"Good morning, Draco." Georgia said as she sat down next to him, her hair up in a high pony and wearing pants instead of a skirt. When she went more casual like that, it meant that she was in a good mood.
"Morning." He said, as the Great Hall suddenly started rapidly filling up. He hoped that he made good time when he got down for breakfast, so he could get some time alone in the quiet-big room, but when he got there, he found that it was already a quarter full.
"Why is it that it seems like everyone wakes up at the same time?" Georgia thought out loud.
"I dunno. Maybe they all have internal clocks that go off at the same time." Draco said.
The two sat in silence for a moment as Georgia nibbled on a muffin and Draco wolfed down his eggs.
"What's the rush?" Georgia asked.
"Flint's mad at us for losing yesterday, so he booked us an early practice today. I must be down there in half an hour. Then, I have to head to class immediately afterwards."
"Aw, poo. You're no fun anymore, you're always doing stupid Quidditch things." Georgia whined.
"Well, you can always hang out with Freeman and Summers, can't you?" Draco questioned.
"No, Mercedes found herself a boy friend and already committed to helping him study, and Willow joined some club, and I don't want her to convince me to join with her." Georgia groaned.
"What club?"
"Some dueling club, or something. I have no interest in it, though."
"Why not? I've signed up."
"Because, I heard that Lockhart's teaching it." Georgia said.
"Just great. Now, I have to deal with Lockhart twice in a week? Georgia, you should've said something sooner!"
"Oops."
Just then, the morning post arrived as owls swooped in and drops parcels and packages from overhead. Georgia noticed Erwin flying towards her with a bunch of newspaper pages tied to his leg. He landed in front of her and held his leg out for her to untie the string holding the papers. She grabbed the and opened it. Inside was a note.
Good day, George.
All is well, thank you for the wizarding treats you sent me the other day. Your friend is very kind to let you send me some of her candies (Don't get too fond of her, though. Remember, I'll always be your best mate.) I really liked the Cauldron Cakes, and the Jelly Slug was the best thing ever. Gran and I really enjoyed them.
Here is this week's collection of funnies I've collected for you, just like last week. Remember to send me that Wizarding paper; Me and Gran spend an hour reading it and talking about it last week.
Also, I absolutely adore that little owl friend of yours! Gran gave me an old cage that used to have her owl in it when she was my age (Gran was a witch, like you, as you know. She just can't do magic anymore, as it's against Wizarding law to do it in front of us non-magic people.) and I kept him in there and gave him treats until I wrote my letter. He's a sweetie! Speaking of animals, how's Chaton?
Thanks again and write back as soon as you can!
-José
P.S: Are you coming home for the Holidays? If so, I can't wait to hear all about Hogwarts!
Georgia smiled. The two have called each other "George" and "José" for as along as they can remember, kind of like their own code names. They've came in handy quite a few times before, but that is a different story.
"Who's that from?" Draco asked.
"My best friend, back at home. She sent me the daily comics from our Muggle newspaper. You can read them, if you like. I'll help you understand them" Georgia said.
"No thanks. I better get going. I'll see you later." Draco told her as he got up and made a beeline to the common room to get his things, she presumed.
"What's up with him?" Georgia turned her head and saw Willow sitting down beside her.
"He's got Quidditch things." Georgia sighed.
"That's too bad. I really want to be on the team next year. I wonder if they'd allow a girl, because there hasn't been for about ten years now. I think I would make an okay Chaser." Willow thought.
"Yeah, I'm not sure I'm cut out for that sort of thing." Georgia said.
"Speaking of things like that- "
"Willow, I'm not doing that dumb Duelling Club with you."
"G, come on! I don't want to do it alone! Please! Mercedes is too uneasy for it, and you two are my only friends."
"What's it all about, anyway?"
"We get together and have fun little practice duels that will help us with self-defence."
"I'm not going if Lockhart's doing it."
"Snape is teaching it as well, I know we're not the biggest fans of him, but we might learn a thing or two from him. He's a really powerful wizard, you know." Willow protested.
"You know what, I'll do it. Just so you'll stop nagging me." Georgia sighed.
"Yay! First meeting is at eight at night on the 17th of December in the Great Hall."
"Can hardly wait." Georgia said sarcastically.
"By the way, did you hear that there's been another attack?" Willow's tone turned serious.
"No. What happened?"
"A boy in our year, but Gryffindor, was Petrified last night. Creevey, that's his name. Colin Creevey."
"Really?"
"Yep. Here's the worst part: He's a Muggle-born."
Georgia and Draco were at the table in the Great Hall, gobbling down dinner in a hurry as Duelling Club was to start in an hour, as Willow tapped her on the shoulder, and pointed at Snape, who was passing around a sheet of parchment.
"G, Snape's collecting signatures of those who plan on staying for the holidays. You decided on what you're doing?" Willow asked.
"I'm going home. Already told my best mate, and I'm not letting her down." Georgia stated.
"Aw, I'm going to be alone. Well, Sadie is staying as well, so I won't be alone. My parents are spending their anniversary in Bermuda and will be gone by the time the vacation hits. You, Draco? What are your plans?"
"I'm going home. No point in staying here. All there's going to be is just a few stupid people I've never met in my life, and Georgia's going to her home, so there." Draco announced.
Snape came up with the parchment, and Willow signed her name, then passed it to Mercedes.
"We better get going; the meeting's in less than an hour." Georgia said as she and Draco got up and walked to the common room.
An hour later, the Great Hall was packed with students, and a long podium in the middle of the room. Lockhart and Snape were on top of said podium, talking about what the club is about. Georgia paid attention as the two bowed to each other; Lockhart deeply bowing, and Snape barely tilting his head. Snape then shouted, "Expelliarmus!" and Lockhart was launched back hard into the wall. Georgia tried her best to stifle a giggle but failed.
As she was laughing, Lockhart announced that they were to be put in pairs and duel each other. Snape paired Draco with Potter and Willow with Georgia. The two girls bowed to each other and Willow cast the Disarming Charm that Snape just used at Georgia, successfully disarming her, as her wand flew out of her hand.
"Nice one." Georgia smiled as she grabbed her wand from the ground.
"Now let's see what you've got." Willow smirked.
"Expelliarmus!" Georgia exclaimed as Willow's wand flew out of her hand and across the room.
"Very impressive, Miss Newton!" She heard Lockhart say, but she was easily distracted by the chaos throughout the room. Hermione Granger and Millicent Bulstrode were rolling on the floor, trying to kill each other, it looked like to Georgia, Seamus Finnigan was ashen-faced as Ron Weasley was trying to apologize for whatever his broken wand must've done, and Draco and Potter were at it on the podium. Despite being close to Georgia, his loathing of Potter hadn't changed.
"Finite Incantatem!" She heard Snape shout, and the room was suddenly back to normal. Georgia was watching as Snape and Lockhart had Potter and Draco back on the podium for a fresh start, as they were to be demonstrating how to block spells. But Draco cast a spell and a black snake flew out of his wand and towards Potter, who was frozen in shock, as what it looked like.
Lockhart cast a spell, Georgia guesses to try and remove it, but it just made the snake float up in the air a few feet. The snake looked angry, as it made its way to a second-year Hufflepuff boy. Georgia suddenly heard some weird kind of hissing sound and looked and saw it coming from Potter.
"Oh my!" Willow squealed.
"What?"
"G, do you know what this means?" Willow asked.
"No, why?"
"Salazar Slytherin was a Parselmouth, meaning he could talk to snakes. Potter is talking to the snake."
"So?"
"Potter could be the heir of Slytherin!"
"No, Potter, I don't think so. He's best friends with Granger, and she's a Muggle-born." The two girls grabbed their things and left the room as Lockhart dismissed them.
"True, then Potter's off the table, then. So, who could be doing this?"
"I don't know. But I can tell it's going to get worse before it gets better"
