Read my heart, not my mind

9. Potions

I stuck my wand behind my ear and stifled a groan when the Defense Against the Dark Arts class was finally over. This was my worst nightmare come to life, double D.A.D.A. where the only thing we were focusing on was nonverbal magic and the Shield Charm. To be blunt I was already a target for mean words so it only stood to reason that I was a great target for underhanded magic. For the better part of the last hour I simply stood with my wand raised, constantly casting 'Protega' so that I might avoid even the smallest embarrassment.

I was better at casting the jinxes than at blocking them, a fact that showed itself in the bright neon green of my opponent's hair. That was the only spell of mine she didn't manage to block or counter. It was harder to counter spells when using nonverbal magic but from what I understood of her, she was one of the best and most talented members of the dueling club. The fact that I still had all of my limbs was a testament to my own ability.

I sighed and shook my head, rubbing against the shoulder of my wand arm as I trudged back to my seat. Professor Finnigan was somewhat goofy on the best days and apt to blow up the entire school on the worst days. He had assured us on the first day of school that his blowing up of Hogwarts ended years before. That wasn't to say he didn't give it a run for its money nearly all of the time.

"See you all Thursday morning." He said with a bright voice, dismissing the class. I was only thankful that he hadn't assigned more work, which would leave me free to read my book this afternoon if I was lucky. It really irked me that I could be so down and out of sorts simply because Hoseok had Quidditch practice and I knew I wouldn't see him until the following day. I wanted to attribute it to the fact that I had a crush on him, but I knew it was something else altogether.

The last few weeks of September were some of the hardest for me and fighting off the darkness in my heart was an ever increasingly difficult thing to manage. Except when I was with Hoseok. I didn't feel alone or scared or like a monstrous freak that everyone hated. Mostly I didn't have to face the crushing reality of my aunt's death, which always haunted me around the anniversary.

I stuffed my books and notes into my bag and slung it over my shoulder, knowing I had a free period and lunch before double potions in the afternoon didn't exactly make me feel better. I wanted just to find a quiet place to read and escape my reality for a bit. Instead my path was stopped by a pair of adorable blue and purple shoes I knew all too well.

"Price," The girl said, my name falling from her lips like a curse in her high and haughty tones, "I think I need help with what we learned today."

That I very much doubted. "Ask the Professor, Mildred." I said, used to her antics and not wishing to draw out this conversation, if one could call it a conversation.

She snorted and I saw as she crossed her arms over her chest, her two friends behind her blocking my escape route. I was annoyed further when I noticed that the room had already emptied and the professor retreated to his office, disappearing through the door in the back corner. At least I couldn't get detention if I cursed her ears to turn to kumquats.

"I heard you are tutoring the Hufflepuff Quidditch Captain." Her voice was slightly meaner now, I wasn't sure if was because I had the audacity to talk to Hoseok or because she thought of him as her own.

"In Transfiguration." I corrected, unapologetic and not seeking her approval for how I spent my free time. "I think you are better at Defense Against the Dark Arts than me."

"Explain why you get better grades than us then," One of the girls behind her demanded.

"Because I do my homework and participate in class?" I responded, unsure what that had anything to do with what we are talking about.