𝐀 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 [Draco×OC]

20: Why should we trust someone from Slytherin?

Ángeles' POV

My confrontations with Umbridge in Defense Against the Dark Arts classes had not diminished at all, despite having lied to her that I had learned the lesson. My hands had no more space for scars; but, if it weren't for Theo, it would have been worse.

I must respect my superiors.
I must not speak without permission.
Authority should not be questioned.
Mistakes must be punished.

I didn't want to give Umbridge any more power over me than she deserved, so each of our encounters was the same. She would smile, making the quill and parchment appear, I would write the sentences as quickly as possible, apologize, and then be allowed to leave. She didn't seem to question why I continued to behave this way if I had already told her that I had learned the lesson. In fact, she seemed to... Enjoy it. Yes, she seemed to enjoy marking my skin with the quill's edge. I saw her revel in that hideous smile she always wore, watching as my hands turned red again, a horrible mix of new and old scars.

If it hadn't been for Theo and his healing each time he saw me, my hand would be unrecognizable. But I wasn't going to give in so easily, not to that old hag. I always defended what I believed in, even if it meant negative consequences for me. I didn't care: I couldn't keep quiet, I didn't want to keep quiet.

Besides, now I was a Death Eater with a terrible past. A wicked teacher wasn't the biggest of my problems or concerns.

I had noticed lately that many students were missing from the Great Hall, even from the corridors. Neither Harry and his friends, nor most of the Gryffindor kids, nor from the other schools... Except for the Slytherin kids, of course. Most had joined something Umbridge called the "Inquisitorial Squad," whose role was basically to hunt down students who rebelled against her, take points from houses, or chase and punish those who broke the stupid rules she had set after being appointed Hogwarts' official Inquisitor. The word "inquisition" made me sick beyond explanation; just pronouncing it twisted my insides, further increasing my desire to defy her ridiculous rules. I couldn't believe Aradia had died in vain at the hands of, precisely, inquisitors who hated people like us.

The only one who hadn't joined that stupid group was Theo, of course, and, as known, Draco was there. To be honest, I didn't understand why. I mean, did he agree with what Umbridge was saying? I understood that he wanted to defend me the first time, but he had never even come close to asking me what was going on in her office. The injuries on my hands were obvious enough for him not to have missed them, and we weren't exactly distant... After our conversation in the common room, I dared to look at him a little more, to seek his gaze in the crowd and smile at him occasionally, something Theo disapproved of every time I told him about it.

I was in the corridor alone, coming out of one of the bathrooms, when someone running bumped into me, causing us both to fall to the floor.

"Sorry!" It was a boy. "I... I didn't see you. Sorry, I... Ángeles?"

"Harry!" I exclaimed, smiling despite the sudden pain. "It's okay, really." I helped him up. "Are you okay? You look tired."

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. I was... Rushed, yes. I'm going to..." he said nervously, not finishing the sentence.

"What are you up to, Potter?" I asked playfully, moving closer to him. "Why don't you want to tell me? Are you about to do something bad? Whatever it is, I won't tell anyone."

"It's not really something bad, it's just that... Well, you know... You're from Slytherin... And that's not the only thing you are..."

I swallowed, nervous about what Harry had just said. It honestly hurt me that he didn't trust me just because I was from Slytherin... Well, being a Death Eater was another matter, but he knew how things had been; why didn't he trust me?