Harry Potter and the Amulet of Hogwarts, Chapter Four
by ~Misty~
This is my version of the fifth book, chapter four, this new chaptering deal makes it easier to read it all, please review! Thanks ~Misty~
It was the morning that Hogwarts was to begin, and everyone in the Weasley house was scrambling about preparing to leave. "Harry, I've got your trunk!" Mr. Weasley called. "I'm packing it in the car the Ministry provided for us!"
"I'll get Hedwig!" Harry called, dashing back up the stairs and bumping into Ginny. She blushed and continued running down the stairs. He darted into Ron's room and grabbed Hedwig's cage, then ran downstairs again, Hedwig screeching the whole way down.
"Have you got everything, Harry?" Mr. Weasley asked, his face haggard.
"Yes." Harry watched George and Fred try to push Ginny's trunk through the door.
"Geez, Ginny have you been making wood sculptures of Harry and stuffing them in your trunk?" Fred teased as they finally got it through the door.
Ginny's cheeks flamed. "No," she muttered, keeping her eyes on the ground.
"Or maybe clay sculptures! Or she could've hired a mason to carve a life size Harry out of stone," Fred joked. Ginny, blushing furiously, ran out of the room, her eyes on the floor.
"You don't have to tease her like that," Hermione scolded, sounding very annoyed. "She has a crush, that's all, and it's none of your business."
"Sorry, Herm-own-ninny," Fred said innocently. "I agree. It's not even like Ginny's the only one with a crush, now, is it?" He gave a loud cough that sounded very much like "Viktor".
"Oh, get over it!" Hermione snapped and walked out of the room, turning beet red just as Ginny had.
"Whoa! What's with her?" Ron asked as he walked into the room. "She seemed really upset."
"Oh, we were only discussing her love for Viktor," Fred said, grinning slyly as Ron's ears turned red.
"Well, I'd better help Ginny with the rest of her things," Ron announced, walking hastily from the room.
An hour later everyone was at the train station talking merrily at the upcoming year at Hogwarts, keeping well away from Muggles until they would have to leave.
"I wonder who the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor will be?" Hermione asked thoughtfully.
"Maybe Lupin will come back!" Ron said excitedly. "That would be great!"
"And impossible. Some people don't want a werewolf teaching their kids," Hermione reminded him, pursing her lips. "But I do wish he would come back, he was the best Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher we've ever had."
"Even better than Lockhart, Hermione?" George teased. Hermione stuck her nose in the air and ignored him. Professor Lockhart had been their Defense Against the Dark Arts professor in their second year, and the boys never let her forget her crush on him.
"Harry! Hermione! Ron! Over here!" a voice shouted from behind them. Marissa Underwood appeared breathless at Harry's side. "I've been looking everywhere for you, we just got here!"
"Oh, well we've been here for a bit, where's your Mum?" Harry asked.
"Oh, she's over there meeting Mr. Weasley, my dad got hung up at the Ministry again, I'm amazed your father got away!" Marissa exclaimed.
"Mom said she would disown him if he wasn't here," Ron said grinning.
"Oh Hogwarts is going to be so fun, isn't it?" Marissa said, swinging her arm casually around Ron's shoulders.
"Ah, yeah," Ron said.
"Humph," Hermione said, turning to Harry. "Let's go get on the train to get a good seat, Harry," and with that she marched through the crowd, wheeling her trolley over to the wall, followed by Ginny. Harry shrugged and followed her to the wall between platforms nine and ten.
"Oh there you are!" Mrs. Weasley said. "Let's get to that train now."
"Goodbye!" Mrs. Underwood cried as Harry and Hermione ran towards the wall, and suddenly they were panting in front of the scarlet Hogwarts Express.
"Lets go!" Hermione said sharply, tugging on Harry's arm.
"What about Ron and Marissa?" Harry asked.
"They're just fine on their own, Harry! They'll find us later!" Hermione said. "Come on." Harry shrugged and followed her over to a large tree where she stopped. "I don't know about you but I don't really feel like seeing Loverboy and Miss Perfect right now," Hermione muttered crossly.
"What? Who?" Harry asked, confused.
"Ron and Marissa!" Hermione said.
"Oh, they aren't…are they?" Harry was surprised; he didn't think Marissa would be the type of girl Ron would go for… then again, there was Fleur. But she was elegant, while Marissa was clumsy and talkative.
"Really? Well, Ginny, what classes are you taking this year?" Harry asked, trying to change the topic. But before Ginny could answer, another voice interrupted.
"There you are!" someone said behind them. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Ron, Marissa, Fred, and George rushed towards them.
"Great!" Hermione grumbled, "I'm going to find a compartment, bye Mrs. Weasley," Mrs. Weasley hugged her "And thank you for letting me stay with you!" Hermione added dashing off to the train.
"What's up with her?" Ron asked.
"I dunno," Harry answered confused.
"Oh my! Look at the time! Get on that train!" Mrs. Weasley ordered, hugging them all.
They dashed onto the train. Harry found Hermione first; she was in the last compartment of the train reading Hogwarts, a History for the fiftieth time. Ginny sat down next to her and Harry sat across from her, soon to be joined by Marissa.
"I think I'll more over there, more window light," Hermione muttered, moving to a dark corner at the very back of the compartment.
"Hi, scoot over Ginny," Ron said, plopping down on the seat next to Ginny. "So Marissa, what's your house like?" Marissa and Ron went into a deep conversation about her house, which turned into a discussion about Quidditch. Harry and Ginny just sat there, bored out of their minds listening. Harry went over to sit next to Hermione, followed by Ginny, who had a very annoyed look on her face. Ron had just been retelling the story he'd nearly been 'killed' by Sirius Black, even though he knew Sirius was innocent. Harry grew angry as he described how Sirius nearly decapitated him. He opened his mouth to say something and received a sharp kick in the shins from Hermione.
"Harry, don't! Remember, we're the only one's who know he's innocent, except for Ron, but he obviously would rather lie to impress Marissa than be a good friend," Hermione whispered warningly.
Harry nodded reluctantly, glaring at Ron. "He's got no right to make Sirius out as some monster!" he hissed angrily.
"I know, he's acting like a jerk, he has been ever since that eyelash-batting-dip showed up," Hermione snapped. Harry decided he'd better take a nap before Hermione bit his head off or Ron asked him to perform any dramatic parts of his story.
When Harry awoke Ron was still talking energetically about how he and Harry followed the spiders into the Forbidden Forest in their second year. Hermione was still reading but she had switched to one of Lockhart's books, Gadding with Ghouls. Ginny was asleep, her flaming red hair lighting up the compartment, and Ron was now laughing about how Marissa had fallen off her broom all the time when Harry had come over to her house.
"Hermione, how can you read in the dark!" Harry asked pulling the book away from her face and seeing the expression on her face. "What's the matter?"
"I just miss my Mom and Dad, I didn't get to see them before we left," Hermione said hastily, forcing a smile, but Harry wasn't convinced.
"Hermione, if something's bothering you…" Harry began.
"I'm fine!" Hermione snapped, waking Ginny up. She squinted her eyes and looked around sleepily.
"Are we almost there?" Ginny asked, stretching.
"Yup," Harry answered absentmindedly.
A few minutes later they were all outside wrapped their cloaks around themselves as tightly as possible to prevent any heat from escaping. "I'm freezing," Marissa said through chattering teeth.
"Here," Ron said giving her his cloak. Hermione scowled, and Marissa looked smug.
"Ooooooooooooooooh wow, we never had anything like this at my old school! Let's get in that carriage, Ron!" Marissa exclaimed as the horseless carriages that carried them to Hogwarts arrived. Hermione gritted her teeth and climbed in, followed by Harry. "Oh, sorry, Ginny, there's not enough room for you." Marissa smiled brightly as Ginny looked forlornly into the carriage.
"I'll go and sit with Fred and George," Ginny mumbled, walking away with her head down.
"That wasn't very nice Marissa, Ginny always sit with us," Hermione said, glaring at Marissa.
"Well, things change," Marissa said coldly. "If you want to sit with her so much, you can leave."
"All right, then, I will!" Hermione spat, stalking out of the carriage and casting a furious look at Marissa over her shoulder.
"Hey! There's no reason to get upset!" Ron said naively and Hermione looked away, hatred still burning in her eyes.
They soon arrived at the Great Hall. "First years this way, please," said a sharp voice, and they turned to find Professor McGonagall standing there. "You, Marissa, right with the first years." Everyone crowded into the large banquet hall where the Sorting would take place.
"Jenkins, Molly," Professor McGongall said. A short blonde girl with glasses stood up and walked over to a stool on which lay an old frayed hat, the Sorting Hat. Molly put it on and it immediately shouted…
"HUFFELPUFF!"
"Silver, Topaz." A tall, pretty girl with long reddish-brown hair walked up to the hat and plopped it on her head.
"SLYTHERIN!"
"Brown, Gregory," Professor McGonagall called out, and a chubby redhaired boy walked up to the stool and placed the hat on his head.
"GRYFFINDOR!" The hat shouted once again.
"Green, Veronica," Professor McGonagall said loudly. A tall girl with black hair walked up, an unpleasant smirk on her face. She sat on the stool and placed the hat on her head.
"SLYTHERIN!" The hat called out. Veronica strolled back to the Slytherin table, looking quite smug. After that 'Johnson, Mary' was the first to join Ravenclaw and then 'Jacobs, Linda" was placed in placed in Gryffindor. After all of the first years' names were called, Professor McGonagall cleared her throat loudly.
"I have a new fifth year student to introduce you to. Marissa Underwood, please come up here to be sorted as one of the fifth years," Professor McGonagall said. Marissa walked energetically to the stool and placed the hat on her head. The hat was silent for awhile when suddenly Marissa grabbed it off and crammed it back on. Suddenly her wand clattered to the floor.
"OOPS!" Marissa yelled, and picked it back up.
"GRYFFINDOR!" The hat shouted somewhat oddly, as if it had a sore throat.
Many people glanced around, unsure of what to do, but Professor McGonagall started clapping, so everyone else began clapping too. After a feeble applause Marissa sat down between Ron and Hermione as the food began appearing on the golden plates at the table.
"That was fun, wasn't it, Ron?" she asked, helping herself to everything in reach. After a half an hour Harry was full of blueberry pie and steak and mashed potatoes but he still wanted to stay for Dumbledore's speech.
Hermione stood up abruptly. "I'm tired, I'm going to bed. I'll get the password from a prefect."
"I'm going with Hermione," Ginny said, running after her.
"Ron, you know you're kind of acting like a jerk to Hermione," Harry murmured to him.
"Hmmmm? Where'd she go off to?" Ron asked, uninterested.
"To the Common Room. What's up with you, anyway, Ron?" Harry demanded.
"Nothing," Ron answered. "Leave me alone!"
Harry stared at him for a moment, then shoved his chair back and stormed away. Ron didn't even seem to notice. As he reached the Common Room, Harry realized that he didn't know the password.
"Hermione? Can you hear me? What's the password?" Harry yelled, pounding on the wall beside the portrait of the Fat Lady.
"Hey? Who? What?" The Fat Lady asked sleepily. "Oh, it's you. Well, if you don't know the password you'll have to wait." Harry slumped against the wall, hoping someone would come soon. A half an hour later Parvti Patil and Lavendar Brown came up.
"Hey, can you tell me what the password is?" Harry asked.
"Oh, the password is 'Jelly Slugs'. Have you been waiting here for a long time?" Parvati asked, looking amused.
"Not that long," Harry said irritably as he got to his feet. The Fat Lady swung open to admit them. Hermione was nowhere to be seen, so Harry decided to go up to his dormitory. He trudged up the stairs and went in.
Harry found his luggage and Hedwig's cage, lying on his old bed. Harry began to unpack when he saw the water globe Marissa had given him. He wound it and set it carefully on the nightstand beside his bed. He listened carefully to the words, lying on his bed with his head on his arms, and soon drifted into a deep sleep.
"Harry wake up, it's almost time for Charms," Ron said, shaking Harry awake.
"Hmm? It's morning already?" Harry asked sleepily, trying to find his glasses.
"Yes, hurry, Marissa's already up!" Ron exclaimed.
"Is Hermione up yet?" Harry asked, yawning.
"I dunno." Ron shrugged.
"Ron, Hermione's been one of your best friends since first year and you just met Marissa a few days ago! What's wrong with you? You've been ignoring all your friends just for her, and frankly, she doesn't seem like that nice a person to me," Harry snapped, jamming his glasses onto his nose.
"I'm just being nice," Ron protested, glaring at Harry. "If you don't want to be nice to Marissa, that's fine with me, but I think Marissa's a nice person, and I want to have fun with her. You've got to admit Hermione's a bit of a stick in the mud." Suddenly the door, which had been open a crack, slammed, and the sound of someone sobbing drifted back to them.
"Hermione!" Harry groaned. "See what you've caused? Now you've hurt her feelings even more!"
"What'd you mean even more?" Ron asked foolishly.
"You've been ignoring her the whole time!" Harry exclaimed, grabbing his books and rushing out the door.
"I didn't mean to," Ron grumbled, but no was there to hear him.
Harry ran down into the Common Room to find Ginny glaring at him. "Harry, that was so mean! Why'd you talk about her behind her back, and with Ron!" she demanded.
"We weren't. Well, I wasn't! I was telling him off for ignoring her!" Harry said, exasperated.
"Oh, well, better catch up with her and tell her that, because she thinks you don't want to be her friend either. She went to Charms,`" Ginny said meekly, looking embarrassed.
"Thanks Ginny," Harry called as he ran out the portrait hole and ran smack into Hermione.
"Hermione, I was telling Ron to knock it off, but he was being an idiot," Harry wheezed.
"I know you were defending me Harry, thanks. Can we go to Charms before Ron comes? He's really getting on my nerves," Hermione declared loudly. Harry nodded and they set off for Charms. As they entered they saw Ron and Marissa sitting next to each other and Neville sitting two desks behind them. Ginny suddenly hurried in and took a seat next to Neville, who was delighted. Harry and Hermione took a seat behind Ginny and Neville so they didn't have to hear Ron's constant blabbing.
"TODAY WE ARE GOING TO PRACTICE THE SONORUS CHARM ON THE PERSON SITTING NEXT TO YOU!" Professor Flitwick's magically magnified voice bellowed.
"Sonorus!" Hermione yelled, pointing at Harry.
"HERMIONE, WHAT DID YOU DO THAT FOR?" Harry asked, his voice booming. Hermione giggled.
"Easy, now try it on me!" Hermione urged.
"SONORUS!" Harry said, shaking the whole room. Several people clapped their hands over their ears.
"CLASS, PUT ON THESE EARMUFFS AND THEN USE THE CHARM!" Professor Flitwick bellowed, handing out large blue fluffy ear muffs to each person.
Harry put them on and said "HERMIONE? IS YOUR VOICE LOUD YET?" but this time his voice sounded a lot quieter even to him; he supposed Professor Flitwick had magically fixed them.
"YES, CAN'T YOU TELL?" Hermion's magnified voice asked as she put on her earmuffs.
Harry nodded "BUT IT'S A GOOD THING WE'VE GOT THESE EAR MUFFS, OTHER WISE WE'D BE DEAF." Harry looked over to Marissa's and Ron's table, where they were laughing helplessly at Ginny, who'd had her voice shrunk till she could only speak in high squeaky tones after Neville had messed up the charm.
"HEY! OUT OF THE WAY STUDENTS, I'VE GOT TO HELP MS. WEASLEY HERE, OUT OF THE WAY," Professor ordered, rushing to Ginny.
"IT'S NOT FUNNY!" Hermione snapped, joining Ginny.
"YES IT IS!" Ron retorted, his magnified voice shaking with laughter. Harry glared at Marissa and Ron and went over to comfort Ginny. She began to cry, but Ron and Marissa kept laughing.
"QUIETUS," Hermione said, pointing to Ginny's throat, and her voice went back to normal. "Shrinko!" Hermione pointed her wand at Ron as she said this and suddenly Ron's voice shrank until his was higher than Ginny's. "Not so funny now, is it?" Hermione snapped.
"Enough, class! Miss Granger, I'm very disappointed in you! Sit down and use the charm Quietus to change your partner's voice back to normal," Professor Flitwick said, stooping over to help Ginny. "Class dismissed!" The class spilled out into the hall, Ron and Marissa weak from laughter.
"You're a slimy jerk, Ron!" Hermione snapped, pointing her wand at him.
"What?" Ron said, astounded.
"Can't you see how upset Ginny was? You really hurt her feelings, you jerk!" Hermione snapped. "I hope you drop dead, both of you!"
"Well, fine then, I don't care," Ron said huffily.
"She's really quite a bitch, isn't she, Harry?" Marissa asked, still giggling.
"No, and if anyone is acting that way, it's you," Harry said quietly, leaving Ron and Marissa in shock. He ran down the hall after Hermione. "Hermione?" She had already disappeared into a girl's bathroom. "Why is Ron being such a jerk?" he muttered to himself.
"I'm not," Ron said, walking up behind Harry.
"Yes, you are," Harry snapped. "Why are you being such a creep to Hermione? She's your best friend!"
"Not anymore. Hey, Harry, what'd you think about Marissa? You know, as a girlfriend, not just a friend," Ron asked.
"I think she'd be a horrible girlfriend for you Ron, it's not you. She's being a real jerk to Ginny and Hermione, and since you met her you've been acting like one, too," Harry replied.
"You're just jealous because for once little Ron Weasley will have something that famous Harry Potter doesn't, a cute girlfriend!" Ron said hotly, and he stalked off.
"What an idiot" Harry whispered, watching him go. "He's doing this because he's jealous?"
A/N: This chapter was where the Bitchy Sue remark comes into play, except she's not really a Sue, and I don't plan to make her one either!
~Misty~
by ~Misty~
This is my version of the fifth book, chapter four, this new chaptering deal makes it easier to read it all, please review! Thanks ~Misty~
It was the morning that Hogwarts was to begin, and everyone in the Weasley house was scrambling about preparing to leave. "Harry, I've got your trunk!" Mr. Weasley called. "I'm packing it in the car the Ministry provided for us!"
"I'll get Hedwig!" Harry called, dashing back up the stairs and bumping into Ginny. She blushed and continued running down the stairs. He darted into Ron's room and grabbed Hedwig's cage, then ran downstairs again, Hedwig screeching the whole way down.
"Have you got everything, Harry?" Mr. Weasley asked, his face haggard.
"Yes." Harry watched George and Fred try to push Ginny's trunk through the door.
"Geez, Ginny have you been making wood sculptures of Harry and stuffing them in your trunk?" Fred teased as they finally got it through the door.
Ginny's cheeks flamed. "No," she muttered, keeping her eyes on the ground.
"Or maybe clay sculptures! Or she could've hired a mason to carve a life size Harry out of stone," Fred joked. Ginny, blushing furiously, ran out of the room, her eyes on the floor.
"You don't have to tease her like that," Hermione scolded, sounding very annoyed. "She has a crush, that's all, and it's none of your business."
"Sorry, Herm-own-ninny," Fred said innocently. "I agree. It's not even like Ginny's the only one with a crush, now, is it?" He gave a loud cough that sounded very much like "Viktor".
"Oh, get over it!" Hermione snapped and walked out of the room, turning beet red just as Ginny had.
"Whoa! What's with her?" Ron asked as he walked into the room. "She seemed really upset."
"Oh, we were only discussing her love for Viktor," Fred said, grinning slyly as Ron's ears turned red.
"Well, I'd better help Ginny with the rest of her things," Ron announced, walking hastily from the room.
An hour later everyone was at the train station talking merrily at the upcoming year at Hogwarts, keeping well away from Muggles until they would have to leave.
"I wonder who the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor will be?" Hermione asked thoughtfully.
"Maybe Lupin will come back!" Ron said excitedly. "That would be great!"
"And impossible. Some people don't want a werewolf teaching their kids," Hermione reminded him, pursing her lips. "But I do wish he would come back, he was the best Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher we've ever had."
"Even better than Lockhart, Hermione?" George teased. Hermione stuck her nose in the air and ignored him. Professor Lockhart had been their Defense Against the Dark Arts professor in their second year, and the boys never let her forget her crush on him.
"Harry! Hermione! Ron! Over here!" a voice shouted from behind them. Marissa Underwood appeared breathless at Harry's side. "I've been looking everywhere for you, we just got here!"
"Oh, well we've been here for a bit, where's your Mum?" Harry asked.
"Oh, she's over there meeting Mr. Weasley, my dad got hung up at the Ministry again, I'm amazed your father got away!" Marissa exclaimed.
"Mom said she would disown him if he wasn't here," Ron said grinning.
"Oh Hogwarts is going to be so fun, isn't it?" Marissa said, swinging her arm casually around Ron's shoulders.
"Ah, yeah," Ron said.
"Humph," Hermione said, turning to Harry. "Let's go get on the train to get a good seat, Harry," and with that she marched through the crowd, wheeling her trolley over to the wall, followed by Ginny. Harry shrugged and followed her to the wall between platforms nine and ten.
"Oh there you are!" Mrs. Weasley said. "Let's get to that train now."
"Goodbye!" Mrs. Underwood cried as Harry and Hermione ran towards the wall, and suddenly they were panting in front of the scarlet Hogwarts Express.
"Lets go!" Hermione said sharply, tugging on Harry's arm.
"What about Ron and Marissa?" Harry asked.
"They're just fine on their own, Harry! They'll find us later!" Hermione said. "Come on." Harry shrugged and followed her over to a large tree where she stopped. "I don't know about you but I don't really feel like seeing Loverboy and Miss Perfect right now," Hermione muttered crossly.
"What? Who?" Harry asked, confused.
"Ron and Marissa!" Hermione said.
"Oh, they aren't…are they?" Harry was surprised; he didn't think Marissa would be the type of girl Ron would go for… then again, there was Fleur. But she was elegant, while Marissa was clumsy and talkative.
"Really? Well, Ginny, what classes are you taking this year?" Harry asked, trying to change the topic. But before Ginny could answer, another voice interrupted.
"There you are!" someone said behind them. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Ron, Marissa, Fred, and George rushed towards them.
"Great!" Hermione grumbled, "I'm going to find a compartment, bye Mrs. Weasley," Mrs. Weasley hugged her "And thank you for letting me stay with you!" Hermione added dashing off to the train.
"What's up with her?" Ron asked.
"I dunno," Harry answered confused.
"Oh my! Look at the time! Get on that train!" Mrs. Weasley ordered, hugging them all.
They dashed onto the train. Harry found Hermione first; she was in the last compartment of the train reading Hogwarts, a History for the fiftieth time. Ginny sat down next to her and Harry sat across from her, soon to be joined by Marissa.
"I think I'll more over there, more window light," Hermione muttered, moving to a dark corner at the very back of the compartment.
"Hi, scoot over Ginny," Ron said, plopping down on the seat next to Ginny. "So Marissa, what's your house like?" Marissa and Ron went into a deep conversation about her house, which turned into a discussion about Quidditch. Harry and Ginny just sat there, bored out of their minds listening. Harry went over to sit next to Hermione, followed by Ginny, who had a very annoyed look on her face. Ron had just been retelling the story he'd nearly been 'killed' by Sirius Black, even though he knew Sirius was innocent. Harry grew angry as he described how Sirius nearly decapitated him. He opened his mouth to say something and received a sharp kick in the shins from Hermione.
"Harry, don't! Remember, we're the only one's who know he's innocent, except for Ron, but he obviously would rather lie to impress Marissa than be a good friend," Hermione whispered warningly.
Harry nodded reluctantly, glaring at Ron. "He's got no right to make Sirius out as some monster!" he hissed angrily.
"I know, he's acting like a jerk, he has been ever since that eyelash-batting-dip showed up," Hermione snapped. Harry decided he'd better take a nap before Hermione bit his head off or Ron asked him to perform any dramatic parts of his story.
When Harry awoke Ron was still talking energetically about how he and Harry followed the spiders into the Forbidden Forest in their second year. Hermione was still reading but she had switched to one of Lockhart's books, Gadding with Ghouls. Ginny was asleep, her flaming red hair lighting up the compartment, and Ron was now laughing about how Marissa had fallen off her broom all the time when Harry had come over to her house.
"Hermione, how can you read in the dark!" Harry asked pulling the book away from her face and seeing the expression on her face. "What's the matter?"
"I just miss my Mom and Dad, I didn't get to see them before we left," Hermione said hastily, forcing a smile, but Harry wasn't convinced.
"Hermione, if something's bothering you…" Harry began.
"I'm fine!" Hermione snapped, waking Ginny up. She squinted her eyes and looked around sleepily.
"Are we almost there?" Ginny asked, stretching.
"Yup," Harry answered absentmindedly.
A few minutes later they were all outside wrapped their cloaks around themselves as tightly as possible to prevent any heat from escaping. "I'm freezing," Marissa said through chattering teeth.
"Here," Ron said giving her his cloak. Hermione scowled, and Marissa looked smug.
"Ooooooooooooooooh wow, we never had anything like this at my old school! Let's get in that carriage, Ron!" Marissa exclaimed as the horseless carriages that carried them to Hogwarts arrived. Hermione gritted her teeth and climbed in, followed by Harry. "Oh, sorry, Ginny, there's not enough room for you." Marissa smiled brightly as Ginny looked forlornly into the carriage.
"I'll go and sit with Fred and George," Ginny mumbled, walking away with her head down.
"That wasn't very nice Marissa, Ginny always sit with us," Hermione said, glaring at Marissa.
"Well, things change," Marissa said coldly. "If you want to sit with her so much, you can leave."
"All right, then, I will!" Hermione spat, stalking out of the carriage and casting a furious look at Marissa over her shoulder.
"Hey! There's no reason to get upset!" Ron said naively and Hermione looked away, hatred still burning in her eyes.
They soon arrived at the Great Hall. "First years this way, please," said a sharp voice, and they turned to find Professor McGonagall standing there. "You, Marissa, right with the first years." Everyone crowded into the large banquet hall where the Sorting would take place.
"Jenkins, Molly," Professor McGongall said. A short blonde girl with glasses stood up and walked over to a stool on which lay an old frayed hat, the Sorting Hat. Molly put it on and it immediately shouted…
"HUFFELPUFF!"
"Silver, Topaz." A tall, pretty girl with long reddish-brown hair walked up to the hat and plopped it on her head.
"SLYTHERIN!"
"Brown, Gregory," Professor McGonagall called out, and a chubby redhaired boy walked up to the stool and placed the hat on his head.
"GRYFFINDOR!" The hat shouted once again.
"Green, Veronica," Professor McGonagall said loudly. A tall girl with black hair walked up, an unpleasant smirk on her face. She sat on the stool and placed the hat on her head.
"SLYTHERIN!" The hat called out. Veronica strolled back to the Slytherin table, looking quite smug. After that 'Johnson, Mary' was the first to join Ravenclaw and then 'Jacobs, Linda" was placed in placed in Gryffindor. After all of the first years' names were called, Professor McGonagall cleared her throat loudly.
"I have a new fifth year student to introduce you to. Marissa Underwood, please come up here to be sorted as one of the fifth years," Professor McGonagall said. Marissa walked energetically to the stool and placed the hat on her head. The hat was silent for awhile when suddenly Marissa grabbed it off and crammed it back on. Suddenly her wand clattered to the floor.
"OOPS!" Marissa yelled, and picked it back up.
"GRYFFINDOR!" The hat shouted somewhat oddly, as if it had a sore throat.
Many people glanced around, unsure of what to do, but Professor McGonagall started clapping, so everyone else began clapping too. After a feeble applause Marissa sat down between Ron and Hermione as the food began appearing on the golden plates at the table.
"That was fun, wasn't it, Ron?" she asked, helping herself to everything in reach. After a half an hour Harry was full of blueberry pie and steak and mashed potatoes but he still wanted to stay for Dumbledore's speech.
Hermione stood up abruptly. "I'm tired, I'm going to bed. I'll get the password from a prefect."
"I'm going with Hermione," Ginny said, running after her.
"Ron, you know you're kind of acting like a jerk to Hermione," Harry murmured to him.
"Hmmmm? Where'd she go off to?" Ron asked, uninterested.
"To the Common Room. What's up with you, anyway, Ron?" Harry demanded.
"Nothing," Ron answered. "Leave me alone!"
Harry stared at him for a moment, then shoved his chair back and stormed away. Ron didn't even seem to notice. As he reached the Common Room, Harry realized that he didn't know the password.
"Hermione? Can you hear me? What's the password?" Harry yelled, pounding on the wall beside the portrait of the Fat Lady.
"Hey? Who? What?" The Fat Lady asked sleepily. "Oh, it's you. Well, if you don't know the password you'll have to wait." Harry slumped against the wall, hoping someone would come soon. A half an hour later Parvti Patil and Lavendar Brown came up.
"Hey, can you tell me what the password is?" Harry asked.
"Oh, the password is 'Jelly Slugs'. Have you been waiting here for a long time?" Parvati asked, looking amused.
"Not that long," Harry said irritably as he got to his feet. The Fat Lady swung open to admit them. Hermione was nowhere to be seen, so Harry decided to go up to his dormitory. He trudged up the stairs and went in.
Harry found his luggage and Hedwig's cage, lying on his old bed. Harry began to unpack when he saw the water globe Marissa had given him. He wound it and set it carefully on the nightstand beside his bed. He listened carefully to the words, lying on his bed with his head on his arms, and soon drifted into a deep sleep.
"Harry wake up, it's almost time for Charms," Ron said, shaking Harry awake.
"Hmm? It's morning already?" Harry asked sleepily, trying to find his glasses.
"Yes, hurry, Marissa's already up!" Ron exclaimed.
"Is Hermione up yet?" Harry asked, yawning.
"I dunno." Ron shrugged.
"Ron, Hermione's been one of your best friends since first year and you just met Marissa a few days ago! What's wrong with you? You've been ignoring all your friends just for her, and frankly, she doesn't seem like that nice a person to me," Harry snapped, jamming his glasses onto his nose.
"I'm just being nice," Ron protested, glaring at Harry. "If you don't want to be nice to Marissa, that's fine with me, but I think Marissa's a nice person, and I want to have fun with her. You've got to admit Hermione's a bit of a stick in the mud." Suddenly the door, which had been open a crack, slammed, and the sound of someone sobbing drifted back to them.
"Hermione!" Harry groaned. "See what you've caused? Now you've hurt her feelings even more!"
"What'd you mean even more?" Ron asked foolishly.
"You've been ignoring her the whole time!" Harry exclaimed, grabbing his books and rushing out the door.
"I didn't mean to," Ron grumbled, but no was there to hear him.
Harry ran down into the Common Room to find Ginny glaring at him. "Harry, that was so mean! Why'd you talk about her behind her back, and with Ron!" she demanded.
"We weren't. Well, I wasn't! I was telling him off for ignoring her!" Harry said, exasperated.
"Oh, well, better catch up with her and tell her that, because she thinks you don't want to be her friend either. She went to Charms,`" Ginny said meekly, looking embarrassed.
"Thanks Ginny," Harry called as he ran out the portrait hole and ran smack into Hermione.
"Hermione, I was telling Ron to knock it off, but he was being an idiot," Harry wheezed.
"I know you were defending me Harry, thanks. Can we go to Charms before Ron comes? He's really getting on my nerves," Hermione declared loudly. Harry nodded and they set off for Charms. As they entered they saw Ron and Marissa sitting next to each other and Neville sitting two desks behind them. Ginny suddenly hurried in and took a seat next to Neville, who was delighted. Harry and Hermione took a seat behind Ginny and Neville so they didn't have to hear Ron's constant blabbing.
"TODAY WE ARE GOING TO PRACTICE THE SONORUS CHARM ON THE PERSON SITTING NEXT TO YOU!" Professor Flitwick's magically magnified voice bellowed.
"Sonorus!" Hermione yelled, pointing at Harry.
"HERMIONE, WHAT DID YOU DO THAT FOR?" Harry asked, his voice booming. Hermione giggled.
"Easy, now try it on me!" Hermione urged.
"SONORUS!" Harry said, shaking the whole room. Several people clapped their hands over their ears.
"CLASS, PUT ON THESE EARMUFFS AND THEN USE THE CHARM!" Professor Flitwick bellowed, handing out large blue fluffy ear muffs to each person.
Harry put them on and said "HERMIONE? IS YOUR VOICE LOUD YET?" but this time his voice sounded a lot quieter even to him; he supposed Professor Flitwick had magically fixed them.
"YES, CAN'T YOU TELL?" Hermion's magnified voice asked as she put on her earmuffs.
Harry nodded "BUT IT'S A GOOD THING WE'VE GOT THESE EAR MUFFS, OTHER WISE WE'D BE DEAF." Harry looked over to Marissa's and Ron's table, where they were laughing helplessly at Ginny, who'd had her voice shrunk till she could only speak in high squeaky tones after Neville had messed up the charm.
"HEY! OUT OF THE WAY STUDENTS, I'VE GOT TO HELP MS. WEASLEY HERE, OUT OF THE WAY," Professor ordered, rushing to Ginny.
"IT'S NOT FUNNY!" Hermione snapped, joining Ginny.
"YES IT IS!" Ron retorted, his magnified voice shaking with laughter. Harry glared at Marissa and Ron and went over to comfort Ginny. She began to cry, but Ron and Marissa kept laughing.
"QUIETUS," Hermione said, pointing to Ginny's throat, and her voice went back to normal. "Shrinko!" Hermione pointed her wand at Ron as she said this and suddenly Ron's voice shrank until his was higher than Ginny's. "Not so funny now, is it?" Hermione snapped.
"Enough, class! Miss Granger, I'm very disappointed in you! Sit down and use the charm Quietus to change your partner's voice back to normal," Professor Flitwick said, stooping over to help Ginny. "Class dismissed!" The class spilled out into the hall, Ron and Marissa weak from laughter.
"You're a slimy jerk, Ron!" Hermione snapped, pointing her wand at him.
"What?" Ron said, astounded.
"Can't you see how upset Ginny was? You really hurt her feelings, you jerk!" Hermione snapped. "I hope you drop dead, both of you!"
"Well, fine then, I don't care," Ron said huffily.
"She's really quite a bitch, isn't she, Harry?" Marissa asked, still giggling.
"No, and if anyone is acting that way, it's you," Harry said quietly, leaving Ron and Marissa in shock. He ran down the hall after Hermione. "Hermione?" She had already disappeared into a girl's bathroom. "Why is Ron being such a jerk?" he muttered to himself.
"I'm not," Ron said, walking up behind Harry.
"Yes, you are," Harry snapped. "Why are you being such a creep to Hermione? She's your best friend!"
"Not anymore. Hey, Harry, what'd you think about Marissa? You know, as a girlfriend, not just a friend," Ron asked.
"I think she'd be a horrible girlfriend for you Ron, it's not you. She's being a real jerk to Ginny and Hermione, and since you met her you've been acting like one, too," Harry replied.
"You're just jealous because for once little Ron Weasley will have something that famous Harry Potter doesn't, a cute girlfriend!" Ron said hotly, and he stalked off.
"What an idiot" Harry whispered, watching him go. "He's doing this because he's jealous?"
A/N: This chapter was where the Bitchy Sue remark comes into play, except she's not really a Sue, and I don't plan to make her one either!
~Misty~