'Tell Me Pretty Lies,' by moongirlel

Chapter 80: 'Disloyalty'

[Brutal - Olivia Rodrigo]

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5th Year
Thur. 7th September 1995 - 5:55pm...

As I packed up my books in my dormitory, stacking them on my desk, the door opened.

"Jane, aren't you coming to dinner? It's starting soon." Pansy asked.

"Yes, I'll be there in a minute." I respond, shrugging off my robe.

She waits for me by the door, holding it open.

After I was finished, I stand, leaving our dormitory with her.

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Passing by the Transfiguration room with Pansy chatting away in my ear, I heard my brother's voice on the other side of the door.

It opened in a rushed manner, and McGonagall dashed out. "Oh, Jane. There you are. I was just coming to find you."

Harry appeared behind her, holding his injured hand out. A fresh bandage wrapped around it.

"Would you escort your brother to dinner? I believe I must have a strongly worded letter to write." She gently pushed my brother forwards to join us.

Harry lowered his arm, tugging his sleeve over it. He remained quiet, walking on ahead of us.

"Is this about Umbridge?" I question. From the corner of my eye, I seen Pansy's eyebrow lift.

"The pink toad?"

McGonagall didn't comment on her insult, but instead nods. "Yes, this is about Professor Umbridge. I am dealing with the situation as we speak. Please keep an eye on your brother." She pats my shoulder, then took a hastily paced walk in the opposite direction.

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Catching up to my brother, I take ahold of his arm.

He pulled it away, and stopped walking. "Stop. You just made the situation worse. You seem to love doing that lately; it's a running theme."

"Excuse me?"

Pansy gestured to the hall, and ran on inside. A silent attempt to quickly leave us to our conversation.

"You heard me," Harry frowned. "You didn't need to tell McGonagall about my hand."

"I wanted to—"

"Well, I didn't. All you seem to do now is make my problems worsen, and you don't listen to me. Or what I want to do about it."

"What you want to do about it is usually the worst option available. McGonagall deserved to know, we can trust her. She bandaged your hand, didn't she?"

"No, Ron did. I only wanted my friends to know. I didn't want any other Professor's involved. I wanted to tell the people I trust."

"And, what about me? Where exactly do I stand in that statement?"

"What about you? Why would I tell you, if you don't listen?" He sighed heavily.