Trapped

Chapter 6

Welcome day was long and boring, unless you were a first year. We all sat there, bored out of our minds, waiting for the feast to start as some fifty first years got sorted. I zoned out during Dumbledore's speech, staring lazily at the floating candles until he announced the feast. Then, I ate alongside my friends as we talked through our meal. The environment was loud but antsy as we awaited his second speech that had been rumored. 

I zoned out again during the second speech. He announced the Triwizard Tournament, but I couldn't keep my focus off of our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, professor Moody. Something seemed off about him. Something oddly familiar about him made me uncomfortable, and the look he continuously gave me from across the room sent chills down my spine. I hated the way his glance lingered . . . 

"The age rule is stupid," complained Draco on our way to the dungeons. "I mean, if we think we can win, then we should be able to join."

"It's a safety thing, Malfoy," I said mockingly. On our way out of the Great Hall Hermione had overheard Draco's complaining and gave him sass as she left to the Gryffindor tower all alone. My comment earned a laugh from the group.

"The scrubber didn't even have her little friends to back her up. Big ol' Harry Potter wasn't there to save her," said Theo, forcing a sad faced. The group howled in laughter. 

We spent the rest of the night in the common room on the couch. Just like old times, we'd sit and talk for hours. A few of us on the couch, a few on the floor, we all hung out until we were the last group downstairs. Even though we had class the next morning, we stayed up as late as we could, taking in the freedom each of us now had from our families.

Soon, though, we said goodnight and each went up to the dorms. Pansy, Daphnee, and I all shared a dorm with this one other Slytherin girl in our year. We weren't friends with her, but I always made sure not to be mean or make her uncomfortable. Last thing I would want is to dread coming to my own dorm room.

Pansy on the other hand, didn't make so much of an effort. It's not that she went out of her way to bully the girl, she just didn't treat her as well as she could have. 

I noticed it was mainly just bossiness or control. I felt bad for the girl; she was greatly terrified of us so she always did what we asked. Pansy noticed this as well and took advantage. I didn't want to say anything, but I had been thinking about It for the last hour or so, so right when we got to the door I stopped Pansy.

"Pans," I said, grabbing her arm to stop her. Daphnee stopped as well. "try to be nicer to her this year, I feel bad," I said tilting my head towards the door. She pulled a face and laughed.

"Who?"

"Our other dorm mate," I said. 

"Right, Kat. The girl whose name you don't even remember?" She was right. I didn't know her name. And now that I had thought about it, I had never cared to ask or find out. I had barely even spoken a word to her before. "You are no better than me, you know."

I was left speechless as Pansy pushed passed me lightly and walked into the room. Daphnee followed behind her stopping in front of me. "She's kind of right," she said quietly.

"I know," I whispered. I had never even realized that I really was no different than Pansy. But it was too late to ask her name without sounding like a bitch, so I just walked inside and got ready for the next day of classes. 

The first morning back always felt weird as I woke up to a morning of the unusual loudness and chaos of the Great Hall. Breakfast was always loud, but especially because people were busy getting their time tables.