Eyes on Fire
Chapter 11: Firing Back
"Give me back my muffin, Ronald," I hissed, narrowing my eyes and pointing my fork at Ron Weasley, who was sitting across from me. Ron had an evil glint in his eyes as he moaned and went to take a bite. I whipped my wand out and waved it, smirking when it zipped out of his hand and floated toward me. He looked horrified as I bit into the muffin, making a sound of victory as I stuck my muffin filled tongue out. Ron began laughing as Harry shook his head. I laughed as well as Amy gave me a weird look.
"You are disgusting," Hermione stated, chuckling lightly. I gave her a weird look before continuing my breakfast. Ever since I broke down finally, I've been feeling more like myself. I don't know how that works but I've been hanging out with Harry, Hermione, Ron, and even Dean a lot more. Dean and I became close over the past couple days; it's Wednesday now, the day before quidditch try outs. I thought of Dean like my Nicholas replacement basically since the two were almost identical in personality. Dean was a great deal taller than Nicholas but they matched in personalities. I smiled over at Harry, who smiled cheekily back and Amy nudged me, clearing her throat. I glared over at her and she laughed.
"Good morning, Jen," Dean greeted, smiling. I smiled up at Dean and he squeezed in between me and Hermione, who rolled her eyes with a smile. "Is no one eating that?" Dean asked, reaching for the last blueberry muffin. Ron made a face of grief as Dean bit into it, smiling over at me. I began laughing as I sipped the last of my milk. "Can I walk with you to class?" Dean asked, smiling. I smiled, nodding as the two of us got up. Amy followed suit, grinning. This was my new posse: Amy, Dean, and I.
"Oy, wait for me!" Seamus' accent hollered out and the three of us stopped, looking over. Oh and good ole Seamus, who seemed to always lag us behind. He ran to catch up with us as we began heading to our class. We all had Wednesday classes together, which was perfect. Right now, we had defense against the dark arts with Snape. Harry, Hermione, and Ron had this class with us as well but they always connected with us later. I loved spending time with Dean and Seamus, since they were a lovely bunch. They always told the best jokes; I just couldn't believe I had friends like these after being here for not that long. I think it's only because of Amy. I honestly think Dean, or Seamus had a thing for Amy but I will not judge or assume at all.
"I always dread going to defense against the dark arts now. I used to love it," Dean stated, making a face. I rolled my eyes, chuckling lightly. We made it to defense against the dark arts relatively quick and took our semi-usual seats in the middle, against the wall. I refused to sit in the direct middle and Dean had a thing about sitting on the right side of the classroom while Seamus didn't care and Amy hated the front of the class, so Seamus was the one who picked our seats and here they were. Dean and I took the seats first and Amy and Seamus sat behind us, since the seats were just for two people only. I turned and smiled at Amy, engaging in a conversation as the remainder classmates entered, chatting and taking their seats. It was always a shocker when Snape barreled through the door; I just hoped Harry and his friends made it in on time today. Hermione's always on time, of course but Ron and Harry were a little late yesterday. I don't know why, but they were.
"Where are Ron and Harry?" I heard Dean whisper and I turned around, looking at Hermione. Hermione shrugged.
"I don't know. They try to spend as little time in here as they possibly can," Hermione stated. I smiled and understood that. Professor Snape had a thing about Harry, for some odd reason. It wasn't long before Harry and Ron came stumbling in, taking their seats breathlessly as Snape barreled in, and eyeing the two as he headed to the front. I let my eyes drift as Snape went into his lecture. My eyes landed on Draco Malfoy who sat slouched in the left corner of the room with his uniform in a tangle, and looking ravishing. I bit my lower lip slightly as strange images shot through my mind.
"Care to share your thoughts, Miss Williams?" Snape's sharp voice cut in as he slammed his notebook on my desk. I jumped, squealing, as I stared over at him. Everyone was staring at me now and I blushed. I hated being center of attention; it was a pet peeve of mine and I hated it. Snape looked at me and scoffed. "Or is staring at Mr. Malfoy more interesting than learning about a defensive spell?" he teased and there was a jumble of noise. I heard the Slytherin begin laughing as my friends gave me weird looks; I flushed angrily as my eyes narrowed.
"You must be mistaken, professor Snape… You know firsthand that we Gryffindor like to zone out when you're talking," I snapped, glaring. Snape reared back, shock written on his face. I knew that was a mistake saying that as Dean nudged me sharply in the side. Amy let out a snort but held back her laughter.
"That just earned you a week's worth of detention, Miss Williams," Snape mumbled before turning away. "Starting tonight." I groaned as he went on with his lesson and I put my face in my hands, repeating how stupid I am. I didn't want detention already, when I just got here! That's embarrassing but the laughter coming from behind me told me I wouldn't forget this, ever.
When class was over, I raced out of there quicker than anybody else. I didn't want to be stuck with Snape. I had said that stupid thing and now I had to spend nights with him, for two hours I think. Amy had walked out of the room in laughter as Dean wrapped his arm around my shoulders, guiding me down the hallway as I sighed. "Bloody brilliant, Jen," Ron commented, grinning at me. "I've never seen Snape that shocked ever, except that time with Harry but still! That's a great way to get yourself known!"
"But I don't want to be known," I whined as Dean laughed, shaking his head. "Now I have detention." Amy stood beside me as Seamus appeared beside Dean.
"It's not so bad. Usually Snape stays quiet and you just sit there, writing or drawing," Amy explained. I hoped that was the case and I also hoped I was still able to go to the quidditch try outs. I wanted something else to do other than watch the games. I would be bored and wanting to change things and show techniques but I wouldn't be able to. I'm not the best but I'm very competitive. My captain back in Salem hated me because I tried to overrule his judgment. I can't stop it; it just happens.
"Well, at least you don't have herbology today," Seamus stated, grinning. I figured he was trying to cheer me up. I smiled at him as everyone began laughing. I looked over at Harry and smiled. He blushed, but smiled back nonetheless as we all began walking toward our next class…
…"So, you got a thing for me, Williams?" a smug voice stated at lunch time. I was heading toward the grounds, where Dean and Amy and the others were waiting for me. It was mainly Seamus, Dean, Amy, and Ron and Harry. Hermione was probably in another class. She had like fifty classes. I was alone, right now in the worse scenario. "I saw you staring at me in potions class… Better watch where you're staring or I might jinx it so you can't see while you're walking." Malfoy and his goons started laughing. I rolled my eyes and kept walking. "Oh, no wit left in you, Williams? Am I too much for you?" I sighed and stopped, turning toward him with a bored look on my face.
"It's not that, Malfoy. I just don't like looking at your slimy face anymore than I have…" I stated, monotonously. Malfoy and his goons didn't say anything before Malfoy laughed, causing the others to laugh.
"So you admit staring at me, do you?" Malfoy stated. I looked over at him and rolled my eyes. If he wouldn't go away soon, I seriously would jump him. His robes were resting on his forearm as his fingers hooked into his belt loop. His white button had the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and he looked so gorgeous, standing there and not knowing what I wanted to do to him so badly. I would've jumped him if he had been in Salem; I wasn't a shy girl but the whole anti-Slytherin thing that came with being a Gryffindor was something I couldn't ignore. My friends wouldn't forgive me if I betrayed them and tried bedding a Slytherin, a main Slytherin at that.
"You can make fun of me all you want, Malfoy but I will not deny you are a very attractive man but your ill personality makes you disgusting," I spat, narrowing my eyes at his shocked expression before I turned on my heels and began walking away and heading to the grounds. I knew that'd stun a guy just looking for someone to shrink away to nothing. News for him is that I don't back down from debates or arguments or comebacks. I've never been afraid to attack someone until they backed down or we were split up.
"Jennifer!" Amy's voice yelled and I smiled, heading down to her. I plopped down in between Dean and Harry and grinned at both of them as I pulled open my notebook. Usually Hermione was present here for these semi-studying groups but she was in an extra class on Wednesdays. "Glad you're here. We're all trying to figure out the potion Slughorn assigned us to figure out. We've all heard of the ingredients but we can't figure out the name and purpose," Amy stated, sliding her book to me. I nodded. I wasn't excellent at potions but I paid attention in potions almost as much as Hermione. Hermione was so smart; I was surprised she wasn't in Ravenclaw. She had the traits to belong in there but from the small tales Dean and Amy and Seamus have told me, she was incredibly brave as well.
"Well ginger root is like the answer, guys," I stated, tapping the end of my pencil on the pad of paper. "There are only a handful of important potions with ginger root in them. Most of the potions with ginger root are used for healing or small boil proof potions but that's first and second year stuff." I skipped through the pages as I absentmindedly tucked hair behind my ear. "And if you look at all the potions with ginger root not resulting in healing or prevention, it only gives you about four potions. Then you cross reference the rest of the ingredients and there's your answer." I pointed at the correct potion and faintly circled the paragraph about it.
"You're just as bright as Hermione!" Ron complimented. I shot him a look and shook my head, laughing.
"Not even close. I just like potions is all," I mumbled, beginning my thousand word essay on the potion Slughorn assigned us.
"Well, true but you're still brilliant," Ron stated. I laughed, rolling my eyes at him as I shook my head. I wasn't looking forward to detention with Snape, but I guess I had to deal with it. It was only a week's worth, right? I could survive a week with Snape, who I humiliated basically and made a fool out of. It was okay. I looked to my right and saw Harry staring blankly at his book, his hand gripping the top of it. I frowned and reached over, laying my hand over his.
"Harry, are you okay?" I whispered, trying to not gain the attention of the others. Harry looked up before staring over at me, smiling. I didn't smile back, as usual as his beautiful emerald green eyes stared into mine. "I don't know who you're grieving for, Harry but I know how you feel." Harry sighed.
"No you don't…" he mumbled, staring away. I frowned, sighing. Did he really think he was the only person who's lost loved ones? Didn't he know people died every day? "No one understands what I'm going there, Jennifer," he whispered. I pulled my hand away and shut my book with my notepad inside of it. I stared at him and sighed.
"You may think that, Harry," I stated, not caring about the others turning to stare. "But you're not the only one who's lost loved ones." I stood and began walking away. Amy quickly followed after me, glancing back at Harry questioningly. He didn't say anything as he looked away; Ron leaned down but I was too far away to notice what they were doing as Amy and I began heading down the hallway. Harry was a great guy and all, but whoever he was mourning for wouldn't want him to be mourning so openly about it. I'm sure whoever he was mourning for would want him to be happy and cheerful and looking forward to life with his friends, even if Harry Potter's future seemed to be a bit lacking in cheerfulness and butterflies. I gripped my book to my chest as Amy walked beside me.
"Is he always that depressing?" I asked, narrowing my eyes in confusion as I looked over at Amy, who laughed.
"Who? Harry?" Amy asked. I nodded my head and she laughed a bit more. "No. Last year was hard on him for some reason. I don't know why but ever since he came back this year, he's been rather sad I've noticed. We're not that close to share his feelings but I'm guessing someone close to him died." I nodded, guessing that already. "Why don't' you get closer to him and find out?" Amy teased, nudging me. "I see how you look at him and how he looks at you sometimes… It's like two magnets too far apart but close enough to snap together if someone gives a gently nudge to both!" Amy nudged me after she stated that and I laughed, shoving her back as we headed upstairs to our next class.