Chapter 3 - I was confused

"Blue lips," Marcus said to the portrait hanging over the prefects' common room. It swung over, revealing a brightly lit room. "After you."

I shot him a distrustful look as I stepped inside. My voice was caught in my throat. "It's beautiful," I whispered.

Marcus laughed. "That's exactly what you said when we first came here," he told me. "You haven't changed much."

"Well, I suppose you were annoying in the past as well," I returned. "Because then you haven't changed at all."

He gaped at me and shook his head. "Damn you, Chang," he murmured. He turned around and stepped back to the outside. "I don't think I can stand you even now."

I watched as he walked away from me, and I assumed he was going to the Slytherin common room.

I was having a blurry vision in the morning. I had to blink several times to see where I was and realised I was still in the Harry Potter world. I sighed and got out of bed to get to the bathroom.

My self-dyed red hair and dark chocolate eyes stared back at me in the mirror. I was relieved, to see that I had not changed a bit. I thought I was about to go crazy, and have the same brown hair Cho had.

A loud thumping noise was heard.

Speak of the devil.

I yanked open the door and stared at my "cousin". "May I ask what brings you here, my dear cousin?" I asked, barely disguising the annoyance in my voice.

She stared at me obliviously and showed me her watch. It was a Rolex. Not bad.

"You are going to be late!" Cho screeched. She hurried over to my closet and pulled out a couple of clothes. "Hurry, we only have four minutes before your Potions start! And we both know Professor Snape hates that!"

Drama, drama, drama.

I was dressed in record time, pushed around, and finally found myself walking towards the dungeons for my lesson. It was then I realised I had forgotten to take my quill and parchment.

I cursed under my breath and retraced my steps. I was just sprinting around a corner when -

Crash!

I fell to the floor. It was so unexpected that I hadn't prepared for the fall and I sprained my ankle.

I was livid.

I managed to get myself to sit up, and was just about to give the person who knocked into me a lecture. Surprisingly (or not), it was Marcus Flint.

"Are you blind?" I yelled at him as I tried in vain to stand up.

He held out his hand.

I glanced at him, then at his hand, in disbelief. "I don't need your help, pureblood."

Marcus sighed in exasperation and squatted down to pull me up. "Yes, you do," he said and let go of me.

The pain was excruciating and I nearly dropped to my feet again. Fortunately (or not!), I was caught by Marcus.

"You can't even walk by yourselves!" he exclaimed and - get this - hailed me over his shoulders like I was some... backpack or something. "I'm getting you to the hospital wing."

I could not believe it. Was this the same person who supposedly got me into the hospital wing?

"I don't need your help!" I repeated loudly and banged my fists against his back.

He laughed and turned left.

I was aware that the fifth years were having their lunch at this time and many girls were giving us an eyeful. I blushed hotly.

"Madam Pomfrey!" Marcus shouted as he set me down on a nearby chair. The older witch appeared at the doorway and gasped when she saw me. She hurried over with her wand and muttered some spell while pointing at my left foot.

Almost immediately, I felt better. There was a slight feeling that numbed my ankle and reduced the pain.

I stood up and nodded at Marcus. "Thanks" was at the tip of my tongue but I refused to let it escape my lips.

"We better get to potions," I said weakly, avoiding his penetrating gaze. I felt as if he knew what I was thinking.

Marcus smirked and HELD MY HAND. "We might as well not go," he said. "Snape will get mad all the same."

I couldn't speak and just stared at the way his hand took mine.

What's coming over me?

We strolled by the lake, careful not to get too close. We did not talk and I felt uncomfortable because of it. I was not used to such silence.

It was then I heard footsteps. Approaching us. Marcus did too, because we turned our heads at the exact same time.

It was a Slytherin boy, the blond one whom I thought was Marcus.

He shot me a disgusted glare and spat at my feet. I jumped away just in time and returned the glare.

"Flint," he drawled. "What are you doing with this mudblood?"

I saw Marcus gave him a look, a look which I thought said you should know. There was something wrong with the both of them.

I stepped away from the Slytherins. "What are you trying to say, Malfoy?"

The younger student chuckled. "I'm saying Flint was d-"

I saw Marcus gripped his arm and Draco Malfoy shut up.

"Is it something bad?"

Draco Malfoy laughed again. "Yeah."

"Is it something related to a person?"

"Yeah."

"Is it me?"

"Y-"

Marcus shot him a warning look that was supposed to be discreet, but I saw it anyway. I spun around and headed back to the castle without a word.

[A][N]

In the next chapter... Zhang Lin's first flying lesson! With... who else?