Darla wrote a letter to her father that night. She told him all about potions class, how much she hated everyone, her extreme dislike of charms, and how much she despised her roommates, but she managed to find room to mention James and Professor Amicussio. She decided not to tell him what Scorpius and Freddie had said. She sent the letter with one of the school owls before heading down to breakfast.
James seemed to be in much higher spirits than Darla. He clapped her on the shoulder when she sat down. "Ready for this afternoon?"
Darla groaned and grabbed a piece of bacon. "How are you so chipper so early," she whined.
"Easy, I fall asleep early," James explained as he fixed Darla's tie. "From what I heard you fell asleep while reading in the common room."
Darla's cheeks went bright red. "And just where did you hear that?"
"My little brother does live with you, he mentioned it. I really need you to be alert this afternoon, Darla, so try to get some sleep during your classes." James finished tying Darla's tie and he resumed eating breakfast. "Now, what was so interesting that it kept you up for half the night?"
Darla shrugged and nipped off the corners of a piece of toast. "Tuatha De Danann," she said, as though that explained everything. "It's a book about the early Fair Folk in Ireland, the ones closest to humans. Professor Amicussio-"
"I really don't want to think about Professor Luney-cussio this early," Freddie mumbled through a mouth full of oatmeal.
"Luney-cussio," Darla asked.
James nodded. "Yeah, in case you didn't notice, Professor Amicussio is a bit, well, insane. I'm sure he's a perfectly fine human being, but he's a terrible teacher."
"Our first year he locked us in a room with several hobgoblins," Freddie said, wincing a bit. "Not only did he lock up in there, but he provoked them first!"
"I got bit," James said, a little too proudly. "Yeah, Amicussio is a bit…off his head."
Darla shrugged and finished off her toast. "I think he's brilliant."
The day couldn't possibly go by fast enough for Darla. Transfigurations seemed to drag by. Professor Frangos was a short plump woman who seemed incapable of smiling. She couldn't stand her. The woman didn't seem to understand that Darla knew how to change a match into a needle and took points off from Slytherin when she noticed Darla wasn't taking notes. Darla quickly proved herself by the end of the practical lesson. Her father had plenty of books about Transfiguration that Darla had stolen to read in the past. Darla might have earned the points she lost back had she not gotten bored and turned the needle into a piece of straw by the end of the lesson. This not only earned her a scowl from Professor Frangos for 'not sticking to the lesson', but also earned her a swift kick in the shin by Avita Derrick for being a show off.
Darla managed to keep her mouth shut during Astronomy. Professor Caleum was a very tall blonde haired witch with a very soft voice, who lectured them all about the importance of the moon cycle and the position of the planets. Darla was not looking forward to keeping track of where the planets were, nor did the different names of stars interest her.
By the time History of Magic rolled around, Darla was awake and ready. Rather than pay attention to Professor Binns (who had a voice that Darla was sure would put her to sleep) Darla spent the time making a drawing of Professor Frangos being eaten by a Hobgoblin. When the bell rang, Darla put her picture away and hurried out the door.
Just as he had promise, James was waiting for Darla. He leaned back, one foot propped up on the wall, his eyes were closed and he didn't seem to notice Darla when she walked over to him.
"Hi," she said, trying to sound cheerful and excited.
James opened his eyes and smiled down at her. "Hey, Darling."
Darla's smile faltered. "Don't call me that," she said, quickly. She hated any variation on her name, the only reason she let Scorpius call her Darling was because he was bigger and stronger than she was, and he had proved that many times.
"Noted," James said, moving away from the wall. "Now, come on, we've got to get a move on. There are pranks a pull and times a wastin'."
Darla followed close behind James. She asked him what kind of prank they were pulling, but he just told her to wait and see.
Freddie wasn't waiting for the in the dungeons, Darla wasn't complaining. James positioned Darla at the staircase and told her to stay on the stairs if she could and to distract anyone coming by.
"Why do I have to stay on the stairs," Darla asked, raising an eyebrow.
James smiled and ruffled her hair, she flinched. "Just trust me, Darla. Wait and be good, I'll be back."
After James left, Darla sat down on the stairs and watched the hallway for anyone coming. It was completely deserted. Bored, Darla reviewed the information on Fair Folk she had learned.
"Brownies are small nocturnal Fair Folk. They tend to live in cottages and are good natured," she thought aloud, trying to remember everything she had learned. "Fauns are woodland Fair Folk. They tend to be very seductive and they lure their prey in using flutes, songs, or, um…shoot…!" Darla cursed under her breath.
"Or mind control," said a familiar voice behind her. "Fauns also use mind control to lure people in. Do you remember how to keep a faun from controlling a person?"
Professor Amicussio sat down beside her, sitting his briefcase on the top of the stairs.
Darla looked down at her lap, slightly embarrassed. She hadn't expected anyone to show up, if she had then she wouldn't have been studying aloud. "You avert your eyes. Fauns can only control you if you give them your full attention."
Professor Amicussio nodded and smiled slightly. "Very good. It's nice to see that someone was paying attention during class. You'd be surprised to know how many students fell asleep."
"How could they fall asleep," Darla asked, looking up from her lap. "It was interesting, probably the most interesting class I had, and I'm not just saying that. I thought it would be terrifying because of some of the books I've read, but it was actually great," she rambled.
Laughing, Professor Amicussio patted Darla on the head. "I'm glad you enjoyed it, and I'm even happier that you actually managed to learn something."
Darla smiled. "Well, I also learned a lot from Tuatha De Danann. I, um, I went to the library after class and got a couple of books. You didn't mention that 'Fair Folk' covered more than just simple things like Faeries and small goblins! Merpeople and even Elves are considered to be Fair Folk, aren't they?"
Professor Amicussio nodded. "That they are, I wasn't sure if anyone would catch on or not. I was hoping that someone would notice. You're quite an intelligent little girl, Miss Nott."
Darla was proud of herself. She had managed to impress Professor Amicussio, and that was enough to lighten her mood. "Maybe, but being smart tends to get me into trouble. Professor Frangos doesn't like it. I mean, I don't think I should get scolded for being bored. I did the stupid lesson! I turned the bloody matchstick into a needle! I don't think I should get into trouble for turning the needle into a piece of straw," she ranted.
"Well, Atropos doesn't want people to stray from the lesson," Professor Amicussio explained. "Next time, just do the lesson and then start on your homework."
Darla didn't think that that sounded like very much fun. She was enjoying talking to Professor Amicussio so much that she nearly forgot about the prank that Freddie and James were pulling. She might have forgotten completely, but a flood of soapy water came rushing like a river down the corridor.
The people in the portraits screamed as water splashed against their frames and Darla could have sworn she saw the coats of amour step back out of the way.
"Hmm, how interesting," Professor Amicussio said as the soapy water rushed past them, thankfully not reaching their sear on the stairs. "It looks like it's going to flood your common room, Miss Nott."
Sure enough, Darla could hear girls shrieking down the corridor and boys cursing loudly.
"I'm not in there," Darla said, nonchalantly. "Besides, I live upstairs, it's not like it's going to hurt any of my books or anything."
Professor Amicussio nodded, he was staring at the soap river as though it was a famous piece of art. "Well, that's always good. Well, this is very well done. If I weren't a teacher I would have to congratulate whoever managed to do this. Though, I have a few guesses as to who's handy work this is."
"Cassius," Miss Gargoyle's shrill voice cut through the air. "What is going on down here?"
Professor Amicussio looked up, still looking impressed. "It would appear, Minerva, that some students flooded the hallway."
The river thinned out and all that was left was a few soap bubbles.
"And you didn't think to do anything about it," Miss Gargoyle demanded, sternly.
Shrugging, Professor Amicussio looked back to the hallway. "It's not my job to stop soap rivers," he said.
"It's your job as a teacher to keep order!"
"No," he told her calmly. "It's my job to make sure that students know how to how to defend themselves from the dark arts." He looked over at Darla. "Are you hurt at all?"
Darla shook her head.
"Well, good job. You managed to keep yourself safe. Ten points to Slytherin."
Miss Gargoyle looked completely baffled. "Cassius, you cannot give points out like that!"
"Why not? She kept herself safe, I think that's worthy of points."
Miss Gargoyle shook her head and sighed. "I'm going to actually find out who is responsible for this."
She didn't have to go far. Within a few seconds, Freddie and James rounded the corner, both laughing hysterically. "Darla," James called before he rounded the corner. "Good job here, everything went perfect-" He stopped and his face went pale. "Everything went perfect with our, um, game of hide and seek…I found Freddie."
Miss Gargoyle put her hands on her hips. "I should've known."
"Wait," Professor Amicussio said, turning to Darla. "You knew about this? I take my points back, you didn't protect yourself, you knew what was going to happen!"
"I didn't know exactly what was happening, I was just keeping watch."
"Yes, ten points from Slytherin," Miss Gargoyle said, not taking her eyes from James and Freddie.
"And twenty from Gryffindor," Professor Amicussio said, cheerfully.
"Twenty," Freddie, James, and Miss Gargoyle said together.
Professor Amicussio shrugged. "There are two of them, ten each. That's fair, right, Minerva?"
Miss Gargoyle nodded. "Yes it is, Cassius. And detention for all of you."
"Why do I have detention," Professor Amicussio asked, sounding shocked.
"Cassius, you don't have detention, you're a teacher!"
"Yes, but Miss Nott here is going to serve her detention with me next Friday night," Professor Amicussio said as he stood up and grabbed his briefcase. "I hope you're happy, Miss Nott," he said as he walked up the stairs and turned and walked down the corridor.
Darla wasn't sure if was happy or not, she had no idea what to think of Professor Amicussio. James and Freddie were right, he was a little crazy. Then again, maybe crazy wasn't bad.
Miss Gargoyle sighed and looked a bit defeated. "I don't know about that man sometimes," she muttered under her breath. "Fine, Miss Nott, you have your instructions for detention, apparently. Potter, Weasley, I'll send you your detention instructions later this week. I'll owl your parents tonight. I'm going to go make sure the Slytherin common room isn't waterlogged." She turned to leave, muttering something along the lines of, "I swear it must be genetic."
James and Freddie sat down on the staircase, they started laughing again.
"Well worth it," James said, wiping his eyes.
"I think this is a new record for us," Freddie said, happily. "Detention on the second day of school. My dad will be so proud of us."
James clapped Darla on the back. "Good job, kid."
Darla looked up, feeling perfectly miserable. She hadn't expected to get detention, at least not so early. "Why? You got caught? I was supposed to make sure that wasn't supposed to happen."
James shrugged. "You owned up, I didn't expect that. You'd be surprised how many people won't do that. Besides, you kept Professor Luney-cussio distracted. I couldn't have asked for more."
"There's always room for improvement," Freddie mentioned, taking a moment to glare at Darla. "But, I guess she didn't do a terrible job."
"That's the spirit," James cheered. "We'll have to include you in our next prank."
Darla wasn't sure how badly she wanted to be included in the next prank, but he did know how badly she wanted to keep James as a friend. So, Darla smiled and nodded eagerly. "I'd like that, James, this was fun." She found herself giggling. "I really hope Scorpius was in the common room."
"He was," Freddie assured her, offering her a very, very faint smile.
Darla couldn't help but smile. Everything was staring to go well. So what if half the school hated her? She had James and his pranks and she got the feeling that even Freddie was starting to warm up to her. Darla relaxed and leaned back on the steps. Maybe school wouldn't be so bad.
Her mood was slightly spoiled when she returned to the common room. The water had been removed from the floor, but some people's robes were still wet. Including Scorpius and Albus's.
Darla had barely stepped into the common room before her legs locked up and she tumbled to the ground. Scorpius walked forward, putting his wand back into her robes, Albus followed behind him and neither of them looked happy at all.
"You helped flood the common room," Scorpius said, loud enough for everyone else to hear.
Darla struggled for a moment, but her legs were completely immobilized. "I didn't help, exactly," she said in a soft voice. Fear welled up in her chest as her cousin stood over her. "I was just told to watch the corridors and make sure that no teachers came by."
"It was mainly my brother," Albus said. "But, then again, he doesn't live here."
"James always does things like this," Scorpius reminded him. "He didn't turn on his own house."
"I didn't turn on anyone," Darla said, defensibly. "I just did what I was told to do!" How was she supposed to know that the entire common room was going to be flooded?
Scorpius didn't seem to think this was a good enough pardon. He kicked Darla sharply in the side. Darla gasped in pain, her eyes welled up with tears and she grabbed her side.
"You never do as you're told," Scorpius snapped. "I don't see why you don't just write to your dear daddy and have him take you home. It's not like anyone here even likes you. In fact, most people can't stand you."
The whole situation seemed very unfair to Darla. It wasn't her fault that she had spent most of her childhood reading. It didn't seem right either that someone older, bigger, and stronger than her had immobilized her before he kicked her.
"That's not true," Darla said, her voice cracking slightly. It was difficult to tell if she was upset over what Scorpius had said or if she was just in pain. "James is my friend! He seems to like me just fine. I suppose he's just a better judge of character than any of you!"
Darla was kicked in the side once again, though not by Scorpius. Albus had pushed past him and delivered a swift jab at her ribs.
"Don't talk about my brother like you know him," he said in a very low whisper. "He doesn't like you, you're just useful to him right now and he feels sorry for you." Albus backed away and stared down at Darla. "You really are pathetic if you think my brother actually likes you." He turned around and started walking. "C'mon, Scorp, I need to change clothes."
Scorpius smiled before he turned and followed Albus up to the boy's dormitory.
Darla panted and clutched her side. She felt perfectly ready to start sobbing, but she knew she couldn't cry in the middle of the common room. That would show weakness, and now really wasn't the time to be weak. Darla took a few deep breaths and tried to calm down.
"You alright," a boy asked in a very small voice.
Darla looked up. She didn't recognize the boy, so she figured he had to be older than her. He was obviously quite a bit older than her, he had a Prefect badge pinned to his robes. His brown hair was cut short around his thin face and his hazel eyes seemed to be sunken into his face.
"Does it look like I'm alright," Darla snapped, still quite upset. "I just got kicked in the rips twice and I can't move my legs. What part of that says that I'm okay?"
The boy rolled his eyes. "Do you want my help or not? I don't think you can get out of this yourself."
Darla sighed and took several more deep breaths. "Aren't you a bit worried about your reputation? The way I hear it, if you talk to me you pretty much have leprosy."
The boy shrugged. "I really don't care much about what people say about me." He paused. "Which, oddly enough, makes them respect me. I don't understand it. Leper or not, I don't think anyone deserves to be in an unfair fight. Outnumbered and outsized, it's a coward's way to fight," he explained as he pulled out his wand. "Though I don't expect much more from them."
Darla smiled as her legs became unlocked. "Thank you…um…I'm sorry, I have no idea what your name is," she admitted.
The boy smiled and shrugged. "I'm not surprised, you've only been here for two days." He extended his hand. "I'm Styx Sloper, make fun of my name and I'll kill you."
"Styx, I like it. Wasn't he the personification of hatred in Greek mythology? The rive Styx or something like that?"
Styx shrugged. "Possibly. I don't know. My dad is weird."
"My dad is weird too! But, he didn't get to name me, my Momma did," Darla said quickly. "I'm Darla Nott," she said, shaking his hand.
"I know. I've heard you're an annoying know-it-all." Styx smiled a bit. "Not that I mind, you might actually prove to provide some intelligent conversation at some point."
"Oh, I'm very good at intelligent conversation. Professor Amicussio says that I'm very intelligent, and I think that's a high honour coming from him." Darla didn't think that Professor Amicussio was they type of person to just hand out compliments.
Styx nodded. "Yeah, Amicussio is a bit weird, but always interesting. You never know when he's going to lock you in a room with an angry gnome or a dozen pixies. What people don't understand is that they're never in actual danger in Amicussio's classroom, so they panic and fail."
Darla quickly decided that she liked Styx. He was a bit odd, but odd wasn't always bad, as Darla was learning. Darla knew that they weren't friends. A few older boys came in and Styx, without bidding Darla farewell, and headed to dinner with them.
As soon as Styx had left her, Darla hurried up to her dormitory. She didn't feel much like eating dinner, she just felt like being alone. With everyone else in the Great Hall, it was the perfect time to be alone. Darla pulled the curtains around her bed and collapsed on top of the comforter. She pulled her ragged owl close to her chest and sighed.
"I don't know what to think, Prowly," she whispered to the owl. "I know that my ribs hurt and I know that most people are complete bastards."
Everything that Albus had said came flooding back to her. Was James really just keeping her around because he thought she was that pathetic? Was that something that people did?
Darla curled up into a ball and pressed her face into Prowly's stomach. Tears flowed freely. Darla couldn't remember the last time she had allowed herself to cry, it seemed like such a childish thing to do. She knew that her father didn't allow himself to cry. She couldn't even remember if he cried when her mother died. She had only been about eight when her mother had died and the memory was a little cloudy. She remembered so little about her mother, but the things she did remember gave her a little bit of strength.
Wiping her face, Darla sat up on her bed and sniffled. "You're right, Prowly," she told the stuffed owl. "Momma wouldn't want me to lose my pride so quickly, and I think this is what Daddy would call self pity. I need to pull myself together and get over it! Starting right now I'm making a promise to myself! I, Darla Nott, solemnly swear that I will not care about what anyone thinks and I won't worry about making friends. I'll study hard and I'll not bother anyone!"
Prowly didn't say anything, of course, but Darla assumed he thought that this was a fine and wonderful plan.
Darla sat at the Slytherin table at breakfast. She hadn't untied her tie the night before, so she didn't have any reason to go find James and have him tie it for her. She poured herself a cup of coffee, trying to make herself wake up. It wasn't working well, she had been up most of the night working on an essay about the Goblin Rebellion. It might have been an interesting topic had Darla not been working on it at two o'clock in the morning. She had her charms book propped up in front of her, though she knew that no matter how many times she read the words it still wouldn't make sense.
"Hoy, kid," James said, putting his hand on her shoulder. "C'mon, do I have to remind you that you don't have to sit alone?"
Darla pushed James's hand off her shoulder, but didn't take her eyes off her book. "I'm studying," she said, simply.
James raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms over his chest. "C'mon, there'll be plenty of time to study later." He leaned against the table and looked down at her. "Again, do you want to sit at a table where everyone hates you?"
'Better hated than pitied,' Darla thought. She sighed and looked up from her book. "Look, I just want to be alone right now, James. Please, for the love of God, leave me alone right now," she practically pleaded.
James ran his hand through his hair. "Well, if you change your mind there's always a seat open," James promised her.
"Thank you" Darla muttered, hoping that James would just hurry up and go away.
James looked down at though expecting Darla to say more. When she didn't say anything, he ruffled Darla's hair and walked back to the Gryffindor table.
Darla sighed and tried to study.
Over the next week, Darla did her best to stay out of everyone's way. She sat at the Slytherin table, studying, during lunch and hid out in her common room during dinner. She stopped going to breakfast all together. She didn't like it very much. Maybe if she hadn't spent any time with James then she wouldn't be so bothered by the loneliness. She stopped answering questions during class and even let Nero's potion explode during class. Charms class was still proving to be difficult.
Friday in Charms class Darla learned that there were some people she couldn't simply ignore. Namely, Lysander and Lorcan. They were supposed to be working on levitation, but considering Darla and Lorcan were both incredibly uninterested and Lysander had succeeded in causing books and feathers to float from table to table, none of them were really working.
"I'm very glad we're friends," Lysander said out of the blue, possibly to break the silence or possibly just because he was Lysander and he often said random things.
Darla was working on a potions essay, but she stopped and glanced up. "We are," she asked. She rarely ever talked to the twins, she only ever spoke to them during class, and then she hardly even spoke.
Lysander grinned and stared down at the table. "Of course we are. If we weren't then you wouldn't sit with us."
"Ly," Lorcan groaned and sat his quill down. "Just because someone talks to you it doesn't mean they're your friend."
Lysander's sad expression made Darla want to tell him that they were, in fact, friends, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. She shrugged and went back to work on her essay, feeling worse than ever.
She was thankful she at least she had Defense Against the Dark Arts to take her mind off everything. She didn't really have anyone to talk to in that class, so she had little reason to speak up. Besides that, the class actually interested her and Professor Amicussio was, by far, her favourite person.
Darla sat with rapt attention as Professor Amicussio told them all about Hobgoblins and Grundolyns. He didn't read from the book, but explained everything in his own words.
He stood in front of the class on Thursday afternoon, discussing the more good natured Fair Folk. "Now, can anyone tell me what element Sylphs represent," he asked, clapping his hands together.
Biting her lip, Darla forced herself to keep her hand down.
Professor Amicussio looked around the room. "Anyone? Anyone at all?" He sighed deeply. "I'll give you a hint, it was in your reading last night."
Darla was certain that if she kept this up then her lip was sure to split.
"Alright," Professor Amicussio said, looking sorely disappointed. "Miss Nott, I assume you did the reading, what element do Sylphs represent?
Darla looked down at the table, refusing to look up to see if people were glaring at her. "Sylphs represent the air," she said, forcing herself not to give out anymore information than was necessary.
Professor Amicussio nodded. "Alright, very good. Can you tell me anything else about them?"
'They're wish granters and protectors. However, they don't quite understand humans and when they grant wishes they tend to go wrong. Like the story of Matilda Kerr, who wished that everyone would notice her and the Sylph turned her into a statue in the centre of town…' "They're fond of children," Darla said.
Professor Amicussio sighed deeply. "Yes, that's true…anything else?"
There were a hundred things that Darla knew to say, but she was tired of being a know-it-all and she was tired of people glaring at her in the hallway or stealing her books in the common room. "No sir," she grumbled, clenching her fists.
"Miss Nott, I need you to stay after class," Professor Amicussio said, causing a few people in the class to snicker. "Now, Sylphs…"
Darla listened to him tell the class almost exactly what she had wanted to say. She wanted to bang her head on the table. It was very hard to pretend to be dumb. But, if she didn't want to get beat up anymore she knew she had to keep her mouth shut.
When the bell rang Darla stayed in her seat. Once everyone else had left, Professor Amicussio closed the door and pulled a chair up to sit across the table from Darla.
He looked at her for a moment, as though trying to read her expression. Fortunately, Darla had learned how to keep her face blank.
"You knew the answer, didn't you," he said, unsmiling.
Darla shrugged. "I don't know what you're talking about, sir."
"Drop the act, Miss Nott," Professor Amicussio said, real anger in his voice. "I know you're better than this. "
Darla didn't drop her act, she had too much at stake. "You haven't had me in class long enough to know that I'm better. Maybe I just didn't do the reading," she said, copying her father's monotone voice.
Professor Amicussio sighed and reached into his briefcase. He pulled out a sheet of parchment and cleared his throat. "I think that Sylphs are some of the most misunderstood of all the Fair Folk. According to 'Defending yourself against the Dark Arts – year one' Sylphs are very gentle wish granting Fair Folk. However, according to
Defaeco Levis ac Immuda Nocens' Sylphs have a tendency to go very wrong in wish granting. You must be very specific when making a wish, otherwise the Sylphs will only be able to do what they think is right. An example is Matilda Kerr, who wished that people would notice her and the Sylph made her into a large, golden statue." Professor Amicussio looked up over the paper and looked at Darla. "I do believe that's what you wrote on your homework assignment."
Darla looked down again and bit her lip.
"Darla."
Darla looked up, a bit surprised that Professor Amicussio had used her first name. She was even more surprised by how angry he sounded.
"It can be very difficult being intelligent," he told. "And I'm sure that it makes a few people angry, but you can't hide something like that. It's like being incredibly beautiful, it's not something you should hide. Everyone has their own talents, you have to embrace yours and forget about what other people say. Oddly enough, I know a bit about this subject." He shook his head. "It would be stupid not to use what you have."
Darla stared at him. Suddenly, she didn't understand why people thought he was insane. He was, by far, the smartest man that Darla had ever met. She closed her eyes and took a couple of deep breaths.
Professor Amicussio looked and her, he reached out to touch her shoulder, but seemed to think better of it because he pulled his hand back awkwardly. "Is there something you want to talk about, Darla?"
There were several things that Darla wanted to talk about, but she wasn't sure that Professor Amicussio was the best person to talk to. "No, Sir," she said, finally and looked back down.
"Well, that's okay. We'll be spending most of tomorrow night together, maybe you'll want to talk then."
Raising an eyebrow, Darla looked up at him.
"You have detention tomorrow night, remember," he said, smiling slightly. "Though you probably don't deserve it, you still have it."
It seemed like ages ago that Darla had helped James pull his prank. It hadn't been more than a week, but it felt like a very distant memory. "Oh, right…that."
Professor Amicussio nodded. "Oh, and I have something for you," he said and dug through his robe pockets. "You weren't at breakfast this morning and this came for you." He handed her an envelope.
Darla smiled slightly. Her father had written her back! "Do you mind if I read it here," she asked, slightly afraid that someone in the common room might steal it from her.
Professor Amicussio shrugged. "I don't see why not."
Darla ripped into the envelope and two letters and a copping from a magazine fell out. She picked up one and recognized her father's block handwriting a once.
Darla
It's good to hear that you're having fun at school.
Darla had the strangest feeling that her father had merely skimmed her letter and hadn't actually taken the time to read it.
I told you that you would make friends. I've just managed to finish my essay about the possibility of permanent human to animal transfiguration. It was much easier to write without anyone bursting into my study every few minutes. I included the article in case you were actually interested in what I do.
Even though I'm happy that you're having fun at school I'm not happy that you managed to get yourself into trouble on your second day. I don't want to get anymore owls from Professor McGonagall. Please be good and make sure that this doesn't happen again. I really don't have the time to write apology letters. No more pranks and no more trouble, understood?
Sorry this letter is so short, but I'm in the middle of a new theory. I've been talking to a couple of people and we all agree that there has got to be a better defence to unforgivable curses than simple shield charms. Perhaps, if I'm correct, a way to reverse the effects of death. Your uncle thinks I'm crazy, but he was never a very studious person.
Stay out of trouble and take care of yourself, Darla. I love you and I'll see you at Christmas.
Theodore Nott.
Darla folded the letter up and put it in her pocket. She was certain that her father wouldn't have even written to her had she not gotten herself into trouble. Not wanting to cry in front of Professor Amicussio, Darla grabbed the second letter.
My Darling Niece.
A smile crossed over Darla's face.
Detention on the second day? That's almost a record, Darla. Couldn't you have chosen a better place to flood, though? Flooding your own common room really isn't a good idea, my dear, in case you didn't notice.
I'll try not to scold you so much for helping out with a prank, I understand that it can get rather boring at Hogwarts. I'm sorry that you're having a hard time, hopefully things will get better. You can't do much about your roommates, you're going to be stuck with them for the next seven years. Just try to ignore them and maybe they'll do the same.
Aunt Astoria says to tell you hello and that she loves you too. She says that you remind her of Daphne sometimes, the way you complain about things and how quick you are to anger. But, she does ask that you'll try not to lose your temper while you're at school.
I know you might not believe it, but your father really does miss you. I came over and he went to your room to invite you down for lunch! I think he misses your delightful company, though he might not admit it. Or, he's just confused and forgot that he sent you to Hogwarts. You know how forgetful he can be when it comes to important things like you, and food, and sleep…
Speaking of your father, he's completely lost his mind. He's talking about reversing death and even going so far as to start reading about alchemy. I'm afraid I might have to lock him up in a closet for a while, a closet where he can't get to any of his books and he can't nearly kill himself! He's coming up with ridiculous ideas and theories, I'm pretty sure that he's officially lost it. I'm sorry Darla, but your father is insane.
Alright, write back, and tell Scorpius that he needs to write back too! Be good and try not to get into anymore trouble. You'll be home at Christmas, so I'll see you them. Take care, your aunt and I love you.
Uncle Draco.
At the bottom of the letter, Darla noticed her father's block handwriting again.
Don't listen to your uncle, I'll show you my theories over Christmas and you can see that they do, in fact, make sense. And yes, of course I miss you, Darla, I don't know why your uncle doesn't think I would admit it. – T.N
He's insane, Darla, don't believe him…except for the last part, believe him on that. – D.M.
Again, I'm not insane. It's just that a certain someone won't listen to what I have to say! –T.N
I might listen if you had something important to say. – D.M
Draco, why are we writing this? – T.N
Insanity? D.M
I'm not insane. – T.N
I lied, I'm totally insane, Look at my insanity. – T.N
Draco! – The real T.N
Darla,
Do ignore those two. They've been arguing for the past week. I'm thinking that I should send both of them to live in the artic for a while, that might shut them up. On the plus side, it does get your father out of his office every once in a while.
I'm sorry your letter doesn't include any sweets or anything, but next week I'll be sure to send you at least a little something. I would say that you and Scorpius could share, but I've seen that play before. It's good to hear that you haven't set anyone else on fire, we wouldn't want a repeat of Christmas…or your birthday…or the train station…you know, I'm just glad that there are no fires.
I hope everything gets better and I'll see you at Christmas.
Much, much love
Astoria Malfoy.
Darla giggled and hugged the letter to her chest. It was nice to know that someone out there cared about her.
Professor Amicussio smiled slightly. "Feeling better now?"
Darla nodded. The letters had come at just the right time, she had needed something to cheer her up. Her father might have been slightly distant, but her aunt and uncle had remembered her. That had made her feel a little better. "Apparently my father has lost his mind," she told him and wiped her eyes.
"Well, it happens to the best of us. Now, why don't you run along to your common room?" Professor Amicussio stood up and grabbed his briefcase.
"Alright. Thank you, Professor," Darla said. She pushed her chair back and grabbed her bag off the floor. "I'll see you tomorrow night!"
"Right after dinner," he reminded her. "And, Miss Nott?"
Darla stopped and turned around. "What'd I forget?"
Professor Amicussio smiled slightly. "When you know the answer in class, speak up. If you don't, I'll have to lock you in a room with an agitated pixie."
Darla promised that she would answer all the questions. She left the classroom and walked through the corridors, rereading the letter from her uncle. She hoped that her father hadn't actually gone insane, though she wouldn't know for sure for several months. Christmas felt ridiculously far away.
Darla skipped happily into the common room. Collapsing on the sofa, she read her letters for the tenth time. It was strange how something so simple could make her feel so happy.
"Hey Darling," Scorpius said, leaning over the back of the sofa. "What's that you've got there?"
"A letter from your father," Darla told him, not bothering to look up.
Scorpius plucked the letter from her hand. "Don't take other people's mail," he snapped, furiously.
Darla turned around and sat up on her knees. "It's not yours! It's mine, give it back!" She knew that she sounded a bit childish, but she didn't care.
Not believing her, Scorpius read over the letter. "Why is my father writing to you?"
"He's my uncle and he loves me! Now give it back!"
"My mother wrote to you?"
"She's my aunt and she loves me too! Give me my letter back."
Scorpius, of course, didn't give Darla back her letter. He raised an eyebrow and laughed. "Your father has finally lost his mind? Well, if I had to raise you then I'd lose my mind too!"
"Daddy hasn't lost his mind! He's brilliant," Darla said, defensively. It was one thing when she talked about her father, it was okay for her to talk about how crazy her father was. When Scorpius did it, however, it made Darla's cheeks turn bright red and anger boiled up inside of her. "Now give me back my letters!"
Scorpius seemed to consider this for a moment. He held the letters out to Darla, but when she went to take them he pulled them away. "I could give them to you, or I could throw them into the fire…"
Darla jumped off the couch and made a mad grab for her letters. "Please don't do that," she cried, reaching desperately for the letters. "I'll be quiet and stay out of your way! Just please don't throw my letters away."
Shaking his head, Scorpius handed her the letters back. "Merlin, I didn't expect you to panic so much. Here's your stupid letters."
Darla clutched her letters to her chest and sank back into the couch. She swore that she would never read anything in front of Scorpius ever again.