Evan Rosier (Harry Potter Fanfic/ Prequel)

1 | 3 | Tactless Bully

Sunday, October 31

The Halloween feast is like nothing I've ever eaten.

That is, compared to my meals back at home. We weren't poor or anything, but we never had any immaculate meals like this. The feast isn't all that's captivating. There are live bats scampering around the room and it seems like everyone has some sort of Halloween accessory on. I'm happy to know people take Halloween seriously.

A second year Ravenclaw named Cynthia Davey taps me on the shoulder during the feast. "Are you going to eat that?" She points at my untouched custard tart.

I shake my head and she smiles, taking it clean off my plate. I don't care. My stomach is so full I don't think I can eat for another day.

"I'm Cynthia," she says, mouth full.

Almost wrinkling my nose, I nod. "I know. I'm Arabelle."

"I know."

Okay? I lean back in my chair and sigh.

She glances down a me. "You sure are smart for a first year. You already know more spells than half of the kids in your year."

I turn away, face reddened. "Thanks."

"How are you so smart?" She asks. "Jamie told me she was your partner in DADA, and that you were brilliant."

I know which Jamie she is talking about. Jamie Moore is in my year, a good friend of Cynthia. Also very easily impressed, so I don't consider her compliment so valuable. Still, how nice of her.

"I only want to be on top of my classes," I respond. "Shouldn't everyone feel the same?"

Cynthia gives me a hard stare. "Just a few scores and you'll be there. I do know a few very brilliant Slytherins." She looks at the Slytherin table with a nasty look in her eye. "Rosier, Wilkes, Snape- ugh! Especially Snape."

I give her a cool stare. She finally notices my look and says, "Don't you agree? Snape's already better with spells than me. It's not fair that he knows everything like a swot."

"He's very talented," I respond, defending my friend.

She grunts a response and continues to gobble down her tart. I scoot just an inch away, not interested in getting food all over me.

I catch Snape's eye and he smiles. I smile back, glad to see a familiar face among the hostile Slytherins. I already know Wilkes, Avery, and Mulciber don't like me. Evan... I have no idea at this point. We're still not on speaking terms but neither of us hate each other. I think.

After the feast, Severus pulls me aside to walk me to the Ravenclaw common.

"Rosier has been staring at you all night," he tells me.

I dramatically flip my long, black hair over my shoulder. "It was his loss, anyway."

"He's not that bad, Arabelle."

I frown. "I know he's not bad, but I just don't like him." I'm not good at wording this, but I'm hoping he understands.

When we get to the common room, I smile and say before he leaves, "Happy Halloween, Sev."

"Happy Halloween, Belle."

I will allow Severus to call me Belle.

~ * ~ *
My morning is dreadful.

Jamie wakes me up from a swell dream for classes. When I do get up, I am dizzy and my head aches. Still, I have to go to classes. With my uniform on, I go to Professor McGonagall's class.

"Morning, (Y/N)," she says, her fluffy, brown hair cascading down her back, unlike the small bun she normally sports. I decide she looks pretty today. Is she dressing up for someone?

"Good morning, miss." I take my usual seat in the back.

"Scamp." Someone slams my head forward and laughs behind me. I don't groan, but I turn around to see Amanda Davis, a Slytherin in my year.

How insignificant she is. Uninterested, I look back to my desk and pull out a book I got from the library. One day, I will go to the restricted section.

"Welcome, all," McGonagall greets, standing up sharply.

Class begins not long after that, ending with me impressing McGonagall once more. It's good to know all this studying is put to good use.

During the next week, Amanda Davis tries as hard as she can to try and get my attention. Her petty attempts to provoke me keep getting worse and worse. Desperation is not a good look on her.

On the next Friday, she comes straight up to me in the Great Hall. I pay her no mind, which angers her.

"Hey, prat," she announces loud enough for all to hear. Eyes turn to the two of us.

I ignore her, sucking the meat off of a chicken bone.

She comes to my ear and says, louder, "I said hey, prat."

"So I heard." I set the bone down and move on to another leg.

"How rude!" Amanda retorts, yanking my hair.

This time, I yelp in surprise, my hand on my wand handle. "Let me go." When my voice shakes, she gets delighted. I curse myself for sounding so scared.

She leans in. "Don't be so rude to me next time." Letting go, she walks away, calling, "I'll see you in class."

It only gets worse after this, but I try not to retaliate.

If she knows what's good for her, she'll run far away from me.

~ * ~ *
Published 5-20-20