𝔚𝔞𝔯 𝔬𝔣 ℌ𝔢𝔞𝔯𝔱𝔰 // 𝔍𝔞𝔪𝔢𝔰 𝔓𝔬𝔱𝔱𝔢𝔯

FIVE || Slip

Estella

October 25th, 1974

"And I am happy to announce, that on the eve of Halloween, there will be a ball," Dumbledore announces to the entirety of the Great Hall.

Students all around break into fits of giggles -mostly the girls- and begin to whisper frantically to their friends. I pause for a second. There's never been a ball at Hogwarts, not in my time anyway.

"Yes, yes, very exciting. Masquerade-themed at that, as suggested by Professor McGonagall. There has been a notice pinned on the bulletin boards in each common room where you can see all the information. Very well then, off to bed now." He finishes.

Once he stops talking, everyone begins to talk loudly as we all file out of the Great Hall.

"I wonder what brought that idea on," Vanya wonders out loud.

"Isn't it obvious?" I blurt, "It's to dilute the fear and anxiety everyone's feeling about this whole war, I feel like we all need something to distract ourselves. Everyone's been so on edge lately because of Voldemort, I guess the professors have noticed as well."

"At least the war has some perks," Mattheo sighs, "Vanya, you'll go with me as a date won't you?"

"No," she scoffs, "I'm asking Lesley Spindle from Hufflepuff."

"You've already figured out who you're asking?" I goggle, "It's been five minutes."

"I've been looking for a chance to ask her out, this is the perfect time."

"Estella? Come with me?" Mattheo pleads,

"In your dreams, Riddle," I tease,

"Oh, so you know who you're asking then?" he inquires.

"Not going." I reply simply,

"What?!" Vanya shrieks, "Why not? You must come,"

"I'd rather save myself the work trying to find a date and buying a costume," I shrug,

"You'll have no trouble finding a date, ask anyone, they'll say yes."

"Why? Because I'm Estella Black or because they actually have interest in me?" I snap. Vanya goes quiet and exchanges a look with Mattheo. "Sorry," I mumble and we all walk in silence.

I haven't dared tell these two about that night where Remus Lupin and I got high together, they'd never let me hear the end of it. The truth is, it was a big accident, I just wanted to buy some stuff and accidentally ended up smoking with him.

I haven't spoken to any of the Marauders since then, -"Marauders" is what those four have began to call themselves- not even Sirius. I guess it's just a little embarrassing

When we make it back to the common room and into our dorm, I lock myself in my bathroom and turn on the tap water.

I bend down and open the cabinet under my sink, I pull out a bottle of acid green potion which I accidentally created in my third year during a potions lesson. It was supposed to be a sleeping draught, but I messed up severely and made a potion that, if touched, burns your skin for a second and doesn't leave any scarring.

I've become dependent on this little bottle of liquid for whenever I get angry. What I like to do is take a cotton swab and dip it in the potion, I then press the tip against somewhere on my skin and oddly enjoy the burning sensation, it just sort of dissolves my easily developed anger, the burning.

I pull my black tights down and sit on the floor, revealing my bruised and slightly scarred legs. I seethe slightly and sigh as I press the unnamed potion against my bare thigh. It sizzles against my skin painfully, but pleasantly.