**Hi! This is Moey. All of my comments, suggestions, and corrections are
in bold between the asterisks.**
Terry Boot and Professor Binns's Extra Credit Assignment
Chapter 1: A question of house honor
"Terry, Terry, Terry, not to pressure you, but there is a real opportunity for Ravenclaw house here," Roger Davies, the seventh year prefect of Ravenclaw house said while staring down at him. "Now, we have very good information that Hermione Granger is going to earn a C in Professor Snape's class."
"Roger, leave the poor girl alone. It's not her fault Professor Snape hates her, slimy git." Tina Turtledove, another seventh year was peering over her book, interrupted his ranting.
"That has nothing to do with it. The last time that the top student in the graduating year was not a Ravenclaw was Lily Evans of Gryffindor in 1977. The last time a Slytherin was top student was Thomas Riddle in 1944. And the last time a HUFFLEPUFF was top student was Kyle McKinnon in 1893. This distinction belongs to Ravenclaw, like the sun moves from east to west. To not earn it would be like spitting on Rowena Ravenclaw's grave. Now Terry, you are the second best student in the fifth year. If she does get a C in Potions you will be the best student in the fifth year as long as you get straight A's. You are getting straight A's, right?"
Roger Davies tended to get scary when he was excited, and Terry was more easily scared than most. He preferred to escape the notice of everyone else, and would curl up alone with a book. He didn't really care if Hermione was top student, but didn't want to face the anger of his housemates if he blew this.
"I'm doing fine this year, but I'm a little worried about History of Magic. Binns didn't like my last essay, and gave me a C when I argued against the precious metal standard for wizarding money," Terry answered truthfully.
"Terry, I don't care how you do it, but you had better ace that class," Roger said, and then walked up the stairs to his room. Terry, after looking at the time, walked out of the common room and made his way up to his favorite hideout, the Astronomy Tower. He liked to go up there when there was no class and stare at the stars and the clouds.
***
Terry was lying on his back, staring out at the sky with his book lying open on his chest. There was a noise behind him startling him to look up. He saw the Grey Lady enter the room and she glided over to be beside him. The Grey Lady was the Ravenclaw house ghost, but unlike the Fat Friar, Nearly Headless Nick and even the Bloody Baron, she didn't normally interact with the students in her house very often. Terry was surprise to find her here.
"H..hel...hello," Terry said.
"Hello, I heard what Roger was saying to you today in the common room. I felt sorry for you," she responded.
"Nothing to be sorry about, I'm just going to have to work harder in History of Magic though."
"No, no, you should feel sorry for yourself. I don't know how many students I have seen breakdown, or worse, under the pressure in Ravenclaw. I should probably tell Flitwick, he'll get Davies off your back for you."
"Can't you just talk to Binns? I know you ghosts are pretty close, and that essay wasn't that bad; he's just set in his ways. Why can't I argue for a political view he happens to disagree with? It really wasn't a C essay, he's just too set in his gold galleon ways,"
"No, I won't argue with Binns for you, but if you do want to get on Binns's good side, why don't you do his extra credit project?"
"There's an extra credit project in History of Magic!?!" Terry asked.
"Oh, yes. When Professor Binns first came to this school, he offered an extra credit assignment, but no one ever completed it. Eventually he just stopped mentioning it, but it is still up on the door to his office if you would like to try."
"Maybe I will, but I'd have to see that before I attempt it," Terry said, deciding that this might be just what he needed.
"See that you do then, for the honor of you house. I really hate it up here."
Terry was about to say goodbye to her, but found that she had already disappeared by sinking through the floor.
Disclaimer: You know the drill. I don't own the characters (except Tina, who isn't that important) or Hogwarts castle, JKR does, and therefore has all monetary and trademark rights
Thanks to Moey, my beta reader.
Terry Boot and Professor Binns's Extra Credit Assignment
Chapter 1: A question of house honor
"Terry, Terry, Terry, not to pressure you, but there is a real opportunity for Ravenclaw house here," Roger Davies, the seventh year prefect of Ravenclaw house said while staring down at him. "Now, we have very good information that Hermione Granger is going to earn a C in Professor Snape's class."
"Roger, leave the poor girl alone. It's not her fault Professor Snape hates her, slimy git." Tina Turtledove, another seventh year was peering over her book, interrupted his ranting.
"That has nothing to do with it. The last time that the top student in the graduating year was not a Ravenclaw was Lily Evans of Gryffindor in 1977. The last time a Slytherin was top student was Thomas Riddle in 1944. And the last time a HUFFLEPUFF was top student was Kyle McKinnon in 1893. This distinction belongs to Ravenclaw, like the sun moves from east to west. To not earn it would be like spitting on Rowena Ravenclaw's grave. Now Terry, you are the second best student in the fifth year. If she does get a C in Potions you will be the best student in the fifth year as long as you get straight A's. You are getting straight A's, right?"
Roger Davies tended to get scary when he was excited, and Terry was more easily scared than most. He preferred to escape the notice of everyone else, and would curl up alone with a book. He didn't really care if Hermione was top student, but didn't want to face the anger of his housemates if he blew this.
"I'm doing fine this year, but I'm a little worried about History of Magic. Binns didn't like my last essay, and gave me a C when I argued against the precious metal standard for wizarding money," Terry answered truthfully.
"Terry, I don't care how you do it, but you had better ace that class," Roger said, and then walked up the stairs to his room. Terry, after looking at the time, walked out of the common room and made his way up to his favorite hideout, the Astronomy Tower. He liked to go up there when there was no class and stare at the stars and the clouds.
***
Terry was lying on his back, staring out at the sky with his book lying open on his chest. There was a noise behind him startling him to look up. He saw the Grey Lady enter the room and she glided over to be beside him. The Grey Lady was the Ravenclaw house ghost, but unlike the Fat Friar, Nearly Headless Nick and even the Bloody Baron, she didn't normally interact with the students in her house very often. Terry was surprise to find her here.
"H..hel...hello," Terry said.
"Hello, I heard what Roger was saying to you today in the common room. I felt sorry for you," she responded.
"Nothing to be sorry about, I'm just going to have to work harder in History of Magic though."
"No, no, you should feel sorry for yourself. I don't know how many students I have seen breakdown, or worse, under the pressure in Ravenclaw. I should probably tell Flitwick, he'll get Davies off your back for you."
"Can't you just talk to Binns? I know you ghosts are pretty close, and that essay wasn't that bad; he's just set in his ways. Why can't I argue for a political view he happens to disagree with? It really wasn't a C essay, he's just too set in his gold galleon ways,"
"No, I won't argue with Binns for you, but if you do want to get on Binns's good side, why don't you do his extra credit project?"
"There's an extra credit project in History of Magic!?!" Terry asked.
"Oh, yes. When Professor Binns first came to this school, he offered an extra credit assignment, but no one ever completed it. Eventually he just stopped mentioning it, but it is still up on the door to his office if you would like to try."
"Maybe I will, but I'd have to see that before I attempt it," Terry said, deciding that this might be just what he needed.
"See that you do then, for the honor of you house. I really hate it up here."
Terry was about to say goodbye to her, but found that she had already disappeared by sinking through the floor.
Disclaimer: You know the drill. I don't own the characters (except Tina, who isn't that important) or Hogwarts castle, JKR does, and therefore has all monetary and trademark rights
Thanks to Moey, my beta reader.
