Fly, little ballerina

7. Day one

Friday 1st September 1995

As expected, Mila awoke at 5:12 a.m. the next morning. She had woken up sweating and crying from the same nightmare as the prior night. Mila slapped a hand a hand against her mouth to stop herself from waking Astoria. It didn't help her calm down, but it eased some of her worries as she could clearly hear Astoria snore. Mila would have felt so guilty if her nightmares stopped her roommate from sleeping from the very first night.

Nala pushed her head against Mila's, trying to calm her while Astraea snuggled into her neck, absorbing the stary tears that fell from her face. As adorable as her companions were, they weren't helping her calm down. If anything the sensation of physical touch was freaking her out more, given that her nightmare was once more the retelling of her partial hysterectomy.

Realising that she wasn't going to get anywhere like this, Mila snatched a pair of leggings, socks, a sports bra and a hoodie before creeping into the bathroom, not wanting to risk waking her roommate. Mila was still sobbing when she done getting dressed. Mila took her running shoes from below her dresser and put them on once she was in the safety of the common room.

Quickly made her way outside and started running as fast as she could. At this point, Mila knew the only way she was going to stop crying, was if she exhausted herself. So Mila ran. She ran as though her life was on the line. She ran around the entire school. Three times. When she made her way back to the entrance it was only 6:30 a.m.

Mila had stopped sobbing about halfway through her run; however, her face still remained stained red. She walked to the side of the entrance and slumped against a wall; her head hung low. It took her a minute to calm down and return her breathing to a normal rate. Fortunately for Mila, the run had worked in calming her panicked state. However, in doing that she had fully exhausted herself and her legs were in immense pain. She didn't even know how she was standing.

Just as Mila was about to go back towards her dorm, someone called out her name, "Miss Potter!"

Mila looked up to see Professor Umbridge and Malfoy senior walking towards her, so she quickly wiped her face. "Hello Professor, Mr. Malfoy."

"What are you doing up so early Miss Potter?" Professor Umbridge interrogated her as though she had done something wrong. Her voice was tight and her face was stern. She obviously looking for someone to tell off, no matter what time it was.

"I went for a run Professor. I do hope that's alright." Mila's Russian accent slipped through a little more as a result of her tired state.

"Oh. How odd." Umbridge seemed quite surprised that anyone would ever willingly subject themselves to physical training. "Why on earth would you do such a thing?"

"I tend to wake up early, Professor. Sports in general help me reset myself. I did not want to wake my roommate, so I came outside for a run." Mila explained gently. Mila took Dumbledore's warning. She needed to be in Umbridge's good graces.

Unfortunately, that was when the platinum blond chose to speak, "So you exhaust yourself before lessons have even begun." Mila was annoyed because even if that was what she was trying to do, he had no right to comment on her choices, especially when he didn't know her reasoning. She wanted to wipe his smug smile right off his face.

"I've been doing this for years Mr Malfoy. I know what I'm doing."

"How ambitious of you," commented Umbridge.

"Well I am in Slytherin, aren't I." Mila realised it was getting late and she wanted to get ready before Astoria. Maybe she would be able to get to the library to get a couple new books. "Excuse me Professor. I have already asked Professor McGonagall this, but I don't have to stay in my dorm until a given time, do I?"