The whispering quill | F. W.

5.

In the days that followed, they couldn't help but steal glances across the Great Hall during meals, their eyes meeting for brief moments filled with unspoken curiosity.
It was as if their shared adventure had sparked a newfound connection, transcending the boundaries of their respective Hogwarts houses, but they never went any further. They never spoke or talked to each other, like before their unusual encounter. Nothing changed, apparently.

Umbridge, meanwhile, decided to apply new rules to establish respect and politeness from the students. She also decided to reduce the topics taught during the classes, stating that the spells would not be useful to the young wizards as there were no dangers outside and, therefore, they didn't need to defend themselves in any way. History and books were important, but only topics that didn't put the ministry in a bad light or spoke about the dark years of the magical war. Both students and teachers seemed depressed and discouraged, limited in all their actions by a madwoman dressed in pink.

"Umbridge is evaluating all the teachers, it almost seems like she wants to send them away and change them with crazy people like her"
Aria snorted and took her book.
"Dear Pansy, typical... Those who know how to do, do, and those who don't know how to do, teach. She doesn't know how to do anything and she believes she can change our school in the best way possible"
Pansy leaned against the wall.
"Draco's watching you... And I admit that I had you under my sight too... I've noticed some stares from the Gryffindor table, and from you to theirs. There's something going on, right? You know what I think"
Aria rolled her eyes.
"You don't have to worry, nothing has happened and nothing will ever happen, you're just getting paranoid"
"You better say so, you are a Slytherin, Merlin! Don't mix stuff with someone from a different house, you have potential"
Aria frowned.
"Since when you are my love consultant?"
"I'm serious, you need someone talented and smart as you... Like Draco"
"Draco and I are... Done... Now I have to go" Aria cut the conversation and walked down the corridor with a smirk, the thought of Draco always made her smirk like that.

As she was walking, a hand grabbed her arm and pulled her into an empty classroom, locking the door.

"What the heck are you doing?!"
"I could ask you the same. Lately I've seen looks between you and some Weasley that I don't like" The blonde boy stared into her eyes with his deep green ones.
"I think you're imagining things, I don't even know who he is. Jealousy plays tricks I think" Replied Aria raising an eyebrow and crossing her arms.
Draco tightened the grip on her arm and pulled her backwards until her back was against the wall.
"I remind you of your role, not only in this school, but your position for your house and your future, you are destined only for the best. Why wasting your time over some useless Gryffindor?"
"And the best would be?" Asked Aria with a challenging gaze.
"You are smart enough to know this yourself, or do I have to remind you?" He asked, whispering in her ear.
"It probably slipped my mind"
"Then I'll have to bring it back immediately"
Draco began to place kisses on her neck, while with one hand held her wrist above her head and with the other one roamed under her uniform skirt. He played with the elastic of her slip until he slid his hand inside of it, caressing her folds with two fingers. He started moving his fingers gently up and down, then clockwise. She gasped in his ear, sending shivers of excitement down his spine. He placed his two fingers at the beginning of her entrance and played with her intimacy for a few minutes before sliding in and out, until his fingers were completely soaked and could feel her legs trembling, a sign that he had achieved his goal. He pulled his fingers out and brought them to his mouth, savoring the sweet taste and enjoying her as she looked up at him, panting and blushing on her cheeks.
"Can't you see that I have everything you need?"
She shook her head and collected herself.
"Don't let it go to your head, we haven't been a couple for a long time now, and we won't be ever again"
"But you can't deny the sexual tension between us. You and I together could do great things"
Aria turned to face him.
"No, you can have sex with anyone, don't feel privileged, but you can only have love and emotional connection with one person. That makes the difference, and that's why we don't work"
Draco rolled his eyes.
"As if there were other boys"
"I'll find the right one, one day, or maybe not" Aria straightened her uniform.
Draco leaned against a wall with his arms crossed, looking at her with a smirk.
"How are the individual lessons going?" Asked him trying to change topic.
"Bad, I didn't expect such complex things, it takes a lot of concentration and... My concentration isn't the best lately. But I don't give up. In a few weeks it will all be a child's play for me. Try to reach me, if you can" She stared at him, grinning with satisfaction as she left the classroom and reach the basement.

She had three intense hours of one-on-one lessons with Snape ahead, and she already felt a terrible headache.
Aria was not an easy girl. What was happening with Draco, casual make out, was hard to explain. She wasn't proud of it, she hadn't had feelings for him in a long time, but Draco couldn't forget her and apparently he was her weakness.
Another thing that no one knew about Aria, or that many suspected without having confirmations, was that she truly was a powerful wizard with extraordinary abilities.
The teachers noticed from the first year that the lessons were too simple for her, her level was much more advanced, which is why she found herself having long hours of individual classes on topics that very often not even final year students could study.
Dumbledore himself approved her schedule, feeling that her intelligence was wasted in class with others and that she needed special teaching, teaching that was once given only to the most powerful wizards and whose subjects were considered elite.
In reality, these topics were considered normal until many centuries ago, but were forgotten and considered useless with the advancement of time and the evolution of the magical world. But today they were considered reserved for the most capable wizards and Aria had been good enough to be chosen as a witch to pass these teachings on to.

As she finished her wandless practice, she walked towards her dorm without having dinner. She was tired and only wanted to lay on her bed hugging her pillow.
As she walked, a voice called for her.
"Aria... Ary!"
"Uh?" She turned to see the red haired boy with a big smile on his face holding a little bag.
"I didn't see you at dinner"
"Are you keeping an eye on my movements?"
"No, but your blue eyes certainly don't go unnoticed, and I haven't seen a couple of them staring at me from the Slytherin table this evening, as usual" Smirked the boy as Aria crossed her arms, amused.
"You know, I look at a lot of people during meals, probably you thought I was admiring you"
"Still, I wouldn't mind your attention. Anyway I have some mom's pastries, maybe you want some since you missed dinner" Said Fred handing them to her, who took them suspiciously.
"That's odd..."
"Just being nice, that's normal for people, you know. Now I have to go, hope to see you around tho"
As Fred walked away and joined his friends, Aria kept looking at the sweets in her hands. That boy was a mystery.