CHAPTER THREE: Tanith's Wrath

     Tanith groans with exhaustion as soon as the light begins to creep in through the curtains of her four poster bed. She blows a whisp of hair from her face, before reaching up to rub the sleep out of her eyes.

After five minutes of silently staring up at the ceiling, she pulls herself out of bed, and lumbers over to her wardrobe, where she grabs a fresh set of robes. She quickly changes into them, and then throws her hair up into a neat ponytail, before walking to the lavatory, and going through her usual routine.

     Once she's finished, she makes her way to the common room, where Blaise is sitting on one of the green couches, shuffling through his book bag.

     "What have you lost now?" Tanith laughs, standing in front of her and crossing her arms over her chest.

     "My wand," Blaise huffs.

     She rolls her eyes, and pulls her own wand out from her robes, before pointing it towards his bag and saying, "Accio Blaise's wand!"

     His wand flies out from his bag and lands in Tanith's outstretched hand. She hands it over to him, and ruffles his hair. "Let's go," she grins.

     He shoves the rest of his things back into his bag, and then swings it over his shoulder, before standing up. Together they leave the common room, and begin ascending up from the dungeons and into the school.

     The Great Hall is already packed with students eating breakfast and receiving their schedules, so both of the Slytherins know that they haven't got much time before their first class begins. So, they hurriedly sit down with their friends, and begin to fill their plates with breakfast.

     She's halfway through her fried eggs when Snape sets her timetable down in front of her. "Thanks," she mumbles.

      "Your lessons will be every Tuesday and Thursday night, after Herbology and Defense Against the Dark Arts," he tells her, before marching away.

     "Lessons?" Daphne asks from across the table.

     "Oh," Tanith nods, "he teaches me Alchemy."

     "She's grand at it," Pansy grins.

     Tanith rolls her eyes, and looks back down at her breakfast. "I'm not grand at it, I just... have a talent."

"So you're grand at it?" Blaise snorts, elbowing her in the ribs.

"Oh, shut up!" Tanith groans.

Blaise sticks his tongue out, to which Tanith scrunches her nose at.

"You're both obnoxious," Daphne mutters.

Tanith grins, before taking a few more bites of her breakfast. The group of Slytherins finish their breakfast several minutes later, and then they leave the table, and make their way off to Charms class.

As soon as they enter the classroom, Flitwick clears his throat. "Good morning, everyone! Now, before you take your seats, I have one announcement. Until the Christmas holiday, you'll be working in pairs on a very special project! I shall read off the assigned pairs, and then you'll sit together as I explain the assignment. Alright... Michael Corner and Pansy Parkinson, Anthony Goldstein and Blaise Zabini..."

     Tanith doesn't really pay much attention until Flitwick reads off her name: "Tanith Vanity and Theodore Nott."

     She grins over at Theodore, whose cheeks go red.

     Once Flitwick has finished reading off his list of names, Tanith and Theodore take their seats towards the middle of the classroom.

     "Now! You're probably all wondering what this project could be! It's very simple: by Christmas, you and your partner need to come up with your very own charm! Very exciting, yes? This charm can be whatever you'd like, as long as it does not already exist. Along with the charm itself, I'll be requesting a three scroll essay about your work on the charm. I will give you more information on the essay later this week, but for now, talk to your partner about your ideas," Flitwick chirps.

"I'll be honest with you," Tanith laughs. "I've got absolutely no idea what to do."

"It's alright," Theo smiles. "I don't really know, either. Should we work out a schedule for when to meet? That could keep us busy for now."

"I've got Quidditch practice on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and Alchemy lessons on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but I finish with most of my things by nine o'clock," she shrugs, her eyebrows furrowed.

"Merlin, you're busy," he laughs. "Should we say... Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays? At nine thirty, starting next week?"

"I'm fine with that," she beams.

-

Tanith really isn't looking forward to Defense Against the Dark Arts.

She only really enjoyed it when Lupin was professor, and seeing as they've now got a Ministry appointee as their professor, things can't be good.

     Upon entering the classroom with her friends, she's greeted by a dreary atmosphere. Umbridge is dressed in a pink cardigan and black bow, and the decor doesn't offer any comforts.

     Tanith takes a seat beside Pansy towards the front of the classroom, and reaches into her bag to pull out her textbook and wand.

     Once everyone is seated, Umbridge stands up, and smiles down at the students. "Well, good afternoon!"

     A few students mumble a quiet, "Good afternoon," in response, but Tanith isn't among them.

    "Tut, tut... That won't do, now, will it? I should like you, please, to reply 'Good afternoon, Professor Umbridge.' One more time, please. Good afternoon, class!" She hums sweetly.

     "Good afternoon, Professor Umbridge," the class replies glumly.

     "There, now. That wasn't too difficult, was it? Wands away and quills out, please," she says.

     Tanith's nose scrunches up at the order, but nevertheless, she complies, and shoves her wand back into her bag, whilst exchanging it with a quill.

     Umbridge reaches for her own wand, taps it against the blackboard, and words begin to appear: "Defense Against the Dark Arts. A Return to Basic Principles."

     "Well now, your teaching in this subject has been rather disrupted and fragmented, hasn't it?" She giggles. "The constant changing of teachers, many of whom do not seem to have followed any Ministry-approved curriculum, had unfortunately resulted in your being far below the standard we would expect to see in your O.W.L. year. You will be pleased to know, however, that these problems are now to be rectified. We will be following a carefully structured, theory-centered, Ministry-approved course of defensive magic this year. Copy down the following, please."

She taps against the blackboard, and the previous text is replaced by, "General aims: 1. Understanding the principles underlying defensive magic. 2. Learning to recognize situations in which defensive magic can legally be used. 3. Placing the use of defensive magic in a context for practical use."

Tanith scowls down at her parchment as she scribbles down the words. She doesn't bother using neat handwriting, rather, she opts for a messy scrawl that could only be transcribed if one were to close their left eye and squint their right.

"Has everybody got a copy of Defensive Magical Theory by Wilbert Slinkhard?" She hums once everyone has set their quills back down.

A few people reply with a "Yes," but most only nod.

"I think we'll try that again," she huffs. "When U ask you a question, I should like you to reply 'Yes, Professor Umbridge,' or, 'No, Professor Umbridge.' So, has everyone got a copy of Defensive Magical Theory by Wilbert Slinkhard?"

"Yes, Professor Umbridge," the students answer in unison.

"Good. I should like you to turn to page five and read chapter one, 'Basics for Beginners.' There will be no need to talk," she hums.

     Tanith scowls up at her, and scoffs. It seems as though Pansy can already sense what's running through her mind, so in an effort to stop Tanith from doing what she's about to do, and elbows her in the side.

     But, it's too late. Tanith is already shoving her things into her bag.

     "Miss Vanity," Umbridge begins, "may I ask what you're doing?"

     "I'm leaving," Tanith shrugs, closing her bag.

     "Do you feel unwell?" Umbridge asks.

     "No," Tanith continues as she stands up from her seat.

     "Then why are you leaving, my dear?" Umbridge frowns.

     "Because I've got about fifty-seven other things I've got to do today, and I'd rather do that than read a book about things I've been learning for the past four years," Tanith snarls.

     "Miss Vanity!" Umbridge snaps as Tanith begins to leave the room.

     "Professor Umbridge!" Tanith mocks.

     "If you don't return to your desk and begin the assignment, you'll be given two weeks worth of detention!" Umbridge orders.

      "I'd rather that than whatever's happening here," Tanith argues, before stomping out the door and slamming it behind her.

notes—
tanith's wrath? more like rin's wrath.

my photoshop has been broken since yesterday (i can't type anything without photoshop automatically correcting it to all caps, i can't export gifs hence the reason why this gif doesn't work)

i pay 20 a month for this. THIS!!!

so fcuk me Jesus Christ