Serena Black || 𝑨𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒂

Jealousy is Love and Hate at the same Time

• Serena Black •

"What screws us up most in life is the picture in our head of how it is supposed to be."

The Hogsmeade weekend was getting closer and closer and with each passing day, the students were getting more and more excited. Until finally, on Friday, the climax was reached. But first, Serena would probably have to get through the last hour of the day: Defence Against the Dark Arts with Umbridge. Only then would she be released for the much anticipated and the only bright spot she had had since arriving at Hogwarts: the first Quidditch practice of the season.

Hermione, as she had done for the first lesson, had her arm up to attract the attention of her toad teacher. Serena sat next to her, watching as Umbridge had apparently learned from her mistakes and was now striding over to them instead of talking it out in front of the entire class. "What is it this time, Miss Granger?" she asked sweetly and in such a way that the rest of the students couldn't hear her.

"I've already read the chapter," Hermione replied.

"Well," Umbridge said with a slightly bitter undertone in her voice. "Then read the next one."

"I've already read that one too," she replied, though at a normal volume, so that some of her classmates were already turning to look at her askance. "I've read the whole book."

Professor Umbridge batted an eyelid briefly, but instantly regained her composure and a wicked smile formed on her face, presumably not believing a word Hermione said. And indeed, shortly afterwards, she asked her a few questions to test her knowledge, which Hermione was of course able to answer at the drop of a hat. Serena was proud of her and knew that Umbridge was probably impressed against her will.

"I beg to differ," Hermione added quietly to her answer to the last question, and by now had secured the attention of the entire class. "I think curses can be very useful when used in defence."

"Oh, you think so, do you?" her teacher inquired coldly. "Well, I'm afraid it's Mr Slinkhard's opinion and not yours that counts in this classroom, Miss Granger."

"But..." continued Hermione, but was immediately interrupted again. "That's enough," Umbridge silenced her in front of the entire class. "Five points off for Gryffindor."

Serena groaned loudly and clenched her fists, now it was probably not even allowed to speak one's mind. Before she could change her mind, she had also opened her mouth. "Because of what?"

"Stay out of it," Hermione hissed at her.

"For disrupting my lessons with pointless interruptions, Miss Black," Professor Umbridge replied sweetly, though with an odd emphasis on her surname, which only made Serena all the more angry. "I am here to teach you in a Ministry-approved method, and that does not include students giving their opinions on the subject matter. Your previous teachers may have given you more fool's freedom, but since none of them.... perhaps with the exception of Professor Quirrel, who seems to have confined himself to age-appropriate subjects, would have passed inspection."