Miss Slytherin

Book 6: Chapter 7

How she ended up alone in the train ride, Finley didn't know. In fact, the time around her was blurred the moment she sat up from her bed. She didn't know if she took a shower or breakfast, did she see Harry on their way to the station? Did Blaise ever yell at her to see his shirt all tar stained?

If she did all that she doesn't remember, as if she was on auto pilot the whole time that it was frightening. She turned to the train's window to see her reflection staring back at her, red eyes filled with mischief. "What are you looking at?" Finley scowled.

"Nothing really," her reflection replied, giggling. "It was a good idea to wear beige, no?"

"Did you do something that you shouldn't have?"

The reflection even looked offended with what Finley accused, her hand now placed on her chest while her face looked scandalised. "Well I never! I'll have you know that I've been handling your life while you weren't being focused. Without me you'd be nothing."

'You're right,' Finley bit back in her mind, forgetting that she and her reflection can share the same thoughts that her reflection frowned. If anything her reflection has been her only companion during her stay in the black lake ruins, she would converse with herself on the what ifs. She hated to admit it but ever since she came back, she had grown lonelier than the year before.

She hasn't been getting along with Harry and his Gryffindor friends, she hasn't even spoken to Neville properly in years. Her best friends were doing their own thing, coping to whatever it is that they're doing though she would be lying if she said that she wasn't worried for them. Cedric who always had time for her during his time in Hogwarts was busy in whatever it is that he was tasked to do in the order. And finally Draco, the boy whom she hasn't made his reunion with her yet and no doubt he was avoiding her too.

Its as if she was dead all over again, everyone doing their own things, sure they would include her too but more likely they were in their own world.

"Is this seat taken?"

Finley looked up for a moment as she cleared her mind with useless thoughts to see someone she never expected to see the moment she got on the train to Hogwarts, Pansy Parkinson who was in her all black clothes. A contrast to Finley's beige sweater and beret, she looked like she was going on a trip while Pansy looked like she was going to a funeral.

"No," Finley shrugged, thinking that there was no harm in letting her old nemesis sit near her. It wasn't like they were out to kill each other— except for that one time, but they were nearly adults now.

"Want one?" Finley asks, holding out a box of macaroons that she bought before the train left. Never in her mind did she even think of sharing her food with Pansy Parkinson nor did she think of being seated close to her without trying to torment each other.

"Thanks," Pansy shortly says, taking one macaroon and nibbling on it her face blank as if she was thinking of something. Observing the other girl seated in front of her, she could see Pansy's free hand tucked in her pocket while the hand holding the macaroon was shaking a little. Pansy Parkinson never looked this scared since Umbridge tortured her.

"Parkinson are you alright?" Finley found herself asking, catching the other girl's attention. Eye dilated and filled with anxiety that it wouldn't make much sense to her if she didn't know any better. "Are you cold?"

"No," Pansy shakes her head, sighing before taking large bites of the macaroon until she was done. "I should go do my prefect duties," the girl mumbled, standing up and patting her clothes from any crumbs.

"Can I come with you?"

Pansy paused before turning back to Finley in confusion, "I uh— it gets a bit lonely with Theo and Blaise doing whatever it is they're doing," she says as she pursed her lip not having a clue why she was reaching out to Pansy now. "And I figured that you might want the company as well."