Chapter #2
"Oof." Nikki plonked down in a squishy armchair next to Jack, "Got your timetable yet?"
"Yeah." He nodded, "It looks boring. Potions with Hufflepuffs first thing, then Transfiguration." He screwed up his nose, "McGonagall is so strict. I almost failed last year on behavior points."
Nikki laughed, "That's life. Potions should be better."
Jack continued screwing up his nose until his face looked like a shriveled mushroom. "Just because Snape seems to like you." he groaned.
"He doesn't dislike you." Nikki pointed out. "I recall the end of last year; he gave you five points for Gryffindor for answering a question no one else could."
"Yeah. Wonder if he's seeing anyone. He's going all soft." Jack nodded, agreeing with himself, "It MUST be a woman's touch."
Nikki smiled secretly. SHE knew what was going on, but time to change the subject. "I'm bored." She said.
Jack grinned evilly, "I know where there is an empty classroom we can use."
Nikki slapped him, hard, "Don't be suggestive." Then she lowered her eyelids and peered out from under the lashes, "Well. I could take you up on that offer."
Jack leaned over and kissed her on the cheek, "We ARE already an item, girl. You don't need to flirt with me." He patted his knee, and Nikki came and sat on him.
"I'm a bitch, aren't I?" Nikki whispered, twisting so she could face him, and kissing him on the cheek.
"Nah, you're just perfect." Jack grinned, "And anyway, why would I hate you?"
"Because I'm nasty.and mean.and a cheat.and a liar." Nikki whispered, snuggling into Jack.
"Miss Nutt, Mister Wilson." Professor McGonagall chose that exact moment to walk in. "What exactly do you think you are doing?"
"Umm. Nothing Professor," the two chorused in unison, jumping out of the chair.
"I thought so." McGonagall nodded, "Now, get to bed."
As they started to run off, she added, "And separate beds, please."
Jack and Nikki cracked up, and raced to their rooms.
"What was that all about?" Ginny asked, poking her head out from the hangings surrounding her bed.
"Oh, nothing much," Nikki said, "Just McGonagall attempting to make a joke. Quite funny actually."
Ginny nodded, "Hmm. Bet she'll be making a few more. Honestly, I don't think you and Jack could've got any closer, the way you were sitting."
"You saw?"
"Yes, unfortunately. It was quite sickening."
"What's happening?" Hermione asked, trying to untangle the spiral hairbrush from her hair.
Ginny bounced over and helped her, "Nikki and Jack were getting up to the usual."
"No worse than you and Harry I suppose." Nikki said in a sarcastic tone.
"True." Hermione nodded, "Except Ginny HAS found a way to get closer to Harry."
Ginny slapped her, and a hairbrush fight/pillow fight began.
"OW!" Nikki roared, forcibly removing Ginny's foot from her stomach.
Ginny giggled, "Stop tickling me." She wrenched her foot away.
"Thanks." Nikki grunted, trying to catch her breath.
"What is all that noise?"
"Damn." Nikki whispered, looking up to see Professor McGonagall in the doorway.
"Nothing." Hermione said plainly, "We're just.mucking around."
"Look." McGonagall said plainly, "You are excited to be back, you are excited to be together again, but it is now ten thirty and it is time for bed."
"Aww." The girls moaned, and slid back into their beds.
"Put your pajamas on first, Miss Nutt."
"Damn." Nikki muttered again.
A few hours later, Nikki's pet cat, Bubbles, ran into the room, a piece of parchment in her mouth. Although not an owl, Bubbles was very good at delivering messages around the castle. She sprang up onto Nikki's pillow, and began walking all over her face.
"Geroff." Nikki muttered sleepily.
Bubbles yowled in her ear.
"Okay, okay." Nikki sat up, "What is it?" she took the note, lighted her wand, and grinned as she read it.
Keeping the light from her wand low, she got dressed quietly. Bubbles yawned, and fell asleep on Nikki's pillow, which was strictly forbidden, but Nikki didn't notice. She slipped out of the dorms, and into the common room. "Hey?" she whispered.
"Boo." Jack whispered, stepping out of the shadows. He was dressed all in black, as was Nikki. He grinned, glad that he had told her to. He also had a backpack, black like everything else. Nikki guessed that he had used a colouring charm.
"What's this all about?" Nikki asked, raising her eyebrows.
Jack put a finger to her lips, silencing her, and drew the invisibility cloak over them.
"Harry will kill you." She protested.
"I'd like to see him try." Jack grinned, "And anyway, he won't know if we don't tell him."
"I guess." Nikki giggled. It wasn't the first time she and Jack had crept away to be together.
They snuck out behind the portrait. "Off again?" the fat lady whispered, catching sight of Jack as he adjusted the cloak, "I should tell Dumbledore about this." She muttered after them, "But I guess it's only harmless fun."
They crept silently past the empty classrooms, and up countless flights of stairs, past sleeping portraits, and finally up to the astronomy tower. Jack folded the cloak neatly and tucked it away in a corner.
Then he opened the window and climbed out onto the roof, pulling Nikki after him.
"What?" she whispered, climbing out carefully.
"Trust me. And no one can find us here." Jack lay back on the tiles, his feet braced against the gutter. "Got music or candles?" he pulled a blanket out from his backpack and wrapping it around her shoulders.
Nikki snuggled into it, glad for the warmth, and pulled out her wand, "Not a candle, but anyway." She said, "Lumos."
Her wand lit up, and she placed it between them. Jack pulled two bottles of Butterbeer out of the backpack, and a little singing crystal. As soon as he put it down it started to sing
"...I don't wanna close my eyes/ I don't wanna fall asleep/ I'm gonna miss you baby.."
Nikki grinned and kissed Jack on the nose, "You went through so much trouble to do this, for what?"
"For you." Jack whispered, opening the Butterbeer. "You. I. We've been going out for ages, and I wanted to do something special."
"I love you too Jack." Nikki told him. They had been going out for years. They were each other's first and only. Nikki hoped it would stay that way. She loved no one as much as she loved Jack.
"I know we are only in fifth year, but I feel so much older." Jack whispered, taking a sip of Butterbeer.
"We're in love." Nikki said, glad she had talked to her sister about this, "We'll feel what ever age we act. You act older, nicer, and more responsible than your age; of course you'll feel it too."
"I guess." Jack said, tapping the crystal to turn the volume down a bit. He leant over and kissed Nikki's ear, and then her lips. "I guess so."
Nikki smiled, and kissed him back. She moved her wand out of the way, and moved even closer to Jack. He put his arms around her gently, and looked up at the stars.
"Look, a shooting star." He whispered, pointing.
* * * Ibis tossed and turned, trying to muffle her sobs. She thought school at Hogwarts would be fun, but now, on her first night, she wished she was home.
One of the girls had been so cruel, calling her names and picking on her accent. And she had to room with this horrible girl, worse luck.
Ibis sighed and wiped her eyes, finally dosing off to a troubled sleep.
* * * Looking around, all Ibis could see through the tears of frustration in her eyes was a blur of colours from the portraits and tapestries. She sank to the floor and rested her head on her knees and sobbed, well and truly lost. How could she find her way to Advanced Defence Against the Dark Arts when she couldn't even find her way back to the Ravenclaw common room to start again? She was sure the little ghosty man in the funny bow tie had told her to go up the stairs and along the corridor. But she couldn't find the classroom no matter how hard she looked.
Something small and warm brushed against her leg. Ibis raised her face and wiped her eyes. She was face to face with the small dust-brown cat that usually followed the caretaker, Mr. Filch around.
"Hello Mrs. Norris." Ibis whispered, stroking the cat's ears, "Can you help me? Can you show me where my class is?"
She hadn't been expecting the reaction. She didn't expect the little cat to turn and run down the hall and look back at her. And she didn't know what possessed her to follow it, but she did. Mrs. Norris led her down a set of stairs and through a maze of corridors, waiting if she got too far ahead, and then leading on. She stopped outside of a half open door and turned in little circles, clearly indicating that this was the final destination.
Ibis stared, shrugged, and thanked the little cat. She reached back to fix her hair, and realised that her scrunchie had fallen out. Her hair was a tangled mess. She ran her fingers through it, and tied it in a loose knot at the back of her neck. At least it would be a little tame then. Finally she walked through the door and into her class.
"Nice of you to join us, miss." the professor consulted his list, "Miss Goldeye. I am Professor Lupin, your new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher."
Nearly all the class turned to look at the new arrival, and Ibis felt her face flush. She leapt towards the nearest empty seat, next to a Gryffindor girl with black curls that fell just past her shoulders. She looked familiar, but Ibis didn't try to place her.
"Least some people have the decency to brush their hair." The girl said, raising her eyebrows nearly to her hairline, "Did someone forget to get up this morning?"
"I got lost." Ibis defended herself, "The little ghost with the bow tie made me go the wrong way."
"Bow tie? That would be peeves." The girl said, "Don't listen to him, he always picks on the newies. By the way, I'm Mistene Divine."
That was it, the girl Jackson was staring at, "I'm Ibis Goldeye." Ibis said.
"You're the new girl from Italy, aren't you?" Mistene said, then slapped her forehead, "Dumb question, your accent says it all."
Ibis smiled, "I know my accent is bad." She said, "But I can not help it. If you travelled to Italy and tried to speak Italian, your accent would be bad to us."
"I know." Mistene said, "And you accent isn't bad. For god's sake, the is nothing bad about it." She looked toward the teacher and batted her eyes, "He's cute, for a teacher."
Ibis couldn't help but look. The teacher was fairly good, all wavy light brown hair and he wasn't that old. "I.suppose."
"No doubt," Mistene added, "But he is cuter. He is plain hot."
Ibis looked in the direction Mistene was pointing, and spotted Jackson a little down the row. She smiled secretly, and nodded, "He is nice looking."
"He's HOT!!" Mistene said just a little too loudly, attracting the attention of some students. She giggled and waved at the starers, and they turned away.
"So you like him?" Ibis asked, crossing her fingers.
"Of course I do. He's hot, he's cute, he's fairly quiet.he's totally perfect." Mistene blew a kiss towards the completely unaware Jackson.
Ibis's smile broadened. How perfect could it be? She only had to tell Jackson that Mistene liked him, and set them up together somewhere. Time to play matchmaker. "Do you think he likes you too?" she asked, playing the innocent.
"Well if he doesn't he will soon." Mistene said slyly. She noticed Ibis's puzzled expression and explained, "All I have to do is bat my eyes, roll my hips, lick my lips, and the boys come running. They really are simple creatures, aren't they?"
Ibis studied the other girl, and decided she could see why. "No, they are just easily coaxed into doing things." She decided that even if she had a figure other than that of a beanpole and hair that was a little tame, she still wouldn't be able to 'coax boys into doing things'. "So, you get everything you want?"
"Yes." Mistene sighed, "Even better grades."
Ibis's jaw dropped. "I don't believe you."
Mistene cackled, "Oh, it only works with male teachers. All you have to do I give them a little of what they want." she trailed off, enjoying watching Ibis's eyes grow even wider. Geez, those eyes were big enough to start with, but now it looked though they would fall out of the poor girl's head. "Just give them a lap dance or something of the like." She giggled, savouring every minute, "Professor Snape is good in bed."
Ibis's jaw almost hit the floor, and her eyes just popped, "You.didn't." she said weakly.
"Blink already!" Mistene chuckled, "Of course I didn't."
"I was. you had me worried." Ibis said, relaxing her eyes and closing her mouth. "Please do not do that again. I was very scared."
Mistene stuffed her fingers in her mouth to stop from crying out too loudly. "Sorry." She whispered, when she was under control.
Ibis shook her head, and sighed, turning to face the teacher. Mistene elbowed her again. "What?" she hissed.
"See him." Mistene pointed to a dark haired boy sitting near the front. "He's Harry Potter."
"You don't say." Ibis said, using an expression she had picked up off of Jackson, "I know. He is that famous it would be hard not to recognise him. All those photos in the magazines, and his interviews, just shows how famous he is. Is he egotistical?"
"No, he's actually quite nice." Mistene said. "You could even call him shy. He hates the publicity. All he wants to do sometimes is crawl away and hide. He did that last year, when there was this big thing about You-Know- Who coming back into power. Me and a few others helped hide him."
Ibis's eyes widened again. She hadn't expected Harry Potter to be a reluctant hero. "Really?" she asked.
"Really!" Mistene said. "And sitting next to him is Ron Weasley. He's Harry's best friend."
Ibis squinted at what she could see of Ron. He had a rather long nose, but she could see that he was getting more handsome as he got older.
"He's taken." Mistene said in a matter-of-fact voice, "By her over there." She pointed to a girl with wavy brown hair. "That's Hermione Granger. She usually had bushy hair, a bit like yours, but we've got at her to use a spell to make it prettier."
"What's the spell?" Ibis asked.
"Ask Hermione. It takes a while to learn, and it can take forever to do without practice." Mistene said, "But she'll probably teach you. She's cool like that. Always helps people revise for tests and such."
"So she is smart?" Ibis guessed.
"She's a genius." Mistene said, "But she doesn't brag anymore. Apparently she used to be a bit of a know it all."
"Oh." Ibis looked up to the board at the front of the class room, where Professor Lupin was writing something on the blackboard with a chalk charm on his wand.
"Don't bother doing work." Mistene told her, "I'll get Hermione's notes later and get a copy for you."
"But we'll get in trouble." Ibis said uncertainly. She hated trouble. Expulsion was her worst fear, and she would never try to do a thing like not pay attention in class, but trouble followed her, like nails to a magnet.
Her brow creased as she remembered last year at her old school. With the scare of Voldemort coming back into power, and the rumours that he was in Southern Italy, her headmistress had been rather paranoid. But she had chosen to do something that would change Ibis's life. She had each student's magical aura measured by a professional. Ibis's aura had shown up as the most powerful in the school, more powerful than those of the teachers. More powerful, in fact, than the Dark Lord's, according to the Aura Reader.
Ibis had fainted. When she came too, she was told she could now perform some special forms of magic. With special training, she would be able to perform all the magic she did then without a wand. By now she had learned all of her spells up to fourth year, and all the way up to seventh year transfiguration. And, she could now do a few willpower spells. These were extremely hard to do. The professional had a strong aura too, and could unlock doors using willpower spells. Willpower spells required no words, just a visualisation of what the spell must do. "Kinda like the Force! In Star Wars" one of Ibis's muggle born friends had explained.
And her powers would grow. When she was told that, Ibis fainted again.
That specialness had led to an even scarier event in her life. One which Professor Dumbledore could hopefully protect her from.
"Ibis." Mistene jabbed her in the ribs, "Earth to bloody bird girl. Land, darling."
Ibis turned to look at her, "Sorry. I was remembering." She apologised. Looking up at the board, she started copying notes frantically. Somehow she got them all down before the sound of a bell signalled the end of the lesson.
She walked out in a daze still, and was cornered by Jackson.
"Careful Ibis." He said, supporting her with his hands on her shoulders. "You look a bit scary there. What the hell is wrong?"
"Just memories." Ibis said, trying to force images out of her head. She gave a big shaky sigh, and pulled herself upright. "What lesson have we now?"
"Care for Magical Creatures." Jackson said. "You'll love it, come on."
"Oof." Nikki plonked down in a squishy armchair next to Jack, "Got your timetable yet?"
"Yeah." He nodded, "It looks boring. Potions with Hufflepuffs first thing, then Transfiguration." He screwed up his nose, "McGonagall is so strict. I almost failed last year on behavior points."
Nikki laughed, "That's life. Potions should be better."
Jack continued screwing up his nose until his face looked like a shriveled mushroom. "Just because Snape seems to like you." he groaned.
"He doesn't dislike you." Nikki pointed out. "I recall the end of last year; he gave you five points for Gryffindor for answering a question no one else could."
"Yeah. Wonder if he's seeing anyone. He's going all soft." Jack nodded, agreeing with himself, "It MUST be a woman's touch."
Nikki smiled secretly. SHE knew what was going on, but time to change the subject. "I'm bored." She said.
Jack grinned evilly, "I know where there is an empty classroom we can use."
Nikki slapped him, hard, "Don't be suggestive." Then she lowered her eyelids and peered out from under the lashes, "Well. I could take you up on that offer."
Jack leaned over and kissed her on the cheek, "We ARE already an item, girl. You don't need to flirt with me." He patted his knee, and Nikki came and sat on him.
"I'm a bitch, aren't I?" Nikki whispered, twisting so she could face him, and kissing him on the cheek.
"Nah, you're just perfect." Jack grinned, "And anyway, why would I hate you?"
"Because I'm nasty.and mean.and a cheat.and a liar." Nikki whispered, snuggling into Jack.
"Miss Nutt, Mister Wilson." Professor McGonagall chose that exact moment to walk in. "What exactly do you think you are doing?"
"Umm. Nothing Professor," the two chorused in unison, jumping out of the chair.
"I thought so." McGonagall nodded, "Now, get to bed."
As they started to run off, she added, "And separate beds, please."
Jack and Nikki cracked up, and raced to their rooms.
"What was that all about?" Ginny asked, poking her head out from the hangings surrounding her bed.
"Oh, nothing much," Nikki said, "Just McGonagall attempting to make a joke. Quite funny actually."
Ginny nodded, "Hmm. Bet she'll be making a few more. Honestly, I don't think you and Jack could've got any closer, the way you were sitting."
"You saw?"
"Yes, unfortunately. It was quite sickening."
"What's happening?" Hermione asked, trying to untangle the spiral hairbrush from her hair.
Ginny bounced over and helped her, "Nikki and Jack were getting up to the usual."
"No worse than you and Harry I suppose." Nikki said in a sarcastic tone.
"True." Hermione nodded, "Except Ginny HAS found a way to get closer to Harry."
Ginny slapped her, and a hairbrush fight/pillow fight began.
"OW!" Nikki roared, forcibly removing Ginny's foot from her stomach.
Ginny giggled, "Stop tickling me." She wrenched her foot away.
"Thanks." Nikki grunted, trying to catch her breath.
"What is all that noise?"
"Damn." Nikki whispered, looking up to see Professor McGonagall in the doorway.
"Nothing." Hermione said plainly, "We're just.mucking around."
"Look." McGonagall said plainly, "You are excited to be back, you are excited to be together again, but it is now ten thirty and it is time for bed."
"Aww." The girls moaned, and slid back into their beds.
"Put your pajamas on first, Miss Nutt."
"Damn." Nikki muttered again.
A few hours later, Nikki's pet cat, Bubbles, ran into the room, a piece of parchment in her mouth. Although not an owl, Bubbles was very good at delivering messages around the castle. She sprang up onto Nikki's pillow, and began walking all over her face.
"Geroff." Nikki muttered sleepily.
Bubbles yowled in her ear.
"Okay, okay." Nikki sat up, "What is it?" she took the note, lighted her wand, and grinned as she read it.
Keeping the light from her wand low, she got dressed quietly. Bubbles yawned, and fell asleep on Nikki's pillow, which was strictly forbidden, but Nikki didn't notice. She slipped out of the dorms, and into the common room. "Hey?" she whispered.
"Boo." Jack whispered, stepping out of the shadows. He was dressed all in black, as was Nikki. He grinned, glad that he had told her to. He also had a backpack, black like everything else. Nikki guessed that he had used a colouring charm.
"What's this all about?" Nikki asked, raising her eyebrows.
Jack put a finger to her lips, silencing her, and drew the invisibility cloak over them.
"Harry will kill you." She protested.
"I'd like to see him try." Jack grinned, "And anyway, he won't know if we don't tell him."
"I guess." Nikki giggled. It wasn't the first time she and Jack had crept away to be together.
They snuck out behind the portrait. "Off again?" the fat lady whispered, catching sight of Jack as he adjusted the cloak, "I should tell Dumbledore about this." She muttered after them, "But I guess it's only harmless fun."
They crept silently past the empty classrooms, and up countless flights of stairs, past sleeping portraits, and finally up to the astronomy tower. Jack folded the cloak neatly and tucked it away in a corner.
Then he opened the window and climbed out onto the roof, pulling Nikki after him.
"What?" she whispered, climbing out carefully.
"Trust me. And no one can find us here." Jack lay back on the tiles, his feet braced against the gutter. "Got music or candles?" he pulled a blanket out from his backpack and wrapping it around her shoulders.
Nikki snuggled into it, glad for the warmth, and pulled out her wand, "Not a candle, but anyway." She said, "Lumos."
Her wand lit up, and she placed it between them. Jack pulled two bottles of Butterbeer out of the backpack, and a little singing crystal. As soon as he put it down it started to sing
"...I don't wanna close my eyes/ I don't wanna fall asleep/ I'm gonna miss you baby.."
Nikki grinned and kissed Jack on the nose, "You went through so much trouble to do this, for what?"
"For you." Jack whispered, opening the Butterbeer. "You. I. We've been going out for ages, and I wanted to do something special."
"I love you too Jack." Nikki told him. They had been going out for years. They were each other's first and only. Nikki hoped it would stay that way. She loved no one as much as she loved Jack.
"I know we are only in fifth year, but I feel so much older." Jack whispered, taking a sip of Butterbeer.
"We're in love." Nikki said, glad she had talked to her sister about this, "We'll feel what ever age we act. You act older, nicer, and more responsible than your age; of course you'll feel it too."
"I guess." Jack said, tapping the crystal to turn the volume down a bit. He leant over and kissed Nikki's ear, and then her lips. "I guess so."
Nikki smiled, and kissed him back. She moved her wand out of the way, and moved even closer to Jack. He put his arms around her gently, and looked up at the stars.
"Look, a shooting star." He whispered, pointing.
* * * Ibis tossed and turned, trying to muffle her sobs. She thought school at Hogwarts would be fun, but now, on her first night, she wished she was home.
One of the girls had been so cruel, calling her names and picking on her accent. And she had to room with this horrible girl, worse luck.
Ibis sighed and wiped her eyes, finally dosing off to a troubled sleep.
* * * Looking around, all Ibis could see through the tears of frustration in her eyes was a blur of colours from the portraits and tapestries. She sank to the floor and rested her head on her knees and sobbed, well and truly lost. How could she find her way to Advanced Defence Against the Dark Arts when she couldn't even find her way back to the Ravenclaw common room to start again? She was sure the little ghosty man in the funny bow tie had told her to go up the stairs and along the corridor. But she couldn't find the classroom no matter how hard she looked.
Something small and warm brushed against her leg. Ibis raised her face and wiped her eyes. She was face to face with the small dust-brown cat that usually followed the caretaker, Mr. Filch around.
"Hello Mrs. Norris." Ibis whispered, stroking the cat's ears, "Can you help me? Can you show me where my class is?"
She hadn't been expecting the reaction. She didn't expect the little cat to turn and run down the hall and look back at her. And she didn't know what possessed her to follow it, but she did. Mrs. Norris led her down a set of stairs and through a maze of corridors, waiting if she got too far ahead, and then leading on. She stopped outside of a half open door and turned in little circles, clearly indicating that this was the final destination.
Ibis stared, shrugged, and thanked the little cat. She reached back to fix her hair, and realised that her scrunchie had fallen out. Her hair was a tangled mess. She ran her fingers through it, and tied it in a loose knot at the back of her neck. At least it would be a little tame then. Finally she walked through the door and into her class.
"Nice of you to join us, miss." the professor consulted his list, "Miss Goldeye. I am Professor Lupin, your new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher."
Nearly all the class turned to look at the new arrival, and Ibis felt her face flush. She leapt towards the nearest empty seat, next to a Gryffindor girl with black curls that fell just past her shoulders. She looked familiar, but Ibis didn't try to place her.
"Least some people have the decency to brush their hair." The girl said, raising her eyebrows nearly to her hairline, "Did someone forget to get up this morning?"
"I got lost." Ibis defended herself, "The little ghost with the bow tie made me go the wrong way."
"Bow tie? That would be peeves." The girl said, "Don't listen to him, he always picks on the newies. By the way, I'm Mistene Divine."
That was it, the girl Jackson was staring at, "I'm Ibis Goldeye." Ibis said.
"You're the new girl from Italy, aren't you?" Mistene said, then slapped her forehead, "Dumb question, your accent says it all."
Ibis smiled, "I know my accent is bad." She said, "But I can not help it. If you travelled to Italy and tried to speak Italian, your accent would be bad to us."
"I know." Mistene said, "And you accent isn't bad. For god's sake, the is nothing bad about it." She looked toward the teacher and batted her eyes, "He's cute, for a teacher."
Ibis couldn't help but look. The teacher was fairly good, all wavy light brown hair and he wasn't that old. "I.suppose."
"No doubt," Mistene added, "But he is cuter. He is plain hot."
Ibis looked in the direction Mistene was pointing, and spotted Jackson a little down the row. She smiled secretly, and nodded, "He is nice looking."
"He's HOT!!" Mistene said just a little too loudly, attracting the attention of some students. She giggled and waved at the starers, and they turned away.
"So you like him?" Ibis asked, crossing her fingers.
"Of course I do. He's hot, he's cute, he's fairly quiet.he's totally perfect." Mistene blew a kiss towards the completely unaware Jackson.
Ibis's smile broadened. How perfect could it be? She only had to tell Jackson that Mistene liked him, and set them up together somewhere. Time to play matchmaker. "Do you think he likes you too?" she asked, playing the innocent.
"Well if he doesn't he will soon." Mistene said slyly. She noticed Ibis's puzzled expression and explained, "All I have to do is bat my eyes, roll my hips, lick my lips, and the boys come running. They really are simple creatures, aren't they?"
Ibis studied the other girl, and decided she could see why. "No, they are just easily coaxed into doing things." She decided that even if she had a figure other than that of a beanpole and hair that was a little tame, she still wouldn't be able to 'coax boys into doing things'. "So, you get everything you want?"
"Yes." Mistene sighed, "Even better grades."
Ibis's jaw dropped. "I don't believe you."
Mistene cackled, "Oh, it only works with male teachers. All you have to do I give them a little of what they want." she trailed off, enjoying watching Ibis's eyes grow even wider. Geez, those eyes were big enough to start with, but now it looked though they would fall out of the poor girl's head. "Just give them a lap dance or something of the like." She giggled, savouring every minute, "Professor Snape is good in bed."
Ibis's jaw almost hit the floor, and her eyes just popped, "You.didn't." she said weakly.
"Blink already!" Mistene chuckled, "Of course I didn't."
"I was. you had me worried." Ibis said, relaxing her eyes and closing her mouth. "Please do not do that again. I was very scared."
Mistene stuffed her fingers in her mouth to stop from crying out too loudly. "Sorry." She whispered, when she was under control.
Ibis shook her head, and sighed, turning to face the teacher. Mistene elbowed her again. "What?" she hissed.
"See him." Mistene pointed to a dark haired boy sitting near the front. "He's Harry Potter."
"You don't say." Ibis said, using an expression she had picked up off of Jackson, "I know. He is that famous it would be hard not to recognise him. All those photos in the magazines, and his interviews, just shows how famous he is. Is he egotistical?"
"No, he's actually quite nice." Mistene said. "You could even call him shy. He hates the publicity. All he wants to do sometimes is crawl away and hide. He did that last year, when there was this big thing about You-Know- Who coming back into power. Me and a few others helped hide him."
Ibis's eyes widened again. She hadn't expected Harry Potter to be a reluctant hero. "Really?" she asked.
"Really!" Mistene said. "And sitting next to him is Ron Weasley. He's Harry's best friend."
Ibis squinted at what she could see of Ron. He had a rather long nose, but she could see that he was getting more handsome as he got older.
"He's taken." Mistene said in a matter-of-fact voice, "By her over there." She pointed to a girl with wavy brown hair. "That's Hermione Granger. She usually had bushy hair, a bit like yours, but we've got at her to use a spell to make it prettier."
"What's the spell?" Ibis asked.
"Ask Hermione. It takes a while to learn, and it can take forever to do without practice." Mistene said, "But she'll probably teach you. She's cool like that. Always helps people revise for tests and such."
"So she is smart?" Ibis guessed.
"She's a genius." Mistene said, "But she doesn't brag anymore. Apparently she used to be a bit of a know it all."
"Oh." Ibis looked up to the board at the front of the class room, where Professor Lupin was writing something on the blackboard with a chalk charm on his wand.
"Don't bother doing work." Mistene told her, "I'll get Hermione's notes later and get a copy for you."
"But we'll get in trouble." Ibis said uncertainly. She hated trouble. Expulsion was her worst fear, and she would never try to do a thing like not pay attention in class, but trouble followed her, like nails to a magnet.
Her brow creased as she remembered last year at her old school. With the scare of Voldemort coming back into power, and the rumours that he was in Southern Italy, her headmistress had been rather paranoid. But she had chosen to do something that would change Ibis's life. She had each student's magical aura measured by a professional. Ibis's aura had shown up as the most powerful in the school, more powerful than those of the teachers. More powerful, in fact, than the Dark Lord's, according to the Aura Reader.
Ibis had fainted. When she came too, she was told she could now perform some special forms of magic. With special training, she would be able to perform all the magic she did then without a wand. By now she had learned all of her spells up to fourth year, and all the way up to seventh year transfiguration. And, she could now do a few willpower spells. These were extremely hard to do. The professional had a strong aura too, and could unlock doors using willpower spells. Willpower spells required no words, just a visualisation of what the spell must do. "Kinda like the Force! In Star Wars" one of Ibis's muggle born friends had explained.
And her powers would grow. When she was told that, Ibis fainted again.
That specialness had led to an even scarier event in her life. One which Professor Dumbledore could hopefully protect her from.
"Ibis." Mistene jabbed her in the ribs, "Earth to bloody bird girl. Land, darling."
Ibis turned to look at her, "Sorry. I was remembering." She apologised. Looking up at the board, she started copying notes frantically. Somehow she got them all down before the sound of a bell signalled the end of the lesson.
She walked out in a daze still, and was cornered by Jackson.
"Careful Ibis." He said, supporting her with his hands on her shoulders. "You look a bit scary there. What the hell is wrong?"
"Just memories." Ibis said, trying to force images out of her head. She gave a big shaky sigh, and pulled herself upright. "What lesson have we now?"
"Care for Magical Creatures." Jackson said. "You'll love it, come on."