The Christmas vacation had gone by so quickly, it seemed that classes had never
really ended. Majie was struggling greatly through her classes due to their
excess. She had picked up a History of Magic Final Year course, as well as Muggle
Studies. And her Defense Against The Dark Arts class with Professor Moody, while
somewhat enjoyable was becoming quite tiresome.
While in the library one afternoon she noticed Hermione and Victor Krum chatting
happily. Her silly little breakfast chat with Ron, Fred and George flashed back
in her head. It had been a while since she'd seen Ron, but she hoped she might
catch him in the near future.
After what seemed like days, but was only a little over an hour, Majie packed
up her books and set off towards Ravenclaw's common room.
Majie was deep in thought about her apparition exam, which was coming up at
the end of her last year at Hogwarts. She had tried to practice, but was constantly
afraid that she'd end up leaving a leg behind. Maybe end up miles away from
her designated location on a remote island surrounded by enormous Quantapes
bearing their ugly teeth, or land in a dragon's nest her mind wandered
before she suddenly ran into something, no - someone. Her books flew everywhere
before she herself fell backwards, landing hard on her bottom. She looked up
and down the hallway, thankfully it was mostly deserted.
"You ok?" A familiar voice asked before a hand was extended down to
help her up. She looked up to find a mop of red hair among a face full of tiny
freckles. It was Ron. "Sorry about that, just got out of Divinitation,
awful class, Trelawney was angry about Harry and I goofing off an' she asked
him to stay behind after the bell, rotten woman gave us lots of extra homework."
He flashed his pile of worksheets and star maps to her before he bent over and
began picking up her strewn book and papers. "Like I said, real sorry"
He suddenly paused. "It's Majie right?" She nodded and he continued.
"What's your excuse, by the way?"
"Well, I was coming back from the library," she began helping Ron
pick up the litter of papers across the floor, "got a lot of work and -"
"Muggle studies?" Ron cut her short, looking at one of the books she
had picked up. "Hermione took that last year, dropped it 'cause she couldn't
handle all the classes, don't see why she took it, she's muggle born and all,
but ..'ey, why're you takin' it any ways?" He questioned.
"Well, see I'm hopin' to get into the Ministry of Magic, mainly want to
be in the Improper Use of Magic Office, figure if Fred and George do open up
that joke shop and get themselves in a bit of trouble they'll want a friend
there. Because of that I need two years of Muggle Studies, minimum. Need to
understand how muggles think and how to deal with the improper things that some
wizards do to muggles, get it?" By this point all of Majie's books and
papers were now off the floor and spread between Ron and Majie's arms. One side
of Majie's robes had slipped off of her shoulder revealing a patch that seemed
to be hidden reading: Majenta A. Loveoak, Prefect. With the Ravenclaw patch
stamped into it.
"You're a prefect?" Ron took a slight step back, "but I
always thought they were nerdy and constantly worried about rules?"
She smiled. "Not all of them, though I am a bit nerdy."
"Hah, hardly! More like.. brilliant!" He said dreamily, holding his
right index finger up in the air.
Majie couldn't help but smile. "Thanks. Hey, I was on my way to put my
books back in my room.. and since you seem to be holding half of them I was
wondering if you'd mind helping?" She looking up at him, waiting for him
to say 'no thanks' and dump the load back into her arms. To her surprise he
shrugged and said "why not?" instead.
They walked quietly up to the Ravenclaw wing in Hogwarts, passing a painting
of what looked like Ravenclaw's version of the fat lady, except it was a man.
He had short gray hair and a tired smile, and was dressed in old bright blue
wizard robes, a bit frilly and completely out of fashion.
"That's Sit Benton the Tired, seems to be getting a bit aged, always letting
people use old passwords, even after they've been changed. Suppose he needs
to retire." Majie said. Ron chuckled at this and they continued until they
came upon a much smaller painting shortly after Sir Benton the Tired, which
consisted of long extending fields of brightly colored flowers in nearly every
color of the rainbow.
"Puddle puffs." Majie spoke. "Came up with that one myself."
She said proudly.
"Wow," Ron's voice nearly failed him as he entered her room. He hadn't
realized prefects got their own private rooms, he'd always heard Percy's mumbling
but couldn't imagine such a splendid room. It was brightly lit with walls painted
daisy yellow and had a large desk covered in books and papers as well as an
even larger bed. There seemed to be an odd assortment of plants around the room
(due to her Herbology studies) and a broomstick, which was leaning against the
wall labeled 'Nimbus 2001.'
"You can set the books down over here." She gestured towards the already
crowded desk, setting the books she held onto it as well. "Thanks a lot,
these things can get very heavy at times."
"I bet," he eyed the desktop before continuing his glance around the
room. He noticed behind the desk, nearly hidden by the stack of books was a
small table with a chessboard on it and two small chairs on either side of the
table.
She noticed him looking at the chessboard and smiled. "That one's my own.
I like chess a lot, though my board is getting a bit old, pieces been broken
one too many times I'd guess. Repairo!" She held up her want and shouted,
and the broken pieces slowly became whole again."
"Cool. And the broom? Nimbus 2001?! I take it you're on the Ravenclaw house
Quidditch team?"
"Was on it, course we're not having any Quidditch matches this year,
and my last year as a chaser too!" She sighed. "Well I expect Harry
and Hermione will be looking for you? Maybe we should be off?"
"Yes, thank you for showing me your room, maybe I'll look into becoming
a prefect myself. Your own private room" Ron's mind drifted off into
visions of utter silence and privacy, a room all his own.
"Yeah well it's not all that it's cracked up to be sometimes. Loads of
work, hard to keep up with friends, but you're smart, I bet you'd make a fine
prefect."
Ron beamed.
"I'll be seeing you later then, thanks a bunch for your help, you're very
sweet."
"Well, I sorta knocked you over after all" He said blushing
slightly.
"Nah it's nothing, thanks and I'll see you, maybe at dinner or something?"
"Ok," Ron turned to find Harry walking up the hallway and gave Majie
one last good-bye before trotting up to meet Harry.
"Where've you been?" Harry smirked, watching the pretty brunette Ron
had exited a private prefect bedroom with.
"Oh," Ron blushed, realizing what Harry much have been contemplating
in his head. "It's nothing, just helping out a friend of Fred and George's."
"Since when did you start hanging around Fred and George's friends anyway?"
Harry poked Ron.
"Oh you.. you just shut up!" He smirked. "Besides, she's
different! She's a prefect!" He stated pointedly.
"A prefect? Ooh I see" Harry teased.
"Oh would you stop."
"Ok, ok." Harry gave up. "Never mind, besides, we promised to
meet Hermione any ways. I looked everywhere for you after Trelawney yelled at
us during Divinitation. Seems she didn't appreciate that I didn't die during
my confrontation with the Hortail, seems to think I'm making her job harder
or something." Ron gave a snort. "Any ways, Hermione, we've got to
go meet her." Harry said as he and Ron headed in the direction of the Gryffindor
tower, with Ron muttering something about house elf badges under his breath.
