TRAINING WHEELS—
captain leon

046

"Your last detention, Miss Buckley," Professor Umbridge beamed at her, ignoring the fact that Amora barely even reacted to her words anymore. "You know the drill. Please take your seat. I'll just grab your quill and parchment."

Amora dropped her backpack down onto the floor beside her chair, taking her seat. She stretched her hands out in front of her, preparing for another hour of writing lines that would carve into her soft flesh. Umbridge placed the parchment and quill down in front of her seconds later and Amora hesitantly picked it up.

One of the only things getting her through her fifth hour of the week as the fact that it would be her last. After this, so long as she didn't disobey the wretched woman again, Amora would never have to write these lines.

I must not talk back.
I must not talk back.
I must not talk back.
I must not---

The brunette was half way through her fourth line when there was a rapid knocking at the door. Umbridge sat up straight from where she had been marking essays, her thin brows knitting together and her nose scrunching up. She scowled when the banging on the door grew louder, getting up from her seat.

Amora craned her head over her shoulder to watch as Umbridge rushed towards it, yanking it open. Draco stood on the other side, causing Amora's breath to hitch. His silver eyes darted momentarily from Umbridge to Amora, and he began to talk quickly.

"Professor Umbridge!" He cried, "Blaise Zabini and Theodore Nott are duelling in the halls. They've-- they've come this close to hitting a group of first years. All of the other teachers, they don't care enough, Professor Umbridge-- I thought you'd be the only one to take it seriously enough--"

"Thank you for letting me know, Mr Malfoy," Umbridge squeaked, her cheeks reddening with rage as she moved back to her desk to grab her wand. "I trust you enough to please watch over Miss Buckley here and assure she is writing her lines. I will return as soon as I have caught Mr Nott and Mr Zabini."

"Yes, Miss." Draco nodded. "I think I saw them running towards the Great Hall."

Umbridge huffed and left the room, the door slamming behind her. Amora immediately released the quill, her eyes wide as she looked up at Draco. A million thoughts were whirling through her mind all at once. Like, for example, how much trouble Blaise and Theo could get in, and how it would have all been to help her. Nobody had ever done something like this for her before.

"Draco, are you mad?" Amora scolded as she watched him take his bag off his shoulder, placing it on Umbridge's desk and rummaging through it. "Do you realise how much trouble you three could get in? All your parents wanted you in good with Umbridge. She'll have you Blaise and Theo writing lines after this, and I only had fifty five minutes left-- I've already done four hours this week--"

"Do you ever shut up, Amora?" Draco sent her a look, pulling out a small glass bottle filled with a blue liquid. "Murtlap Essence. It should help with your hand."

The brunette peered down at it, swallowing at the swollen mess. Blood trickled where she had reopened her wound for the fourth time this week. Draco moved in front of her desk and crouched down, grasping the palm of her hand so he could see the top. He took out the glass pipette, releasing drops on Amora's hand. He did it again and then began to gently rub it into her wound, causing her to flinch.

"Sorry," he muttered.

"Draco, she could come back any minute," Amora whispered, staring straight down at the boy who was concentrating on what he was doing-- soothing her aching hand.

"Trust me," he scoffed, not looking up. "Blaise and Theo will have her chasing them for at least another fifty minutes. By the time she gets back, your detention will be over."

"But they'll still be in trouble--"

"And they'll pull the parent card. Works every time," Draco smirked, finishing up on smoothing the Murtlap Essence into her injured skin which was still slightly red, her handwriting etched above it.

Amora watched him as he tightened the cap back into the bottle and slid it into his bag, her heart skipping a beat. A sudden mewl came from behind her, causing her head to snap back around. The cats on Professor Umbridge's plates were all watching them, as if allowing her the chance to pick her quill back up before they went to report it to their owner.

Draco seemed to catch on and Amora swallowed, picking the quill back up again. She started to skim over the parchment, never actually touching it, and hoped that it would be enough to fool the animals. It seemed to do the trick, most of them turning away or going back to licking their paws and rolling about.

"I suppose I'll have to make it look as though I'm watching over you," Draco said, settling into Umbridge's chair and leaning his head back, studying Amora. "Or they'll go reporting to her?"

"I think." Amora nodded. "Are Blaise and Theo actually duelling?"

"Yeah," Draco chuckled, "Nothing too violent, though. Last I saw, Theo had slugs coming out his mouth and Blaise had horns on top of his head."

Amora bit back a giggle, shaking her head. Knowing them, they were probably more than excited to help out if it meant practicing hexes on each other. Her mood had suddenly lifted by a hundred times, feeling as though she was going to make it out of this week on a high note. She continued to pretend to write, but the purring sound around her suggested most cats had fallen asleep without Umbridge present.

"Thank you, Draco," she murmured after a moment or two.

Draco's eyes snapped up and he scratched the back of his neck. "Ur... yeah. Don't worry about it."

She chuckled at his reaction to a genuine 'thank you'. He began to tell her about his last lesson of the day, Charms, where apparently he'd accidentally blown up his textbook. He insisted it was humiliating and all due to Flitwick's poor teaching, but he couldn't help smiling when Amora laughed harder and harder.

"I'm serious, Amora," he huffed, "It wasn't my fault."

"Just admit-- you suck at Charms."

"Well, sometimes it's not about how good you are at a subject, but who you know," Draco grinned, "For example, my father plans on inviting over Griselda Marchbanks for dinner nearer the exams. For good measure, of course."

Sometimes Amora forgot what Draco could really be like. She paused with her fake-writing and looked up at him, raising her brows.

"And who is Griselda Marchbanks?"

"The Governor of the Wizarding Examinations Authority, of course," Draco shrugged, dismissing her judgemental look. "Father's been friends with her for years."

"You're smart though, Draco. Wouldn't you rather get good O.W.L.s on your own terms?" Amora pointed out, resuming her writing when a cat mewled particularly loud from behind her.

Draco shrugged. "I know. But father thinks it's a good idea. I can't argue with being rewarded higher grades."

Amora didn't reply, not wanting to say something that would piss him off, although it was pretty frustrating that she, and most other students at Hogwarts, would never get such an advantage. She'd just have to spend hours revising and stressing like everybody else and hope that the two weeks went by like a breeze.

She also thought about what Draco had said about Theo and Blaise pulling out the parent card to avoid detentions. She was more than happy that they weren't going to get into trouble for her, but deep down she wished that that kind of thing didn't persuade people.

"Spoken to Pansy yet?" Draco asked, "She's been being a right bitch since Wednesday."

Amora frowned, recalling what had happened in the bathroom the previous day. "No, I haven't seen her. Next time I do, I'll be sure to talk to her."

She hadn't thought much about being called a filthy blood traitor by someone she considered a friend. It had felt like a stab to the heart last night though, and the reminder felt bitter.

More time passed until eventually six o'clock came. Amora dropped the quill and grabbed her bag at the same time as Draco grabbed his, just as Umbridge came through the door. Her mousy hair was slightly ruffled and she puffed out air, seemingly disappointed that she hadn't made it back before Amora's detention had ended.

"Miss Buckley, I do hope you have learnt your lesson now?" She questioned, "And that the words have... sunk in?"

"Loud and clearly, Professor Umbridge," Amora spoke, returning her sickly sweet smile.

Amora was glad to see the back of her.

D.M + A.B

"Leon! Leon! Leon! Leon!"

The excited chants of her ex-best friend's name brought a soft frown to Amora's face. Whether it was out of confusion or dismay, Amora wasn't exactly sure, but she found herself wandering over to the fire where multiple students sat around in their Quidditch uniform, and others who weren't. Leon sat in the middle of them, laughing at something that somebody had said, a glass of what looked like alcohol in his hands.

Her brows knitted together in confusion as a hand softly clamped down on her shoulder. Amora craned her neck up to see Herbert Fleet standing there, a sympathetic smile on his face.

"I was sad not to see you at tryouts today, Amora," Herbert said.

"Even if I wanted to, I couldn't. I was serving a detention," the brunette said, although she was more distracted by whatever everybody seemed to be praising Leon for. "What's going on?"

"Well, Leon's taken over for Cedric," Herbert grinned, "Captain and new Seeker! He's been wanting Seeker since second year. Think he's one of the best we've ever had. Although, nobody could beat Cedric of course..."

Amora zoned out, her heart thumping in her chest and her fingers curling into fists. Somebody had to replace Cedric, yet it hadn't crossed her mind that that somebody could be Leon Holloway. She sent Herbert a half-hearted smile, unsure if he was still talking to her or not, and drifted back towards the dorms.

In a fit of rage, she grabbed her pillow and threw it to the ground, alongside her duvet and the Potions book on her mattress. Amora grabbed some other books, about to toss them to the ground too, until she realised how much she'd regret throwing her most prized possessions afterwards. If she ended up denting or bending one, it would only make her more furious.

Instead, she grabbed the photo frame that Leon had gifted her for her birthday, the one that still sat behind all of her books on her bedside table, and she slammed it so it faced the wood. The pure image of Amora, Leon, Kathy, Harry, Hermione, and Ron standing in a snowy Hogsmeade, laughing and grinning, only made her feel sick.

She grabbed her pillow and her duvet and threw them back on the bed before launching herself on top of it. Why did it have to be Leon? Why couldn't it have been literally anybody else? Cedric really hadn't liked Leon towards the end of fourth year. It made Amora dislike him even more.

Laying on her back, Amora thought about her friends. Leon's betrayal had ripped a tear in her fairly new friendship with Kathy, and Ron, Harry, and Hermione had seemed to be rather busy recently. Not that she had been free- she spent a majority of her lunches outside with Draco, and if Amora wasn't serving detention with Professor Umbridge, then Harry was.

She thought of her new friends. Of Draco, Blaise, Theo... Pansy. Draco had mentioned that she had been off with everybody, so she knew Pansy's insult wasn't too personal. Nevertheless, Amora swore she would get to the bottom of it.

She wouldn't lose any more friends.

D.M + A.B

Amora spotted Pansy sitting by herself the next afternoon. It was an unusual sight really, normally she was sat amongst her Slytherin friends, laughing and chattering away like any other teenager. Today, though, Amora could see how exhausted she looked-- her sparkling blue eyes dim with bags beneath them. She was reading something, but it didn't look as though she was really following along.

Without saying anything, Amora took the seat in front of the ebony-haired girl, waiting until she looked up to give her a small, gentle smile. Pansy appeared slightly surprised, her mouth parting and her eyes washing over Amora nebulously.

"You're... sitting with me," Pansy stated, although it came out as more of a question.

"I am," Amora replied, "Do you know why?"

Pansy rolled her eyes. "Why?"

"Because you're my friend, Pansy. And I don't want us to stop talking because of whatever that was yesterday," the brunette said determinedly, "I know you're scared--"

"You don't know the first thing about me, Buckley," Pansy huffed, "And you shouldn't be sat here. Not after what I said. You need some more dignity--"

"Please, Pansy," Amora pleaded, "Don't shut me out. I'm not going to hurt you or judge you or tell anyone else. In case you haven't noticed, I've been a bit short on friends recently. I want you to trust me as much as I trust you."

Pansy blinked, a single tear landing straight onto the pages of the book in front of her. She clamped it shut and then glared up at Amora. However, as soon as she saw the solemn expression on the Hufflepuff's face, her guard let down and she sighed loudly, her bottom lip wobbling a little bit.

"You can trust me," Amora promised, "I just want to help you."

Pansy hesitated. "It's..." She inhaled shakily and then took her time to exhale. "It's my parents. They're just being too much right now. I did something over the summer. Something I shouldn't have done."

Amora's frown deepened. "What did you do?"

When Pansy blinked, a waterfall of tears silently cascaded down her cheeks again, but she acted as though they weren't even there. Amora shifted forward and grabbed Pansy's hand from the table, squeezing it. Pansy looked down at their fingers and she took a deep breath.

"I told them I'm a lesbian," Pansy replied, her face scrunching up. "I don't think it could have gone much worse, to be honest. I was promised a space at home so long as I never get into a relationship with a girl. A-And I just can't stop-- Oh, I fucking hate them, Amora. I hate them."

Amora shuffled from her seat and moved around, pulling Pansy into her arms. The girl began to quietly sob and Amora was thankful that the study room was empty. She held her tight, feeling Pansy's tears soak into the collar of her shirt.

"As soon as I'm eighteen, I'm fucking out of there," Pansy sniffled, "I'm fucking gone."

"I'll always be here for you, Pans," Amora promised in a hushed tone. "No matter what, okay? I'm sure my home is nowhere near as nice as yours, but if you ever need to get away from there during the holidays, it's open to you. Always."

"You know what's pathetic, Buckley?" Pansy half-laughed into Amora's arm as she pulled away. "We've only been friends about six months and you're still the best one I've ever had."

Amora thought about Pansy's friendship and everything she'd done for her. Helping her with Draco, telling her what to do, giving her advice, being so painfully honest and truthful, giving her reassurance, telling her not to befriend Leon again, helping her when she'd been given Veritaserum...

"You know what, Pansy?" Amora smiled back softly. "You're one of the best ones I've ever had too."

D.M + A.B

Feeling pretty optimistic after her chat with Pansy, where the ebony-haired girl was just as furious to hear that Leon had taken over for Cedric, Amora felt the need to talk to Hermione, Ron, and Harry. She hadn't spoken to them at all since the train ride to Hogwarts, only Harry briefly the day before, and she didn't want to lose them either. Even if it hadn't been her intention to be distant with them.

Hermione said nothing about her distance as the brunette approached the Gryffindor table, instead hurrying to pull her down into the seat beside her and opposite Ron and Ginny. Ron was stuffing his face with food, causing Hermione to shoot him a disgusted look momentarily.

"Amora, has she been doing the same thing to you?" Hermione gasped, "Harry only told us last night!"

"O-oh, yeah," Amora replied, slightly surprised by the topic of discussion. "I've got no more left, though. It's quite disgusting, isn't it?"

"More than disgusting," Hermione disagreed, "The words vile, putrid, and revolting come to mind. You both did nothing wrong!"

"Thanks, 'Mione," Amora sent her a small smile. "How are you guys, anyway?"

"Good. 'Arry's in a mood, though," Ron said with his mouthful, jerking his head behind her.

Amora turned in time to see Harry approaching them all, looking somewhat bashful. He sent them all a nervous smile, his lips parting slightly when he saw that the Hufflepuff girl had sat with them. He opened his mouth to speak when Hermione interrupted him with a breathless sigh of relief.

"Harry," she greeted.

"Can I join you?" He asked.

"Pardon me, professor, but what exactly are you insinuating?" Professor Umbridge's shrill voice very nearly made Amora flinch from where she sat next to Hermione.

Amora stood beside Harry as they entered the Entrance Hall, finding Professor Umbridge with Professor McGonagall, the two women heading up the stairs and glaring at one another with so much hatred that if looks could kill, they'd both be six feet under by now.

"I am merely requesting that when it comes to my students, you conform to the prescribed disciplinary practices," McGongall huffed, Amora's eyes widening.

Someone had told Professor McGonagall. Harry looked nearly as stunned as she did as other students from the hall crowded behind them.

"So silly of me, but it sounds as if you're questioning my authority in my own classroom... Minerva." Umbridge took one more step up in an attempt to tower over the other woman, but McGonagall only followed.

"Not at all, Dolores, merely your medieval methods," the Head of Gryffindor house snapped back.

"I am sorry, dear," Umbridge said, appalled, and Amora swore she saw McGonagall's eye twitch at the condescending nickname. "But to question my practices is to question the Ministry, and by extension, the Minister himself. I am a tolerant woman, but the one thing I will not stand for is disloyalty."

McGongall took a step down. "Disloyalty?" She repeated, her voice dangerously low.

Umbridge turned so she was not only addressing the other witch but the rest of the students crowding around. "Things at Hogwarts are far worse than I feared. Cornelius will want to take immediate action."

...

i have an important question! so, obviously draco and amora are gonna have to do the deed at some point-- i have already said i will NOT write smut for characters under the age of 16-- but i do feel like, realistically, they are more likely to lose their virginities to each other around now (they've been dating for MONTHS and this is DRACO we're talking about-- plus the rest of their year/grade are turning 16 now), however i would NOT write smut for it, but i was wondering what your opinions were on this?

i could imply that they had sex and not write the scenes and then start writing the smut scenes when they are of age (half-blood prince) OR i could make them wait and they lose their virginities to one another in HBP, so you get to read that happening? a pro about me implying it now is that by the time HBP rolls around, they'll be comfortable with each other and the smut will be ~spicier~ but a pro of me waiting until HBP would be that you get to see them be vulnerable with each other, but probably not as spicy.

let me know what you guys think because i'm happy to do either way!

thanks for reading <33

dyiansobrien.