Author's Note: I'd like to say THANK YOU SO MUCH to Aniron (Emma) for being
my very first reviewer! Yay! Twilight Star is an incredibly awesome
story, and yeah, you do need to write a Harry Potter fanfic. Adam (if you
ever actually make it to Chapter Six): You HAVE to read Harry Potter for
this to make sense. GO READ! Also thanks to Sarah, my wonderful beta, and
Joyce, who puts up with my meaningless chatter as I type.
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Disclaimer: Don't have one yet!
CHAPTER SIX: The Hair-Dying Hex
"What's wrong, Riley?" Hermione shouted over the din at the next morning's breakfast.
"Nothing," Riley muttered. The day had dawned bleakly, the sky a washed-out grey. She had felt that this was fitting; the weather reflected her mood.
"Come on, Riles," said Seamus. "We know you only say that when you're – oh. Oh, crap." Seamus' owl, Sir Robin, had been startled by a passing ghost and had dropped a letter from Seamus' Muggle cousin into a bowl of oatmeal. Frightened, the red owl attempted to bury itself in Seamus' schoolbag.
"Aptly named owl, Seamus," said Lee Jordan thickly around a mouthful of toast.
"Yeah," added George. "When danger reared its ugly head, he bravely turned his tail and fled – "
"Yes, brave Sir Robin turned about, and gallantly he chickened out . . ." continued Fred, glancing at Riley hopefully. She wasn't smiling. Fred rolled his eyes, leaned over, and whispered, "There's only so many times you can chew the same bit of toast before it disintegrates completely."
Riley forced a smile. "It's not easy, being upset. I was doing a good job of it until you showed up."
"Well, that's what we're here for." Fred grinned. "Care to share what's really wrong?"
"Malfoy."
"Don't tell me you let that stupid git get to you."
"It's not that." She lowered her voice. "He was in the box last night."
Fred's comedic air vanished instantly. "The whole time?"
"I think so."
Fred glanced around. "Snape doesn't seem to be overly happy, so I'd guess that we're safe – for now. In the meantime, try and concentrate on something else, okay?" He grinned wryly. "I'm still a little disappointed that things didn't go my way."
"Get over it." Riley smiled back. "I told you why . . . and besides, Fred, I'm not that easy."
"Yeah, yeah," he muttered in a mockingly belligerent tone. "Your loss, not mine."
The first classes of the morning were double Potions, much to Riley's dismay. Not only were the stories Ron, Harry, and Hermione had told her enough to make anyone afraid of Snape, they were having Potions with the Slytherins. This morning's class would be an all-too-perfect opportunity for Malfoy to reveal what he knew.
At the start of class, the hook-nosed, greasy-haired man burst into his classroom, black robes in disarray. Any will she might have had to be nicer to Professor Snape because of his role in the war were immediately banished when he turned to the class and, scowling, immediately began to lecture Neville. Riley still hadn't forgiven Snape for keeping her and Neville after class the other day; any opportunity was a good opportunity, when it came to hating Snape.
"Stupid boy," the sallow-faced professor muttered. "Here, clean it up. No, not with your sleeve! You won't get it off the table that way! Use some Magical Mess Remover on a rag. And one hundred points will be taken from Gryffindor if you can't get it up."
Riley nudged Ron. "Think he's a bit vindictive today?"
"Yeah. What a prat, wish he'd leave Neville alone."
"Miss O'Connor! Mr. Weasley! Fifty points from Gryffindor for talking in class!"
Ron's mouth dropped open. "Fifty points? Isn't that a bit much?"
Snape's thin mouth curved in a cruel smile. "A bit much? I certainly don't think so. In fact, why don't we make it one hundred points for talking back? And a detention, Weasley. You need to learn to hold your tongue."
Ron looked ready to explode. Luckily, Dean, showing great presence of mind, tugged on Ron's robes with enough force that he sat down once again.
To Riley, Harry whispered, "In Professor Snape's classes, you need to watch your step. Not that I need to tell you that, though. I imagine you got the message already."
"I guess Ron would want to watch it then, as spontaneous combustion isn't an option." She shoved Ron in the side. It was barely enough to distract him from glaring evilly in Snape's direction, which he'd been doing since Snape told him off. The usual Weasley freckles were now lost in his crimson face.
* * *
"Stupid git," Ron muttered. Hermione looked relieved. His earlier speeches had included a few words that made passing First Years blush. The Gryffindors entered the Great Hall and sat in their usual places at the Gryffindor table. A small explosion made Riley jump and turn around.
"Blast!" muttered Seamus. His wand had apparently exploded yet another time, and now Seamus' eyebrows were rapidly burning up. Dean Thomas, Seamus' best friend, threw a glass of water at his fiery brows. Seamus sputtered. "Thanks, Dean."
"What happened?" Riley asked Dean.
"Seamus has been having a spot of trouble in Charms. He can't the Infedelius Charm quite right, so he's been practicing extra-hard to try and make up for it. Unfortunately, every time he tries to do it his wand explodes."
"And you've haven't been to see Flitwick about it?" Seamus shook his head. "Well, you probably should. He'll help you with it."
"Thanks. But in the meantime, what am I to do about my eyebrows? I can't go walking around with them looking like this."
"Get Parvati or Lavender to lend you an eyebrow pencil. It works wonders."
Seamus thought for a moment. "Yeah, alright."
At that moment, Riley noticed the Weasley twins and Lee Jordan enter the Great Hall, looking rather pleased with themselves. "I'll be back in a moment," she whispered to Seamus and Dean. Ducking under the table, Riley crawled between the two rows of knees, being careful not to tread on any feet. She finally reached Lee's Nikes and the twins' trademark yellow Converse All-Stars.
"Pantena provea!" she muttered fiercely, tapping her wand on the boys' shoes. Immediately a great burst of laughter broke out in the Hall. Riley crawled her way back to her seat and raised her head just in time to see Fred, George, and Lee realize what had happened. Fred, sporting bright purple hair, had put his head on the table and begun guffawing hysterically. George, the proud owner of a lime-green mane, was examining Lee's own neon pink dreadlocks.
"Was that you?" Ron asked over the noise. Riley nodded, cheeks pink.
"I owed Fred for that little stunt at lunch the other day."
"That was bloody brilliant!" cried Dean enthusiastically.
"Thanks! Hey Dean, are you growing dreadlocks?" she asked, noticing for the first time.
"Lee Jordan's leaving at the end of this year. Somebody's got to do it!"
"They look really awesome! Hey, do you mind if I . . . ?"
"Not at all! Just, could you color them red and blue? England's playing in the World Cup this summer, and it would be really cool if you could do that."
"Oh, do you follow?" Riley pointed her wand at Dean's hair and muttered the Hair-Dying Hex. This led to a conversation about England's odds in the World Cup; some, like Riley, were sure they didn't ("They haven't a chance, Brazil's going to take it all,"), but stalwart Brits like Dean and Dennis Creevey were more optimistic ("They're going all the way this year, I can feel it,"). The other Muggle-Born Gryffindors all participated in this highly debatable conversation. It turned out that one of the Second Years, Natalie McDonald, had been lucky enough to get tickets for the Ireland-Denmark game in Japan-Korea 2002.
In Charms that afternoon, Professor Flitwick (who had apparently heard about Riley and the Hair-Dying Hex) asked for her to give the class a demonstration. Many of the students left lessons that day with their hair dyed in the colors of their favorite Quidditch – or soccer – team. The twins spent that evening begging Riley to charm the entire Gryffindor team's hair red and gold before the next match.
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Disclaimer: Don't have one yet!
CHAPTER SIX: The Hair-Dying Hex
"What's wrong, Riley?" Hermione shouted over the din at the next morning's breakfast.
"Nothing," Riley muttered. The day had dawned bleakly, the sky a washed-out grey. She had felt that this was fitting; the weather reflected her mood.
"Come on, Riles," said Seamus. "We know you only say that when you're – oh. Oh, crap." Seamus' owl, Sir Robin, had been startled by a passing ghost and had dropped a letter from Seamus' Muggle cousin into a bowl of oatmeal. Frightened, the red owl attempted to bury itself in Seamus' schoolbag.
"Aptly named owl, Seamus," said Lee Jordan thickly around a mouthful of toast.
"Yeah," added George. "When danger reared its ugly head, he bravely turned his tail and fled – "
"Yes, brave Sir Robin turned about, and gallantly he chickened out . . ." continued Fred, glancing at Riley hopefully. She wasn't smiling. Fred rolled his eyes, leaned over, and whispered, "There's only so many times you can chew the same bit of toast before it disintegrates completely."
Riley forced a smile. "It's not easy, being upset. I was doing a good job of it until you showed up."
"Well, that's what we're here for." Fred grinned. "Care to share what's really wrong?"
"Malfoy."
"Don't tell me you let that stupid git get to you."
"It's not that." She lowered her voice. "He was in the box last night."
Fred's comedic air vanished instantly. "The whole time?"
"I think so."
Fred glanced around. "Snape doesn't seem to be overly happy, so I'd guess that we're safe – for now. In the meantime, try and concentrate on something else, okay?" He grinned wryly. "I'm still a little disappointed that things didn't go my way."
"Get over it." Riley smiled back. "I told you why . . . and besides, Fred, I'm not that easy."
"Yeah, yeah," he muttered in a mockingly belligerent tone. "Your loss, not mine."
The first classes of the morning were double Potions, much to Riley's dismay. Not only were the stories Ron, Harry, and Hermione had told her enough to make anyone afraid of Snape, they were having Potions with the Slytherins. This morning's class would be an all-too-perfect opportunity for Malfoy to reveal what he knew.
At the start of class, the hook-nosed, greasy-haired man burst into his classroom, black robes in disarray. Any will she might have had to be nicer to Professor Snape because of his role in the war were immediately banished when he turned to the class and, scowling, immediately began to lecture Neville. Riley still hadn't forgiven Snape for keeping her and Neville after class the other day; any opportunity was a good opportunity, when it came to hating Snape.
"Stupid boy," the sallow-faced professor muttered. "Here, clean it up. No, not with your sleeve! You won't get it off the table that way! Use some Magical Mess Remover on a rag. And one hundred points will be taken from Gryffindor if you can't get it up."
Riley nudged Ron. "Think he's a bit vindictive today?"
"Yeah. What a prat, wish he'd leave Neville alone."
"Miss O'Connor! Mr. Weasley! Fifty points from Gryffindor for talking in class!"
Ron's mouth dropped open. "Fifty points? Isn't that a bit much?"
Snape's thin mouth curved in a cruel smile. "A bit much? I certainly don't think so. In fact, why don't we make it one hundred points for talking back? And a detention, Weasley. You need to learn to hold your tongue."
Ron looked ready to explode. Luckily, Dean, showing great presence of mind, tugged on Ron's robes with enough force that he sat down once again.
To Riley, Harry whispered, "In Professor Snape's classes, you need to watch your step. Not that I need to tell you that, though. I imagine you got the message already."
"I guess Ron would want to watch it then, as spontaneous combustion isn't an option." She shoved Ron in the side. It was barely enough to distract him from glaring evilly in Snape's direction, which he'd been doing since Snape told him off. The usual Weasley freckles were now lost in his crimson face.
* * *
"Stupid git," Ron muttered. Hermione looked relieved. His earlier speeches had included a few words that made passing First Years blush. The Gryffindors entered the Great Hall and sat in their usual places at the Gryffindor table. A small explosion made Riley jump and turn around.
"Blast!" muttered Seamus. His wand had apparently exploded yet another time, and now Seamus' eyebrows were rapidly burning up. Dean Thomas, Seamus' best friend, threw a glass of water at his fiery brows. Seamus sputtered. "Thanks, Dean."
"What happened?" Riley asked Dean.
"Seamus has been having a spot of trouble in Charms. He can't the Infedelius Charm quite right, so he's been practicing extra-hard to try and make up for it. Unfortunately, every time he tries to do it his wand explodes."
"And you've haven't been to see Flitwick about it?" Seamus shook his head. "Well, you probably should. He'll help you with it."
"Thanks. But in the meantime, what am I to do about my eyebrows? I can't go walking around with them looking like this."
"Get Parvati or Lavender to lend you an eyebrow pencil. It works wonders."
Seamus thought for a moment. "Yeah, alright."
At that moment, Riley noticed the Weasley twins and Lee Jordan enter the Great Hall, looking rather pleased with themselves. "I'll be back in a moment," she whispered to Seamus and Dean. Ducking under the table, Riley crawled between the two rows of knees, being careful not to tread on any feet. She finally reached Lee's Nikes and the twins' trademark yellow Converse All-Stars.
"Pantena provea!" she muttered fiercely, tapping her wand on the boys' shoes. Immediately a great burst of laughter broke out in the Hall. Riley crawled her way back to her seat and raised her head just in time to see Fred, George, and Lee realize what had happened. Fred, sporting bright purple hair, had put his head on the table and begun guffawing hysterically. George, the proud owner of a lime-green mane, was examining Lee's own neon pink dreadlocks.
"Was that you?" Ron asked over the noise. Riley nodded, cheeks pink.
"I owed Fred for that little stunt at lunch the other day."
"That was bloody brilliant!" cried Dean enthusiastically.
"Thanks! Hey Dean, are you growing dreadlocks?" she asked, noticing for the first time.
"Lee Jordan's leaving at the end of this year. Somebody's got to do it!"
"They look really awesome! Hey, do you mind if I . . . ?"
"Not at all! Just, could you color them red and blue? England's playing in the World Cup this summer, and it would be really cool if you could do that."
"Oh, do you follow?" Riley pointed her wand at Dean's hair and muttered the Hair-Dying Hex. This led to a conversation about England's odds in the World Cup; some, like Riley, were sure they didn't ("They haven't a chance, Brazil's going to take it all,"), but stalwart Brits like Dean and Dennis Creevey were more optimistic ("They're going all the way this year, I can feel it,"). The other Muggle-Born Gryffindors all participated in this highly debatable conversation. It turned out that one of the Second Years, Natalie McDonald, had been lucky enough to get tickets for the Ireland-Denmark game in Japan-Korea 2002.
In Charms that afternoon, Professor Flitwick (who had apparently heard about Riley and the Hair-Dying Hex) asked for her to give the class a demonstration. Many of the students left lessons that day with their hair dyed in the colors of their favorite Quidditch – or soccer – team. The twins spent that evening begging Riley to charm the entire Gryffindor team's hair red and gold before the next match.