Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, but my OC's are mine.
Chapter Three
It was dark and cold, the air harsh and thick. Ira was running through a forest, without an ounce of certainty as to where her feet may take her. Her breathing was the only thing she could make out, besides her beating heart that nearly broke through her rib cage. She stopped to look around, making sure she got away in time. Only, she didn't.
Voices could be heard somewhere behind her, and without thinking Ira ducked behind a tree in fear. She lost the others somewhere back. Gods, she was worried about them. Clutching her wand, she relaxed her breathing as best she could, knowing that if those people heard her she'd be dead.
Ira bolted awake when something hit her head. Drool was on her chin and a quill in her hand. She had fallen asleep in Potions; she realized when she heard a group of giggles coming from the back of the class. She scolded herself as she looked up to see Professor Snape glaring down at her over his hooked nose. His dark robes clashed with his pale complexion, raven black hair draped above his shoulders. Snape was intimidating, and it was easy to tell he didn't favor Ira since the moment she took her seat for double Potions with the Gryffindor's earlier. Ira didn't understand why, he was Head of her house and favored his Slytherin students over the others. His eyes were harder as they drifted to her, an annoyance on his lips as if ready to harass her at any moment. Though, he hadn't made a move to speak to her.
Until now.
"And the Soares girl has joined us once more," his monotone voice was slow and drawn out. "Tell me, what gives you the right to fall asleep in my classroom? Hmm?"
Ira shrunk into her seat. "I don't know, sir."
Snape snickered, turning his attention away from her, his robes billowing behind him as he walked towards the chalkboard.
He paired everyone off into twos and Ira was given the satisfaction of being with Sally-Anne.
"You need to be careful," Sally said as she brought their cauldron to a boil. "Snape isn't one to just bat an eye. Here." She handed off snake fangs to Ira.
Ira took them and set to work on crushing them up along with the dried nettles. "I didn't sleep well last night with Pansy's snoring…but I didn't think I'd be so tired as to sleep in class."
"Just…try meditating or something before bed."
Ira stopped cutting and looked at Sally-Anne who put the ingredients into their cauldron. "Meditating?"
"Don't look at me like that. You see me mediate every night before bed. It's a muggle thing that my mum picked up on some muggle-loving group expedition. She goes on these trips to make herself look good in the public eye. Dad doesn't like it much; he hates muggles and thinks they're filth. I, on the other hand-" she didn't get a chance to finish her sentence when a loud sound came from Neville Longbottom and Seamus Finnegan's table.
"Idiot boy!" Snape called out while waving his wand in the air to clean up the melted cauldron that made a mess across their work area. "I suppose you added the porcupine quills before taking the cauldron off the fire?"
Boils sprung up upon Neville's face, causing Snape to instruct Seamus and him to the hospital wing.
Ira shook her head. "How that kid ever got in Gryffindor, I'll never know."
"Agreed."
After Potions, Ira caught up with Harry and Ron. She found that she wanted to get more acquainted with the two since their arrival at Hogwarts. She did have Sally, Lily, and Theodore, but she knew that they weren't to be around each other at all times, and Ira liked the diversity Hogwarts offered. And to her, there was nothing wrong with inter-house relationships.
"Hello, Harry, Ron," she greeted with a smile.
The duo stopped at the top of the dungeon stairs and remained quiet. Harry looked uncomfortable, while Ron just stared at her with an expression she couldn't read. Perhaps it was the difference in house colors they represented. She understood that, to a point. Unlike the other Slytherin's, she didn't mind making friends with those of other houses. Then again, she didn't know if Harry and Ron would be oh-so thrilled to have her in their presence.
"Soares," Ron finally spoke up.
Harry messed with the hair that fell over his scar, nodding towards her in reply. "Soares."
"I didn't realize we were on a last name basis," Ira said. "I take it your reaction to me being in Slytherin was anything but kind."
"Well, house rivalry and all-" Ron was cut off by a sharp blow to the ribs by Harry's elbow.
"What he means to say is," Harry started, shifting his feet and offering Ira a sympathetic smile, "it was unexpected."
"Understandable," Ira offered. "I'd probably react the same way. I was just wondering if perhaps you both wanted to come study with me in the library before dinner. McGonagall's class is going to completely ruin me this year, I can feel it." She tried to laugh, but the boys remained completely opposite of what she hoped.
Ron grabbed onto Harry's robes. "We've got plans, thanks."
"Ron, maybe we could invite her too?" Harry kept himself cemented in place when Ron tried taking off with him.
The redhead nearly cringed, but had nothing to say when he released Harry.
"Would you like to come with us to see Hagrid?" Harry asked.
"The groundskeeper?" Ira mused. She heard stories of the giant over the years and had seen him around the halls at school. So far, she didn't have an opinion on him. Maybe joining them wouldn't be a bad idea. "I'd love to."
Harry smiled. "Great! We'll see you after classes."
Ira's final period of the day came to an end and she darted from the classroom just in time to meet Harry and Ron. The three walked to Hagrid's hut located on the edge of the Forbidden forest. It seemed too quaint to be housed by a giant. But Ira shrugged her shoulders as Hagrid opened the door to let them inside.
"Make yerselves at 'ome," Hagrid said, releasing his large dog that came barreling towards Ira.
Ira giggled when the dog left sloppy kisses all over her face.
"That there's Fang."
She looked up at Hagrid, scratching behind Fang's ear.
"Oh, Hagrid, this is Ira, and this is Ron," Harry introduced.
"Aye, another Weasley and another Soares." It wasn't a question, Hagrid already knew. "I've chased around yer brothers for the past four years. Rhys was always the calmer one compared to George and Fred."
"I bet," she chuckled.
As Harry told Hagrid about his first day of classes, Ira tried biting into one of the rock cakes that Hagrid had made. They stuck true to their name. Ira could barely get a bite off of it, merely scraping some crumbs off and faking a smile when Hagrid looked at her. She put it down and looked at something sitting on the table. It was an article from the Daily Prophet.
GRINGOTTS BREAK-IN LATEST
It peaked her interest enough to nudge Harry in the ribs, bringing his attention to it.
"Hagrid, what's this?" his eyes scanned over it. "This happened on my birthday! It might've happened when we were there!"
Hagrid didn't meet the boy's eyes. Ira found this peculiar as she and Harry read over the article. Ron read it, too.
Ira didn't know what its significance was while the boys and she walked back to the castle that night. She knew it must've been something important, because Harry hadn't spoken a word since.
When Ira found out that there would be flying lessons, on broomsticks, in the sky, she nearly fainted. It was that Thursday morning before they headed out to classes that she found out she'd be making a fool of herself once again.
"Typical," Harry said while walking to breakfast. "Just what I always wanted. To make a fool of myself on a broomstick in front of Malfoy."
"Been there, done that." Ira gave Ron and Harry a tense laugh. "But you never know. Maybe you're quite good on a broomstick."
Harry shrugged, going a little pale.
"Malfoy's always going on about how good he is on one," Ron pointed out. "Always talking about Quidditch this and Quidditch that."
Ira gave them both a sad look. "I've seen Malfoy on a broom. Sadly, he's good."
The trio made it into the Great Hall for breakfast and they parted ways. Ira watched as the boys sat down with Hermione who was babbling on and on about something as usual. Shrugging, Ira made herself a plate of food for breakfast and began chowing down while making idle conversation with Sally, Lily, and Theo.
The morning mail came and Ira was pleased to find a package from both her mother and Narcissa. Her mother sent her a wide range of sweets, and Narcissa packed a steel tin filled with baked goods, undoubtedly made by the Malfoy house elves.
Ira looked down the Slytherin table at Malfoy, who had gotten the same thing from his mum. "Oi, Malfoy!"
His cool eyes met hers and he cringed. She held up her tin with a smirk.
"We match."
Draco only rolled his eyes.
Sally-Anne dropped her spoon with a questioning look. "Why is that?"
"I'm his mum's favorite." Ira bit into a pumpkin pastry and smiled. "But in all seriousness, our families have been friends for years, long before any of us were born. I guess Narcissa looks at me as the daughter she never had."
"Oh, no," Lily muttered.
Ira narrowed her eyes and followed her friend's stare to the Gryffindor table. Draco was pestering Neville Longbottom about something. It looked like it was about to get out of hand until Professor McGonagall broke things up. Ira let out a breath and turned back to her friends.
"So, who's ready for some flying lessons?"
Lily, Sally, and Theo all looked at each other nervously, giving her the answer Ira needed.
The Slytherin's and Gryffindor's met up outside for flying lessons later that day. Unfortunately, Ira had to stand next to Malfoy who made comments about the last time she was on a broom. She was trying her hardest to tune him out, though. Ira wouldn't let him distract her from the task at hand. She needed to better herself when it came to flying. You never knew when you'd need it most.
Madam Hooch followed the last student outside. She had an odd appearance; hawk-like eyes and spikey hair that stood up at odd angles, much like the twigs in the student's brooms.
"Well, what are you all waiting for?" she barked. "Everyone stand by a broomstick. Come on, hurry up."
Ira straightened up next to her broom and glanced down at it. She told myself she wouldn't fall from the sky this time, especially for Draco's amusement. Madam Hooch forced the classes eyes to her.
"Stick out your right hand over your broom," she called out, "and say 'Up!'"
Everyone did as told. Some people's brooms vibrated and some rolled over. Although Ira's actually went in her hand, just like Harry's and Draco's. She smiled at how it fit in her hand.
"Nice work, Soares," Madam Hooch said while walking past.
Draco sneered. "How'd you manage that?"
Ira shrugged. "Luck, I suppose."
"There's no such thing as luck," Draco said.
Next, Madam Hooch instructed them all on how to mount the broom. Ira smiled when Hooch critiqued Draco on how he'd been doing it wrong for years. She had to bite back the laugh that came from her throat at the sad look on his face.
"Now, when I blow my whistle, you kick off from the ground, hard," said Madam Hooch. "Keep your brooms steady, rise a few feet, and then come straight back down by leaning forward slightly. On my whistle - three - two-"
Across from Ira, she watched Neville Longbottom shake as his broom took off high in the sky. They all watched in anticipation as Neville's hand slipped from the broom the higher he got. Ira felt fear flash in her veins, watching Neville face plant in the grass.
"Remind you of someone?" Draco whispered in Ira's ear.
Ira shoved him away and kept a watchful gaze on Neville. Madam Hooch was down on her knees, tending to the student while his lone broom drove out of sight in the sky towards the Forbidden Forest.
She heard her say he broke his wrist. Poor kid, Ira thought sadly.
Madam Hooch grabbed Neville by the arm and pulled him to his feet, looking at the rest of the class. "None of you is to move while I take this boy to the hospital wing! You leave those brooms where they are or you'll be out of Hogwarts before you can say 'Quidditch.' Come on, dear."
When the two were gone, Malfoy burst into laughter.
"Did you see his face, the great lump?"
Other Slytherins, including Theo and Sally-Anne, joined him.
"Shut up, Malfoy," Parvati Patil said, a fellow first year Gryffindor.
Pansy chuckled darkly. "Ooh, sticking up for Longbottom? Never thought you'd like fat little crybabies, Parvati."
Ira clenched her fists. "Leave it alone, Parkinson."
"Oi, Soares favors fat little crybabies as well," Pansy said haughtily. "What? Does our picking of those below us bother you? They're below us for a reason."
No words came from her mouth. There was nothing Ira could say to change Pansy's snobbish thinking.
Malfoy darted from his broom and picked something up off the ground. It glittered in the sun as he held it up for all to see. "Look! It's that stupid thing Longbottom's gran sent him."
So, that was what they were quarreling about at breakfast. Something as petty as a Remembrall. Not that it surprised Ira, knowing how foolish Malfoy could be.
Harry stood straight and held out his hand towards Malfoy. "Give that here, Malfoy." Malfoy didn't listen and mounted his broom, taking himself to the sky.
"Come and get it, Potter!" Malfoy said devilishly.
"Are you kidding me," Ira mumbled.
"They're absolutely crazy," Lily added.
"Agreed," Theo and Sally said while watching as Harry followed Draco into the air.
Ira face palmed and looked down at her own broom. Those boys were bound to get themselves in trouble. And as much as she wanted to see Draco writing rows in detention, Ira knew that Harry didn't deserve it.
Without much thought, Ira did the last thing she ever pictured herself doing. She got on her broom and managed to guide it to the sky, with Hermione yelling after her about getting them all in trouble. It was too late now, whether or not Ira stayed on the ground or not. Now that Malfoy and Harry had gone against Madam Hooch, adding Ira to the equation didn't change anything.
Draco let out a laugh when Ira went to Harry's side. "This is just golden! Helping out your little boyfriend, aye, Soares?"
Ira didn't know how she was doing it, but the broom felt right in her hand as she steered it closer to the bleached-haired bully. "Give me the Remembrall, Malfoy."
"You wish," he sneered.
He took off and headed up towards Gryffindor tower. Ira followed suit with Harry. Compared to her first time on a broom, Ira was doing excellent. She could dip the broom and make twists and turns with ease. She was no longer paying attention to Malfoy or Harry's fighting when the Remembrall fell from Malfoy's grasp. A hint of red passed her vision, and Harry must have thought the same thing as she, because they both darted towards it. At the same time, they grasped it and fell to the ground with Harry landing right on top of Ira. She let out a groan when the wind was knocked from her lungs.
"Merlin, Ira, are you okay?" Sally-Anne came to Ira's aid to ensure her safety.
Ira was going to reply, but another voice joined the mix of chatter that ended all conversations.
"HARRY POTTER!"
Professor McGonagall pushed past all the students and her eyes landed on both Harry and Ira.
"Never - in all my time at Hogwarts-"
She was beyond frazzled. Her tight bun was no longer and strands fell in her face. Her face was nearly purple with fury.
Ira brushed herself off when she stood, finding Harry to already be whisked away with McGonagall. Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle all smiled triumphantly as he was taken away. Ira glared in their direction.
"This is your fault, Malfoy! You feral rodent!" she marched up to his pointed face. "You don't know when to stop do you?"
"SOARES!"
Ira nearly groaned when she turned to find Madam Hooch had returned. Draco gave her a smirk as the older woman's finger curled away from Ira, telling her to come with her. This couldn't be good.
"A week's worth detention?"
"Mhmm," Ira hummed as she flipped through her Potions book.
Sally, Lily, and Ira found comfort in the library following dinner. For the next week, Ira was to clean the Quidditch equipment and polish brooms over and over again, no matter how polished they may already look.
"You didn't even do anything," Lily said in a hushed tone. "You were just standing up to Malfoy."
"And Malfoy didn't even get in trouble," Sally added.
Ira sighed. "No surprise there, aye?"
They both agreed with a nod and went back to their books.
Suddenly, a book landed on the table with enough force to wake a sleeping giant.
Ira looked up to find Rhys glaring down at her. He took out a seat and sat down, opening up his book and reading the first few words before speaking to his sister.
"Detention, huh?" Rhys asked.
She gulped. "Yeah."
He observed Ira for a bit before continuing. "But I did hear something positive today."
That took Ira aback, and something like a smile tugged at Rhys' lips.
"Some of the first years say you're quite good on a broom, maybe even better than Malfoy."
"Uh, what?"
"Crabbe and Goyle, for instance, said you and Malfoy are best bet for the team whenever you guys are eligible to join." Rhys appeared excited.
Ira didn't know what to say to that. Quidditch wasn't something she enjoyed, and only today was she decent on a broom for the second time in her life. Ira also had a fear of heights that she'd need to get over before even thinking about touching a broom again. If Ira hadn't been too busy trying to stop Harry and Draco's quarreling, she would've been panic-stricken with worry and landed somewhere somehow.
"I want to train you to be a Chaser. I would want you on our team as a Seeker, but that's most likely going to go to Malfoy when he joins," Rhys said. "And I won't be here next year, so I want to make sure you're knowledgeable enough to woo next year's captain."
"Why are you telling me this?" Ira asked, finding it odd that Rhys and she were finally having a normal conversation.
"Because I love our house and I want Slytherin to win. To have it be a Soares that helps win the cup would be even better. Gryffindor has won too many times now and they need to be defeated."
Ira looked at Sally and Lily for help on deciding. Lily didn't look convinced and Sally was too busy gawking at Rhys to care about the conversation. Ira look back at her brother and give him a small smile. "Okay, I'll do it."
"Great! We'll start practice whenever our schedules are empty." He stood and ruffled Ira's curly hair. "See you around, little sister."
As he walks away, Sally lets out a whistle.
"He is so dreamy," she said.
Ira let out a laugh and threw a balled up piece of parchment at her face. All three of them made enough commotion to get thrown out of the library, but it was time for bed anyways and they weren't allowed to walk around after curfew so they took it in stride walking back to the dungeons.
When the three walked into the common room, the first thing they noticed was that everyone was sitting around the common room in fits of giggles.
"He doesn't know what's coming," Malfoy said with a nudge at Crabbe. "Potter will be gone for good."
Pansy let out a shrill laugh. "Oh, Draco, you're so bad."
"What can I say? I'm a Slytherin through and through."
Ira scoffed loud enough for the chatter to die down and for their focus to turn to her. "What's all this talk about Potter?"
Draco spoke first. "Well, Potter and Weasel are out wandering the halls looking for a duel. Little do they know its curfew and Filch is always monitoring the halls. He may just stumble upon them in the trophy room."
Ira narrowed her eyes while all of his friends laughed.
"You're so foul."
Draco glared.
Pansy snickered. "She's just jealous, Draco."
The pug-faced girl nuzzled up to Draco's side like the lapdog she was. Just another useless follower of Draco's like Crabbe or Goyle. It disgusted Ira to no end that nobody had an issue with how Draco treated others. It seemed the only reasonable people were Lily, Theo, and Ira. Sally would join the mix, but she was often times just as bad as Pansy.
"Come on, Ira. It's not worth it," Lily said after grasping her friends elbow. "You'll just add fuel to the fire."
Lily had a point. She was always the reasonable one in the group. Ira was usually too temperamental and stubborn, and wouldn't let up about something until her mind was spoken for.
Lily dragged Ira to their quarters while Sally-Anne went off with Daphne Greengrass. They made it to their room and the first thing Ira did was fling herself down on her bed. Beside her head, laying on the pillow, was Lady.
"I need to stop getting fired up with Malfoy," Ira admitted while stroking her kneazle's fur. "He'll just end up ruining me."
Lily agreed. "He does rile you up pretty easily. Have you two always been like that?"
Ira frowned, remembering days when she and Draco were younger and would put up with each other without any menace. In fact, you could say they were once friendly to each other.
"Once upon a time, we weren't always so disgusting to one another," Ira admitted sadly. "But one day, something in Draco changed, and he's been a bully ever since."
"No idea as to why?"
"None at all."
Lily gave Ira an understanding look. "Maybe it's time you cut yourself off from Draco. What I mean by that is, ignore his presence. Just focus on school and your friends. You can't excel when you're being held back by unnecessary tiffs. This is your first year at Hogwarts, too. It'd be best to make the most of it without anything going wrong. The more you give in to Draco and his banter, the worse you'll feel and the worse your year will go."
Lily had a point. Ira heard her out and took her words with plans to apply them to her life. Starting that night, there'd be no more fighting with Draco and his friends. Ira wanted her year to go smoothly.
Yet, little did she know there was a rocky road ahead of her.
Writer's Note: Just a quick sorry to those who've been waiting for an update. I've been so busy this last year that I didn't have time to write at all. I also lost my muse for a while and I'm hoping to bring you guys some quality content from now on. Hopefully, I'll be back to updating in a routinely fashion. Don't forget to leave a review, lovelies!
