The Irish Language: part one
In the morning, I changed into my uniform. My head was still drowning in pain, but Theodore was right. There was no bruise or swelling, but there was one giant cut. It went from the bottom of my left eyebrow to the top right corner of my forehead. The scab was moist, so I thought I better go to the Hospital Wing to get it fixed. When I got to the hospital wing, so many other Slytherins were there. Most of them girls, they all smirked as I walked in and whispered to each other. Madam Pomphrey saw me. "Name, please?"
"Ruby Shelby," I said nervously.
"Ruby Shelby, of course." This was an annoyed 'of course'. "So your parents won't let me treat you unless one of them is present, so you might want to get comfortable."
"No, they can't come here!"
"There is nothing I can do. Also, you know you don't have to start wearing your uniform until next week, right?"
I walked out into the hallway, all the way to the grand staircase. I don't remember how I got there. My vision was so blurry as my migraine worsened.
The next thing I knew, I was back in the hospital wing. A curtain was drawn around my bed, and the clothes I had on were different. I was wearing a sweater that smelled like a campfire and some sweatpants. I heard movement, and sitting in the corner was this bigger girl and Theodore. They were whispering to each other. "You're awake," Theodore said. "Oh, this is Milicent Bulstrode. She saved you from one of the moving staircases."
"What am I wearing?"
"Well, you see. We went to get comfier clothes for you, but someone stole all your clothes. Theo's fit you better." Milicent rolled her eyes. "Oh, they said your mom is talking to McGonagall right now?"
"Theodore, you need to leave!" I got scared. "I am certain she didn't come alone! You aren't safe!"
"Awe, she cares about me, Milicent." His face showed just a slight smirk. "You better not get up Ruby, you might faint again." I was trying to swing my legs over but decided that he was probably right. "Don't worry the other Slytherins that were here earlier left."
"That's the problem, I think one of them stole your clothes. They might have also been the reason you fainted." Milicent said with a concerned look.
Just then, we heard multiple voices coming through. I heard McGonagal, Madam Pomphrey, my mother. The fourth voice was unmistakable. It was my great aunt, Polly. They opened the curtain, and while my mother was focused on me, my aunt Polly's eyes went to Theo. She knew. "Can I talk to you privately?" She said to Theo. Madam Pomphrey ushered Milicent away as well.
"Whose clothes are these? You smell like one of Changretta's lackeys." My mother's eyes went to Aunt Polly, who just winked back at her. My mother switched to Irish, her true emotions completely invisible. "Cad a tharlóidh nuair a fhaigheann d'athair amach?" "What happens when your dad finds out?"
"Cad a bheadh air a fháil amach?" "What would he need to find out?" My mother applied some kind of ointment to my forehead.
"Is cuid de theaghlach Changretta é." "He's a part of the Changretta family." She looked at me with such disappointment in her eyes.
"Níl aon rud ar siúl eadrainn. Níl aithne agam air ach le timpeall deich n-uaire an chloig, agus caitheadh ocht gcinn díobh sin ina chodladh." "Nothing's going on between us. I've only known him for about ten hours, and eight of those were spent asleep."
"Ní mór duit é a ghearradh amach anois! Is dócha go bhfuil pósadh socraithe aige. Bris amach é sula mbeidh sé in ann tú a cheangal. Ná bíodh dúr! Cár uile a chuaigh ar iarraidh, dar leat? Cén fáth eile a ndeachaigh do chuid éadaí ar iarraidh, dar leat?" "You need to cut it off now! He probably has an arranged marriage. Break it off before he can string you along. Don't be stupid! Why else do you think all your clothing went missing?"
"Those Slytherin girls don't play." We both looked at Madam Pomfrey. "I understand, I just don't speak it." I laughed; my mother did not think it was funny. I saw Theodore leave. My great-aunt Polly came over. "He's Changnetta's nephew. You are not to speak with him."
"He was helping me. I was asleep at the party. When he took me to my bedroom, I woke up, got scared, and hurt myself. He helped me patch myself up with what was in the bathroom."
"Who do those clothes belong to?" My mother spoke.
"Milicent's clothes didn't fit me. They were too big." Aunt Polly's and my mother's eyes flickered with concern.
"It can't work; one of you will end up dead. You'd lose your family, and you'd be dead. So just make sure whatever you decide is worth it." They ate with me before they left.
