Neveah Crow
It's been a few days since Draco and I met at the Astronomy Tower. Call me ignorant, but I thought he would at least in look my direction. Call me foolish, but I thought we would still share a conversation in public. Even I blame myself for pretending such things could happen.
I should know better, but some part of me still hoped for a friendship. I still believed we could return to the way we were as children. Instead, he looks at me as if I were a stranger. That's if he would look at me at all.
School feels wasteful. I sit and listen to questions I already know the answers to for hours a day. An upside, I suppose, to the constant torture of learning at my grandparents' hands. No professor is yet to test my knowledge, all besides one.
It seems as though every day, Professor Umbridge is gaining more power. Somehow, she began creating proclamations out of thin air. Ruling with an 'Iron Fist', the atmosphere feels stiff most days. Although I haven't been around long enough to decide, I know this is not the place it used to be. It's not the magical tale I imagined, the ones my mother and father would tell me as a child. The stories that caused me to beg for a chance to attend.
"Neveah!" Hermione barged into the room, pulling me off the bed without a moment to think. "Hurry, come quick. We have to see Harry!"
Before I could ask what the stress was for, she had already replied with a vague answer. It's Umbridge. Of course it was. She took my hand and dragged me out into the halls.
"Harry got himself in detention."
"Detention? What's so bad about that?" Detention was thrown around daily for the most minor inconvenience. It wasn't necessarily uncommon for Harry to be in trouble. It was clear most teachers, and students, had a vendetta against him.
"Take a look for yourself." I quickly realized the intensity of the situation. Hermione ripped Harry's hand from under his lap, exposing a large scar. It seemed to be fresh, on its way to healing. It bruised purple from his dorsal to his knuckles. Words etched into his skin in bright red, a terrible thing to look at.
"Bloody hell, what happened!" I couldn't help but gasp, clutching his hand in my own. Up close, you could see his strained veins. I knew exactly what happened, a Blood Quill. One of the simpler punishments I endured as a child.
"Umbridge is torturing the students, starting with Harry." Rons arms were crossed, legs shoulder width apart. He hovered over Harry protectively. An angry, yet scared, look plastered on his face
"You have to tell Dumbledore." I looked at him earnestly. His face seemed so casual, not many would question it. But I knew the pain the quill caused, one that doesn't just go away.
Harry had refused everyone's advice, despite the seriousness. I did my best to help him realize, but I knew it wouldn't change his mind. I spoke of her evil, the way she sought power. It was best to end it sooner rather than later.
"I suppose you're right," he mumbled, "but for now I'd rather just move past it."
"If this gets any worse Harry, I swear I'll hex her once and for all." Hermione commented on what she called my 'angry face,' causing us all to let out a small laugh. Harry insisted on dropping the matter. We agreed, for now, and made our way to lunch.
***
School felt calm, almost too calm. Recently, I've begun to see less and less of the group. They seem to always be busy, or running late at the same time. At first, I thought their one day of kindness had run out. That was until I caught them whispering when they thought I'm away. Quieting themselves when I'm around.
I decided not to think about it too much, I already have enough on my mind and I didn't want to deal with more.
I walked inside my room to find Hermione stuffing her face into a textbook.
"You're still studying?" I complained.
"Oh! Nev, I didn't hear you come in." She quickly shut her book closed, throwing it into a bag beside her. Of course it was suspicious, but I chose to be subtle.
"What were you reading?"
"Oh nothing really, just some studying." An awkward laugh.
Screw being subtle.
I charged towards her desk, snatching her bag. I rummaged through it quickly before finding the book she had. She squirmed, trying to capture it back.
"Defense Against the Dark Arts. Vol. 1?" This wasn't the textbook assigned from class. I remember finding it in the library once, labeled 'DO NOT TOUCH.' "Never thought you a criminal, Hermione."
"It's just... Umbridge isn't teaching us anything useful," she spoke quietly. "I figured I could learn it myself."
"Well why didn't you just ask me?" I said, throwing myself on her bed beside her.
"Ask you? How can you possibly know this stuff." She laughed, an embarrassing shot to the heart. It was clear she thought little of my knowledge.
"'Mione, do you know who my grandparents are?" I asked.
"Well of course-"
"Well then you should know how powerful they were. My parents as well, it's in our blood." I sat up straight, flipping through the pages of the book. "I may not have attended Hogwarts but this is amateur. My grandparents ensured I perfected spells and hexes by the age of thirteen."
"Do you really mean that?" Her eyes were wide, eyeing me to spot a lie.
"Yes, Hermione." I stopped at a random page in the book. "Lacarnum Inflamari. That's an easy one, would you like me to show it to you?"
Hermione looked at me with excitement, nodding vigorously. She scattered to find her wand, followed by standing in a ready position.
Lacarnum Inflamari was best taught in an open space, free of casualties. I cased quick enchantments around the room, preventing any fire hazards. I was ready to teach, to show off my knowledge.
We started small, appreciating every time she produced a mere spark. I spoke how I wished I received as a child. I taught with patience and repeated explanations. I demonstrated as many times as she wished, I encouraged at every sign of progress.
Hermione casts a small orb of fire across the room, igniting a crumpled piece of paper. I shot out of my seat and cheered, as did she. She threw her arms around my neck and thanked me continuously. She told me how she had never learned as quickly as she did now. How she hasn't felt this excited in a long time.
"Follow me." She swiped my hand and I found myself being pulled out the door once again. I didn't bother to question it and followed along.
Ron and Harry sat in the common room, chatting among themselves.
"We're telling her." She told them.
"What?" Ron stood up.
"We're telling her. She can help." She insisted on something I had no knowledge of.
"I'm sorry, what is it you're telling me?"
"Nothing. We are telling her nothing, Hermione." Ron's voice was stern with decision.
"Neveah just taught me how to cast a spell in less than 20 minutes. We need her Ronald. I trust her."
"Well I don't!" He cried.
Rude.
"Harry, what do you think?" Hermione faced Harry, ignoring Ron.
"Actually, I agree with Hermione. It'll be a lot easier with two people teaching. I wanted to tell her a long time ago."
"Bloody hell, are you forgetting I'm right in front of you?" I interrupted. "No more secrets. Did you really think I wouldn't notice you all disappearing in the night? Or whispering when I'm not around?"
"We're sorry Neveah." Hermione finally faced me. "We're making an army, Dumbledore's Army."
"Army?"
"Umbridge is taking over Neveah." Harry stood up as well, "there's no one to teach us how to defend ourselves."
"Harry has been teaching us the spells he's already learned." Hermione explained. "Imagine how much quicker we can learn with you around to help us."
"I would've said yes if you'd asked in the first place." I huffed, "why is it I'm only finding out now?"
"Don't take this the wrong way, Neveah," Ron stepped forward. "But in everyone's eyes you're an enemy. You can't be trusted, you'd become a traitor to us."
"Are you kidding me?" I repulsed, "I have done nothing wrong. I haven't done anything to suggest I'm a traitor. You can't actually believe that's true?"
"Is it? You're a Crow. Blood of a Slytherin, Neveah. Is it really that hard to believe you'd turn on us?" He scoffed.
"Listen here Ron," I made my way closer to him. "You can believe what you want. I've been nothing but kind to you, even when you throw these disgusting comments at me. So for crying out loud, I think you can suck up for a few hours a day."
Ron always gave me the side eye, no matter the day. I knew he didn't like me, but his comments were growing old. I inched closer as I spoke, pushing a finger to his chest. Eventually he hit the arm of the couch, stumbling over himself.
"Are you going to stop her?" He looked at the other for help, but they never intervened. "She's even scarier than you, Hermione."
"You had it coming, Ron." She laughed.
"Convincing some of the others may be hard, Neveah, but we'll be right behind you. We really could use your help." Harry smiled at me.
"Of course, I'll do my best to show them I'm a good person. That they can trust me." I said confidently, "and not a traitor." I shot my eyes at Ron.
"Bloody hell, I get it." He scoffed.
"We have our next meeting tomorrow, in the room of requirement."
***
Harry and I have been talking all day, going over their current lesson plans and progress. He caught me up on their routine, what they had already covered. He gave advice on how to convince them of my honesty, it was reassuring.
"You ready?" He asked.
"As ready as I can be."
The doors appeared in front of us. The room of requirement.
"Everyone, I'd like to make an announcement." He caught everyone's attention while I followed behind. "Some of you have already met Neveah Crow," he gestured to me. "She'll be helping me teach you all."
"That's rubbish!" A voice from the left. "How can we trust her?" Another boy cried out from behind.
More voices spilled from the crowd. I watched some go quiet, some whisper to the person besides them. Harry was ready to speak up but I had already stepped forward.
"I understand you all have your doubts about me. If I were you, I wouldn't want me around either." I hated to admit it, but it was true. "I have no connection to my family. I'm here to help, I want to help you all fight back."
"Neveah has already taught me how to perfect spells, she's more experienced then all of us combined." Hermoine stood forward.
Eventually, the group agreed to let me stay, not that they had any choice. The mood slowly lightened up as minutes flew by. I realized how fulfilling it was to teach someone. The excitement on their face when they got it right.
"Thank you Neveah, you're really good at this." Another student thanked me as they left the room.
As the numbers grew smaller, only a small bunch of people remained.
"Harry!" I called out, "thank you, for letting me be a part of this."
"I should be thanking you. Everyone really improved today Neveah." He smiled. "I- uh, I know this might sound weird but, I really do think you're a good person. I trust you, and I'm grateful."
I thanked Harry yet again. Since my first day he's done nothing but be kind to me. He honestly trusted me, and helped me succeed. We stood and spoke to one another for another minute. That was until his eyes left mine.
I turned around to see Cho.
"You should talk to her, Harry." I encouraged. I've seen the way Harry looked at her in the halls. It was something I couldn't prevent.
And so I left them to talk, making my way out of the room.
Today I was a part of something and I couldn't help but smile about it. By now the halls were empty, I tried to make my way to the common room quietly.
Out of nowhere a tall figure shoved me against a wall.
Without a doubt it was the one and only Draco Malfoy.
"What are you doing out so late, Crow?" His voice changed with my name. A hand pinned against the wall, trapping me.
"Going by last names now are we?" I joked, but he wasn't amused. "I was going for a walk, Malfoy." I rolled my eyes.
"Look at me when I'm speaking to you." He took his other hand and grabbed my face, forcing me to look at him.
He was angry, I could tell. Except now, it felt more...exciting.
"You're helping them aren't you." He scoffed.
"I don't know what you mean." I replied with a smirk. He hadn't dared to look my way all week and yet he spoke like he had a right.
"Don't start keeping secrets, Crow. I'll find out."
I eyed his stupid medal placed on his robes. "I almost forgot, you worship her don't you? Trying to catch us?"
"So you admit it. There's something going on?" He moved his face closer to mine. "Did you think I wouldn't notice you and Potter fraternizing in the halls?"
"Oh please, what does this have to do with Harry?" I scoffed at his arrogance.
"I hate seeing you with him." He seethed. "And the others. A blood traitor now, are you?"
"This has nothing to do with them does it? You're just jealous." I laughed.
Draco took his free hand and grabbed my throat. He was forceful, but not enough for it to hurt.
"W-what are you doing Draco?"
Instead of answering he gave me a devilish smirk, amused by my flustered face.
Suddenly Draco did the unexpected. He forced his lips on mine. He was aggressive, angry.
But I liked it.
I didn't have time to think about it, before long my tongue was tangled with his. Forcing heavy kisses on one another.
Soon his lips found my neck, placing wet kisses.
"So what if I'm jealous?" He spoke between kisses on my collar bone. My hands tangled in his hair. "You have no idea how long I've wanted to do this. I finally have you back and you go prancing around with him?" He placed another kiss on my lips.
This was another side of Draco I've never seen before. It should've been weird, uncomfortable or forced. We had only known each other as children, despite our current attraction. Instead, it was anything but weird. It felt right. I would've been ashamed if it weren't for his lips distracting me.
"I-It's not like that Draco." A soft moan escaped my lips.
"You disgust me, Crow." Despite his words, he continued to work his way on my body.
"Draco- what if someone sees." I cried out.
"Let them watch."
His hand slid up my thigh, squeezing it gently. His fingers pulled me so close I could feel him through the fabric of our uniforms. I gasped for air every time he pulled away, only to continue somewhere else.
Noises in the far hallway startled me. Although it didn't phase Draco.
"D- Draco." I pushed him off of me, although I wish I didn't have to. "We can't."
"I know." He huffed, running his hands through his hair.
"Get to your room, Crow. Or else I'll have you taken to Umbridge." And with those words he walked away. Ignoring everything that just happened.
Was it that easy for him? To pick a girl for fun and leave her there? Unbelievable.
Then again, I just made out with my childhood best friend. I couldn't decide whether I was happy, or disappointed. Yet, he was so good with his hands. His lips.
He knew exactly what he was doing to me. I couldn't think straight.
I quickly composed myself. After fixing my hair and uniform I rushed to the common room.
When I walked in Harry, Ron and Hermoine sat by the fire.
"Harry made a girl cry while kissing her!" Ron spit out the sentence as soon as he saw me. He began hysterically laughing.
"Ron! Be nice." Hermoine shoved Ron, knocking him to the floor.
"It's funny Hermoine!" He continued.
I made my way closer, trying to push my thoughts of Draco away.
"I'm sorry about that Harry." I consoled
"It's alright, just wasn't meant to be." He brushed it off. It was clear he didn't want to talk about it.
"It's been a long day, you should get some rest." I insisted.
Hermione and I made our way to our room.
"Where were you after the DA meeting Neveah? I couldn't find you anywhere." She asked.
Of course I couldn't tell her. She'd be furious, I was fraternizing with the enemy.
"Just got a little lost. The castles are quite big."
I'll tell her. One day, I'll tell her. Just not now.
I couldn't stop thinking about Draco. The way he made me feel. Good and bad.
Let me know what you guys think, I'll be responding to any comments I receive! :)
(Finished editing this chapter at midnight, FOR THE SECOND TIME. Because with my luck, the first draft deleted :) anyways, ta da!)