Year 6.
Hallies pov.
it was the first day back at Hogwarts. year six.
it was weird how i had been coming to this school for six years. how i only had two more left. what was i going to do with my life.
i didn't like being back in the Great Hall. knowing i couldn't look down the table and see Cedric, laughing with his friends.
the atmosphere was totally different. nobody seemed to even think about Cedric. the last time i was in the school it was dark and depressing. now it was filled with laughter, loud chatter, smiles on everyone's faces.
i felt like the only one without a smile. how could i smile, in a time like this.
Sage and I were sat next to each other like we normally were. she was chatting with other Hufflepuffs whilst i was staring down at my plate, pushing around uneaten food with my my fork. i didn't have any appetite. the one thing i could think about. the only thing was Cedric's white face staring blankly at the sky.
how could i even go back on that Quidditch field. maybe i could just quit the team. not have to deal with it.
"good evening children." Dumbledore spoke. all the chatting had quieted down. i turned to look up at Dumbledore.
"now we have two changes in staffing this year. we're pleased to welcome back Professor Grubbly-Plank. who'll be taking Care of Magical Creatures while Professor Hagrid is on temporary leave. we also wish to welcome our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professors Dolores Umbridge. and i'm sure, you'll all join me in wishing the professor good luck. now as usual, our caretaker Mr. Filch has asked me—" Dumbledore spoke but was cut off but Professor Umbridge who loudly cleared her throat.
i already hated her. she was a plump, smug looking women. her smile was too perky, her clothes too pink. even her posture was too proper.
and you'd expect her to have good manners but that would be wrong.
Sage glanced sideways at me. she must have thought the same thing.
Dumbledore turned around with hesitation as he looked at Professor Umbridge arising in her seat. she very slowly walked over to Dumbledore, her hands clasped out in front of herself.
"thank you. Headmaster—" she began, her heels tapping loudly on the floor.
"—for those, kind words of welcome. and how lovely to see all your bright, happy faces, smiling up at me. i'm sure we're all going to be very good friends. The Ministry of Magic has always considered the education of young witches and wizards to be of vital importance. although each headmaster has brought something new to this historic school.." she turned and gave a nod to Dumbledore.
"...progress for the sake of progress must be discouraged. let us preserve, what must be preserved.... perfect what can be perfected. and prune practices that ought to be.. prohibited." she giggled, smiling around looking at all of us.
she looked too giddy.
she turned and walked back to her seat. Dumbledore began to clap. others hesitantly following his footsteps.
"thank you, Professor Umbridge. that really was most, illuminating."
-
i stood in the open door way of Sage and Is dorm room. she was unpacking her stuff in the bathroom whilst i just stared.
i missed this place all summer. but it seemed gloomy. not even my own bedroom seemed happy.
i walked over to my bed and sat next to my unopened suitcase.
i stared at the posters and painting on the walls and the fairy lights that stretched across the whole room.
i looked over at my broom propped against the wall.
i missed flying around with George, chasing the Snitch... failing, George pushing me to believe in myself.
"are you going to unpack?" Sage asked walking out the bathroom. she began unpacking her bag.
i didn't reply and laid onto my back, staring up at the yellow curtains that draped over my bed.
i'd rather lay here and melt into my bed than get up and unpack. not being able to live while everyone else keeps going on like nothing happened last year. like Voldemort isn't back.
i almost shuddered thinking about it.
i could tell Sage was worried for me.
i could see her looking at me from the corner of my eye.
she has every right to worry for me. maybe i was depressed. maybe i was just a little sad, maybe it was just the feeling of grief eating me. or, it was all of it.
i rolled onto my side where i couldn't see Sage staring at me with pity, and fell asleep.
-
"all class i wanted to sock her. and these books that we are learning out of are bloody first year books!" Fred complained as Fred, Sage, George and I walked through the corridors after just getting out of our first lesson with Professor Umbridge.
in all honesty i hadn't payed any attention so i wouldn't have understood their complaints. i sat in the back doodling all over one of the book pages or staring blankly at the chalk board. i didn't even realize class was over until George was shoving my shoulder.
"i'm down" George agreed.
"maybe it's just because it's the first lesson...?" Sage tried to sound optimistic but couldn't.
Fred and George looked at her and she shrugged.
"it's like she has some vendetta against Fred and I"
"she was definitely looking at us funny" Fred agreed.
"it's probably because you're just soooo hot" Sage joked.
they all laughed, i stared into the library as we slowly passed it. there were so many students in the halls it was hard to get anywhere.
i stared at the table Cedric and I sat at. there were students sitting there. i remembered every moment i spent at that table. every moment spent with Cedric tutoring me, picking on me. everything.
"Hallie?" George said loudly. i looked up at him. "hm?"
"when's your free period?" asked Sage.
"oh.. after this next class."
"damn it" George said. "we were going to hang out in the library" he elaborated.
i hummed. "that's okay. i'll catch up with you later" i gave George a kiss on the cheek and walked away.
i walked to the girls bathroom and opened one of the stalls. i pulled down the toilet seat and sat down then pulled my legs up.
truth was i had just lied. this was my free period. sitting here in this bathroom.
i looked up at the ceiling and let out a sigh.
i didn't know why i'd rather sit in here than be hanging out with my friends.
i just wanted to be alone.
1130 words.
7/24/2023
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Friends | 𝐆𝐞𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐲
Fanfiction"i like you." he says, finally spitting the words out. i stare up at him, he's sweating from his Quidditch match and his hair is sticking to his skin. i smile, my cheeks turning red. "i think i like you too" i say. - Hallie Gold and George Weasley...
