Sucked In

chapter 7

***

I walked out of the oak door from potions into the courtyard, hearing the pattering of light footsteps behind me, "Hey, eventful class huh?" Hermione commented cautiously, her frizzy hair flowing behind her as she took long steps to keep up with me. I simply bobbed my head instantly, not paying much attention to the girl, overwhelmed by the thoughts of this different life; thrilling, but different of course. Embarrassment still flooded my face from the truth serum, and secrets I exposed in class, and Hermione saw this. She squeezed my hand in reassurance.

I could hear more steps trailing after us, and soon I saw the bright red flames of hair and knew instantly who it was. "I am quite offended that my eating disgusts you, Jaida." Ron snickered, nudging Hermione as he took a sherbet lemon out of his coat pocket, making me mock-gag in protest.

"Please, no! I can't take it!" I say dramatically.

   The Gryffindor girl scowled at Ron. "Leave her alone, Ronald. You would hate to be in her situation. In fact, you would be crying like a baby."

Hermione shot a quick look towards Ron, glancing her eyes at his, then at me; as a warning of what he should say near me at the time. He nodded discretely in understandment, but not discretely enough, as I still saw it. An awkward silence created a bubble around us, and I decided to speak up, popping that bubble with my voice.

    "Snape is sure ... unique." I say. Hermione chortled next to me, nodding in agreement. Ron simply was enjoying his sherbet lemon too much to notice the comment.

   I felt the presence of yet another familiar redhead next to me, and as I looked up at him, I crossed my arms, stopping in my tracks.

   "Think it's funny to trick me, do you?" I glared at him, while a festive laugh flew from his lips.

   "Can't go long without a little prank, eh? Ease up, goblin," Fred nudged me with a pointy elbow, to which I winced at. Then before I realised it, another red head was by my side.

   "Ugh, I forgot that there were two of you." I skated my hands down my face, groaning from the new input.

   "That's right, at your service milady!" George declared, saluting me as I hindered a small smirk.

   "Pranks all day and night!" Fred affirmed, simply telling the truth. I then glowered, as he duplicated the actions of his lookalike, saluting me.

   "I seriously doubt I could forget you now. Nice salute, soldiers!" I asserted with morale, flipping my hair. They merely cackled and sprinted away like two elves.

   I looked behind me to see if my new comrades were still there, but I couldn't see them. I glanced at the giant clock, which told me that was late. I turned back around to see the twin redheads salute me, again, as they sauntered smugly into Professor Snape's class.

   I smiled, then ran, while looking at the schedule that Parvati handed me earlier. Herbology ... with Professor Sprout. While I doubt any other teacher could be as humiliating as Snape was, I didn't want to risk my chances, so I sped up to not be late.

   I rounded corners as my cloak flew behind me, and I finally saw the massive windows showing the inside of my next class.

   I barged in, and the chubby professor glanced at me, welcoming me with a warm smile, the direct opposite of Snape, guiding me to my place, which was next to Hermione, thank God. I examined the additional side of the table, greeted by forest green ties. Slytherin, again.

   "Today class, we are going to be learning about mandrakes!" she held out a pot filled with soil and a flourished fragile branch cascaded with leaves.

I watched this movie already! I actually remembered something? How convenient that I managed to forget the main character yet I remember this lesson. But I swear I did not watch that scene the night I fell asleep- am I going backwards? Did I start earlier? What is going on?

Panic filled me, growing broad in my stomach like a balloon, but it was popped by a tap on my shoulder, like a sharp needle.

  "What?" I hissed out like a snake and darted my leafy green eyes back to see Harry and my expression dissolved. I kind of had a soft spot for the boy, even if the movie made me pass out from boredom. "Oh, sorry Harry! You scared me."

   "It's alright. Earmuffs," he softly spoke out pushing up his glasses with a finger, and I nodded stiffly, putting them on as I patted them roughly to guarantee their stance on my ears.

   The shrill shriek filled the air, and I winced, just fidgeting with my fingers as I already vaguely knew the process of how to plant the screaming pests.

   After a limited amount of seconds, it was our turn. I simply yanked the mandrake out, wanting to get this over with for my next class. I suddenly remembered Draco's iconic scene, still holding a grudge over him for his saltiness during potions and I glimpsed over as so not to miss it.

"Well done, Ms Nibley! You have quite the talent for Herbology!" I smiled, both because of the compliment and because of Draco's scowl, which was dripping with resentment.

His nasty glare reminded me of the way he acted in potion class, the way he snapped and talked to me. The event flashes in my head; my boneheadedness, how I wasn't able to describe Veritaserum. That just made me want to shout out with fists clenched, 'Fuck Draco Malfoy,' again, just to show him how smart I can be. I pushed the thoughts away, I can't wager neglecting another class, even if I know what's going on.

   I nudged Harry, pointing at the blond boy whose finger was attached in the Mandrake's mouth. It was more exaggerated than the movie, and the him and I laughed at Draco's expense. Everyone turned to look, and soon everybody was giggling at the boy who's cheeks were stained tulip pink. He jerked his finger out, shaking it with an exasperated grunt, and death stared me, as I chuckled and went back to work.

***

After class, I sat in the courtyard with my new Gryffindor friends, when we were visited by an expected guest.

"How dare you look at me like that- I'll- My-," Draco tromped up to me, his fingers clenched into fists. His Blonde-whitish hair was no longer perfectly groomed, and now fell softly around his face, and his cheeks were still stained cherry red.

"I- I-" I mocked him. "You'll what, Malfoy?" Hermione next to me snickers. The pale boy looks shocked. I stood up, and walked over to him. "You weren't so speechless in potion class were you, Malfoy? Guess I'm more worthwhile than you think, if you can't even come up with a remark to shut. me. up.". I sang. A sudden feeling of bravery overcame me, and I tapped him on the nose. Ridiculing him.

His mouth dropped, and he tried to swat my hands away, but I was faster than him. He said nothing to me, rather just gave me the coldest stare. He looked down at Hermione, and spat out his words as if they were poison. "Mudblood."

"Have a good day, Malfoy!" I swiveled on my heel in an elegant demeanor.

Leaving him standing there in resentment, he huffed out, "Says the Downfall of Hogwarts," before storming away.

I didn't care. I grinned as I strutted away in pure bliss at setting him straight, but my smile faded when I saw Hermione's face. "Hey," I said, kneeling down next to you. "What did he call you? A mudblood?" I was confused, I didn't know what it meant.

"It's a term for muggle-borns. People like me. But no matter, I'm used to it." She smiled sadly, before squealing and shaking my arms. "You devil, you!" She exclaimed. We both started to giggle. Then it turned to colliding with her as we cackled with wheezing breaths.

   "Amazing, you're simply amazing, Jaida," she said. "I've never seen anybody stand up to Malfoy like you just did." I smiled as we calmed down, and sighed feeling her arm swing around me in a friendly gesture. It was only then I remembered how I don't belong here, in this esoteric world. Even though it feels like home, it wasn't mine.