Some Badgers like Snakes

Jacob

I felt like I was going to collapse!
My heart was pounding at a million beats per minute and I could hear its' deafening roar, loud, in my ears.
I had never felt more comfortable, more terrified, more happy, or more scared than when I was talking to Elle.
I had almost chickened out giving her my spare quill instead of asking, I'd heard a voice inside of me screaming and pounding its' fists against the inside of my skull. How could I let her get away, I'd had the perfect opportunity. I'd summoned every last ounce of my courage, taken a deep breath, as I'd seen her do so many times, and...asked.
It was a simple question, but to me it had so much meaning. I stumbled over my words like an idiot. I'm sure a fool like Norman Avery or even someone as thick as Brock could have spoken more eloquently than I managed! Still, I did just that, I managed.
I'd asked if she'd like to "hang out".
I thought it sounded less creepy than "stay by my side at every possible moment so I never have to spend one without you." , which was what I really meant. I could no longer control the obsessive urge to spend hours talking with her. She was just...captivating, there was no other word I could think of to describe her hold on me. She made me want to sit by her side for days on end, listening to every thought she'd ever had. She made me hang on to every word and somehow she made my whole view just look brighter with one half smile. It seemed wrong, I constantly reminded myself that I did not know her. A five hour train ride and  two potion classes don't equal a relationship, at least not the one my brain thought we had. I was in a battle with logic and...love! I cursed myself, whatever this was, it couldn't be something as strong as...love. Could it?
"You've known this girl for five minutes." I reminded myself.
"What'd you say?" Ethan asked interrupting my tangled thoughts.
I jumped, when had he gotten behind me.
"Oh nothing, just talking to myself I guess." I mumbled keeping my eyes on the floor of the crowded hallway.
"Hey no pal of mine can be crazy." He laughed and I weakly tried to join him.
My eyes darted over the thousand pairs of feet skirting off to next class, not daring to look up.
"Did you, uh...sit next to that Hufflepuff again?" He questioned trying to sound casual, but I sensed a deeper meaning behind it.
"Oh yeah, guess I did." I mumbled, focusing on a brown pair of loafers heading in the same direction as us.
"You should really stop being so late, don't want to make it a habit." He laughed, again his fake casualty being practically transparent.
"I suppose." I responded, loafers turned around a corner.
"Don't think stupid is contagious, but it's best to be safe." He joked, trying less to hide the cruel dig in his voice.
I took my eyes off the shiny black boots I'd begun watching and looked up at him.
"What do you mean by that?" I asked trying not to sound too defensive.
He looked taken aback but replied confidently, "Just don't forget where you belong is all."
The same anger as yesterday began bubbling inside my stomach. Had he always hated Hufflepuffs this much. Had I ever joined in in these little jokes of his? I felt ashamed, I couldn't remember what I'd said about muggles and Hufflepuffs in my past. I couldn't remember but I could change. I vowed never again to use the words I'd been raised on. All the prejudice, blood titles, last names; did they mean anything?
"Whatever." Ethan finally rolled his eyes, I realized I'd been silent the whole time.
I never spoke. The thoughts began whirring in my head. Once they started I couldn't stop them.
Was I stupid for believing that pureblood was better than mixed. It was what I'd been taught, I realized a lot of things I'd been taught weren't exactly right. I should have clued in. I always knew that some of father's beliefs were a bit odd, but I'd gone along with it. I thought for the rest of the walk, rubbing the familiar scar that ran over my right knuckles.
History of Magic was, as usual, not the most interesting class on my timetable. Professor Binns droned on for nearly the whole class about something to do with the First Wizarding War. Half way through he peaked my curiosity and gained my attention.
"The controversial appointing of Albus Dumbledore lead to many activists demanding their rights." He stated pointing to a slide showing men and women holding picket signs.
"Squibs and muggleborns marched for equal rights amongst magic folk and eventually reached the point of acceptance they are at today." He said.
I raised my hand.
He looked startled as I'm sure no one had done anything like this in quite a while.
"Ah yes, mr.Flint?" He asked peering over the top of his spectacles questioningly.
"Sorry, I was just wondering..." I glanced around the room all eyes were on me. I swallowed. "I was just wondering, why weren't they given the proper rights to begin with?" I got quiet as every body in the room shifted. Some looked positively mortified, some (muggleborns I assumed) looked grateful and intrigued.
Professor Binns' eyes gleamed at the question.
"Rather insightful young man, and sadly I don't know if I have an answer. I suppose they were viewed as lesser because of their similarities or ties to muggles, who as being unable to preform magic and many other advanced things wizards and witches excel at, were seen as rather insignificant." He mused.
"Do you believe they should have been?" I asked, I ignoring the shocked gape I was receiving from Ethan.
Binns chuckled, "Bringing me into this are we? I don't see any reason, I suppose. It's indisputable that wizards have had a great many accomplishments but I suppose we both lead mortal lives and deserve equality." He answered finally.
It satisfied me.
The bell rang and people leaped from their seats as they always did when we were finally released from the torturous class.
I rushed out of the class looking away from all the horrified stares of fellow Slytherins.
I managed to get out the class and around the hall before I felt a thick arm slam into my chest. I was flung into the nearby wall with such force I felt almost limp.
"What the hell was that?!" Ethan demanded as Brock removed his arm to give us space.
"Have you actually gone mad?!" He cried, giving me an utterly revolting look that my insides squirm.
"What the hell were you on about? You know as well as I do that blood traitors have no place in our society. What's the matter with you?!" He smacked me upside the head. I cowered keeping my gaze on the floor.
We were in a pretty dark alcove that nobody would really notice if they weren't looking for. I doubted anyone would find me if I got in any more trouble than I was already in. I knew I couldn't fight Ethan and if I somehow did get away there was no getting past his guard dog, Brock.
Ethan clenched his fist full of the front of my robes even tighter, snapping my thoughts from my half formed escape plan to plain old survival.
"Look at me when I'm talking to you!" He leered, reminding me too much of a certain someone.
I met his eyes, trying to appear confident.
"What's your issue? It was just a question!" I whispered trying to hold his gaze.
"What's my issue?!" He mocked.
"My issue is that you spend one class next to a freakin Hufflepuff and suddenly you're some kind of muggle activist!" He threw his hands up in the air baffled and disgusted.
"Are you-are you okay?" A small voice came from behind Ethan.
I looked over his shoulder to see a small red headed girl, eyes wide in fear.
Brock stepped forward, but Ethan stuck his arm out, hitting him in the chest and calling him off.
I prayed the girl would leave, before they had the chance to talk to her.
"This doesn't really concern you." Ethan sneered. The girl seemed to shrink before frowning and standing up taller.
"Bullying is my concern actually, and I don't quite like how you're treating this boy." Her mouse like voice rang clearly and confidently.
I saw a little Hufflepuff emblem and yellow striped tie. Just what I needed. A Hufflepuff coming to my rescue...now!
Ethan laughed, looking her up and down. "Cute, now get out of here before I make you." he scowled.
"I'd like to see you try." She said firmly, planting her hands on her hips.
"Leave her alone, we're going to be late." I mumbled, turning the attention back to me.
Ethan let me go and glared at me, the girl backed away but kept her eyes on us.
"Remember your place, Jacob." He whispered menacingly.
"Whether you deserve it or not, It's at the top."
He released my robes and walked away, Brock trailing behind him like a two hundred pound puppy.
I sighed and picked up my books which had fallen all over the floor.
"Are you okay?" The girl asked again handing me my last two notebooks.
"Yeah I'm fine. You?" I said quietly, not looking at her.
"Oh yeah, they don't scare me; not much at least." She laughed.
"Yeah." I laughed meekly, looking up, or rather a little less down; she really was small.
"I'm Arietta." She stuck out her hand.
"Jacob." I mumbled.
"Nice to meet you." She smiled warmly.
"I better get going my class is still a ways away. Glad you're okay though." She gave a small wave.
I nodded "Same." And walked off lamely.

I made sure to sit as far away as possible from Ethan and Brock for the rest of the day.
"You know my great grandfather published the list of the Sacred Twenty Eight Purebloods back in like the 1930s!" Serena Nott informed me with a scowl.
"He'd be ashamed that people like you can pass for Slytherin now a days." She sneered maliciously.
"Funny, I'm sure he'd feel the same way about you." I retorted and turned back to my notes during Charms.
I caught a series of glares from another dozen people in the rest of my classes.
To be quite honest I didn't really see the big deal, but a few days ago I probably would have acted similarly.
My day dragged on, each minute seemed to last a little longer than the one before. It was minutes after the final bell sounded that I dragged myself into my dorm room.
I flopped face first onto my mattress trying to savour the few silent moments of solitude I had. I'd soon be interrupted by the boys who would come back to the dorm as well, I had managed to beat them by a few minutes but they'd be coming.
I could have laid there for hours if I hadn't noticed the folded sheet of crisp white parchment on my pillow. I clumsily picked it up and flipped it open. My heart jumped, I sat upright. Two simple words made my heart stop completely...

6:30 courtyard ~E