The Destiny of Youth

Chapter 3:

Sparks

"What you got?" I asked, stretching myself out on the slightly damp grass, staring at the timetable that the Slytherin Head gave to me that morning.

"Oooh! Charms first- yes!" Koatha cheered happily.

Tori groaned and pouted. "I got charms first too."

Koatha only gave her a death glare. "And what is so bad about having first day back class with me?"

"Simple," I said with a laugh. "First year Tori managed to make her feather burst into flames instead of float. It took the teacher five minutes to get the fire out. Nearly burned a boy to death."

Tori bowed her head. "But Professor said it was a nice piece of magic."

"Have fun," I said, thankful that I wasn't in the same class as Tori for charms. I glanced at my own paper, and instantly took that back. "Defense. With Gryffindor. Great."

"Least you can flirt with Marcus," Koatha smiled as if that was a good thing.

"Yeah, and have my Dad coming back as a ghost to kill me." But as I thought of Marcus Malfoy, my thoughts drifted to a equally handsome boy named Jameson M. Liddre… they were both invading my thoughts that day.

"The bell is going to ring, that's go," Tori interrupted my thoughts by yanking me up under my arms and dragging me back into Hogwarts. "Off you go." Koatha and Tori waved as I made my way down the stairway. Class was getting started, people choosing their spots in the two-seater desks. Kela Bell- who was Gryffindor, but was one of the only ones I could stand- waved to me to take a seat next to her.

As I started to walk over, a hand shot dangerously out and wrapped an arm around my waist, pulling me to the other side of the tables. Marcus Malfoy smirked at me, as he wound his other arm around my waist and brought my back to his chest. "How about you sit with me Potter?" he asked, placing me on a stood, but still not letting go of my waist.

"Take your nasty Gryffindor hands off me," I hissed, trying to pry his linked hands apart.

"I wouldn't say that doll, you're in a room full of people that are unbelievably brave and who all happen to love me." He smiled devilishly and pulled me closer to his body.

"And I got a group of Slytherins all ready to kick your ass." I said, biting my lip to keep from screaming at him. "So-let-go."

To my surprise, Marcus quickly loosened his arms off my waist and placed them on the desk. It was then that I noticed the teacher was standing right behind him with his flaming red hair. He stood with laugher as he watched the two of us.

I gasped. "Uncle Fred!" I screamed, jumping up to wrap my arms around him. Of course, he wasn't my real uncle, but since I had known his since birth, he was always there for my birthday parties, and family dinners at Christmas time. "What are you doing here?"

He laughed and peeled my hands off of him. "I'm back to finish my seventh year." I gave him a look that said you-have-got-to-be-joking-me. And indeed he was. "I'm teaching of course!"

I gave him a shocked look, and many students in the class did as well. Fred had been a hero during the last war where Voldemort had finally been defeated. He stood loyally by my father's side, his brother and himself managing to capture many death eaters with their tricks. Fred Weasley was a celebrity and his life was written in many books so naturally, everyone knew about his leave of Hogwarts before completion.

He walked up to the front desk and placed a black briefcase on the wood and smiled at the class and I. "Oh and it'll be Professor Weasley now, Potter," he winked. "And with that being said, can you and Mr. Malfoy save your extra curricular activities until after class?"

I blushed as people turned to stare at Marcus and I. Marcus only smirked and placed his hands behind his neck looking the picture of ease. I put my hand up, modeling a perfect student.

"Yes, Miss Potter?" Professor Weasley asked with a big smile. "I didn't know you were going to be a teacher's pet."

"Isn't it very irresponsible for the headmistress to hire someone who didn't even get to graduation?" I asked, ignoring his common.

Fred scoffed. "Potter, besides the fact that you basically slapped me in my own class, I will tell you that its because people seem to still think this job is still jinxed. Which is absolutely stupid, because really- Voldemort is dead. Your father made sure of that." I shuddered, and I was the only one to do so. No one called him 'you-know-who' anymore, no one was scared. He was dead and the prophecy was complete.

I didn't say anything more and Fred Weasley went on starting his lesson on Defense Against the Dark Arts. I didn't pay much attention; I was too in my own world. I didn't even notice when Marcus poked me in my side when class was over.

"Potter? Potter? I know you try to ignore me, but this is too good even for you." He poked me again and I finally turned from my trance. "Oh sorry," I said, standing up.

Marcus took a double take. "Did you just apologize?"

"No," I snapped, picking my books up and heading to my next class.

Thankfully, Tori was in my class and I ran to sit beside her in Potions. "How was your first class?" She asked, with actual enthusiasm to know.

"MOD." I said, with a sigh, placing my hands on the desk and lying my head down on top of them."

"Oh," she said. "Well it is DADA, he kind of is the defeater of it all."

I stopped her with a hand. "Let's not talk about it, shall we?" I asked and actually paid attention to the teacher talk about correct mixing.

MOD- it was what everyone knew what my reaction of anger and resentment and even sadness. Mention Of Father. I didn't like to hear about him, good or bad. Period.

When the day was over, Tori was waiting for me out of my last class and she wrapped her arms around me and we headed to the Great Hall. Koatha was already there, bouncing with excitement, waiting at the entrance for us. "You can never guess who my Defense teacher is?!" She screamed, flashing her white teeth at Tori and I.

"Weasley," I said.

Tori looked at me, confused. "What?" she asked, thinking I was talking about her.

"No. To Koatha's question. Weasley."

Koatha pouted. "Oh right, I forgot you had him first period."

"What? Is my Dad here for a speech again?" She groaned, looking around frantically, thinking about hiding.

"No you idiot," I groaned, watching Koatha still bounce with happiness. "Why do you think she's jumping around like that?"

Comprehension dawned on Tori's face. "You mean Uncle Fred is here?" In her case, Fred was actually her real uncle.

"Teaching," I replied, itching to get to my table to get some food in me.

"You joking right?" Tori asked, laughing lightly. "Like he could ever teach."

"Thanks for your support. I'm glad my niece thinks that way about me." Fred Weasley appeared in the doorway, throwing his arm around Tori.

She gasped and Koatha was beaming from ear to ear as she looked up at the muscled red head teacher. "Try not and be so obvious," I whispered in her ear, rolling my eyes. "Now if you excuse me," I said in a louder voice. "I'm gonna get me some dinner."

I went to sit down- I took a seat by Penny, a girl who was very gifted in the looks department, but very brain dead at the same time. She smiled at me, and started to tell me about the latest gossip.

"Like did you see that, like, new boy? He's like, really… umm, what's that word? Really. Hot. Yeah, very very hot. He is totally the best looking boy here. Well, besides Malfoy," she said, sputtering out words as she sipped on a glass of water.

"Rumor has it, he's an exchange from, like, Durmstrang. People are saying he got totally kicked out for killing a teacher." I laughed because of course the rumors would be horribly stupid, but I did see why people were saying these things and believed it- in Penny's case at least.

Penny waved goodbye when she was tired of waiting for me to finish my large salad, and another person took over her seat. I didn't even glance up; I knew it would be Mike. But to my surprise, a quiet, smooth voice whispered in my ear.

"Why hello," James said as he watched me choke on my salad.

"Umm… hi," came my witty reply, as I swallowed a large tomato.

"Your face is horribly red," he told me, his lips in a small smile.

I blushed, deeper and covered my face with my hands. "Oh great," I said through my fingers. "That's what every girl wants to hear."

"You look nice," his voice soothed, pulling my hands off my face. I starred at his fingernails- they were perfectly shaped- cut short and smooth. He seemed like the type of person to have long, unkempt nails.

"You don't need to stare at my fingers." He took his hands from mine and placed them both, each on his knees.

"How was your first day?" I suggested, trying to make conversation.

"A bore," he sighed and picked up a piece of bread and buttered it lightly. "And you?" he asked, obviously trying to be polite, but not really caring.

"Fine. Nothing special."

"I see," he said while tearing an edge off the slice of bread and popping it in his mouth. I watched as he chewed it softly and swallowed it.

"Please stop," he requested, not even looking at my face.

"Stop what?"

"Staring at me."

I could feel my face turning red again, I didn't mean to stare. I glanced to my right to shield my face, when I noticed many girls also starring at the beautiful boy chew his food. It made me even more embarrassed to be acting like every other girl who couldn't control her hormones.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, turning back in his direction, but not meeting his eyes. He lifted one finger to my chin and forced my eyes to him.

"No problem… Potter." And with that, he stood up from the table and walked away, many girl's heads turning to stare at him as he went.

I could feel my heart beat faster. Potter. He had found out my last name.