Thanks to everyone who sent feedback! A quick note, sometimes, in order to
stay with the book, I have to quote specific lines and paragraphs. So just
so you know, sometimes paragraphs are coming straight from Chamber of
Secrets. This happens a fair amount in the coming chapters.
Anyway, thanks again, and here is the next chapter.
Chapter 3
Classes
Vera walked into Herbology half way through the class and handed a note to Professor Sprout. Turning she walked to the back of the greenhouse and sat down next to Wood, ignoring the stares of the Ravenclaws and Gryffindors that followed her.
Wood took note of her particularly pale face as he tried to keep his attention on the teething Venemous Tentacula, trying to make sure he didn't get bitten. "Are you all right?" he asked in a hushed whisper, glancing at her.
Vera looked up, obviously having been lost in her own thoughts. "What? Oh, yes, I'm fine."
"Should I even bother asking about what happened this morning?"
Vera shook her head. "It was just. just some old friends playing a joke on me."
Wood glanced over at her again in disbelief. "I'd like to know what kind of friends would do that to you. And you ran out of the hall pretty fast when you saw that envelope."
Vera sighed and stood, rolling up her sleeves. "It's happened before. You might want to keep on eye on that feeler wrapped around your foot Oliver."
"What-" he started to say, but was cut off as his foot was pulled out from under him and he crashed to the ground.
Professor Sprout hurried over and disentangled Wood from the plant. "Honestly Mr. Wood, I would expect you to pay more attention. Please be more careful."
As she turned around to go and monitor the rest of the class, Wood couldn't help but notice the smile that came across Vera's face. He grinned back as he picked himself up off of the floor before returning his attention to the dark red plant in front of him.
The problem was trying to keep his attention there. Vera's disposition improved over the course of the class. By tending to the Venemous Tentacula, she was able to get her mind off of the one thing that was weighing it down: the Howler.
As they walked out of Greenhouse Three at the end of the class, Vera couldn't help but laugh as Wood winced as he slung his bag over his shoulder. When he had fallen because of the plant's grip on his foot, he had slammed his shoulder fairly hard into the ground. Now he was starting to notice it.
"You think this is funny?" growled Wood as he switched his bag.
Vera coughed in reply. "Of course not." She started laughing again though and brushed some hair in front of her face in the hope that he couldn't see her as clearly.
"This isn't funny Vera!" complained Wood. "What if I can't play Quidditch now?"
Vera rolled her eyes as they started into the castle and down a staircase. "I don't think a bruised shoulder is going to stop you from playing Quidditch."
"What is he complaining about now?" asked Katie Bell as she came up next to them. "Season not coming fast enough?"
"He banged his shoulder up in Herbology," explained Vera. When Katie raised an eyebrow, wondering how that happened, Vera went on. "He's worried about being able to play."
Katie laughed. "He's fallen from his broom before and taken bludgers to the head. He'll live. Anyway, are you ready for Potions with everyone's favorite teacher, Professor Snape?"
Wood groaned, but not because of his shoulder. "The worst class. I don't think I'll be alive at the end of the term."
When Vera looked at him, Katie said, "Snape poisoned him a while ago, to see if his antidote worked. He doesn't remember it quite fondly."
"Did your antidote work?" asked Vera as they entered into a dungeon with other Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs.
Wood grimaced. "Not exactly. Snape had a great time letting me suffer as he took his own sweet time finding the correct antidote. I think he has it out for me since I'm Quidditch captain. Doesn't like the fact that we always cream Slytherin in the matches."
At that moment a man stormed into the room, his black robes drawn around him and everyone went immediately silent. He paused at the head of the class and examined each face, seeing who was in class and who wasn't. His eyes rested on Vera and she couldn't help but feel uncomfortable under his stare.
"Vera Shields?" he asked, glancing down at a piece of parchment.
"Yes, sir," she replied, hoping he would leave it at that.
"You have been studying at Beauxbatons?"
"Last year I was sir."
"Well, then you will most likely be woefully behind the rest. I suggest you pay close attention lest you find yourself at the bottom of the class."
He turned and gathered sheets of parchment around him, preparing for his lesson. "Cheerful sort isn't he?" whispered Katie and both Vera and Wood had to stifle their laughs lest they bring the wrath of Snape down upon them.
~*~*~*~
Vera's elbow rested on the table as she set her chin in her hand, closing her eyes. She had gotten little sleep last night, the words from the Howler keeping her up as it had the past couple of nights. Now she sat at breakfast, struggling to stay awake.
Wood sat down quietly next to her and smiled. He simply watched as her elbow slid toward the edge of the table and then slipped off. Her head, no longer supported, fell and hit the table with a loud bang.
"OW!" shouted Vera, rubbing her forehead. "That hurt!"
Wood snickered and tried to hide it behind his mouthful of toast. He caught her glare and quickly swallowed, not wanting to choke. "Tired?"
Vera glared at him before rubbing her forehead again. "A tad."
"Well, it's Friday, which means tomorrow's Saturday and time for Quidditch!"
Vera looked at him as if he were insane before pulling out her schedule, examining it. After groaning, she shoved it off for Wood to look at. "History of Magic with Slytherin!"
"The most boring class with the worst students," commented Wood with a grimace. "Great. Professor Binns won't notice a thing that goes on in that class. He's the only ghost teacher in the school; they say that his routine didn't change in the slightest when he died. One day he went to teach, very much alive, and the next day he went to teach as a ghost. At first it's interesting, then it just gets boring."
Vera nodded and yawned, stretching as she stood. "We should probably get going. And if it seems like I'm going to hit my head on the table again, I would really appreciate it if you told me."
Wood chuckled as they walked out of the Great Hall. "Not that anyone would notice except to laugh, but don't worry about it. I would be glad to wake you up."
"Wake her up?" asked Flint as he fell into step next to the pair. "With what, a kiss? Could I do the honors?"
Vera scowled at the boy next to her, her eyes narrowed as they flashed with anger. "I would rather kiss a teething Venemous Tentacula as opposed to you."
"You hardly know me yet you are saying such harsh words," replied Flint.
"I don't need knowledge to see you for what you really are: a piece of slime on my shoe."
She pushed past him and tried not to run into the classroom. Wood tried to conceal his smile, he couldn't be happier with the way Vera had put the Slytherin boy into place. Sitting next to her, he whispered, "You really are great."
Vera smiled and turned to try and listen to Professor Binns lecture, ignoring the sixth year that was sitting behind her. At the end of the class, she shoved her books in her bag and darted out of the room, not wanting to be cornered into a conversation with Flint.
Wood jogged after her and then laughed. "What I wouldn't have given to have you here last year to tell him off like that."
"Why does he keep coming after me?" asked Vera as they headed up to the Gryffindor tower for a brief rest. "Even though he knows I can't stand him?"
Wood sighed. "Flint wants what he can't have. He gets easily distracted by pretty things."
"You think I'm pretty?" Vera whispered in disbelief, climbing a set of stairs.
Wood held his breath. He had known her hardly a week, but he couldn't forget the first time he had looked at her. "Beautiful," he replied in a hushed voice, realizing all too late that he had spoken out loud. A blush rising in his cheeks, he hurried ahead of her to the portrait. Vera followed him, a smile growing on her lips.
~*~*~*~
Well, I hope everyone liked that. And if for some reason there is anyone out there that actually likes Flint. well, this is not a story for you since he is a background villain. I say background because there are worse people in this story. Yeah. So please review and then I'll post the next chapter: Quidditch Practice! ~ Alexandra
Anyway, thanks again, and here is the next chapter.
Chapter 3
Classes
Vera walked into Herbology half way through the class and handed a note to Professor Sprout. Turning she walked to the back of the greenhouse and sat down next to Wood, ignoring the stares of the Ravenclaws and Gryffindors that followed her.
Wood took note of her particularly pale face as he tried to keep his attention on the teething Venemous Tentacula, trying to make sure he didn't get bitten. "Are you all right?" he asked in a hushed whisper, glancing at her.
Vera looked up, obviously having been lost in her own thoughts. "What? Oh, yes, I'm fine."
"Should I even bother asking about what happened this morning?"
Vera shook her head. "It was just. just some old friends playing a joke on me."
Wood glanced over at her again in disbelief. "I'd like to know what kind of friends would do that to you. And you ran out of the hall pretty fast when you saw that envelope."
Vera sighed and stood, rolling up her sleeves. "It's happened before. You might want to keep on eye on that feeler wrapped around your foot Oliver."
"What-" he started to say, but was cut off as his foot was pulled out from under him and he crashed to the ground.
Professor Sprout hurried over and disentangled Wood from the plant. "Honestly Mr. Wood, I would expect you to pay more attention. Please be more careful."
As she turned around to go and monitor the rest of the class, Wood couldn't help but notice the smile that came across Vera's face. He grinned back as he picked himself up off of the floor before returning his attention to the dark red plant in front of him.
The problem was trying to keep his attention there. Vera's disposition improved over the course of the class. By tending to the Venemous Tentacula, she was able to get her mind off of the one thing that was weighing it down: the Howler.
As they walked out of Greenhouse Three at the end of the class, Vera couldn't help but laugh as Wood winced as he slung his bag over his shoulder. When he had fallen because of the plant's grip on his foot, he had slammed his shoulder fairly hard into the ground. Now he was starting to notice it.
"You think this is funny?" growled Wood as he switched his bag.
Vera coughed in reply. "Of course not." She started laughing again though and brushed some hair in front of her face in the hope that he couldn't see her as clearly.
"This isn't funny Vera!" complained Wood. "What if I can't play Quidditch now?"
Vera rolled her eyes as they started into the castle and down a staircase. "I don't think a bruised shoulder is going to stop you from playing Quidditch."
"What is he complaining about now?" asked Katie Bell as she came up next to them. "Season not coming fast enough?"
"He banged his shoulder up in Herbology," explained Vera. When Katie raised an eyebrow, wondering how that happened, Vera went on. "He's worried about being able to play."
Katie laughed. "He's fallen from his broom before and taken bludgers to the head. He'll live. Anyway, are you ready for Potions with everyone's favorite teacher, Professor Snape?"
Wood groaned, but not because of his shoulder. "The worst class. I don't think I'll be alive at the end of the term."
When Vera looked at him, Katie said, "Snape poisoned him a while ago, to see if his antidote worked. He doesn't remember it quite fondly."
"Did your antidote work?" asked Vera as they entered into a dungeon with other Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs.
Wood grimaced. "Not exactly. Snape had a great time letting me suffer as he took his own sweet time finding the correct antidote. I think he has it out for me since I'm Quidditch captain. Doesn't like the fact that we always cream Slytherin in the matches."
At that moment a man stormed into the room, his black robes drawn around him and everyone went immediately silent. He paused at the head of the class and examined each face, seeing who was in class and who wasn't. His eyes rested on Vera and she couldn't help but feel uncomfortable under his stare.
"Vera Shields?" he asked, glancing down at a piece of parchment.
"Yes, sir," she replied, hoping he would leave it at that.
"You have been studying at Beauxbatons?"
"Last year I was sir."
"Well, then you will most likely be woefully behind the rest. I suggest you pay close attention lest you find yourself at the bottom of the class."
He turned and gathered sheets of parchment around him, preparing for his lesson. "Cheerful sort isn't he?" whispered Katie and both Vera and Wood had to stifle their laughs lest they bring the wrath of Snape down upon them.
~*~*~*~
Vera's elbow rested on the table as she set her chin in her hand, closing her eyes. She had gotten little sleep last night, the words from the Howler keeping her up as it had the past couple of nights. Now she sat at breakfast, struggling to stay awake.
Wood sat down quietly next to her and smiled. He simply watched as her elbow slid toward the edge of the table and then slipped off. Her head, no longer supported, fell and hit the table with a loud bang.
"OW!" shouted Vera, rubbing her forehead. "That hurt!"
Wood snickered and tried to hide it behind his mouthful of toast. He caught her glare and quickly swallowed, not wanting to choke. "Tired?"
Vera glared at him before rubbing her forehead again. "A tad."
"Well, it's Friday, which means tomorrow's Saturday and time for Quidditch!"
Vera looked at him as if he were insane before pulling out her schedule, examining it. After groaning, she shoved it off for Wood to look at. "History of Magic with Slytherin!"
"The most boring class with the worst students," commented Wood with a grimace. "Great. Professor Binns won't notice a thing that goes on in that class. He's the only ghost teacher in the school; they say that his routine didn't change in the slightest when he died. One day he went to teach, very much alive, and the next day he went to teach as a ghost. At first it's interesting, then it just gets boring."
Vera nodded and yawned, stretching as she stood. "We should probably get going. And if it seems like I'm going to hit my head on the table again, I would really appreciate it if you told me."
Wood chuckled as they walked out of the Great Hall. "Not that anyone would notice except to laugh, but don't worry about it. I would be glad to wake you up."
"Wake her up?" asked Flint as he fell into step next to the pair. "With what, a kiss? Could I do the honors?"
Vera scowled at the boy next to her, her eyes narrowed as they flashed with anger. "I would rather kiss a teething Venemous Tentacula as opposed to you."
"You hardly know me yet you are saying such harsh words," replied Flint.
"I don't need knowledge to see you for what you really are: a piece of slime on my shoe."
She pushed past him and tried not to run into the classroom. Wood tried to conceal his smile, he couldn't be happier with the way Vera had put the Slytherin boy into place. Sitting next to her, he whispered, "You really are great."
Vera smiled and turned to try and listen to Professor Binns lecture, ignoring the sixth year that was sitting behind her. At the end of the class, she shoved her books in her bag and darted out of the room, not wanting to be cornered into a conversation with Flint.
Wood jogged after her and then laughed. "What I wouldn't have given to have you here last year to tell him off like that."
"Why does he keep coming after me?" asked Vera as they headed up to the Gryffindor tower for a brief rest. "Even though he knows I can't stand him?"
Wood sighed. "Flint wants what he can't have. He gets easily distracted by pretty things."
"You think I'm pretty?" Vera whispered in disbelief, climbing a set of stairs.
Wood held his breath. He had known her hardly a week, but he couldn't forget the first time he had looked at her. "Beautiful," he replied in a hushed voice, realizing all too late that he had spoken out loud. A blush rising in his cheeks, he hurried ahead of her to the portrait. Vera followed him, a smile growing on her lips.
~*~*~*~
Well, I hope everyone liked that. And if for some reason there is anyone out there that actually likes Flint. well, this is not a story for you since he is a background villain. I say background because there are worse people in this story. Yeah. So please review and then I'll post the next chapter: Quidditch Practice! ~ Alexandra