Chapter Three
In the morning, I made the trip to Charms alone, and entered the room to find Flitwick had been waiting eagerly for us all. I sat down at an empty table- my mistake. Cassi sat across the room, forcing Pandora to go with her, who gave me an apologetic glance. I waved her off to let her know it was fine, and then began pulling out my books. Students filed in, and class began.
"I want to welcome all of you back to Hogwarts this year!" Flitwick began. "If you're in this class, it's due to your extraordinary ability in Charms-this will come in handy later on in all manners of life! Your first lesson will be-"
The door swung open, and in swept Sirius Black, as brash and arrogant as ever. "Sorry I'm late," he said. "Good to see you again, Professor Flitwick. Anywhere left to sit?"
"Not with Gryffindors, I'm afraid," Remus called out from his seat next to James.
Flitwick then, of course, pointed at me. "There's an open spot next to Miss Drummond, there. Sit, then, boy- you all need partners this year."
Lovely. Sirius sat down next to me and gave me a cheeky smile. I resisted rolling my eyes and turned back to Flitwick, who had resumed speaking.
"This year's first lesson will be nonverbal spells. It's simple, really- you just think it, and then you can do it! You all remember, of course, our first charm together."
Wingardium Leviosa, I thought, but the words were shouted by Sirius next to me. I held up one hand, hiding my face from him.
"Today, I want you to try this. We will practice throughout the week, and next week Lumos and Nox. Go on, get started!"
"We're supposed to spend all this time in here doing one simple charm?" I muttered, underwhelmed. Flitwick had made it out like we would be doing advanced magic- as I had expected- and then left us with this.
"Nonverbal spells?" Sirius echoed my thoughts, scoffing and laughing. "How is that complicated?"
I sighed. "Alright, let's do this."
I set down my quill, close enough to the practice feathers Flitwick had started us out with. I lifted my wand, clearing my throat. Wingardium Leviosa- swish and flick. The quill didn't move. Sirius chuckled.
"Did you just try it, then? And utterly fail?"
Insulted, I crossed my arms. "Let's see you try, then."
"Fine, I will."
Sirius focused on the quill and moved his wand the proper way. It didn't budge for him, either. He sat back.
"Okay, whatever."
I nodded. "Yeah, uh huh. See? Not so easy, is it?"
"You can't do it either," he pointed out.
"I will, though."
He met my eyes. "Okay, so, whoever manages to make that quill float first owes the other a butterbeer when we go to Hogsmeade."
"Deal," I said, before realizing what I was agreeing to. Grabbing a butterbeer with someone was only something you did with friends or… I don't even want to think about the other possibility. I took a deep breath and turned to the quill. Sirius started repeating the motion with his own. Across the room, I saw Lily Evans had already managed to get her feather rising above the rest. Show-off, I thought in playful jealousy. I didn't actually hold it against her.
I continued to try, and the clock ticked by. When there was only five more minutes, I really buckled down. I focused on the quill. I put all of my mental effort behind it, shouting in my head, and thought, Wingardium Leviosa! The feather lifted.
In my glee, my focus lapsed and it fell. I groaned. Sirius tossed his head back, laughing. "Frustrated?"
"I got it to move!" I complained. "And then it fell again."
"Looks like you'll end up owing me a butterbeer," Sirius said, grinning. I glared at him.
In the next five minutes, we couldn't manage to, but I knew we would. Or at least, I would. I wasn't sure about Sirius. I had no idea why I was so competitive against him, but I had a feeling it involved how we had met. It had just always been this way.
The class ended and Sirius left. I had a free period; I tried to catch up with Cassi to talk to her about this before it became some long, drawn-out argument, but she rushed ahead when she noticed me following. With a sigh, I retreated to the library, and began to practice the nonverbal charm once more. And before long, without a distracting Gryffindor next to me making smart comments, I managed to master Wingardium Leviosa. Afterward, I started studying for my next class of the day- History of Magic. I would have to swing by and say hi to Professor Harley after last period, or otherwise I wouldn't see him today due to how my schedule was set up.
History of Magic zoomed by. Cassi wasn't taking it, so I was free to spend my time with Pandora and Yumi, both of whom were ecstatic to be back. And, of course, Amos Diggory was sitting with the Hufflepuffs and came to ask me where Cassi was and how she was doing. As he was taking Ancient Runes, I told him to ask her himself when he got in there, but that otherwise she was doing well. Best friend is angry at me, and I'm still an excellent wing-woman. Ten points to Ravenclaw.
After History of Magic, it was time for lunch. I sat next to Xeno again, this time across from Pandora, who couldn't take her eyes off of him and was far more fascinated in his retelling of seventh-year Potions. I ate and then excused myself, crossing the room to the Gryffindor table.
I found Sirius in a short amount of time and tapped his shoulder. As he turned around, I had my wand out. Wingardium Leviosa. A roll rose from the table and he continued to look at me.
"Yes?" He asked. I smiled and pulled his shirt out, and then promptly dropped the roll within.
"I mastered it. You owe me a butterbeer."
Turning, I strolled away, to hear him laughing from behind and call out, "Just you wait, Hazel Drummond- I'll get you back!"
I walked backwards a moment. "I'll be waiting!"
As I went to turn back around, I smacked into Lucius Malfoy, who promptly glared at me. "Out of my way, mudblood!"
I reeled as he pushed past and turned to watch him. "I may be muggle-born, but at least I'm not a pompous ass!"
He whirled, wand out. The guy was insufferable! But before he could say anything, at the same moment Sirius had disarmed him and I had shouted, "Rictusempra!"
Lucius doubled over laughing and I walked forward as he struggled to get enough of a grip to counter. I cast the counter-spell, enabling Lucius to regain his composure. He straightened up, taller than me by over a head, and he glared at me.
"Why, you insolent little-"
"Silencio," I said, and he was rendered unable to speak. I glared. "Next time you decide to use your mouth, choose your words wisely."
I cast the counter for that, freeing him, and whirled around, striding out of the Great Hall. I had just started down the hall toward the Ravenclaw Tower when someone caught me arm, jogging up next to me.
"Wait!" I glanced over- Sirius. He tugged me back some. "Hazel, don't let Lucius get to you. The guy's horrible, but he's not worth ruining your first day back."
"My first day is already ruined," I snapped, needing to rant. "My best friend is mad at me because she thinks I'm disloyal to Ravenclaw because I sat with Lily on the train. She won't even talk to me now that I refuse to tell her what Lily said, but I promised Lily I wouldn't say anything, and I stand by my word. It's none of Cassi's business anyways. And then my only real friend so far that stood by me is Xenophilius Lovegood, and he and I can only really talk about school. I thought we might learn something interesting in Charms but it's just nonverbal spells. I get that they're useful, but why is it a main segment of the curriculum? And to top it all off, the only person who's really spoken to me since I got here last night is you, and we aren't even friends."
"We could be," Sirius offered. He smiled. "You seem to need a friend."
"Maybe, sure," I said, "But what I really need is to have my old friends back. I don't see why she dislikes mine and Lily's friendship so much."
We had reached Ravenclaw Tower, but I wasn't quite ready to leave Sirius. I sat down on the steps and he sat down next to me, clasping his hands. "Well, maybe she's jealous. You two are best friends, and you're running off with someone else your first chance you get. And then you won't even tell her when you're supposed to be able to trust her."
"I didn't rant for advice, Sirius, I just ranted to get it out of my system."
He wrapped an arm around me, rubbing my arm. "Maybe you need to hear it, though."
I looked over at him, straight-faced, only to realize how close we were sitting.
"Haz-" I looked up to see Cassi cut off mid-call. She was standing frozen in the hallway. Wrath suddenly masked her features. "I knew it! I knew you would start dating one of them!"
"Cassi!" I exclaimed, standing. "It's not that- I'm not dating him! It's not what it looks like!"
Cassi was already running off though. I started off after her, and stopped.
"Cass, please- I wouldn't date a Gryffindor!"
I sighed, and then turned at the sound of footsteps to see Sirius striding away. It's only the first day and there's already this much drama. Sixth year isn't exactly going as planned.
I chased Cassi down, and finally caught her with just enough time to say my piece before we would have to go to our next class. "Cassi, please, listen to me. I'm not dating him. Give me one good reason why I would date Sirius Black."
Cassi glared. "There's what happened in second year."
"That was ages ago," I pointed out. "It's nothing. I'm not interested in dating anyone, you know that. I told you that a week ago."
She whirled on me. "How can I trust anything you say, Hazel!? You can't even tell your best friend what some Gryffindor girl told you!"
"Since when has house rivalry mattered so much to you anyway?" I demanded, and then sighed and pulled her into a corner. I lowered my voice. "Okay, I'll tell you, but you have to promise not to tell anyone."
"I promise," she huffed. "Now tell me."
I sighed, glancing around again. "Lily came to visit London during the summer and decided to go see Hogwarts and the Forbidden Forest. Alone. She heard something roaring in the night and everything else in the forest was fleeing from it, but she couldn't get close enough to find out what it was. She wants me, Severus Snape, and Remus Lupin to go with her to go find out."
"Why just the four of you? Isn't that dangerous? Does she know what it was?"
"The four of us because it's the most practical."
"Less attention, I get it."
"It is dangerous, though, which is why we have to be extremely careful- part of that is not telling anyone. She doesn't know what it is, either, which is why she wants me to go- I'm the Care of Magical Creatures person, I guess, and she wants my expertise."
"So, you aren't dating a Gryffindor?"
"No."
"And you do still trust me?"
"Yes."
"Then I'm sorry for being an idiot."
I nodded. "It's okay. I expect it from you by now."
She socked me in the arm and I laughed, just as it was time to move to our next period. I looped my arm through hers.
"Walk with me to History of Magic?"
"Sure."
Last period came and Cassi disappeared to Ancient Runes. I made my way to the library for the second time today, though for a very different purpose this time. And I already had a train-load of homework from History of Magic. I stepped into the library and sat down where Remus was already waiting.
"Long day?" He asked at the sight of me.
"You have no idea. I think Sirius Black might hate me. Please apologize to him for me."
Remus cocked one eyebrow. "You'll have to handle that one yourself."
"You're one of his best friends, you do it."
"It'll sound better coming from you. What did you do?"
I sighed and explained. Remus whistled low, and then Lily and Severus showed up. The two sat down at the table and Lily leaned in close.
"Alright, here's what we'll do. The new moon is in two days. We'll plan for the half-moon in two weeks, and when it comes, we'll meet at the edge of the Forbidden Forest. We'll meet on occasion so as not to arouse suspicion and plan for it. Plan on your own time as well, and bring your ideas when we meet. Sev, you're in charge of potions. Hazel, I want you reviewing the Care of Magical Creatures textbook when you have time. Remus, your job is to figure out the best defensive spells against creatures. You may need to meet with Hazel more often."
"And what will you be doing?" I asked.
"I'll be trying to figure out where, exactly, we're going, and the best way to get there."
"For two weeks?" Remus said. Lily nodded.
"If I figure it out before then, I'll find something else useful to do. For now, I have a lot of homework from History of Magic to do, so I will see you three Thursday, same time, in the Clocktower Courtyard."
"Got it."
I stood. "I have to go as well. There's a book in the Ravenclaw Common Room that's perfect for the report for History of Magic." I paused, turning back. "Remus, please- tell Sirius sorry for me."
Lily caught me on the way out. "Why are you apologizing to Sirius?"
"I said something daft."
She glanced at me. "Which was?"
"I- my friend, Cassi, is being a bit extreme about house rivalries this year and she was already afraid that because I sat next to you, I was being disloyal to Ravenclaw. Then I ended up ranting to Sirius and as he tried to comfort me, she saw, and thought something else was happening, and I said I don't date Gryffindors and he stormed off."
Lily looked shocked. "Sirius tried to comfort you?"
"He did. Is that really so surprising?"
"Yes. I wasn't aware he was capable of sympathy. And you said he stormed off after you said you don't date Gryffindors?"
"Lily, no- it isn't like that."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm certain." But as I said it, I realized I wasn't so certain.
It's too early for this. I have a report to do.
A/N: Hope you guys are enjoying so far!
