Changing From Within
Chapter Ten
Issues
"Before you get mad," I quickly say, facing the Deputy Headmistress head on, the rest of the school being wooses behind me, "Notice the inter house unity that's happening right now!" McGonagall's frown doesn't vanish like I had hoped, instead it deepens.
"What I saw," She states slowly, "is students firing spells at each other,"
"It was a game!" I inform her, glancing back in the hopes of someone coming to help, but no luck. "There was no danger, we only cast the Impedimenta jinx, as you would have saw, only that jinx was cast."
"No magic is allowed-" McGonagall begins, but I quickly cut her off, smirking at the large loophole she just dug up.
"In the hallways, we are outside, not in the halls." McGonagall opens and closes her mouth wordlessly, worried she may end up giving me detention, I quickly try and console her. "What if we make a club out of it?" I ask, "Like a duelling club?"
"Yeah, and it can be supervised as well," Gregor adds, stepping forward to stand next to me.
"And at the end of the month we can have tournaments to see who is the best," The Ravenclaw adds, I turn to look at her, realising I have no idea what her name is.
"We can't allow-" McGonagall tries again, but more people are looking up to the idea, adding their own inputs.
"It's a great way to test how everyone is doing in classes," A male voice calls from the centre of the crowd.
"And it will increase our studying habits," Another voice adds, I take a rough guess it comes from a Ravenclaw.
"Yeah, as we will be studying spells to try and win." Someone else shouts.
"Maybe we can have, like we had today, house teams, where the best team can win."
"No, what about interhouse teams?" I grin in triumph at the last shout-out. It hadn't come from my circle of friends. In less than two days, we have managed to create a group of people that want to work together. All it took was a little push.
McGonagall seems to be debating now. Finally, after another round of suggestions, she holds up her hand, we all fall silent at once.
"I will have to ask the Headmaster about this. Who came up with the idea originally?" Gregor, Adam, Steph, the Weasely twins and I step forward. "Come with me."
Without another glance back, McGonagall turns on her heels and heads back into the castle. We glance at each other, wide eyed but follow after her, the large group behind us still standing in complete silence, watching our march back into the castle.
For the second time since arriving at Hogwarts, I find myself back in Dumbledore's office, this time with more people and actually on my own choices. I refuse to make eye contact with the Headmaster as we file in behind his Deputy.
"Dumbledore, these six have an idea they would like to propose." Dumbledore frowns but nods his head, looking at us over his half-moon spectacles and gesturing for us to go on. A nudge at my back informs me I am the one to speak, yet again. I cast a quick glare back at Steph but step forward and briefly explain the beginning of our idea to the manipulative old man.
Once my long winded explanation is through, Dumbledore steeples his hands under his chin, looking between us all.
"Who do you propose would be in charge of this duelling club?" He asks, looking directly at me.
"I wouldn't want to take up any teacher's time," I start, keeping my eyes fixed just above Dumbledore's sparkling blue eyes, "So probably some willing seventh years?"
"If you can find an appropriate room, and some willing seventh years, I think we could allow this Duelling club to go ahead."
"Really" Steph asks as a huge grin spreads across our faces.
"I don't see why not, as house unity is always a good goal to have." Dumbledore replies, smiling benignly over his hands.
"Thank you, Headmaster Dumbledore, sir," The twins say together, grinning excitedly.
"I would like you to send me a letter of who will be in charge and where and when this club will be taking place." He adds, grinning widely, we nod in agreement and head back out of the office, already planning our ideas before we even leave.
"We should have someone from each house in charge," I propose just as the door shuts, the Weasely twins eye me warily. "We have someone in each house," I quickly add, "so we can easily scope around for anyone that looks good. Plus, with an instructor from each house, it will be fair and there will be no arguments about favouritism."
"As much as I hate to say it," Gregor adds, stepping off the spiralling staircase and turning to smirk at me, "I agree with Louise." I narrow my eyes at his obvious ploy but accept his agreement.
"Fair enough," One of the twins nods.
"We can get a Gryffindor,"
"Along with Steph here,"
"But what to tell them?" The second twin finishes, looking at me. I frown slightly at them being so accepting of me – the Slytherin.
"That we will meet up tomorrow afternoon outside the Great Hall, just after lunch."
"Will we have all found someone by then?" Steph asks, speaking up for the first time since leaving for Dumbledore's office.
"Good point," Gregor nods, "How about a week from now? Next Saturday after breakfast? It will give us all plenty of time to find someone and spread the idea around."
Finding nothing against that plan, we shrug and accept the deadline. The twins wave goodbye and head off soon after, up to something no doubt. After their retreat, we head back outside where Hannah, Megan, Katherine and Adam are still sitting by the tree, waiting on us.
Seeing no one else about, and my mind still on the Weasely twins, I decide to voice my awesome idea from after Defence yesterday.
"You know guys," I start, keeping my face blank with great difficulty.
"What?" I turn to Adam innocently, he narrows his eyes, looking me up and down suspiciously.
"I had a great idea yesterday."
"Jeesh Louise," Adam rolls his eyes, "we haven't even been here a day and your already plotting something."
"Please don't involve getting us expelled," Megan pleads, looking up from her book.
Hannah laughs slightly, "are we gonna regret knowing you?" She asks, grinning.
"I don't want to know." Gregor adds, plonking down on the grass next to Katherine.
"It's not as mad as the paint balling idea, is it?" Hannah adds, I frown at the lack of support my supposed best friends are showing me, my shoulders slumping.
"I'm sure it will be madder than paintballing," Katherine smirks, also siding against me.
"Guys…" I whine, turning my back on them.
"WHAT!?" They all shriek, I turn back to see them glaring at me.
"I'm going to start a prank war with the Weasely twins." I inform them with a grin.
Megan is the first to recover her voice. "Are you NUTS!?" She asks, shaking her head in wonder.
"I told you I didn't want to know..." Gregor states, blinking at me, "now I know. And this is a REALLY bad idea Louise!"
"That's BRILLIANT!" I turn to the sound of support and grin wildly at Hannah.
"Considering I'm the only one in the same house as the twins…" Steph frowns, "Is my piece going to be disturbed at all?"
"Probably." I admit freely.
Steph shrugs, "well, if it's going to disturb me, I may as well help."
"Yippee!" I shout, pumping a fist in the air at having help, "Anyone else?"
"Definitely." Hannah grins, I grin at my success as a tall Slytherin walks up to us.
"Which one of you is Louise Nelson?" He asks, his voice squeakily high, I step forward, craning my head a bit to look at him.
"You mean you don't recognise me?" I pout, "I'm hurt, after all I gave you all an awesome lesson Thursday night." The guy just sniffs, looking everywhere but at me, he holds his hand out, a small parchment is sitting on his palm.
"This is from Professor Quirrel." He says, I take the parchment and walk as he immediately turns and walks away.
"Nice guy." I decide, turning back to my friends and looking down at the parchment in my hand.
Miss Nelson,
I am severely disappointed to find you did not go to see Professor McGonagall as I had instructed in class on Friday. As a result, Professor McGonagall has agreed that I should extend your detention. I expect you in my classroom directly after Dinner tonight to serve the first of your two detentions with me.
Professor. Q. Quirrel.
I feel the blood drain from my face as I read the letter, my hands shake slightly as Megan gets up, asking me what is wrong. At my lack of reply, she moves forward and reads the letter over my shoulder.
"It's just a detention," Megan states, looking up from the letter. I look back at her, suddenly struck by how different we all look, seven years younger than we were four days ago. Megan alone has already hit puberty – not fair, why is she not flat chested? I quickly shake my head from the stupid thoughts and turn to the matter at hand.
"I have two detentions with Voldemort." I state, collapsing onto the ground as the others look at me.
"What did you do?" Adam asks, I can tell he's trying to fight a smirk.
"I told you yesterday, I complained about the smell of the class, and then I didn't go to McGonagall's when he told me to."
"Well then, it's your own fault you have detention, isn't it?" Gregor shrugs, I look up glaring at him.
"You know what I'm like!" I snarl, "I can't keep my mouth shut to save my life!"
"Well you shouldn't be in Slytherin," he adds, "That sounds distinctly Gryffindorish to me."
"Oh, and like you're a perfect Ravenclaw," I snark back, irrational fear making me snap at my brother by all but blood.
"I'll have you know-" Gregor begins, but I quickly interrupt.
"The sorting hat wasn't immediate on you," I smirk, "there was another option, so what was it?"
"I don't have to tell you." Gregor snaps back, glaring at me, I smirk in triumph.
"You just did."
"Louise!" Steph snaps from the ground, "calm down."
"And why should I?" I ask, rounding on her, "We've been snatched from our homes, our families, and plonked in some make believe world where we may never see them again. Tell me why I shouldn't be mad?"
"She's not saying that," Megan adds, sitting on the grass next to me.
"You sure?" I ask, turning my glare on her, "Telling a person to calm down-"
"Is telling them to stop and think before speaking," Megan informs me calmly, "before you say something you might regret."
"Oh, and you know all about saying things that you'll regret, don't you?" I ask, an old grievance between us springing back to mind. 2At least whatever I say is to your faces – I don't turn and talk behind your backs."
"Louise," Steph starts again, glaring as Megan jerks back, looking pained. "We dealt with that years ago, and we said we were sorry."
"And I'm supposed to believe that? How do I know you aren't still dissing me behind my back? After all, we all know I'm a control freak,"
"Oh and you're so perfect, are you?" Megan snaps back, turning back to me, eyes blazing.
"When did I say I was perfect!?" I scream, fists clenched as my body tenses in anger.
"Oh no, it's always us you find fault in, it's never yourself, is it?" Megan shouts back, just as riled up as I am.
"I'm sorry," I say sweetly, "I didn't realise you were death." At Megan's confusion, I roll my eyes, "I said, and I quote, 'we all know I'm a control freak,'"
"Louise," Katherine adds, eyes wide as she watches me. "You need to take a step back, and think."
"And what do you know?" I snarl, "You're only friends with me because Sandra left college. Before she left it was her you were friends with. I'm just the outsider, and since no one else would accept you, you turned to me." I see hurt in Katherine's eyes as she turns from me, her breathe hitching, I feel a one sided smirk appearing on my face.
"Louise!" Adam shouts, at the same time as Steph and Megan go over to comfort Katherine. "There was no need to say that."
I blink. The self-satisfied smirk vanishing as I notice Katherine crying, shrugging Megan and Hannah away from her.
What have I done? "Katherine…" I ask, crawling over to where she is, but Megan turns and sends a glare my way. I'm struck by the defensiveness. They had never actually met Katherine before this, and yet they are defending her already – I suppose I understand why she was put in Hufflepuff instead of Ravenclaw.
"Stay away, Louise," Megan warns, "You've done enough damage." Katherine refuses to turn, keeping her back to me.
"I- I'm so sorry," I inform them morosely, keeping my eyes down as I head voer to the tree and pick up my bag, "I don't know what came over me- I-"
"Louise, just go." Hannah tells me, I sigh and do as they ask, getting up and walking back into the castle. The previous burn from irrational anger vanishes, instead turning to a blank emptiness.
I have most likely severely damaged my relationships with my friends. At a time when we should be sticking closer together, all because I couldn't keep a hold on my god damned anger.
Storming through the castle, most people keep a wide berth of the raging first year Slytherin, allowing me to wander the castle uninterrupted.
That is, until I hear a stuck up, ponsy voice around the corner naming somebody a useless Squib. Rounding the corner, I see a scene I had half been expecting but was hoping wasn't true. Draco Malfoy, Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle are surrounding a whimpering Neville Longbottom.
"What's going on here?" I ask, stepping around, into full view, my wand in my hand.
"Teaching this Squib a lesson." Draco smirks casually, "What are you going to do about it, Nelson?"
"That's funny," I start slowly, taking a further step, eyes narrowed dangerously, in my hand, my wand starts shooting red sparks. "Last I checked, a squib couldn't get into Hogwarts."
"Exactly what we are teaching him," Draco grins, "Care to join us?"
"So, if a squib cannot be allowed on Hogwarts grounds, how exactly is Neville here, on Hogwarts grounds?" They don't answer, Neville is looking past the bulky frame of Crabbe, watching me nervously. "Because, Malfoy, he is not a squib."
"He can barely perform any magic."
"Barely." I quickly latch on, "But he can perform magic."
"An almost squib is as bad as a full squib."
"Tell me something, Draco, did your Father teach you some magic before you came here?"
"Of course he did," Draco answers, falling right into my trap.
"Do you know who Neville Longbottom has grown up with?" I continue.
"Lady Augusta Longbottom." Draco's goons are looking suitably confused.
"Have you ever met Lady Augusta Longbottom?" I continue to question, not entirely sure where I am heading with my line of questioning.
"Yes. Twice."
"And did she seems particularly pleasant to you?"
"No." Draco glares at me, seemingly fed up with me.
"Well then, how would you feel if you were brought up with Augusta Longbottom as a guardian? I seriously doubt she took time to teach Neville how to use his magic like your parents did you. And talking about parents," I add, sending an apologetic look Neville's way, "Neville experienced an extremely horrific thing when he was a baby. And things like that can severely dampen a child's growth, especially their magical growth." Okay, now I'm just making things up – but it sounds good. "Plus the fact he is holding a wand that did not choose him."
"And what does that matter?" Draco asks, "Mind your own business, Louise, before you end up on the wrong end of my wand."
"Codswallop." I stare blankly at him, "I am not afraid of pathetic bullies like you."
"You will regret that-"
"Will I? Were you listening to the prefect's speech Thursday night? We are a well-respected house-"
"Yes, weren't you listening, she also mentioned the power of having someone cower below you, and I happened to agree with her."
"What? By picking on someone who can't fight back? Look at me! The great Draco Malfoy, I can make a traumatized boy cower before me." I mock, "Yeah, oh so powerful Draco, show me what you've got." Draco motions to Crabbe and Goyle to back up, moving away with them.
"Just you wait, Nelson, you will regret that." With the last, clichéd words, Draco turns and leaves the corridor, leaving me with Neville. I look at the boy, wondering how exactly I am going to proceed.
"T-Thank you," Neville starts for me, pushing away from the wall with a trembling arm.
"It's all right," I smile, deciding I am going to help him become the man he is to be. "You know I was making up half the stuff I said?" I ask, a plan forming.
"Y-You were? But what you said it-"
"All scarily true?" I ask, he nods silently. "Yeah, I have a knack for that. But the wand? Was I right about that too?"
"Yes, it's my dad's wand." Neville tells me, lifting it up, his round face twisted in an unreadable expression.
"You really need to get a wand that chooses you, Neville, that wand will just be hampering your magic."
"What can I do about it? My gran told me to use this wand."
"Well your gran is going to get a stern talking to," I inform Neville, "Come with me, we are going to make sure you get a proper wand."
I spin on my heel, placing my wand on the flat of my palm and casting the Point Me charm, with McGonagall in mind.
Neville and I traverse the hallways uninterrupted and silently, my wand stopping us outside the staff room door.
Talking a deep breathe, I knock on the door, after some shuffling and muffled noises, Professor Minerva McGonagall answers the door, taking a slight step back at seeing a Gryffindor and Slytherin together.
"Yes?" She asks, tone clipped.
"I just stopped an altercation between Neville here and Draco Malfoy," I start, McGonagall's brow furrows as she listens. "And something came to light. Neville does not have a wand that chose him." I say, McGonagall turns to Neville.
"Is this true?" She asks, Neville gulps, but nods in response. "And why did Augusta allow you to come to school without your own wand." McGonagall continues, her stern glare switched from me to the shaking boy behind me.
"Because it's my father's wand, Professor." McGonagall freezes for a couple seconds, her eyes getting oddly shiny.
"Just wait till I have a word with her," She adds, sniffing. "Come see me tomorrow morning in my office Neville, we will take you to get a proper wand."
"Thank you, Professor," Neville smiles, looking brighter than before.
"What's your name?" McGonagall asks, turning to me.
"Louise Nelson, miss." I answer.
"Twenty points to Slytherin for your kindness towards another student." She informs me, I grin wildly at having received my first points of the year, and they are a lot of points.