Fifth year was killing everbody.
Everywhere you went, you would see someone with their noses in a book, studying for the OWLs which were months away. The teachers were assigning at least three times the work of every other year, meaning I had hardly anytime at all to soend having fun if I wanted good grades, which I did. There were three elements that made up a perfect school year and you could only have two, take your pick. They were sleep, fun/friendships, and grades. I was constantly caught in the whirlwind inbetween.
It was when I was studying with Fionina that I became alerted again to strange thibgs happening.
'What's Wolfsbane?' She asked. Potions was her worst subject, Astronomy was her true passion.
'Something werewolves take to keep in their right minds while in wolf form,' I mindlessly repeated Professor Snape, an unpleasant man but not nearly as bad as Harry made him sound. Snape had always sort of liked me, much more so, apparantly, than Harry.
'Wouldn't that make it worse?'
'I don't quite understand the purpose, but I know that is what it does.'
'Noted.' Fionina groaned, pushing her book away and stretching like a cat. 'Why must we take Potions?'
'Why must we take any of the subjects? I sort of like Potions!' It was partly the truth. I liked being in Potions, as I had it with Lee, Fred, and George all at once. And it really wasn't horrible, like certain students made it sound.
'You just like it because you have friends in your potion class,' she responded bitterly. 'I'm all alone with the third years! All your brother does is whine behind me and Hermione Granger never stops being a know-it-all!'
'There, there.' I patted her back awkwardly, collecting another deep sigh. 'You just need to get your grade up, you'll be back with us in no time, Fi!'
'Right.' She scoffed. 'Where do you get Beozar?'
'Stomache of a goat.'
'Yuck!' Fionina made a face that implied her dislike for it's harvesting location, as Fionina was very sensitive to that stuff. At least she was better than Gertie, she was both an animal lover and a vegeterian. Let's just say it isn't a popular topic in our room.
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Steven Goyle was my arch-enemy. Older brother of Gregory Goyle, complete jerk, twit, he had all the qualities I detested locked into one fat package. He was arrogant and picky, ugly and ignorant, not to mention he fancied my best (female) friend, Gertie Sawicz.
(Pronounced Gurr-Tea Saow-its.)
'Leave us alone, Goyle,' I told him as he approached the two of us after Charms.
'Speak for y'self, blood traitor! I wanted to talk to Sawicz.' Goyle slurred like a drunken child. Gertie peered terrifiedly from next to me at him, her eyes big and pleading with me. Gertie was too shy and underspoken to possibly tell him to buzz off on her own.
Luckily, I wasn't. 'Buzz off.'
'I said I was here to speak with Sawicz, or are you deaf?'
'Leave her alone.' Gertie near whispered, but her soft voice was so soft that we all went quiet to strain to hear it.
'I wanted to-'
'We heard you!' I shouted, 'And she doesn't want to talk to you now or ever, Steven Goyle!'
'I don't,' Gertie repeated. 'Leave please.'
'You'll regret this, Potter.' Goyle hissed before leaving us in the hallway in peace.
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'Should we tell a Professor?' Gertie muttered from besides me as she munched her soup at lunch. 'He might've meant it!'
'I doubt he could actually do anything, Gertie!' I laughed it off and bit my sandwitch, 'Why would he do, sit on me and crush me to death?'
'Maybe,' she giggled at my laugh, he was the biggest fifth year at Hogwarts. 'Still, we should tell McGonogall.'
'I'll be fine, Gerts.'
'Don't call me that!'
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Fred slid next to me in a flourish on the couch, putting his arm around my shoulders and putting his face close to mine. 'Long time since I have seen you, Kal!'
'I guess good things don't last.' I murmured with a small smile, not looking up from my book on Underwater Plantlife in the magical kingdom.
'Watch it,' Fred warned. Without warning, he grabbed my book and threw it behind us. 'You're becoming so boring, Kal! When was the last time you hung out with me?' The funny part was that he really did look hurt, which made me feel bad, so I sighed and stood, to Fred's delight. 'Alright!'
'What do you want to do, genius?'
'I was thinking we could test the batches of Kinetic Putty we're keeping down at our Spot.'
'Kinetic Putty?' I asked, never having heard of it. 'What does it do?'
'Oh, we never showed you?' He slapped a hand to his forehead with an eager and mischievious grin across his mouth. 'Then this really will be fun.'
Once we were both at the Spot and settled into our places, Fred pulled buckets of clear white gel into view: it resembled Jello.
'Direct your thoughts to the putty, now,' Fred demanded, and I gave him a look like: 'are you crazy?' but followed directions. What kind of request is it to direct thoughts to putty?
As I did it, the putty began forming into something. A full color, and height, Fred appeared, wearing a shirt saying; I escaped the mental asylum.
I let out a loud gasp, 'That was exactly what I had been picturing! Wow!'
'I'm so offended right now,' he grumbled, I was way too impressed to care much.
'This is amazing! I cannot believe you did this!'
'Why?' He suddenly was acting defensive. It scared me, frankly.
'Because it-it's you and George! Wow!'
My wrist was grabbed, by warm, rough fingers. 'Do you think we are dumb?'
'Geez, Fred, you're an idiot sometimes,' I said as I saw real pain, real curiosity on his face. How could he believe I thought he was stupid?
'Okay then,' his face visibly shadowed, he turned away from me sadly.
'No, Fred! I was kidding, I meant you're an idiot for believing I believe that you are an idiot!' I paused to think. 'That was a confusing sentence.'
Fred looked up, I swear I saw the sadness still in his eyes. 'Really?'
'Yeah!' It was shocking, since when had FRED cared so much about what I thought? He had alway been more if a: "deal with what you think" kind of guy. 'I was teasing! This normally doesn't bother you, you never care what others think!' A sharp look from his direction, 'But I know you aren't stupid! Would I be best friends with someone stupid? No.'
Fred visibly brightened up. I wondered what had happened to lower his self-esteem so much. 'I care what you think, 'cuz you've earned it!' My heart caught in my throat as I watched him think. 'Why are you friends with Kurt if you aren't friends with idiots?'
'Oh stop, now isn't the time.' I slapped his arm, before grinning evily. 'And between you and me,' I dropped my voice, 'I said I wouldn't be best friends with an idiot, not friends.'
Fred laughed. Hard. 'Ha! You just admitted-'
'It is a joke, plus, it's what he gets for lying about George telling someone about...y'know...'
'Yeah!' Fred laughed once more before swinging an arm around me. 'Let's go test this on some...surprise subjects.'
Twenty minutes later, we were positioned with the goop outside the Slytherin dormitory, waiting for certain victims.
Out came Draco Malfoy with his pet Parkingson. Perfect. I thought of a giant purple dinosaur (with lots of imagination!) that somewhat resembled the one on a muggle television program I had once seen, and stiffled my laughter as Draco screamed a high pitched, girly scream.
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The incident was almost forgotten by the both of us by the time a week later when we were required to pair up and cast our patronuses in DADA. Our teacher, Remus Lupin, was a nice man that was down to earth and strange. He had a sadness about him, when he would look out into space and sigh, looking around the room dismally, like he was lost in memories. He would often just look at me, just look at how I acted. How I joked with the twins and how I pranked the Slytherins. Then he would be off again, somewhere in his world of memories. I just wish I understood how I triggered it.
And he was just so familiar. I could swear I had heard his voice before, even if it was a long time ago. But where?
I waved my wand, knowing full well I would have my Patronus up and about in no time. I had learned to cast one two years ago, when Harry had come and Dumbledore explained the true depth if the danger he might be put in to me. The true depth of protection I would need to offer to him. Fred and George, and Lee were the only people who knew.
My Patronus took the form of a Dolphin. Not that it needed water, it had it's own pool around it always. My dolphin glided around the room playfully, I was proud of it. Dolphins were intelligent and playful, and had a zest for life I had to admire. The fact that a dolphin was my Paronus made me feel happier about myself sometimes.
'Very good!' Professor Lupin praised. 'Never have I seen someone grasp the Patronus charm so quickly!' He smiled at me and I smiled back, proud of myself for showing I could do it to my classmates. 'See me after class!'
After class, I stood at his desk. 'You've done it before, haven't you?' Professor Lupin asked in a breathy.
'What?' I nearly choked on my own lip.
'Have you?'
'Yes,' I looked at him, almost shy. 'With Dumbledore, when Harry first came to the school. He told me he was in danger constantly... to learn to protect him...'
'Ahh,' Professor Lupin nodded at me understandingly. 'Impressive. Does he know?'
'Yes.' I told him truthfully. I had forgotten that I had told Harry as well.
'You can go, Kalmine Potter,' he seemed to like saying my name.
'Umm, I have a question.' I said awkwardly.
He was immediatly on alert. What a jumpy man, 'Go ahead, ask away.'
'Do I know you from someplace?' I saw the dumbfounded expression on his face, saw the disbelief in his eyes, as if someone had literally punched him in the gut. 'Sorry, it's ridiculous, but I can't help but feel like I have!'
'You might soon find out you know me more than you think,' he said vaguely.
'I'm supposed to leave now, aren't I?' Sigh.
Professor Lupin nodded amusedly.
'Aww! How can you just end with that?!'
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Hello to all you who've stuck with this story so long! I had a lot of fun writing this chapter with the interaction with Remus, I adore him!(Warning, do not read following sentence if you haven't read last book. And stop reading fanfiction, because it'll make more sense once you have finished the series!) I was so sad when he and Tonks died.
To be clear, it says that she learned it two years ago when Harry came to Hogwarts, but he's a third year. Yes, but remember , it did not happen immediatly, it took months to learn and to even begin lessons, so it would only be two years, not three. Please forgive me for any facts I mess up, I suck with keeping all them straight! :)
Thanks for reading! Enjoy and please, please review!
Maria M
