21. Steps

A week later and Ysabell was still refusing to think about what had happened. It seemed like something out of a nightmare now; now that she had 'come to her senses' and thought about what she had done. Even worse, she had broken her promise never to hurt anyone with magic for a second time. And Ysabell knew what it felt like to be thrown against the wall.

Most of the other students in the school had stopped talking to her, and many of them were avoiding her completely. Luna, of course, disobeyed these new unwritten laws, and continued to treat Ysabell as normal; something Ysabell was extremely grateful for.

The teachers too were treating her with even greater suspicion, with even the more open-minded ones now turning completely against her, so Ysabell was in a depressed state of mind when she left her last lesson on Friday evening and headed upstairs towards her common room.

Everything would have been so much easier if they'd just given me a decent chance in the first place. Maybe then this would never have happened. But no; they're too quick to judge by someone's past and by their parentage. And how can I change that? They were prejudiced against me from the start; they never even gave me a chance.

It's alright when you're someone like Harry Potter - it's fine to have your father's bravery or your mother's love. But when you're someone like me? Your parents' ability to kill and maim; their smouldering hatred? They hate you for it, hate you for something you had no part in. All the blame for what they did is passed down onto you, even if you weren't even born then. People-

Ysabell's line of thought was cut short halfway up the staircase as her leg sank into the trick step she had just forgotten to jump.

"Damn!"

She tried in vain to pull it out, but she had nothing to hold onto and only succeeded in sinking her leg deeper into the step. Remembering her wand she found it one-handed in her pocket before fumbling as she picked it up. She watched dejectedly as it bounced down two steps. Her school bag started to inch its way down her arm as well, but she pushed it back, looking up and down the staircase desperately, hoping someone would come to her aid.

The first group of people to mount the stairs were the ones Ysabell had been hoping for the least.

"It's insane Izzy! Are you stuck? What a pity."

Aaron and his cronies crowed over her for a while, until one of them came too close and she swung at him. She missed, and, off-balance, her leg sunk a few more inches.

"Naughty, naughty! Pity I'm not a prefect…Still, got to go."

The group of students pushed passed her, one of them pausing to kick her wand down a few more steps.

Ysabell shouted curses after them for quite a length of time, covering the subjects of their looks, intelligence, parentage and their resemblance to various creatures ranging from Flobberworms to Blast-ended Skrewts. A first year girl hurried past, not stopping to glance back at the trapped girl.

Several students later, and Ysabell's leg was really beginning to hurt.

I'm going to be here all night at this rate! Maybe I'll eventually sink right through this step and out of this miserable existence… And if I do get out of this step the first thing I'd like to do is to go and find everyone who's just walked past me and wring their necks. And kick them. And chop them into little bits and jump on them. Oh come on! Someone has to help me out!

An hour later and Ysabell had almost given up.

I used to think it was brilliant that they were all so scared of me. Now it's proving to be a bit of a nuisance. Well, when I say a bit… Do you think it's possible to fall asleep with half of your leg encased in a stair? Why don't teachers ever come up here? Why does everyone hate me so much? I swear my leg's going to break after just a few more minutes…

Cheer up! We shall not be conquered! Always look on the bright side, that's what they say, isn't it? Someone's bound to let me out soon. And think of all the things I have to be happy about! Err… I'm at Hogwarts! I've got a friend, although admittedly it would be helpful if she came up this stairway slightly more often... like now, for instance. I'm good at being positive, aren't I? Errm…Things could be worse! I'm not locked up in a dungeon, I'm not stuck in some stupid orphanage, I'm not being tortured, I'm not dead, my parents are dead, someone else is coming up the stairs…

The person coming up the stairs was Neville, who Ysabell had never been more pleased to see.

"Are you ok? Your leg's trapped."

Ysabell bit back the obvious tart reply and merely asked. "Could you help me out? Please?"

Neville had had encounters with this particular step before, and was not as against Ysabell as most of the rest of the school was. He saw no reason not to help.

"Thanks" said Ysabell gratefully, sinking onto the step above, her numb muscles screaming in protestation.

"Is it bad?" asked Neville, noticing her wince and sounding concerned.

"I've had worse." A lot worse. And I know I haven't broken it, no matter how much it might feel like I have.

"How long have you been there for?"

"Oh, not long." She replied offhandedly. Neville frowned, sensing she was lying. Inside, Ysabell grinned.

Lie badly about the little things, so they think you're a useless liar. Then when you lie well about the big things they believe you.

"Look, I've got to go." She spoke up before he could start asking any more annoying questions. "I've got work to do, and I need to sleep and all that."

Neville nodded, then continued on his way, as Ysabell resumed her long-delayed journey up to the common room, plotting revenge all the way.