Something Wicked This Way Comes

CHAPTER TEN

 It was always nice to sit in the Great Hall for dinner time. After so much transpiring that same day it was good to breathe with friends. As we sat and gave details about our day, recounting everything as much as we could, we were given the misfortune of Malfoy passing by, nursing a cast that seemed entirely too done up. It was too thick and big around like he had done it himself about halfway through. I rolled my eyes almost out of my head just at the sight.

Behind him trailed his goons and by his side was a pugged face girl who spoke in a nasally high-pitched tone. If she was trying to sound sweet she sounded more like what I'd imagine vinegar would, "Oh Draco, your poor arm!" She pouted and leaned against him. Gross. He didn't necessarily push her away, but at the same time, he seemed not too happy to have her doing so.

"I know, I should consider myself lucky! According to Madam Pomfrey, I could have lost my whole arm!" He spouted out proudly. What was so proud about that? Did he get into a battle? Who was the hero that did it, and when could I shake their hand? Was it Harry? Or Ron? No, it had to be Hermione.

"I think it's crazy you got attacked like that!" Crabb shouted, making it echo somehow across the whole room. Draco smirked and puffed out his chest, "Yeah, I guess I am pretty brilliant, going up against a Hippogriff," Not what he said, and a Hippogriff? Really? I scoffed as they began to pass by the table, their slow walking seemed like they were trying to show off their little prince, Draco, "Wow, so brave.." I deadpanned.

John snorted. He and Elli laughed while Amie bit her lip closed. Draco spun around, his eyes wide with rage, "Who said that?" He demanded, what a toddler. I rolled my neck, and it made a loud popping noise, "I did," I spoke plainly staring right at him. His eyes widened, "You!-"

"Yeah, me!" I ooh'd wiggling my fingers, "What about me Malfoy?" He clenched his jaw, while Puggy girl gasped, "How dare you talk to Draco like that!" She glared down at me, his other cohorts closed in around us. I rolled my eyes, "Or what? His father is going to hear about it?" I quirked up a brow.

Amie gulped, "Ozzie..." admittedly none of them had seen me like this, but at this point, I was growing tired of other people's bullshit. Tired of my parents, tired of the Lupin thing that happened earlier, tired of the Sirius Black thing, tired of Draco Malfoy.

"You need to learn to respect your superiors!" Draco smugly smirked. I scoffed putting my palms on the table and slowly stood, "I don't give respect to incompetent, pompous, brats Malfoy. Nor does the rest of the world," I began, I might have been about his height if not a bit shorter at this point, but damn I felt tall at that moment, "It's about time you learn that lesson because one way or another it'll bite you in your cushy, silver sucking ass!"

"Honestly!" He scoffed, "You're talking to a man who almost got killed by a Hippogriff! If I can take it on I can take you too!"

I smirked, "Honestly Draco, maybe it would have been better if it did off you! No one would have to listen to your shrill voice anymore!" The table goes silent, and Draco goes silent. I saw his lip begin to wobble, and at the time I didn't feel bad, I felt accomplished. I felt accomplished watching him stomp off and cry in his temper with his little 'friends' running after him. I sat down and began to dig in, not realizing my friends were staring in shock. Mainly Amie who seemed a bit distraught.

When I did realize I was being gawked at I swallowed my food and asked, albeit a bit shortly, "What?" Amie shook her head, "Ozzie....What happened?" She seemed appalled. I sighed deeply, "Nothing. You saw what happened. Why?"

She took a moment, "I... I've never heard you speak like that before..." She put a hand on top of mine. It was warm, unlike how I felt at the moment, "Please," She pleaded to make her brown eyes somehow bigger than a deer in headlights, "Talk to us..."

I put down my fork with a gentle clatter and mutter, "I'm just... mulling through alot right now..." John shrugged, "Honestly more power to him! He stood up for himself!"

Ellie nodded, "That was pretty badass..."

Amie glared at them, "Don't encourage this! This isn't like him!" She turned back to me, "I know something happened, did your parents send a howler?"

I shook my head, there was no use in keeping it to myself, otherwise, she would dig until she found out, or I would snap and hurt her feelings, neither of which I wanted, "Professor Lupin... snapped at me..."

She frowned, "What, why? He doesn't seem the kind to..."

John chuckled, "Did you fuck up that bad mate?"

I shook my head, "Honestly I don't think so..." I muttered, "I asked him if he was okay because he didn't look well... and he had scratches all over his face... He told me he was just sick and I pointed out that being sick doesn't make you get scratches... and well.." I cleared my throat, why was this so hard to talk about, "He told me that no one liked someone who assumes and said... I should be careful because I'll have nothing left... And just walked off..."

John quirked a brow, "I mean technically he's not wrong-"

"But at the same time when he talks to people, he's usually pretty lax... I've heard Professor Lupin and Oz talk and it's usually pretty casual and almost fun banter," Ellie pointed out, "And it sounded like Oz was just messing around like usually..." She seemed as skeptical as me at this point, to which silently I thanked her, "Besides he shouldn't have said that last bit."

"Then again if he isn't feeling well it would make sense as to why he acted that way," John made another point. Technically true, but it didn't settle in me right. I sighed and shook my head, "I don't know, either way, I feel like he could have handled it better. I was just trying to make sure he was okay-"

"Ozwald?" Speak of the devil and he may just show up. I sighed quietly and shifted my attention, Professor Lupin stood there, still pale as a ghost, and slightly hunched. I gulped and spoke, my voice dropping dead, "Yes, sir?"

"I would like to ask for your help with a demonstration in a few weeks. It's quite important," His voice didn't sound far off from mine. I frowned a bit, feeling confused, "Um... yeah... sure..." Lupin gave a small bow and walked up to the Professor's table at the front, sitting down at his normal seat. I watched for a moment, what was he on about? I saw Lupin look over a few times before completely ignoring me and focused in on his food. I sincerely hoped he would just figure out what was going on. This was getting increasingly frustrating.