Millicent Bulstrode and Daphne Greengrass stood on opposite sides of me, making sure I couldn't escape, while the Queen Bee herself positioned herself in front of me.
"Well, well, if it isn't that Muggle-raised bitch," Pansy spat at me with eyes burning.
"What do you care, Pans? Just leave me alone," I said, annoyed.
"I want you to stay away from him. He's mine, you hear!" Pansy's face was only a few inches away from mine.
"If he's yours, then why do you feel the need to tell me?" I rebutted.
With a cry, Pansy gave me another push but I saw this one coming so I stepped aside, leaving one leg behind for her to trip over. With a loud thud she crashed to the floor. I gave her one of my finest smug smiles.
Unfortunately, I'd forgotten about Millicent who was now standing behind me and sent me to the floor. Pansy crawled back up and raised her fist at me.
"This isn't over, Ross! Don't you dare come near him again, or you'll regret it!" She and her posse turned around and walked away, gesturing Millicent and Daphne to follow her like a bunch of sheep.
After a few moments, I got up from the floor, laughing. What the fuck just happened?
When I entered the Great Hall, supper was already served. I saw Pansy sitting next to Draco. She stared at me as if to tell me that he's hers. This only encouraged me to sit opposite them, between Crabs and Gargoyle.
I gave Pansy a honeyed smile and elaborately filled my plate with rabbit's stew. If looks could kill I would've dropped dead on the spot. Her eyes held a fiery glare and her head seemed about to explode.
"Pansy, you look a little red, be careful you don't get a fever. You'd better go to bed early," I said ever so sweetly, raising my glass of pumpkin juice to my lips but keeping my eyes glued to hers. Pansy's head turned a deep Bordeaux red and her eyes were close to popping out of her skull. I stifled a laugh.
"You do look rather red, Pansy. You should follow Evelyn's advice before we all catch it too," Draco said, more concerned for himself than for Pans.
If her face could've been more red, it would've. White-hot rage was clearly visible on her face when she looked at me. I looked back as placidly as a single candle at Christmas.
I reached to get her a cup of water and offered it to her. "Here, the water might cool you off a bit," I said, barely able to contain myself.
This was the last drop. With a furious screech, Pansy jumped up and emptied the cup in my face.
"You can have your stupid water, Muggle-loving bitch!" she yelled loud enough for everyone in the Great Hall to hear.
Everybody stopped talking and looked at Pansy. I was biting my lip, but the corners of my mouth kept twitching.
When she finally realised what she'd done she threw the empty cup on the table and stormed out of the Great Hall. After a few moments everybody turned their attention back to what they were doing before Pansy's eruption and I released the hold of my teeth on my lip.
"You should probably get changed, Evelyn. You're wet," Draco said dryly.
After I finally changed into a dry shirt (no way I wanted to leave the Great Hall before I'd finished desert!), Tracey and I spent the evening playing Exploding Snap; a card game where cards spontaneously explode if you're not fast enough to tap a similar pair of cards with your wand. We used self-shuffling cards to make it easier, but we still lost many cards to the explosions. Or perhaps it was just a lot of fun to watch them bursting into flames.
Pansy didn't bother me anymore for the rest of the evening and my bed was still as fresh as it had been in the morning. That night, I had the best sleep I'd had the entire week.
I got up well-rested for a change, but still in time to put on my much-needed make-up. The ink was still as visible as it had been a few days ago. I hope it won't take too long to grow off...
When I'd finished my morning routine, there was still some time to fill before breakfast. I decided to write the letter to Aunt Jeanie and Uncle Eric. I focused on all the great things of course; Tracey, flying, finding out that Aunt Jeanie and I are related to McGonnagal. I deliberately left out Draco and Pansy. I didn't want to go into that kind of drama.
After breakfast I went to the Owlery again. It helped that I could climb the stairs at my own pace now and I was quite convinced my head was a few shades less red when I arrived at the top.
Again, the view from the Owlery was stunning, even in the morning. As it was still quite early, there was a light fog that covered the lake and the surrounding mountains. I halted to enjoy the serenity of it.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" I heard a voice behind me. I turned around and looked at the most handsome boy I'd ever seen. Perhaps he was even better looking than Blaise.
He was tall and well-built, with a perfectly chiselled face. His unruly, dark hair highlighted his grey eyes, which had a kind expression.
Wow.
"It is," I agreed. He joined me at the balustrade and we enjoyed the view together for a moment with the owls softly hooting in the background. I remembered it hadn't been that long ago that I'd stood here with someone else...Well, if it comes to kissing again, I will definitely not let any past memories interfere this time!
"I often come here to enjoy the scenery. It's so quiet up here, it makes it easier to think, you know?" the mysterious stranger said.
"I know what you mean. It's even better at night, with the moonlight reflecting on the lake," I said.
"That sounds beautiful, I should try that sometime," he smiled. He had the most beautiful smile. I suddenly realised something.
"Uhm...would you mind helping me? I want to send a letter, but I have no idea how to get the owl to carry it to my Aunt and Uncle."
"Of course, no problem!" he said. Oh my god, his eyes were so beautiful. He reached for one of the brown school owls. I handed him the letter and he showed me how to attach it to the owl's foot.
"Just tell it where to go, it'll know," the boy said and handed me the owl.
"Aunt Jeanie and Uncle Eric, Mentmore Terrace in London," I told the owl. Needless to say, I felt super ridiculous. The owl seemed to understand me, though, as it flew away immediately afterwards. Or at least I hope it understood.
"Thanks," I said to the boy.
"Don't worry about it. You're that Slytherin girl who was sorted into Gryffindor first, right?" Ugh, do you really have to remind me? I still wasn't sure that it'd been the best decision.
"Interesting choice, Slytherin. You seem nicer than most, though," he continued without waiting for an answer.
"They're not all bad," I said, thinking of Tracey and Astoria. And perhaps Draco, once you got to know him.
"Nice or not, we'll beat you at the next Quidditch match, though," he winked. He just winked at me! Oh my god, crush alert!
His name was Cedric Diggory and apparently he was one of the most popular boys at Hogwarts, a fifth year Hufflepuff and Seeker of their Quidditch team (hence his reference to the Quidditch match, I suppose). Tracey couldn't stand him.
"He's a good Seeker, much better than ours," she said, rolling her eyes. As our Seeker was Draco, I could see what she meant. Apparently, Draco's father had bought the whole team new brooms so they'd let Draco on the team. Typical.
After Tracey finished her rant on Draco's ineptitude as a Seeker and as a person in general, she proceeded with a monologue on her favourite Quidditch team: the Holyhead Harpies.
I listened to her with great pleasure, her enthusiasm was contagious. We were lying in the grass near the lake, enjoying the late summer sun. It was a welcome change after spending several hours in the library, doing homework.
Eyes closed, I thought about how much I'd changed these past few months, ever since I found my Aunt. Meeting her had made me feel more complete, accepted. It had made me more serious about my life and future. Of course, finding out I'm a witch definitely helped too. It's so much more interesting to study if what you're learning actually makes sense.
"Hey, sleepy head, are you still listening?" Tracey threw a cauldron cake in my face.
"Hmmm...yummy. Thanks!" I grinned. I ripped open the wrapper and took a big bite. "So..." I started with my mouth full. "When will I see your Quidditch skills in practice?"
"You'll have to be patient, dear Ev. The first match won't be until November," Tracey replied, munching on a liquorice wand.
"Ugh, that's still so long!"