I'm not a coward, just shy (Hogwarts fanfic)

ch 3- Introducing the pink toad

I sunk into one of the comfortable seats of the Hogwarts, a knot of dread was settled in my stomach. I was alone for now, Fred and George had gone to go prank a bunch of Slytherins but I was feeling sick so decided to stay behind. It wasn't a physical sickness. It was the sickness of lose, the feeling of a part being missing. I clung to the watch around my neck like a life raft. It's warm metal comforting and hurtful at the same time. People was keeping their distances from me. My secret was out, everyone knew I was a seer. Some were in awe, some thought I was using it to my own advantage to get good with Dumbledore and some though it was dark magic. Either way no one was treating me like a normal person anymore.

Me being lost in thought I jumped when the door open to admit Draco Malfoy. He look like a haunted man. Not his face but his eyes. They were sunken in from sleepless nights and didn't reflect the smirk which fell from his face when he saw me.

"Oh, it's you" he said with a sneer. Then something change and he walked in, leaving the door only half close. "Your a seer, it's truth, it's way your always sick" he said, in confusion, I found my voice.

"Yeah it's truth" I said sadly.

"Yet you couldn't save him" I froze, the thought I hadn't dread to speak out in the open.

"Don't you dare" I growled my normal shy self replaced with anger, "Get out!" My voice betrayed me, a sob escaped. To my surprise his sneer disappeared, he opened his mouth, close it and walked out, closing the door behind him. I covered my mouth, the feeling of bile raise in my throat, I was trembling. I gripped onto the watch, my knuckles turning white as I let myself shake silently, doubling over.

Cedric, Why did you have to leave me?

You couldn't save him.

I-I tried to warn him, I tried-

It's your fault he is dead, you might have well killed him yourself.

No- I didn't mean it, Shut up, Shut up, Shut up.

You sent Cedric to his death.

"Shut up!" I cried out.

"Hey! Taylor, Look at me!" My face was forced up another hand shaking my arm. It was Fred. He looked so scared. I did heard him come in. "Oh God, your nose is bleeding" He said pulling a tissue from his pocket and shoving it under my nose. "Are you alright?" He asked as the shaking beginning to subside. I nodded, pinching the bridge of nose and putting my head back a little. It stopped rather quickly though.

"I am fine" I tried to brush it off and failing.

"No you're not, I walk in your shaking like a leaf and your mumble completely utter nonsense, doubled over like a crazy person and with a bleed nose and sobbing." He said, his tone soften. I looked into his chocolate brown eyes and some part of me broken a little inside. I looked down, feeling tears being to well in my eyes and drip into my glasses.

"Malfoy came in and said some stupid stuff about Cedric" I admitted. I felt his grip tighten on my arm.

"What did he say?" He asked carefully controlled anger.

"He said, I am a seer and I couldn't save Cedric" I replied.

"That little git" he said through clenched teeth, I could feel his anger blowing over and see what he was going to do. He was about to walk out of the compartment but I grabbed his arm. I looked at him, his face stained with rage.

"Please stay with me" I begged and the tension left him. He nodded and he sat down.

"Come here, squirt" He said, letting me curl into the crook of his side. Stormy, who I let out early, came down from the baggage rack and curled up beside me, letting her soft fur calm me in sleep.

(Third person)

George and Lee watched their two slumbering friends with mischievous smirks.

"Bet you 5 gallons, there a couple by the end of this year" George said and lee shook his head.

"I give it 6 months" He smiled.

"Deal" George said and they shook on it.

(Taylor p.o.v)

The Hogwarts pulled into Hogsmeade stations with a last effort from the stream engine before it give a last sigh before coming to a stop. The students poured out from the train doors and I noticed Harry, Ginny, Neville and Luna coming out from one of the door.

"Hey, Luna, Cool plant Neville" I tried my best to put on a smile.

"Nice to see you again, Taylor" Luna said whimsically.

"H-hi Taylor" Neville said nervously, "It's a Mimbulus Mimbletoria" he held it up. Then I noticed something on the behind Harry ear.

"Harry, You got some... um goo?" I smiled gesturing to where it would be if it was behind my own ear. He groan and shoot a glare at Neville before wiping it with the back of his sleeve. Neville retreated to go ride in a carriage with dean and Seamus.

We neared the carriages and Harry began to look in front of the carriages where there was nothing.

"What are the weird horses in front of the carriages he asked and I raised an eyebrow to Luna who supplied the answer.

"There Thestrals, only people who have seen death can see them." She said and I nodded.

"Who?" I asked before realising she might not want to talk about it. However she smiled softly and answered anyway.

"My mother".

Me and Luna made small chat as we sat in a carriage with Harry and Hermione and Ron who had joined us in a carriage, however sat silently. The large stone walls and regal soaring towers of Hogwarts both filled me with a feeling like I was home and a feeling that it wasn't the same. The familiar hallways and classrooms would be welcome be i couldn't help but want to escape to the room of requirement, which had become my special place. I had went to the watch, hanging on its chain around my neck.

"Welcome back" I mumble a sigh, Only I knew that it wasn't meant for myself or the people around me.

I sat between the twins at the sorting but I could help my eyes drifting to the seat were the new defence against the dark arts teacher sat. She was toad like in appearance. Her eyes a little too far apart, with a wide set mouth, which was set in a sickly sweet smile and a rather small nose with weirdly large nostrils. To add to comic effect she was dressed in robes of variations of the colour pink. I tried to watch the sorting to the best of my ability but the familiar tug in my gut told me she was bad news. Once the sorting was finished Dumbledore stood, smiling.

"To those who are new, Welcome and too the rest, welcome back. I-"

"Huh Um" The pink toad cleared her throat and Dumbledore continued.

"I am glad to introduce our new Defence against the dark arts teacher, Professor Umbridge" A few students and teachers clapped half heartily but she took this as her queue. With a little

"Huh um" she stood up. "Thank you for that introduction, Professor Dumbledore. I am so happy to be here at Hogwarts and to see your face smiling up at me..." she continued her words sickly sweet and obviously poking jabs at some of the teacher especially Dumbledore. She spoke for 5 minutes and honestly I zoned out. I heard harry whisper about how she was at his trial where he was being judged for using magic underage, which saved his and his cousins lives from Dementors. Once she was finally finished everyone was falling asleep and very few clapped. I turned to Fred and George.

"I can already know she is bad news."