Days Gone (Pt. 2.5 Interlude)

*This is a VERY rough draft and only intended to be an introduction to Part 3 of Days Gone. The goal is to establish the mood for the coming part, but I really just wanted to get something written down. You're very likely to find errors in spelling and grammar, and many other parts that could be vastly improved. Expect some changes going forward as I work through the kinks, and try rewrite it or write the rest at a better time or better state of mind.*
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'Today will be different.'

Merula shot straight up from her peaceful sleep, and immediately began swearing at the freckled girl at her bedside.

"I finally get one damned good dream in who-knows-how-long, and guess who comes along and ruins it?" She yelled at Ismelda, who was now slowly retreating from the four-poster. "Murk! How is it that you know exactly how to ruin my day before I even open my eyes? Have you even bothered washing your hair?"

"I-I'm sorry Merula," Ismelda looked to her side while twiddling with her bangs, "You were sleeping in late, and you told me to-"

"To what?" She was interrupted by a low growl.

"-get you up if it looked like you might miss class." She returned her tired friend's gaze, though her own was colored with embarrassment.

"And does it look like I might miss class, Miss Murk?" Merula slowly asked through gritted teeth, while gesturing towards the clock hanging above the entrance to their dorm.

Ismelda shot a brief glance towards the clock, knowing full well what time it showed, "N-no. But I thought you might want to take some time to read the Daily Prophet this morning." Her shaky voice gradually gave way to excitement.

"The Daily Prophet? What does that have to do with anything?" The gears in Merula's head were still working themselves into motion after her rude awakening.

Ismelda giddily swayed over to Merula's bedside once more, "Well, I heard they had a special edition coming out today. With a front page spot given to Hogwarts' greatest witch!" An eerie smile spread across her face, though Merula figured it was probably her best impression of a normal smile.

Unsettled by her friend, but her interest piqued, the sleepy girl sidled off the bed and began dressing herself in her daily attire. 'Was Rita's article finally releasing? Was she going to do my story justice? She never asked me many questions...'

Her worrisome thought process was interrupted once more by the pale witch to her side, "And yes! I did wash my hair," She proclaimed rather proudly, "I remembered what you said you'd do if I didn't."

"Anyway, what was this dream of yours? I didn't mean to interrupt, but if it was good, you've gotta share the details!"

Merula was already tired of the harassment, but still tried to answer, only to find herself struggling with any memories of the details, save for a single sentence. "I really can't remember. And it's your damn fault. Had I been left to dream in peace, maybe I could have remembered something, but you've made it a habit of rui-" She stopped herself as she saw the eerie grin fade to a somber frown. "Look, if I can remember something, you'll be the first to know. Next time I have a good dream -AND- you don't interrupt, I'll share whatever happens." Seeing Ismelda's smile return, she forced a smile of her own, 'As if that will happen anytime soon.'


After readying themselves for the day ahead, the pair descended into the Slytherin Common Room. Though there was still plenty of time before classes, some students had already returned from their morning meal and had gathered in sporadic clumps, speaking or arguing with one another.

'Would that Skeeter woman really do any good? Will I finally get the respect and recognition I deserve? After all I've been through - chasing the vaults, embarrassed in front of other students, and fighting with him... - it would be nice to finally catch a break.'

Her thoughts kept her occupied until she neared the common room's exit, where a circle of giggling first-years suddenly went quiet at her approach. Such things weren't abnormal in Merula's presence; despite her losses to Ymous, many other students found her a threat, or at least avoided crossing her. However, there was something off about this group.

'Were they trying to hold back laughs?'

She noticed one of the girls shaking, avoiding her eyes, and attempting to hide something behind her back. "You. Spaz. What's that behind your back? You got something you want to share?" Her ability to single out the weak point was as strong as ever, and her signature menacing glare nearly made the younger girl crumble.

"You heard her. Hand it over, unless-" Ismelda stepped forward, twirling her wand in the air in front of her, but her threat was left unfinished, as the trembling witch took off into a sprint, leaving her friends behind.

The other girls quickly followed suit, leaving only a rolled up bunch of papers in their wake.

Ismelda knelt down to retrieve the abandoned paper, and unfurled it before her eyes, "A-ha! Lucky us! Not even in the Grand Hall and we get the paper shipped to our doorstep." She smiled to herself, and then tilted her head to the side in confusion, "It looks like the rumors were true, but... they really could have used a better shot." Her smile wavered with unease.

"Give me that!" Merula snatched the stolen copy of the Daily Prophet from her companion, turned it over and immediately understood what she meant. Between the headline and the pained expression on her face in the photo they used, Merula's heart dropped into the pit of her stomach. Her hands shook as her eyes darted back and forth across the page, while Ismelda shuffled over to her side.

Her teeth clenched and her eyes narrowed as she finished the first page, turning it over to the article's continuation where her fears were realized. Her face was burning. Her eyes were stinging. Her head was pounding. Her breath was rapid and shallow. With every word she read, a silent scream grew in her throat.

'Life spent in shadows? Engulfed in dark arts? Evil inclinations? Humiliated by Ymous? Parents in  Azkaban?

Following in her parents' footsteps?'

Merula's vision blurred, her knees weakened, and her whole body trembled. Ismelda, still a few paragraphs behind, soon found the paper to be unreadable due to the shaking of its wielder. Once her eyes fell upon Merula's face, she saw it had turned a mix of crimson and blue. With immense trepidation, she waved one hand in front of Merula's face and used the other to pat her on the back, aiming to help her catch her breath and regain her senses.

Ismelda was successful on one front; Merula's resumed breathing, but continued to stare down at the paper. "Come on, it's just some dumb hit piece. That Skeeter witch doesn't know what she's talking about."

Her words meant nothing, "How. Did. She. Know? She never asked me a thing. I never told her about my parents. How. Did. She. Know?" There was venom in every stunted syllable, forced through gritted teeth.

"I-I don't know, Merula. Isn-Isn't she one of those journalists that find out about that kind of stuff? Maybe she had a source?" Ismelda's voice trailed off, as she felt fear with a subtle hint of morbid curiosity as to how her friend would take out her anger.

"A source? You... You're right. You're right," Merula's vision cleared briefly as she scanned the paper once more. But she didn't need to look to know exactly who did this to her, "Ymous."

"It had to be him! Who else would sink so low?"

"That sick bastard. Why would he do this?" She looked back to the paper and saw her pained face on the front page once more. "Everyone's going to see this. They're all going to know. Not just Hogwarts. Everyone." Struggling with disbelief, fury, and despair, Merula had little control over the breaks in her voice.

'He's stolen so much.'

One last look at her own face in the paper was all it took. She tore her face apart and left the shredded remains on the Common Room floor.

'My place at the top.'

She looked to the room's other occupants, noticing many had huddled around their own copies of the Prophet, speaking in hushed tones.

'My respect. My friends.'

She stomped out of the room and into the halls of the castle, Ismelda close behind.

'And now my chance for a normal life outside of this prison.'

She found many other students milling about the halls, and felt they were judging her or laughing at her behind her back.

'He always has his way. No one ever stops him from ruining everything. From ruining my life.'

She let loose a shrill scream, calling out his name. Students cowered at the sound, and parted before they became a target in her oncoming rampage.

'Today will be different.'
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