𝖘𝖎𝖗𝖊𝖓 - d. malfoy

XII - detention with dolores

Harry was already seated when Arabella arrived at Umbridge's office, writing lines with an odd-looking quill. His hands were partially hidden from her view but Arabella could've sworn she saw blood on the back of one of them.

"Miss Amour," Umbridge gestured towards a desk, "please sit."

Arabella complied, eyeing the quill and paper on the desk suspiciously.

"You will be writing 'I must not talk back'," said Umbridge, a sick gleam in her eyes.

Reaching into her bag for a pen, Arabella was stopped by the Professor clearing her throat. "Please use the provided materials."

Okaaaay, don't see why it matters.

As soon as she began writing, Arabella felt a sharp pain in her left hand. She turned her palm down and watched in horror as the words she was writing appeared, carved into her skin.

Arabella turned to look at Harry and saw he was receiving the same treatment, blood dripping from the wound on his skin spelling out, "I must not tell lies."

"With all due respect, what the actual fuck!" Arabella burst out, glaring at Umbridge.

"Language, Miss Amour!"

"Oh, I'm sorry, I figured my response was warranted due to the LITERAL TORTURE!"

Umbridge merely smiled at the young Slytherin. "Would you like detention for the rest of the year? No? Then continue writing, quietly."

Arabella made eye contact with Harry, who was shaking his head, a warning in his eyes.

Is this what passes for punishment in the UK? How is this even legal?

Arabella sighed resignedly, picking up her quill and starting to write again. After what seemed like hours, Umbridge's voice broke through the silence. "Come here."

Arabella and Harry approached her desk warily.

"Hands." They extended their hands, wincing heavily as she ran her thumbs over their bleeding wounds.

"Miss Amour, you may go."

Not needing to be told twice, Arabella hurried out of the room, walking down the hall until she reached a shadowy alcove. After a few more minutes, Harry came stumbling down the hall, clearly exhausted and in pain.

"Harry!" Arabella ran up to him as he seemed to sway, looking on the verge of passing out. The boy had been writing much longer than she had and it had clearly taken its toll.

"I'm fine," he grunted, clearly not fine. Arabella wrapped an arm around his shoulder and pulled him to a bench further down the hall.

"What the hell, Harry!" Arabella turned to face him, taking his hand in hers to look at it. "Please tell me that wasn't normal for a detention."

Harry shook his head. "That woman is pure evil."

"Episkey," Arabella cast on his hand, before doing the same to herself. The cuts healed mostly, leaving behind severe red scars that clearly showed the words they had written so many times.

"Thanks, Bella," Harry said, "and I'm sorry about breakfast."

"I'm not gonna lie, it was a dick move," Arabella responded, causing Harry to look down dejectedly. "But I forgive you."

They shared a smile, hands still linked in Arabella's lap.

"It's late, we should get back to the dorms." Harry stood up, letting go of her hand.

Arabella got up as well and began the trek down to the dungeons, calling out a goodbye over her shoulder as she went. When she finally reached the Slytherins dorms, she found some of her friends waiting for her.

"Salazar, she kept you forever!" Pansy stood and rushed over to her. A glance at the clock revealed it was 11:48 pm.

Arabella followed Pansy back to a couch, joining Draco, Blaise, and Daphne who were sitting on the other chairs.

Daphne gasped as Arabella sat down, reaching for her hand to examine it. "What happened?"

"Umbridge happened."

A look of rage overcame Draco's face, the feeling echoed by the others around him. "I'll kill her."

"Draco!" Arabella's protest was ignored.

"We'll help," Blaise spoke for the others beside him.

Arabella crossed in arms, "What are we, Gryffindors? We can't just rush in with no plan."

Pansy smirked next to her. "We'll get her back when she's least expecting it."

"We'll make her regret ever messing with Slytherin."

Word Count: 755

A/N: Hey y'all! Short chapter this time, I promise the next one will be longer. Please keep commenting, it makes my day to see y'all enjoying my story. What did you think about this part? What do you think the Slytherins have planned? Let me know! The next chapter will be coming out this week. Much love!

-Sorcha