The Girl Who Vanished

Chapter 9: The Woman in Yellow

Nothing was helping Ana feel better after getting kicked off the Quidditch team. Just having to go to bed and sleep in the same room as Alex was enough to ruin her day. The girl had apologized more times than Ana could count, but it wasn't enough to change the fact that she was no longer going to be playing Quidditch with Draco. If there was one person who was pouting even more than her, it was her little brother.

The first game of the season was quickly approaching, and Ana didn't even want to go. Having to sit on the sidelines as she watched everyone represent Slytherin House felt nauseating to her. All the while she was thinking of excuses to tell her father that would explain her sudden booting, but nothing promising ever came to mind. Ana would have to just tell him the truth, or perhaps pray that he never actually found out.

Herbology was dragging; despite it being her favorite class, nothing Professor Sprout was saying was landing in her memory. It all tipped and flowed out of her like an overfilled watering can; too much was going in with not enough time to empty. Her hands sunk into the dirt, playing with the smooth leaves of the nettle plant between her fingers, making sure to stay away from its prickly hairs. It would be a literal thorn in her side to get nicked on one of the spikes.

"Ouch!" Aeron hollered from beside her. Small wirey threads stuck out from the palm of his hand, making Ana roll her eyes. "Bloody plant got me. How the hell are you stroking it like a cat?"

"Just hold still," she instructed as she pulled out a small pair of pliers to take the needles out of his skin, one by one.

Alex and Calista were working with their own plants, the two of them were keeping each other company since Ana refused to talk to the youngest Bole at the moment. Aeron easily took Ana's side with everything, a decision Ana appreciated. She hated feeling so distant from Calista considering she hadn't done anything wrong. But being around Calista meant being around Alex, and that wasn't an option.

Soon enough Aeron's hand was free from any painful needles, leaving him to rub at his hands to sooth the sting. Professor Sprout was still lecturing, asking questions that no one had any intention on answering. And Unfortunately, Ana's desolate mood was noticeable to everyone since she remained so silent. She was the only one who typically answered the poor woman's questions; that's the whole reason she and the herbologist became buddies in the first place. However, Ana's long face and mindless dawdling wasn't lost on the teacher.

"Class, I can see that everyone is a bit tired. I'll tell you what, as long as you all write a comprehensive essay on the properties and uses of the nettle plant, I'll allow you out of class early!"

Every ear perked at the promise of an early dismissal; everyone besides Ana. Being in the greenhouse was a good escape for her, even if she couldn't bring herself to participate. She didn't want to have to leave the fragrant oasis; if she did, she'd have to endure being with Alex. The thought alone made her stomach curl into a knot.

"I want fifteen inches on that essay! No less, now off you go everyone," the woman declared over the grateful cries of her students. "Enjoy your weekend and I'll see you at the game tomorrow."

The sound of scooting stools and bustling bodies brought Ana back to the moment, but her body refused to move from her seat. She knew she had been dismissed but her feet stayed glued to the rung on her chair, leaving her to stay perched there like a bird.

"Ana, you coming?" Aeron asked, dipping his head down. His hair was around an inch long at this point, an awfully terrible length for him as it stuck straight up like a cactus. Ana had never seen a cactus in real life, but Neville had mentioned them once.

"Actually, deary, if you don't mind, I'd like to talk to Ana for a moment," Professor Sprout questioned from across the room.

Ana's shoulders relaxed at the thought of buying some more time to be away from the girls and a gentle smile settled on her tired face. Aeron nodded once before giving the professor a tiny wave as he made his way out of the greenhouse, all while complaining about the dirt under his nails. They had just been painted white.