As of today, it is this story's first birthday! DAUGHTER OF GRYFFINDOR IS ONE YEAR OLD! WHOO! I FEEL LIKE WE NEEDED A CAKE FOR THIS!
Seriously though, I am beyond happy that one year, a whole 365 days, I am still writing and posting this story. A year ago I was so scared to post because I thought people would think it was stupid and I'd get horrible reviews. But I summoned all my bravery and did it because something told me that my life would be better if I did. And it totally is. Thanks to you guys, who read it, who give it hearts, who follow, who leave the sweetest reviews and encouragements, my confidence rose as this story got off the ground. I truly can't thank you all enough. Daughter of Gryffindor has gotten me through a pretty weird and tough time, and being able to share that with other people, well, it feels pretty awesome.
Yes, it may just be fanfiction, but it makes me feel happy and like I have a purpose. So, to anyone out there reading this who has a fic idea but is scared to do it, I say: Go and do it. I know you can. I believe in you, and whatever story you've got, go and share it with the world.
Seriously, I should have gotten a cake for this. If anyone out there has cake, eat it while reading this chapter. That will be our little celebration. Also, give me a slice.
Elizabeth was fuming. She marched down the corridor and practically stomped down the staircases. She didn't really have a goal in mind for where she was going, and frankly, she didn't really care.
How dare she! How dare she undermine what Elizabeth was saying and try to make her look like a crazy fool! Yes, she had the right to disagree with what Elizabeth believed, but she did not need to act that way! And to kick her out of class?
Elizabeth arrived in the courtyard and saw George and Fred sitting on the stairs with a few boxes scattered around them. Figuring that they'd be good company, she walked over.
They seemed surprised by her appearance. "What brings you here, Elizabeth?" Fred asked.
"Ditching class, are we?" George asked with a sly grin.
"Sort of. Would you call it ditching when a professor kicks you out?" She asked, sitting down with them.
Eyebrows raised on both their faces in a synchronized fashion, and they both bore the same expressions of surprise.
"Crikey! What did you do?" Fred asked.
"What could you have done on the first day to get the boot?" George asked immediately after.
Elizabeth looked down to the stone making up the stairs. "It's possible that I may have called out Umbridge on her ridiculous choices. And didn't stop when I probably should have."
There was silence. Then they started to laugh. Which did little to lighten her mood.
"It's not funny! She gave me a week of detention, and my mum is going to kill me once she finds out!" Elizabeth said to the two of them.
Fred, wiping tears from his eyes, said, "You've got to tell us everything."
"Now." George added, still chuckling. "Perhaps we can give some advice. Between the two of us, we've been kicked out of class at least seventeen times. That was the goal we set in our first year, see. Seventeen by the time we're seventeen."
"We're quite fond of matching numbers." Fred supplied after Elizabeth shot his brother a confused expression.
"Anyways…" Elizabeth said, then went on to tell them what had happened in her disastrous lesson.
After she was done, both of the twins were on either of her sides, both giving her their opinions in a coach-like fashion.
"So, what you need to do," George started.
"Is march back in there," Fred continued.
"Your head held high, mind you."
"That is vital."
"And do the biggest smirk you can,"
"As you cast the spell to freeze a Cornish Pixie in place,"
"Then, you move it with your wand,"
"Or your hands, that'd be even more impressive."
"Yes! And, it would probably make Umbridge very uncomfortable."
"Which is even better!"
"Exactly!"
"Alright, back to the plan. You get the little bugger to the birdcage,"
"Lock it, obviously."
"Then, you get a nice, shiny, big ribbon,"
"And tie it around the handle in the most beautiful way you can."
"I'm guessing you know how to do that, being from the fanciest era in Hogwarts history."
"Apologies if that is a hurtful stereotype."
"And then, the most important part,"
"The most important part,"
"Is what you say to her as you hand her the cage."
"Something along the lines of,"
"That's how it's done." They said in unison.
Elizabeth just looked at both of them. "I can't decide if you two are brilliant or insane."
"We're a little bit of both." Fred and George replied with wide smiles.
Elizabeth laughed for the first time all day. "Your.. idea aside, I'm unsure of what to do when I go back. I mean, I obviously can't skip the class for the whole year, no matter how appealing it seems."
George waved his hand as if he was swatting away a fly. "I wouldn't worry about that. All you need to do is ignore whatever she says."
"But she's refusing to teach anything important. How am I supposed to learn those things if she doesn't teach them, and the book doesn't say anything about it?" Elizabeth asked.
Fred and George exchanged some glances.
"We'll get back to you on that." Fred replied.
"The point is, you shouldn't let Umbridge get you down. You are much more than what she says you are, and you shouldn't listen to what she says." George encouraged.
"My brother is right. Umbridge doesn't know you. So she cannot accurately say who you are. And she obviously doesn't want to learn from what you've told us. So don't even listen to whatever she tells you." Fred added.
Elizabeth smiled and felt a lot better than she had when she came up to them. "Thanks. You made me feel a lot better." she told them.
'"No problem. You're basically a Weasley, and we've got the Weasley code. Siblings look after siblings." Fred told her, giving her a hug, surprisingly. George joined it.
"Sibling group hug!" George yelled. Elizabeth giggled at their ridiculousness. But she also felt like a part of it. And that made her feel like a part of their family. Which was one of the best things in the world.
The rest of her day was considerably better. In Charms, they had a simple review class like they usually did on the first day of the class, after that followed lunch. Elizabeth made sure to sit only with her friends. By now she had learned to surround herself with people she knew who supported her, as that was the best way to get through the hard parts of life. And if today was any indicator, she would need her friends.
So, she sat with Ginny, Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Luna and Julia had gone to the library after a quick meal, citing a potions essay from Snape for the reason. Neither wanted to fall behind on the first day.
"... she went on and on about the visions about goats on Everest! It was ridiculous!" Ron ended his story with a chortling laugh, and Elizabeth couldn't help but laugh at the hilarious Professor Trelawney. It made her very grateful that she didn't have Divination as an elective. Muggle Studies was much better.
"Ronald, you shouldn't talk about a professor like that." Hermione scolded him.
"You stormed out of that class in our third year!" Ron protested.
Hermione nodded. "And upon further reflection, I shouldn't have done that. It was very rude of me."
Ron simply rolled his eyes and muttered girls under his breath.
Then, Malfoy decided to walk by and ruin everything.
"Hey, Weasley! The girl you should be worried about isn't muddy Granger. It's the Gryffinfreak. She gets nuttier every year! And I'd look out for Potter, too!" He called as he passed by with his goons.
Ron swore under his breath, and Harry stood up, fists raised against Malfoy. "SAY IT AGAIN! SAY IT AGAIN, MALFOY!" he yelled. He seemed about to charge at him, but Hermione yanked him down by his sleeve. Harry seemed to snap out of it by the time he was back on the bench,
Malfoy walked away, waving his hand like he was swatting a fly. Elizabeth clenched her fork so tightly her knuckle was practically white. As Draco walked by a plate of sandwiches, one of the cups of water that was left abandoned and half-full started to wobble and move just the slightest bit towards the edge of the table, and if continued on its path, it could spill all over Draco's robe.
"Elizabeth, no!" Ginny said, which made the cup stop moving. Elizabeth frowned. She had thought she had better control of her magic than that.
"Thanks, Gin."
Ginny nodded. "Can't have you getting into trouble twice in one day."
That afternoon proved Ginny correct. Minerva was furious enough about what had happened in Defense Against The Dark Arts, that if Elizabeth had drenched Draco, she'd most likely be dead and buried six feet under.
"I cannot voice how disappointed I am in you, Elizabeth. We just discussed last night how careful you need to act this year! As infuriating as Professor Umbridge will be, you cannot cause that big a scene and get sent from her class!" She lectured Elizabeth in her office.
Elizabeth looked down, ashamed. "I know. I'm sorry, Mum. I really tried, but she provoked me on purpose. She asked me a question specifically about a lesson Lockhart taught years ago. She knows I wasn't here for that!"
Minerva sighed. "She does, indeed. I will speak to her about being more respectful about your background. But this is a two-way street, young lady. Like it or not, you will need to be punished."
"Am I doing lines again?" Elizabeth asked, resigned to another few hundred written on the first day of a school year.
Minerva nodded. "Two hundred. 'I will be careful about my actions.' By tonight." She ordered.
"I have detention tonight with Umbridge as well. And all week." Elizabeth brought up as she got up to leave.
Minerva nodded. "I expected that. But it is still possible for you to write those lines."
Elizabeth sighed but agreed.
"Oh, and Elizabeth? Do tell me what her method of detention is. I'll need it for my files as Deputy Headmistress."
I wanted to make this chapter more special, but we're kinda far from any big plot point, and I literally have not had the time to write more and get us there quicker. I also do not like giving Umbridge a part in our 1-year celebration chapter, but she's not actually in it, and we got Fred and George, so hopefully, it evens out. Please review below! It really encourages me!