Y E A R F I V E
C O N T.//
Our lessons in the Room of Requirement resumed as soon as the second term began. Harry was teaching us how to perform the Patronus charm. It proved difficult, honestly. I only ever read about the damn thing. He told us to find the happiest memory we could. I drew a blank. What happy moments did I have? Hardly any. I tried the day I met Harry, the days Hermione, Ron and I hung out, the days I spent with Cho, Luna, and Marietta in the Common Room, even the Yule Ball with Draco. Though each memory drew a spark from my wand, none of them were powerful enough to actually create a full Patronus.
"Keep trying," Harry encouraged me. "What about your parents? There have to be some good memories there."
"They weren't around as much as you'd think, Harry, and considering what I discovered recently, I don't think there are any happy memories." I shook my head.
"You'll think of something," He replied, walking off to help other students. "See if the mirror will help."
I walked over to the old mirror of Erised; my reflection stared back at me. I looked so exhausted. My straight locks slowly shrank back into curls, but only in the reflection. I was by the sea, kicking sand as I walked along the shore. My father used magic to build extraordinary sand castles before my eyes. He picked me up and twirled me around, pointing out at the Ocean. Thought no sound came from his mouth, I could clearly see him saying: 'Your eyes remind me of the ocean.' I realized we were at our old beach cottage. I forgot all about the second home as I grew older. We didn't visit often. I backed away from the mirror, leaving the image of my family and I. Harry explained how difficult a full body Patronus was to produce, but I finally felt ready. I took a deep breathe, holding my wand steadily before myself. I closed my eyes, envisioning my parents and I at the beach.
"Expecto Patronum!" I stated boldly.
I opened my eyes to see students heads turned my way. A blue light emitted from my wand, transforming into the shape of a cat.
The cat pranced around the room, dragging blue light behind it. It stepped over my head before it ran off once more. It joined Luna's rabbit.
Soon, many of the students were able to perform the charm. It was magical. In the midst of our excitement, however, the crystal chandelier above our heads began to shake. We all paused as we directed our gaze to the crystals.
Our Patronus disappeared. The large mirror before us came crashing down, splitting into hundreds of pieces. Soon after, the wall before us exploded to bits, revealing Umbridge and her Inquisitorial Squad. Cho's jaw dropped in unison with mine as Draco and Filch held Marietta's arm tightly. Spelled on her face in blisters was the word SNEAK. The brunette did not make eye contact with anyone in Dumbledore's Army.
Umbridge punished the entire club, and from that moment on Hogwarts changed even more than it had in the previous months. Dumbledore left Hogwarts, but us students couldn't blame him. Umbridge contacted the Ministry about Dumbledore's Army, and if the man hadn't escaped, the consequences would have been awful.
I sat in Umbridge's classroom the following hour, scribbling the sentence 'I shall not tell lies' on a piece of parchment with her charmed quills that carved the words into our skin. I found myself harshly pressing the quill into my piece of parchment.
I SHALL NOT TELL LIES.
I SHALL NOT TELL LIES.
I SHALL NOT TELL LIES.
I SHALL NOT TELL LIES.
The words mocked us as we wrote in silence under Umbridge's watch. We failed. Dumbledore would still be at Hogwarts if we would have been more careful, but if Umbridge didn't have half of the Slytherin house sneaking around we would have had nothing to hide! How could they do that to us? Betray their own classmates? Their own Headmaster! And for what? A silly few points of extra credit in a class ran by a woman who didn't give a damn about the feelings of others!? Everyone blamed Marietta rather than the Inquisitorial Squad, but somehow I couldn't. I knew she hated Harry and hated the idea of the club, but Cho and I dragged her into the mess.
I looked down at my left hand which bled profoundly. I inhaled sharply before I continued scribbling away on my parchment. Umbridge took a sip of her tea as she looked down at me. Our eyes met, and she didn't give a damn that blood dripped from my hand onto the floor. No one else bled like I bled. No one else wrote so violently. I caught Hermione's eyes on my left and Cho's on my right as they watched a small puddle of blood form underneath my desk. I clenched my jaw as I returned to writing.
I SHALL NOT TELL LIES.
I SHALL NOT TELL LIES.
I SHALL NOT TELL LIES.
I SHALL NOT TELL LIES.
I wrote faster, feeling my cheeks burn and my head spin. This is unfair. I felt tears burning my eyes. This is entirely unfair. Life is unfair. I don't want this life anymore. I don't want to be like them. I don't want to be as rotten as Umbridge or a sneak like Marietta or a brat like Draco or liars like my family.
I don't!
I couldn't tell you where the sudden burst of anger came from. I sat quietly as Umbridge watched intently, her lips parted as she waited the harsh pain I would feel from the damage to the parchment I caused. Looking down, I saw the large tear I carved into the parchment with the quill. I didn't remember causing such a mark. I became lost in my thoughts and acted without realization. I closed my eyes, feeling a light sting at first. I choked back a scream as a large cut slowly tore my skin apart. I allowed tears to stream down my face as the cut grew larger.
You're just like them.
Then everything went dark.
❁ ❁ ❁
I woke up in the hospital wing with Madame Pomfrey who sighed in relief upon seeing my eyes open. She offered me a glass of water (after promising me a glass of pumpkin juice once she bought more) before she scurried out of the room to retrieve Professor Flitwick, as well as Professor McGonagall. I received a visit from an unexpected student, who entered the hospital wing right as Madame Pomfrey left. He sat in the chair beside me bed, watching me with his grey eyes.
"You are bloody mad," He muttered. "Why in Merlin's name did you do this to yourself?"
"I don't know," I furrowed my brows. "I can't remember."
"You've been out for a whole day. McGonagall is furious." He looked down and fumbled with his sweater.
"She wouldn't have anything to be furious about if your stupid snitch club hadn't helped Umbridge snoop around for the Room of Requirement." I scoffed, turning onto my side so my back faced Draco.
"Inquisitorial Squad, and it is extra credit," He corrected. "Your friend Edgecomb is the sneak. It's written all over her face, literally."
"Marietta had no choice," I raised my voice. "Her mother works for the ministry and I don't blame her for ratting us out," I rolled over to face the blond again. "Your little squad gave all the information to Umbridge, Marietta just confirmed it."
"You shouldn't have gone against Umbridge in the first place." He argued, raising his voice as well.
"I would rather defy Umbridge and learn than be her pathetic snitch! You and I both know you're not doing it for extra credit. You like snooping around in Harry's business. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if you had a crush on Harry!" I huffed, my lips curving downward.
"Ugh," Draco scowled. "As if I would ever even befriend that bloody, attention-seeking git!"
"Whatever you say. Anyway, you have to understand we needed to be taught properly," I explained the purpose of the club. "All of us in Dumbledore's Army know more about defense against the dark arts than you, which is a bit frightening, Draco. If the Dark Lord has truly taken interest in us, don't you think we need to be prepared?"
"Why is my well-being any of your bloody concern?" He scowled.
"Why is mine any of yours?" I raised a brow. "You wouldn't be sitting in that chair if you didn't care."
"I suppose I feel a little guilty." He muttered.
"You should," I replied harshly, watching the boy intently. "After all, you did watch Umbridge use the Crutiatus Curse on me, and I don't remember ever receiving an apology. How did it feel to watch someone get tortured like that?" I wanted an answer from him, but knew he wouldn't give it. "Did it hurt? Did it make you sick? Or did you want to join in?"
"I--" He fell silent as he swallowed hard.
Madame Pompfrey returned with Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick. McGonagall raised a brow upon seeing Draco sitting beside me. He wouldn't be sitting here if you wouldn't have paired us up at the Yule Ball practice! I thought. Would he be sitting here if we hadn't danced that day? Would we still absolutely hate each other? I still hate him, I frowned. I still hate him. I don't have any reason not to.
"Good to see you're awake, Iris," Professor Flitwick beamed, "I am terribly sorry about the injury. You should be more careful when using those quills."
"Indeed she should, Fillius. However, I believe such a punishment should be banned," Concern washed over McGonagall's face, "Miss Éclatant, why on earth did you write so harshly on your parchment. You didn't mean to do this to yourself on purpose, did you?"
"Oh, no, Professor," I found myself at a loss for words, "I... I'm not... I'm not entirely sure why. I just felt... I felt angry."
"Yes, well," The woman leaned over and patted my shoulder gently, "Be more careful in the future, yes?"
"Will do, Professor." I nodded.
"And Mr. Malfoy," She turned her attention to him, "Though Miss Éclatant might appreciate your company, you will need to return to your classes sometime today. You missed your classes yesterday due to being with Iris."
"What?" I turned to Draco who only nodded and refused to make eye contact with either of us.
So the slimy git has been sitting in that chair since yesterday?
YESTERDAY?
McGonagall sighed, watching the two of us sit together. I noticed her lips curved slightly upward once Draco finally looked at me and rested his hand on top of mine. I swore the woman winked at me before turning and leaving the hospital wing. Draco Malfoy's company is no joking matter. I hope she knows what she has done!
"You were here watching me while I slept?" I smirked, watching Draco become flustered. He immediately snatched his hand away.
"It wasn't like that!" He exclaimed in his defense. "I just wanted to make sure you were...okay."
"And so you watched me sleep?" I raised a brow, teasing the blond.
"Shut up." He pressed.
"That is very kind of you, Malfoy."
"Whatever." The blond growled before he averted his eyes elsewhere.
❁ ❁ ❁
The school year ended with an excellent surprise from the Weasley twins who disrupted the O.W.L.S. with an entertaining display of fireworks and confetti, which tipped Umbridge over the edge, but the twins definitely made the year something to remember. Gosh, I love those boys!
"D'ya enjoy the show, Iris?" The asked in unison, each throwing an arm over either of my shoulders.
"Très bon!" I smiled. "Umbridge will never forget it!"
"We've been thinkin' about opening a shop in Diagon Alley." Fred grinned.
"Oh, that would be wonderful!" I beamed. "It will be a success. I know it!"
"If you help us fix up the place, we'll let ya take anythin' you fancy for free." George winked.
"I would love to help," I clapped my hands together. "I could work out some designs for the building. Just the design. I am no good with architectural magic."
"Thanks, Iris!" The boys cheered, leaving me at the entrance to the Ravenclaw Common Room.
Before I could climb the staircase, Luna appeared before me, her eyes wide as she spoke a million words per minute and dragged me down the hall before I could even ask what on earth it was she said to me.
"Harry thinks his godfather is in trouble!" Luna finally explained, "He needs our help!" She pulled me into the Defense Against the Dark Arts class, which I found odd.
Right as we entered the office, we found Umbridge standing with a scowl on her face, as well as the Inquisitorial Squad who each held a member of our group of friends. Hermione, Ron, Neville and Ginny all looked pale, as if they saw a ghost. Harry sat in a chair in front of Umbridge who promptly held her wand in front of his face.
"Miss Éclatant, Miss Lovegood," Umbridge forced an un-comforting smile. "So nice of you young ladies to join us."
Pansy Parkinson closed the door to Umbridge's office, locking us inside the room.
"I hope you two weren't planning on going to see Dumbledore, too." She continued.
I opened my mouth to protest, but immediately pressed my lips back together. She thinks Harry and the others were going to find Dumbledore. They haven't told her about Sirius.
"If you won't tell her where we're going, Harry," I blurted. "Then I will."
"What?" Harry threw a confused look my way.
"Right," Hermione added. "I know exactly where it is."
"What is it? What are you girls talking about?" Umbridge questioned.
"Dumbledore's--- His-- his secret weapon." The Gryffindor girl continued our lie. I couldn't be sure as to where she would take Umbridge, but the pink-lipped woman escorted Harry and Hermione from her office, leaving me with the others and the Inquisitorial Squad. We have to get out of here. If Sirius is really in trouble, we need to leave as soon as possible, otherwise... I gulped.
"Je suis désolé," I pulled my wand from my pocket. "Stupify!" I pointed my wand toward Goyle who then flew backward onto Umbridge's desk.
The others caught on quickly and the entire Inquisitorial Squad fell on the floor as the Gryffindor students, Luna and I rush from the office to find Harry and Hermione.
❁ ❁ ❁
The battle of the Department of Mystery sparked a new level of perseverance in Harry, as well as our friends.
Sirius Black lost his life. Bellatrix Lestrange used the Killing Curse on him right before the eyes of Harry. To make matters worse, Bellatrix moved in with the Malfoy's, considering she was Narcissa's sister. I would have to face the deranged woman every day.
Due to the survival of Harry and the rest of us, Lucius was sent to Azkaban by Voldemort. He failed the task he was ordered to do and had to face the consequences.
I packed my things at the end of the school year slowly, not looking forward to the summer with the Malfoy family (and Bellatrix). I wrote to Celia countless times, but she never wrote back.
Not once.
"These curtains are much nice than the one's in the Gryffindor Common Room," I turned to see Professor Dumbledore eyeing the blue drapes, and before I could speak he continued. "I wish you a well Summer, Miss Éclatant. I trust you will be on your best behavior."
"Of course," I nodded, looking down for a moment to finish packing. "Professor--"
"Who are you talking to?" I snapped my head up to see Luna in the doorway, and no sign of Dumbledore.
I looked around the room. Empty.
"No one." I mumbled.
[TRANSLATIONS]
trés bon, very good
je suis désole, I am sorry