Against All Odds
By Allison Stolz
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter and any of the characters. If I did, I would be an extremely rich British woman named J.K. Rowling and this story would actually be in a published book. Seeing as I'm not Jo, please don't sue me. The only thing that I take credit for is the plot line, the sarcasm, and the personalities that I've put into some of the characters.
–Allie
Ch. 9
A/N: This one's for you Jill!
Sally-Anne could was lying on the floor, dark figures were lunging at her and trying to restrain her from moving.
"Let me go!" she shrieked. She looked around the room frantically, pleading for someone to help her. They're were people watching her struggle but nobody seemed at all eager to help.
"Nothing to see here," a familiar voice told the onlookers. Sally-Anne continued to struggle and scream but was being over powered by the shadowed figures.
"HELP!"
Sally-Anne awoke suddenly. She pulled back the hangings around her four-poster and glanced around the room unsteadily. It was dark but the pale moon shone in through the half open window, which allowed a slight breeze to play around in the dorm.
She shuddered and lay down against her pillow again. She closed her eyes and soon drifted back into sleep. This time, however, her slumber remained dreamless.
She woke up early the next morning, the previous dream was still lingering, yet almost forgotten. She pushed it into the back of her mind and got ready for the day ahead of her.
"Someone's up early," Justin called to her as she descended the stairs into the common room "took my advice did you?"
Sally-Anne gaze him a puzzled look, which was soon replaced by understanding. "Oh, no. I didn't go to bed early."
"Oh," he began reading the book that was situated in his hands.
Sally-Anne shrugged and dropped into a chair closest to Justin. She sat, staring into space, for a quarter of an hour. Finally, Susan came bounding down the stairs with Hannah lagging behind her.
"There you are," Susan squeaked cheerfully. Sally-Anne smiled meekly and the three girls left the common room.
"What class do we have this morning?" Hannah mumbled sleepily.
"Potions," Susan said bitterly "just the class to have – Sal, what's wrong? you've turned a sickly green …"
Sally-Anne felt the colour drain from her face. She quickly opened her book bag and skimmed through the contents. She grabbed her Potions essay and felt her stomach knot in agony.
"I didn't finish the assignment!" she wailed miserably as she buried her head in her hands "Snape will kill me!"
She spent the remainder of the morning – only about twenty minutes – scribbling down some bits of information she thought might be useful.
"I'm doomed," she muttered as the three girls entered the cold and dank dungeons in which the Potions class was taught. Sally-Anne sat down next to Mandy Brocklehurst, who gave her a reassuring smile.
"Didn't finish the assignment?"
"How did you know?" Sally-Anne looked at her incredulously.
"The look on your face."
Snape chose at that moment to charge into the room; his black robes billowing behind him as he made it swiftly to the front of the class.
"Assignments on my desk. Now!" he snapped while throwing the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs a menacing glare.
Sally-Anne regretfully trudged up to his desk and laid her unfinished assignment on top of the pile. She sat back down as quickly as she could before Snape had a chance to make another snide remark.
"You will be working on a simple potion today; one so easy, that even the dimmest light bulb could figure out." Sally-Anne gulped as he stared in her direction. "The instructions are on the board."
Mandy and Sally-Anne worked quietly. There were many times that Mandy had to correct minor mistakes made on Sally-Anne's behalf, but she seemed eager to help anyways.
"No Sally-Anne!" she interrupted for about the fourth time within in the class "you add powdered root after you let it boil."
Sally-Anne sighed heavily and tried her best to fix her mistake. The bubbling potion was a sickening purple by now when it was actually supposed to be a murky brown.
"Perks!" Sally-Anne's head snapped up to face Snape's cold and threatening stare "what exactly do you call this?"
Sally-Anne trembled a little and clenched her mouth shut tightly. She didn't trust her voice at this particular moment.
"Ten points from Hufflepuff."
Sally-Anne fought the strong urge to retaliate and continued to stare him in the eye, not once breaking contact.
"And a further 20 points for your attitude Miss Perks," Snape sneered with malice. Sally-Anne balled her fist under the table but remained quiet and continued to glare at her Professor.
"And how about a detention to go along with it?"
"WHAT?" Sally-Anne couldn't suppress her anger any longer "I didn't do anything!" she felt Mandy kick her leg but ignored her.
"I asked for the assignment to be completed today Miss Perks, that includes your assignment as well. We do not make exceptions for the less talented students here at Hogwarts. I expect that next time, you will respect my instructions and complete your task on time and correctly," he pointed to her cauldron and an evil look took over his face "at this rate Miss Perks, you will be failing your O.W.L.S."
He turned and started to examine some of the other student's cauldrons, pausing to make a few more snide remarks here and there.
"I hate him," Sally-Anne muttered under her breath while digging her nails into the table's surface "stupid git."
Mandy smiled at her sadly. For the remainder of class Sally-Anne doodled in her notebook. Immediately as the bell rang, Sally-Anne shoved her stuff in her bag and bolted out of the dank classroom.
"Sally-Anne!" she heard Susan call from behind her. She ignored her friend's call and walked at a moderately fast pace towards her next class: Defence against the dark arts.
"Good afternoon, Miss Perks," Professor Umbridge said jovially as Sally-Anne settled herself at the front of the room.
"Good afternoon, Professor," Sally-Anne put on a fake smile and tried to sound cheerful. Susan and Hannah walked into the room seconds later and sat down on either side of her. Justin and Ernie were close behind them, but took seats at the back of the room.
"Good afternoon class," Umbridge said as soon as everyone had taken seats. The response was everyone replying 'good afternoon' in a dull non-enthusiastic tone.
"Take out your texts, children," Umbridge continued while ignoring some of the angered whispers chorusing through the room. "Please read chapter eighteen."
The remainder of class was spent reading chapter eighteen. Susan tried to talk to her halfway through but Sally-Anne waved her off.
"I'm reading!" Sally-Anne had whispered to her. Susan had taken the hint and hadn't tried talking to her for the rest of class. Hannah must have heard their exchange because she hadn't said anything either.
"What a boring class," Ernie said as they sat down in the great hall for lunch.
"I was ready to fall asleep," Justin admitted. Susan giggled and Hannah nodded, they all turned towards Sally-Anne when she scoffed.
"What?" Hannah frowned.
"Did you guys even read the lesson at all?" she muttered while avoiding their gaze "what if you ever need to protect yourself, what will you do then?"
She caught the glances that they gave each other.
What the hell was that?
"You know, you guys have been acting funny lately …" she peered at each one of them curiously. "You wouldn't have anything to tell me, would you?"
"No," Justin said a little too fast. Sally-Anne raised her eyebrows in disbelief and chose to ignore the frightened look that was plastered on Susan's face.
"Right then," she said as she gathered her books "when you do have something to tell me, come find me." She rose from her seat and exited the great hall only to walk into someone.
"Sorry," the person muttered "Sally-Anne?"
Sally-Anne looked into the questioning face of Mandy Brocklehurst. She grinned and said hello.
"Would you like to join me and my friends? Or were you leaving?"
"Actually I was just leaving … but I could join you if you wouldn't mind," she smiled weakly and followed Mandy over towards the Ravenclaw table. She sat down beside Padma Patil and Lisa Turpin.
"You guys know Sally-Anne, right?" Mandy asked her friends and was rewarded with polite nods from both the girls. Sally-Anne greeted them each and listened contentedly to their conversation; the upcoming Quidditch match.
"So Sally-Anne?" Padma smiled sweetly "are you ready for the Quidditch match? We look forward to playing you."
Sally-Anne scowled ever so slightly. They were obviously talking about the Ravenclaw/Hufflepuff match that was gradually approaching.
"Yes, actually, we've put together a marvellous team this year," she drawled while emphasizing the word 'marvelous'.
"Is that so?" Padma was smirking now and a mad glint had appeared in her eyes. "No offence Perks but I hardly doubt that without Diggory you would stand a chance. I mean, even with him, your team was a bit … awful" she smiled apologetically but Sally-Anne knew it was fake "no offence."
"Oh, none taken," Sally-Anne snarled through gritted teeth. "By the way, Padma?"
"Hmm?"
"You might want to look into getting a mirror, then maybe you'll see that your reflection resembles that of my Quidditch team …awful!" She bolted from the table before Padma could fully piece together what she had just said. As she left the hall, she could hear Mandy and some others roaring with laughter.
***
A/N: A big thanks to all my reviewers! It made my day to know that you all enjoyed the story even if it can be a bit odd at times (lol). I want to say that I really appreciate all of your input. Without it, I wouldn't be able to carry on writing this story.
Special Note to Canadababy: Hey Jill muh bestest bud!! Yay! Thankyou so much for the review, but you know, you didn't have to sign up to review the story…lol, hey did I mention, they have DooL fanfic here? Lol, I really really think you should write stuff and post it!! You are an awesome writer and don't let that hag of a teacher ever make you think different! And secondly, DUH I knew it wuz you! Jeez Jill, you think I wouldn't know? LOL :P Chowz! And thanks again for reviewing…PS: I finished and posted this chapter for you!!
-Allie