Hello. What did you think of the Quidditch match? Enjoy the dueling club chapters.
Autumn's P.O.V
I awoke to my head giving off a pounding headache. I opened my eyes, only to immediately close them a second after. I opened my eyes again, this time slowly, to adjust to the bright, white lights.
I was looking up to a white ceiling. I groaned slightly. I hate hospitals. Even though this isn't nearly as one, it's close enough.
I started to sit up, only to be pushed back down.
"Take it easy, would ya?" Hermione smiled.
"Well, hello to you too" I greeted.
"Glad you're up" Harry smiled.
"Believe me. I am too. How's that arm of yours?" I asked.
"Better than when Lockhart messed with it" he answered.
"What did he do?" I sighed.
"Instead of fixing the bones, he removed them. Harry had to grow thirty-three bones overnight" Ron explained.
"Ooo. That's gotta hurt" I sympathized.
"So, what did I miss?" I asked.
"Some things, but not a lot" Hermione answered vaguely.
"Oh, gee. That really helps a lot" I said sarcastically.
She very maturally stuck her tongue out. I stuck mine out right back.
"You won" Ron said.
"Yeah. I got that part. I was still conscious then" I said, rolling my eyes.
"I'll get you caught up" Harry offered. He then proceeded to tell me what happened while I was 'down for the count'.
"So, that was Dobby who made the Bludgers go wacko!?" I asked in shock.
"Yeah. He also made the entrance to the train close before we could get through" Ron added.
"He's persistent, I'll give him that" I smiled lightly.
"So, there's a dueling club because of the events going on. I'm in" I smiled.
"No, you're not. You're staying in the common room" Ron started.
"Safe" Harry finished.
"The dueling club is supposed to help with self-defense. If I don't go, how will I defend myself?" I pointed out.
"...Good point" Ron said.
"We can teach you when we get back" Hermione suggested.
"You guys are too protective sometimes. You know that I'll go anyway. No matter what you say" I sighed.
"All right. Fine" Harry relented.
"Yes" I breathed, smiling.
"But, we are keeping an eye on you" Ron added.
"Fine" I agreed.
"So, when can I leave?" I eagerly asked.
"Excuse me, but you got hit by a Bludger, to the head no less, so you can afford to stay and get better" Hermione argued.
"I've been here long enough, Hermione. I need to get up, get out, and have some action, some adventure" I argued back, getting out of the bed and standing up.
"Besides, I feel fine" I added, looking back to them.
"All right then, let's get going. I'm starving" Ron said.
"When are you not?" I asked rolling my eyes.
Ron chose to ignore that as all four of us went to the Great Hall.
"So, you started the potion?" I asked.
"Yeah. It's in the girls' bathroom" Hermione answered.
"I thought you didn't want anything to do with this" Harry thought.
"I don't" I agreed.
Harry chose not to say or pry anymore. We got to the Great Hall, and it looked like they were in the middle of dinner.
"Excellent flying yesterday, Autumn, really excellent. Gryffindor has taken the lead for the House Cup - you earned fifty points!" Percy congratulated.
"Thanks" I smiled.
As I began to eat, people, including the team, came up and congratulated me. The air was thick with rumor and suspicion, with Colin and the Chamber. I watched as first years, of all houses, moved in tight-knit groups, as if afraid to go alone and being attacked.
Ginny, who sat next to Colin in Charms, was distraught. I felt that Fred and George were going the wrong way about cheering her up. They were taking turns covering themselves with fur or boils and jumping out at her from behind statues. If they were trying to scare someone to death, that would be the right way to go. They only stopped when Percy, apoplectic with rage, told them he was going to write to Mum and tell her Ginny was having nightmares. Of course I tried to tell them off too, but they don't listen to me.
Meanwhile, of course hidden from the teachers, a roaring trade in talismans, amulets, and other protective devices was sweeping the school. Neville bought a large, evil-smelling green onion, a pointed purple crystal, and a rotting newt tail before the other Gryffindor boys and I pointed out that he was in no danger. He was a pureblood, and therefore unlikely to be attacked.
"They went for Filch first" Neville argued, his face fearful. "And everyone knows I'm almost a Squib"
"No you're not. You just...need to have more practice. Or a better wand" I suggested.
"No. This is my father's. I want to be like him" Neville said.
I decided to stop, and just leave it. He doesn't know that wands choose the wizard, not the other way around. Let him figure it out for himself that he has the wrong wand.
In the second week of December, Professor McGonagall came around as usual, collecting names of those who would be staying at school for Christmas. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and I signed her list. I heard that Malfoy was staying, which struck me as very suspicious. I know what the other were thinking, that the holidays would be a perfect time to use the Polyjuice Potion and try to worm a confession out of him.
The potion was only half finished as of now. It still needs the bicorn horn and the boomslang skin, and the only place to find them was from Snape's private stores. I'd rather face Slytherin's legendary monster than be caught by Snape. Part of the reason I'm not doing this, and the fact that I don't want to get in trouble.
"What we need" Hermione said briskly as the double Potions lesson drew nearer. "Is a diversion. Then one of us can sneak into Snape's office and take what we need"
Harry and Ron looked at her nervously, then at me.
"I already said that I'm not having any part in this. Other than the fact that I don't steal" I crossed my arms.
"I think I'll do the stealing then" Hermione continued in a matter-of-fact tone. "You two will be expelled if you get into any more trouble, and I've got a clean record. So all you need to do is cause enough mayhem to keep Snape busy for five minutes or so" she instructed the boys.
I smiled feebly. Deliberately causing mayhem in Snape's Potions class was about as safe as poking a sleeping dragon in the eye. I don't like that analogy, but it's the first one that popped into mind.
Potions lessons took place in one of the larger dungeons. Today's lesson went as usual. Twenty cauldrons stood steaming between the wooden desks. Brass scales and jars of varies ingredients stood upon the desks. Snape prowled through the fumes, making waspish remarks at my houses' work while the Slytherins sniggered appreciatively. He even found a remark for my and Hermione's work, even though we are the two brightest witches in our year. Malfoy, who was by far Snape's favourite student, kept flicking puffer-fish eyes at my brothers. They both knew to not retaliate though, if they did they would get detention faster than one could say 'Unfair'.
After Snape had sneered at Harry's work and turned to start to bully Neville, Hermione caught Harry's eye and nodded. Looks like the mayhem is about to start.
Harry disappeared behind his cauldron. A couple seconds later, I heard a sort of fizzing. Harry straightened up, took aim with one of Fred's Filibuster fireworks, and threw it into the air. It landed right into Goyle's cauldron. I quickly managed to take cover under the desk before the potion exploded.
Goyle's potion exploded, showering the whole class, but the Slytherins more. People shrieked and screamed as the Swelling Solution hit them. Malfoy got a faceful and his nose began to swell like a balloon. Goyle blundered around, his hands over his eyes. Snape was trying to restore calm and find oout what had happened. He then saw me under the desk. I was trying very, very hard to contain my laughter. Snape pulled me up roughly.
"What happened?" Snape demanded.
"Goyle's potion exploded. I think he might have put in a wrong ingredient" I explained/lied.
"You dove under the desk like you knew it was going to happen" Snape sneered.
"Who would know that would happen? I was picking something up" I lied.
"Like what?" Snape asked.
"My...contacts. I can't see what I'm doing without them" I made up.
"Lies. You made this happen" Snape sneered.
"No! I swear to everything high and mighty that I'm telling the truth" I exclaimed.
"Detention tomorrow night, and ten points from Gryffindor" Snape turned and walked away.
I rolled my eyes and groaned, and I saw Harry looking at me with wide eyes. I don't know if he caught that, or not. I mouthed to him 'Later'. He nodded slightly to me.
"Silence! SILENCE!" Snape roared. "Anyone who has been splashed, come here for a Deflating Draught"
I tried not to laugh again as I watched Malfoy hurry forward, his head drooping with the weight of a nose like a small melon. As half the class lumbered up to Snape's desk, I saw Hermione coming up to me, the front of her robes bulging.
When everyone had taken a swig of the antidote and the various swellings had subsided, Snape swept over to Goyle's cauldron and scooped out the twisted black remains of the firework. There was a sudden hush as Snape turned and strided over to me.
"So, you are telling me that you didn't throw this in the potion?" Snape demanded holding up the black firework.
"Yes!" I exclaimed.
"So, you did throw it?" Snape said. I know what he's trying to do. He's trying to do reverse psychology. That's not going to work on me.
"No, I didn't! I swear I didn't!" I exclaimed again.
"We will see" he sneered as the bell rang. I immediately ran for the door, welcoming freedom for the next day until detention.
"You forgot your bag" Hermione said walking out with my brothers. I took it wordlessly and walked away from them, and to my next class, which happened to be with them.
"Why aren't you talking to us?" Harry asked.
It was the next day, and I haven't talked to them since the Potions lesson. Harry, Ron, and Hermione has asked the same question all day. I'm getting annoyed by it, but if I answer, I know that it'll be me shouting a rant about what they are doing. So, I just won't talk.
I continued reading my book, ignoring him. I heard footsteps retreating but, a minute later they came back.
"You know, they just want to know what's on your mind, Elsa. Why are you ignoring them?" Neville asked. Wow, bringing Neville into this.
"It's nothing, Neville" I dismissed.
"It's not nothing if you're ignoring everyone" Neville argued.
"And I have a good reason for that too!" I exclaimed looking up at him.
"And that would be?" Hermione asked, stepping in.
I motioned for her to come closer. She leaned down with her ear to me to listen better. I put my book in her ear, and slammed it shut. Hermione jumped back and glared at me. I glared right back. I stood up.
"I have to go to detention anyway" I said walking up the stairs to the dorm. I opened the door, put the inside on my bed, and walked back out while closing the door. I walked past the few people in the common room and out the portrait.
I then grumpily trekked to the dungeons. I ignored everyone, except the teachers and ghosts.
"You're late" Snape sneered.
"It was only a second" I defended hotly.
"Watch your tone, Potter" Snape shot.
"What's the detention already?" I asked. I really wanted to get this over with.
"Some questions for you" he answered.
"That's it?" I asked. I was expecting something along the lines of cleaning the cauldrons or organizing the cupboards.
"Yes. With Veritaserum" Snape sneered holding up a bottle.
"And there's the catch" I rolled my eyes. I just walked up anyway. The faster this starts, the faster it's over with.
"Drink" Snape demanded, handing me the potion in the cup.
I took the potion and drank it. I felt a faint urge to tell him everything.
"What's your name?" Snape asked.
"Autumn Potter" I answered.
"Who are your brothers?"
"Bill, Charlie, Percy, Fred, George, Ron, and Harry"
"Did you make the potion explode earlier today?"
"No"
"Do you know who did?"
"No" I lied.
"Okay" Snape said satisfied. He gave me another potion. I drank it, and then felt normal...ish.
"You may go" Snape said.
"That's it?" I asked.
"Yes. Now go before I change my mind" Snape sneered.
I quickly walked out of there and back to the Gryffindor common room.
"That was fast" Hermione observed when I walked back in.
"What happened?" Harry asked.
"Nothing much. Just asked questions" I shrugged.
"That's it?" Ron asked.
"That's it" I confirmed.
"I'm going to turn in for the night. Good night" I waved already going up the stairs.
Done. I have this allegory thing in my English class. I'm thinking of a twin story with my OCs, but I don't know if I want to do First person P.O.V, like in all my stories, or third person P.O.V. Help me, please! See you later my little wizard turtles. Review?