Mary Jane and the Slytherin Prince

19 - lines & the RoR

Snow dripped on the panes of windows and off the ledges of rooftops, the snow slowly turning to water in the warm sun. Spring slowly made its way into the atmosphere, creating a warm buzz around the school. Although many other students were outside, I lay on the couch in the Slytherin common room. Snuggling against Draco's chest, my feet dangling off the arm of the small couch. I flipped through the pages of my book, re-imagining the fictional scenario in my mind. Draco had fallen asleep, and me being me, I refused myself the opportunity to move in fear of waking him. I looked up at the clock, trying to find the time.
"Oh crap!" I exclaimed, jumping up.
The sudden jolt woke draco. He groaned while I turned to look at him.
"Sorry. I hadn't the means to wake you." I mumbled.
He sat up fully, and looked around.
"It's fine." He responded groggily, "What's going on? Did I miss something?"
Draco stood, still looking around the room. He squinted his eyes, and bit his cheek.
"It's five minutes until Umbridge's inspection!" I exclaimed.
"No, that's not right." He reassured me, looking at me. "I've only been asleep ten minutes. Last time I checked it was only 10:30."
"Draco, that was an hour ago." I pointed towards the wall mounted clock, "It's 11:40."
"Oh no." He hummed.
We rushed out of the common room, rushing towards our dormitories. I bolted through my dorm room doors, carefully putting on my uniform. Umbridge had us wear our uniform everyday. Even on weekends. I neutened out my uniform, flattening every wrinkle I could find. I tightened my tie, and smiled. Perfect, I thought to myself. I walked out of my room, finding draco on the couch in the common room. I fluttered my lips, rushing towards him.
"Up."
"What?" He questioned.
"Stand up you idiot." I demanded once again.
He stood, and I smiled at him.
"Your tie is crooked." i said, grabbing onto the fabric of his tie. "You know she is going to be upset to see you with a dress code violation."
He huffed, and allowed me to fix his tie.
"Don't look like that! It's not very attractive." I teased.
"Thank you for that." He responded, loosening his tie. "These things are going to be the death of me some day."
"Oh, you'll be alright." I smiled.
I stood on my toes, and placed a kiss on his cheek
"Tsk, tsk, tsk." Came a squeaky voice.
I stumbled backward, nearly falling on the coffee table. I looked up at the clock, and then back over at the toad in the doorway.
"That's a rule violation. Boys and girls-"
"Eight inches. I know."
"Excuse me? Did you just interrupt a professor?" Squeaked Umbridge.
"Yes, I did. Why?"
"Mary-"
"Are you talking back to me?" She cut draco off.
"Isn't that how a conversation works?" I smiled.
Umbridge huffed, and looked at me.
"Why don't you join me for detention, Ms. Stockings." This was said as more of a demand than a question.
I cringed at the name. I knew that if i took it any further she would write to mother and father. Then what would happen? I nodded, and looked down at the floor. A cackle filled the room as Parkinson and a few others walked past us. Umbridge slowly walked up to us, snatching the green and gold badge that read 'Inquisitorial Squad' in small, slanted writing. I pretended to look ashamed, when, in realty, this was a great relief. She hipped, and continued to walk.
"Mary..."
"Draco, i'll be fine. Besides, what's the harm of one little detention?" I said, sitting back down on the couch.
"I don't know. People always seem so jumpy after coming out of that office..." He continued.
"Trust me, I'll be fine. She is the headmistress. How much harm could she cause?" I smiled.
Draco still looked pretty unsure, but I continued to believe what I had said. I didn't want to scare myself over a detention.
...
I walked down the hall, looking at every portrait I passed. I'll admit, the nerves had gotten to me since earlier. I had no idea what this woman had in store for me. I had never gotten a detention before, which, honestly, was surprising. When I had finally found Umbridge's office, I took a deep breath. I softly hit the door a few times and a squeaky 'come in' greeted me.
"You are dismissed." She hissed as I opened the door. I saw the twins sitting at a desk, glaring at her. "Go! Get out!"
"Don't talk to them like that." I sneered at her.
The twins ran out of the office, whispering angrily at each other.
"Now, now, don't want to get in even more trouble, do we, Ms. Stockings." Like usual, I cringed at my last name. "Please, take a seat."
She beckoned towards the desk the twins were sitting at just a moment ago. I sat down, observing the room. Believe me when I tell you, I had never seen more pink in my entire life. It was disgusting.
"You will be writing lines today." She hummed, placing a paper on my desk. I reached into my bag, but was stopped by a hand gripping my shoulder. "No, no. You will not be using your quill." She said in almost a hiss. "You will be using a very special quill."
I looked at her confused. She placed a bright red quill on the desk. I sat up straight, fixing my posture.
"What will I be writing?" I asked.
"I will not talk back." She replied, her eyes on my hand.
"I haven't any ink." I realized this just as the tip of the quill touched the paper.
"You won't need any, darling." She hummed sweetly.
"How many times?" I asked.
"You are one of the few children I like." I dismissed the praise. "Let's say, 200?"
I eyed her before turning back to the paper. I examined the quill, figuring it was just a no cheating quill, and placed the tip back on the paper. I wrote smooth, gentle streaks over the paper. But when I got to the third line, I gasped in pain. Something had stabbed my hand, and I clutched it close to my chest.
Lines were being cut into my hand. When I looked on my hand, my small, cursive writing was carved into the back of my hand.

I will not talk back

I looked over at her, terrified. She sipped her tea, and gave me a soft smile.
"What's the matter, dear?" She asked, putting her teacup to her lips.
I shook my head and turned back to my paper, continuing to write. I wrote for hours, slowly, the pain began to grow unbearable. I tried my hardest to suck my tears in, but eventually gave in. Tears fell to my blood stained parchment. The quill didn't need ink, no. It needed blood. It used my blood for ink, carving into my skin every letter I wrote. By the time I finished, my uniform was stained with blood. I clipped my robe shut, trying to hide it.
"You are dismissed." She hissed, examining the long roll of parchment with a grin.
I grabbed my bag and ran out of her office, into the hall. Tears streamed down my face as I clutched my hand to my chest. I turned the corner, finding a familiar hall. On one side of the hall, a tapestry of Barnabas the barmy trying to teach trolls ballet, and the other had a plain wall. Or so seemed at first glance. I stood in front of the naked wall and closed my eyes.
"I need a place to hide." I mumbled under my breath. "A peaceful place."
I heard rocks rubbing together creating a doorway. I opened my eyes only to see a large, wooden door. I looked around, making sure that no one was watching, and entered the room. It was beautiful. A small grass hill, surrounded by trees, stood tall in the center of the room. The night sky rolled over the hill, a full moon was the only light. What made the room have a more calming aesthetic to it, was the swishing sound of water. I climbed up the hill, still holding my hand to my chest. Smiling, I wiped my tears from my eyes.
When I made it to the top, I saw a picnic blanket, along with a basket. I sat on the blanket, taking off my robes, and observed the contents of the woven basket. In said basket, were fruits and the most delicious strawberry shortcake had ever tasted, along with some bandage wrap with some medical tape. I grabbed the bandages and examined them. I slowly wrapped the bandages around my palm, leaving space for my thumb. Blood stained the white wrap, but still, I smiled. I looked down the side of the hill, only to see a flowing stream. I stood and rushed down the hill towards the stream. When i met it's bank, I slowly unbuttoned my shirt, submerging it under the water. I rubbed the fabric of my bra, my shadow mirroring my every move. I washed the white shirt under the cold water, making the shirt semi-see through. I pulled the shirt out of the water finding a low hanging branch. I draped my shirt over the branch and walked to the top of the hill.
I layed down on the blanket, gazing up at the stars. I admired the twinkling lights, looking at every constellation I could find. I remembered, back when Amethyst and I were young, she would take me out into our huge backyard. She would bring a book of constellations and we would try to find as many as we possibly could. We ended up memorising each and every one of them, along with the stories behind them. I smiled, remembering my sister, and knowing she would do anything for me. But at the same time, I felt a horrible homesickness for those days, when everything was fine. But I pushed that feeling away. I had enough to worry about at the moment. I continued to look up at the sky, daydreaming. Slowly, my eyes began to close, and I dozed into the best slumber I had had in almost a year.