Belladonna

A Trick to Forget

Belladonna 22

A Trick to Forget

11 November 1993

There could be no doubt that Ana was, indeed, the most hated girl, if not person, in the castle.

Fred was a very lovable person and wildly popular amongst the houses; yes, even in Slytherin he had his secret admirers. The pranks he pulled with George always brought smiles to faces. Except, perhaps, for the one being pranked, but rest assured they too were laughing and smiling the next time someone else was pranked.

But in the days following that day, Fred was not himself. The castle was oddly quiet as there were no great shenanigans at meal times or noisy disturbances amongst the fifth year classes. Even the fact that, for the first time in a decade, Gryffindor would not be facing off against Slytherin in the opening match, did not rile Fred into his typical pre-match antics. There was only one person to blame for this.

Ana, the Wicked Witch.

Only within her own house, was Ana awarded with any amount of praise for her annihilation of Fred. Some still did not wholly approve, like Sadie, most said nothing at all, like Hestia, but a few, like Draco and Flora, saw the incident as Ana re-asserting her loyalties to the "Slytherin way."

Ana, herself, was stuck in the middle. She was in a constant struggle to maintain the façade that she didn't care while burying the hurt deep within. Her mind was often in such a tangled web that she had little time to focus on anything else...like her school work.

Ana was leaning on her desk with her head propped up on her arm. She wasn't even pretending to pay attention. She hadn't heard a word of Professor Lupin's lesson; she didn't know what they were discussing, and she didn't know what he was doing when he began walking amongst the desks. He stopped at Ana's row and waited expectantly.

"That includes you as well, Ana," he said.

Ana turned her unfocused attention to him slowly. "I'm sorry? What does?"

"You're homework, Miss Evans."

"Oh. Right. What was that again?"

"The questions regarding chapter six of your textbook." Professor Lupin was being extremely patient with her, but it was beginning to fade.

"Oh. That. Yeah. I didn't do that."

Professor Lupin bristled slightly. "And may I ask why not?'

Ana shrugged. "Which answer would you prefer? 'I tried but I didn't understand it.' 'I had Quidditch practice forgot.' Or honestly, 'I just didn't feel like it.'"

There was a collective intake of air.

"I mean really, what's the point?" Ana continued. "You'll leave at the end of the year, and we'll have another, likely incompetent, placeholder until the next year."

"Ana!" Sadie hissed.

"Oh! Don't give me that, Sae. You know it's true as well as I do. The position's cursed!"

"So in the absence of persistent instruction, you think it best to just simply...give up? To not even attempt to learn anything?" Professor Lupin asked.

"Sure. We'll go with that," Ana said.

"I see." He moved to the front of the class. "Well then, you and I can have a long discussion about this new...philosophy of yours, when you join me for detention. Tonight. Six sharp."