Heritage (Next Generation Harry Potter)

Chapter Three

Chapter Three 

 The rest of my classes passed without anything of importance or of an unusual nature occurring. Like any other day of what I assume an average day of school looked like, I was assigned a task to complete during class, lectured at, and given homework. While other classmates mingled with each other, I sat alone drawing on a partially used piece of parchment. I was largely ignored, other than the few times a student would point me out and say something along the lines of; "That horrible Death Eater spawn," while the people around him would snicker at his so called cleverness. These students were saluted for their stupidity by me sticking my middle finger in the air, for all to see, when the teacher was not paying attention. There were some snickers from my fellow Slytherins at this, but for the most part I went unacknowledged.

    Currently, I am in the Library, huddled in a chair by a window. The sun shone through the stained glass, both warming my back and throwing rays of colors on my herbology textbook. Other than the occasional rustling of paper, the room was  silent, which suited me fine.

    I had figured I had a few hours of time to kill before dinner, and I thought that I might as well do my homework. There wasn't a lot of it, so I had finished that up an hour or so ago. Not knowing what else to do, and having no desire to leave my comfortable position, I began to read ahead for herbology.

    Herbology has always been one of my better subjects. My mother has a massive greenhouse right off our kitchen, and she has taught me how to care for almost every plant that is in there. However, she never taught me herbology by having me read. Now I am realizing that she might have been attempting to spare me from the dreadful boredom that comes with reading from a textbook.

    Signing, I closed the book in my lap and gathered my belongings. It is close enough to dinner time that it wouldn't be strange if I were in the Great Hall. Besides, I may need the extra time in case I got lost in the endless and confusing halls on the way there.

    As it turns out, I didn't get lost on my way to the Great Hall. I was a bit delayed, however, when Peeves took my school bag and threw it down a flight of stairs. A few on looking students laughed at this, but promptly stopped and walked away when I froze Peeves midair.

     By the time I made it to dinner, I assume that the word of my incident with Peeves had gone around. Several students, if possible, shot me even more terrified looks than before. A couple of Hufflepuffs nearly tripped over their own feet in their hurry to get away from me as I made my way to the Slytherin table.

    Thunk.

    Estella's delighted cackle resounded around me. I looked up at her and snarled, "That was a bit rude, wasn't it? But a bit of a slip up can be forgiven if managed quickly, right? I would have thought that your mother had taught you that at least." I raised my eyebrows at her, hoping she wasn't so stupid that she wouldn't get my double meaning. I pulled the glob of cooked carrots out of my hair that she had flung at me using her fork as a catapult.

    Her eyes scrunched up a bit as she thought about what I had said and how to come up with an appropriate response. Shock then rage contorted her features. "I don't know what you are talking about," she said simply as she sent another chunk of vegetable at me.

    With reflexes I didn't know I possessed, I caught the hunk of cauliflower en route to my face. "You don't know when to stop, do you? Keep it up and you will get burned." I paused to wipe off my hand then added, "Just like your mum."

    I had known that she wouldn't stop after I said that. Actually, I am pretty sure that there was nothing that I could say to get her to just sit down and eat her dinner and leave me alone. I would have to be under the imperious curse to say anything that would have produced such behavior. In fact, I wanted her to continue, but I just wanted her to do so on my own terms and under my control.