Short Stories: Jemma Lestrange

Jebediah Arwin

My first year was chaotic.
For most students, my first year would've seemed like a walk in the park. I studied hard and well, excelling in all my classes. I was a teacher's pet. I had a decent dorm. I had no friends, but that didn't matter cause all I cared about was my grades and taking care of my siblings.

Brian became slightly more responsible when I went away at Hogwarts. I would get letters from him telling me his and Harmony's condition. It was a nice feeling to know that they were alright. At least, I hoped they were.

My decent year at Hogwarts changed when I happened to be in the common room right when a certain Slytherin walked in. Jebediah Arwin.

I didn't even make eye contact with him. I continued to read in the quiet corner on the couch. He walked over and sat next to me. "What ya reading, Jemmy?" He asked, leaning forward to try to see the front cover of the book. I quickly pulled the book away, hugging it on my chest. "Why does you care?" I asked, trying to keep my chin up. This was the first word I spoke to another student all year.

He grinned, shrugging casually. "Curious. Are you going to answer or not?" He pressed me on, raising a eyebrow. I rolled my eyes. "It's the study guide book we're supposed to read for the charms quiz." I finally made eye contact with him. "But by the fact that you had to ask, I'm guessing you haven't studied."

He laughed and rubbed his neck. "You got me." He sticks his hands up. For a eleven year old, he acted so much older. "I'm honestly suprised," He started to say, looking me up and down. "I didn't think a daughter of a Lestrange would be so stable."

I sucked in my breath. Before I knew it, my hand was flying across his face. I stood up quickly. After I slapped him, he slowly touched his marked face, stunned. "I didn't realize it was such a big deal..I'm really sorry-"

"Sorry doesn't fix anything!" I interrupted. "Sorry doesn't make the past change! It doesn't change the fact that what anyone did is wrong! It doesn't bring back the dead!" Flashbacks of that woman. Her face. Her blank face staring at me..

"Hey, I really didn't mean to make you sad! Why are you crying?" He immediately got up in a rush, his face pale. Crying? I touched my cheek a felt a wet drop of water. Tears. I let out a hiccup of a laugh at this. I couldn't even tell that I was crying. I don't feel it.

"Don't worry about it." I said blandly. I picked up my book and hurried upstairs to the girl dorms. Little did I know, I wouldn't see Jebediah Arwin again until three years later.