Disclaimer: I DON'T own anything you recognize from the Harry Potter books,
movies, etc. I own the stuff you've never heard of before! :-D
And now! Our feature presentation!
It was Flashy. Her horse. The one she had ridden for two years during riding lessons. And he was here. HERE!
Megan slowly opened the stall door. She was sure it was all a dream, and any time now she'd be waking up, wishing it was real. Megan raised her hand to pinch her own arm, to wake herself up before it got too good, but Flashy got to her first. He nipped her playfully on the arm. A huge smile appeared on Megan's face as she threw her arms around the big horse.
"Hey Boy! I missed you so much!" Megan drew herself away from the tall, muscular animal and looked up at him.
Flashy was a big animal, tall and muscular, as mentioned before, with a fiery personality (in horse language, it means he's HYPER and loves to run). He was gentle, but not a horse for beginners. Megan had taken many falls from his back.
Megan stepped back into the aisle, closed and locked the heavy door, and walked quietly back over to the crowd of people.
Professor McGonagall was now assigning the last of the intermediate riders. "Miss Gracefield, your mount will be. Mercury." She pointed down the aisle. "Stall number 11."
The black-haired first-year nodded but didn't move. She wanted to hear what horses everyone else was assigned too.
"Alright, Miss Granger. Since you are the only beginner, we are going to place you with the new riders, and If you're skilled enough, we'll reassign you to the intermediate class. That goes for all of you, your first few rides will determine if you are in the correct class, or if you need to be moved."
"Miss Granger, you will be riding Pogo. Stall number 13." Hermione nodded and wandered down the aisle toward her mount's stall.
Harry was next. He was fidgeting, he couldn't seem to stand still for more than a couple of seconds. Professor McGonagall turned toward him, and Harry's face turned a sickly shade of gray.
"Harry, you will be riding Chocolate." She must have noticed the scared expression upon Harry's face, because she added, "Don't worry, she's an easy mount. You'll like her. Stall number 17, okay?" Harry nodded.
Professor McGonagall continued down the list of students, but Megan had directed her attention elsewhere. Typical eleven-year olds. Very short attention spans.
"Megan.. Megan! MEGAN!" someone was calling her name. Megan snapped back to reality as soon as Professor McGonagall shouted her name the third time.
"Y-yes Ma'am?" Megan stuttered, clearly embarrassed for ignoring a teacher.
"The meeting is over. You will be expected here immediately following your last class."
"Professor?" The professor looked at her. "Yes?"
"I was wondering if the lessons will include any jumping?" Megan cautiously asked. Professor McGonagall smiled at her. "If you wish to do so, since you are the only advanced rider, I do not see a problem with that."
Megan jogged up the path toward the castle, pushed open the main doors, and then went through the doorway into the Great Hall. She saw Ginny waving and ran to sit by her, smiling as she sat down across from Harry. "Hey Harry!"
Harry looked up from his food and smiled. "Hey Megan." Satisfied with his reply, she concentrated on her own dinner.
Suddenly the heavy doors of the Great Hall creaked open, and a young brunette girl was left standing in the entrance.
"Ahhh, Mystic. Come here, dear." Dumbledore called. The girl, not knowing anyone except her grandfather, walked briskly between the tables, reaching Dumbledore in a matter of seconds. Professor McGonagall entered the Great Hall carrying the Sorting Hat, perched on its usual three-legged stool.
"Will everyone please welcome my grand-daughter?" Dumbledore called across the Great Hall, his voice easily heard; the large room was perfectly silent, perfectly still.
Scattered clapping immediately erupted throughout the Great Hall, and within about five seconds Mystic had turned a bright shade of red.
One of the Slytherins yelled "TURNIP!" and the whole Slytherin table erupted into hysterical laughter.
Dumbledore nodded to Professor McGonagall, who in turn pointed a wand directly at Draco Malfoy, at the center of the table. Draco turned a sickly shade of green and clapped a hand over his mouth. He widened his eyes and shook his head quickly at the rest of his fellow Slytherins, who immediately stopped their laughing and returned to eating placidly, their gazes directed at nearby walls and bowls of fruit.
Mystic, who's face had returned to its original color, turned toward Professor McGonagall and smiled. The professor pointed at the stool, and quietly explained what she needed to do.
Mystic sat down and placed the tattered hat over her head. It was so large, it dropped over her eyes.
"Ahhh yes. Well, let's see. You are especially difficult to place. Where to put you. Hmmmm. Well, not Slytherin; your heart is too pure. You're loyal. Very loyal. But there's something else. oh I see it now. Bravery. Hmmm. Well, how about. GRYFFINDOR!" as the Sorting Hat bellowed the last word across the Great Hall, the entire Gryffindor table burst into enthusiastic applause.
Mystic approached the table, her long brown hair extremely puffy from the old sorting hat. All the first-years watched her intently, focusing closely at her bright blue eyes. Megan motioned to a seat to her right side. Mystic eagerly took it; the rest of the table was full.
Megan smiled at the new girl. "Je m'appelle, Megan, tu t'appelles comment?" Mystic looked at her strangely, and Megan started laughing. "I'm sorry! I lived in France for a while, and I occasionally slip back into that language. You'll get used to it. My name's Megan, what's yours?"
Mystic looked relieved and smiled, "Mystic. Mystic Ramsey." The new girl watched Megan closely for a moment before turning to the plate in front of her. She placed a heaping spoonful of mashed potatoes on her plate and dug in.
Megan groaned and laid back on her bed. "I can't believe it. First-years are not allowed to go to the Halloween dance! How are we expected to survive?" she whined, her dark chocolate eyes focused at the far wall.
Mystic sat on the edge of her new friend's bed, "Maybe they'll change their mind. Or maybe they'll think of something fun we can do."
Megan sat up, looked at Mystic, and shrugged her shoulders. "Maybe."
The next afternoon, after her last class, Transfiguration, had come and gone, Megan put her books up in the dormitory, and headed out to the stables. She wanted to be there a little early, to spend some time with Flashy.
On her way down to the barn, she spotted someone familiar up the path a little ways. "Hey Mystic!" Megan called, picking up the pace until she had matched strides with the other girl.
Mystic smiled. "Hey! I talked to Professor McGonagall, and she said even though I missed the meeting yesterday, I can still be in the class! Isn't that awesome! I shipped my horse over from my old school, so I wanted to spend some time with him."
"That's a good idea. I wanted to be down there early so I could spend some time with my favorite horse. He was my lesson horse back home, and now he's here. I was so happy when I found out!" Megan's dark brown eyes sparkled with excitement.
The two girls continued down the path towards the barn, almost knocking over a fifth-year. "Watch where you're going!" She snapped, continuing up the path toward the castle.
'What's her problem?' Megan thought to herself as she and Mystic headed toward the barn.
They would soon find out.
"EVERYONE!" Professor McGonagall yelled for the fifth time, having trouble getting the excited student's attention.
Finally, after the stern witch had started to lose her voice, all eyes were on her.
"All right, I trust you remembered your mount assignments. Megan, would you be so kind as to get Flashy out of his stall, and put him in cross-ties, and give a quick grooming demonstration? Most everyone does not know how to do any of that, and I'm sure a few have no idea what a cross-tie is."
Megan nodded and opened the stall door, entered, clipped on the halter, and led the big horse out of his stall.
"Mystic, while she's doing so, will you please do the same with your horse? I do not think all these students will be able to see Flashy properly. I will send half of the students to you."
"Yes Ma'am." She replied before bringing her horse, Lightning, out of his stall.
(A/N: Mystic's here! **cheers** WOOHOO! That's my gurl! And her real-life horse, Lightning. He's an APPALOOSA! If you don't know what that is, it's a pretty spotted horse. Look it up! :-D And now, back to the story!)
Pretty soon, all the students had their horses groomed, and finally, after a long time of lifting heavy saddles onto tall horse's backs and tightening girths, the group was ready to head into the large grassy riding ring and start the class.
And now! Our feature presentation!
It was Flashy. Her horse. The one she had ridden for two years during riding lessons. And he was here. HERE!
Megan slowly opened the stall door. She was sure it was all a dream, and any time now she'd be waking up, wishing it was real. Megan raised her hand to pinch her own arm, to wake herself up before it got too good, but Flashy got to her first. He nipped her playfully on the arm. A huge smile appeared on Megan's face as she threw her arms around the big horse.
"Hey Boy! I missed you so much!" Megan drew herself away from the tall, muscular animal and looked up at him.
Flashy was a big animal, tall and muscular, as mentioned before, with a fiery personality (in horse language, it means he's HYPER and loves to run). He was gentle, but not a horse for beginners. Megan had taken many falls from his back.
Megan stepped back into the aisle, closed and locked the heavy door, and walked quietly back over to the crowd of people.
Professor McGonagall was now assigning the last of the intermediate riders. "Miss Gracefield, your mount will be. Mercury." She pointed down the aisle. "Stall number 11."
The black-haired first-year nodded but didn't move. She wanted to hear what horses everyone else was assigned too.
"Alright, Miss Granger. Since you are the only beginner, we are going to place you with the new riders, and If you're skilled enough, we'll reassign you to the intermediate class. That goes for all of you, your first few rides will determine if you are in the correct class, or if you need to be moved."
"Miss Granger, you will be riding Pogo. Stall number 13." Hermione nodded and wandered down the aisle toward her mount's stall.
Harry was next. He was fidgeting, he couldn't seem to stand still for more than a couple of seconds. Professor McGonagall turned toward him, and Harry's face turned a sickly shade of gray.
"Harry, you will be riding Chocolate." She must have noticed the scared expression upon Harry's face, because she added, "Don't worry, she's an easy mount. You'll like her. Stall number 17, okay?" Harry nodded.
Professor McGonagall continued down the list of students, but Megan had directed her attention elsewhere. Typical eleven-year olds. Very short attention spans.
"Megan.. Megan! MEGAN!" someone was calling her name. Megan snapped back to reality as soon as Professor McGonagall shouted her name the third time.
"Y-yes Ma'am?" Megan stuttered, clearly embarrassed for ignoring a teacher.
"The meeting is over. You will be expected here immediately following your last class."
"Professor?" The professor looked at her. "Yes?"
"I was wondering if the lessons will include any jumping?" Megan cautiously asked. Professor McGonagall smiled at her. "If you wish to do so, since you are the only advanced rider, I do not see a problem with that."
Megan jogged up the path toward the castle, pushed open the main doors, and then went through the doorway into the Great Hall. She saw Ginny waving and ran to sit by her, smiling as she sat down across from Harry. "Hey Harry!"
Harry looked up from his food and smiled. "Hey Megan." Satisfied with his reply, she concentrated on her own dinner.
Suddenly the heavy doors of the Great Hall creaked open, and a young brunette girl was left standing in the entrance.
"Ahhh, Mystic. Come here, dear." Dumbledore called. The girl, not knowing anyone except her grandfather, walked briskly between the tables, reaching Dumbledore in a matter of seconds. Professor McGonagall entered the Great Hall carrying the Sorting Hat, perched on its usual three-legged stool.
"Will everyone please welcome my grand-daughter?" Dumbledore called across the Great Hall, his voice easily heard; the large room was perfectly silent, perfectly still.
Scattered clapping immediately erupted throughout the Great Hall, and within about five seconds Mystic had turned a bright shade of red.
One of the Slytherins yelled "TURNIP!" and the whole Slytherin table erupted into hysterical laughter.
Dumbledore nodded to Professor McGonagall, who in turn pointed a wand directly at Draco Malfoy, at the center of the table. Draco turned a sickly shade of green and clapped a hand over his mouth. He widened his eyes and shook his head quickly at the rest of his fellow Slytherins, who immediately stopped their laughing and returned to eating placidly, their gazes directed at nearby walls and bowls of fruit.
Mystic, who's face had returned to its original color, turned toward Professor McGonagall and smiled. The professor pointed at the stool, and quietly explained what she needed to do.
Mystic sat down and placed the tattered hat over her head. It was so large, it dropped over her eyes.
"Ahhh yes. Well, let's see. You are especially difficult to place. Where to put you. Hmmmm. Well, not Slytherin; your heart is too pure. You're loyal. Very loyal. But there's something else. oh I see it now. Bravery. Hmmm. Well, how about. GRYFFINDOR!" as the Sorting Hat bellowed the last word across the Great Hall, the entire Gryffindor table burst into enthusiastic applause.
Mystic approached the table, her long brown hair extremely puffy from the old sorting hat. All the first-years watched her intently, focusing closely at her bright blue eyes. Megan motioned to a seat to her right side. Mystic eagerly took it; the rest of the table was full.
Megan smiled at the new girl. "Je m'appelle, Megan, tu t'appelles comment?" Mystic looked at her strangely, and Megan started laughing. "I'm sorry! I lived in France for a while, and I occasionally slip back into that language. You'll get used to it. My name's Megan, what's yours?"
Mystic looked relieved and smiled, "Mystic. Mystic Ramsey." The new girl watched Megan closely for a moment before turning to the plate in front of her. She placed a heaping spoonful of mashed potatoes on her plate and dug in.
Megan groaned and laid back on her bed. "I can't believe it. First-years are not allowed to go to the Halloween dance! How are we expected to survive?" she whined, her dark chocolate eyes focused at the far wall.
Mystic sat on the edge of her new friend's bed, "Maybe they'll change their mind. Or maybe they'll think of something fun we can do."
Megan sat up, looked at Mystic, and shrugged her shoulders. "Maybe."
The next afternoon, after her last class, Transfiguration, had come and gone, Megan put her books up in the dormitory, and headed out to the stables. She wanted to be there a little early, to spend some time with Flashy.
On her way down to the barn, she spotted someone familiar up the path a little ways. "Hey Mystic!" Megan called, picking up the pace until she had matched strides with the other girl.
Mystic smiled. "Hey! I talked to Professor McGonagall, and she said even though I missed the meeting yesterday, I can still be in the class! Isn't that awesome! I shipped my horse over from my old school, so I wanted to spend some time with him."
"That's a good idea. I wanted to be down there early so I could spend some time with my favorite horse. He was my lesson horse back home, and now he's here. I was so happy when I found out!" Megan's dark brown eyes sparkled with excitement.
The two girls continued down the path towards the barn, almost knocking over a fifth-year. "Watch where you're going!" She snapped, continuing up the path toward the castle.
'What's her problem?' Megan thought to herself as she and Mystic headed toward the barn.
They would soon find out.
"EVERYONE!" Professor McGonagall yelled for the fifth time, having trouble getting the excited student's attention.
Finally, after the stern witch had started to lose her voice, all eyes were on her.
"All right, I trust you remembered your mount assignments. Megan, would you be so kind as to get Flashy out of his stall, and put him in cross-ties, and give a quick grooming demonstration? Most everyone does not know how to do any of that, and I'm sure a few have no idea what a cross-tie is."
Megan nodded and opened the stall door, entered, clipped on the halter, and led the big horse out of his stall.
"Mystic, while she's doing so, will you please do the same with your horse? I do not think all these students will be able to see Flashy properly. I will send half of the students to you."
"Yes Ma'am." She replied before bringing her horse, Lightning, out of his stall.
(A/N: Mystic's here! **cheers** WOOHOO! That's my gurl! And her real-life horse, Lightning. He's an APPALOOSA! If you don't know what that is, it's a pretty spotted horse. Look it up! :-D And now, back to the story!)
Pretty soon, all the students had their horses groomed, and finally, after a long time of lifting heavy saddles onto tall horse's backs and tightening girths, the group was ready to head into the large grassy riding ring and start the class.