A Twinkle and a Voice
Note: Ack! Isn't it just strange how so many authors live off reviews? Yes, well... That last chapter was not quite to my liking. Don't know why, think I always feel a bit strange writing anything remotely romantic (even when it's violent o_O!) yet I still do it. Aaaanyway, let's see what I can pull off this time. A bit short I should say... All hail JKR!!
The last wisps of summer flew right by everyone and the air had already begun to chill. Days went by, uneventful, and homework was being pilled on by all the teachers. Since the Triwizard Cup had gone awry the previous year, and due to other circumstances caused by Voldemort's supposed return, Dumbledore had decided to pass on that idea. This did not change the fact that he tried best he could to boost morale everywhere he went. The shadow of an idea was brewing inside his head, recently cleared thanks to the Pensieve, and he was thinking of making a little announcement during supper later on. All the while, Harry was struggling to turn a snake into rope. The snake pleaded to him not to do it and Harry tried to persuade him in Parseltongue that he would be restored right after, but in vain. Finally, the snake slithered off onto the floor and Harry, too tired to be bothered, this being the last class of the day, let him do so.
" Harry, really... I thought you wouldn't be having any trouble with Transfiguration THIS time! I mean, you're a Parselmouth for goodness' sake! And now you let him run off," remarked Hermione, with her same disapproving tone.
Professor Santon was at his desk reading a copy of The Daily Prophet, now and again glancing at the class over it. Where Quirrell was stuttering, Lockhart arrogant, Lupin loveable and Moody paranoid, Santon was just plain incompetent. He completely shamed the class of Transfiguration and the students now yearned for McGonagall. Santon was barely an animagus! When he turned into an eagle, half the time he would retain his frizzy blond hair or his neat little beard. Hermione absolutely despaired before him. He would enter a class, never actually picking up any assignments given, announcing the day's schedule. He would then give as little instructions as possible and sat behind his desk reading. Once, he had even fallen asleep and Hermione daringly went to poke him back into consciousness.
" Can you believe this bloke? Neville could turn all of us blue and he wouldn't even notice, much less care for that matter!" exclaimed Ron.
" Better than Snape always on our backs, I'd say. Anyway, at this rate, we're all passing Transfiguration. Probably wont bother correcting our exams, just give us all about average and be done with it," reasoned Harry.
The bell rang and woke Santon who had drifted off into sleep behind his newspaper.
" Right... Class, write a paper on how you transfigured your snake, for Monday... Good day, now," he said drowsily.
The class laughed, half of them hadn't been doing the homework for quite some time, catching on to Santon's lack of interest. They left, happy to see the day over.
*
" I think it's a very good idea! Get the children's minds' on happier thoughts. No need to wait for Christmas, no time like the present!" said Dumbledore merrily.
The teachers looked at each other, unsure. Their schedule was starting to get a little packed and they weren't sure if they had the time, or the desire, to start this project. It was October 13th and the sky was starting to lose its brilliant blue. Perhaps a little event like this could help.
" It's quite simple really. We always have a feast on Halloween and all those pumpkins are absolutely lovely, Professor Flitwick, but I think a dance wouldn't hurt at all. A costume party! Everyone would be wearing a mask and there would be dancing and, of course, candy and maybe even a contest, or a murder mystery game. Or one of those apple bobbing things! Come now, you must agree this would be good," persisted Dumbledore.
" It's true the children seem to be getting a bit bored. And I imagine this wouldn't take all that much planning or anything. I say we go ahead and do it!" exclaimed Professor Sprout.
After a brief discussion, the teachers agreed, or resigned to the idea, that a Halloween Ball was not a bad idea at all. They split the tasks, such as finding and organising games, and ended the meeting.
Since that afternoon in the dungeon, Snape and McAllaster avoided all conversation. They communicated anything important with letters delivered by students, and all this was strictly work related. Ron had found himself frequently going to see Professor McAllaster after classes if anything was bothering him. That day, after Santon's class, he wandered off towards her classroom. He found her inside, looking through her notes. He stepped over the threshold and knocked on the wall. She quickly looked up from her book and smiled.
" Hello Ron! How are you, dear?" she said affectionately.
She had grown quite fond of him. His smiling freckled face always managed to cheer her up with a small joke or a clumsily told story when her mind wandered into darker thoughts. He would come to ask her about assignments, or for advice when he had got into fights with Harry or Hermione.
" I'm fine, Professor. I'm not bothering you, right?" asked Ron.
" Oh, no. I was just revising some things. I've been thinking of maybe giving you a little surprise test, just to see if everyone's been listening! Feel free to tell your friends, a little fear always help kick students into studying!" she said gaily. " Is there something I can help you with?"
" Well, actually... There was something I wanted to tell you. This is really strange because I don't feel like I can tell Harry, and I usually tell Harry everything. But if I tell him, I'm scared he'll think something really awful of it. I've been hearing voices, Miss," he answered fearfully, awaiting her response.
She just sat there, her eyes widening with perplexity, trying to comprehend what she had just heard. This type of information was not passed around lightly and she didn't quite know what to do to deal with it. She saw Ron growing more fearful at her silence and quickly tried to find something, anything, to reassure him.
" You haven't been hearing these voices very often, now have you, Ron? Perhaps a few times after long hours of homework? Fatigue has been known to cause a few reality distortions. I'm sure Hermione herself has seen her share of strange things after her studying sessions," said McAllaster.
" No, Miss... It's happened in the morning, in the afternoon and at night. And I wasn't always coming back from work or studying. Actually, now that I think of it, it usually happened after I've talked to Harry," replied Ron.
Once more, Natalie McAllaster was faced with a situation she couldn't understand. She had started to find some explanation to this when a knock was heard from the door. Both McAllaster and Ron turned to see who it was.
" Natalie, Dumbledore's told me we have to make up an activity for the ball. Care to talk about it now?" said Martin Santon from the doorway.
McAllaster turned back to Ron and gave a look that seemed to ask if he was alright.
" I won't take anymore of your time, Miss. I'll let you and Professor Santon work. By the way, what ball?" he said.
She smiled. " You'll see tonight. You know Dumbledore, always up to something! Now if ever you need to... talk to me again, you come right up and do so, alright Ron?"
He smiled back and nodded his head, slightly blushing, knowing Santon was also in the room. He went towards the doorway and gave McAllaster a small wave before he left.
" So, Martin... We have to make something up from scratch? Well, that sounds like enough fun...""
To Be Continued...?
Note: Ack! Isn't it just strange how so many authors live off reviews? Yes, well... That last chapter was not quite to my liking. Don't know why, think I always feel a bit strange writing anything remotely romantic (even when it's violent o_O!) yet I still do it. Aaaanyway, let's see what I can pull off this time. A bit short I should say... All hail JKR!!
The last wisps of summer flew right by everyone and the air had already begun to chill. Days went by, uneventful, and homework was being pilled on by all the teachers. Since the Triwizard Cup had gone awry the previous year, and due to other circumstances caused by Voldemort's supposed return, Dumbledore had decided to pass on that idea. This did not change the fact that he tried best he could to boost morale everywhere he went. The shadow of an idea was brewing inside his head, recently cleared thanks to the Pensieve, and he was thinking of making a little announcement during supper later on. All the while, Harry was struggling to turn a snake into rope. The snake pleaded to him not to do it and Harry tried to persuade him in Parseltongue that he would be restored right after, but in vain. Finally, the snake slithered off onto the floor and Harry, too tired to be bothered, this being the last class of the day, let him do so.
" Harry, really... I thought you wouldn't be having any trouble with Transfiguration THIS time! I mean, you're a Parselmouth for goodness' sake! And now you let him run off," remarked Hermione, with her same disapproving tone.
Professor Santon was at his desk reading a copy of The Daily Prophet, now and again glancing at the class over it. Where Quirrell was stuttering, Lockhart arrogant, Lupin loveable and Moody paranoid, Santon was just plain incompetent. He completely shamed the class of Transfiguration and the students now yearned for McGonagall. Santon was barely an animagus! When he turned into an eagle, half the time he would retain his frizzy blond hair or his neat little beard. Hermione absolutely despaired before him. He would enter a class, never actually picking up any assignments given, announcing the day's schedule. He would then give as little instructions as possible and sat behind his desk reading. Once, he had even fallen asleep and Hermione daringly went to poke him back into consciousness.
" Can you believe this bloke? Neville could turn all of us blue and he wouldn't even notice, much less care for that matter!" exclaimed Ron.
" Better than Snape always on our backs, I'd say. Anyway, at this rate, we're all passing Transfiguration. Probably wont bother correcting our exams, just give us all about average and be done with it," reasoned Harry.
The bell rang and woke Santon who had drifted off into sleep behind his newspaper.
" Right... Class, write a paper on how you transfigured your snake, for Monday... Good day, now," he said drowsily.
The class laughed, half of them hadn't been doing the homework for quite some time, catching on to Santon's lack of interest. They left, happy to see the day over.
*
" I think it's a very good idea! Get the children's minds' on happier thoughts. No need to wait for Christmas, no time like the present!" said Dumbledore merrily.
The teachers looked at each other, unsure. Their schedule was starting to get a little packed and they weren't sure if they had the time, or the desire, to start this project. It was October 13th and the sky was starting to lose its brilliant blue. Perhaps a little event like this could help.
" It's quite simple really. We always have a feast on Halloween and all those pumpkins are absolutely lovely, Professor Flitwick, but I think a dance wouldn't hurt at all. A costume party! Everyone would be wearing a mask and there would be dancing and, of course, candy and maybe even a contest, or a murder mystery game. Or one of those apple bobbing things! Come now, you must agree this would be good," persisted Dumbledore.
" It's true the children seem to be getting a bit bored. And I imagine this wouldn't take all that much planning or anything. I say we go ahead and do it!" exclaimed Professor Sprout.
After a brief discussion, the teachers agreed, or resigned to the idea, that a Halloween Ball was not a bad idea at all. They split the tasks, such as finding and organising games, and ended the meeting.
Since that afternoon in the dungeon, Snape and McAllaster avoided all conversation. They communicated anything important with letters delivered by students, and all this was strictly work related. Ron had found himself frequently going to see Professor McAllaster after classes if anything was bothering him. That day, after Santon's class, he wandered off towards her classroom. He found her inside, looking through her notes. He stepped over the threshold and knocked on the wall. She quickly looked up from her book and smiled.
" Hello Ron! How are you, dear?" she said affectionately.
She had grown quite fond of him. His smiling freckled face always managed to cheer her up with a small joke or a clumsily told story when her mind wandered into darker thoughts. He would come to ask her about assignments, or for advice when he had got into fights with Harry or Hermione.
" I'm fine, Professor. I'm not bothering you, right?" asked Ron.
" Oh, no. I was just revising some things. I've been thinking of maybe giving you a little surprise test, just to see if everyone's been listening! Feel free to tell your friends, a little fear always help kick students into studying!" she said gaily. " Is there something I can help you with?"
" Well, actually... There was something I wanted to tell you. This is really strange because I don't feel like I can tell Harry, and I usually tell Harry everything. But if I tell him, I'm scared he'll think something really awful of it. I've been hearing voices, Miss," he answered fearfully, awaiting her response.
She just sat there, her eyes widening with perplexity, trying to comprehend what she had just heard. This type of information was not passed around lightly and she didn't quite know what to do to deal with it. She saw Ron growing more fearful at her silence and quickly tried to find something, anything, to reassure him.
" You haven't been hearing these voices very often, now have you, Ron? Perhaps a few times after long hours of homework? Fatigue has been known to cause a few reality distortions. I'm sure Hermione herself has seen her share of strange things after her studying sessions," said McAllaster.
" No, Miss... It's happened in the morning, in the afternoon and at night. And I wasn't always coming back from work or studying. Actually, now that I think of it, it usually happened after I've talked to Harry," replied Ron.
Once more, Natalie McAllaster was faced with a situation she couldn't understand. She had started to find some explanation to this when a knock was heard from the door. Both McAllaster and Ron turned to see who it was.
" Natalie, Dumbledore's told me we have to make up an activity for the ball. Care to talk about it now?" said Martin Santon from the doorway.
McAllaster turned back to Ron and gave a look that seemed to ask if he was alright.
" I won't take anymore of your time, Miss. I'll let you and Professor Santon work. By the way, what ball?" he said.
She smiled. " You'll see tonight. You know Dumbledore, always up to something! Now if ever you need to... talk to me again, you come right up and do so, alright Ron?"
He smiled back and nodded his head, slightly blushing, knowing Santon was also in the room. He went towards the doorway and gave McAllaster a small wave before he left.
" So, Martin... We have to make something up from scratch? Well, that sounds like enough fun...""
To Be Continued...?