''Did you hear? Flint put Stoggart in hospital at the game yesterday,'' it was by chance that Zarah overheard the two Hufflepuff's talking in the library. She stayed hidden behind the bookshelf, half frozen by shock and curiosity, and listened in on the conversation.
''Yeah, I heard it was brutal. More than usual too. I mean, Slytherins are evil pricks at the best of times, but yesterday's match was a bloodbath. It was like they didn't give a damn about actually playing and just tried to damage as many players as they could.''
''That's why McGonagall stopped the game. She looked so pissed I kind of feel sorry for the green team.''
''Well, you shouldn't, whatever they get they well deserve.''
After that Zarah hurriedly left the library and practically run along the corridors until she found herself in front of the hospital wing.
''Well, well, well… I told you she would come eventually, didn't I?'' the only way to describe her internal reaction to the voice was like being dumped into a pond of acid. Zarah slowed down to a stop, clutching books to her chest, and waited for the sickening feeling to leave her. It didn't.
''Come to see your boyfriend, have you?'' Chris joined in as several snakes, including Flint and Malfoy, stepped out from behind the columns and out of those little enclaves that littered the old stone walls like bugs on a windshield.
Swallowing hard, Zarah regained some self control and looked Archibald dead in the eyes. ''I came to see my friend,'' no point in denying why she was here, but there was no way she would be dragged into their gaudy game.
Donning stepped forward to meet her and it felt like anger was rolling off of him like heat waves. ''I told you once, don't play coy. Everyone knows you have been shacking up with that book worm for months,'' she could now clearly see his canine teeth that were uncomfortably longer than any average human's would.
A smirk crossed girl's face leaving her mouth twisted in an unpleasant grimace. ''Why? Are you jealous? Or do you think that that is the reason your engagement proposal was shut down faster than a Fiendfyre spreading in a library?''
''You stupid slu-'' but the boy never got to finish his sentence as he was currently being backhanded across the mouth by Zarah.
''Tsk, do you kiss your mother with that mouth?'' Slytherin girl took the astonishment amongst the older boys her action had created and put the hospital door right behind her back. In case she needed to run. And it sort of felt like she might need to.
The smack had stung but she ignored the pins and needles on her skin, instead finding her wand and letting it out in plain sight. She didn't raise it or threaten anyone, just let it swing in her fingers down along her leg.
Archibald, who had not expected to be slapped, was in quite a shock. Both his hands covered the left side of his face, where the hit had landed and stared at Zarah in horrified astonishment. Others did pretty much nothing, except for looking from her to the boy in anticipation of further action. None of them had drawn their wands and Chris was currently worriedly eyeing hers.
''How dare you? What the fuck is wrong with you, you crazy bitch?'' Archibald wailed but it already started to sound somewhat slurred. Moment of surprise had worked for her but she wasn't sure how many more of those she is going to get from now on.
''I should be the one asking you that. I wasn't the one who had the audacity to come up with the idea of us getting engaged. I was also not the one who shut this said idea down. And, I was not the one who took out their rage in a unsportsmanlike fashion on the opposing team. You lost, Archibald, whatever it is that you wanted, you lost it. So, be a fucking man, grow up and move on,'' though the talk was mostly for the Donning boy, she did spare a glare for Chris and Markus too.
''Don't be so high and mighty, princess. It is you who walks around betraying Slytherin house by associating with lowlives,'' Archibald spouted as some of the previous anger returned to his aid.
''Is it about me not wanting to marry you or is it about me betraying the Slytherins? Which one is it? Or is it that you are one of those pathetic purebloods who just has to have the seat at the big boy table? And you thought that through associating with me you would get there. And, perhaps, even get in someone special's good graces, hmm?'' her eyes narrowed because she was now curious if her bait would catch anything. And it did. It caught two someones, as both Chris and Archibald cringed and paled.
''You don't know what you are talking about,'' Chris sounded out of breath.
''Oh, you are probably right,'' Zarah said so lightly it surprised the boys. She had the answer she was looking for and there was no point in escalating this any further. ''And now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go. I couldn't be caught hanging out with some lowlives and betray my house, right?'' Malfoy was the only one who caught on to the meaning behind her words as was visible by the fury on his pompose little face.
Zarah turned to walk back down the corridor and paused. ''And, by the way, you can do whatever you want to the book worm, I don't really care,'' and she walked off, leaving an uncomfortable silence in her wake. She walked and walked until it felt like that was all she had ever done. Her knuckles were white from gripping her books and wand, and she felt like passing out. Stopping around one of the million Hogwarts corners, the girl leaned into the cold, damp wall, pressing her hot forehead and cheek against the cooling hardness. Wicked stars were dancing behind her eyelids and something wet was repeatedly trying to crawl down her face.