author note:my apologies, I started this story and quickly decided I wanted to change how it began. I was completely bewildered in what direction to take the story once I started the previous version and decided to restart it. I'm sorry for the sudden change. regardless, I hope you enjoy and as I stated in the other version, it's been some years since I've wrote HP FF so if you spot a mistake, please do not hesitate to point it out to me. I admit I'm very shabby, but I'm always open to constructive criticism. I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I'm enjoying diving into this world all my r/r
I laughed hysterically as Seamus looked over the cauldron in front of him after he dropped the rats tail into the slime green liquid as a loud bang erupted, echoing loudly in the dungeon as the potion blew up. He leaned back, coughing and sputtering, his face blackened by soot from the explosion. I laid my head down on the table in which the cauldron sat upon in front of us, trying to muffle my uncontrollable laughing.
"Mister Finnigan," came a cold, dull voice. I looked up immediately to see the long black greasy hair that belong to Professor Snape. I glared in dislike at the man as he stared blankly at Seamus. I looked beside me as Seamus stared back at him with the same blank expression on his blackened face. The rest of the class around us was giggling quietly and watched. I saw Harry and Ron two tables behind us on the other side of the room, staring and whispering to one another.
"I do believe," Professor Snape continued, "That this is the third time you have blown up a potion, in your own face. How many times must I tell you to pay attention to the instructions and NOT look over the cauldron when you add an ingredient?"
Seamus stared at him for a moment before he found his voice and spoke, "Obviously a time or two more."
Professor Snape's expression hardened. I sighed, Seamus had done it now.
"Ten points from Gryffindor," Snape said. There was a collection of moans and protests from the classmates that were from the Gryffindor house, including myself as I slammed my hand down on the table opening my mouth to say something but before I could Snape spoke again.
"And detention." he said dully.
"Oh, c'mon!" I said loudly.
"And you can accompany him, detention, Miss White," he said, directing his attention towards me. I groaned and rolled my eyes as he walked back towards the front of the classroom. Seamus looked over at me, I almost started laughing again when I met his eyes and saw the black soot and his hair sticking up on end.
"You didn't have to protest," he said in a flat tone.
"Psh, and let you have all the fun in detention? No way!" I said jokingly, nudging him in the arm smiled.
"Sorry about making you get a bad grade again. From now on, maybe you should just show me what to do."
"Oh, blimey Seamus!" I said, as I shut my book and stuffed it into my bag, "I'm not that worried about a silly Potions grade. But I'm sure we can figure something out."
He laughed and shut his own book as Professor Snape spoke loudly in the same dull tone from in front of the class.
"I expect to see a well produced shrinking solution on my desk from each of you by Friday."
Another sea of groans from the students as everyone began to collect their belongings, getting up and exiting the class room.
I picked up my bag and smiled at Seamus once more, "See you in Transfigurations." I said brightly as he wiped his face with his robes and nodded, "See ya Briley."
I jumped off my stool and made my to the door. Thank goodness I had caught on fairly quickly in my studies. I had been thrust into my third year of Hogwarts due to my adoptive parents dying in a fatal car crash. The thought still made my mind drift into a sea of unpleasant memories. Only a week after they passed, did the Headmaster, Dumbledore, had arrived on my doorstep instructing me I needed to come with him and attend Hogwarts for my special talents. I had known since the age of nine that I was adopted, and what I was. My parents had told me everything. I had refused to attend Hogwarts at the age of eleven, when, as my parents explained, should have been my first year at the school. I did not want to believe the things they had told me were true. When they explained everything to me shortly after my 9th birthday, due to the amount of unexplainable things that had happened, they seemed to think it was time to fill me in before I began to ask questions or worse, someone else did. I had locked myself in my room for days on end. I cried more due to the fact they said my father was in the wizarding prison, Azkaban, for a horrible crime against Muggles, than the unbelievable fact that I was a witch. My mother, a young Muggle named Alexis, died shortly after my birth due to complications during labor. My father, Sirius Black's, escape from Azkaban had been all over the Daily Prophet, and even the Muggle news was reporting his escape, though carefully not mentioning where he had escaped from. I had almost been embarrassed when people found out I was his daughter, but I paid no mind to anyone's comments anymore. At first, I had gotten into quite a few fights with numerous classmates over snide comments they whispered in the hallways. Spending so much time in detention had been what had helped my fast catching up for the two years I had missed. I was being tutored by Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley and Harry Potter's friend. We did not like each other much, for what reason, I do not know. She had taken a disliking to me the first day she saw me at the Weasley's home, where I stayed outside of Hogwarts, during the summer and all holiday breaks. I did not question her motive of dislike, I merely accepted it and returned it. Though Hermione's dislike for me, Harry and Ron had become two of my very best friends. It had even come to the point where it wasn't too difficult anymore when all four of us hung out in the common room, Hermione and I naturally ignoring each other unless it was absolutely neccesary.
I made my way into the corridor, I heard a familiar voice call my name. I turned around to see Harry dash through the crowd of people behind me and make his way to my side.
"Briley," he said, out of breath, "When do you have to serve your detention with Snape?"
"This evening I assume," I said, looking over at him as we strolled up the steps from the dungeon.
"Ok great," he said cheerfully, "You wont have to miss Quidditch practice."I beamed at him.
Thanks to Harry's help and the massive amounts of books the twins, Fred and George, had piled upon me, I had discovered my love and talent on the Quidditch pitch. I had tried out for the house team, despite Ron's attempts to make me reconsider since I had honestly never played anymore than a handful of games in his backyard over the few days I had been at the Weasley home before coming to Hogwarts. I had snagged the position of Chaser, with no problem, despite my tough competition of classmates that had far more experience than me.
We walked into the Great Hall and made our way to the Gryffindor table. Halfway across the hall I heard someone say quite loudly, "Oi, White! Killed any muggles lately? Following in the footsteps of your father?"
I whirled around to see Malfoy stalking behind us, coming to a stop when I turned to face him. Harry had turned around also when he heard Malfoy's comment.
"Shove it, you slimy git. Your just jealous my father is acknowledge for something more than his cowardliness, unlike your retched father. I see he still hasn't taught you what shampoo is." I retorted eyeing his slicked back, greasy looking hair. I heard Harry snort as he tried to suppress his laughter.
Malfoy snarled and focused in on him, "What's so funny Potter? Seen another dementor?" Malfoy pretended to faint as I heard a eruption of laughter come from the Slytherin table.
I lunged for him, but as I did I was jerked back by the collar of my robes.
"Cool it," said a familiar voice, "Your temper is much like your fathers, Miss White."
I looked around to see who had stopped me from laying a good punch on Malfoy. Professor McGonagall stood there, her face was stern and her eyes were fixated on Malfoy.
"Sorry Professor," I murmured, but she paid me no mind.
"Mister Malfoy, I expect you to keep your snide comments to yourself or next time I might conviently miss Miss White's robes when she lunges to attack you."
Malfoy snarled again and turned at once and made his way to his back to his table as McGonagall turned to me, "Briley, your temper is going to get the best of you, I'm afraid. Just like your father."
"I know, I need to cool it. Seems that's all I ever hear," I said.
She smiled slightly as she placed a hand on my shoulder, "Try to stay out of trouble." With that she turned and walked up the long table that stretched across the front of the Great Hall, taking her place beside Professor Dumbledore's empty chair.
"Blast that git, mark my words I'll get a hold of him one day!" I said angrily as we continued to our table.
We sat down across from Ron and Hermione. I immediately began to fill my plate.
"Hungry, aye?" came a voice loudly in my ear. I jumped and gasped, I had not seen him coming.
"Fred!" I shouted as I picked up the news paper lying in the middle of the table between Ron and I and slapped him with it as hard as I could.
"Ouch!" he exclaimed, "Your gonna gimme a paper cut one of these days!"
"Good!" I said as I laid the paper back down on the table and returned to filling my plate,
"And yes, I'm hungry. I skipped breakfast this morning considering someone took the liberty to place a Dungbomb in my bag!"
He looked at me curiously for a moment and then began to laugh, "That was George I swear!"
"Oh really?" I said, raising my eyebrow and leaning forward to eye George who sat a short ways down from where we sat. He waved and beamed at me before giving me a wink and a thumbs up. I mouthed the words 'I'll get you' to him. I smiled brightly and waved, delighted to see his smile of triumph dilute slowly. The twins knew I was one not to mess with. They had learnt this the hard way.
When I first arrived at the Weasley's home, Ron had kindly warned me to watch out for their trickery, even though Fred and I became friends instantly. 'Sly those two are' I recalled Ron saying. Within our first month at Hogwarts, I had entered the common room through the hole in the wall, chatting avidly with my friends Emily Coleman and Anna Harper. As soon as we crossed the threshold, a bucket of brightly colored substance came pouring down upon us. The twins had erupted in laughter, falling out of their seats followed by the whole common room joining in with their laughter. The substance had stained our skin for over twenty four hours, so needless to say the three of us walked around looking like a big rainbow. That's when I began plotting. I decided to include Emily and Anna in my scheme to get back at the two, needless to say they were happy to assist. We decided it was best to laugh along with them, acting like we could care less about the trick they pulled and the laughs we got when we walked through the Great Hall, shining brightly of our rainbow hues, we had merely giggled giving thumbs up to everyone who was laughing and pretended to model the lovely colors. So, after careful planning over the next few weeks, we decided it was time to mount our attack. Revenge was bitter sweet for the three of us. I had got Oliver Wood in on our little trick, so he could help us lure the twins down into the common room so no one else would get what we intended for them. We woke up early the day we planned to spring our attack. We crept down into the common room and set up the booby traps: a bucket of Hairy Solution at the boys dormitory entrance, marbles, a bucket of caramel and two pillows full of feathers. Oliver had crept down the stairs to see if we had the thumbs up to get the twins. He retreated back up the stairs to get them as we waited patiently, already trying to suppress our giggles. As they stalked down the stairs, muttering how early it was to Oliver, I had looked over and smiled at Anna who was holding the string attached to the bucket of caramel. The twins set off the trigger for the Hairy Solution, it dumped out onto them as they stepped onto the marbles. They slid forward as their hair began to grow at a rapid speed. I had almost not been able to contain my laughter to shout "Now!" to Anna, as she tugged the string she held onto and they slid straight into the dumping caramel. The twins screamed as the carmel splattered over them, as they continued to side on the massive amount of marbles across the common room floor. When they slid close enough, Emily and I pelted each of them with the pillows as heard as we could, bursting them open as feathers flew in every direction. The other students had been woken up and a few of them had made their way down the stairs in time to see the feathers flying in every direction. Emily, Anna, Oliver and I had already hit the ground laughing so hard, before being joined in our laughter by the rest of the approaching Gryffindors. Needless to say, the twins never pulled a prank on me again, without full knowledge that I would get even.
I looked over at Fred and smiled, "So, accomplished anything today Fred?"
I picked up my fork and shoveled some mashed potatoes in my mouth. My stomach happily stopped growling as I fed its calls of hunger.
"Hmm, let's see. Dungbombed the boys loo and nearly gave Filch a heart attack when we set off the fireworks in the hall way going towards the Astronomy tower, all before lunch. I'd say today has been quite productive thus far." Fred said with a bright smile.
I heard Harry laughing beside of me as I laughed through my mouthful of food. I attempted to swallow my food and almost choked.
I spoke once I had successfully swallowed, "Brilliant!"I gave him a high five as he continued to chuckle.
He clapped me on the back, "See ya, Bri. My accomplice beckons me."
"See ya, Fred. Don't get into too much trouble." I replied, not looking up from my plate.
"Why do you encourage them?" Hermione snapped, once Fred was out of ear shot.
"Oh, Hermione don't get your knickers in a twist. They're having, as normal people say, fun." I said, waving my fork sarcastically, "Making life a bit more interesting, you see?"
She gave a fake laugh and buried her nose back into her book. Ron smiled and gave me a thumbs up. I shook my head and resumed eating.
"Ready for the match?" Ron said, a few moments later.
He accidentally spit a bit of food out of his mouth as he spoke, landing on Harry's arm. He brushed it off quickly as Ron muttered his apologies, his mouth still packed with food.
"Yeah," I nodded.
"It'll be a good match, that new chaser they have this year has been doing them well, I hate to say," Ron replied, raising his eyebrow.
"We'll smash them," I said, with a grin.
"Of course we will!" Harry proclaimed.
I took my last bite of chicken and pushed my plate away. I grabbed my bag and stood up, flinging my leg over the bench.
"Where are you going?" Harry said, looking up at me.
"Oh, I wanted to visit Hagrid," I said as I pulled my other leg from the bench.
"I'll come with you, if you don't mind," he said, as he started to get up.
"Ok," I said as I began to walk down the aisle. Harry followed, quickly catching up and walking up beside walked quietly down the front steps and out into the breath taking cold air. It felt as though the cold penetrated right down to your bones. There was a soft gust of chilling air, not helping the cause. I shivered as I pulled my scarf out of my bag and wrapped it around my neck.
"Oooh, I wish it would hurry up and warm up! I'm over this stinking cold!" I said, teeth chattering slightly.
"Me too," Harry stuttered, his bottom lip quivering slightly. In the distance I spotted movement along the edge of the Forbidden Forest. I stopped to watch it more carefully, trying to make out what was happening in the distance.
Once Harry realized I had stooped, he did the same. Turning to me, he spoke, "What it is, Bri?"
I didn't take my eyes off the tree line as I answered him, "There's something at the edge of the forest, just over there."
I pointed in the direction in which I was looking, not daring to take my eyes off it, hoping to catch a glimpse of what was moving about. Suddenly, as if answering my curiosity, Crookshanks ginger squashed face and bottle brush tail leapt out from the darkness of the forest.
"See, its just Crookshanks," Harry said, gesturing toward the cat.
"No, no there was something else. I could have swore whatever I glimpsed was big and black…"
Harry looked back at me quickly, as if shocked by what I had just said.
"I must be imagining things." I said, shaking my head continued to stare at me for a moment, the expression on his face was unrecognizable. It seemed to be a mixture of shock and fear.
"Everything alright?" I asked, taking a few steps toward him, closing the gap between us. I raised my hair and felt his forehead, "You look as though you've seen a ghost."
He shook his head quickly and replied, "I'm fine."
He started to turn to resume heading toward Hagrid's, but I caught his arm.
"Harry, I wanted to tell you something. I know we haven't discussed it, but I just wanted to say I know I've never met my father, and I know it might sound crazy but I don't believe what they say is true. I don't believe he's out to kill you. And I hope you know, that I would do anything in my power to protect you if I was wrong." I said, staring into his bright green eyes as I smiled as I finished, staring at him curiously waiting for his response.
I had kept my thoughts to myself since I had learned from Ron that Harry had overheard his parents talking, saying my father was out to kill Harry. I didn't want Harry to think any differently of me because of what was being said about my father. I held my breath, scared he was going to unleash some hidden anger towards smiled and looked down for a moment. The wind began to blow with some force, I shuttered slightly as I felt the cold blowing my brown curls around in the air. The silence was almost as chilling as the air around us. My heart began to sink a little as he looked at the ground. As it sank, it began beating faster and faster, I was terrified of what he was going to say and the anticipation was killing me. After a few moments of silence, he turned a leaf that lay in between us over with his foot before he looked back up at me.
"I know you would Briley. You're a good friend, and I'm glad I met you. As for you father, I hope your right." He said as he reached over and grabbed my hand, "Please don't think I think of you any differently."
I smiled as I flung myself toward him and hugged him, "Thank you, thank you! I was so scared you'd hate me!"
He wrapped his arms around me, "I could never hate you, Briley."
I pulled away, he wore a smile on his face as I looked up at him."Ready?" I asked.
He dropped his arms from around me and nodded. We began walking towards Hagrid's hut once more. I stared off in the distance, watching the Whomping Willow's limbs move dangerous in the air. I began to skip merrily down the path ahead of Harry. I twirled around a couple times before stopping, facing Harry and walking backwards. I smiled at him, his bright green eyes seemed to sparkle as he smiled back.
"This place is beautiful," I called, continuing to skip down the path. I was now able to see the small hut ahead. Smoke billowed out from the chimney, as I heard Fang's howl as he saw us we reached the garden next to his hut, I ran up to the door and knocked. I heard his heavy footsteps approaching as Harry stopped on the step behind me.
"Harry! Briley! What brings ya 'ere?" Hagrid said, opening the door. "Come in!"
"We wanted to pay our favorite teacher a visit!" I said brightly as I skipped in the doorway.
"Hello, Hagrid," Harry said, cheerfully, entering the hut behind me.
I felt the warmth from the friendly crackling fire as I made my way over to the large seat by the table and jumped up in it, pulling my bag from around my neck and sitting it down beside me. Harry laughed as he sat down in one of the chairs, looking at me.
"What?" I asked, not understanding what he was laughing at. I looked behind me, there's was nothing hanging on the wall or anything that seemed comical at all for that matter. The only thing I saw was a shelf, holding numerous sized kettles and cauldrons. I turned back as I heard Hagrid's deep laugh.
"What?" I said again, a bit louder than before.
"You look so small in that chair," Harry laughed, "And the fact you basically had to climb up was quite funny."
"Cracking on me because I'm short?" I said, putting my hands on my hips, "I see how you are." I huffed and folded my arms across my chest, turning my face away from him.
"Aw, come on now. You know I'm not making fun of you." Harry said, still laughing slightly, "But seriously, how tall are you?"
"Five foot even, thank you." I said in a matter of fact tone. He stared at me blankly, I could tell he was trying to suppress his laughter.
"Oh, ha ha ha! Laugh it up!" I said, throwing my hands up in the air.
"Aw, don't be like that!" Harry said, looking over at Hagrid as if pleading for some help with the situation.
"I'm just kidding, I enjoy being short, thank you! I'm fun size," I said, smiling. Hagrid chuckled at my comment. I smiled at him and spoke again, "How have you been?"
"Alrigh' I reckon. Cant stop thinking bou' poor Beaky. Been enjoying the classes?" he asked, stalking over the the corner of the room, "Care for some tea?"
"Yes, please. And we've enjoyed them greatly, I've been learning loads!" I said brightly, taking the cup of tea Hagrid held out for me to take. I sipped it quietly as he offered one to Harry, taking it
gladly.
"I've been looking up stuff to try to help you Hagrid, I promise. Hermione has too. They simply can't do anything to him!" I said.
He gave me a soft smile, "I know you's are doin' every' thing you can."
Over the next half hour, we chatted avidly with Hagrid about his classes, trying to tip toe over the topic of Buckbeak, seeing as I saw Hagrid's eyes welled with tears at the mere mention of his name. After we finished our tea, Hagrid shooed us off so we weren't late to our next class, Divinations. As we said our farewells and made our way back to the castle, Harry laughed as I began to skip up the path again.
"You are one interesting person," Harry chuckled as I almost tripped over a rock I hadn't noticed as I was skipping ahead of him.
I regained my balance before I spoke."Why thank you," I said laughing, "I try my best."
We entered the warmth of the entrance hall and began up the marble staircase. On our way to Divination, Ron caught up with us, huffing and puffing from the long walk.
"How is Hagrid?" he asked, jogging up the last few stairs to come to our side.
"Fine," I said, not looking over at him as we rounded the corner, "Oh blimey! How far do they have to make us walk?!"
I was beginning to become very irritated, my knees were starting to hurt from having to lift them over the few thousand stairs we had already climbed and another flight or two of stairs loomed ahead of us. I groaned and stomped my feet angrily and began up the them. Finally we heard voices ahead of us, spotting a couple classmates ahead I made my way up the narrow staircase into the Astronomy tower, and climbed up the ladder that descended down from the trap door.
The class went by slower than usual. The minutes seemed like hours and Harry had had to nudge me numerous times as I had began to nod off with boredom. I pushed him playfully as he woke me up once more, scaring me slightly causing me to jump, almost knocking off book the table. I caught it just in time, as I saw Professor Trelawny glide over towards me.
"Something wrong, Miss White?" Professor Trelawny said, in her misty voice. She stared at me quizzically, her eyes magnified to several times their size through her thick glasses. I stifled a laugh, every time I looked at her I thought of an abnormally large bug.
"Uh, no ma'am, just dozed off," I said, shaking my head a bit trying to wake myself up a bit more.
"Well, why don't you tell us, Mr. Potter, what you see on Miss White's hand ," she said. I stuck my hand out as took it, holding it up close to his face once more and peered down at it.
"Um, yeah," he said, clearing his throat, "I see… uh, well, I see a…" He squinted looking at my palm, trying to attempt to see something, "Ok, let's be honest. I don't see a thing except lines!"
The class erupted in laughter as Professor Trewlawny came a bit closer to me.
"See," I began, "We cant interpret this ruddy stuff! A bunch of lines on my palm! They mean my hand is liney!"
Our classmates laughter got even louder, all except Lavender and Parvati, who looked quite taken back by my comment.
"Miss White, you and Mr. Potter have to open your Inner Eye. Free yourself to explore the future," she began.
"Please, take no offense Professor, but I can barely keep my own two eyes open right about now, let alone attempt to open my Inner Eye," I said, wiggling my fingers as I mentioned my inner eye.
Seamus laughed hysterically a couple tables away accompanied by Ron and Dean.
"You're not trying," she said dully as she held out her hand for me to place mine in hers. I huffed as I stuck my hand out for her to take. She tilted her head curiously and then looked back at me. Her expression became blank as she stared at me. Professor Trelawny had never paid this much attention to me, she seemed to usually tend to ignore me. For what reason I do not know, but I was particularly grateful for it.
"My dear," she began.
"Oh, bloody hell, what now?" I said without even thinking, "Wait, don't answer that. Let me take a wild stab… will I soon be facing grave peril? Or maybe something I have been dreading for oh so long will happen when? Let me guess, June 15th! Maybe a blast ended skrewt will be the end of my short life? I can honestly say I have had my life flash before my eyes while dealing with one, so that would come as no shock to me if I found myself dead after a loud bang from one of those retched things."
The class began to laugh again as Professor Trelawny shook her head.
"I need to speak to you after class," she said sitting my cup back down on the table in front of me and returned to her desk and addressed the class.
"I expect a foot of parchment on the art of palmistry. I hope you try harder to open your minds, without doing so it is hopeless." she said, darting her magnified eye towards Harry and me. There was a collection of groans and the sounds of people packing away their belongings.
I picked up my book and shoved it in my bag, rolling my eyes.
"Miss White," she said as the students began to file out of the classroom, "A word please."
I huffed and said goodbye to Harry as he and Ron made their way out of the room and on to Transfigurations.
"Yes, Professor," I said, sitting down in the chair across from her desk.
"My dear, from reading your palm, I see you have sustained a horrible loss recently, your parents I believe?" she said, her magnified eyes staring at me, blinking curiously.
"Yes, but I'd rather not discuss this if you don't mind," I said as I began to get up.
"Please sit, I don't wish to speak of your loss, which I am very sorry for. I wish to speak of something else, you have an incredible aura around you. I believe you have the true and very rare gift of a
Seer, my dear." she said, calmly.
"Me? A Seer? I'm sorry, you must be mistaken." I said, laughing lightly.
"No, my dear I'm not. I encourage you to please try to open yourself up to the possibilities and allow your Inner Eye to be opened so you may see your true potential, I daresay you will be quite shocked at your abilities. Would you be interested in some extra lessons?" she asked, her facial expression seemed eager, "I must admit, you are one of very few students I have offered this to over the fourteen years I have taught here, only offering it to the handful of students I see with the most potential in this art."
"Um, well, as long as it didn't interfere with Quidditch I suppose," I said, regretfully. I did not care for this subject at all, but the look on her face was full of joy, I just couldn't say no.
"Wonderful, my darling! How does Thursdays around eight sound to you?" she said, clapping her hands together, her bangles clinking wildly.
"Sounds good," I said with a forced smile.
"Good! I shall see you next Thursday! Now run on, tell Professor McGonagall I'm very sorry to keep you."
With that I made my way down the ladder and walked rather slowly to Transfigurations. I kicked a random pebble lying on the stairs. Of all subjects! WHY!? Why Divinations? I thought to myself as I plopped down each step. When I finally entered the classroom, Professor McGonagall quickly began to jump my case over being late before I explained what had happened. She ushered me to take my seat and I made my way to sit down by Harry, who had as usual picked the seat as far as he could towards the back of the room. Normally I was partnered with Seamus, but I was glad to be with Harry. The class drug by almost as slowly as Divinations had. I wasn't sure if I wanted it to speed by or not, only thing there was to look forward to this evening was detention in the miserable dungeon with my least favorite teacher, Professor Snape. Finally we exited the class room. As I walked down the corridor with Harry and Ron, seeing as Hermione had rushed off looking frazzled with her bag full of books muttering something about the library, I heard a voice call my name. I stopped and looked around to see Oliver Wood pushing through the crowded hall towards me.
"Hello, Briley," he said with a smile.
"Hey Oliver," I said, smiling back at him, "What's up?"
"Here," he said as he handed me a book, "I figured you'd want to look at this since you were talking about getting a new broom soon since you don't like your Clean Sweep." He smiled, then noticed
Harry next to me, "Oh, Harry! Have you got your Firebolt back?"
"No, not yet." he said, gloomily.
"Oh," Wood's happiness seemed to be sucked out of his like there was a dementor floating about, "Hopefully it'll be done by the match. You can look in that too Harry, for another broom til you get the
Firebolt back. We'll see you tomorrow at practice," he hugged me and took off down the hall.
I stood there for a moment, crinkling my forehead and stared at Ron and Harry curiously.
I shrugged my shoulders, "What was that about, you suppose?"
Harry ignored me as we started walking towards the common room, Ron shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows, "Reckon he fancies you?"
"Oh, please Ron!" I laughed rather loudly as we made our way up the stairs, "Wood? Fancy me? That's a joke!"
"How is that a joke?" Ron asked, "OW!" Ron jerked around and looked at Harry who was staring at him with an expression that almost resembled anger on his face.
"Bloody hell, alright!" Ron exhausted, as we resumed walking.
"Did I miss something?" I said, looking between the both of them.
"No," Harry answered flatly without even looking over at me as we reached the portrait hole. Sir Cadogen was still filling in for the Fat Lady since the attack she endured on Halloween from my father
when she refused to let him in without a password. That incident had only fueled the fire of Malfoy's annoying taunts, but as always I ignored him with a smile and a quick witted response, unless he hit a nerve, then I tried to lunge for his throat.
"Pull out your swords, you yellow-bellied cowards!"
"Oh, cram it!" I said hostilely, "Oddwodikins."
The portrait swung open and we climbed in and entered the common room. I threw my bag down and plopped in the vacant seat next to George, as Ron and Harry made their way to the chess board in the corner. Ron glared at Harry, muttering something. Harry shot him another daring look causing Ron's muttering to cease.
"Oi Briley!" George said brightly.
"Hello George" I said, looking over at him, smiling.
"How are you on this lovely day?" he said, gesturing towards the window.
"Ruddy horrible! Professor Trelawny thinks I'm a Seer so now I have to take extra lessons and I have detention with Snape!" I proclaimed, sticking out my bottom lip.
"Aw, that's terrible! A Seer, you say? Maybe you can see if we're going to win the Quidditch Cup!" he said, his expression changing when he reached his conclusion.
I stared at him blankly, "No."
"Why not?!"
"Cause I'm not a bloody Seer!" I was not at all happy about this, but George sure seemed to be.
"Ah, have a go at it though! For me?" he said, clasping his hands together and pleading.
"Oh, alright!" I said finally, once he had finally got down on his knees and I couldn't ignore him any longer.
"What's that?" he asked as I pulled out the book Oliver had lent me.
"Which Broomstick," I said, opening it up and beginning to sift through it, "Oliver let me borrow it."
"Oh, I see," he said, exagurating his words and leaned back.
"What?" I asked, putting the book down in my lap.
"Oh, nothing," he got up and walked away to join Fred in the corner, pouring over what I'm sure was not homework. He looked back at me and smiled.
I shook my head and began reading again. I had lost track of time reading intently about each broomstick, weighting the pros and cons of each of them. Finally, frowning, I snapped the book shut. I was no closer to a decision than I had been before I opened the book. I looked up to realize there was only a few students left in the common room. I looked around curiously, had I really been reading that long? I stood up and stretched, noting that how stiff my legs were answered my question that I had been reading for quite some time. I started towards the portrait hole to make my way down to dinner when I heard Ron yell, "Oi! Wait for us!"
I turned to see him and Harry descending down the last few stairs from the boys dormitories. I waited for them to get within a reasonable distance and began toward my destination once again. I climbed through, followed by Harry, then Ron. As we made our way down the stairs, I heard a cackling laugh from behind us. I turned around in time to see Peeves hurling towards us. I ducked and let out a yelp of rage.
I jumped back up quickly, "PEEVES!"
He continued on without paying no mind to my cursing, laughing still. I could hear the echoes of his laughter for quite sometime, almost all the way to the Great Hall.
"Blimey, I hope there is something good. I'm starving," Ron moaned as we entered, holding his stomach and pouting as if he hadn't ate for days.
"Ron, you act like you never get fed." I muttered as we made our way towards the Gryffindor table.
We sat down across from Hermione and Ginny.
"Hi Briley," Ginny said, smiling.
"Hey, Ginny" I said as I reached for the roasted potatoes, "How're you?"
"Fine," she said, her cheeks turning slightly red. I could see she was blushing over Harry being so close to her. She was smitten with him, I could tell that almost immediately after he arrived at the
Weasley's the day after I had. I thought it was rather cute how she'd blush every time he was present. I smiled at her, shifting my eyes over towards Harry who was chatting with Ron about his Firebolt. Her eyes widened slightly. Ginny being so bashful wasn't much of a conversation holder, and neither of course was Hermione who sat with her nose buried in another book, as usual, tilting it down every so often to get a bit of food from her plate. I looked beside me and realized the person next to me was Percy. I decided right then I would continue to eat in silence. I did not care to hold a conversation with Percy in the least. Every now and then I'd casually look around at the other students who chatted avidly with their friends sitting nearby.
Hermione left the table first, not even looking up from her book as she did. I glanced up at the teacher's table, lined across the front of the hall. Professor Snape's usual seat was empty. I looked back at my empty plate and sighed. I knew I should go ahead and get it over with. I stood up, saying my solemn farewells to Ginny, Ron and Harry and made my way to the dungeon.
Peeve's had made it a point to try to dive bomb me again, I yelled and chucked my shoe at him. It fell with a clunk at the bottom of the stairs I had started down, the last flight to the dungeon.
I cursed under my breath as I trotted down the remainder of the stairs, not bothering looking where I was going. I looked up as I reached the bottom just in time to see nothing but black before my eyes.
"Owf!"
I ran into someone and fell backwards. I groaned and looked up to see Snape standing there, the usual blank expression on his face, holding my shoe I had thrown.
I sighed as I got up and he spoke, "Please try to keep your shoes on Miss White."
He held out my shoe for me to take. I took it and slipped it back on and followed him into his classroom to find Seamus was already there. I smiled at him and waved as I made my way over and took a seat next to him.
Snape made us clean his cauldron's, caked with a crusty brown film I had no desire to find out what it was. I gagged and coughed for most of the proceeding hour before Snape stood up and instructed us to get out because he was tired of hearing my complaining. We hurried quickly out of the room and up the stairs before he could change his mind.
"Bloody hell," I said as I made a gagging noise again.
"You got that right," Seamus said, as we made our way up the marble staircase toward Gryffindor tower. We rounded the second to last corner before reaching the portrait hole when I heard hushed voices. I stopped to listen, Seamus followed in my lead.
"Oh get a grip on yourself! There's a four year age difference!" I heard the first voice say.
"Doesn't seem to bother you when your ogling her!" the other voice hissed back.
"What does it matter to you one way or another?" the first retorted.
"Nothing, just never mind." the second snapped back, followed by footsteps.
I started to walk casually toward the portrait hole again, trying to act like I hadn't overheard anything, Seamus following my lead. I didn't know who it was or what they had been talking about until
Seamus and I rounded the next corner and saw Fred and Oliver making their way to the same destination, looking quite infuriated and a good distance from each other.
I smiled as we stopped in front of the portrait ("Halt! Who goes there?!").
"Hey Oliver, hey Fred."
Seamus smiled at them before muttering the password.
"Hey," Fred said dully, as he reached where I stood as Seamus climbed in. I looked at him curiously and crawled through the hole and into the common room. He marched past me and straight up into
the boys dormitory. I looked back, Oliver was walking in as the portrait hole snapped shut.
"Hey Briley," he said, giving me a feebly smile. He crossed the room and sat down in an arm chair next to Alicia Spinnett. I didn't understand what had just happened, but I shrugged it off and made my way up to the girls dormitory to get some shut eye.