Metathesiophobia | H. Potter [3]

5 | dumbledore's army

It was always one step forward and two steps back. Although Abigail knew it was her fault that this was the case, she couldn't help it when her insecurities taunted her and the jealousy took over and made her say things she didn't really mean. She was just afraid of getting hurt and pushing people away was always a full-proof plan to avoid it. Well, most of the time.

The next few weeks were an eventful one. Neville had found the Room of Requirement and the room was perfect for them to practice in. Hermione set up Galleons with dates on them so they would know when each meeting was.

Umbridge had been cracking down on teacher and student performance and trying to make sure they were maintaining ministry standards. If you asked Abigail, there was absolutely no way they would pass their O.W.Ls at the rate they were going now.

"Just one question," Umbridge spoke up in Potions as Snape was observing the students make their potions, "You've been in this post how long, exactly?"

"Fourteen years," he answered simply.

"You applied first for the Defense Against the Dark Arts post, is that correct?"

"Yes."

"But you were unsuccessful?"

"Obviously."

"That'll be all," Umbridge concluded before walking out of the room.

Ron laughed as soon as she was gone and Snape responded by whacking him upside the head with a book.

For the rest of the teachers, most observations had gone about as well as Snape's. That is excluding Professor Trelawney.

"Could you please predict something for me?" Umbridge requested.

"I'm sorry?" Trelawney replied.

"One teensy little prophecy?" she tried and Trelawney looked frantic. "Pity."

"No, wait," she shouted at the retreating women, "I think I do see something. Yes, I do. Something dark. You are in grave danger."

Umbridge smiled at this, "Lovely."

As for how lessons were going, Abigail was actually happy with progress that had been made. Despite the fact that things between Abigail and Harry had been awkward since the conversation after the last Hogsmaede trip, they managed to remain professional during sessions.

"Expelliarmus!" Neville shouted and his wand flew out of his hand. "I'm hopeless."

Abigail shook her head before summoning his wand back, "You're just flourishing your wand too much." She took a step back from him and held her own wand up, "Try it like this." He watched her as she aimed the wand at his, "Expelliarmus."

His wand flew from his hand and Abigail summoned it back again. She caught it and walked over to him, "Try it again."

Abigail walked a distance away and Neville focused as he spoke, "Expelliarmus."

His wand went flying through the air again and he groaned, "It's alright. We'll get it soon enough."

"Hey, everyone," Harry spoke up but no one seemed to hear, "Can I have your attention?"

Abigail looked around to see that nobody heard or they were choosing to ignore him. She placed her thumb and forefinger into her mouth and whistled loudly, grabbing everyone's attention as the sound echoed throughout the room.

"Harry would like your attention," Abigail explained as she gestured to the other side of the room where he stood.

"We'll come back to disarming another time but right now I would like to work on stunning," he explained. "Stunning is one of the most useful spells in your arsenal. It's a wizard's bread and butter, really."