Year 1: A New Generation
Chapter 7: March 2012
"Have you seen my charms book?" Victoire cried in a frenzy, hopping around the room while trying to put her shoe on.
"I think I saw it under your bed," Brianna returned, throwing her robes on haphazardly.
"I can't find my ink!" Kara cried, rummaging through her trunk manically.
"It doesn't matter; you can share mine!" Victoire said, retrieving her book from under her bed and stuffing it in her bag. "Come on, we've got to go, we're already late and charms is all the way down on the second floor!"
Scrambling to grab their things, the three girls barrelled out of the dorm and set off for their first class. For some reason, the alarm Kara had set the night before never went off, and it seemed that Caitlin and Raina had elected to let them sleep in rather than waking them for breakfast.
"Oh there you girls are," Professor Flitwick greeted them all when they burst through the door. "We were beginning to wonder what was keeping you."
"Slept in," Kara said, catching her breath.
"Missed the alarm," Victoire added, taking in a big gulp of air.
"Well why don't you take your seats. I was just telling the rest of your classmates about the new project I'm assigning," he said.
"A project?" Victoire questioned.
"Yes," Professor Flitwick confirmed. "Now sit down and I'll tell you about it."
Doing as he said, the girls took the only remaining seats in the room; front and center. Once they were seated and quiet, Professor Flitwick began to speak again.
"As I was saying, for the next few weeks, in five teams of eight, you will be researching the history of the creation of various charms that we have learnt so far this year. I of course will be choosing the teams. Each team will consist of a young boy and a young girl from each of the four houses. I find this is a lovely way to encourage house unity while you're all still in your first years. At the end of the project period, each team will stand up front and give a short oral presentation about the history of their spell so that we can all be better informed about the spells that we are using. Any questions?"
When nobody had any questions, Professor Flitwick started reading names off a sheet of paper. True to his word, each team had two members from each house in it; a boy and a girl. The bright side of this was that Victoire didn't have to be worried about getting paired with Raina. The downside was that there was no chance of being paired with Kara or Brianna.
Victoire's team consisted of Adrian Carter from Gryffindor, Joe Sanders and Ellie Sawbridge from Hufflepuff, Frederick Edgecombe and May Enlow from Ravenclaw, and Damian Roper and Sara Pucey from Slytherin. They were assigned the Alohomora spell and were given the rest of the period to confer in their groups and come up with a plan of action.
"So clearly there are two parts to this project," May Enlow declared as soon as Victoire's group had assembled. "There's the research on the nature of the spell itself, and the research on the history of it's creation. I think we should split into two research groups because eight people is a lot to be trying to work together. We can take the next week to do the research for our part and then we'll reconvene the following week to put it all together, sounds good?"
"What if we all just had our own individual assignments?" Sara Pucey asked. "Then we wouldn't have to work with each other at all and we could do the project on our own time."
"That would be much too complicated," May told her. "We could potentially miss something or have too much overlap between each of our parts. We need cohesion if we're going to do well on this assignment."
"Whatever," Sara muttered, crossing her arms and rolling her eyes. "This project is dumb anyway."
"As for the group divisions," May continued. "I think it's best if there were at least one member of each house on each team. Since each house is known for different talents, I think it could help give our project a more well-rounded feel to it. So to make things easier, why don't we split up with the guys doing the nature of the spell and the girls doing the history of it's creation?"
Everyone shrugged their agreement, not really wanting to argue with May after what happened with Sara. Pleased, May clapped her hands together and smiled. "So girls, how about we meet in the library after our last class to start research."
"Can't wait," Sara muttered sarcastically. Victoire felt about as enthusiastic as Sara, but didn't dare say so.
"My team is the worst," Brianna complained as she, Kara, and Victoire headed to their next class. "I got stuck with this guy from Ravenclaw, Stanley Towler, who thinks he's the boss of everyone."
"Uh, I have the same problem," Victoire said. "You know that girl May Enlow? She basically just told us what we're going to do and gave no room for any other ideas."
"At least neither of you is stuck with Arnold Rosen," Kara grumbled.
"Who's he?" Victoire asked. "Is he the nose-picker from Slytherin or the guy from Ravenclaw that's always crawling under desks?"
"Nose-picker," Kara clarified. "The guy from Ravenclaw is Arnold Chapman."
"Oh that's right, I always get those two confused," Victoire said.
"I hate how the Professors keep choosing our groups for us. Why can't we make our own groups? We're not five!" Brianna exclaimed.
"I think they're trying to get us to mingle," Victoire said. "You know, meet people outside our houses so that we can expand our social horizons? All that nonsense?"
"That's silly," Brianna replied. "If I wanted to make friends in the other houses, I would make friends in the other houses. Isn't the point of the houses to separate us from each other based on who we're most likely to get along with?"
"I thought the point of the houses was just to keep us organized," Kara said.
"Who cares?" Victoire asked. "The point is, these group assignments are silly and annoying. I mean, we had plans to play exploding snap later, and now we can't because I have to meet my group in the library right after classes."
"Well that's not a big deal," Kara said. "We can just play exploding snap after dinner."
"But that's when I'm meeting my group!" Brianna protested.
"See?" Victoire cried. "This project is ruining our lives!"
VvVvVvVvVvV
As soon as their last class was over, Victoire hurried to the library to find Ellie Sawbridge sitting alone at a table, waiting for the rest of the group. Victoire walked over and sat down.
"Hey," she said. "Been here long?"
"Nah," Ellie replied. "I mean; class did only just end."
"Good point," Victoire muttered.
"So how do you feel about the project?" Ellie wondered.
Victoire hesitated. She didn't know Ellie that well and wasn't sure whether or not she could trust her with the truth.
"How do you feel about the project?" Victoire countered.
"Well, if I'm being honest…" Ellie hesitated, glancing around and then leaning forward. "I think that girl, May Enlow, needs to take a calming draught or two."
"Oh my gosh, I know, right?" Victoire cried, earning her a shushing from Madam Maxwell. "I mean, who made her queen of this group?"
"I know!" Ellie replied. "I feel like she's missing the whole point of the project!"
"Which is…" Victoire frowned.
"Working together of course!" Ellie said.
"Oh! Right," Victoire agreed.
Before they could say much else, May and Sara arrived and they began work on their project. Over the course of the rest of the day, May had narrowed down their topic to four individual focuses so that each of them had their own thing to research. When Victoire thought about it, it sounded a lot like what Sara had suggested, but she didn't say so.
May instructed her to research the life of the guy who had created the spell; some ancient African sorcerer named Langalibalele. With some help from Madam Maxwell, she found a few books on the subject and got to work. By the time dinner came around, she wasn't close to finished, so she checked the books out of the library and lugged them down to the Great Hall for dinner.
"How was group project time?" Kara asked when Victoire sat down, placing her books on the seat next to her since she had so many.
"Terrible," Victoire sighed. "This is going to take forever. Ellie is so lucky; all she has to do is research how the spell got to Europe. I have to learn all about this guy's life in Africa and what motivated him to create the spell and everything. And it was so long ago, so the stuff that's written about him isn't all that great."
"I'm sorry," Kara said. "But at least it's only for a few weeks. It's not like the project is going to last the whole year or anything. I heard that the seventh years got assigned this huge project on the first day of classes and they have to spend the whole year on it."
"That sounds terrible!" Victoire cried. "When we're picking our N.E.W.T. courses, remind me not to take Charms."
"I might do it," Brianna said. "If it was a different Professor. I don't know if I could handle Professor Flitwick for six more years. Four is long enough."
"He's really not that bad," Kara disagreed.
"Kara, seriously, it takes him a millennium to get out a single sentence," Brianna exaggerated.
"So he's a little old," Kara muttered. "He's better than Professor Binns."
"But Professor Binns doesn't give out annoying group projects," Victoire pointed out.
"That's true," Brianna agreed. "Plus at this point, its pretty obvious that Professor Binns is going to be teaching here for the rest of eternity. At least Professor Flitwick could retire."
"Unless he plans on being the next Professor Binns," Kara joked.
"Could he though?" Victoire wondered. "I mean; Charms is a lot more practical than History of Magic. Professor Binns can get away with just reading his notes, but a ghost wouldn't be able to do practical demonstrations of spells and things."
"Good point," Kara agreed. "I guess he'll have to retire eventually."
"Please let it be soon," Brianna said with a glance to the ceiling.
"You are so mean," Kara teased their friend.
"You're right, I am," Brianna agreed. "Am I also late for my group meeting," she added. "I'll see you guys later in the common room."
Victoire and Kara bid their friend goodbye as she ran out of the Great Hall. They finished their dinner quickly and then began to head back upstairs.
"Shoot, I think I forgot one of my books in the Great Hall!" Kara cried as they reached the seventh floor.
"Do you want me to come back with you to get it?" Victoire offered.
"Nah, I'll just go alone," Kara muttered. "I'll be back as soon as I can be."
"Don't kill yourself on those stairs!" Victoire called after her friend as she hurried back in the opposite direction. "Alohomora," she muttered the new password ate the Fat Lady. The guardian of Gryffindor Tower thought it was absolutely hilarious to use the unlocking spell as the password to get into the common room.
Victoire climbed through, wondering what she was going to do while she waited for Kara when she noticed Teddy sitting alone at a table in the back working on what appeared to be homework.
"What do you know about Langalibalele?" Victoire asked, plopping down next to the older boy.
"I'm sorry, what?" Teddy asked.
"Langalibalele," Victoire repeated.
"I feel like I need to say bless you or give you a tissue or something," Teddy joked.
"It's not a joke," Victoire said. "He's an ancient African wizard who created the unlocking spell."
"Alohomora?" Teddy asked. "Why would you care about that guy?" he asked.
"I'm doing a project on him for Charms," Victoire explained.
"You're doing a project on Langalibalele for Charms?" Teddy repeated.
"So you do know him!" Victoire cried.
"Yeah, I did the same project back in first year," Teddy said. "Actually, it was on the history of the unlocking spell in general, but my part was all about the creator."
"We're doing the same thing!" Victoire said excitedly. "And I got assigned the same part as you."
"Huh, well that's lucky," Teddy said.
"Do you still have your notes from when you did the project?" Victoire asked. "I've been doing all this research and nothing makes any sense."
"Oh yeah, I remember trying to decipher those ancient writings," Teddy said. "It was awful."
"Exactly," Victoire agreed. "So can I borrow your notes?"
"You know, in some countries, that would be considered cheating," Teddy said, wagging his finger at her.
"Please?" Victoire begged. "I promise I'll only use them as a reference. Anything I use will be totally in my own words."
"Alright," Teddy decided. "But if you get caught plagiarizing me, I'm not going down for this. I'm telling them you snuck into my dorm and stole the notes."
"Fine, whatever," Victoire said in a rush. "Can I please just have those notes?"
"You need them now?" Teddy asked.
"Now would be good, yeah," Victoire said.
With a sigh, Teddy pushed his chair back and disappeared up the stairs to his dorm. A few minutes later, he reappeared with a few rolls of parchment in his hand.
"You're lucky I held on to this," he said. "I usually throw my old work out."
"Why'd you keep this then?" Victoire wondered.
"It was my first Outstanding," Teddy replied with a shrug.
"And you kept it?" Victoire smirked. "That's – I'm sorry, it's not funny," she said, trying to stop herself from laughing. "It's very sweet, really it is."
"Don't tell you didn't keep your first Outstanding," Teddy said.
"Who says I've gotten one yet?" Victoire replied.
"Oh I'm sure you have," Teddy said. "And I'm sure it's sitting upstairs in your trunk in a place of honor."
"Actually, I owled it home to maman and papa," Victoire admitted.
"And you were laughing at me?" Teddy cried.
"I only owled it to them because I knew they'd be excited about it. It's not like I held onto it for two years," Victoire said.
"Just be thankful I did, or you wouldn't have the notes to use for your own presentation," Teddy said.
"You're right, thank you," Victoire said. "I am eternally grateful."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Teddy muttered. "Now let me finish this rune translation so I can get on with my life."
With a smile, Victoire stood and began to walk away to find a place for her and Kara to work. "Oh, I assume you'll want these back?" she asked, waving the parchment at Teddy.
"You really get a kick out of being annoying, don't you?" Teddy asked, shaking his head.
"I really do," Victoire smiled. "Mostly to you though."
"Lucky me," Teddy rolled his eyes as he returned to his work.
VvVvVvVvVvV
"Come on Sara, how do you still have nothing done?" May yelled. They were working on their group project some more and it wasn't going well. They only had a couple days left before it was due and they weren't close to finished. "Victoire's already finished, Ellie's practically done and you've barely even found the books you need for your research!"
"It's not like these are our O.W.L.s or anything," Sara shot back.
"No, but if we don't pass first year, then they'll make us repeat the year and we'll be kept behind while everyone else moves on to second year," May cried.
"No they won't," Victoire spoke up. "I mean, you'll have to take the class over in summer school, but as long as you pass that, they won't keep you back."
"I can't go to summer school!" May cried. "Nobody would ever respect me again! I'd be the laughingstock of Ravenclaw Tower."
"You Ravenclaws are so uptight," Sara rolled her eyes. "Relax. We'll get the project done. You won't fail this silly little assignment that's probably worth less than two percent of your first year grade."
"It would be easier to believe you if you would just do the work!" May screamed.
"Have you checked in with the guys recently?" Sara asked. "Because from what I've heard from Damian they're not as far ahead as you might hope."
"What?" May cried. "I told Fred he needed to stay on top of them."
"I guess putting Ravenclaws in charge of everything doesn't always work out, huh?" Sara said. "Maybe if you'd let everyone contribute to the planning, we'd be further along by now."
"I thought this was the best plan!" May cried. "It was the most logical breakdown of the work!"
"Everything doesn't always have to be done in the most logical way possible, you know," Sara insisted. "And as for your star pupil, Victoire? I heard she just copied some older student's project."
"I did not!" Victoire cried, affronted. "I just borrowed his notes for inspiration. All my work is totally my own!"
"I don't know what we're going to do," May cried, burying her head in her hands.
"Here's what we're going to do," Ellie spoke up, taking charge. "We're going to find the guys and put what we have so far together. Then we're going to stay here as late as we have to and we're going to finish the parts that need to be finished together."
"It's not like its due tomorrow," Sara pointed out.
"Well we're going to act like it's due tomorrow," Ellie declared. "We're going to get this thing finished tonight because tomorrow I have a meeting of the gobstones club that I don't want to miss."
"Wait, you're in the gobstones club?" Sara laughed. "That's so l – "
"Cool!" Victoire jumped in. "It's so cool. But it's not really the point. The point is, we need to find the guys. May, you look around in the rest of the library. Sara, you check the Great Hall. Ellie and I will stay here and start compiling what we have."
The other girls only waited a beat before scrambling up to begin to do as Victoire had ordered.
"Thanks for backing me up," Ellie said when May and Sara were gone.
"No problem," Victoire said. "Things were getting ridiculous. Taking charge was the right thing to do."
May ended up finding the boys goofing off in the back corner of the library. Sara was a little upset that she'd gone all the way to the Great Hall and back for no good reason, but soon forgot about it as they all plunged into their work. It took a while, but by the time the library was closing and Madam Maxwell was trying to kick them out, they were putting the finishing touches on their presentation.
"Good work everyone," Victoire declared as they parted ways. "Make sure you all learn your parts for the presentation on Thursday."
When Victoire returned to her dorm, she collapsed on her bed. Physically, she wasn't tired at all, but mentally she was completely drained.
"How did it go?" Kara asked, looking up from the magazine she was reading on her bed.
"It was awful, but we got it done," Victoire replied. "I don't think I ever want to do an inter-house project again."
"At least it's over now," Kara pointed out. "So you can stop losing sleep over it."
"I haven't been losing sleep over it!" Victoire protested.
"So it wasn't you that was sitting in the windowsill last night staring out over the grounds?" Kara asked.
Victoire frowned. "No," she replied. "It wasn't."
"Oh!" Kara said, surprised. "I thought it was you. I wonder who it could have been then."
"What window was it that you thought you saw me in?" Victoire wondered.
"The one between yours and Brianna's beds," Kara replied.
"Do you think it could have been Brianna?" Victoire wondered.
"I don't know," Kara frowned. "I supposed it could have been. Your hair is about the same length, and in the dark, I wouldn't have been able to tell if it was light or dark. We could ask her about it."
"No, don't," Victoire said, holding a hand up. She had the strong feeling that Brianna was dealing with something that she clearly didn't want to talk about. Trying to question her about it could only be a bad idea.
"Alright, I won't," Kara shrugged.
VvVvVvVvVvV
The day of the big presentation finally arrived. Victoire awoke nervous, but not for herself. She just hoped that her group could be cohesive this one last day so that they wouldn't fail the project. She knew failing one project wouldn't sentence them all to summer school, but she didn't need May freaking out on her.
Charms was scheduled for right after lunch. Almost none of the first years were able to eat anything at all because they were nervous about the presentations. For most of them, it was the first time they were going to be standing up and speaking in front of people.
When they got to Charms class, Professor Flitwick announced the order of the presentations. Kara's group got the unlucky first position with Victoire's group being assigned to go second. All through Kara's group's presentation, Victoire could hardly pay attention. She kept fidgeting and looking around to assess whether her group members looked calm or nervous.
Finally, it was Victoire's turn. She and her group gathered at the front and Victoire began the presentation by giving a short biography of Langalibalele's life. Next Sara stepped forward and talked about what motivated him to create the spell in the first place and May talked about it's reception throughout Africa. Following this, Ellie stepped up and talked about how the spell came to Europe and then the guys talked about the mechanics of the spell itself.
When they were done, the class gave them a big round of applause and Professor Flitwick awarded them with an Exceeds Expectations, a mark that had May beaming with pride.
The rest of the groups went, none of them receiving an Outstanding, but none failing either. By the end of the class, Victoire was ready to never think about Langalibalele again.
"So how did it go?" Teddy asked later that night when Victoire was handing him back the notes she had borrowed.
"It was fine," Victoire said. "We got an Exceeds Expectations."
"So you still didn't manage to do as well as me?" Teddy sighed. "Tsk tsk, and I lent you my notes and everything."
"Yeah well you try working with a group like the one I had. We spent most of the time yelling at each other instead of actually doing the work," Victoire said.
"Well that's not in the spirit of inter-house unity," Teddy said.
"I'm so over inter-house unity," Victoire sighed. "Can't we just be happy within our own houses?"
"But then how are you going to be prepared to live in the real world?" Teddy asked.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Victoire returned.
"Just that when you have a job, you're going to have to work with people who are different than you. People who weren't necessarily in Gryffindor. So you have to learn how to work with all kinds of different people," Teddy explained.
"I guess," Victoire sighed. "But I'd really rather just work with Gryffindors."
"Gryffindors are superior," Teddy joked. "No one beats the lion."
Victoire rolled her eyes. "Just take your notes," she said, shoving them in front of Teddy's face.
She stalked away to join Kara and Brianna in their dorm room. It had been far too long since they'd done proper pedicures and with the project out of the way they had the whole night free.
"I expect better next time young lady," Teddy called out after her.
Victoire chuckled to herself. Hogwarts would be so boring if it weren't for Teddy.