I hope you all like this. Please review and tell me what you think. I can
take the rejection. Go on! I'm trying to improve my writing anyway.
Let Learning Commence!
Cougar opened his eyes the next morning. Mickey was sitting on the end of Cougar's bed eating a bowl of cereal. He was still in his boxers and watching something. Cougar turned over and looked at his alarm clock. It was eight thirty. Mickey had felt him turn and spun round.
"Hey man! How are ya? Listen, I wanna apologise about being so mad last night. About picking the fight with the porter and everything. Well I don't normally do that." He stood up. Cougar saw him clearly now. He had black hair, tall and wore glasses.
Cougar had a splitting headache. He struggled to talk. "Oh.. No problem. He did waken you up. I would have done the same." He forced a laugh.
"That's good. So we're cool?" Mickey said frowning down on him.
"Yeah, we're cool." Said Cougar who was still in his bed.
"Anything wrong?" Mickey asked, concerned.
"Nothing why?"
"You keep screwing up your face and you've not had that frown off since you awoke."
Cougar laughed. "Yeah, Ok, I've got a headache. I get them from time to time. It'll go away."
"A headache? I can help with that!" Mickey charged off into the bedroom.
"Don't go to any trouble!" Cougar called after him, but held his head as pain shot to it.
Mickey came back with a tablet in his hand. "This is brilliant!" He said pointing to it. "I got it in China last year. It will cure headaches forever!" He handed the tablet to Cougar.
"Thanks!" He normally would not have taken it, as it could have been anything; he hardly knew this person. But his migraines were just so anguishing that he had to do something. He took it and swallowed.
"Yeah, I went on a tour of the world last year. I picked that up from a Chinese chemist. They don't sell them in the west yet." He said.
"How long do you have to wait for it to take effect?" Cougar queried holding his head.
"Should be pretty instant. But you won't have to suffer them again. My sister used to get them. She used to end up in tears. But I took her one of them back last winter and she said she has had no trouble what so ever from them."
"Well thanks a lot. They're brilliant!" Cougar praised. They were starting to take effect.
Mickey went up to the kitchen sink and poured a glass of water. He came back and gave it to Cougar. Cougar gladly received it and drank. "So what are you studying?" He asked.
"Alchemy." Mickey replied.
"Yeah me too. That must be why we were put in the same room." Cougar said thinking that it was an obvious statement.
"What school did you go to? Hogwarts?" Asked Mickey.
"Yeah. What about you? I don't recognise you."
"You won't. I went to Enne. The New York academy."
"Really? I've never met anyone from Enne before." Cougar sat up and crossed his legs on the bed, his headache pains drowned off in the conversation.
"Yeah, well there isn't all that much to tell about it. I've been to Hogwarts though. Now that is something to talk about! I stopped off in Britain during my world tour. What house were you in? I remember meeting the prefects of each house. Let me guess! Gryffindor?" Mickey said smiling in a big full grin.
"No, I was in Ravenclaw." He laughed. "What were the houses in your school like?" Cougar asked Mickey.
He told Cougar all about Enne and the houses and their origins. He was in a house, which would have been the equivalent of Ravenclaw, Gynthril, which was named after the magical element.
They had a Welcome Meeting at eleven. So after bacon sandwiches for breakfast, cooked by Mickey, who was quite good in the kitchen, and a shower they went down to the Auditorium. It was huge. Twice the size of the Great Hall in Hogwarts and it had a large stage at the front. As they walked in a man about half the size of Cougar walked up onto the stage and asked for the hall's attention. There was about sixty students and they had already arrived before Cougar and Mickey, so the little man started.
"Hello! Hello! Welcome newcomers!" He squeaky voice jumped from his throat and filled the auditorium. "I am Professor Muster. I am the Dean. Here in Overbog University we produce the best, teach the best and expect the best. You have each been chosen through a very fastidious method of selecting. Think it a privilege that you have you have got this far. Now do not let the University down by not trying! We expect that you do about three hours of study every night, going over books and notes taken in lectures and tutorials. It is essential that you do this, as when it comes to exam time you will not have the luxury of time. Come May of next year when you are all sitting your degree trials you will all, I'm sure, be studying most of your day. But it is not nearly enough to be able to regurgitate the information out during your exams, so my advice to you as a lecturer is to start now!
"My next point is to all who are taking Flora Studies. There will be a weekly trip to the Botanical Houses of the University where a lecturer will accompany the group and give information and answer any questions that are sought. But may I add that any student may visit the Botanical Houses and at any time.
"Now, to all the aspiring Alchemists out there, I advise you to all join the Brewing Union. It is the Union for the Potion Masters and Alchemists of today's society. You will receive a month magazine and an annual booklet of the moderations made to the Union and the new laws passed through the World Ministry. Additional information and application forms for this will be dealt with by Professor Casel." A witch of about eighty stood up, and Professor Muster pointed at her.
"The University also has a vast stalk of books in the library. It is updated every year so don't complain about not being able to find a book. The library shuts at seven thirty every night apart from exam times, for then it is open all night.
"Every Thursday night there is an Astronomy trip to Byerstand Hill for students studying Astronomy. The trip leaves at one o'clock and arrives back at three thirty. This will be a good source of additional study for the Astronomers.
"So what I suggest you all do today is take your maps and find your way around the University, getting settled in and adjust to your surroundings. Look in on a few lectures. Have a browse round the library. There is a community hall in the Yule building, where students can relax and meet up with other students, see that if you can. Just get to know the university." He smiled and held out his arms. "Lectures start tomorrow. Let learning commence!" He finished.
The students started up talking again. Everyone stood up and either headed for one of the exits or the stage. Most of the students were taking the Alchemy course and were heading for Professor Casel.
"Well, what do ya think of that?" Mickey asked. He had been sitting with his legs up resting on the seat in front of him.
Cougar sighed. "Sounds good. Where'll we go first then?"
"I don't know about you, but that Union thing sounds pretty useful. I'm gonna go up and enquire about that." Mickey stood up.
"Yeah. I will too." Cougar stood and followed.
They got down to the stage and stood around a table, with the rest of the Alchemy students, where Professor Casel was sitting. She went over some instruction and handed them out letters and envelopes. They had to send away for them.
They took a look at the map after that. There were seven buildings to the University. The two halls of residence; the McGregor building, which was the main building as they entered; the Yule building, which was situated at the back behind the halls, where the library and the community halls were; the Juniper building, which was just lots of lecture halls and labs, this is where the Alchemy labs were and where Cougar and Mickey would be working mostly throughout their stay in University; the Gallway building, this was one huge tower that was situated in the very centre of the grounds, it exceeded every structure in Overbog, it was usually used for atmospheric experiments; finally there was the Olde building which was on the far left of the grounds and was attached to the Botanic Houses, this was normally used for the Flora Studies course, but welcomed everyone.
At about six o'clock that day the two came back to room 137b and crashed down on the couch. They had spent the last six hours walking around the grounds. It was brilliant! They even attempted to climb the stairs of the Gallway, but Cougar just fell apart on them laughing at Mickey's jokes. He seemed to know so many. The night they spent settling into the apartment. Cougar got out all of his books and set them on the shelves. They flipped a coin to see who got the bedroom. Mickey won, much to Cougar's dismay, but he was not too unhappy as the couch was quite comfy. Mickey showed Cougar a muggle television, and how it was really interesting. Wizards had nothing of the sort, but Cougar could remember Professor Sinclair teaching them briefly about it in Hogwarts. Mickey had put a spell on it so that it picked up American signals. They were watching the Osborne's when they heard a clatter of noises outside and the sound of women's laughter. Something bumped into their door and more laughter could be heard.
Cougar jumped up from the couch and opened the door. A girl about eighteen years old fell flat on her back into the boy's apartment. She had obviously been leaning on the door. Her friend, who was about the same age, burst into hysterics. Mickey jumped up and saw the sight. The girls were both drunk.
"Are you guys Ok?" Cougar asked helping the girl off of her back.
"We. we. we live here!" The girl on her back said. She laughed after that.
The other girl had a key in her hand. She scrambled up and made an attempt at pushing it into the lock of 137c, which was across from the boy's apartment. "You live here?" Asked Mickey pointing to the door of 137c.
The girl with the key nodded her head ferociously. Cougar lifted the girl on the floor up to her feet, whilst Mickey helped open the door of their apartment. They took them inside, and left them on their couch.
When Cougar and Mickey got back into their own apartment they looked at each other and shook their heads in humour. "What was that about?" Cougar asked him.
"Beats me!" Mickey answered.
They both laughed it off and settled down to watching a comedy on the TV.
Let Learning Commence!
Cougar opened his eyes the next morning. Mickey was sitting on the end of Cougar's bed eating a bowl of cereal. He was still in his boxers and watching something. Cougar turned over and looked at his alarm clock. It was eight thirty. Mickey had felt him turn and spun round.
"Hey man! How are ya? Listen, I wanna apologise about being so mad last night. About picking the fight with the porter and everything. Well I don't normally do that." He stood up. Cougar saw him clearly now. He had black hair, tall and wore glasses.
Cougar had a splitting headache. He struggled to talk. "Oh.. No problem. He did waken you up. I would have done the same." He forced a laugh.
"That's good. So we're cool?" Mickey said frowning down on him.
"Yeah, we're cool." Said Cougar who was still in his bed.
"Anything wrong?" Mickey asked, concerned.
"Nothing why?"
"You keep screwing up your face and you've not had that frown off since you awoke."
Cougar laughed. "Yeah, Ok, I've got a headache. I get them from time to time. It'll go away."
"A headache? I can help with that!" Mickey charged off into the bedroom.
"Don't go to any trouble!" Cougar called after him, but held his head as pain shot to it.
Mickey came back with a tablet in his hand. "This is brilliant!" He said pointing to it. "I got it in China last year. It will cure headaches forever!" He handed the tablet to Cougar.
"Thanks!" He normally would not have taken it, as it could have been anything; he hardly knew this person. But his migraines were just so anguishing that he had to do something. He took it and swallowed.
"Yeah, I went on a tour of the world last year. I picked that up from a Chinese chemist. They don't sell them in the west yet." He said.
"How long do you have to wait for it to take effect?" Cougar queried holding his head.
"Should be pretty instant. But you won't have to suffer them again. My sister used to get them. She used to end up in tears. But I took her one of them back last winter and she said she has had no trouble what so ever from them."
"Well thanks a lot. They're brilliant!" Cougar praised. They were starting to take effect.
Mickey went up to the kitchen sink and poured a glass of water. He came back and gave it to Cougar. Cougar gladly received it and drank. "So what are you studying?" He asked.
"Alchemy." Mickey replied.
"Yeah me too. That must be why we were put in the same room." Cougar said thinking that it was an obvious statement.
"What school did you go to? Hogwarts?" Asked Mickey.
"Yeah. What about you? I don't recognise you."
"You won't. I went to Enne. The New York academy."
"Really? I've never met anyone from Enne before." Cougar sat up and crossed his legs on the bed, his headache pains drowned off in the conversation.
"Yeah, well there isn't all that much to tell about it. I've been to Hogwarts though. Now that is something to talk about! I stopped off in Britain during my world tour. What house were you in? I remember meeting the prefects of each house. Let me guess! Gryffindor?" Mickey said smiling in a big full grin.
"No, I was in Ravenclaw." He laughed. "What were the houses in your school like?" Cougar asked Mickey.
He told Cougar all about Enne and the houses and their origins. He was in a house, which would have been the equivalent of Ravenclaw, Gynthril, which was named after the magical element.
They had a Welcome Meeting at eleven. So after bacon sandwiches for breakfast, cooked by Mickey, who was quite good in the kitchen, and a shower they went down to the Auditorium. It was huge. Twice the size of the Great Hall in Hogwarts and it had a large stage at the front. As they walked in a man about half the size of Cougar walked up onto the stage and asked for the hall's attention. There was about sixty students and they had already arrived before Cougar and Mickey, so the little man started.
"Hello! Hello! Welcome newcomers!" He squeaky voice jumped from his throat and filled the auditorium. "I am Professor Muster. I am the Dean. Here in Overbog University we produce the best, teach the best and expect the best. You have each been chosen through a very fastidious method of selecting. Think it a privilege that you have you have got this far. Now do not let the University down by not trying! We expect that you do about three hours of study every night, going over books and notes taken in lectures and tutorials. It is essential that you do this, as when it comes to exam time you will not have the luxury of time. Come May of next year when you are all sitting your degree trials you will all, I'm sure, be studying most of your day. But it is not nearly enough to be able to regurgitate the information out during your exams, so my advice to you as a lecturer is to start now!
"My next point is to all who are taking Flora Studies. There will be a weekly trip to the Botanical Houses of the University where a lecturer will accompany the group and give information and answer any questions that are sought. But may I add that any student may visit the Botanical Houses and at any time.
"Now, to all the aspiring Alchemists out there, I advise you to all join the Brewing Union. It is the Union for the Potion Masters and Alchemists of today's society. You will receive a month magazine and an annual booklet of the moderations made to the Union and the new laws passed through the World Ministry. Additional information and application forms for this will be dealt with by Professor Casel." A witch of about eighty stood up, and Professor Muster pointed at her.
"The University also has a vast stalk of books in the library. It is updated every year so don't complain about not being able to find a book. The library shuts at seven thirty every night apart from exam times, for then it is open all night.
"Every Thursday night there is an Astronomy trip to Byerstand Hill for students studying Astronomy. The trip leaves at one o'clock and arrives back at three thirty. This will be a good source of additional study for the Astronomers.
"So what I suggest you all do today is take your maps and find your way around the University, getting settled in and adjust to your surroundings. Look in on a few lectures. Have a browse round the library. There is a community hall in the Yule building, where students can relax and meet up with other students, see that if you can. Just get to know the university." He smiled and held out his arms. "Lectures start tomorrow. Let learning commence!" He finished.
The students started up talking again. Everyone stood up and either headed for one of the exits or the stage. Most of the students were taking the Alchemy course and were heading for Professor Casel.
"Well, what do ya think of that?" Mickey asked. He had been sitting with his legs up resting on the seat in front of him.
Cougar sighed. "Sounds good. Where'll we go first then?"
"I don't know about you, but that Union thing sounds pretty useful. I'm gonna go up and enquire about that." Mickey stood up.
"Yeah. I will too." Cougar stood and followed.
They got down to the stage and stood around a table, with the rest of the Alchemy students, where Professor Casel was sitting. She went over some instruction and handed them out letters and envelopes. They had to send away for them.
They took a look at the map after that. There were seven buildings to the University. The two halls of residence; the McGregor building, which was the main building as they entered; the Yule building, which was situated at the back behind the halls, where the library and the community halls were; the Juniper building, which was just lots of lecture halls and labs, this is where the Alchemy labs were and where Cougar and Mickey would be working mostly throughout their stay in University; the Gallway building, this was one huge tower that was situated in the very centre of the grounds, it exceeded every structure in Overbog, it was usually used for atmospheric experiments; finally there was the Olde building which was on the far left of the grounds and was attached to the Botanic Houses, this was normally used for the Flora Studies course, but welcomed everyone.
At about six o'clock that day the two came back to room 137b and crashed down on the couch. They had spent the last six hours walking around the grounds. It was brilliant! They even attempted to climb the stairs of the Gallway, but Cougar just fell apart on them laughing at Mickey's jokes. He seemed to know so many. The night they spent settling into the apartment. Cougar got out all of his books and set them on the shelves. They flipped a coin to see who got the bedroom. Mickey won, much to Cougar's dismay, but he was not too unhappy as the couch was quite comfy. Mickey showed Cougar a muggle television, and how it was really interesting. Wizards had nothing of the sort, but Cougar could remember Professor Sinclair teaching them briefly about it in Hogwarts. Mickey had put a spell on it so that it picked up American signals. They were watching the Osborne's when they heard a clatter of noises outside and the sound of women's laughter. Something bumped into their door and more laughter could be heard.
Cougar jumped up from the couch and opened the door. A girl about eighteen years old fell flat on her back into the boy's apartment. She had obviously been leaning on the door. Her friend, who was about the same age, burst into hysterics. Mickey jumped up and saw the sight. The girls were both drunk.
"Are you guys Ok?" Cougar asked helping the girl off of her back.
"We. we. we live here!" The girl on her back said. She laughed after that.
The other girl had a key in her hand. She scrambled up and made an attempt at pushing it into the lock of 137c, which was across from the boy's apartment. "You live here?" Asked Mickey pointing to the door of 137c.
The girl with the key nodded her head ferociously. Cougar lifted the girl on the floor up to her feet, whilst Mickey helped open the door of their apartment. They took them inside, and left them on their couch.
When Cougar and Mickey got back into their own apartment they looked at each other and shook their heads in humour. "What was that about?" Cougar asked him.
"Beats me!" Mickey answered.
They both laughed it off and settled down to watching a comedy on the TV.