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James Potter was sitting patiently in potions class waiting for his partner Gail to walk in. This was her first official day of classes since the incident with Scorpius even though she still wouldn't admit it. He had been trying to get her to confess all week but she always saw right through him. It was a lot harder than he would have thought. Still James had spent every day after school siting in the infirmary trying to cunningly get Gail to rat out Scorpius without even realizing. Rosie, his cousin didn't agree with his plan as she thought it morally wrong to try to trick someone into doing something they didn't want to but Teddy and Victoria were behind his plan and had tried to help. They were having just as much success. It was ironic how Rosie was the probably the only one who was smart enough to get Gail to admit what happened and she was the only one who wouldn't help him.
James looked up to see Gail walk through the door. Rosie smiled at Gail as she walked past her desk to the back of the room to sit beside James. James also smiled at Gail. She looked much better than yesterday. She wasn't as pale and she didn't look as thin but that was probably because she was now wearing the uniform that was three sizes too big for her. Gail put her books on the table and sat down next to James. He was going to tell her she looked a lot better today but Professor Twills walked in and silenced them. They went through the class as normal with Professor Twills babbling on and Gail scribbling furiously.
James never paid much attention on class but he was fascinated by the amount of attention Gail paid. He would have borrowed her notes as he assumed they were very detailed by the amount she wrote but they were practically illegible. Gail was the only one seemed to be able to make out what they said. She had explained one day while they were studying in the library that she had a way of writing short hand so she could write down everything that was said. None of them could make out the scribbles but they all appreciated the amazing detail of the drawings that she put into her notes. Victoria who was the most artistic one of the family couldn't come anywhere near the standard of the drawing as much as she tried.
Class ended while James was still thinking and he snapped out of it as Tobias elbowed him in the back. Gail also looked up now finishing her notes. Tobias didn't like Gail very much as he thought she was a bit weird. Tobias ignored the friendly smile Gail gave him and started talking to James. Gail started reading over her notes and only looked up again when she heard Tobias walk away. James turned to her glaring after Tobias
"Sorry about him. He never really was very…" James paused trying to think of a word to make Tobias seem less rude without insulting him. He went with
"Very friendly towards new people. Any way you look a lot better than yesterday." He turned the topic of the conversation back to Gail. He knew Gail was sensitive about the scar on the back of her head and he thought the compliment might ease her nerves.
"Thanks. I feel a lot better but know now I have even more catching up to do." Gail smiled worriedly at James. She knew he was trying to be nice but her attention went back to the red line at the back of her head. She reached up pretending to scratch her ear but she subtly placed her hair around her head trying to cover the scar. James noticed the movement but didn't say anything. Rosie now walked over to their desk and Gail got up. She and Rosie always walked to divination together. James wasn't it that class and he watched them walk out of the room. He had charms class next and he walked casually to the classroom. James wasn't worried as Professor Stacks was always late.
When James got into the room he walked to one of the desks by the window where Tobias was sitting. James hit Tobias in the back of the head with his charms book. Tobias looked up from the offensive drawing of Professor Stacks that he was doodling onto the cover of his book. The drawing would have been offensive if Professor Stacks hadn't actually had a huge stomach, a huge ridiculously shaped moustache and was bald. The drawing was actually quite accurate. Tobias looked up looking annoyed but laughed when he saw James. Tobias picked up the book he had been drawing on and took a swing at James. James skillfully dodged the book and ripped it out of Tobias's hand. James hit Tobias on the head again and sat down irritated. Tobias rubbed his head
"Dude, what was that for?" Tobias went back to the drawing of Professor Stacks. James looked angrily at his friend
"You know what that was about." James was staring at Tobias. Tobias couldn't hold back a small smile. He loved messing with James. He said cheekily trying to hold back laughter
"Oh, right because I wasn't the best of buddies with the new girl." He couldn't hold back and he let out a small chuckle. James swung at him again but Tobias dodged it playfully expecting this reaction. James looked at his friends smug expression and sighed frustrated
"Tobias…" He said in a warning tone. He hated when Tobias messed with him. It was probably his own fault because he gave Tobias the exact reaction that he was looking for but he always let Tobias get to him. Tobias looked at James and rolled his eyes. He knew he had gone too far and backtracked before James took another swing at him again.
"Ok, ok. Today at lunch I will try to be nice. Sound good?" Tobias went back to his drawing and James smiled to himself. He very rarely got Tobias to do something or won an argument against him. He was glad that Tobias would at least try and make an effort with Gail even though he would probably make things worse. Tobias had an awful habit of making a compliment sound like insult especially since compliments were so rare with him. James was relieved though that he would try with Gail considering she had so few friends and he didn't want his friends to make her uncomfortable. Especially since Tobias had already been so rude to her. Lunch would definitely make things a lot better.
James looked up to see Professor Stacks walk in. Tobias didn't notice as the Professor walked swiftly down the room to where he and James were sitting and Professor Stacks yanked the book that Tobias had been drawing on out of his hands. He looked at the drawing his face getting redder and redder and finally going purple. Tobias looked up at him smiling cheekily. James kept a straight face trying not to laugh. He knew that Tobias's expression was only going to make things worse and if he laughed he would get in trouble too. James couldn't hold back the laughter as Professor Stacks moustache began to tremble with anger. Tobias also started laughing hysterically at the image. Professor Stacks yelled at both of them and dragged them to the front of the room still laughing. It was going to be a long class.
Gail didn't really like divination as she couldn't really take any notes and everyone else had way more practice at it. At least Rosie sat next to her so she could help her. Gail was relieved when the class was finished and she and Rosie started walking to the Great Hall. Gail was starving and whatever had been cooking in the kitchen all day smelled amazing. When they walked in Teddy and Victoria were already there. Tobias and James were sitting with them but they were having two completely separate conversations. Teddy and Victoria didn't like Tobias and neither did Rosie. Rosie sat down next to Teddy which was the spot as far away Tobias as possible and Gail sat across from her next to James. Gail saw Albus walk into the hall followed by Lily and Hugo who ran over to sit with them.
They all began to eat and James elbowed Tobias in the ribs suddenly causing him to choke and spray food across the table at Victoria who did not look impressed. Teddy patted her hand also glaring at Tobias but he was James's friend so they would all at least be civil no matter what annoying thing Tobias did. Tobias glared at James ignoring Victoria. James pretended nothing had happened and gave a silent nod toward Gail. Tobias looked at Gail
"Hey, so you're Gail. That's a nasty looking scar on the side of your head, you must be pretty tough to take something like that and walk away without amnesia." This was probably the biggest compliment Tobias had ever given and he couldn't understand why everyone at the table looked like they wanted to kill him. Victoria gave Tobias a vicious kick from under the table. She had been dying to that for half an hour and as bad as she felt for Gail she was glad that Tobias had given her the perfect opportunity. Tobias glared at Victoria and then back at James. Gail spoke now sensing the tension building toward Tobias
"Yes, I'm Gail. Actually I fell the other day. I'm just clumsy but its fine." Gail gave a reassuring smile both to Tobias to tell him that it was fine and to the others so they would stop glaring at him. Gail went back to eating and the others looked a little more relaxed by her reaction. Tobias was confused by what had just happened but he figured that Victoria was willing to attack him no matter what he said. He was going to tell Victoria a blonde joke but he knew Teddy wasn't his biggest fan and he didn't want to start a fight. They had almost gone a whole meal without Teddy taking a swing at him and why not make this the new record.
Everyone looked up as a white owl flew through one of the open windows. It let out a long hoot and then dropped the brown rectangular box it was carrying. A boy with light brown hair sitting at the Hufflepuff table caught the parcel and started opening it. The owl flew out of the window at the end of the hall and more owls started to fly into the hall through the windows. Mail was here.
Every week the owls arrived to deliver the mail. Gail never got any mail considering that she had no one to send her any but she loved seeing how peoples face lit up when they received letters and gifts from their families. James and the others always got letters from their parents. Teddy's parents were dead but James's father Harry who was Teddy's godfather always sent Teddy a letter. A small brown owl spiraled through the air toward them and landed with a thud on the table. The owl had dropped the letters it had been carrying and Rosie got up. She picked them up and handed them out. Everyone read the letters in silence and then passed them around so they could read each other's. Gail could tell they all missed their families. She felt her stomach turn with sadness at the memory of her former family.
Tobias reached up and caught a long white box that a large black owl had been carrying. His dad had sent him a replacement wand because his had broken last week. As far as his dad was considered the wand broke when a spell backfired during class. It definitely didn't happen while Tobias was scaling a wall and fell trying to sneak back into his dorm room without Professor Stacks noticing and more than likely expelling him. The wand was nice and he liked the feel of it. He noticed Gail was staring at the wand fascinated but he ignored her expression. She was probably just upset, obviously her parents couldn't be bothered to send her anything.
When a large light brown owl flew into the room and dropped a huge brown box next to Gail no one seemed to notice. Gail saw the parcel land next to her but ignored it thinking it had to be for someone else. The others had now put away their letters knowing that Gail wouldn't be getting anything. They would all look over the letters in private later. Victoria noticed the parcel next to Gail first. Now everyone was staring at the box. Tobias was the only one that didn't know that Gail didn't have anyone to send her anything so he said
"Well, aren't you going to open it?" He was confused why Gail wasn't opening the parcel but everyone else was confused about who the parcel was for. Gail looked at the parcel next to her and then back at Tobais looking confused. She noticed the others were all staring at the parcel too.
"But it's not for me." Rosie got up and picked up the piece of white cardboard attached to the box and read it aloud. All it said was the word Abigail in printed writing.
"It has your name on it Gail." Gail's forehead creased with confusion and she got up to look at the piece of card with her name on it. Gail took a step back looking at the box and said slightly panicky
"But I have no one to send me anything." Teddy and the others now got up to get a closer look at the mysterious box. Gail made no move to open it and was looking deep in thought. She was completely confused about where this box had come from and what was inside. Everyone jumped when the box moved. A small whimpering like noise came from inside the box and Gail's eyes widened. Gail took a step forward reaching to open the box but James grabbed her arm suddenly. Teddy said looking at James
"She has to open it James." James turned on him and practically shouted
"What do you mean she has to open it? She doesn't know anyone that would send her something and suddenly this parcel arrives moving and making strange noises. We have no idea what could be in there what if it's something…." Suddenly the box let out another noise but this one sounded more like a bark. Gail pulled her arm out of James's grip and gently the lid of the box. James pulled her back again and everyone stepped back wondering what would pop out of the box.
There was another small bark and suddenly a small reddish brown hairy face popped out of the box. The puppy barked it the direction of Gail and then tried to jump out of the box. The box tipped over and the puppy fell out tripping over the blue blanket inside and stumbling onto the table. It lay down on the table lying on its back and looked at them. Gail stepped forward and patted the small dog. It turned over and she picked it up. The puppy licked her face and Gail held it at arm's length looking at small mound of reddish brown fur. Lily pushed past James and started rubbing the puppy and said innocently
"What are you going to call him?" she smiled up at Gail and Gail smiled back at Lily. Victoria and the others now moved closer to examine the dog. James and Teddy ignored the small dog in Gail's arms and they examined the box thoroughly. There was nothing inside that indicated who had sent the dog. James now looked to Gail who was holding the dog smiling. Lily was standing next to her listing off possible names while Rosie and Victoria laughed at Lilies crazy ideas. Gail sat down still holding the dog and Lily sat beside her feeding the dog pieces of food she had taken from the table. The puppy was obviously starving and they didn't know how long it had been in the box. Tobias emptied a bowl and filled it with water from a pitcher on the table. He put it on the floor at Gail's feet and she put the dog on the floor. The puppy licked up the water quickly and then stood obediently at Gail's feet until she picked him up again. James sat down next to Gail and the dog looked at him and then licked his hand. James patted the dog's head and said to Gail
"I wonder who sent him to you." Gail looked back at him still smiling. James had never seen her smile like that before. Even when she laughed her eyes still looked like they were full of sadness but not this time. He noticed her eyes lit up when she smiled.
"I don't know. He's great though isn't he? I've always loved red setters." The dog looked up like it had heard them taking about it and barked. Gail got up and James followed. She had just seen the time and she was late for her lesson with Professor Mc Gonagall. She knew she had better show the dog to her professor. She would definitely want to see this.
"I have to go. I have to show this to Professor Mc Gonagall." James picked up the box the dog had come in and handed it to Gail. She put the dog inside and carried him out of the room. When they had left James stared at the owl that had delivered the dog and tried to remember if he had ever seen it before. He felt like he had but most owls looked alike so he couldn't be sure. He turned to Tobias giving him a thanking look in reference to what he had done. It was probably the nicest thing Tobias had ever done but he shrugged at James response and walked casually out of the room. James now turned to Teddy
"That was weird. Who do you think sent the dog? I mean how would someone know that Gail likes red setters. Do you recognize that owl Teddy?" James was staring at the owl again and Teddy answered
"Definitely. I have no idea about that owl it does look a little familiar but still Gail seemed happy with the dog." He was also confused about who would have sent the dog but didn't want to worry James further. Professor Mc Gonagall would know what was going on.
Professor Mc Gonagll was as confused as the others had been about the origins of the dog but Gail had never seemed so happy and student were allowed to have a pet even though a dog wasn't very traditional so she decided to let Gail keep it. Minerva sent Gail away early from the lesson so she could take care of the dog. They had been making amazing progress in the extra classes lately and Minerva was growing confident in Gail's abilities. She was curious though about where the dog had come from. She would definitely look into this.
Gail walked back to her room carrying the box with the puppy inside. She was surprised Professor Mc Gonagall hadn't known where the dog had come from. Gail thought for a moment that maybe Professor Mc Gonagall had got the dog for her as a gift. It was the only reasonable explanation she could come up with for where the dog had come from. She thought maybe Professor Mc Gonagall had been talking to Ms. Bellam as someone who lived on their street had a red setter years ago and Gail had once told Ms. Bellam how much she loved that breed of dog. Apparently Professor Mc Gonagall had no idea where the dog had come from so Gail was baffled by who had sent her the dog.
When Gail got to her room there was no one else there. The white and orange cat wasn't there but the window was open so Gail assumed it had gone outside. She put the box on the floor and the dog jumped out. It seemed to be able to get out of the box much easier than earlier at much lunch, almost like it had gotten taller. Gail assumed that the puppy was probably just stronger after eating and had been weak earlier and that was why it seemed smaller earlier.
The dog reached back into the box and pulled out the blue blanket inside. The box tipped over and a small brown envelope fell out of it. The puppy ignored the envelope and jumped onto Gail's bed lying down wrapping itself in the blanket. Gail smiled at the little rust colored dog wrapped up in the light blue blanket lying on her bed. The puppy was already practically fast asleep. Gail sat down gently on the bed trying not to disturb the dog.
The envelope was heavier than it looked and it felt like it had something more than a letter inside. Gail ripped open the letter and a brown leather collar feel out onto her lap. Gail looked into the envelope to see if there was card but it was empty. Gail put the envelope onto the bedside table and picked up the collar to examine it. The collar was made of soft light brown leather and had a gold buckle with holes in it so you could adjust the size. There was a small rectangular piece of gold colored metal on the side of the collar which you could engrave the name of a dog on. It was blank and Gail looked back at the sleeping dog thinking about names.
Gail looked back at the collar and nearly dropped it onto the floor with shock when suddenly letters began to appear on the piece of metal on the side of the collar. The letters were etching themselves into the metal as if by magic. The letters spelt out the word 'Rusty' and Gail looked back at the dog.
"Well I guess your name is Rusty." Gail said quietly to herself and she gently put the collar around the dog's neck. The puppy stirred slightly in its sleep and then dozed off again. Gail lay down on the bed next to the small bundle of fur wrapped in soft wool and fell asleep. It was the first night in a long time that Gail didn't cry in her sleep or have any nightmares. lunch k in. t