Disclaimer: I own nothing except my characters.
10: Sometimes A Witch Just Knows
"Good afternoon students! I'm Professor Flitwick. It's good to see so many of you back again," he said waving his wand toward a stack of books which then flew off and onto the floor. I quietly giggled as I watched him jump on the stack. "Now, as many of you already know the swish and flick wrist movement and the simple charms I'd thought I'd start off with some simple fun charms. Let's see, how about we practice the Cheering Charm, just to get back into the swing of things. Now, who knows what the consequences are when overdoing the Cheering Charm?" the professor asked. I watched as Hermione's hand shot up in the air. "Ah, yes, not surprised to see you Hennings raising your hand first" Flitwick said with a broad smile and squeaky high pitched excited voice. I quickly looked off to my left, Melinda looked a bit flushed, a few of the students around her looked a bit annoyed, except the dirty blonde haired boy sitting a few seats away from her. He looked a little more interested now that Flictwick addressed her as Hennings.
"It can cause a person to burst into a fit of laughter," she said confidently, not even a hint of nervousness.
"Very good! And do you know what the difference is between the tickling charm and the Cheering Charm?" he asked still looking at her.
"The Cheering Charm's main purpose is to elevate one's mood, make them happy, the tickling charm is to mimic the sensation of being physically tickled," she said, this time more proud than confident. I would've answered myself, since I did have firsthand experience with it during my first lesson. I glared off in the distance as I thought Professor Barrass using the tickling charm as a mere distraction. I still had to talk him; he seemed to be hiding something.
"Yes, wonderful! Five points to Ravenclaw," Professor Flitwick said happily looking around the room again. "Now, since you all are sitting down so nicely, let's just review some spells and then we'll get to work. Just shout them out if you know them," he said as soon as Hermione's hand flew in the air.
"Wingardium Leviosa," Melinda shouted.
"Lumos," Hermione said putting her hand down.
"Incendio," Melinda said happily.
"Very—"
"Spongify," Hermione interrupted. "And also Skurge," she quickly added.
"Oh, Aresto Momentum and the Hover Charm," Melinda said loudly, looking beyond pleased with herself.
"Er...well, done, both of you, five points to Gryffindor and two more for Ravenclaw," Professor Flitwick said when he was sure both girls were done. "There are plenty more, but I'm sure we don't have time for all of them," the professor said probably just to prevent Hermione and Melinda from taking up the entire class time with the back and forth challenge of every spell. I giggled as I looked at Hermione but she was flipping through her book. I should've been looking through my book too but I knew I'd have plenty of time for that later, and even more, when I was doing the homework.
"Okay, now I want you to work with the person you're sitting with and just talk about what each one of these spells does and the proper pronunciation and wand movement. Just for a bit. Then we'll move on to preforming a few," Professor Flitwick explained as he waved his wand toward the board, a list of charms writing themselves out. I looked at the list and then quickly copied them down as I listened to Hermione flip through her book.
"Do you want to go first?" she asked looking up from her book.
"Actually, I was hoping you'd just tell me all of them and I'd then I'd repeat it back," I said wishfully. She laughed as she nodded. "Not that I'll take advantage of that, I'm just awful at pronouncing charms" I said with a light smile.
"That's understandable though, besides, it's not you would've had time to look through all books before your arrival here," Hermione said.
"Yeah" I said as I dazed off for a second. I was certain had I known about coming here I still wouldn't have prepared by reading charms.
"Melinda's rather good though. I do hope she'll be up for studying during break for finals," Hermione said looking over at Melinda nervously. "I'd hate to bother her though…" she added glancing over once more.
"I'm sure she'd love to. She likes this stuff" I told her.
"Not to mention she's a Hennings" Hermione replied happily. I started to ask what that meant but Flictwick tapped his wand signaling for us to be quiet and get to work. When I looked back at Hermione she was busy writing something down. It wasn't until she moved her hand further down the paper did I realize she was writing out how to pronounce the charms. I started to protest but she just smiled. "Trust me, it's different than Ron, I know you will use these to your advantage" she said cheerfully as she passed me the paper. We took turns pronouncing the charms and looking up the definition of each one, it wasn't nearly as difficult or painful as I would've imagined. In fact, I felt a little better by the end of lesson.
"Thanks again Hermione" I said as we headed out of the room. The rest of class went rather quickly, the professor grouped us together in threes, each group practicing charms on each other or a dummy. Hermione and I were grouped with Melinda who made things easier on my end because both girls were extremely helpful and patient. However, once they started on each other it became clear how competitive they were. It was nice to see them finish out by laughing and agreeing to meet up the next day to go over the homework.
"That was so much fun!" Melinda said excitedly, as we started randomly walking around. I knew it was almost dinner time, but I didn't quite feel hungry, it seemed like we'd only just had lunch. I followed Melinda as she turned a corner, still talking about her classes. I tried to pay attention but I found myself drifting off, thinking about Fred. "So, I was thinking we could—Tammie, are you listening?" Melinda asked glancing back at me.
"Nope" I said honestly. She rolled her eyes and slowed her pace, waiting for me to catch up. "I was thinking about something" I said glancing around.
"You mean someone?" she said knowingly.
"Whatever" I replied as our feet led us into the library.
"What's he doing here?" Melinda hissed as she stopped suddenly. I looked over her shoulder to see Draco Malfoy sitting at a table with some of his buddies.
"I would say studying but I don't think he does that" I replied sarcastically.
"Go talk to him" Melinda said looking back at me. "I'll wait here" she continued, moving to an empty table.
"Why do I have to do it?" I asked setting my bag down across from Melinda.
"He talks to you" she hissed, glancing over at him as she pulled out a book.
"What should I say?" I asked stupidly as I felt myself feeling a bit nervous.
"I'm sure you'll figure something out" she quietly as she gave me a little push before walking over to an empty table that was just out of sight from Draco's viewpoint but not Melinda's. I rolled my eyes and then turned to face Draco, he was still talking to his buddies, ignoring the glares the librarian kept giving him. I gathered myself together and strolled over, stopping at the chair next to a chubby short boy. All the boys stopped talking and looked up, each of them wearing an unfriendly expression.
"Hi" I said with a smile. "I'm Tammie" I added holding out my hand but pulled it back when I realized none of them were going to shake it. "I was wondering if I could talk to you" I said looking at Draco. All his friends looked at him and then me with surprise; as if they couldn't believe I was still talking, to Draco nonetheless. He sat back, looking bored and unconcerned. "It will only take a moment" I added hoping he'd at least get his friends to stop snickering.
"If you must" he said waving a hand at his friends who stood up and walked off. "Is she with you?" he asked sarcastically. I raised an eyebrow as I continued standing; I wasn't going to be in presence long, it made no sense to sit. "You know, your friend, the one you came with, Hennings" he said simply.
"Yeah, she's over there somewhere" I said waving a hand in the opposite direction. "We've gotten into this thing where she thinks you like me or something stupid like that. I told her even if you do like me I don't like you" I said though unintentional, the nervousness from being around Draco alone was starting to get to be. Especially now, when he wrinkled his nose in disgust. "Not that you'd like me, I mean, I'm a Gryffindor that's insane enough" I said, continuing to talk even though I knew I should just stay quiet at this point.
"Stop talking" he said flatly. I closed my mouth tight, a little irritated he sounded so flat and disgusted at the idea of liking me. I mean, I didn't think he was unattractive. I wrinkled my own nose at the thought, he certainly wasn't my type though, and something about him, something just seemed too familiar.
"But um, if you were to be interested in any new students, Melinda is single, I mean, I doubt she'll be for long. She's really pretty and smart and er, you know, she likes guys too" I said, still feeling oddly nervous.
"If you're going to keep talking how about you just go away?" he said, his voice not quite reaching the cold annoying one I heard him use on other students.
"Well, I was going to give your back your book…" I said, thinking of my last excuse. "I just got my copies until break" I added with a shrug, the nervousness finally dying out.
"Keep it, like I said, it's your property now" he repeated before pushing his chair back. "See you later I suppose" he said as he stood up, slinging his bag over his shoulder. "And er," he said pausing, his face going a bit pale. "Tell your friend I said, er, hello" he said with a grimace that I was sure he meant to make into a smile. I started to sarcastically ask who but he looked like he was in enough pain without me mentioning Melinda's name.
"Okay, bye" I said cheerfully but he quickly walked off. Again. I sighed and made my way back over to Melinda, sitting down across from her.
"So, what did he say?" Melinda asked as she switched her position, still looking over at Draco. I waited for her to bring her attention back on me so I wouldn't have to repeat myself.
"He said hi" I told her happily.
"W-w-what?" she stuttered. I laughed, knowing she would say that.
"He said hello, took a lot of effort, but he got it out" I teased.
"What, he said to say hi to...to me?" Melinda asked. I nodded; my attention now shifting to the building amount of homework in my bag.
"Yep" I replied glancing up at her. "Oh c'mon, don't look so surprised, you can't honestly believe he liked me" I said with a laugh but she didn't respond. "You really thought he liked me or I liked him?" I said wrinkling my nose again.
"Well, I mean, you two were getting
along so nicely and I don't know, you attention span is faster than a Hippogriff flies" she said as I raised an eyebrow at her. "Nevermind" she huffed in annoyance as I tried not to laugh.
"Trust me, the very thought of me and him makes him look he's gonna hang himself" I said morbidly as Melinda opened the book she had in front of her. I started to ask where she got it from; but she spoke first.
"Oh c'mon, he's probably just saying that to please his friends, you're in Gryffindor after all" she said, her attention now on the book so she didn't see me roll my eyes. To my knowledge all his friends were gone.
"Yeah, well, it's whatever, besides, I like someone else" I said with bright smile as an image of Fred came to mind.
"I know" Melinda replied cheerful giving me a smirk as I pulled out my package of books, taking out the Transfiguration one first.
"Tammie" Melinda said after half an hour of silence as we read. I jerked my head up only because her voice seemed too high pitched.
"What's wrong?" I asked, my own voice filled with concern as she turned the book she had over to me. I looked down at it; my eyes darted to the names in the text. But it wasn't until I got toward the end did I recognize a name, Gerber, I brought the book closer to my face, as if I had misread it. "Isn't this…." I looked back at Melinda who was already nodding.
"My mom's maiden name. And Virginia," she said pointing at the name before the last name, her hand shaking. "That's my grandma's name. Virginia Gerber…" she said in a small surprised voice. I laughed in disbelief.