hogwarts°nct dream [editing]

sixty five | instincts matter

  Things after have turned better.

  McGonagall takes Umbridge's place as headmaster due to Dumbledore's ongoing absence and status as a wanted man.

  All rules that were set by the venomous pink lady before have been put down and the paintings are put back up again.

  Meanwhile, for all the students who were victims to Dolores' 'disciplinary lesson' of scarring their own palms using inkless feather pens, an effective ointment has been made which heals the scars perfectly as if they were never there.

  As for Ama's locket... It still stays with her- constantly worn by the girl from the fear of getting it snatched away again.

  "Umbridge really ticked her off, hasn't she? Ama's been out of it for a while now," Neville Longbottom observes the said girl as she sits alone silently at the empty end of the Hufflepuff table.

  Seamus' shoulders slump. "Honestly, who wouldn't? The pink lady took her mum's necklace, saying it's of dark magic when she probably wanted it all to herself. Then, she gives Amaryllis pages of 'apology essays' to write when we all know those feather pens of her are only good for carving our skins."

  Jeno and Chenle can hear the two's conversation as they pass them by before reaching Amaryllis.

  "Don't have an appetite?" Jeno asks and sits facing her while Chenle sits beside her.

  She nods. "I heard you've been having nightmares. Is everything okay?"

  "Yeah. It's just scary dreams, that's all. I don't even remember what happens when I wake up," Jeno says and stares at the strangely captivating locket around her neck.
"But, is everything okay with you?"

  Again, she bobs her head without meeting their eyes.

  Chenle furrows with skepticism. "Ama, we've known you for years."

  "Then, you should know that I'm fine," she brusquely says, irritated, before marching away without saying goodbye.

  Chenle and Jeno look at each other but instead of being furious at her actions, they're honestly just befuddled, unable to understand her recent sudden mood swings.

  Meanwhile, the girl is swift through the crowds- trying to run away from people even when she doesn't know why.

  Lately, she's just so bitter and angry at almost everything. She wanted to slap the life out of Draco last time just because she saw him breathe.

  "Ama! Here you are!" Renjun exclaims when they almost bump into each other. "I've been looking all over for you! I wanted to talk about the... things."

  Things as in, horcruxes. The topic makes her head raise. Again, an odd reaction.
"What about them?"

  "I was thinking when would be the right time to destroy them. Frankly, I want to do it as soon as possible but, I'm afraid that it'll just provoke Voldemort.
  "And with Dumbledore gone, who knows what he'll do," Renjun mentions and he awaits her reply but instead of hearing a helpful answer or opinion, she simply says, "That's not my problem now, is it?"

  It completely catches him off guard and she slips away from him coldly while he makes his way to the Great Hall with shock.

  "What's with the face? You look like you saw a ghosㅡ Oh, wait. He probably did see one," Mark sounds when he sees Renjun and presses his lips to a line.

  "Ama's just been... weird, don't you think?" Renjun brings up.

  Jisung nods sadly. "Others notice it too. They sometimes ask me if we're fighting because she's been moody recently."

  "Don't you think it's the necklace?" Jeno suddenly, brings up. "Umbridge said it held dark magic. What if it's true and that's the reason that Ama's been acting weird. It all began after she started wearing it, right?"

  His speculation isn't impossible but, hard to believe.

  "Why would her own mother gift her a cursed necklace?" Mark queries the absurdity.

  Jeno shrugs. "Of course, I don't think that but, that locket bad this weird vibe. It's like it's pulling me."

  Renjun's head perks up to him. "It's pulling you?"

  Jeno nods. "Yes, that's why I was wondering about it." 

  Oh no, the other thinks and stands. "I'm going to see her for a bit."

  Renjun jogs out and Jeno stands after.

  "I'm joining," he says and follows Renjun. "Renjun!"

  The latter turns upon getting his name called and frowns. "Jeno, why are you here? Aren't you supposed to be having your meal?"

  Other students pass by them in the corridor, not bothering to listen and greet as their hunger heightens.

  "I could say the same to you. Why'd you suddenly, run off like that?" Jeno retorts.

  "I have to find Ama and get that necklace," Renjun tells briefly before turning again.

  Jeno catches up. "Why?"

  "Because, you said you were pulled towards it."

  "What does my opinion have anything to do with this? What if I'm wrong?" Jeno asks speedily. "Are my words really the determining factor?"

  "Yes!"

  "Why??"

  Now that, Renjun can't answer so easily. "Because, instinct matters."

  "Huang Renjun," the other speaks authoritatively- demanding for an answer but Renjun starts speed-walking away to which Jeno accelerates his steps to.