Chapter 3 - First Impressions
"What do you suggest Ron…we make a sign: "Lost Wizards, Please Assist'? They will laugh at us, lock us up, people don't like things they can't necessary explain!" Neville said sarcastically as Hermione and Draco left the room in search of Muggles. All of a sudden a large buzzing noise came from the wall and a rush of students came from assorted passageways.
"We're in the dining hall!" Harry exclaimed, happy to be getting somewhere with their random assignment. He wondered how the other groups were doing, but remembered McGonagall's comment on their 'alternative' assignment and figured they were back already or something. Fine, we will show them, he decided with a stone reserve. He had faced Voldemort more times than he could remember, lost many loved ones, and done well enough in school to feel proud of himself. He had faced worse things than Methuen High School, this was going to be a piece of cake.
"Maybe there are some witches or wizards here that are in disguise, like we are. If we did a spell to reveal them, we could get their help!" Ron suggested.
"NO MAGIC, Ron, you know that's against the rules!" Hermione chastised.
"Oh, take the stick out, Mione…" He muttered under his breath, put-out that his idea crashed and burned without consideration.
"Well, he does have a point," Draco admitted.
"WHAT?" Ron and Hermione asked, both shocked (though for different reasons).
"All I'm saying is that well, none of us have ever been real…sticklers for rules before--why start now? And if you're dead set against using our wands then we could at least try half and approach people who seem more…open to wizardry," Draco explained.
"Sounds good, but where the hell do we start?" Neville asked, glancing around at the throng of people, all seeming very foreign to them in the mannerisms, clothing…everything. He was dumbfounded by it.
"Hmmm…how about…that table? They at least have smiles on their faces which is more than I can say for most," Hermione suggested and walked towards a table of girls about their age.
"…Remember that scene with Orli?" A friendly girl with light brown hair was asking another.
"Dude! I loved that part. He's…" The redheaded girl never finished her sentence when she saw their group. Her friend's back was to them and was confused until eventually everyone turned to stare as well. Oh great, we ran into psychos, Draco thought, aggravated that they were doing so poorly already.
"Uh, hi, do you need something?" A third girl asked but Draco never heard Harry's response. All he could do was stare at the one with black hair…she was the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on.
"Uh, Draco, you can sit down now," Neville said, swatting at his arm since Draco was standing there open-mouthed, causing laughter from some of the American girls. They all provided names and explained that they already knew theirs, which Neville believed to be Dumbledore's doing.
"So…you guys are in need of our help? What do you have to do exactly?" Jen asked the Hogwarts students.
"I assume we just…have to get back to Hogwarts without magical means," Hermione said after she had repeated, verbatum, everything their teachers had explained (or not, as the case may be).
"Easier said than done," Neville replied dryly.
"No kidding, I don't know the first thing about Muggles!" Ron said exasperatedly. Draco was still just eyeing Cortney. Ron waved a hand in front of the blond's face, no reaction.
"Are you working under a time limit?" Jenna asked the group.
"Not that we know of, just assuming the faster the success the larger the points awarded. That's how these things generally work, not that we've done this before," Harry answered.
"I vote for skipping the rest of the day, for the greater good!" Tricia suggested.
"I second that motion," Cortney agreed, breaking eye contact with Malfoy and joining the conversation.
"Are there penalties for that? I would not want you to be reprimanded for our problem," Hermione asked worriedly.
"Not a big deal, we've done it before," Jenna placated.
"I say…Wendy's and a movie sounds good, I know you guys want to get back but you shouldn't be all work and no play, enjoy our stupid country while you're here," Cortney said, to which everyone nodded agreement.
"To the Loop it is then! I know exactly what movie we should see!" Tricia said excitedly, sharing a smile with Jen.