{Half A Hero} Hufflepuff!Reader

Chapter 10: Bugs and Mismanagement

Draco hates you now.

Not bothering to tell him about his hedgehog cosplay lost you your place in whatever friendship hierarchy he used. Blaise, however, was immune.

"You're my only real friend, Zabini."

"Make me a chocolate friend then." You said. "Anything is better than this."

Draco sniffed condescendingly, not wanting to hear you. Students loitered around the main courtyard. They watched the unthinkable trio argue, and your attempt to apologize.

You threw the bouquet of roses at Draco.

You weren't very good with apologies.

"Fine. Don't be my friend."

"Fine."

"No. You're supposed to want me back."

"That isn't how things work here, Lizzy." Blaise explained. "Slytherins and Hufflepuffs dont 'hang out'."

"Only because of your closed mindedness and tradition."

Somebody whooped from the side.

Whatever. If you don't leave now, you knew you might say something you would regret. Like, you would fuck his dad eventually just to spite him, but you could never say that about Mr Malfoy. Ew.

Umbridge had been stood on the sidelines. You avoided that direction completely. This led to you hopping through a shrub to jump through one of the giant window fixtures.

It was plausible that you couldn't hear her calling for you. So, you pretended not to hear her, and scrambled away.

Scrambled like eggs was how fast you moved. That didn't make sense. You kept it at the back of your mind to use elsewhere.

You stopped walking. You stood in the middle of this derelict hall. Not a student in sight.

You always kept an attendant handy for times like these. The lost times. Hogwarts was necessarily unnecessarily big. It had to be huge, but did it have to be a maze?

You were still cautious, pretended to tie your shoelaces. You directed energy to your hand. A wispy, easy to hide, mouse climbed out of your hand. It sat, regarded the surroundings, and gave a small squeak.

It bolted in the direction of what you had hoped to be the library. You followed shortly. Two halls down, and you were submerged in students. Crowded in front of the main hall.

You let the energy dissipate, you had no need for a guide. You just needed to read whatever Flich had put up.

"No private clubs?" Someone read for everyone. "Now that's stupid."

"I was going to open up a crochet club."

"I don't think anyone would have came, Ophelia."

The fellow Hufflepuffer deflated at Harry Potter's comment. You slapped his arm.

"Like you had a better club." You said.

He narrowed his eyes. There was a secret behind them. You didn't want it. You lizarded out the crowd with Harry hot on your heels.

"Give me a moment. Let me explain."

"Leave me alone, you Hazard." You spoke over your shoulder. "I have enough bad juju."

"Well, I'll follow you then. I think you would make a good addition, despite who you your friends are."

You were about to snap at him for speaking against Star. But you remembered Draco. You plowed on aimlessly. Harry true to his word.

You decided to head down to Hagrid's. He usually kept a weird bug or two around, not intentionally.

Harry panted beside you. That's what happens when you're constantly on the run. And you did not want to be.

You remembered Umbridge, and that you were currently running from her.

"The Golden Trio split?" You asked instead. "Hermione finally got tired of teaching you."

"She'll come around. She always does."

You shook your head at him. Another reason not to be a Potter friend. You wished he was an actual Potter, that way youd get free urns in exchange for friendship.

Harry could only give you grief.

Hagrid allowed you both entry into his home. Fang nibbled on a hefty, bloody bone on the rug.

You and Hazardous Harry stood at the table, out of the way for Hagrid to remove the freshly burnt Rock cakes. He sank into his couch, tired but happy with company.

"I haven't any bugs today, Y/N."

"That's okay. I also wanted one of these."

Hagrid's belly shook the bones of the old couch. Harry gave you a look. A little side eye. A small look. An easily missed one. He poured your tea. You decided not to drink it.

"So what really brings you two down here? Not hiding from Umbridge, I hope." He smiled knowingly at your nonchalance, and Harry's choking. "She keeps complaining to Professor Snape."

"Snape loves us." You said. "Me. He loves me. Dear God, Hazard. You'll turn into a fish if you keep breathing your tea in."

He gave you a much harsher look. An ouchy look. A hurty look. You patted his back, and offered a rock cake. He tried to eat it. He was a hazard to himself.

"Umbridge is has no authority in the world's eye view. She can't actually do anything." You continued. "She shouldn't be teaching, she has no training."

"You sound like Hermione."

"You are just proving that my point is right."

Hagrid waved it off, so you did too. Hazard decided that you were in a safe place to pitch his idea.

"That sounds terrible. What if a person can't picture the room they need?"

"It takes you to the room you need. Not want."

"What if I need to do my homework, but I want to be with you guys. Is it going to turn into the library?"

"I'm starting to see why even Malfoy didn't want you."

"Oi oi oi." You puffed up like a blow fish. "I didn't want him. Okay."

"Sure."

"I said 'okay.' I didn't ask."

He scoffed. You weren't proving to be the sounding board he had hoped you to be. You chose to explain yourself. This time.

"Building a resistance team can only get you so far. In the eyes of the Adults, the overseas ones, we hold no power."

"We'll take it."

"At what cost?" You asked. "I have a better idea. But don't tell Hermione."

You did not need your half baked ideas to blow up in your face. You did not need her saying those dreaded words...