Secrets (D.M)

umbridge

"Come on, Adeline!" Pansy shouted. "We're going to be late for Hogwarts!"

Adeline was glad she and Pansy were on good-ish terms now. They were no longer 'enemies.'

"I'm coming!" Adeline shouted down. "Just grabbing a jumper!"

Pansy stood by the front door. "ADELINE!! HURRY UP!!"

Adeline ran downstairs. "OKAY! I'M HERE!"

***

On the train, Adeline sat next to Hannah and Susan.

"Did Luna tell you?" Adeline asked them.

"Tell us what?" Hannah asked.

"Okay, this was all very overwhelming. I'm a Parkinson, my 'mum' kidnapped me at three. She lied to me my whole life." Adeline told them.

"What?" Susan asked. "You're not serious."

"She isn't.." Hannah said. "She can't be."

Susan and Hannah exchanged glances of awkwardness.

"Both our families.. Have been arguing forever. My parent's would kill me if they knew I was hanging out with you." Hannah's eyes narrowed. "Why didn't you tell us earlier?"

"I can't be seen around you." Susan told Adeline.

"WHAT?" Adeline asked. "That's complete utter rubbish! Surely.. after how long we've been friends for, you won't just drop me because of my family!"

Susan shrugged. "I hate the Parkinson's. They hate us."

"What.. But..? You can't just do that!" Adeline cried.

"Yes, we can." Hannah rolled her eyes. "Come on, Susan. Let's go."

Adeline was frozen. She didn't think this would affect her in any way. What about all that time they'd been friends! Adeline wiped away her tears, and went to find Pansy.

"You didn't tell me that you've been in argument with the Bones and the Abbot family for years!" Adeline cried, flopping down next to her.

"Uh.. I didn't think I'd need to?" Pansy said, confused. "What happened?"

"They just told me 'Yeah I can't be friends with you anymore.'" Adeline rested her head on her hands.

"What's this about?" Theo asked.

"She's my sister." Pansy said. "Not twin.. but very close in age."

"How didn't you know this earlier?" Blaise asked.

"Well, she came at the start of the holidays. She was kidnapped at a young age." Pansy explained.

Draco's head turned from the window, he stared at Adeline.

"Uh.. I'll leave you guys, I've got to find Luna anyway.." Adeline said quickly, feeling awkward.

"It's alright, you go." Pansy said. "Ignore Hannah and Susan, both their families are all bitches."

Adeline smiled softly and left the compartment.

***

"Luna!" Adeline ran up to her.

Luna was handing out copies of The Quibbler.

"Hello, Addie!" Luna smiles.

"Hannah and Susan just dropped me.. Said they can't be my friend if I'm a Parkinson." Adeline told her. She twiddled her thumbs.

"That's a shame, they both seemed lovely." Luna folded a copy of The Quibbler.

"Not that lovely.." Adeline muttered.

"Are you exited for Hogwarts this year?" Luna asked.

"Uhh yes, I feel like it'll be different, considering I won't be called slurs anymore.." Adeline asked. "Also, Pansy and I are on good terms now. She's actually really nice."

"That's good. I'd like to meet her." Luna said.

"I'm sure I can introduce you soon." Adeline smiled.

***

"That Umbridge lady is so.. horrendously annoying!" Adeline spoke.

"Yes, she is.. You don't think she'll make massive changes to the school, do you?" Hermione asked.

Adeline folded her clothes and placed them on the scarlet bedsheets. "I do hope not... I think she will though."

"How are you settling in at home?" Hermione asked her.

"Alright. Pansy's not so bad, my parents like me!" Adeline smiled. "I feel it'll be better this way, except from Hannah and Susan."

"I never really liked them" Hermione whispered.

"I heard that." Parvati said.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Pansy doesn't like me."

"I'm sure she'll come around. Mum said she changes a lot." Adeline reassured her.

"I don't know. She told Rita Skeeter I was ugly last year!" Hermione cried.

"Ignore that. Don't worry about everyone liking you.. You don't like everyone." Adeline smiled.

***

"Ordinary Wizarding Level" Umbridge said. "Most commonly known as OWLS!"

Adeline sighed.

Umbridge passed books out.

Adeline was not concentrating. The most she heard was little snip-its from the class.

"Well if we get attacked it wouldn't be risk free!"

"Oh, I don't know.. Lord Voldemort."

"ENOUGH!"

This caught Adeline, and she immediately caught focus. Harry got a detention, long story short.

After the class, Adeline went up to Harry.
"I think it's unfair, what Umbridge did." She told him.

Harry nodded.

"I believe you, about You-Know-Who being back." Adeline assured him.

"Thanks.. Seem about the only one." Harry muttered.

"That's not true."

***

It was a weekend in winter, Adeline had received a letter from her mother.

Hello, Adeline.

I should call you that, right? Anyway, could you and Pansy return home for Christmas? There's a ball you need to attend. I'm sure you two would love that. We could go to Diagon Alley.. Or muggle shops to pick out a dress! (We shouldn't be associating with muggles, but I hear they o lovely dresses.) Write back if you're uncomfortable going to the ball..

Sincerely,

Mother.

Adeline smiled, she'd like to go to a ball..

She scribbled down an answer, and sent it back.

Adeline went to the Courtyard, to meet Neville.

"Are you on good terms with Umbridge?" Neville asked.

"I don't know. I don't want to get on her bad side. Did you hear what she did to Harry?!" Adeline said.

"That was bad. Harry's hosting a meeting at the Hogs Head, for an army thing, want to come?" Neville asks her.

"Sure." Adeline answered. "When?"

"Half an hour." Neville tells her.

"Oh, I'll go grab a coat and we can head down!" Adeline smiles.

She runs up to her dormitory and grabs a coat.

***