Where He Went

Chapter 5 - Class Clown

The feast was not like the previous years, it was much darker, more ominous, again the sorting hat urged the houses to unite, to not let differences separate them but to let that be what bound them. There were not many first years to be sorted, in fact nearly half of Hogwarts had not returned. There were large gaps at the house tables and it left everyone feeling rather lonely. Not even the delicious food from the feast could cheer up Fiadh's heavy soul. When Ryan had dragged her into the hall before she'd connected her fist to Malfoy's face everyone had turned to stare at her. They all knew, of course, what she had done last year. They all knew she had been the one to help Death Eaters into the castle. There had been a rush of whisperings. "Why are they letting her back?" she heard a Ravenclaw hiss. She had been getting dirty looks the whole time and was becoming rather sick of it. 

When the feast ended she was quick to her feet, Ryan - jogging slightly to keep up-  followed her. She had hoped to make an unnoticed escape, but there were people whispering all around her, sneaking not so stealthy glances at her. "I heard she got the Dark Mark," said a Gryffindor in a disgusted tone. The anger which seemed to be perpetually bubbling in her stomach now rose up in her like flames licking the air. 

"If you have something to say," she said spinning around to face the Gryffindor. "Say it to my face."

The Gryffindor wasn't much younger than her, probably a 5th or 6th year with short dark hair and rosy cheeks that had drained of all colour the moment Fiadh had made eye contact with her.

"I-uh-" stuttered the girl, glancing at her friends.

Fiadh scoffed, "Aren't you supposed to be the brave house?"  The girl didn't say another word, her Ravenclaw friend grabbed her by the sleeve and tugged her away before Fiadh could continue berating her. Scowling, Fiadh turned and marched faster than she'd thought possible to the dungeons.

The dungeons were not typically welcoming, the fire crackled with green flames, the windows of the common room and the bedrooms alike looked out into the Great Lake, when it was dark like it was now, the Great Lake was a giant abyss and to anyone not used to it, it was terrifying. Fiadh and most of her 7th year classmates, however, found it comforting, to know they were enveloped by that great mass and still the walls of Hogwarts did not give way. During the day when you could see out you could often see the Giant Squid and the Grindylows darting about. The decorations of the room were too, rather odd. Upon the walls hung green lanterns, a large tapestry depicting the slaying of a unicorn covered the stone walls and around the room were strange ornaments ranging from pickled eyeballs to human skulls, all of which were nothing out of the ordinary at Hogwarts. 

It appeared that Fiadh was the first person back to the common rooms, closely followed by Ryan and then the rest of the 7th years. Not wanting to see Draco again she took off to her bedroom where her trunk lay waiting her arrival at the foot of her bed. It seemed that the other girls knew to give Fiadh room as they didn't follow her in. She took advantage of the silent room, closing her eyes and calming her heart which she hadn't noticed until then was beating overtime. 

She was startled from her breathing exercises by Pansy's loud laugh and then the opening of the door. Pansy Parkinson was a short, dark haired girl with a blunt bob. She had a pug-like nose and dull dark eyes. She was nothing special. Last year Pansy and Fiadh hadn't fought persay but  they had never really gotten along. Pansy's face dropped upon seeing that Fiadh was already occupying the room.

"Oh... you're in here," she was awkward when she wasn't trying to impress Draco, Fiadh noticed, almost like she wasn't sure who she was when she was alone. She kept shifting feet, crossing and uncrossing her arms.