The next morning, Lavender dressed at top speed and left the dormitory before I had even prepared my bag for classes. I scoffed and shook my head in disbelief.
"Does she thinks she'll turn into a nutter if she stays in a room with me too long?"
Hermione snorted to herself and glared at the closing door. "Well, she's just believing The Daily Prophet's rubbish, I suppose."
I sighed and followed Hermione out of the room. Lavender seemed indescribably angry and my intuition warned me that it wouldn't get better soon. Ron and Harry were waiting for us in the common room. The latter looked really angry about something. Apparently, Harry had had a similar encounter with Seamus, accordingly was his mood. I rolled my eyes and watched him with a calculating expression.
"Let me guess. Seamus believes you're lying about Riddle?" Harry merely clenched his jaw and scowled at me.
"Yes, Lavender thinks so too." Hermione added gloomily.
"Been having a nice little chat with her about whether or not I'm a lying, attention-seeking brat?" Harry said loudly. A cold shiver ran down my spine, followed by burning anger. I gripped his arm and whirled him around to face me. Our faces were only inches away from each other.
"You're my best friend, Harry, but I swear if you should ever say something like this again, I'll slap you. I was there with you. I was there and I saw everything, so don't ever dare to speak to me like that again!"
"And it would be quite nice if you stopped jumping down our throats, because in case you haven't noticed, Ron and I are on your side." Hermione said calmly. I let go of him and continued our way.
There was a short pause. Harry let out a deep breath and bit his lip. "Sorry." His voice was almost too low to hear. Hermione shook her head thoughtfully.
"It's all right… Do you remember what Dumbledore said at the last end-of-term speech?"
I laughed sarcastically and shook my head. "'Lord Voldemort's gift for spreading discord and enmity is very great. We can only fight it by showing an equally strong bond of friendship and trust…' Honestly, Dumbledore should act on his own advice first before telling others what to do."
Harry shot me a pointed look before turning his attention back to Hermione. "This sort of thing is exactly what Dumbledore was talking about. You-Know-Who's only back two months and we've already started fighting amongst ourselves. And the Sorting Hat's warning was the same."
Ron frowned. "And Harry got it right last night. If that means we're supposed to get matey with the Slytherins… good luck with that."
I gritted my teeth and stared straight ahead. Of course everybody wants peace but nobody's willing to make the first step. Slytherins are evil. Slytherins are our enemy. Slytherins have no hearts. What about you? Not even Hermione truly seeks peace, it appears.
"Well, I think it's a pity we're not trying for a bit of inter-house unity." Hermione added crossly. I stopped dead in my tracks and stared at her with disbelief.
"Because you're trying so hard, aren't you?" I snapped before I could stop myself. Hermione turned with a hurt expression.
"Excuse me?"
I gritted my teeth and shook my head dismissing. "Just forget it."
Before Hermione could say anything, a tall black girl with long braided hair had marched up to Harry. Angelina Johnsons, the new Gryffindor Quidditch Captain. My mood decreased even more when she gave Harry short instructions about the tryouts this week. I couldn't enter the team… With a heavy sigh, I slumped myself on the wooden bench at the Gryffindor table. Banned from Quidditch because of the bloody imposter…
During breakfast, my gaze wandered several times over to the Slytherin table. Draco was surrounded by a couple of classmates, Blaise amongst them as well. For a short moment, piercing grey eyes locked with mine. Draco's expression was unreadable but before I could do anything he turned away. Biting my bottom lip, I attacked my breakfast unnecessarily brutal with my fork. Remus' words were constantly whirling around in my mind. I should tell Draco the truth… but I was scared.
When I returned my attention to my friends, I realised that Fred and George had joined us. They were arguing with Hermione about their newest inventions. "You'll be singing a different tune soon enough, Hermione. You're starting your fifth year, you'll be begging us for a Snackbox before long."
I chuckled to myself and watched as Hermione's eyebrows twitched into a deep frown. "I'd never approve, you know that, Fred. And if I should ever see you trying to sell it to anyone, I'll interfere."
George muttered something under his breath. I caught the few swear words however, and grinned. Amused, I watched when he and his brother left us to ourselves. Hermione glared at their retreating backs and shook her head.
"Do you reckon it's true? This year's supposed to be really tough because of the exams?" Harry asked concerned. The change of topic left me speechless suddenly. With all the worries about my father, I had hardly thought about the O.W.L.s. Severus had once told me that they were the basic to the final exams before graduation. They significantly affected the jobs we could apply for after our N.E.W.T.s.
"Do you know what you want to do after Hogwarts?" Harry asked us when we left the Great Hall and set off towards the History of Magic classroom. My blood turned cold and I felt an increasing panic settling in my heart. Would I really get the chance to apply for a job in the first place? Would the war truly last this long? Even if it did, would I waste my time with another education instead of fighting?
"Arya? Have you thought about your time after Hogwarts?" Hermione urged me. I gulped and gripped my bag harder. I pointedly ignored her gaze and stared at the door to our classroom.
"I always enjoyed the thought of becoming a Healer. Learning Healing magic – spells, potions and herbology – has interested me for a long time now." I finally answered. Hermione hummed absentminded, the wheels in her brain turning with my response.
"Yes. Yes, I think that's the perfect job for you. You'd be a great and empathic Healer." If she noticed my discomfort, she didn't show it. I caught Harry's short glance in my direction. I forced a smile on my lips before entering Professor Binns' classroom.
History of Magic was as dull and boring as always. Whenever I sat in Professor Binns classroom I couldn't help the growing annoyance. I would certainly learn more about Wizarding History if I read it in a book myself. This class was nothing but a waste of time.
My friends cast me strange and amused looks when I jumped up at the end of the lesson. With enthusiastic strides I lead our way into the Dungeons. Potions was next. I would see Severus again.
"What do you reckon Snape will set us today?" Ron asked gloomily. His good mood fading more. I smirked at my friends.
"You don't expect Professor Snape to hand out easy tasks, do you? He'll most likely try to catch us off guard after the holidays. I mean, it's predictable. It's the Head of Slytherin house, after all."
"You're mad, Arya. You only enjoy his lessons because brewing comes naturally to you." Harry muttered loud enough for us to hear. I chuckled and shook my head.
"Not naturally. I learned about Potions just like you do now. The only difference is that I learned reading with books about Potions, Herbology and Anatomy. I read Potions books before I could understand the written instructions."
We rounded the last corner to the Potions classroom. My smirk vanished as soon as I spotted my brother in the corridor. Guilt sneaked its way into my heart the longer I watched him. Again, he ignored me completely when he looked at my friends with a disgusted expression. I couldn't care about them at the moment. My heart was aching to talk to him although we had only been back for a day. I wanted to embrace him, talk to him and see his softened expression.
The truth will make him return to you. A velvet voice spoke in my mind. It sounded awfully like Severus. I averted my gaze and shook my head to clear my thoughts. Not today.
I filed into the classroom behind Harry and followed him to our usual table at the back. My mood brightened when I ignored Draco sitting in the first row. With the dim light and light vapour in the room I could blend him out if I didn't focus my eyes to much. Instead I found my gaze drawn towards the intimidating tall person clad in black. Severus let his gaze wander slowly over every student. His expression was one of cold indifference. It needed all my will-power not to smile or betray myself in any other way. Sometimes, I hated these hiding games…
"Before we begin today's lesson, I think it appropriate to remind you that next June you will be sitting an important examination, during which you will prove what you have learned about the composition and use of magical potions. Moronic though some of this class undoubtedly are, I expect you to scrape an 'Acceptable' in your O.W.L. or suffer my displeasure."
I hided my smirk behind my hand. As strict and unfair Severus was most of the times – not that he necessarily had to be unfair – he had told me once that the average grade in Potions was higher than at any other school. Not many schools could say they had a Potions Master to teach the subject. Severus' demeanour did the rest.
Goose bumps erupted on my arms when I heard Severus' voice changing to one of pure admiration. I could listen to him talking about Potions forever. His strong passion for this fascinating art had always caught my attentiveness. It was a main part of the Healing Magic.
I was snapped out of my thoughts when Severus instructed us to brew the Draught of Peace, a potion to calm anxiety and soothe agitation. Again, my lips twitched into a smile; I knew the potion already in theory and had quite the gifted hand when it came to brewing. I enjoyed the challenge of the difficult and fiddly potion. The ingredients had to be added to the cauldron in precisely the right order and quantities. The mixture had to be stirred exactly the right number of times, firstly in clockwise, then in anti-clockwise directions. The heat of the flames on which it was simmering had to be lowered to exactly the right level for a specific number of minutes before the final ingredient was added. One tiny mistake and the potion was useless or would render the drinker into a heavy and sometimes irreversible sleep.
Severus didn't say anything when he inspected our potions with cold eyes. Obviously, he couldn't find any mistakes to criticise. I barely suppressed the triumphant expression when I suddenly remembered his high praise. Never before had he ever said something alike about anyone else. I had gained the most challenging teacher's respect and recognition. The flagon in my hands almost dropped when it needed all my willpower to keep a straight face. I bit my bottom lip hard and avoided looking at Severus as I brought it up to his desk. Nevertheless, I could almost feel his raised eyebrow with an equally scrutinizing gaze.
Not even his unfair behaviour towards Harry could dampen my good mood when we reached the Great Hall for lunch. I was busy imagining returning to the Dungeons later to meet Severus properly. I could finally be alone with him again. Of course, I had to occupy myself during my free period first whilst Hermione would have Arithmancy and Harry and Ron would be heading to Divination. Then we would meet Dolores Umbridge in Defence Against the Dark Arts. I was curious and dreaded her class at the same time. My sense for fairness forced me to think about her class without any prejudices, but the fact that she was working for the Minister made it difficult. As if she would actually support the idea of my father's return…
"Consider yourself lucky." Ron said to me when we made our way to Defence Against the Dark Arts. Harry nodded in agreement. Hermione and I cast them questioning looks. "The first day of classes and we've got so much homework already. Binns and Snape set us essays and Trelawney wants a month's dream diary. Fred and George weren't wrong about O.W.L. year, were they?"
I chuckled and smirked at a whining Ron. "Well, you chose Divination. I warned you. You didn't listen though. Your loss."
"You should've chosen Arithmancy. Then you'd actually learn something useful." Hermione interjected and cast them a stern look. Ron muttered something inaudible under his breath while Harry merely shook his head.
When we entered the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom I was still smirking. It vanished as soon as I spotted Professor Umbridge wearing her awful pink cardigan with a matching bow on top of her head.
I kept a blank face when she suddenly locked eyes with me. Her sweet smile made me feel nauseated. Her pouchy eyes didn't left me when I followed Hermione to our usual table. Each step made me feel more and more uneasy. I was sure she knew who I was. Most teachers knew about me but chose not to talk about it. I sighed when I found myself sitting right behind Draco. Sadly, I stared at the blond hair in front of me. I definitely need to talk to him… Get a grip on yourself, Arya. Either you tell him or you'll lose him for good. If he doesn't learn the truth from you, he'll hear it from someone else anyway.
"Good afternoon." Professor Umbridge's sickening voice ripped me out of my thoughts. Her lips twitched even wider. A shiver of disgust made me press my lips in a thin line. "Wands away and quills out, please."
I frowned and many of the class exchanged gloomy looks. I shoved my wand back inside my bag and pulled out quill, parchment and ink. With a flick of Umbridge's unusually short wand, words appeared on the board.
Ordinary Wizarding Level - O.W.L.
"Ordinary Wizarding Level Examinations. Study hard and you will be rewarded. Fail to do so and the consequences will be severe." It was difficult to keep a blank expression. Every word had increased my dislike. Apparently, I had been right with my first impression yesterday. Another flick of her wand and books began flying to every student, landing on the desks with quiet thuds. I gulped and stared at the cover. So the Ministry was truly going through with their plan.
Dark Arts Defence – Basics for beginners
"Your teaching in this subject has been rather disrupted and fragmented, has it? But you will be pleased to know from now on you will be following a carefully structured Ministry approved course of Defence Against the Dark Arts."
Professor Umbridge's introduction to this class was desperately dull. Even so much that my concentration slid away. I simply couldn't take her serious. This was the Ministry working in Hogwarts, brainwashing students to believe the spread lies. If Umbridge was the Ministry's mean to be successful, I wouldn't approve or support her.
Umbridge instructed us to read the first chapter. She left the blackboard and settled herself in the chair behind her desk, observing us with those pouchy eyes. I turned the book to the requested page but my gaze constantly wandered towards my brother. However, I turned to Hermione with an amused frown when she didn't even open her book. Instead she was staring fixedly at Umbridge with her hand in the air. Never before had she resist the temptation to open any book that came under her nose. Umbridge was staring as resolutely in another direction.
"Yes dear?" When half of the class was staring at Hermione and Umbridge, she couldn't ignore her student any longer. Slowly, she stepped closer to our desk.
"There's nothing written in here about using defensive spells." Hermione said bluntly.
"Using defensive spells?" I cringed inwardly at Umbridge's voice of determined sweetness. "I can't imagine why you would need to use spells in my classroom." I narrowed my eyes at the short woman. Umbridge smiled still more widely. Hermione averted her gaze and frowned thoughtful. She knew as well as I did what Umbridge was attempting to do.
"We're not going to use magic?" Ron exclaimed loudly. Umbridge turned to him.
"You will be learning about defensive spells in a secure, risk-free way."
And make ourselves easy prey for my father at the same time. I thought to myself as anger flared in my veins. But I wasn't the only one.
"What use is that? If we're going to be attacked, it won't be risk-free." Harry's temper was bubbling under the surface, I could feel it as well as my own. Umbridge stalked back to her desk, her features masked with an icy expression.
"It is the view of the Ministry that a theoretical knowledge will be sufficient to get you through your examinations. Which, after all, is what school is all about." Umbridge spoke dismissively. I hissed under my breath and shook my head. I closed my book with a loud snap and glared at the Ministry employee. She was provoking and riling Harry, that much was obvious.
"And how is theory supposed to prepare us for what's out there?" Harry exploded when Umbridge merely smiled wider. On one hand I wanted Harry to continue whilst another part of myself wanted to get up and leave this ridiculous useless class.
Umbridge replied in a horribly honeyed voice. "There is nothing out there, dear. Who do you imagine would like to attack children like yourself?"
"Oh, I don't know. Maybe… Lord Voldemort?" Harry said in a mock thoughtful voice. I smirked with malicious glee, immensely proud about my best friend's retort.
Hermione's head snapped around to him and Ron gasped. I couldn't help the chuckle when Lavender Brown uttered a little scream. Draco and Blaise shifted slightly in their seats, exchanging a short glance. Umbridge was staring at Harry with a grimly triumphant expression. My satisfaction vanished instantly. My heart beat loudly in my chest. If she lied now, I wouldn't keep quiet for another moment.
"Now let me make this quite plain. You've been told that a certain Dark Wizard is at large once again. This is a lie."
"It's not a lie. We saw him." Harry almost yelled.
"We fought him – Harry and I. We saw him return." I snapped loudly and glared at Umbridge. Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw Draco and Blaise turning in their seats.
"Arya, no!" Hermione whispered in a warning voice, tugging at my sleeve, but I jerked my arm out of her reach.
"Detention Mr. Potter, Ms. Jackson." Umbridge shouted coldly and turned away.
I straightened up in my seat and pierced her back with a furious glare. "According to you and the Ministry, what happened to Cedric Diggory?"
"Did he dropped dead of his own accord?" Harry stood up, his voice shaking. H H There was a collective intake of breath. Neither Harry, nor I had talked about what had happened on the night Cedric had died.
"Cedric Diggory's death was a tragic accident." Umbridge spoke coldly. I jumped up so rapidly that my chair fell over. My hands were balled into tight fists, my nails digging deeply into my palms.
"It was murder. Voldemort killed him." Harry was visibly shaking, his face drained of all blood. I finally snapped, my voice icy and dangerous.
"A tragic accident?" I spat sarcastically and contorted my face. "Only yesterday I have been accused of disrespecting Cedric Diggory's death. You weren't there! I can give you all the names of the Death Eaters who answered to Voldemort's summons-"
"Enough, Ms. Jackson!"
"- some of them are working at the Ministry, laughing about the Ministry's incompetence. If the matter wasn't as serious as it is, I would laugh about the Minister's cowardice as well. Cornelius Fudge is a fool and twisted with fear, drawing in his horns and hiding away in his-"
"Enough!" Umbridge interrupted me loudly but I ignored her.
"You disgust me! The Minister disgusts me! Lord Voldemort has returned but if you don't accept the truth now and start on our defences, it will be too late."
"Twenty points from Gryffindor, Ms. Jackson. You and Mr. Potter come here."
I was slightly out of breath after my outburst. The entire class was deadly quiet. All eyes were on Umbridge, Harry and me. Draco was watching me with a blank expression and Blaise shaking his head absentminded.
Umbridge's face was quite blank. Harry kicked his chair aside and strode up to the teacher's desk. I followed him and we watched when Umbridge scribbled something on a pink role of parchment. We were both glaring daggers at her hunched back. My blood was boiling in my veins. I wanted to shake her and everyone else in this classroom. To my own surprise, my anger had mixed with deep hurt about having been called a liar. I rarely ever lied and I would never lie about something concerning my father.
"Take this to Professor McGonagall, dears." Umbridge held out the note for one of us to take. I didn't move, merely stared straight into her eyes. Harry snatched the note out of her hand and whirled around. I clenched my jaw and cast her one last withering look before walking back to my desk. I snatched up my bag and left without looking at Hermione, my brother or Blaise. With a flick of my fingers, the door magically banged shut behind me.
"Why aren't you in class?" Professor McGonagall pierced us with a stern expression when she opened her office door.
I scoffed and stared pointedly over her shoulder. "We've been sent to see you."
Harry handed her the note and she opened it with a deep frown. Her eyes narrowed more with each line she read. She motioned us inside her office and took a seat behind her desk before summoning two chairs for us.
"Is this all true? You shouted at Professor Umbridge?"
"Yes," Harry answered. I remained silent and stared at our Head of House. My anger was safely bottled up again, cold determination calming my body.
"You called her a liar, Jackson?"
"It's the truth." I replied drily and the elder woman cast me a stern look.
"You told her He-who-must-not-be-named is back?"
"Nothing but the truth."
Professor McGonagall frowned at me for a long moment. Patiently, I waited for her next words. I honestly didn't care what punishment awaited me. If Umbridge wanted to brainwash people, I would do everything in my power to disturb her.
"You must be careful. Misbehaviour in Dolores Umbridge's class could cost you much more than house points and a detention. You know where she comes from… It says here she's giving you detention every evening this week, starting tomorrow." She looked down at the pink note again.
I gritted my teeth and looked out of the window. I don't care. I don't care! She can do whatever she wants, I won't bow to the Ministry.
"For heaven's sake, Potter? Do you really believe this is about truth or lies? It's about keeping your head down and your temper under control!"
Obviously, I had missed a part of their conversation. After another short exchange between them she ushered him out of her office with a last warning. Sighing, she sat behind her desk again and eyed me irritably. Unease settled in the pit of my stomach when I realised that I was alone with her.
"Do I want to know what you said that made her take Gryffindor twenty points?" Professor McGonagall sniffed and observed me closely.
"How should I know?" I muttered and lowered my gaze.
"Don't be ridiculous." She snapped. I lifted my head and shot her a dark look.
"It's the truth."
"For Merlin's sake, Jackson. You're just as irritating as Severus." Professor McGonagall straightened her glasses and pierced me angrily. I raised my eyebrows and laughed quietly. She shook her head disapproving.
"Well, usually Elves don't use linguistic devices such as rhetorical questions simply because they're unnecessary. I am an Elf!" I watched her with a serious expression and glanced shortly at Umbridge's role of parchment. "I meant every word and if I end up being expelled then so be it."
"Jackson – Aryanna, is this truly about the Ministry or about… the curse?" Professor McGonagall's tone of voice was low and anxious. Her eyes betrayed her concern. I sighed and bit the inside of my cheek.
"It's about my father. It has always been about him… Hogwarts has been my home since I first walked into these halls. Severus is here, my brother's here, my friends are here." I stared absentminded through the narrow window. "I have yet to tell Draco the truth but Remus helped me to set my mind. Our fight last year… I intended to push him away and succeeded, but it's only making things worse."
I looked straight at Professor McGonagall. She observed me with a softened expression, her usually stern eyes watching me sadly.
"I promised Severus not to throw my life away and I won't. Nevertheless, I will do everything in my power to keep this castle and its inhabitants safe. I… I will die… I know that. And I'm scared. But I won't run away. I can't. I'm an Elf and have it in my heart to fight Dark Magic. It's my duty."
Professor McGonagall nodded and watched me with teary eyes. "This war… It will be worse than any nightmare… Aryanna, I'm truly sorry you are forced into this role. Nobody should have to endure what you are going through – especially at such a young age."
I gulped and stared at my hands. "Yet I have the easier part…"
"I beg your pardon?"
I closed my eyes. A coldness had settled in my heart. "The mere thought of losing Severus or Draco… They are my family now." I shivered and looked at my Head of House. "I can't lose them. I need them by my side as much as they need me."
Another long silence followed during which I was lost in thoughts and Professor McGonagall obviously pondering my words.
"If you should find yourself in need of someone to talk to – besides Severus and Mr. Malfoy, you're very welcome in my office." She smiled wearily.
"Thank you. I appreciate your support." I couldn't return her smile though. My thoughts were busy with my brother and Severus.
The thought about meeting Severus after dinner lifted my mood however. Pushing my worries into the back of my mind, I walked through the empty corridors with a smile on my face.