063 | Sugar Sweet

                                    

                                          
Summer is the time of year when everything is just right. My favourite part of this season is waking up at dawn to see the sunrise as I take a run around the castle. The birds wake and chirp, the flowers bloom in the most heavenly of colours and everything is simply blissful and picturesque. 
I admire the small things in life for a little longer until my legs give in, and my hour and a half of fitness comes to an end. I tug at my shirt as it seeps the sweat sticking to my back. As always, I make a pit stop by the kitchen to get some water. Although, aside from the friendly house-elves, I'm not the only person here. 
"You reckon we should add garlic to some of these George?" 
Fred and George Weasley, discussing something to a house-elf. How interesting, I wonder why they are here. 
"Ah, Lady Harlow." Fred says, "Fancy seeing you here."
"In running shoes and messy hair." George chuckles. 
I narrow my eyes, tapping my wrist twice to unsilence myself. "Morning. What are you two up to?" 
At first, the twins didn't trust me, so the elf betrayed them and told me exactly why they are in the kitchen. The moment I heard why, I laughed out loud at its level of ridiculousness. But then I processed the idea and to be fair, it is quite smart. They want a bake sale. And they are in the kitchen to request it. The house-elves aren't keen on the idea so after a little moment of deciding, I order them to start baking and prepare for tomorrow. 
"Keep this a secret for now, tomorrow shall be the big surprise." 
"Yes ma'am." One of the house-elves nods their head at me.
The twins hurrah. The reason why I say yes is because of the same reason as them. Professor, Headmistress, Umbridge had put the school on a sort of lockdown. Hogwarts Academy is starting to become a prison with all these decrees and whatnot. She's completely taken over the school and dare I say, she punishes students. It's a known fact, she uses illegal tactics to harm pupils for their 'wrong-doings'. 
A bake sale ought to lift the students' mood from this misery. I have no reason to suspect that this idea won't work, everyone, even Malfoy, secretly desires a bit of fun in this black-and-white printed school. 
Umbridge obviously won't approve of this but, I don't give care about her. As if she has any authority to go against me. 
"You're wicked!" George's smiles meet his eyes. "We've been trying to convince some of these elves for time!" 
I had the pair promise me that the cakes and desserts would be cheap so that everyone can afford them. This money will be used to buy new advanced Defence Against the Dark Arts textbooks considering the fact that Umbridge had burned all the old ones. 
"Do it with us. All you have to do is hand them out and joke about. What do you say?" Fred asks. 
I take a second to think rationally. It would be so fun to help out. But, reputation, what would the Slytherins think of me? I'm loyal to my house and I should be loyal to the Inquisitorial Squad because they support the Ministry. But, I can't. They support lies and deceptions. I can be a Slytherin, just as loyal to my house as any other, with personality. Who said I can't help out other Houses? 
"Yeah, that would be fun." I agree as the twins cheer once more. "Okay, see you at breakfast." I wave and walk off. 
Once I'm out of the dormitory because I decided to put a little more effort into my hair by charming subtle waves and adding two plaits on each side, I amble into the entrance hall. I purposely ignore the decorations of decrees as I do every day in order to maintain good spirits.