for everything." Maybe this could help me! I rummaged through the book but to no avail. Damn it! I still took the book and added it to my bag. It had many interesting things inside. "Memory spells: Forget about it." I shook my head and sighed. Finally. I took it as well and put it in my bag. There were so many other books, so little time. I rummaged through the bag and grabbed my broom, pulling it out I mounted it and levitated into the air, I leaned forward and went faster than intended, I grabbed my candle quickly before I passed it and the fire went out. I held on tightly to my bag and broom. I dropped the candle. "Shit!" I zoomed out of the library and passed a dark figure. I was going too fast for them to see and honestly, it was all a blur until I got back to my house. I put the broom back in my bag and entered the common room, my heart beating hard and fast against my chest. I checked the time and cursed at myself before hurrying up to bed. I didn't even bother changing into PJs tonight. I just kicked off my shoes and placed my mokeskin bag on my nightstand. I cuddled up with Lady and drifted off to sleep.