Sweets

CHAPTER 5

Days passed by without another incident worth mentioning. The new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher was the worst woman to ever walk the earth and a few minor injuries have occured during the lessons but that was normal.

Ryuzaki hadn't sought me out since he dragged me away after breakfast that day. To my luck, Professor Sprout seemed to understand why I was late and didn't give me a detention. She just went on with the lesson as if I hadn't missed the majority of it. So naturally, I couldn't help thinking that Ryuzaki somehow planned this and spoke to her beforehand. But what proof do I have?

I wasn't complaining though. Nothing really bad had happened yet.

"Wat'cha thinking about?" Kristie asked as she settled herself next to me for lunch.

"Oh nothing much. Just the last few weeks." I replied. It's not a complete lie though not really truthful either. I have been considering Ryuzaki's question or rather cry for help.

I hated to admit it but it would be a great chance after all. And there was something else... He called me his friend. Ryuzaki - L - didn't have friends. He had people that he used as arms and shields so he didn't have to show himself. So it was weird being referred to as his friend.

But maybe I was missing something. I didn't remember much of Wammy's before that happened anyway. Maybe there was something. Maybe we were friends back then. But I couldn't say for sure.

"...via? Heeellooooo?! Are you sure you're only thinking about the last weeks? I certainly wouldn't doze off like that. The last weeks weren't that interesting..." Kristie half said, half shouted into my ear and effectively brought me back to reality.

"Oh right. Sorry. I-" I started but Kristie interrupted me.

"Save your breath. I'm just teasing. You always have a lot on your mind. I'm used to it by now" She laughed and helped herself to some food.

#

After eating, we made our way down to the dungeons for a double potions period with the Slytherins. Those were always delightful,, Snape going around favouring his own house and the Slytherins making fun of me because of my heritage they seemed to know so well. Note the sarcasm.

And of course, as soon as we stepped into the room the teasing and bullying began.

"Hey, Mudblood! Why's your face always so ugly!" The voices, I didn't bother to connect them to faces, threw insults at me from every corner. I didn't know why, but I have always seemed to be their favourite target. But nevertheless, it didn't affect me. It never had and I doubt it ever will. In the beginning Kristie thought I would be hurt and sad and tried repelling them, but after seeing my disinterest und calmness she stopped, knowing she would only make it worse.

We went to our seats in the back and sat down quietly to wait for the lesson to begin. As soon as Snape walked in the room went quiet. He always had that aura around him that made everyone want to play by the rules so to not get any punishments. Which was understandable seeing as Snape's punishments were the worst, as long as they were for students from the other three houses anyway.

After the Draught of Peace disaster from last week, Snape had decided on a slightly easier potion afterwards. But today seemed to be another difficult one. The Beautification Potion recipe had eight steps in total that would have to be followed precisely.

"You have one hour. Get going." Snape drawled and everyone stood up to get the ingredients.

Right then, Ryuzaki came through the door and stood there unceremoniously.

"Ah our newcomer. Late again I see?" Snape looked delighted and attempted to speak again but Ryuzaki cut him off before he could begin.

"Yes. I had some pressing matters to attend to. And as my environment is different now, I had to make a few adjustments." He said in that monotone voice that noone could read into.

Having spoken, he too prepared the ingredients for the potion and began working at once. Snape didn't comment his actions anymore.

#

An hour later, Snape came around to inspect everyone's potions. Mine, though surely not perfect, had at least the right colour. As Snape came to our table and took a look at Kristie's Beautification Potion, he just shook his head and again, as he had done to many others already, waved his wand, emptying the cauldron. Then he inspected mine.

"The right colour at least... But I would not be surprised if this concoction doesn't do as much as vanish a pimple." He muttered. "Still, it is worth trying it out to see how poor the effect actually turn out. Boot! Come over here."

Terry timidly slid next to me onto the bench, looking terrified. Snape instructed him to drink a bit of the potion to see if it would make him 'look better'. He did so, hesitating quite a bit and I couldn't help but feel slightly offended. Everyone watched attentively as Terry drank the potion and waited for the effects to take place. Slowly, the few pimples on his face began to vanish and the bags under his eyes, caused by hours of catching up on homework in the night, lessened.

"Well, it seems as though your potion is not a complete fail after all."  Snape concluded, looking disappointed. "Class dismissed."

#

After a free period, during which we took a stroll around the lake, we went back inside the castle for dinner. Us and the - again - Slytherins had dinner earlier because we still had Astronomy later in the evening.

We climbed the stairs in silence, we were all tired. When we finally reached the top of Hogwarts' highest tower, Professor Sinistra was already there. We waited 'till nightfall and then began looking for star-constellations and interpreting them in a way muggles would never. I enjoyed it to be honest. Astronomy just rounded up a busy day and calmed one's nerves. And I had enjoyed looking at the stars even back in my past. It just gave you a sense of freedom. At least it had done for me. It still did even if I wasn't locked up anymore.

Malfoy, of course, started proudly mentioning anything he saw fit the situation, whether it be insulting people or pretending to interpret terrible things for them. Kristie tried hard to ignore him but as always, I caught her looking longingly at him or shooting deadly looks at Parkinson quite a few times.

"Why did she have to become a Prefect, too?" She whisper-asked me at one point. "I wish she would wipe that hideous smirk off her fa- GODDAMMIT!" Her telescope had just fallen over and crashed onto her foot.

"Here let me help you." I bent down to her and quickly whispered: "Would you let it go? You can't do anything about Dumbledore's choices and he won't change anyways. He's a git."

"Didn't you tell me to 'pursue my dreams'?" She asked pointedly while we hoisted up the telescope again. At these words I blushed slightly. She was right after all.

"Yeah, and I still think you should. Most of them anyways, just... He won't change that's all I'm saying" I rambled.

"You do know that you're not making much sense right now, do you?" Kristie said with a amused smile on her lips.

"Oh shut up." I mumbled.

#

I was dead relieved to sink into my warm bed after Astronomy. As fun as it was, the year was nearing its end and the weather was growing cooler. Of course it wasn't cold in late september compared to december, but it was getting there; it was significantly colder than in the warm and hot summer months.

A collective 'G'night' sounded from the beds and with a wave of a wand, all the lights were extinguished.

And I, I drifted off into - as I liked to call it - the Dreamscape.