Riddikulus

Harry, Ron and Hermione all thought it strange that the newest addition to the 'gang' had blatantly refused to do a simple 'Riddikulus' spell in Professor Lupin's class, yet didn't quite know how to approach her about it.

"Quills!" Ashlin exploded as she was trying to start her potions task over lunch. "What is this, medieval times or something?! What in the world is wrong with a pen?"

"Ash," Harry began cautiously, "is everything all right?"

Their green eyes locked momentarily. She knew the question he really wanted to ask- that they all wanted to ask really. She wanted nothing more than to give them an answer, to tell them the truth, they were, after all, becoming fast friends.

"I can't Harry," she finally sighed, looking almost defeated. "It's all very complicated. I certainly know the Riddikulus spell, ok? Can we just leave it at that?"

"Yeah," Ron interjected, "but we're here if you ever want to talk about it."

Hermione seconded with a nod.

Ashlin flashed Ron a smile she knew melted his insides and turned back to the large book and parchment that kept trying to roll up as she attempted to write.

"I don't get these things," she concluded. "What I wouldn't do for a pen and paper right about now."

All of a sudden, a blue Bic stick pen dangled in front of her.

"Hmmmm….anything?" Jacien asked playfully, causing all the girls seated at the Gryffindor table to sigh starry eyed.

"Depends," Ashlin answered equally as playfully. "What did you have in mind?"

"Well, that'll have to wait," Jacien laughed. "But for now, meet me in front of the potions classroom before dinner."

Knowing her friend as she did, she also knew something was brewing in his brain.

"Why?"

"Do you want the pen or not?" he teased.

"Fine, potions, before dinner," she relented, acting completely put off by the arrangement.

Jacien laughed deftly, tossed the pen at her, and strode off in the direction of Malfoy, Crabbe & Goyle.

As promised, Ashlin left the Gryffindor common room a few minutes early to meet Jacien in front of the Potions classroom.

"You're late," Draco Malfoy announced. He was attempting to do a suave lean against the wall with trademark smirk firmly in place. His eyes remained half massed, as if displeased with her.

"No I'm not Malfoy," she corrected haughtily. "There would have needed to be a specific time set in order to be late, and, if memory serves, I didn't agree to meet with you at all."

He merely raised his eyebrows in response.

"Come on then," he said, grabbing her arm and dragging her through the corridors.

He ignored her protests until she whipped out her wand. "Put a hex on me, Ms. Stylers, and I assure you, you will regret it. Jacien has asked that I escort you to a specific spot, and if I need to pick you up and carry you there, I will, but I recommend putting that thing away."

She successfully ripped her arm from his grasp, straightened her robes, and proceeded to put her wand back into an inside pocket. Then in complete mockery, tipped her head in a slight bow.

"After you," she announced.

Oooo, it looked as though he could freeze me with that look. She thought as she quietly followed him. She was perhaps, a little upset with herself for angering him so, but what difference did that make, she was only going to be here for the school year anyway, and he certainly did not make any effort to conceal his disapproval of her selection of other friends.

"In there!" Draco sneered, pointing her in the direction of the Defense Against Dark Arts room.

She looked at him quizzically, but he just raised his eyebrows again, turned on his heal, and left. Shame, he didn't look back. Her stomach churned as she opened the door. There sat Jacien and Professor Lupin.

"What's going on?" she asked suspiciously.

"Mr. Roald seems to think that you will be more successful with your class project if you were allowed to do it without an audience," Professor Lupin explained. He was nice, but rather brisk. He looked tired and the gray around his temples almost looked premature.

"YOU DID WHAT?!" Ashlin exploded. "How could you?!"

"Professor Lupin has assured me that what happens in this classroom will stay in this classroom, Ashlin Stylers! You can't go around not doing your assignments, your Father will have you back in the states before you could Apparate away!"

"Well, for one, you can't Apparate in or anywhere around Hogwarts," Ashlin fumed. "And secondly, you had no right!"

"You get full points for the day, just do it," Jacien practically demanded.

The two stood in deadlock for the better part of three minutes before Ashlin turned to Professor Lupin. "It stays here? You promise?"

Professor Lupin shook his head in agreement before she reluctantly agreed.

"Are you sure?" The Dark Arts teacher asked before releasing the Bogart. She shook her head as she flipped her wand around in her hand.

"1-2-3." Lupin let the Bogart out of the trunk.

It quickly turned into a tall, looming man with longish black hair tied neatly at the nape of his neck. His eyes were blazing black, and he wore very well tailored robes of hunter green and gold. His dragon skin boots were of the finest quality and his face was slightly pinched – giving it a most abhorred, arrogant look. His wand was raised as if ready to issue some sort of curse. It was obviously her Father.

"Riddikulus!" Ashlin pronounced plainly as the streak of light flashed from her wand, ridding the room of the Bogart. Her expression was unreadable. "No one else will hear about this?"

"Full marks, Ms. Stylers," Professor Lupin announced, satisfied. "And no, this will remain our secret."

With a tilt of her head, she and Jacien left the Dark Arts classroom.