BORN TO DIE | R. Arcturus Black

|6|

Chapter Six: Guilt will Kill [1]

.

In only a few days, Janet's name found itself on the tongue of every student at Hogwarts, with the most amusing thought-out rumours spreading about her; everyone seemed to have a theory about her mysterious arrival. It was expected, of course - it's only natural for speculation to run wild in such circumstances and in Hogwarts no less. A student appearing out of nowhere in the middle of the school year was undoubtedly going to draw the attention of everyone - including the school's professors!

At that, it had been four - unbearably long - days where she had sat unmoving - downing horridly tasting concoctions, one after the other and eavesdropping on Madam Promfrey's not-so-gossipy conversations with other teachers.

However, Janet was quite pleased to know her skills in glamour charms were good enough to not be detected by Poppy's careful eye, according to the gifted matorn, she only suffered from a few deep gashes and broken bones, which were a lot better to explain than the burn marks on her wrist and ankles.

And so, as of today, she had finally been excused from a monitored bedrest by Poppy and had been gratefully granted access to explore as long as she didn't leave the grand stone building. Moreover, Professor McGonagall had kindly provided her with a new set of robes; they were - unquestionably- the most uncomfortable, itchy pieces of clothing she had ever worn - and that's including the uniform handed to her by the guards of Azkaban.

At the thought of the clothes, she seemed to acknowledge the itch in her thigh and began to irratedly scratch at the flesh, though the skirt in her way did little to help relieve her.

As she took another step, the young witch found herself in a crowded hallway, filled with students huddled in groups and murmuring. A part of her wondered how she couldn't hear them, but she figured she was probably too in her head to notice.

With her arms held tightly around her body-as if trying to shield herself from the prying eyes that seemed to follow her every move; she tried - 'tried' being the keyword here - to avoid the harsh gaze of the other students, but it was a struggle to remain invisible in a place that seemed to encourage gossip and judgement.

Every one of them seemed to resemble a predator, eyeing it's prey in hopes of expecting it's next move. Some even reached out their hands, tried to stop her, or catch her attention.

It didn't help that their whispers and thoughts were just as scrutinizing as their gazes.

...Maybe she's magically deficient? A squib, perhaps!

Do you think she's related to one of the professors? Maybe that's why they let her in! I mean, she's got to be really bad if they tried to sneak her in! Humpf, as if we wouldn't notice!

...- saw Dumbledore and McGonagall whispering, apparently she was attacked....yes the centaurs... I'm telling you Seth saw them!

"Hi! I'm-" It took Janet every form of self-restraint to keep a hold of her magic frim snapping. She pushed away from the girls' grasp and muttered a soft apology.

"Excuse me - please-" She excused sharply, her hands trembling as she pushed a few boys, who seemed to think it was funny to make lewd comments on her figure.