GOING BACK TO HOGWARTS
The next day arrived soon enough. Narcissa had given Alexa some ice for her lip, thanks to which it looked better than the day before. That morning, Lucius was nowhere to be seen. Narcissa said he was at the manor, but he was busy with some business. "Probably with that creepy man from Borgin and Burkes". Whatever reason it was, that meant he wouldn't be taking Draco and Alex to the King's Road Station.
Alex and Draco arrived at the train soon enough, accompanied by Narcissa. She helped both kids take their trunks into the train and placed them in a good spot and then, she said goodbye to both of them. Draco headed to the front of the train, where most Slytherins sat during the travel. However, Alex didn't follow.
- I'll see you later at the feast, Draco. – before the boy could say anything, she vanished.
Alex was looking for her friends. And she found them. At least, one of them. Neville was sitting inside one of the compartments, all by his own.
- Hey, Neville! – when she opened the door, Neville jumped out of his sit, out of fear, but as soon as he heard her voice, he calmed down.
- Alex! You scared me! How are you? – he smiled at her. He was holding Trevor on his hands.
- I'm good. How about you two? – she said looking at the big toad. Neville looked at him too, and he smiled again.
- We're fine. Trevor is behaving better than last year.
- I can see. – she sat right in front of him. – So, how was your summer? I mean, I know we wrote to each other but, it all sound better in person, don't you think so?
- Yeah, you're right. I was with my grandmother. I didn't go out much, I don't really like summer.
- Me neither. Way to warm for my taste.
- Exactly. Anyways…I went to visit my parents.
His parents. Neville had told her about his parents. They were former aurors, wizards who haunted down criminals. They had been tortured more than a decade ago and as a result, they were sent to Saint Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. They were not…mentally well. Both Alex and Neville had gotten closer during the summer because of their parents. They both shared their stories, and they understood each other. They never got to meet their parents, not really.
For the rest of the journey, they stayed there, talking to each other, sharing stories and laughing. By the time the train arrived at Hogsmeade, they were already wearing their uniforms. When they walked out of it, Hermione joined them.
- Hey, Alex. Hey, Neville.
- Hi, Hermione. – said Neville with some shyness.
- Have you seen Harry and Ron?
- No, but they must be around here somewhere… - Alex said while looking around.
- They're not.
- What do you mean they're not?
- No one has seen them. They were not in the train.
- Maybe they lost it? – Alex wondered what could have happened.
- They're a disaster… - Hermione sighed, exasperated.
All of the students followed the teachers in charge of the carriages. Since it was their second year, from now on they would go to the castle with the carriages. They seemed to move on their own, since nothing was pulling from them.
When they arrived at Hogwarts, they headed straight to the Great Hall, to get ready for the feast. As Hermione had said, Harry and Ron where nowhere to be found. However, there was nothing she could do about it, so she sat next to Draco at the Slytherin table, and enjoyed the feast. The new first years were sorted out into the different houses, and, of course, Professor Dumbledore gave one of his speeches.
As the feast came to an end, and Harry and Ron were nowhere to be seen yet, Alex headed quickly to the Gryffindor table.
- Hermione! Did you hear something about them?
- Not me. But apparently, they are here. Some students heard the teachers talking about them.
- And where are they?
- They're on detention. – said one of the eldest students. – Look at this. – he handed a newspaper to the girls. There was a car on the cover, flying. The headline read "Flying ford Anglia mystifies muggles". Both Alex and Hermione looked at each other, trying to understand what that meant, when suddenly, Fred and George showed up behind them.
- Hey, that's dad's car! – "now that makes sense…". Ron and Harry must have been the ones driving the car. And that explained detention.
- Well, that makes things pretty clear… - Hermione returned the newspaper with a tired look. Being friends with Harry and Ron was exhausting, that was for sure. Alex was lucky enough to not share a common room with them.
Night arrived at Hogwarts, and since it was day one and classes begun at morning, everyone headed to their respective commons rooms to sleep.
Next morning arrived, and with it, new adventures and classes. Alex was excited. She loved Hogwarts and she really enjoyed classes, even though most children didn't. But at Hogwarts it was different. Every class was interesting and brough something new and exciting. At first period they had Herbology. Herbology had place in the greenhouses, which were located behind the castle. Each one of the greenhouses had different types of plants, some more dangerous than others.
When Alex arrived at the greenhouse where the class was going to take place, she stood next to Neville, right in front of Draco. She liked spending time with Neville. Especially in Herbology. It was his favourite class, and he was really good at it. One of the best students. And he enjoyed it. It was unusual to see Neville enjoying something instead of being nervous about it, and Alex liked that version of Neville.
When Harry and Ron entered the greenhouse, they caught everyone's attention.
- Detention. On the first day? – asked Neville, really surprised.
- That must be some kind of record. – said Seamus with a smile on his face.
- I should think you'd count yourself lucky that's all you got. – said Hermione with a serious face.
- I should think you'd mind your own business. – said Ron, while both of them glared at each other.
- They'll never change, will they? – Alex said with a smile. It was funny for her seeing how Ron and Hermione where always picking at each other.
Suddenly, Professor Sprout walked in. Professor Sprout was a squat little witch who wore a patched hat over her flyaway hair. She usually had a large amount of earth on her clothes, and under her fingernails.
- Morning, everyone. – since some students were still talking to each other, she repeated herself, tapping at the table. – Good morning, everyone!
- Good morning, Professor Sprout. – the whole class said at the same time.
- Welcome to Greenhouse Three, Second Years. Today, we will be re-potting Mandrakes. - There were a lot of pots in front of them, in a row, all over the table. - Now, who here can tell me the properties of the Mandrake? – both Alex and Hermione raised their hands. - Yes, Miss Granger.
- Mandrake, or Mandragora, is used to return those who have been transfigured to their original state.
- Very well, Miss Granger. What else, Miss Black?
- It's also quite dangerous. The Mandrake's cry is fatal to anyone who hears it.
- Excellent. Ten points to each one of you. – Hermione and Alex looked at each other with a smile. Alex also looked at Draco with smug look, like saying "I'm going to win the house cup this year, watch me". - As our Mandrakes are only seedlings, their cries won't kill yet. However, they will knock you out for several hours. That is why I have provided each of you with a pair of earmuffs. If you would then…
The whole class got their earmuffs and placed them in position. Once Professor Sprout made sure that everyone had their earmuffs on, she proceeded with the explanation.
- Very well. Well fitted pads. Now, look carefully. – she grasped one of the tufty plants. – You grasp the mandrake firmly and then, yank it out of the pot.
With that, she pulled the plant upwards. Instead of roots, some kind of small, muddy and extremely ugly baby popped out of the earth, making an awful sound, similar to crying. All of the students gasped as they held tightly their earmuffs, to make sure they didn't faint.
- Understood? And now you place it in another pot and sprinkle a little fertilizer to keep the heat. Easy. – suddenly, Neville fell to the ground, completely knock out. - Looks as though Mister Longbottom neglected his muffs. – Alex looked at him very carefully, and then said.
- No, professor. He's just fainted.
- Very well. We'll just leave him then. – both Alex and Seamus, who was standing next to him, looked at each other and then at Neville. Alex grabbed her bag and with care, she put it under Neville's head.
- At least he'll be more comfortable. – Seamus said to her.
- Come now. There's plenty of pots to go round. Grab your mandrake and pull!
Everyone did as the professor said. Only thing there was to be heard at the greenhouse was the crying of all of the mandrakes. All of the students had a look of disgust on their faces. Draco tried to play with his mandrake, putting his finger into its mouth. And suddenly, the mandrake bit him. Alex, who saw it, couldn't help but laugh at his friend, while he took his finger out of the mandrake's mouth, and gave it a deathly look.
That's how the rest of the class went by. The students transferred the mandrakes to a new pot, following Professor Sprout's instructions. By the end of the class, Neville opened his eyes.
- What…What just happened? – he looked confused.
- Neville! Hey, are you okay? – Alex kneeled before him.
- My head hurts…
- You fainted after you saw the mandrakes. – Seamus helped him up. – You landed on your head.
- Did I miss the whole class? – Neville looked disappointed. Alex knew how much he liked that class.
- It's okay, I'll tell you all about it later, okay? So, no worries. – Alex tried to cheered him up.
- You didn't miss anything, to be honest. It's been a nightmare. – Seamus grabbed his things, as well as Neville's, and the three of them walked out of the greenhouse.