somewhere only we belong .h.j.p

seven

Her breath was coming in short, quick pants, visible in the cold air, her cheeks flushed and chest rising rapidly. Her legs shook, knees almost given up as she ascended to the top floor of the Astronomy Tower. Despite making this journey every week for five years, it never got easier.

By the time she finally finished her hike to the classroom, the Hufflepuffs were already there, and only a few were out of breath. Alyce rested her forehead against the stone, embracing the cold rushes that ran through her, cooling her hot face.

The students flood into the room, sitting at random tables. Alyce sits on her own away from the other Slytherins, still avoiding Pansy and Millicent after her little outburst the other day. However, this cme to stab her in the back, as the recently appointed High Inquisitor came strutting in through the door, and unfortunately sat right next to Alyce.

The artificial scent of roses bombarded Alyce's senses, almost stringent her nose with the concentrated smell. Umbridge sat perched on the edge of the seat, legs tightly together, Alyce doubted she had room to move beneath the pink skirt. She had a clipboard resting on her legs and was already writing on it with some frivolous ink quill.

Professor Sinistra glared at the Professor, whenever Umbridge was looking somewhere else. Every time the Professor spoke, Umbridge scribbled on her parchment. When the class had got to work on identifying different constellations and how they came to be, Umbridge rose from her uncomfortable perch and stalked around the classroom, like a predator hunting prey.

She first attacked Hannah Abbott, grilling the poor Hufflepuff on Professor Sinistra. "Dear, do you feel comfortable in her presence?" Umbridge asked, and something about her tone made the hairs on Alyce's nape stand up. Alyce could tell Sinistra shared the same sentiment, her mouth in a thin line and eyes darkening in fury.

The High Inquisitor then moved on to the Slytherins, and Alyce held her breath waiting for Draco's response. "Professor Sinistra has never done anything astounding really, but you could say the same about her subject really. I've never felt wholly safe in this classroom." Draco announced, his loud whisper making sure everyone could hear. Alyce's grip tightens on her quill so hard it snapped, feathers flying everywhere.

As she dug in her bag searching for a spare quill, she could feel Umbridge's beady eyes on her, watching her every move, and could only hope she wasn't her next vicitm. But the dreadful click of heels only confirmed her fears.

"Miss Selwyn, would you like to borrow a quill, dear?" Umbridge asks, brandishing a quill seemingly out of thin air. Alyce looks closely at the quin, remembering what Draco had said about her methods of torture, as her hand reaches one in her bag.

"Thank you, Professor, but I just found my spare one," Alyce says, jovially.

"Lovely," Umbridge says, a poisonously sweet smile slapped across her face, although it doesn't reach her small eyes. "Do you mind if I ask you a few questions, to get a well rounded view for my investigation?"

"Of course not, Professor," Alyce says, putting on that pureblood charm that's laid dormant for years. "I'd be happy to help you."

"Wonderful," Umbridge turns to a fresh piece of parchment. "How have you been enjoying astronomy?"

"It's fantastic, I never knew there was such beauty in the natural world." Alyce states.

"And how is Professor Sinistra?"

"She's brilliant," Alyce affirms. "Astronomy is confusing stuff but I've never felt lost in this classroom. And she's created an environment where I can ask questions without fear of being reprimanded."

Umbridge smiles falsely, and clears her throat in that annoying way that makes Alyce want to

punch someone again. "You've never felt uncomfortable in her presence."