N/A : Disclaimer : Harry Potter still don't belong to me.
And I'm still french, so there still might be errors. I do my best, though ! Hope you'll like it.
Next morning, after eating in the Great Hall, even more impressive than the day before, Felicia went to her first course, which she shared with Slytherins, and with the director of the snake's house, named Severus Snapre, who taught potions. The man had greasy hair, a tortuous face, and clearly held a profound hate of any and every Gryffindor, and took points from them whenever he could, whereas he gave a lot to his house's students. And this is how Craig and Felicia found themselves sitting next to each other, the teacher placing them as he wanted. They didn't share a word during the whole course, costing them 5 points, without any of them understanding it. It put the Gryffindors in a bad mood for the day.
The following course let them find back a bit of happiness. Flitwick's charms' course, little man who looked like a goblin, who taught them their first spell. Felicia, who had her mother's wand, got it harder than her friends to realize levitation spell, Wingardium Leviosa, though she still managed it. That achievement led her to realize to she managed to use her mother's wand quite efficiently.
However, their first day wasn't really loaded, ans the other courses they had that day weren't important. When every Gryffindor found thmesleves in the Common room, Felicia sat on a corner, next to Amelia and Stacey. The young girls spoke about that disastrous potion course, when Sean invited himself in the conversation.
« So... Gonna tell us how you made us lose all those points ?
- I have no idea !
- Yeah, yeah, whatever...
- What do you mean ?
- Nothing, nothing, Sean said, trying to leave.
- You're not going away that easily ! What did you mean by your « Whatever » ?!
- Nothing Noctua !
- Since when do you call me by my name ? Felicia asked while trying, unsuccessfully, to get up, under the laughther of Sean. What did you do, again ?
- Again ? I just started to get you to smile ! He said, while going away, as if he couldn't stop laughing, whereas Felicia was unable to get up, as she was stucked on the chair. Oh, and don't worry ! It's only gonna last half an hour !
- DEARBORN ! I'm warning you, when I get up from that chair, you're gonna feel it ! Felicia screamed, seemingly not seeing that the whole Common room was watching them.
- Oh ? Since when do you use my last name ? »
Indeed, as Sean said, thirty minutes later, the Gryffindor managed to move from that chair, under the laughs of the students. She ran off the Common room, following Sean's trail. She found him quickly, but as soon as he saw her, the boy ran away. For the rest of the late afternoon, she didn't see him. Every evening, Sean got used to annoy any and everyone, competing with Peeves the poltergeist. Yet, no matter how unbearable those jokes were, no one reacted to them but Felicia, and quickly, arguments between them were usual. Felicia found those particularly unpleasant, as she had to focus not to let her metamorphmagus gift take over. She still wanted it secret.
However, a week after, first years had their first course of transfiguration, with the dreaded McGonagall. Sean and Felicia came up late, as they were once again bickering. They were relieved to see that the teacher hadn't arrived yet. On her desk stood a cat, whose eyes were quite unusual.
« See, Noctua, I was right, we had time enough to conclude our little talk.
- Shut up, Dearborn.
- Oh, you're still angry about this little jo... Sean stopped suddenly, quite surprised, which made Felicia turn around. »
Where seconds earlier was the cat now stood the professor McGonagall, her glasses, looking exactly like the cat's marks, simply emphasized her strictness.
« So cool ! Sean exclaimed.
- Mister Dearborn, you're late already, please refrain from using such a foolish language.
- Yes Ma'am. What was that thing you did ? Could you teach us ?
- For your information, I'm an Animagi, it was not a « thing ». And as for managing it... I doubt you'll be proficient enough to do it when going out of Hogwarts. But we'll start with something at your capacity ! »
Students had to transform a toothpick into a needle. After an hour and halh, none had managed to modify the object, as if it had chosen to stay in wood. However, Felicia was surprised to see that the tips of her toothpick had become slightly more solid, iron-like, which McGonagall qualified as the « best one of this period ». Felicia clearly wasn't expecting a decent result with a wand that wasn't hers. Nevertheless, she wasn't completely focused on what she was doing since the first minutes of this course, the teacher had made her remember a promise she made. She had to become an Animagi... But she was wondering how she would manage it when, according to McGonagall, even the upper students didn't have the power required...
At the end of the course, Felicia waited for her class to go out, gaining time by making her things fall. Once everyone was out, she came to talk to her Head of House.
« Can I help you, miss Noctua ?
- Well, yes... Actually, I was wondering about what you had to do to become an Animagi...
- As I said to your friend, this isn't in your actual capacities.
- I know ! I'm simply curious !
- When you're older, maybe we'll get back to this subject, if it still interests you, but I really can't tell you more than I already have. I'm afraid the contraints are too numerous for someone still in school to handle. Don't take it personnally, Miss Noctua, I know what's the best for you !
- I understand... Thank you anyway ! »
That talk had disappointed the young girl, who was expecting an answer more complete. However, the day wasn't over ! After a potion course and a lunch next to Stacey and Amelia, whose conversation was sometimes boring to Felicia, first year had a flying course, alongside Slytherin's first years.
While waiting for Mrs Hooch in the school ground, her cousin came to see her, a mocking smile on his face.
« So you like kittens, Felicia ?
- You know that cat's claws hurt, right ?
- And what does your daddy say about that ?
- Don't think this is any of your matter.
- Good, children, get in line ! Said Mrs Hooch who finally arrived. »
Each student went where they were told to, after creating a little chaos in the precipitation to get a broom in the bunch Mrs Hooch had created in a flick of her wand. Felicia found herself between Amelia and Stacey. Unfortunately, Craig and his contemptuous smile were right in front of her. At her feet, the broom looked like he had been burnt on the side, and the wood was severely damaged, some of the wisp looked ready to turn to dust. The mocking glare of Craig was explained when Felicia discovered at his feet another broom. This one was clearly new, and seemend shining from energy. Mrs Hooch made sure everyone had a broom, and finally started her course.
« Controling the broom we have is completely different from everything you've learnt in your other courses. This is probably one of the most ancient wizards' art. Brooms are milleniums old and can be used for fun as much as for business. In this course, I'll teach you the basics of this way to move. Here, at Hogwarts, you'll be able to use a broom to integrate your House's Quidditch team. Anyway, let's start. First of all, you need to be obeyed by your broom and hold it. For that, you're gonna put your hand above the broom's handle, and say « Up ! ». Try it withour the hand... Good. Now, try just like I told you. »
The ground suddenly rang out of many « Up ! ». Few were those that got the broom to obey in their first try. Felicia was one of those she had barely said the word that the broom's handle went in her hand. Her cousin managed it almost as fast as her. Amelia's simply turned on itself. Others made a simple bounce and fell back on the ground. After a few times, everyone had a broom in their hand. Some actually looked vexed not having been able to get the brooms earlier.
The teacher then tried to teach her students how to control the broom once in the air, and to take off. But Stacey, who was incredibly nervous, took off much earlier than what was planned, surprising her teacher. Stacey was completely terrified, and was unable to control her flight, and the students could see her get higher and higher, as a dismantled puppet, until she slipped from the broom ! Luckily, Mrs Hooch had the time to slow down the Gryffindor's fall, who simply broke her wrist. Nonetheless, the adult took her to Hogwart's infirmary, letting the students alone, without surveillance, with the simple order not to fly or they would be severely punished.
However, she had barely got out that the students who already knew how to fly mounted the brooms, simply making sure they weren't really high or fast, having already sent another children watching for a teacher to come. Craig was one of those students. Many of them were Slytherin's anyway. He went insulting his cousin.
« So the lioness is afraid of flying ?
- You're really funny, you know that, Craig ?
- Come and prove me I'm wrong.
- I wouldn't make an idiot of you in front of your friends.
- Or you're afraid to make an idiot of YOURSELF !
- You're really good in jokes today, aren't you ?
- Oh, but what's that ? Craig said, looking past Felicia's back. »
Indeed, behind Felicia stood Sean, a closed letter in his hand. Felicia got closer and saw that the letter was destined to Stacey and must have fallen in the same time as her friend. Craig, still in his broom, stole the missive.
« Give me that back, Craig ! Sean calmly said.
- Come look for it ! Answered Craig.
After a moment of hesitation, Sean was ready to take off when Felicia stopped him, her glance, cold and scary, on her cousin.
« Don't, I got that. »
Watching her with surprise, Sean let her mount her broom, under the silence of every first year, who started to understand how much hate there was between Craig and Felicia. The slytherin, hom, watched things happen with sparkling eyes, happy at the prospect of making a fool of his cousin who dared steal his fame in the first day, whereas he's the heir of one of the most powerful wizard's family ! But he had to go to those pretentious Gryffindor...
A second later, Felicia had joined Craig up in the air. She was surprised to see that she controled her broom perfectly, though she had never used one. They were facing each other, Craig holding in his hand that letter that he had happily stolen to Sean. Suddenly, Felicia launched herself on her cousin, counting on the surprise to take back this piece of paper, under the encouragements of every Gryffindor. Craig barely avoided his cousin's attack, turned back and pushed her with all his force to make her fall. As her cousin earlier, Felicia countered Craig's plan. However, she almost lost her balance, and hold with one hand to her broom as she was about to fall. Gryffindor's girls, believing the worst had already happened, couldn't watch it anymore. Boys, however, like Sean, were following the duel with attention, not saying a word. While Felicia got back on her broom, Craig was flying on her again, determined to make her fall once and for all. A bllod traitor like her didn't deserve to live any longer ! But now, the Gryffindor was expecting it, and simply avoided the attack when he arrived, and found herself back in front of him. She took the time to slap him in the face. Shocked, he didn't see that Felicia had taken the letter from his hand.
Felicia stopped there the duel : she had achieved her goal, so she got back on the ground. In the mean time, the student who kept watch came back running. When Mrs Hooch came back alone, Stacey having to stay in the infirmary, Craig was still under the shock that he, a noble, had been smacked by a girl ! So he was still in the air when the teacher arrived. Unfortunately, she had seen both of them flying.
« Flint, Noctua, I saw you ! That's 10 points taken from your houses ! And, Mister Flint, get down right now if you d'ont want to be even more punished ! You both have detention ! Your Heads of House will transmit what you'll be asked to do ! »
And the teacher refused to hear explanations or Craig's complaints, who felt ashamed that a girl had beaten him ! Then, once the period was ocer, Felicia, Sean and Amelia went to see Stacey at the infirmary. She was fine, though her tears were still visible on her face. Her wrist had been repaired, and she simply had to stay here for precaution. The three gryffindors told her what had happened and gave her her letter, who made the young girl cry again.