Please review! I know there are so many HP fics and so little time---but
the effort is much appreciated.
She Said She Said
Chapter 3
~*~
Layla was sitting on the grass at lunch, scratching Fantasia behind her ears. The girl was impressed with how well the kitten had taken to her new home. Fantasia hadn't gotten into any rows with any other animals, nor had she gotten herself lost. Layla smiled, realizing her pet was doing better than she was in her first year.
Interrupting her train of thought was a tall, lean Asian boy about her age. "Layla!" He called.
Fantasia rolled herself to see him. When he neared her, the kitten batted the bottoms of his robes playfully. The boy looked down and smiled, bemused.
"Hey, Saucepan."
"Hi," Saucepan replied. "D'you mind if I join you?" He asked, looking down at the ground next to Layla. The girl shook her head.
"Not at all," She said. The boy sat Indian-style. "How's school been for you?"
The boy shrugged. "It's been fine. I like all my classes, and I've met new people."
Layla nodded. "That's always good."
"Mmhm," The boy replied. "Hey, I heard you talked to Harry Potter on the train."
Layla picked Fantasia up and set the animal in her lap. "Yeah, he and his friend Ron Weasley sat with me. The train was filled, my car was the only one left."
Saucepan nodded. "Well I've got him in one of my classes and I was paired with him for a group activity. He says you were very polite. And intelligent," He said, grinning. Layla gave him a sidelong look, chuckling slightly.
"Did he autograph your forehead for you?" She said sarcastically. His smile faded for a second, then he rolled his eyes.
"Layla, don't act like you weren't excited to meet him. And he seemed to really like you," Saucepan welcomed Fantasia onto his lap and began rubbing her belly.
"I'm always glad when someone likes me, Saucepan. But if he had been anyone else, like Harry's friend, or anyone, it would've been easy conversation. People like Potter, you never expect to see them any less than 3,000 feet tall, you just don't." Layla explained.
Saucepan laughed. "You're a genius, Layla."
The girl shrugged and smiled.
"But I don't see him as a God or anything. He has done a lot, you have to admit. But he was approachable."
"Well, I wouldn't know. See, he was the one to approach me," The girl said, trying to look serious, but a grin tugged at the sides of her mouth.
"Right," Saucepan said. The two students spent the rest of the lunch period talking casually about their classes.
~*~
Meanwhile, in the Great Hall, the three Gryffindor 5th-years were eating their meals.
"And I know my new Advanced Herbology 6 teacher likes me, I finished a week's worth of work in the end of a class period---"
Ron temporarily gave up trying to sound interested in the summary of Hermione's day to glance at his friend. Harry was sitting, turned slightly away from them, with his head resting on his hand. He was staring at the table, his expression one of borderline-daydreaming.
"Oi 'arry," He said, nudging his fellow Gryffindor. Harry looked up and blinked.
"Wha?" He said groggily.
"What's the matter with you? You look tired or something," Ron observed.
Harry shrugged and switched from his right to left arm to lean on. "I've been kept up with these dreams lately. About a girl, but not wetdreams." He said absent-mindedly. Hermione raised her eyebrows. Ron glanced at her apologetically.
"Which girl?" Ron asked.
"Well, I think it's that Layla girl we met on the train," Harry told him. Ron frowned.
"The fourth-year?" He asked. Harry nodded. "Well she was sort of pretty, I guess. Why would they keep you up, though?"
Harry shook his head. "I really don't know. The odd thing is, the first of my dreams about her were about a week before school started. . .and they just always wake me up. D'you think it's any reason to worry?"
"Maybe you should talk to her," Hermione suggested. "You do have strong powers, Harry. Dreaming of little things like that to come in the future, well, it's probably natural to a wizard as great as you are."
Harry nodded. "I'll try talking to her. It's just that---my dreams get longer each time. At first I see her in a room looking out the window at a full moon, then she turns to look at me, then I follow her through some sort of chamber door. . .that's all that's happened so far."
"Maybe 'Mione could fix you a nice potion to help you sleep, and the dream will finish," Ron said. Hermione nodded.
"Sure, that'd be great," Harry rubbed his eyes. "I'll look into talking to her, anyway, though."
~*~
It was around eight o'clock, just after dinner, which Layla had spent in her room.
Layla was grateful for the private rooms the 4th years had been awarded recently. It wasn't huge, but had space for a bed, Fantasia's foodbowls, a chest and a desk. She had decorated it with mostly purple things and a few posters. She had brought a miniature bookcase filled with novels she intended to read during the year. She stepped to the mirror she had hung on her wall to check the eyeliner she had put halfway across her blue eyes.
Fantasia abandoned her perch on the girl's desk to brush herself against her leg. Layla looked down and smiled. "Whassa kitty doing?"
The kitten purred loudly and rolled over playfully. "You want some food?" Layla walked over to the cat's foodbowls, bending down to refill them. After she had poured the water and reached for the catfood box, she found it was close to empty. "Shit, I just bought this," She shook the box, making the contents shake. Fantasia mewed and Layla obliged, pouring the remaining pieces of food into the bowl. "You better not eat too much, or you'll get fat."
Layla placed the empty box back on the floor and stood up. "And Layla will be broke."
She ran her hands through her hair and stretched.
"I could get you more catfood if you needed," A deep voice from behind her said.
Layla jumped and made a startled noise. She turned around to find herself face-to-face with Harry Potter. The 4th-year smiled, confused.
"Hello," She said, cocking an eyebrow.
"Hi," Harry replied.
"Welcome to my room," Layla said. "And to what do I owe this honor?"
Harry laughed and looked at his feet. "I just wanted to talk, I guess. Should I leave?"
Layla smiled and shook her head. "No, it's fine. I like company," She said, pulling out her desk chair for Harry. He sat down and nodded a thanks. Layla sat cross-legged on the across from him.
Harry cleared his throat. "Anyway, I could get you some more cat food, if you need it. . . "
Layla shook her head. "It's fine, I just need to get off my lazy ass to get it."
"I could go with you, if you wanted," Harry offered, finding himself more nervous than he had anticipated.
Layla smiled. "That might be fun."
Harry nodded. "Anyway, I just wanted to come and talk to you, I---I don't really know about w-what. . ." the boy stuttered. Layla laughed.
"Anything's fine. I like talking to new people. It makes me think there's hope for the world. See. . ." she said, sliding off of her bed and walking across the room to her window. "There are two things I feel people need to do more often: they need to think for themselves and they need to learn how to support their arguments."
Harry studied her curiously. "You seem opinionated."
Layla looked back at him. "Oh, no, I didn't mean it offensively---"
"Oh, don't worry about it. I take that as a compliment. I'm even flattered that people are listening. Makes me think all my jabbering isn't such a pointless investment of my time. Can you dig it?"
Harry nodded, "I dig it."
Layla laughed, "I knew thatchew could."
"I don't think you waste your time at all in talking," Harry continued. "A lot of people think you're a genius, and I'm finding myself one of them."
For the first time since Harry had met her, Layla seemed at a loss for words. "Why, thank you, Harry."
Harry smiled, realizing she had been truly touched by his compliment. The two sat in silence for a few moments before Harry stood.
"I should go now. . .how about we look into that cat food tomorrow afternoon, after classes let out?"
Layla nodded. "I'd love that."
Harry smiled before he turned to leave. Layla stood staring at the door for a while after he had left, until Fantasia whined for some attention.
She Said She Said
Chapter 3
~*~
Layla was sitting on the grass at lunch, scratching Fantasia behind her ears. The girl was impressed with how well the kitten had taken to her new home. Fantasia hadn't gotten into any rows with any other animals, nor had she gotten herself lost. Layla smiled, realizing her pet was doing better than she was in her first year.
Interrupting her train of thought was a tall, lean Asian boy about her age. "Layla!" He called.
Fantasia rolled herself to see him. When he neared her, the kitten batted the bottoms of his robes playfully. The boy looked down and smiled, bemused.
"Hey, Saucepan."
"Hi," Saucepan replied. "D'you mind if I join you?" He asked, looking down at the ground next to Layla. The girl shook her head.
"Not at all," She said. The boy sat Indian-style. "How's school been for you?"
The boy shrugged. "It's been fine. I like all my classes, and I've met new people."
Layla nodded. "That's always good."
"Mmhm," The boy replied. "Hey, I heard you talked to Harry Potter on the train."
Layla picked Fantasia up and set the animal in her lap. "Yeah, he and his friend Ron Weasley sat with me. The train was filled, my car was the only one left."
Saucepan nodded. "Well I've got him in one of my classes and I was paired with him for a group activity. He says you were very polite. And intelligent," He said, grinning. Layla gave him a sidelong look, chuckling slightly.
"Did he autograph your forehead for you?" She said sarcastically. His smile faded for a second, then he rolled his eyes.
"Layla, don't act like you weren't excited to meet him. And he seemed to really like you," Saucepan welcomed Fantasia onto his lap and began rubbing her belly.
"I'm always glad when someone likes me, Saucepan. But if he had been anyone else, like Harry's friend, or anyone, it would've been easy conversation. People like Potter, you never expect to see them any less than 3,000 feet tall, you just don't." Layla explained.
Saucepan laughed. "You're a genius, Layla."
The girl shrugged and smiled.
"But I don't see him as a God or anything. He has done a lot, you have to admit. But he was approachable."
"Well, I wouldn't know. See, he was the one to approach me," The girl said, trying to look serious, but a grin tugged at the sides of her mouth.
"Right," Saucepan said. The two students spent the rest of the lunch period talking casually about their classes.
~*~
Meanwhile, in the Great Hall, the three Gryffindor 5th-years were eating their meals.
"And I know my new Advanced Herbology 6 teacher likes me, I finished a week's worth of work in the end of a class period---"
Ron temporarily gave up trying to sound interested in the summary of Hermione's day to glance at his friend. Harry was sitting, turned slightly away from them, with his head resting on his hand. He was staring at the table, his expression one of borderline-daydreaming.
"Oi 'arry," He said, nudging his fellow Gryffindor. Harry looked up and blinked.
"Wha?" He said groggily.
"What's the matter with you? You look tired or something," Ron observed.
Harry shrugged and switched from his right to left arm to lean on. "I've been kept up with these dreams lately. About a girl, but not wetdreams." He said absent-mindedly. Hermione raised her eyebrows. Ron glanced at her apologetically.
"Which girl?" Ron asked.
"Well, I think it's that Layla girl we met on the train," Harry told him. Ron frowned.
"The fourth-year?" He asked. Harry nodded. "Well she was sort of pretty, I guess. Why would they keep you up, though?"
Harry shook his head. "I really don't know. The odd thing is, the first of my dreams about her were about a week before school started. . .and they just always wake me up. D'you think it's any reason to worry?"
"Maybe you should talk to her," Hermione suggested. "You do have strong powers, Harry. Dreaming of little things like that to come in the future, well, it's probably natural to a wizard as great as you are."
Harry nodded. "I'll try talking to her. It's just that---my dreams get longer each time. At first I see her in a room looking out the window at a full moon, then she turns to look at me, then I follow her through some sort of chamber door. . .that's all that's happened so far."
"Maybe 'Mione could fix you a nice potion to help you sleep, and the dream will finish," Ron said. Hermione nodded.
"Sure, that'd be great," Harry rubbed his eyes. "I'll look into talking to her, anyway, though."
~*~
It was around eight o'clock, just after dinner, which Layla had spent in her room.
Layla was grateful for the private rooms the 4th years had been awarded recently. It wasn't huge, but had space for a bed, Fantasia's foodbowls, a chest and a desk. She had decorated it with mostly purple things and a few posters. She had brought a miniature bookcase filled with novels she intended to read during the year. She stepped to the mirror she had hung on her wall to check the eyeliner she had put halfway across her blue eyes.
Fantasia abandoned her perch on the girl's desk to brush herself against her leg. Layla looked down and smiled. "Whassa kitty doing?"
The kitten purred loudly and rolled over playfully. "You want some food?" Layla walked over to the cat's foodbowls, bending down to refill them. After she had poured the water and reached for the catfood box, she found it was close to empty. "Shit, I just bought this," She shook the box, making the contents shake. Fantasia mewed and Layla obliged, pouring the remaining pieces of food into the bowl. "You better not eat too much, or you'll get fat."
Layla placed the empty box back on the floor and stood up. "And Layla will be broke."
She ran her hands through her hair and stretched.
"I could get you more catfood if you needed," A deep voice from behind her said.
Layla jumped and made a startled noise. She turned around to find herself face-to-face with Harry Potter. The 4th-year smiled, confused.
"Hello," She said, cocking an eyebrow.
"Hi," Harry replied.
"Welcome to my room," Layla said. "And to what do I owe this honor?"
Harry laughed and looked at his feet. "I just wanted to talk, I guess. Should I leave?"
Layla smiled and shook her head. "No, it's fine. I like company," She said, pulling out her desk chair for Harry. He sat down and nodded a thanks. Layla sat cross-legged on the across from him.
Harry cleared his throat. "Anyway, I could get you some more cat food, if you need it. . . "
Layla shook her head. "It's fine, I just need to get off my lazy ass to get it."
"I could go with you, if you wanted," Harry offered, finding himself more nervous than he had anticipated.
Layla smiled. "That might be fun."
Harry nodded. "Anyway, I just wanted to come and talk to you, I---I don't really know about w-what. . ." the boy stuttered. Layla laughed.
"Anything's fine. I like talking to new people. It makes me think there's hope for the world. See. . ." she said, sliding off of her bed and walking across the room to her window. "There are two things I feel people need to do more often: they need to think for themselves and they need to learn how to support their arguments."
Harry studied her curiously. "You seem opinionated."
Layla looked back at him. "Oh, no, I didn't mean it offensively---"
"Oh, don't worry about it. I take that as a compliment. I'm even flattered that people are listening. Makes me think all my jabbering isn't such a pointless investment of my time. Can you dig it?"
Harry nodded, "I dig it."
Layla laughed, "I knew thatchew could."
"I don't think you waste your time at all in talking," Harry continued. "A lot of people think you're a genius, and I'm finding myself one of them."
For the first time since Harry had met her, Layla seemed at a loss for words. "Why, thank you, Harry."
Harry smiled, realizing she had been truly touched by his compliment. The two sat in silence for a few moments before Harry stood.
"I should go now. . .how about we look into that cat food tomorrow afternoon, after classes let out?"
Layla nodded. "I'd love that."
Harry smiled before he turned to leave. Layla stood staring at the door for a while after he had left, until Fantasia whined for some attention.