Eleanor Snape- Book 4

Things Don't Go According to Plan

As much as I didn't want to, I spent time with Sarah Beth. The mission the Dark Lord had given me was still in effect, as fact as I knew. I had to suck out some Ministry information from her. The only problem was that she wasn't talking to Umbridge. Apparently, they were still fighting. But I couldn't just blow her off. I would have to keep the act up for when she did have information.

"I don't want to do this!" Sarah Beth panted as we sprinted across the snowy front yard of Hogwarts. For once I was making us do something I wanted to do.

"Suck it up." I replied. "It will do you good to get out a bit."

"But running?"

"We're not even running! We're jogging. But we can run if you want to."

"No!" She said between breaths. "That's okay."

We had only been at it for fifteen minutes, and she was already tired. It was pretty pathetic. And she wouldn't let me bring Orion along, due to her fear of dogs. So I was stuck here, alone with her complaining.

"Can we take a break?" She leaned over next to a tree, trying to catch her breath. I sighed and nodded.

"Fine."

"Thank you!" She exclaimed. I could see her breath, along with my own. Snow was lightly falling, making white flakes stand out in her hair. "How do you do this every day?"

"I'm used to it." I shrugged. She shook her head and shivered.

"And it's so cold, and snowing! Can't we go back in? This is no fun!"

"You are such a wuss!" I accused, almost laughing. Was she being serious?

"Please, Ellie! It's cold!" She sounded like a little kid begging to stay up past their bedtime; and somehow I knew that it wasn't going to end until I agreed.

"Okay, I guess." I gave in and turned around. She let out a happy squeal and skipped to catch up with me.

"It's so cold out here! Why do you run, anyway?"

"To be healthy." I rudely looked over her few pounds she had put on from mourn-eating over Cedric two years ago. She didn't seem to notice.

"But you're already healthy!" She insisted.

"How do you think I got this way?" The question seemed to make her think, because she was quiet for a few seconds.

"Well, I still think everyday is a little ridicu-Ahh!"

Suddenly, Sarah Beth's foot slipped on a patch of ice. Her eyes went wide as her butt hit the cold, wet ground with a thump. Her hands became buried under the snow in an attempt to catch herself.

"Ow..." Se called out. Instead of helping her up, I just watched in humor as she pulled herself up. She rubbed her hand on her scarf to try to dry them off. This left flesh colored smudges on the fabric.

"What is that?" I questioned, pointing to the smudges.

"Oh, make up." She blushed and put her hands behind her back as we began walking towards the castle again.

"On your hands?"

"Yeah." She then stuck them into her pockets.

"For what?" I could tell she was hoping I wouldn't ask, but I did anyway.

"Scars." Her voice was unusually soft.

"From?" I was just going to keep pushing.

"A blood quill." I almost laughed out loud. Of course she would want to look flawless and cover up a little scar.