Holiday ended, and Chailynn found herself in classes again. Professor Hollingberry seemed to be much better, the bags under his eyes gone completely and he acted much more jovial with everyone. Peeves didn't even have the same effect; hovering into the classroom and placing tacks on his chair was the only way to get a rise out of him. –He must've figured out how to make the spell. - she thought, sitting in class one day. Fred and George charmed paper airplanes to fly about the room on their own. Professor Hollingberry shot them both down with a couple flicks of his wand. One landed on Roger Davies' desk; he brushed it off with a hint of disdain.
"Boys, do at least try to pay attention, will you?" he said, looking up from the board. "This will be on your exams."
"We're paying attention." said George, launching another plane into the air.
"Loads of attention." added Fred. Professor Hollingberry raised an eyebrow at the plane now circling his head. Snatching it from the air, he examined it.
"If you're going to make an airplane, at least make it look nice. This is rubbish." he said, crumpling it up. "Now, who can tell me the incantation of the Knockback Jinx?"
Chailynn's hand shot up immediately, and he nodded at her to speak.
"Flipendo." she said.
"That is correct, five points to you, Miss Longfeather." Professor Hollingberry said. "The Knockback Jinx is, in exact form, used to throw the intended target backward. Now, I will demonstrate the proper form for using this spell."
Drawing his wand once more, Professor Hollingberry turned to face the desk. He bowed dramatically to it, then took several paces backward. Pointing his wand directly at the desk, the professor jabbed forward as though he were stabbing someone.
"Flipendo!"
His desk flew backward as though smacked by a giant, invisible hand. Spiraling end over end, the drawers rattled and came loose as it smashed into the wall at the back of the class, splitting in multiple pieces with a tremendous crash. The class cheered; this was the professor they remembered. He repaired it with his wand, and with a few extra waves set it back to its original position.
"Does anyone have any questions before you're given your homework assignment?" he asked. Fred raised his hand.
"Can you do it again, I didn't quite get a good view."
"Yeah, what if I want my desk in ten pieces instead of five?" asked George. The class laughed, and Hollingberry shook his head.
"No, I think that's enough for this class. Now, for your assignment I want you each to write an essay on situations where the Knockback Jinx could be dangerous for the caster."
The bells tolled, and the class gathered up their things to leave. Fred and George hurried from the classroom, pulling Chailynn along with them.
"C'mon, move your feet Scarlet!" said Fred.
"We're starving, and there's still more of the castle to explore!" George said. Chailynn allowed them to pull her down, weaving between the crowds of students milling around. She got knocked around a bit as they shoved their way through, but they made it. Fred pulled her hair a bit before he and George went to their table to join their fellow Gryffindors. Charlie waved at her before she turned away, and she waved back brightly. Lucy was watching her as she approached the table, her fork poised elegantly over her plate.
"Hello, love." she said, putting her fork down and sliding over to make room. Lucy's best friend, Heather Fitzgerald, giggled and nudged her as Chailynn sat down. Lucy nudged her back, shushing her. Thomas sat a ways down the table, laughing raucously with his own group.
"Hi, Lucy." Chailynn replied, shrugging off her bag as she pulled a dish of roast beef stew towards her.
"So Chailynn," Lucy said, after another bite of food, "how long have you known Charlie?"
"Since always, I guess." she mused, pausing in serving herself to think for a moment. "He's a bit weird, but nice."
"Are there any girls he's talking to right now?" Lucy asked, playing with Chailynn's hair. The way she said it suddenly made Chailynn realize why she was acting the way she was. Glancing over at Charlie, she saw him talking to some boy, showing him a diagram of a large dragon. Chailynn giggled at the idea of Charlie ever being focused on anything social.
"No, he doesn't really do that kind of thing." Chailynn said, playing with her food. Lucy frowned, looking confused and disappointed.
"Doesn't do what sort of thing?"
"You know, talk to girls."
Lucy looked over at him when she said this, still talking rather excitedly about the book he was holding. Heather sucked in her lips, patting Lucy gently on the shoulder. Lucy began to look very depressed, but thankfully a pair of hands grabbed Chailynn's shoulders and spun her around. Fred and George were grinning, but took a look at Lucy and their grins changed to grimaces.
"What's her problem?" Fred asked, as Chailynn picked up her school bag. She shook her head, ushering them further from the table.
"I think she's got a thing for your brother." she said. George snorted.
"Percy?"
"No, you prat, Charlie." Chailynn replied, rolling her eyes. This time it was Fred's turn to snort.
"Dunno how she got that," he said as they left the Great Hall, "all Charlie's ever talking about it dragons."
"Never even heard him mention a girl." George added. Chailynn shrugged.
"That doesn't mean girls can't be talking about him."
The twins wrinkled their noses at the thought, and they continued down the corridor.