Something In The Way

19

𝘾𝙤𝙧𝙖 𝙈𝙖𝙡𝙛𝙤𝙮

I turned the knob and waited for the water to turn warmer. Feeling it first with my fingers, I stepped under the showerhead. All morning I'd felt cold, so taking a burning hot shower felt needed.

Letting the water run along my skin, I thought back to yesterday. Kissing Harry. I tried desperately to not think of it as a big deal, but my brain never really worked that way. Everything was a big deal and worth overthinking. 

After fifteen minutes I was starting to feel dizzy. I turned off the shower and softly pushed the door open. My towel was lying by the sink along with my clothes, but I'd taken my wand with me and placed it on the shower shelf. I grabbed it, concentrating on the words 'Accio towel.'

The towel didn't move an inch. It took a few tries to complete the spell nonverbally, but I'd taught myself patience. I tightly wrapped the towel around my body. 

"Oh, Cora."

Parkinson had just entered the room. She seemed on edge around me, probably because she sought approval from both Draco and me and we weren't speaking.

"How come you're up this early?" she asked, trying to sound casual.

"I..." I paused, thinking how to answer the question, "woke up?"

"Oh, well... I'm gonna take a shower too," she said, smiling a little too brightly. 

I nodded, grimacing as she'd walked by. Otherwise, she was a mean girl who bullied others, but around me, she'd be a fake suck-up. It made me not stand her at all. 

Half an hour later I'd gotten dressed and brushed my hair. It was neatly hanging over my shoulders, still slightly wet. I dried it with a spell before adding mascara to my eyelashes. 

The first two classes of the day, Transfiguration and Herbology, were with Hufflepuff. After those, it was time for Defence Against the Dark Arts. Even though with Umbridge, the subject should've just been called 'Dark Arts', since she hadn't at all taught us how to defend ourselves.

"I hate Umbridge," Daphne Greengrass complained as we stepped into the classroom. I almost actually liked her. She was friends with Parkinson but a decent person.

Harry sat across the room, looking distant. He raised his chin and spotted me. I felt the urge to smile flirtatiously for my amusement, but instead just sat down by an empty table, placed two tables from his. 

"Tell me about it," I muttered, pulling down my sleeve, "she's a sociopath."

Daphne's eyes widened at the sight of my scar left from Umbridge's quill, 'I must not tell lies' still showing.

"Wow... I... she did that?" 

"Yeah, my advice is to stay away from detention."

She nodded, disgusted.

"I noticed a bunch of kids crying but I... I can't believe it... no one did anything to stop her?" Daphne asked, eyebrows knitted together in confusion.

"I don't think anyone knew at first... then it was already too late, now she rules the whole school," I sighed, shooting a glare at Umbridge in her hideous cardigan. 

I softly ran my fingers on the scar before pulling down my sleeve. Umbridge silenced everyone and, surprisingly, started talking about the ministry. If I'd had a gallon for each time she mentioned the ministry I would've been richer than my family already were.  

"And there are horrible, dangerous creatures out there, that the ministry is doing their best to find and capture," Umbridge spoke, hand over her heart, "such as half-breeds, werewolves..."