Chapter 4
Not sure exactly what wakes me up from a peaceful slumber. Probably the urging need to pee. How unromantic I know, but reality sucks most of the time. In fact I just open my eyes for some reason. Slowly my mind realizes that I stared for at the plain wooden ceiling for like five minutes. Yeah I am that kind of person. I need a long time after waking up before my brain even starts functioning. So I just stare at the dust in the air. Thinking. Slowly two infos reach my brain.
What the fuck. How early is it?
Man I really need to go the restroom.
Soo I stand up and vanish into the bathroom. Coming out again I eye my roommates suspiciously. They all are still sleeping. Bertha even snores silently and Lucy snuggled herself deep into her sheets that I can only make out a bunch of messy brown hair. Longingly I lock eyes with my bed or more likely my Fortress of Solitude. Ha Funny. Look what happened to me. I am joking at six o'clock in the morning or whatever time it is. You know its that time of the day that normally doesn't exist, the black hours. But crying yourself to sleep has these bad side-effects. You sleep good, deep and dreamless and you wake up refreshed full of youthfull energy but far too early. Like today. There is no way that I can go back into dreamland. Shit.
And now? First I scuffle back to my bed and pick up my phone. I knew it. 5:37. Time to die. Who wakes up at this hour? What am I going to do? Well probably I am going to die slowly and painfully, because of the lack of sleep. Thanks again to my confused brain. Really thanks bro, maybe I will also die of boredom. So far for imagining a lot of stupid ways to die. I let myself fall back with a sign and a loud crash. Oops. Okay I am a meani, but I would never wake someone up at this hour. On Purpose. That would be cruel and I am a lot, but not cruel.
This little bit of a bad consciousness makes me get up again. Time for the ultimate cure against sleepless night, too much energy and stupid nagging thoughts that already start popping up from deep in my mind. With that I mean all the dump questions that rose again yesterday. Am I not loveable? Maybe I am too charming. Blabla. Stupid eternal struggles I would really like to delete with nothing more than... exercise. Before you know the 'accident' I was an absolute hater of any kind of exercise, from jogging to ball sport except maybe akkaido. But when you want to feel just anything other than numbness, exhaustion comes in very handy. Its real and physical. Not pain without a wound. So I started running. First I ran everyday as long as my lungs could endure. Now its just a habit, almost a nice handy defense mechanism to stop myself from thinking. Exactly what I need now. Therefore I take my music and change into shorts, a black sports bra and a shirt with the slogan you can't fix stupid but you can choke it. A gift from Isabella. Don't ask.
Approximately 18 songs later ( for normal people that is around 50 minutes) I climb up the small staircase at the back of castle again. They aren't really small just smaller compared to the ones at the front door that lead down to the lake. First I wanted to run around the lake, but that would be too far even for me, not that I am an athletic prodigy but I did build up a good constitution over the last months. Therefore I took a path around the back campus. Passing the owlery tower, the quidditch field and a small hood at the edge of the forest. I also passed by a very creepy looking tree without any leaves and a very knotted trunk. I think someone told me about this tree or I read it in the internet not sure. But I remembered to make a big sidestep around it. To be beaten up by the tree is the last thing I need in the moment. A funny way to defend yourself by the way. I should try it too some time. More than I already do. Well you have to admit I didn't hit anyone just yet. What an accomplishment. While my thoughts are still engaged with possible similarities of myself to a violent tree I walk in the direction of the great hall. Or at least in the direction of where I guess the great hall is. No I don't want to reserve me a sitting space for breakfast before the wake up bell rings, it is about to time it does by the way, I just only remember the way back to the dorm from the big staircase in the entrance hall so,
For one time in my life I am right. By the time I skip over a song I already heard I reach the entrance hall, but I notice that only out of the corner of my eyes, because I am busy scrolling down my playlist do find Sorry about you parents. That is by the way a really nice song. Well I am not here to recommend music. Back to business. As I said I don't really look where I am walking. Therefore I also don't see the tall blonde boy that hopes down the stairs before me. He doesn't really hope you know more likely he clombs down, cause his thoughts aren't engaged with something nice. No. They are busy with cursing the little morning humiliation from yesterday. Of course I don't know that. I don't even see him until he is directly in front of me. He on the other hand saw me a long time ago and his eyes narrowed at my sight.
I stop when a pair of nikes appear in my vision and my head shots up. Stupid human! Why can't he/she just make room for me. As soon as I see who stepped in my way I know why. It's Blondy. The guy from yesterday. The stupid little rat. Great more trouble. This is going to be fun. Luckily I always take my wand with me even when I work out.
First I make a step back, because well I saw him so late that the space between us is tiny. Not anymore. Then I pluck out one headphone. Yes just one. We don't want him to think I want to listen to what he has to say. I examine him slowly with judging look. Apparently I am not the only one who likes a little morning jog. At least the black sweatpants, white shirt and silver nikes indicate that. Yes you are allowed to laugh. Silver nikes... Where did he get them? The woman's department. I can't help myself but to smirk condescendingly.
Just in time to hear him gritting his teeth and hissing: "You!" Well that was some creative comeback. Congratulation. I roll my eyes. "Yes me what do you want? Other than you image back..." I shrug my shoulder almost apolitically. "Sorry can't give you that. But maybe when you stop harassing little boys I will tell everyone, that I was just joking yesterday when I said you are pathetic." He glares at me with burning eyes now. His jaws are pressed together so hard that it is a little wonder that they don't break. If there were a sport 'How to make someone explode in 3 seconds' I would get an gold medal. Well I have to admit Blondy here, I sadly forgot his name again, isn't really what you call a challenge.
"You never called me pathetic", is the only answer I get from him. Probably his brain is busy planning how to kill me in the most painful way.
"I didnt'?", I ask with fake surprise in my voice. "Man I forgot about it sorry. Okay I will take back the hair dying lie. Deal?" I don't really believe he will accept and leave me alone, but trying doesn't cost me so... Again I am right. After a few seconds tick by in silence, I get bored of this little encounter. Also I am really annoyed that my music is so silent. Therefore I decide to leave. I make a step to the right, but sadly Blondy recovered and steps once again in my way. This time his jaw tightens once again he looks down on me on purpose. With this arrogant you only leave when I tell you to little one look in his eyes.
"I don't know where you came from. Or who you think you are, but if you think I am impressed by your little trick yesterday you are so wrong. This is my school and I am not going to be pushed away from my throne by a little girl. So you better back off before I will start to see you as a problem. I don't really like problems, your know. I wouldn't mess with the fire if I were you. Burning yourself hurts and you are about to burn yourself pretty badly..."
I already stopped listening when he said throne and stared bored over his shoulder while I calculate if a simple body freezing spell will be enough to get expelled. Probably not. Maybe the pimple jinx. Still listening with half an ear I can't help, but chuckle in the end. What a lame metaphor really can't he think of something better? Play with the fire really. He is kind amusing I must say. But as much as I like to continue to listen to his lame treats I also want to shower, because in case you didn't know. My shirt is sticky which is plainly said disgusting and my hair put up in messy ponytail also sticks at my forehand. Believe it or not I do also sweat like a normal human being. Therefore time to get out of here.
"oh look. At this cute little kitty kat", I suddenly exclaim pretending that I am excited. As planned Blondy is startled just for a simple second, time enough for me to jump around him and escape up the stairs. No I didn't just yell out something random. While he tried to frightened me with the use of dump images a very old and scruffy looking cat with glowing yellow eye appeared on the landing of the stairs behind his back, behind her two balls of furl alias really adorable little kittens roll down the stairs. I stop and kneel to pet them. Yes I do like cats! Don't you? They are cute and sweet and this little paws. Aww. Heart melting.
"You! Stay where you are if don't want to die!", I hear an angry voice screaming when I get up again because Miss Mothercat doesn't seem to be amused trying to touch her baby. Well maybe next time. Before Blondy reaches me, I wink and wave at him smiling and jump up the rest of the stairs with out looking back. He doesn't follow me, because he would have to chase me like an idiot. Good decision, like this I reach my holy shower without any further interruption.
The first half of the day continues to be boring as fuck. I meet some new teachers, one of them seems be extra ordinary stupid. She is small wears a rosa tweet jacket and her voice is so high pitched that I need to contain myself to not choke her until she shuts up. Her name is Umbridge, what a stupid name and she teaches my favorite subject defense against the dark arts, which will not be my favorite anymore. In the first two breaks and until lunch I get my wanted peace. Also I have a funny little encounter with the history of magic teacher. You know the subject I was thrown out off yesterday. Oh you don't know this story. Then I think it's time for a little flash back. I had history of magic yesterday as the class directly after the catastrophy break. The one with my unscheduled meeting. First I was late to class, because I needed my time to calm and as you all will understand I was a little tense. So when Professor Binns called my name wrong as the last one with this stupid judging grin on his face I lost control. Just a little bit. I may did snap something like: "Jesus! How hard can it be to say my fucking name right. Its Soophie! For goodness sake are stupid?!" Yeah thats it. Without a word the shining white ghost pointed at the door. You don't have to give me such an invitation twice of course I took this opportunity and walked of with a wave to all the poor students left. Camila and Lucy were the only one, who waved back. Sad but true.
Today the Professor completely ignored me. He didn't even call my name or asked me for the homework. So I sit my time up scrabbling a little doodle on my notebook. At the end of the class he wanted to see notes and I gave him the little comic I drew about him and Umbridge with pleasure. By the way I seem to be the only one using a pen everyone uses stupid quills and ink. The same goes for herbeolgy and tranformation. I started my comic new and sat my time up.
During lunch I even have some kind of conversation. Bertha asked where I was this morning. You know I showered an dresses so quickly that I was out and about the dorm with the waking up bell and I skipped breakfast ( well I had just been to the great hall a little early and got me an apple) instead I used the spare time to explore the library more. I answered her that I went for a run and then Lucy suddenly engaged me in a conversation about work-out routines. It was really weird but she did most of the talking so I just answered the question she asked while I eyed Blondy carefully. I am sure he will do something after his Fail to leave an expression on me so I need to be careful that no civilian victims get could in the middle of his hurt pride. And that is the perfect connection to now. The second half of the day.
At the moment I wish for the boredom of the morning class but as you know fate is a bitch as always and my last class is potions. So I lean casually at the cold stone wall of the corridor with our classroom. All around me the gryffendor of my year are talking silently in their little groups while I close my eyes and try to calm myself down. No I am not going to skip this class. Not I have anything against it. Just skipping this class of all would make me the biggest coward on this earth. Therefore I am here imagining just something to distract me from... but I am not very successful. This cold black stare just surfaces again again while this cold breeze for a voice always repeats: "I dont care about you" In my head. Stop it. Lets think about a big chocolate cream cake. With strawberry topping and this delicious nutella cream from my aunt.
"Look who we have here", another cold voice interrupts my little food dreamland. Thanks you stupid. Do I really need to hurt you until you leave me alone, idiot! I open my eyes to see if I recognized the voice right. Yes I did. Blondy accompanied by other stupid Slytherins including his bodyguards right at left to him stands in front me and shoots me cold judging look.
"A pathetic little coward?", I shoot back with an annoyed eye roll. The gryffendors to my left all stop talking to look at me. Maybe they are even thinking about helping or they are just enjoying the show. I will never find out, because the silence hanging in the air between us is interrupted by a pair of footsteps. I guess our teacher is here. Good for me just sad for Blondy, who couldn't think of a good comeback fast enough. How disappointing. I love dissbattles. Everyone makes an little alley for him to pass through, but me. I just freeze at my spot gazing at the ground to not meet this eyes that are the same as mine.
I am the last one that enters the class room while everyone silently fights over the best seats gryffendors and slytherins strictly separated from left to right by silent hostility that hangs in the air. I slip in the back. There is always a free place I learned yesterday. Don't ask me why. The room is high and cold. Torches are the only light source the same as in the hailways down here. In the front there is a black board and a shelve no desk but a giant cauldron directly in front of the black board. I don't see a chair for professor Snape to sit, but that is so not my problem. For us student there are tree to two chairs set up around one small cauldron on a tiny fireplaces. The chairs have little tabletops attached to one side you can move to the side. As soon everyone finds a place it becomes deathly silent. Great. He is one of those teachers...
The only noises are around thirty breaths and a big sign from myself. Come on people he is just a teacher. Where are the silent whispers and laughs? And the flying paperballs? Okay everyone here is partly geek as it seems, but even so someone talked in class. Or tried to throw a pen through Professor Binns. That wasn't me, but it was really funny. But now everyone sits silent in their spots and hopes that Snape won't realize they are here. With his quiet cold voice he starts reading out the names without any warm words of welcome back. When he says my name he stops to glare at me. Probably because of my outfit. Today I completely left out the uniform for blue jean with a hole near my right knee a Foofighters T-Shirt and my killer Doc-Martens. But partly also because I say instead of "Present" "Bored as fuck." Geekgang turns around to shoot me a warning look. Only Camila smirks at me and Hermoine of course in the first rows leans over to whisper something to her two boy-toys, sorry I mean the ginger and the glasses boy sitting next to her.
He snarls at the disturbance and continues with the last two names, but still I feel his creepy gaze through twilight of the room on my skin. I even get goosebumps. Spocky. The lesson on the other hand is not at all spocky. The professor just says a few Words : "Assigment today: We repeat the the wit-sharpening potion, because your brains probably are all empty as a trash can after the holidays. Don't fail too miserable. You will get graded. Begin now."
Everyone gasps in shock and even I must admit that that is really mean. Not that I care for my grade, but to start the new school year of with a test is a little sadistic don't you think? I even pity my poor classmates who will fail miserable. One moment I consider just getting my flask and fill it water, but I kind of feel the urge to show this arrogant dumpass that I won't fail miserable. I don't mean to brag or anything potions is not my favorite subject, but my best one. Its boring but easy like math. Yes exactly like math you just have to follow the instructions precisely and you are successful, but you have to be very exact. You have to understand this complex system of little hints and technical terms. If you are a smart one you will even find some shorts cuts. At home I had a lot of fun trying stuff out like does it change if I mix the batblood with the honey water before putting it in. Sometimes it works and sometimes you fail miserable. One time three frogs brain exploded in my hand and scattered all over Isabella and me. I got two weeks detention for that, but it was really fun. Attention children don't try this at home!
While I still think about my successes in this subject all the others already gathered their ingredients and start working silently whispering. Ahh stupid ambition. Let's show this jerk, who has the real talent here. I stand up, get myself a book and scan the recipe still standing next to shelve with the ingredients and books at the right wall. I get what I need and go back to my seat. Like a giant creepy bat he started sneaking behind the sweating students. He never comes near me though lucky for him. I read the recipe again arrange my stuff and make a plan on a separate sheet of paper. I always do that. It helps with keeping the orientation like a big almighty masterplan.
How to make the wit-sharpening potion is probably not really interesting. Just mushing, boiling and pestling of some creepy and disgusting stuff. A few smart little tricks and good timing later I am finished. Earlier than everyone else, because half of them needed to start again the other made a little mistake that they are desperately trying to change back now. For example a little obese boy from my house failed so catastrophally that his potions turned to a wabbly jelly like thing. Carefully I fill my flask and attache my nametag, they past around in the beginning, while the oh so nice other half of my genes continues to bully the poor boy until he is at the edge of his tears. Time for the good deed of the day.
I stand up. The chair scratches noisily over the ground that I get the attention of half the class including the giant creepy bat with too much aggression for a teacher, just my opinion. His head shots up and his eyes follows my annoyed walk to the front. When I see Blondy angrily snapping at his partner one of his bodyguards for doing something wrong I can't help myself put stop and say to bodyguard no 1: "I would try warthog as a partner next time. It probably has a bigger brain and a much hairstyle for sure." I smile my come-on-hit-me-in-the-face-smile and continue my way. I hear suppressed giggling from the gryffendors behind my back and hissed 'shut up' from about three girls to my left. That must be Blondies fanclub. Next time I see them I should ask for a membership card, but now I have to make an awesome last comment. With a suspicious look at me the Professor leaves the boy and moves to the front to pretends to check the content of his cauldron. I pass him with a lifted eyebrow and place my flask in the shelve next to black board.
Okay I can do that. Just one comment to leave everyone speechless and then I can leave and forget this face again. I crack my neg and think with pleasure about my messy seat. Of course I didn't tidy it up. Up with the bitch-please face. Then I turn around and meet his gaze immediately. He is just some lame ass bitch. Wait bitch? That doesn't work. Nevermind that. I walk up until I am directly in front of him and smile a fake smile like I always do. I try to ignore the big fat ball in my throat and say loud enough for everyone to hear: "You have a mobbing problem in hour house you know?! Need help with that?" Without waiting for the answer I leave, it was a rhetorical question by the way...