Bad Timing (J. Potter)

1 : The Year of the Snakes

The Year of the Snakes

"we may not protect the world, but we protect each other."

*

Miriam eyed the prefect badge sitting on her rosewood dresser with mixed emotions as she thought about all that it represented. When it came in the post with her yearly list of supplies and she saw the look on her father's face, she realized that it was so much more than a pin. For the first time in nearly five years, his smile seemed... genuine. Proud, even. While she had kept her face even and cool, her heart swelled.

"Authority is key," he'd said, his voice gruff and slurred as usual, but even a few glasses of wine couldn't disguise his obvious pride. He gripped her shoulder a bit too tightly, but Miriam was no stranger to faking expressions. Besides, she didn't think that he actually meant to hurt her. "It's the first step to greatness. Gets you a good job until you get a good husband."

All of this came back to her as she stared at the little badge, glinting in the morning sunlight. Yes, she'd certainly paid her dues to earn it. Yes, she knew that one prefect became Head Girl, and then became something successful. Yes, she knew that upholding the family name was the most important and sole purpose of her life.

And yet, her gaze strayed from the badge to her bed, where pieces of parchment lay scattered all over the mattress, a stark contrast to the otherwise-immaculate room.

The clock dinged 10:00 a.m., but she'd been up since four. Inspiration had dragged her out of dream whether she wanted to be awake or not, but the hours blurred together after that. At home, darkness was her true guardian, hiding her passion from her father's shrewd gaze. He had enough reasons to despise his daughter without learning of her real ambitions.

After carefully sliding the pages into her messenger bag, Miriam pinned the prefect badge to her chest, admiring how the light shone off of it at different angles. She knew that just the sight of it would make her father's ever-present frown turn slightly upwards, so she hurried down the beautiful wooden staircase of the Greengrass Manor, dragging her trunk behind her.

"Father?" She called, leaving her things by the front door and walking into the kitchen. "Hello? Anyone home?"

Her smile soon faded as she realized that no one was there. A note sat on the glossy tabletop, hastily scrawled out on a piece of custom stationary.

Miriam,

Something urgent came up at the Ministry. Take care of yourself and stay out of trouble. I will see you at Christmas.

No love, no farewell. He hadn't even taken the time to write his name.

Tears bit the corners of her eyes, begging to cascade down her cheeks, but she refused to cave to her emotions. Breakdowns were for the weak. Instead, she gripped the ledge of the table for a moment and let out a long breath.

"Miss Miriam?" a squeaky voice piped. Winny, the family house elf, stared up at her with two big brown orbs. "You is looking sad, miss. Perhaps a cup of tea?"

"Get out."

Her words cut the air like glass through skin, much harsher than she intended, but no one could see her weakness, not even poor Winny. She shut her eyes to keep the tears in check and to avoid watching the dutiful house elf run from the kitchen.