Chapter 2 :Revengeful Ravenclaws Arising

Noelle watched a spider making a web during class. It was not that she didn't want to focus. Chilling breezes. Binns. Drowsy eyes. Blame them.

The lesson finally came to an end and Noelle filed out of the classroom along with her housemates and sprinted down the stairs alone to Professor Flitwick's office. Rubbing her nose, she knocked the door.

'Come in.'

She turned the doorknob and this was when she sneezed hard. She whispered a sorry and turned to her heels.

'Will be right back, professor...'

She slammed the door shut in embarrassment. Het cheeks burnt like if she stuck her face into the oven or somewhat high-temperatured. The skin might crack in heat just as her nose would have as a consequence of her rubbing it all the time. The flu was really a bad thing she could remind of as it was considered as a rather serious illness in these times. Luckily she infected no one. Not even her roommates.

She stood on the corridor and sneezed. After a minute, she headed back for the office door, when an echoing cough rung down the corridor. Which brought her attention.

Draco Malfoy stood there, right in front of her, hands folded, suspiciously looking down on her.

'Excuse me. What's your matter for being here?' Noelle started.

'That's not good. You stole my line. Anyway, as you can see I'm looking for Flitwick. Step aside, flat-chested Mudblood.'

'How dare you - '

'Oh, just simply move aside and everything'll be solved! Do it!'

What Noelle could still remember till dawn was that Draco Malfoy pushed her out of his way to the door and she landed on the Hospital Wing with 5 points deducted from Slytherin.

'Calm down, girl. It's just a little bruise.' Madam Promfrey checked her wound and wrapped her arm in a bandage with certain level of healing magic. Then she said thanks and headed for the Common Room in extreme anger.

'Blimey, he really did that?' It was before Anthony Goldstein sweared words that a three-year-old kid could hardly understand. Creepy-looking mop-head Michael Corner threw me a glare with all sorts of flout and pity. Padma sat quietly in the corner and flipped her pages.

'You considered on making revenge? I'm sure everyone will enjoy.' She said.

We all exchanged looks of anticipation.

'That's cool.' Anthony said.

'Brilliant. But how?' Added Terry Boot.

'You guys promise me not to chicken out, okay? Because this plan might get us all into trouble if we fell through.' Padma said. She placed her hand in the middle of the circle.

'I'm in.' Noelle raised her hand instantly and placed it onto Padma's. A beautiful smile widened on Padma's face.

'Well, me too.' Anthony said. Then Terry place his's too while Michael threw them a question look.

'What's that about?' Padma questioned.

'I wonder the time we take action.'

'We're still considering on it. Oh, wait a second.' Padma lightened with a surprise look on her friends.'Feel right on the Yule Ball? It'll be entertaining to watch him drowning in mango punch and and jelly. Let the world know Draco Malfoy by this.'

'That's why I was asking.' Michael said.'Well, I don't want to waste such a night of fun. The Yule Ball's occasional, right?'

'Then you'll miss all the fun, Michael, we'll definitely flood him in sticky punch juice and decorate Christmas pudding in his silvery-Christmas-like hair -'

'Padma, I'm sorry, but I sort of agree to Michael. I got Piper as my date and don't wanna be distracted. Sorry.' Terry apologised.

'Who, piper who? Who plays a muggle pipe - '

'Piper Prewett of Hufflepuff, Padma.'

'Oh, blimey,' Michael said. 'I still haven't got my date.'

So haven't Noelle. She was so unlike to the others around her. Indifferent, everyday bully victim, and a book worm. Even as a Ravenclaw, she wasn't smart at any place. Even Hermione Granger of Gryffindor was smarter than her. Oh, alright, back to the Yule Ball thing. She didn't really feel that anyone would be interested in asking her. Even pretty Padma's side is empty by the moment. There was no hope in her.

Padma and Noelle set off for the dinner but they soon realised the time was still early. They settled down on a bench and pulled out a book to read. But with her mind stuffed with the anger towards Malfoy and the worrisome of being unwanted on the Yule Ball, Noelle wasn't reading at all. Instead, she was staring at the word 'usefulness'.

'The best word ever to describe who I am.' She muttered.

'Wondering who you'll bring to the ball, sweetheart?' Padma raised her tone. Noelle hastily looked around and was relieved when she find the corridor empty, with only them.

'Yeah.' Noelle replied.

'Maybe we can go together.'

'What?' Noelle exclaimed, bewildered. 'Pretending to be lesbians? What the Hell? How did that surface your thoughts - '

'Calm down, I mean as friends, mate!' Padma clapped her face and turned to her. 'As you know, no one's ever gonna ask me and till this minute you're still free from grasp,' Padma said seriously as if being unwanted is a cool thing to boast about.
'I suppose we can go as friends. I've heard that some six year girls are planning to go in packs - sorry - groups.'

'Not bad, but - wouldn't it just be too ordinary - you know, us spending our time together again, in such an occasional, different - '

'So maybe you can accost some Durmstrang or Beauxbatons boy in the library. Or the Quidditch pitch. Or elsewhere.' Said Padma, nudging her best friend suddenly.

'It's Draco Malfoy.' She said.'What're you gonna - '

Before she got her sentence finished, Noelle swiftly got to her heels and walked to Malfoy and his unpaid servants, Crabbe and Goyle. Before the big-buildeds could do anything, Noelle attempted to push Malfoy in the chest forcefully, but that was what came up to her mind before she chickened out and ended up simply staring at the Slytherin in hatred.

And that was when he started to watch her, haughtily as he was usual so.

'What now, Chorley? Hit me in the nose or what?'

Noelle swallowed and backed. Folded her arms as if it could strengthen her confidence.

'I, Noelle Deborah Chorley, wishes you to apologise.'

End of Chapter 2