Out of the Darkness

By Trephinia Cealyn

Chapter 5 | Jealousy

'…flung off a mountain top, falling into a valley, watch the ground come closer…'

          Flute twisted her hair into a bun like structure although pieces were sticking out everywhere and it couldn't compare to McGonagle's in any way, there was a significant effort made. Deciding not to attempt to redo the bun she grabbed her bag and headed for the Great Hall. Flute made her way towards the Slytherin table and noticed that Seymour was sitting in her spot next to Tom and Talon. Taking a deep breath and trying not to hex the boy out of his chair she looked for another seat somewhere near them that would be suitable.

          "Flute!" Seth called from a spot across from Tom; he had an empty chair next to him, "I saved you a chair!" he said pointing to the chair next to him.

          "Thanks," she said ginning at him and turning her head quickly to glare at her brother, "At least some one has manners." She hissed to Talon. Talon shrugged and continued eating his pancakes.

          "No problem," Seth said leaning back in his chair, "We still on for tonight?" He asked picking at his eggs.

          Flute sat down and speared a piece of toast, she waved it around on her fork and looked at him, "Of course, 7:00 right?" she asked.

          Seth nodded while chewing his eggs and after swallowing he said, "I cleared it with Snape. He thought it was a good idea," he looked over at her, "I'm sure it had nothing to do with the fact that you're his granddaughter."

          "Well I'd better get to class." Flute said ignoring his comment and grabbing a piece of toast, "I have to ask grandfather a question about my assignment."

          Seth stood up also, "I'll walk you," he said.

Dumbledore choice that exact moment to stand up and send a few sparks out of his wand to quiet the students, "In the past few years we've had a ball for fourth years and up," Dumbledore said, "this year we are allowing first through third years to go IF their date is a fourth year or above. The ball will be in a few days to allow you time to find dress robes and a date." Dumbledore sat allowing everyone to process this information.

          Flute crossed her arms, "That's not fair! I'm only a first year! What fourth year would even consider going with me? Not with all these other girls around!" She complained and turned to stomp off to the dungeons in protest.

          "Flute! Wait up," Seth said running after her, "I told you I'd walk you remember?"

          "Oh sorry Seth," Flute apologized, "Shouldn't you be back there finding a date?"

          "I'll find one later," Seth winked at her, "Well here's where I leave you! See you tonight." He opened the door for her and motioned her through. She waved goodbye and went to her normal seat.

          "Here a little early Flute?" Snape said from his desk, "Can I help you with something?"

          "Oh right! I almost forgot," She pulled out her 14-inch parchment and skipped over to his desk, "I wanted to ask you if I did this right?"

          Snape read a few lines, "Looks fine to me," he placed a 100 at the top of the paper, without even bothering to read the entire essay. He returned to his previous work, which was grading tests.

          "Grandfather!" Flute protested, "You didn't even read it!" She exclaimed and put her paper on top of the others and pointing to a paragraph, "Do you know how much time I spent on that?"

          Snape sighed, "Not at all like your father, he would have just taken the grade and been done with it," he muttered, "I'll read it tonight okay, I'll actually read it and give you an accurate grade. I don't think I'll have to change it," he sighed, "but I'll read it."

          "Thank you, that's all I ask!" Flute skipped back to her chair only to find her seat occupied by Seymour. "Excuse me," Flute said trying to control her temper and her urge to punch the boy, "you're sitting in my seat."

          "Find another one," Seymour said laughing at her, he looked over at Tom and Talon who smirked. Flute clenched her fists. She grabbed her bag and took the only empty seat left, next to Lily and Cecilia.

          The rest of the class Flute couldn't hardly pay any attention except to the fact that Tom and Talon hadn't stood up for her the way best friends should. She sighed and tried to figure out what she had done that would make for them to not want her to sit next to them.

She wandered from class to class only paying enough attention to take notes and in Transfiguration to accidentally turn Seymour's robes pink, accidentally of course.

          After dinner Flute ran down to the common room and into the bathroom she shared with the other first years in her room. She pulled her hair out of his messy bun and ran a brush through it. She put it back into a neater bun so that it wouldn't fly in her face while she was practicing flying with Seth. She went back to the common room to do a little homework before 7:00.

          "Flute," Tom said to her as she was trying to complete her Charms homework, "was there a homework assignment in Potions?"

          Flute stared at him long and hard trying to decide if he deserved an answer finally she said, "Why don't you ask Seymour?" in her meanest way she could.

          "He doesn't know either," Tom protested returning her glare.

          Seymour looked at her with a bored expression, "Just give us the homework assignment, it's not that hard really."

          "No I refuse!" Flute yelled at him, "Anyway I was talking to you."

          "What's your problem?" Tom asked grabbing her potions notebook and writing down the assignment.

          "What's yours?" Flute asked grabbing it back, "You let Seymour take my seat in potions and then you don't even try to make him move, and now you think you can just take my things without even asking!"

          "Maybe if you hadn't have been chatting away with some fourth year last night we wouldn't have given Seymour your seat," Talon chimed in.

          "If you-" Flute started to say pointing her finger in Talon's face threateningly she dropped it and said, "This is stupid. I have to go." She looked at the clock, "I'm late!" She exclaimed. She grabbed her cloak and ran into Seth as she was running out.

          "You ready?" He asked putting his cloak on. She nodded and followed him out of the common room. "Now the key thing about flying is to just trust the broom. You also have to have a good broom to begin with."

          "What kind of broom do you have?" she asked with curiosity. As he was talking about the brooms his face lit up and his eyes sparkled. She could tell that he was obsessed with Quidditch and flying.

          "I have a Firebolt 3000," he said proudly, "it's the newest model." They had reached the Broom Shed he disappeared for a moment and came back with a broom.

          "We'll use my old broom," he explained and handed her a Firebolt 2000, "she's a wonderful broom."

          Flute nodded and ran off with the broom heading towards the Quidditch Pitch, "Let's start!"

          "Hey!" said a surprised and ran after her, trying to catch up, "You could have at least warned me.

          Flute grinned and held the broom reverently, "Okay Mr. Quidditch Player, show me what to do!"

          "First of all you're holding the broom all wrong," he said and corrected her hand placements, "okay now straddle the broom like you're riding a horse or something and kick off." Flute did so and the broom shot straight up… without her on it.

          "Oops," she said as the broom dropped to the ground. "Guess I should hold on tighter."

          Seth retrieved the broom, "Hmm," Seth said leaning against the broom, "I think the best choice is for you to ride in front of me so you can get the hang of it."

          "Sounds good to me!" Flute said grabbing the broom and reassuming the position, Seth laughed and stood behind her holding her around the waist. Flute kicked off and tried valiantly to steer, "What am I doing wrong?"

          "Nothing," Seth whispered in her ear, "You're still a beginner, you'll get the hang of it," Flute flew around a bit until she started to improve a little. They landed and decided to go back in.

          "Thanks for the lesson," Flute said after they had put the broom away.

          Seth nodded, "It was no big deal," he stopped outside the Slytherin Common room and stood in front of the entrance, "Listen Flute would you want to go to the ball with me?"

          Flute stared at him, speechless. She processed the information, "Yes, I mean, of course!"

          Seth grinned, "Wonderful! It's a date then." He moved aside and followed her down the steps.

          "I have to tell Cecilia," Flute exclaimed, "thanks for asking me!" she ran off as she saw the girl.

          "What were you doing out there with him?" Tom said grabbing her elbow as she walked past.

          "He was teaching me how to fly," Flute glared at him, "why do you care?" She asked with curiosity and the narrowing of her eyes.

          "You already know how to fly!" Tom half shouted. "You don't need him to teach you! You're probably better than he is!"

          "Shh," Flute said harshly, "I just wanted him to ask me to the ball." She explained.

          Tom glanced back at Seth who was on the other side of the common room, "Did he?"

          Flute nodded, "I have to go Thomas, see you in potions." She stalked off.

          "Well now you'll have to go," Talon said to Tom.

          Tom looked over at him very confused, "Why?"

          "To keep an eye on her," Talon explained.

          "You go!" Tom protested, "She's your sister!"

          "I can't dance." Talon shrugged and opened his book.