A/N: Hey guys, next chapter is here! I'm going to be trying to keep up on my stories, I'm just going through a lot right now. You guys mean a lot to me, because you mean I have something to live for. I love you all, and thank you so much for the reading and reviews. I hope you all will continue to do so, and just know if you need anyone I'm here. Thanks guys! Happy reading! ~ Piper
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of its characters, but I do own my characters and story, so I hope you all respect that and let them remain mine. Thanks guys!
I jolted awake, wiping drool from my chin, and looking around. It was dark, and I couldn't quite remember what I was doing in the common room. I looked down and saw my charms homework halfway finished next to my finished history of magic homework. I must have passed out while I was working on my charms homework. I checked the time and found that it was almost six in the morning which meant that I had a few more hours to work on my homework. I decided to take my books up to my bed and then get ready for the day, so that I could go straight to class, even if that meant skipping breakfast.
I got into the room, and saw that everyone was still asleep, including Rose. I grabbed my things so that I could shower and do my hair, and then I hurried off to the bathroom. I took a cold shower to wake myself up, and I took my time making sure that my cuts weren't infected. I was so ashamed of myself, that I had even begun to cut. I shouldn't have done that no matter how low my self-esteem was, it just… it made me feel better, and I wasn't ready to give up my good days yet. I got dressed in some sweatpants and a t-shirt that sported the Gryffindor crest. I then did my hair the way I had done it when Rose and I had gone into the Muggle world, and went back to my room.
I climbed on top of my bed, threw on a sweatshirt to keep me from being cold, and threw on my headphones. I started on my charms homework again, and made sure I kept up a good pace. It took me longer than I expected to finish my charms homework, and by the time I was starting my potions homework, Rose, and the rest of my roommates, were waking up and getting ready. I noticed Rose looking at me worriedly, but I ignored her varying glances. I kept working as hard as I could, even though I knew the inevitable was going to happen.
Rose tapped on my leg, and I took off my headphones, giving her a quick look before continuing my homework.
"Hey Iz?" Rose started, "I'm gonna get ready and then head down to get some breakfast. I think it would be good if you came with me."
"Nah it's cool," I replied, "You go on without me, and I'll meet you in class."
"Isabela, you're going to need to eat. Please come with me?"
"I already went down, so I'm good, but I'll see you later."
"Okay Iz, if you're sure."
"I am Rose. Really, everything is all good," I said, smiling at her.
"Okay Isabella," Rose said, dejected as she walked away.
I felt bad that I was pushing her away. I hated myself for it, but I knew that I couldn't risk any lost time. If I didn't finish my homework, then I was going to be in big trouble, and I couldn't let that happen. I kept right on doing my homework as time flew by. Just as I was finishing up my potions homework, Rose came rushing in.
"Isabella," she said, out of breath, "Class… Herbology… Ten minutes… Got schedules… Breakfast… No you… I… Here… We… Run."
I swore, grabbing my book bag, shoving all of my finished homework into it, and ran over to my trunk. I grabbed out my robes and uniform, tearing off my sweats and shirt, and throwing on my uniform and robe. I finished getting ready, and reached Rose at the door.
"Eta?" I asked, panting.
"Five minutes," Rose said having caught her breath.
"Great," I said giving her a smirk, "Beat ya there."
I took off down the stairs, with Rose tight on my heels. We ran around corners, jumping around students who were walking to class, seeing as the didn't have to run all the way through the castle. I heard my stomach growl, and remembered how hungry I had barely forgotten I was. I hadn't eaten since breakfast the previous morning, and now I was going to have to wait until lunch, and I wasn't sure I was going to be able to make it. I was sure going to try, though. Rose rushed past me right as we were rounding the last corner to our classroom, and both of us made it in the door right as Professor Longbottom was reaching to close it.
"Thank you for gracing us with your presence Ms. Weasly, and you as well, Ms. Gregory," Professor Longbottom said, "I trust as well, that you both have your homework from over the break."
"Yes sir," Rose answered for both of us as we took our seats.
We were all the way across the room from my brother which was a good thing, but I was still shaken up. I didn't want anything to happen, and then it hit me. I hadn't done my herbology homework! I started to panic. I fidgeted with my foot, and started tapping my hand, hoping that it wouldn't begin to shake. I didn't want to tip Rose off onto a panic attack that was on it's way.
"Students, if you would please pass up your homework assignments, I am going to collect them and then we can get started with the rest of our class time."
Everyone began to pass their work up, and Rose reached her hand out for my parchment, and I just looked her in the eye, with tears threatening to come down, and shook my head before looking away. She, then, looked at my hand, grabbed it, and squeezed, whispering to me that everything was going to be okay.
"Now class, let me explain to you how we are going to spend the rest of our class time," Professor Longbottom began, "I am going to give you all a test to see how well you understood the concepts I had you go over in your books over break. This won't be graded, but it will show how well you're keeping up with the class. So take all the time you need on it, we won't be doing anything else today, so once you finish, please bring your test to me and then you may leave. Let's get started shall we?"
Professor Longbottom passed out the tests and went to his desk, grabbing the stack of parchment that contained everyone's homework, and he started reading through each sheet of parchment. I began my test, trying to answer the question, the best I knew how. The only problem was that when I had originally done this homework, it was at the beginning of break, when I was getting beat up every day. I had tried to block out all of those memories, and now I had to dive into them to answer these questions. I remembered every hit and kick, every push and fall, every taunt and plea, and none of the answers. My hands started shaking, and I started to hyperventilate. I took deep breaths and tried to calm myself down. Rose grabbed my hand and squeezed hard, letting me know she was there.
"You're okay," Rose whispered to me, just loud enough so I could hear her, "You're smart and amazing, and you can do this. Just take some deep breaths."
I breathed in and out, trying to get my thoughts back into place. I answered all of the questions I could, but I knew I was going to be stuck talking to Professor Longbottom after class. Once I finished answering every question I just sat staring blankly at my test paper. I watched as my brother walked up to the front, smirking at me as he passed me on his way out of the room. I saw Scorpius walk past me, rubbing the back of his neck, looking at his feet to avoid seeing the hurt in my eyes. I had a thumbs up given to me by Albus, who was smiling his typical dorky smile, and I felt as Rose gave my hand one last squeeze before she took her test up to the front. The last thing I saw before walking my test up to the front was Rose mouth to me the words 'You got this.'
I walked up to the front. I was the only person left in the classroom, and I set my test on the professor's desk, turned for the door, and began to walk away.
"Everything still okay?" Professor Longbottom said, stopping me in my tracks.
"Yeah, it's all good."
"I thought you had all of your homework other than your astronomy done before last night."
I turned to face him, "That may have been a tiny, white lie, but I did do all of my homework, it just didn't make the trip with me back to Hogwarts so I had to do it all last night, and I didn't know what my schedule was, and I ended up forgetting about your homework until I got here because I had to rush, and… And I'm sorry."
"Ms. Gregory, may I be serious for a moment?"
"Can I stop you?"
"No. I told you last night that I am here if you need someone to talk to…"
"Which I don't," I interrupted.
"Which you don't. So, I'm going to give you an extension until tonight to get the homework done, since you technically already did it, but that is the only reason. I am not going to give you another extension like this throughout your years in schooling, so do not treat this lightly. I will however be taking five points away from Gryffindor for this, no matter how much it pains me, and I will meet with you in the common room to get the homework from you. You're a good student Ms. Gregory, don't waste the potential I see in you. You're free to go, and next time just try to check for your homework before you come back to school."
"Will do, Professor," I said, smiling, "and thanks. Really, thank you."
"You're welcome, now go find your friends. They're the key to your success in life," Professor Longbottom said, waving me out.
"Do you always talk like an inspirational cat poster? Or is that just to me?" I asked, smirking.
"A what?" he asked puzzled.
"A… Nevermind, it's a Muggle thing," I said.
"I see, well I will see you later then, Ms. Gregory, enjoy the rest of your day."
"See ya Professor," I said as I turned, heading for the door, walking out as quickly as I could.
When I got out of the classroom I saw Rose and Albus sitting against the wall, opposite the door. They were talking as they waited for me, about me, I was pretty sure. I walked up to them, tapping Rose's foot with mine.
"Hey!" Rose yelled out, "Oh hey, you're out. What happened in there?"
"Can we not talk about all that here?" I asked quietly, trying to avoid the stares of our peers, as they looked for the source of the shout.
"Yeah Iz," Albus said, standing up, and taking my arm, leading me away from the prying eyes.
We walked back to Gryffindor Tower in silence, except I could hear their thoughts as loud as my own. Rose wondering what had happened to my homework. Albus worried for my safety.
"Pukwudgie," Albus said, giving the password to the Fat Lady, opening the entrance to the common room.
Once we were in the common room, Albus led us over to a corner of the room, near the fire, but away from listening ears. We all went and sat down, with me sitting across from them. They looked at me expectantly, but none of us said anything. I picked up my legs, curling myself into a ball.
"What gives?" Rose barked out at me, "One moment you have your homework done, the next it's gone and you're wasting time trying to cram, rather than taking the time to find or send for your homework."
"Rose," Albus chided, "be gentle please. She doesn't need anyone yelling at her. She was probably torturing herself over this all night. Why do you think she disappeared on us?"
Tears welled in my eyes. Rose was hurt, Albus was just trying to be the peacemaker, and I couldn't say anything. I was so ashamed. I didn't like hurting my best friend, and I definitely didn't like her holding it against me.
"Now, Isabella?" Albus asked, snapping me back to the conversation."
"Yeah?" I questioned back.
"I'm going to just ask you some questions to learn more about the situation, just go ahead and nod or shake your head to answer them," Albus said calmly, asking, "Did you have all of your homework with you and done when you got on the express yesterday?"
I nodded my head.
"Did you have your homework with you and done when we got to school? Not counting what you did on the express," Albus added.
I shook my head, no.
"Does this have to do with your brother?" Albus asked.
I nodded my head. It has a lot to do with my brother, I thought to myself.
"Wait, Al, didn't Iz get on the express before us? Iz, can you tell us what happened when we weren't with you yesterday? Well less of a can you, and more of a will you?" Rose asked me.
"Well I got onto the express, and went to find a compartment for us. I finally found one that was empty, so then I put my stuff up and looked out the window for you guys. Then, my brother showed up, said he'd leave me alone if I gave him my homework."
"So you gave him your homework to protect yourself?" Albus asked.
"No, I told him no. So, he grabbed my wrist," I said, showing them my bruised wrist, "And then he twisted it, so my bag would fall. Everything spilled onto the ground, he picked up all of the loose parchment, and walked away. I had to start on my homework all over again, and then you guys walked in."
"And where did you go last night?" Rose asked.
"The astronomy tower" I replied, "More homework, and by the way, Professor Longbottom talked to me, and asked if everything was okay. Did you say anything other than being worried about where I was? Because I don't need to take more people down in the explosion that is my life."
"No, I didn't, and your life isn't an explosion," Rose replied, "So do you need any help finishing any other homework?"
"No, I finished everything other than herbology right before you ran in this morning. Although I am feeling a bit light headed and tired. I think I'm gonna go catch up on some sleep."
"Oh no you aren't, we have transfiguration, and of all the classes you can get out of, that is not one of them," Rose said, sassily.
"Ugh, fine mum, I'll go to transfiguration," I said sarcastically, "Can I sleep after?"
"Actually, we're going to be eating lunch, and then we have History of Magic, so you might as well just sleep in class, that would keep your attendance covered," Albus responded.
"Well, seeing as you two have my life planned out for me, I guess I'll go along with it," I said laughing.
I stood up, to walk out of the common room and head towards transfiguration, but then I fell back into my chair.
"You alright?" Albus asked me.
"Yeah, I'm cool. Just stood up a little too fast is all," I replied, getting up slower. I felt woozy, but I couldn't figure out why. It was probably the lack of sleep, I told myself I would need to sleep more tonight, and walked out into the stairwell behind my friends. I only hoped I would be able to concentrate in transfiguration, if not I'd most likely would be in detention tonight with Headmistress McGonagall, and that would not be an enjoyable way to spend my first day back at school.