Harriet Jinjur vs. the Academy

Chapter 9: Interludio de los Muertos

Harriet struggled and felt the force in that same misty void she's been in forcing her down, tightening. Her eyesight began to dim. She couldn't watch this anymore, the same thing over and over on how her parents died when she was a baby.

Only this time...

"HELLO THERE!" a spectral sea serpent suddenly appears in front of her, completely obscuring her sight of what happens after the blinding gunshot. "WOULD YOU CARE FOR SOME GREY COUPONS?!"

Heart pounding, Harriet sat straight up in bed. Sunlight streamed through the window of her bedroom. She was immediately aware of her changed surroundings.

"It's all right, Harriet," she said to herself. "It's over now. I'm here...in this dump."

Harriet threw back the covers and eyed the clock on the nightstand. Ten in the morning, the small clock face reflected back.

"Great. Another morning skipping the first hour of classes just because I overslept."

It's been three weeks since Harriet made a spectacle at Gloucester's funeral and when his spirit decided to become her "spirit animal," but things were still eventual during that time.

Outside racking her brains out for homework for potions, spells, and the usual paperwork, Harriet dealt with many misadventures that she had mixed results with. Dealing with students, fans, and detention with Veximus Black that go beyond the Academy and stretch the whole weekend against his whims.

Even the students don't seem to bother Harriet that much, probably thanks to Miss Hazelnut's insistence. She told her one time that the novelty of her status has worn off, which was good for Harriet since she can focus on school work and the occasional escape.

She tried to live off the land one time after one of her detention sessions, but the Forest of Outskirts didn't treat her well for the two days she spent there. Not even Gloucester appeared to give her any grief. It seems like he was true on his word only disturbing her when she needs it.

All Harriet could do is make the best out of her new life and only use her wand when it comes to getting good grades. Betsy and Charity kept pestering her to join their cause, but although she's tempted, Harriet decided that she was already sick of her to even humor her.

She didn't even see Aloysius too much, trying to keep her distance from him and vice versa. However, she had less trouble with his father than him. She even got along with him more than Miss Hazelnut.

Probably because he's trying to see her side being put in an environment like this, moreso than his own son, which caused Harriet to stay clear of his wrath.

Bert had tried to make conversation with her about all these anti-academic anecdotes during the past few weeks, but best Harriet was able to manage was a grunt now and then. From the many times he saw, she was cramming away her Headlines of the Moment as a way to vent and didn't wish to give him the whole nastiness uncensored.

At this rate things were going, she'd spend the rest of the school year doing the bare minimum all without killing herself from all this Fantastical Mystical torture.

With that unwelcome feeling out of the way, Harriet quickly changed in her usual clothes, thrust her feet in a pair of bunny slippers, fed Jill, and headed for the cafeteria.

She bought a glass of orange juice that has been sitting on the tray since 7AM with a couple of Bronzos and sloshed it down her throat to get that lump the size of Maine out of her system.

"I will not break down," she whispered. "Not again."

Harriet drank half the glass in three huge gulps, wincing as the cold of the liquid penetrated her sinuses.