"The corridors stink."
"Of what?" Elowen whispered. "Pubescent stench," Nathair responded. The Parselmouth laughed lowly to herself as she made her way to Defense against the Dark Arts.
After visiting Nathair the night before, she had decided to bring her pet back with her to the dormitory. It was nice having someone to talk to. She kept the snake coiled around her neck, hidden underneath her school robes, it felt nice, it was like having a secret nobody else knew about. Not that the snake minded being underneath her robes, it liked the warmth coming from her body.
She walked into Defense Against the Dark Arts, her third class of the day, and took a seat at the far end, somewhere where nobody would notice her. She spent the beginning of class whispering with Nathair, making funny remarks about other students and about the time she summoned him and he attacked Barty Crouch Jr. posing at Moody.
"Nel looks unwell, mate," commented Ron who was looking over his shoulder. He wasn't the only one that had noticed. Other students had been whispering about her appearance, her hair growing white, her absence at the welcome feast the night before, and her odd whispering and talking to herself. Harry turned to look at the Slytherin in the back of the classroom who looked like she was struggling to contain her laughter. Merlin, she was even laughing at her own jokes.
"The other Slytherins won't speak to her," Hermione added. "I hadn't noticed," was the only thing Harry could say.
"Think it has to do with Draco's new girlfriend?" Hermione gossiped.
"Who cares about that git," Ron rolled his eyes.
Harry felt so angry as of the late, he felt such a rage it was hard for him to notice anything else that was going on. Above all things he felt lonely, with Ron and Hermione having prefect duty most evenings he was left alone with his thoughts in Gryffindor Tower. It didn't help that the majority of his peers thought he was lying about You-Know-Who's return and Cedric's death.
Other students in the room were playing with a levitating paper crane origami. Crabbe shot at it with his slingshot and everyone laughed - until the crane disseminated into ashes.
"Good morning children," a sugary sweet voice pipped from the back of the room. Looking back at the professor Nel accidentally met Draco's gaze. He was sitting across the back of the room too, with Pansy next to him, holding his damn hand on the desk. Did she ever let go of his damn hand?
She flicked him off and again turned her attention forward.
"Remember him? That's his pug-faced girlfriend," Nel growled.
Nathair poked his head out and looked from underneath the curtains of her hair. "Aw, lovely girl. Really works green."
Angry, Nel readjusted in her chair purposely squeezing the snake against her back. It hissed in pain, "Don't take it out on me."
Distracted, the girl looked down at the book on her desk missing half of the lesson. It looked like a children's book, Dark Arts Defence: Basics for Beginners, it read. On the board was the word "O.W.L.S." written in large letters.
"Merlin," She grumbled. She guessed this was the year they would begin to consult for advice regarding their careers for the future. She had no idea what she wanted to be, she thought curses were interesting, but as of the late she had found an interest in researching ancient magic.
"There's nothing in here about using defensive spells," Hermione suddenly pointed out.
"Using spells?" Umbridge let out a sweet giggle. "I can't imagine why you would need to use spells in my classroom."
Was this woman bonkers? This was Defense Against the Dark Arts, not kindergarten basics. Nel couldn't put her finger on what it was about the new professor that put her in such unease and made her feel so unnerved. Perhaps it was the uncanny resemblance to Cordelia Wool. She dressed in the same ugly pink tones as Wool and had her hair done in the same fashion.
"What use is learning spells without magic? If we're going to be attacked it won't be risk-free," Harry spoke up harshly.
"Students will raise their hands when they speak in my class."
Yup, that was it.
Nel watched the incarnation of Wool in Hogwarts.
She was a bully, she could see the condescending glare she was giving Harry from underneath that diabetically sweet façade.
"What a load of baloney," the Slytherin whispered to her pet. "Don't say baloney, it makes me hungry," she clasped a hand over her mouth to hide her laugh.
"…Who do you imagine would want to attack children like yourself?" Umbridge asked.
"Oh, I don't know," Harry began his voice heavily dripping with sarcasm. "Maybe Lord Voldemort?"
Several gasps could be heard around the room. There were hushed whispers and then you could hear a single pencil drop as the tension in the room escalated.
The Professor looked stunned. "Now, let me make this quite plain," she began. "You have been told... that a certain dark wizard is at large once again. This is a lie," she emphasized the word lie. It was what all the newspapers had been saying, that Harry was lying, that you know you hadn't returned, that Cedric's death had been an accident.
"It's not a lie. I saw him. I fought him!" Harry exclaimed growing more and more frustrated.
"Detention Mr. Potter," Umbridge quipped.
"Cedric Diggory dropped dead on his own accord?"
"Cedric Diggory's death was a tragic accident."
"It was murder. Voldemort killed him!"
"Enough!" Again, absolute silence. "See me later Mr. Potter, my office."
Students were starring at Harry with surprise.
A hand shot up in the back of the classroom and the professor turned to look at the Slytherin with eager eyes. A Slytherin, finally, someone with reason.
"I believe him."
All eyes turned to look at Elowen who was wearing a smug smirk. So much for wanting to go unnoticed. What could be the worse thing that could happen? She gets detention with Harry and that's that.
"Cedric was my friend and he was killed by the Dark Lord," she said the last part mockingly with a bitter resentment towards Voldemort. It felt strange confessing that she and Cedric had been friends, it seemed like an unlikely relationship. One the two had worked hard to keep undercovers. "On the day of his death, I was abducted by his followers and held hostage inside of a trunk to be taken to You-Know-Who."
There were some hushed gasps in the room. Some students looked at her with shock, others shook their heads at her disrespect towards the professor and arched eyebrows of disbelief. Hermione looked shocked as did the majority of her friends.
"Another liar," Umbridge tutted approaching the Slytherin with her wand in her hand. "And you- who may you be?"
"Anita Bang," Nel said dully hoping the professor would repeat the ridiculous name and state that she was in serious need of a bang. Some students tried not to laugh (sounds like 'I need a bang').
"You must be Ms. Saintday," Umbridge said ignoring her comment. "I remember your name from the Lestrange hearing."
Nel said nothing in response. She didn't want to ask if it was regarding Ellar or Cloelia's. Not like it mattered to her, both would be rotting in Azkaban for a long time and they couldn't touch her from there.
"Since you're so eager to join Mr. Potter in detention, I will also be asking you to see me later in my office." Umbridge began to turn away.
"Bitch," Nel grumbled under her breath in Parseltongue for only Nathair to hear.
Umbridge heard her, "What was that?" She turned again, approaching her and leaning closer to her on her desk uncertain if she had heard the language of the snakes or not.
"Could you repeat-" She leaned too closely, so closely that the girl could smell her pungent flower perfume. Yup, definitely a strong resemblance to Wool.
She winced at the proximity and before Nel could react, Nathair lunged from the inside of her robes and attacked Umbridge sinking its fangs into her face. She screamed and stumbled backward clasping her cheek. The class erupted in screams and students chaotically ran from their seats at the sight of the snake.
"Nathair! Stop!" Nel pleaded jumping from her sear,
It let go. She bent down rapidly speaking to it, asking her pet to return to her quickly. She looked up from the floor with fear and saw Umbridge's swollen cheek and livid red face. Nel didn't even get the chance to cradle her friend.
"Vipera Evanasca!"
"No!" The girl cried out desperately. She dove forward, scrapping her knees, attempting to grasp the snake's body as it incinerated and vanished into a cloud of smoke. Nathair hissed and shrieked as he painfully twisted into ashes and then nothing. The Slytherin girl didn't have much time to mourn. She knelt horrified, feeling sick. Students peeked from behind Umbridge looking absolutely horrified at what they had just witnessed, some looked up when they noticed the classroom lights begin to flicker and the window glass begin to tremble.
"To the Headmaster's office- IMMEDIATELY!"
"This must be some type of new record for you Saintday," Snape said as he escorted her into Dumbledore's office.
"I aim to please," She retorted sarcastically.
"Consider yourself fortunate if by Merlin's grace you're spared from expulsion this time," Snape said sourly as they entered the Headmaster's office.
Nel gave him a look, at this point, she was beyond that. She didn't know what was better if being out in the Muggle world or being here. If she stayed in Hogwarts she could pursue a career in magic, if she left it was the streets. Then again, as an orphan with no means or assets to her name she had a feeling she had always been destined for the streets regardless of whatever choices she made. Today, Dumbledore's office was a mess. The Slytherin had never seen it like this, his Phoenix was attentive, its head bobbing from side to side as it followed its master around the room. Papers, notes, letters, and other documents were scattered on top of his desk and even the two chairs across from it.
The fireplace was lit and Dumbledore was running from one side of the room to the other conversing with a portrait and dictating to a quill writing a letter.
"Ms. Saintday, to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit? And so early in the school year," Dumbledore sighed with dread. He looked exhausted and more drained than Nel had ever seen him before.
"Ms. Saintday unleashed her serpentine pet to attack Professor Umbridge," Snape explained, emphasis on the pet, snakes were clearly not in the allowed list of allowed pets a student could have. "It wasn't intentional," she grumbled mentioning the important detail.
Dumbledore stopped and looked at her.
"Have a lemon drop, Saintday" He offered pleasantly. It almost sounded to her as if it were some type of praise. Despite his friendliness, she refused the candy.
"That bitch killed my snake!"
"Language!" Snape scolded slapping the back of her head. She gave him a look.
"Why does that God-awful woman not want us to learn magic? Why is she even here?"
"Ministry regulations," Dumbledore sighed standing near the fireplace and gathering his thoughts. "Believe me Ms. Saintday, it was not my decision."
"I've read what the newspapers are saying," she began. "That you're a plotter, that you're after Fudge's job. You don't strike me as a politician Headmaster. I-I know what they're saying isn't true."
For the first time in years, Dumbledore genuinely smiled at the Slytherin.
"I'm afraid your actions must be met with consequences, attacking a professor purposely or not is a tremendously serious offense, but seeing as your pet has been removed from school premises- I'd say enough damage has been done," he pondered on a fit punishment. "Ten points from Slytherin. You will have detention with Professor Snape for the remainder of the month. I will leave the punishment to fit his judgment, and you must also apologize to Professor Umbridge, we can't allow this incident to slither by."
Elowen smiled at the joke. That was it? All she got was a slap on the wrist? Was this what it felt like to be Harry Potter and get away with everything? As per usual, Snape looked beyond irritated.
Snape decided her punishment would be to clean the gunk out of used cauldrons and to sort and organize his potion and ingredient cabinet, a much dreadful task even he had been avoiding for the past couple of years.
"You must be cautious around Professor Umbridge," Snape warned. "She's not like the other professors and Dumbledore won't always be able to protect you."
"Please, Professor, worse things have happened," She said mockingly.
Angry, Snape raised his wand, "Legilimens."
However, his attempt to pry into her mind failed. Without saying goodbye Elowen arched a mischievous eyebrow and headed towards the kitchens to sneak out some dinner.
When she walked out of the kitchen with a large box of Cherry Owls stuffed into her bag. She was walking out eating a fistful of dry cereal and almost choked when she saw Harry Potter waiting for her outside of the kitchen. How did he even know where she was?
"Hi Nel," He offered. "Hi," She said awkwardly and waved as she began to walk away really not in the mood to have a pointless conversation, she really wasn't in the mood for anything after the perishing of her pet.
"I wanted to thank you for today," Harry began following after her. "For standing up for me in class, not a lot of people would've done that," he said sincerely.
"I just wanted to be funny," She shrugged, lying effortlessly. She didn't know why she had done it, perhaps it was in memory of Cedric, so his death wouldn't be soiled, or just to upset the professor, but she felt vulnerable admitting that to Harry.
Harry was really touched. With people avoiding him and gossiping about him he had started to feel really isolated at Hogwarts. He felt not just anyone would've done that, Merlin he knew, Hermione would never, and now that she and Ron had their prefect duties he saw even less of the duo.
"I'm sorry about your- erm, pet," He offered awkwardly.
"He died doing what he loved," She said with a heavy sigh. She felt that Nathair would've appreciated the joke. All she wanted to do now was find a private place to mourn her pet.
Harry couldn't help but laugh.
"How was your detention with Umbridge?" She asked realizing he wouldn't be going away anytime soon. "What did she make you do?"
"Just lines," Harry lied sticking his injured hand deep into his robe's pocket, starting to feel self-conscious of the mark after the argument he had with Ron and Hermione. Ironic he had just half lied after writing 'I must not tell lies.'
"I've noticed you haven't been at the Great Hall."
What Harry had meant to ask was, 'Why aren't the other Slytherins talking to you?' - Nel of course had enough tact to realize this.
"It's the Slytherins," She shrugged. "They're upset because I didn't write to them over the summer. Not only that, but I can't explain to them where I was right? I mean- How do you explain to your friends that you were living with Sirius Black for half and living on the streets for the-" She let out a peep, horrified at the realization of what she had just said out loud.
"I have to go," She squawked rushing to reach the Slytherin common room.
Over the summer Harry had assumed there had to be a reason why Nel had been living with Sirius. He assumed it had something to do with her transition from not living with the Lestranges anymore but he had never asked what had happened.
"Nel, wait!" He side-stepped around her stopping her. "There's nothing wrong with-"
She gave him an ugly look. What did he know about poverty and misery?
"You could've asked for help," Harry sighed.
"You don't understand!" She snapped loudly. Harry flinched a little, not at her brass tone, but the way she said it. It was the same way he had just lashed out at his friend's earlier in the day. "It's embarrassing, dehumanizing, and- and- nobody should have to go through that!"
"Okay, okay," He raised his hands defensively, his voice lowered.
"I don't want to be anybody's charity case," She said sadly wiping an angry tear that slid down her reddening face. She was mortified. It seemed like the only thing she had done the last couple of days was cry and she was fed up and sick of it.
"Nel, that's what friends are for, and if the Slytherins are being gits for something like that then, they're probably not your friends."
It sounded like something Professor Lupin might say. When had Harry become so wise? Maybe he did know a thing or two about friendship.
"Well, well, well, look who we've got here."
Nel felt her breath hitch at the familiar voice.
Draco and Pansy were both now Slytherin prefects and had caught them outside of their dormitories after hours. There would definitely be trouble. Not that she regretted flicking him off earlier in the day, the git deserved that and much more.
"Off for a midnight snog with your girlfriend Potter?" Draco said maliciously. It wasn't the first time he taunted Harry and Nel about their friendship. It seemed every time the two were together he would blaze with anger and bitterness.
Nel hadn't spoken to him since they confessed their feelings for each other last year and after finding out about his new relationship she wasn't about to start speaking to him today. She frowned, looking hurt praying he wouldn't notice, and instead glared at him with hateful eyes. She wanted absolutely nothing to do with him.
"You two nutters are just perfect for each other," Pansy laughed loudly. "Blood traitors," She tossed wryly.
Draco was about to ask Pansy to escort Harry to Gryffindor tower. He had to find a way to get Elowen to be alone so he could talk to her.
"I like your dog Malfoy didn't know you fancied bulldogs. I've got an aunt who's got twelve. Perhaps she needs another bitch," Harry spat sharply with cruelty remembering his hateful Aunt Marge.
The three Slytherins were stunned. Since the train ride to Hogwarts Draco realized there was something off about Potter this year, there was a constant tortured look on his angry face. Nel brought a hand to her mouth to hide her shocked expression.
Where did that come from?
Pansy looked aghast. Her face twisted into a mug and she shot Harry a murderous look.
"You want to talk about dogs Potter?" Draco stepped forward scowling. "Why don't you put your mutt on a leash?" He sneered with malice tilting his head towards the girl.
Baring his teeth Harry saw fire and lunged at Draco.
"Oi!" Nel stepped in between restraining attempting to restrain Harry. He clearly had no hesitation in striking Draco or taking back his word. The Slytherin prefect stepped back looking at Potter with disgust, wand raised ready to attack, Pansy followed suit hiding behind him.
"Stop! Harry! He's not worth it," the Slytherin girl glared. Tensions were high between the two parties. "Look at me," Elowen squeezed his shoulders until his green eyes met hers. Her lips turned into a thin line and she slightly shook her head.
"You better watch yourself, Potter, soon, Dumbledore won't be here to protect you," Draco threatened.
It was exactly what Snape had said. The Death Eaters were definitely plotting something against Dumbledore, if Snape knew, no doubt the Headmaster did too.
"Go back to your dormitories, this will be your last warning," Pansy snapped looking clearly unsettled as they both retreated.
"Come on Harry," Nel placed a hand on the back of his shoulder and lead him away, then lowered it to hold his hand.
Draco looked over this shoulder. The sight made him want to vomit. For a moment he hesitated in turning back and hexing Potter with a lizard tail, fangs, and bat boogeys coming out of his ears and nose. He knew it, he had always had a paranoid feeling that Harry was after Elowen. He could feel it in his bones.
Great. First the French tosser, now Potter.
He gave Pansy a side look. She was an appropriate choice for him. She was a good match for his family's expectations. Pureblooded, wealthy, a proper lady with conservative values and poised etiquette. Nel on the other hand… Well, everybody knew how unhinged Saintday was.
He wanted to slap himself, snap out of his jealous misery, but he couldn't. This was what was right. He had written to Elowen over the summer, poured his feelings and fears out to her, even offered to see her, and she did not answer a single one of his damn letters. All of his owls had returned. The worst part was when he saw her show up at King's Cross with Potter and the Weasleys, had she spent the whole summer with them? Is that why she hadn't written back?
It was in his morose heartbreak that he decided to see Pansy out of spite to her. However, he had not been expecting his parents to be thrilled at the news, he also wasn't expecting to enjoy having a girlfriend, it was nice, even if Pansy could be overbearing and terribly dull sometimes.
He'd forget about her. He promised himself. She had asked him to stay away from her dozens of times before. This time, he swore he would.
"What was that?" A shocked Elowen asked Harry when they reached the foot of the moving stairs which is where they would part ways.
Harry retreated his hand, praying she wouldn't have felt the wound on his hand.
"You were protecting him, weren't you?" He snapped with the same anger he had lashed out at Pansy just moments earlier.
"I wasn't-" He interrupted her. "You were! I saw the way you were looking at him! The way you got in between us!" Harry continued rambling sporadically, his tone getting harsher, louder. The girl waited until the Gryffindor finished his furious monologue.
"Are you done?" She arched an eyebrow.
"Malfoy's a git. You can have a go at him whenever you want, but remember, we've both served detentions today and are walking a tight rope with Umbridge. Even I know my limits," She paused. "You may have a go at him tomorrow," she smiled at him weakly, "I'd love to see someone knock him on his arse."
"I'm so sorry," Harry apologized running a hand through his messy hair. "I just feel so angry all the time, ever since-" he went quiet.
"It's fine Harry, I have a weekly meltdown every odd day. I have learned to be okay with not being okay, it's part of growing up."
She stretched out a hand, "We're good?"
Harry smiled and shook her hand.
"Wait- what is that?" She pulled his hand up to inspect it. "Is this a tattoo?"
'I must not tell lies', the scarring on his hand read. It was definitely not a tattoo. "Who did this to you?" She asked, jaw going slack.
Harry pulled his hand back. He said nothing else and walked away quickly.
"Harry!" Nel called after him, but he didn't turn back.
She had no doubt in her gut that Umbridge was behind this.
That witch. She had killed her pet and tortured her friend. Like Dumbledore had said earlier, actions have consequences and Nel swore on the spot that Umbridge's actions will not go unpunished.