Paint the Sky with Stars
--by Egon Starcollector
Disclaimer: Don't sue, don't sue! I don't own anything but my computer-- and I wouldn't guarantee that some days. :)
Author's Note: I never could spell "Weasley." Whoops.
Stacy was a bit concerned. She hadn't heard from her mother since she'd come to London. After Potions--she wondered what had crawled up Snape's...well, nevermind--she stopped at the owlery to find Andromeda. "There you are, Andi...come to Mommy...." The horned owl flew gracefully to Stacy's shoulder. She held out her leg and Stacy attached the letter she'd written to her mother before breakfast. "Now take that to your grandma, okay?" Stacy regarded the owl rather as a daughter, so naturally Rebecca McIvers would have been "Grandma." Andromeda hooted, nipped Stacy affectionately, and flew out the window.
*Let's see, now...Herbology. Yay. I'll probably need to call on that dark-haired guy within a week. Muggle Studies--have to have an "Easy A" somewhere,* she thought with a smirk. *Lunch. History of Magic. Sounds like the whole house is in that one, too. Arithmancy; I think Hermione and I are among the few taking that.. Double Astronomy--that's with...uh-oh. Jason? Justin? Jeremy? Joshua? Well...the Eye Candy, at any rate.* She made her way to the greenhouse, hoping there wouldn't be a repeat of that embarassing incident in fourth year when the mandrakes saw her coming and committed suicide.
She found herself working with Neville, the Herbology whiz, and--the Eye Candy. "Oh hello!" he said brightly when he saw her. "How's your first day at Hogwarts going?"
"Quite well so far--well, aside from Potions. Snape needs to quit starching his boxers." At this, the Eye Candy blushed and Neville nearly went into spasms. However, they were both laughing. "Dumb question, guys: what *is* this?" She stared down at the plainest plant she had ever seen. Its leaves and stem were a nondescript gray-green. It had brown flowers that looked like dried leaves.
"It's often called a 'cologne flower,'" explained Neville. "It's deceptively plain, but it produces the most beautiful perfume in the world."
"Precisely, Mr. Longbottom," declared Professor Sprout. "Furthermore, its stem produces a primary ingredient in many sleeping potions. You will be extracting both compounds...." Professor Sprout droned on and on, while Stacy silently prayed that she wouldn't screw up too badly.
Neville and the Eye Candy--Justin, she thought his name was--were both very patient and helpful. Neville kept reassuring her that she didn't need to be afraid of plants that didn't have teeth, which made her giggle. And then something happened that nearly made her heart stop.
"Here, watch how you're cutting. You'll bruise the stems," the Eye Candy said in a soft, soothing voice. "Like this." He gently rested his hand on top of her hand and showed her the proper way to cut the plant apart. "You really are nervous, aren't you?"
"Very. I've always been so bad at this...."
"You're doing fine," he said, still helping her cut. He was behind her, almost leaning against her back. He was only an inch or two taller than she was, so his breath was warm on her ear. He smelled...he smelled like the breeze on a summer night, she decided: soothing and cool with the essence of growing things. He leaned closer, and she almost thought she could feel his heart beat...or was that hers?
*Stacy, what is WRONG with you?* she chided herself. *Concentrate!* She was...but not, it seemed, on the cologne flower.
Stacy was rather disgruntled the rest of the day. She couldn't understand her reaction in Herbology. *Nerves,* she told herself.
Finally, it was time for Double Astronomy. "Just don't think about earlier, and everything will be fine," she whispered to her reflection in the girls' room mirror. "You were just nervous--and it's not like people to invade your space like that."
She made her way up to the top of the Astronomy Tower and sat down. So far, she was the only one there. She wondered if she might have a moment to read 'David Copperfield'....
Just then, the door opened and the Eye Candy came bounding in. "Hello again!"
"Hello."
"Just get here?"
"Um, yes."
"Did you look around at all? It's really a marvelous place. Come look over here!"
*What is this, Follow the Bouncing Eye Candy?* she wondered as she tried to trace his trajectory around the room. *Just how much sugar has he HAD?* She made her way over to the window, trying not to make it obvious that she was afraid to get too close to the human dynamo he'd become.
"Look! Isn't that a lovely view?" Stacy looked out the window and gasped. She could see all the grounds from here...and overhead, the stars glittered so brightly they seemed to be dancing.
"It's...oh my...."
"I know."
"A-hem!" They both spun around to see a wizened old man standing in the doorway. His robes seemed far too big for him, and his face looked like a dried apple. "Getting a jump on the course?" he said with a warm smile.
The Eye Candy blushed a little. "Just showing Stacy around a bit, Professor Jupiter."
"Ah yes...Miss McIvers, the new transfer. I am Professor Jupiter. I see you and Justin already know each other. Now, would you please take your seats?"
Justin. That was his name. Stacy willed herself to remember it.
It was a very pleasant class. Professor Jupiter knew his subject well, and he was a very funny lecturer. Justin, for his part, was a charming companion once he warmed up a bit--and Astronomy seemed to be just the thing to warm him up. He seemed surprised to find that Stacy was as enthusiastic about the class as he was.
"Well, it seems you were right. Mostly independent study."
"Oh yes. It's easier on Professor Jupiter that way. After all, with only two students, why bother with a lot of formality?"
"That's true."
They chatted all the way to the Great Hall, then stood outside the doors for a minute, still talking. They had to keep moving out of the way of the crush of students, resulting in a rather awkward moment when Stacy unexpectedly found herself in Justin's arms.
"I suppose we probably should go in to supper...."
"Yes, I suppose you're right...."
"I...guess I'll see you in Herbology then?"
"You got it!" She winked at him, and he smiled warmly at her.
As they made their way into the Hall--"Oof!" Stacy suddenly found herself sprawled on the floor. A group of Slytherins led by a platinum- haired boy--apparently the one who'd tripped her--laughed all the way to their table. "That was completely random and pointless."
"Are you all right?" Justin was kneeling at her side, trying to help her up. "Draco had no right to do that to you."
"From what I hear about Slytherins, I'm not surprised. I guess I'm okay; just shaken up." Justin helped her stand, then walked her to a seat by Hermione.
"You be careful."
"I'm always careful. Don't you worry," she said, grinning at him before turning to face her housemates.
--by Egon Starcollector
Disclaimer: Don't sue, don't sue! I don't own anything but my computer-- and I wouldn't guarantee that some days. :)
Author's Note: I never could spell "Weasley." Whoops.
Stacy was a bit concerned. She hadn't heard from her mother since she'd come to London. After Potions--she wondered what had crawled up Snape's...well, nevermind--she stopped at the owlery to find Andromeda. "There you are, Andi...come to Mommy...." The horned owl flew gracefully to Stacy's shoulder. She held out her leg and Stacy attached the letter she'd written to her mother before breakfast. "Now take that to your grandma, okay?" Stacy regarded the owl rather as a daughter, so naturally Rebecca McIvers would have been "Grandma." Andromeda hooted, nipped Stacy affectionately, and flew out the window.
*Let's see, now...Herbology. Yay. I'll probably need to call on that dark-haired guy within a week. Muggle Studies--have to have an "Easy A" somewhere,* she thought with a smirk. *Lunch. History of Magic. Sounds like the whole house is in that one, too. Arithmancy; I think Hermione and I are among the few taking that.. Double Astronomy--that's with...uh-oh. Jason? Justin? Jeremy? Joshua? Well...the Eye Candy, at any rate.* She made her way to the greenhouse, hoping there wouldn't be a repeat of that embarassing incident in fourth year when the mandrakes saw her coming and committed suicide.
She found herself working with Neville, the Herbology whiz, and--the Eye Candy. "Oh hello!" he said brightly when he saw her. "How's your first day at Hogwarts going?"
"Quite well so far--well, aside from Potions. Snape needs to quit starching his boxers." At this, the Eye Candy blushed and Neville nearly went into spasms. However, they were both laughing. "Dumb question, guys: what *is* this?" She stared down at the plainest plant she had ever seen. Its leaves and stem were a nondescript gray-green. It had brown flowers that looked like dried leaves.
"It's often called a 'cologne flower,'" explained Neville. "It's deceptively plain, but it produces the most beautiful perfume in the world."
"Precisely, Mr. Longbottom," declared Professor Sprout. "Furthermore, its stem produces a primary ingredient in many sleeping potions. You will be extracting both compounds...." Professor Sprout droned on and on, while Stacy silently prayed that she wouldn't screw up too badly.
Neville and the Eye Candy--Justin, she thought his name was--were both very patient and helpful. Neville kept reassuring her that she didn't need to be afraid of plants that didn't have teeth, which made her giggle. And then something happened that nearly made her heart stop.
"Here, watch how you're cutting. You'll bruise the stems," the Eye Candy said in a soft, soothing voice. "Like this." He gently rested his hand on top of her hand and showed her the proper way to cut the plant apart. "You really are nervous, aren't you?"
"Very. I've always been so bad at this...."
"You're doing fine," he said, still helping her cut. He was behind her, almost leaning against her back. He was only an inch or two taller than she was, so his breath was warm on her ear. He smelled...he smelled like the breeze on a summer night, she decided: soothing and cool with the essence of growing things. He leaned closer, and she almost thought she could feel his heart beat...or was that hers?
*Stacy, what is WRONG with you?* she chided herself. *Concentrate!* She was...but not, it seemed, on the cologne flower.
Stacy was rather disgruntled the rest of the day. She couldn't understand her reaction in Herbology. *Nerves,* she told herself.
Finally, it was time for Double Astronomy. "Just don't think about earlier, and everything will be fine," she whispered to her reflection in the girls' room mirror. "You were just nervous--and it's not like people to invade your space like that."
She made her way up to the top of the Astronomy Tower and sat down. So far, she was the only one there. She wondered if she might have a moment to read 'David Copperfield'....
Just then, the door opened and the Eye Candy came bounding in. "Hello again!"
"Hello."
"Just get here?"
"Um, yes."
"Did you look around at all? It's really a marvelous place. Come look over here!"
*What is this, Follow the Bouncing Eye Candy?* she wondered as she tried to trace his trajectory around the room. *Just how much sugar has he HAD?* She made her way over to the window, trying not to make it obvious that she was afraid to get too close to the human dynamo he'd become.
"Look! Isn't that a lovely view?" Stacy looked out the window and gasped. She could see all the grounds from here...and overhead, the stars glittered so brightly they seemed to be dancing.
"It's...oh my...."
"I know."
"A-hem!" They both spun around to see a wizened old man standing in the doorway. His robes seemed far too big for him, and his face looked like a dried apple. "Getting a jump on the course?" he said with a warm smile.
The Eye Candy blushed a little. "Just showing Stacy around a bit, Professor Jupiter."
"Ah yes...Miss McIvers, the new transfer. I am Professor Jupiter. I see you and Justin already know each other. Now, would you please take your seats?"
Justin. That was his name. Stacy willed herself to remember it.
It was a very pleasant class. Professor Jupiter knew his subject well, and he was a very funny lecturer. Justin, for his part, was a charming companion once he warmed up a bit--and Astronomy seemed to be just the thing to warm him up. He seemed surprised to find that Stacy was as enthusiastic about the class as he was.
"Well, it seems you were right. Mostly independent study."
"Oh yes. It's easier on Professor Jupiter that way. After all, with only two students, why bother with a lot of formality?"
"That's true."
They chatted all the way to the Great Hall, then stood outside the doors for a minute, still talking. They had to keep moving out of the way of the crush of students, resulting in a rather awkward moment when Stacy unexpectedly found herself in Justin's arms.
"I suppose we probably should go in to supper...."
"Yes, I suppose you're right...."
"I...guess I'll see you in Herbology then?"
"You got it!" She winked at him, and he smiled warmly at her.
As they made their way into the Hall--"Oof!" Stacy suddenly found herself sprawled on the floor. A group of Slytherins led by a platinum- haired boy--apparently the one who'd tripped her--laughed all the way to their table. "That was completely random and pointless."
"Are you all right?" Justin was kneeling at her side, trying to help her up. "Draco had no right to do that to you."
"From what I hear about Slytherins, I'm not surprised. I guess I'm okay; just shaken up." Justin helped her stand, then walked her to a seat by Hermione.
"You be careful."
"I'm always careful. Don't you worry," she said, grinning at him before turning to face her housemates.