Second Year
I skipped out of the castle with a smile, glad to have an excuse to finally leave the library. Exams were coming up, and I had been obsessively studying for weeks. But the bright sunshine filtering through the window was too good to deny. Looking over the grounds I noticed James sitting with a few other boys by a tree near the lake.
"Charlie, over here!" He cried, patting the ground next to him enthusiastically.
Grinning, I walked over and sat down. The grounds were populated by masses of students, reclining on the grass and enjoying the rare afternoon sun.
"Hey James," I greeted him, pausing to smile at the other three boys who were with him. "I'm Charlotte Reyes," I tacked on, by way of introduction, inclining my head at them.
"She's absolutely brilliant! Sent a mean bat bogey at Snivellus in herbology just now, did you see?" James said, gesturing wildly.
"I am pretty bloody great," I winked, chuckling.
A tall boy with sandy blond hair smiled at me, "I'm Remus Lupin, and these two here are Sirius Black," He gestured to a dark haired boy leaning against the trunk of a tree, "And Peter Pettigrew," He smiled, gesturing to the shortest boy, who was slightly plump with watery blue eyes.
"Nice to meet you all," I laughed, noticing James doing an exaggerated impression of me hexing Snape in herbology.
"You're a Slytherin," the dark haired boy emerged from the shadow of the tree, glaring at me.
"An astute observation. What gave it away, the green tie or the emblem?" I responded jokingly, trying to diffuse the tension.
"I'd have to say the swotty attitude," his glare became a full blown death stare.
"Come on Sirius, play nice. She's okay for a Slytherin," James said winking at me before glaring at Sirius.
"Yeah, don't be a rude, mate," Remus added, raising an eyebrow.
Sirius paused for a moment, looking shocked that his friends were defending me.
"There is no such thing as an 'okay Slytherin.' I think I would know better than anyone," He said darkly, turning to me. "Why don't you bugger off back to your little Slytherin friends and get back to plotting with the Dark Lord," He finished cruelly.
That was too far. As far as I knew, I had never even spoken to Black, let alone done anything that could cause him to be so rude to me. I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of thinking he had any effect on me. Bullies revelled in that kind of shit.
"Oh you're absolutely right! Silly me, I was so exhausted after my day of drowning kittens and cursing babies that I actually forgot the grounds belonged to you. I'll be off now," I feigned an apologetic tone, leaping to my feet and waving enthusiastically at the four of them, before skipping back into the castle. I needed to get back to studying anyway.
Sixth Year
Six years, and I was still just as in love with Hogwarts as I had been from my very first glimpse. I was filled with a sense of content as I adjusted my uniform, pulling my long, blonde hair into a ponytail. First day of sixth year. I was rifling through my bad for a tie when my fingers closed over a piece of parchment. Curiously, I pulled it out, laughing when I recognized the long forgotten high school bucket list that I had made with my best friend Andromeda back in fourth year.
1. Shag Amos Diggory 2. Set fire to the library 3. Pet Filches cat 4. Beat the world record by drinking 42 glasses of milk in one sitting 5. Punch Bellatrix Black in the tits 6. Become animagi 7. Fall in love 8. Get insanely drunk at a Slug Club party 9. Graduate with at least five NEWTS
"Hey Andy!" I called from the bathroom. "Come check this out."
Andy appeared in the doorway and I handed her the parchment. She scanned it quickly and began to shake with laughter when she realized what it was.
"Do you remember when we drank forty-two glasses of milk! Holy Shit I vomited everywhere and we had to tell," she paused, dissolving into fits of giggles.
"WE HAD TO TELL POMPFREY WHAT WE DID!" I interjected, falling to the floor laughing as I recalled the poor matrons face when I told her that Andy had drunk forty-two glasses of milk.
"We used to think Amos Diggory was the cat's pyjamas! Ah I shudder to think what Ted would say," Andy said, sending us both back into fits of giggles.
When we had both finally recovered, Andy looked at me, pushing her short black hair behind her ear.
"Well you know what this means, right?" She questioned, a slight smile playing on her lips.
"Of course we are going to do it," I responded. There had never really been any question about it.
"Oh fuck, I cannot wait to punch Bellatrix in the tits!" She cried, pumping one fist into the air.
"Oh can we both do that one? You cannot possibly fathom how long I have wanted to hit that insufferable bitch. No offence, but your sister is a fucking maniac!"
"Yeah well, I got all the brains, Narcissa got the looks. Someone had to end up with the Black family crazy gene!" Andromeda smiled.
"It's settled then."
"It is indeed."
A/N: Review please! :D