The Snake Pit

10; Bloody Bludger

It's been almost a month since Pansy poisoned me. Draco severed all ties with her meaning him and her never speak no matter how much she tries. He is my partner again in potions and all the other classes we have together. Life is good and I finally feel like I have my best friend back for real this time. Him and I have been spending almost every day together doing what we used to do together, minus a couple of days I spend with Noah, who I still wasn't sure I was actually dating or not.

"No you're wrong you put the ginger root in to turn it blue not red." Theo pointed his fork in Blaise's direction next to him at the table.

Blaise shook his head. "No, the armadillo bile makes it blue."

"The ground scarab beetles make it red after the ginger root and armadillo bile," I chimed in.

"No, we learned the wit-sharpening potion last year. How do you not remember this?" Theo argued.

I argued back, "Theo, the ginger root turns it lime green." They both shook their heads at me and the three of us turned to Draco who was sitting next to me. "Draco, tell them I'm right."

He laughed, "Hate to break it to you but she is right and you're both dumb."

"Told you." I threw a grape at both of them. It was no secret I was better at potions than them so why they argue with me I don't know. They don't ever bother to argue with Draco because he is better than all of us at making potions, sometimes he's even better than Hermione.

"Why does Umbridge keep looking at you?" asked Theo. This morning I noticed Umbridge was eating breakfast at the same time we were.

I shrugged and answered, "No idea. I still think she's pissed I haven't joined the inquisitorial thing."

"Why won't you join?" Blaise asked, passing me some bacon.

"I don't know, it seems pointless." I lied. The real reason was because I knew what was going on in the room of requirement and I didn't want anyone to know.

Draco laughed beside me. "You should just join, we don't really do anything except get special privileges. And besides maybe if you did join I wouldn't have to heal your hand so many times because she would stop getting you in trouble." What he said made sense, he's had to heal me three more times since that first time. The last time it happened I just went right to Draco instead of bleeding all over the halls for a little while and then going to him.

"I think I'll ask her later after breakfast, what's the worst that could happen she says no," I laughed.

We all ate our breakfast then headed in different directions. Umbridge left several minutes before we did so I made my way to her office. I knew this was probably a bad idea but it's not like I'm about to spill all my secrets to her.

I knocked twice before I heard her say I could enter the room. "Ah, Miss Palazzo what brings you here? Finally ready to obtain a golden badge." I smiled. "But I am curious why would you not want one in the first place? Tea?" I nodded in response. She got up out of her chair, headed over to a chest of drawers with some tea ready, and picked it up. She brought a cup over to me and took one herself before continuing, "When someone has something to hide some people think it's easier to stay away from the thing that would make them reveal the truth. How's the tea?"

"It's very good, thank you." She smiled at me.

"Good, I have a couple of questions for you before I give you one of these." She held up one of the inquisitorial squad badges I've seen my friends wear. I nodded along with what she was saying while drinking my tea. "Do you know anything about what Mr. Potter and his friends are doing?"