Sneak | Harry Potter

II

two | 02.
BACK TO THE BASICS.

    Marietta sprinted down the stone corridors of Hogwarts, her robes billowing behind her as she kept pace with Frederick Chappell.

    The Ravenclaw boy was lanky and light on his feet, though his haphazard strides made it clear he was unused to running through the castle's uneven hallways.

    Frederick's face was flushed from exertion, and Marietta could hear his labored breathing over the rhythmic slap of their shoes against the floor.

    The two skidded around a sharp corner, nearly colliding with a group of Slytherins who scowled at their noisy passage. Marietta shouted a rushed apology but didn't slow.

    Finally, they burst through the doors of the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, their momentum carrying them a few steps too far inside.

The entire room turned to look at them, the whirs of conversation quieting in an instant.

    Marietta straightened up quickly, brushing a loose curl of strawberry-blonde hair from her flushed face. She glanced at Frederick, whose wide eyes and sheepish posture screamed mortification.

    "Sorry, Professor." She said, her voice even despite the adrenaline coursing through her.

    Frederick muttered a hurried apology as well, practically diving into a seat next to a Hufflepuff near the back of the room. Marietta took a steadying breath and moved to the only remaining desk.

    Her stomach sank as she realized it was wedged between Harry Potter and know-it-all Hermione Granger.

    Avoiding Harry's confused stare, she settled into her chair and began methodically unpacking her quill and parchment, arranging them neatly on the desk as though precision could ward off her discomfort.

    Professor Umbridge turned toward them, her lips curling into a smile that only deepened her uncanny resemblance to a toad.

    "That will be ten points from Ravenclaw for tardiness!" She chirped, the punishment doled out with a dismissive wave of her hand.

Turning back to the blackboard, she continued her lecture as though nothing had happened.

    Marietta clenched her jaw. In the past, professors had been lenient with her lateness if she had a valid excuse, but Umbridge seemed to delight in her petty discipline.

So much for a fresh start this year, she thought bitterly, tapping her quill against the desk in irritation.

   "Now, as I was saying before the interruption," Umbridge continued, "it is imperative that you study diligently for your O.W.L.s. Success will bring its rewards, while failure..." She paused, letting her words linger as she surveyed the room. "...will bring consequences most severe."

    A flick of her wand sent a tower of textbooks soaring into the air, each landing neatly on a desk with a muted thud.

    Marietta caught hers as it landed, flipping it over to inspect the cover. Her lip curled in disdain. Dark Arts Defence: Basics for Beginners.

    The title alone made her stomach churn. A quick flip through its thin pages revealed nothing remotely challenging or practical, certainly not what was needed to prepare for the world outside the castle walls.

    Hermione Granger's hand shot into the air, her fingers stretched as if reaching for the ceiling. "Professor, there's nothing in this book about practicing defensive spells."