I have a few technical difficulties yesterday. sorry.
Important Author's notes: (or you could just read the bold fonts)
Sorry about the tardiness of this chapter. The only life I have is school and so far, it has done a good job of using all my time. And I am currently stopping for a while since I have a research paper I am working on and PSATs was only a week ago. Not to mention disastrous English classes that well, to say the least, has put my self-confidence in writing at an all- time low. So, please do not expect the next chapter to be up within the next two and half weeks. All I have of that right now is one page of flying lessons.
ALSO! I have added some additional information about Lily's family in the second chapter (Just a little more: Mrs. Potter's grandma was friends with Lily's great-grandma). Also there is more about Petunia.
These would be scene from Lily's first few years at Hogwarts. I am writing them separately since I have a mental block as to how to combine them. I think after the next chapter, I will fast forward (ooh! That was a funny book) to the later years. Perhaps fifth year or maybe sixth. I'll take a vote on that later.
Well, here is the chappie!
Classes
Our very first class was Transfiguration with Professor McGonagall. During breakfast some of the older students gave us helpful tips on each of the teachers.
"McGonagall is tough, but if you pay attention and are not too difficult, you should be on her good side." Mandy, Bella, and I all listened intently since our very first impression of the professor was quite intimidating. A giant man even gave the witch a lot of respect.
"Binns is very boring. He died about two years ago and he's still teaching," said a student who looked like a fifth year. Mandy's and mine eyes widened to the size of saucers.
"What do you mean? You can't teach when you are dead," Mandy began disbelievingly. "How does he? Unless he's a ghost, of course." The look on the senior student's face convinced us.
"He's a ghost?" I asked for some sort of reassuring feeling. "Other than that the class is normal, right?" my eyebrows rose in expectation. The older student laughed slightly.
"I wouldn't call it normal, but I suppose." Bella, being the more suspecting out of all the three of us, pressured for the student to continue.
"Why would it be not normal?"
"His class is as boring as a goldfish," said another student spreading butter on her muffin. ("Hey!" shouted Mandy indignantly. "Don't make fun of goldfish!") "All we do in his class is listen to his lecture. He is so engrossed in his own lecture that he doesn't even notice his pupils falling asleep. I have had him for five years and he still doesn't know my name. Honestly. How can he get Cherry from Hannah? Or Cecil or Doreen?" We left the fifth year student to complain alone.
"Greenwood is the Herbology teacher, which is rather obvious from his name. It's a bit of a joke around here. He's the Ravenclaw head and his classes are entertaining. Most of them are hands on. The only setback is that many magical plants are not friendly on the skin. unless, of course, they can be used to make lotions," continued the first boy.
"Mekaleri is the potions mistress. She is quite a unique person. You would never think a Hufflepuff would be so interesting."
"There is absolutely nothing wrong with Hufflepuff," Bella pointed out indignantly. We turned to look at her with confused expressions. "What? My grandmother is a Hufflepuff." The older student nodded while chewing on his muffin.
"I hold nothing against Hufflepuffs. My girlfriend's a Hufflepuff," the boy paused thoughtfully. "Potions is usually a boring class. We spend the entire class listening to lecture on different types of potions and there are only a few interesting ones we are actually allowed to brew." Mandy nodded in comprehension and our Hogwarts guide continued.
"Flitwick is an intriguing little man."
"How could you call your professor an intriguing little man?" I asked, shocked at the lack of respect. The older Gryffindor shrugged.
"It's the truth. He's tiny! Don't be shocked if you see a stack of books near his desk. Those would be for raising his seat. You'd think he would charm the chairs to be taller since he's the charms teacher, but whatever makes him happy."
"Goodness Jeffery!" exclaimed the girl by the name of Hannah (she was complaining earlier about Binns). "You know as well as I do that if Flitwick's chair got too high, he couldn't get off!" The two students began arguing over whether or not the Charms professor would be able to get off.
"If he could easily charm it taller, he should be able to shrink it!"
"You think so? What if he drops his wand?"
Bella looked at Mandy and I with an expression that said, "Let us get out of here before we get caught in the middle of it." We seemed to have reached a silent agreement to flee just as Hannah decided to ask us for our opinion.
"It's his choice!" called Mandy before we decided to seek refuge from the Transfigurations classroom. We never quite found out about the Defense Against Dark Arts professor and we were going to be in for a surprise.
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"Transfiguration is one of the most difficult parts of magic to master. One, it contains many elements, which can be separated into transfiguring something to another and transfiguring yourself to something else, most likely an animal." The class was jotting down everything the strict professor was saying. "Today, we will be changing buttons into beetles." Some students groaned (James and Sirius) since they were expecting to do something bigger like changing a desk into pig. I felt my heart beating louder and my stomach growing unstable. Whatever I had eaten at breakfast didn't seem to want to stay in. This is my first class with wizardry and the professor is saying it is very difficult. Not to mention this is a class I was worried about since I couldn't practice over the summer unlike Charms. For some odd reason, I just can't grasp the concept of changing one thing into another.
"Imagine the button is a beetle. See how both are round an shiny?" Professor McGonagall's voice was giving helpful tips to a struggling boy. I took a deep breath and gave it a try. The wand waved and incantations muttered, my button jiggled and stopped and jiggled and stopped, and it started to roll away. Bella's eyes widened when she saw what was suppose to be an inanimate object rolled onto her desk area interrupting her work. She smacked the poor button a few times but that didn't stop the plastic thing from not rolling. The ruckus Bella caused brought the professor's attention to our side of the room.
"Miss Figg!" Mandy, Bella, and I all jumped and straighten our backs; the button stopped moving as well (it seems to be also afraid of the professor). "If you managed to transfigure it, do not kill the beetle. The next part of the lesson is to change it back." Bella nodded with a blush creeping on her face as the professor left for helping another student. The button decided to roll again.
"Professor McGonagall?" I called the witch timidly. She turned around with an expressing expecting me to continue. "Can you help me fix my alive button?" as if on cue, my button rolled of the desk and bounced. If I had thought it was to prove my point, I was wrong. The button bounced all over the room trying to get away from anyone trying to catch it, which was half of the class. No one was able to catch it; however, either my bouncing button or a confused hand had squashed many beetles. I suppose most of the class won't be able to do the next part of the lesson.
"It seems you have accidentally placed a mobility charm on the button." The class turned their attention to me.
"I am sorry, Professor. I thought I had followed all the directions."
"No need to apologize. Finite incantatem." The button stopped jumping. I felt a sense of dread growing when the professor approached me. However, discomfort was unnecessary. She explained everything to me again and I quickly grasped the concept. This helped Bella and Mandy also since they were just as confused as I. We spent the rest of class transfiguring buttons and switching them back since during McGonagall's explanation, she told us how to change it back. It was only a prefix to the original spell.
"This is easier than I thought!" exclaimed Mandy on her fifth reversal. "Eeek! Something is in my shirt!" I was surprised at the comment.
"Well, that was random. " Asked Bella looking at Mandy carefully. The poor girl took off her Hogwarts working robes and untucked her shirt from her skirt. She kept on tugging on the back and eventually, a black beetle came out. Mandy shrieked and that had caught the attention of everyone in the room including the professor.
"There is nothing wrong. Go back to work," said Bella shooing the stares elsewhere. "A beetle was down her shirt." Nods of acknowledgment spread across the room passing from one friend to another once the story was being repeat. Right behind us, four boys were snickering. I turned around to look at them and all four acted innocent right away. Just like when they decided to change my hair.
"That was very immature of you!" Bella whispered fiercely from behind me. James shrugged, Sirius smiled, Peter shrank back, and Remus just stood his ground. Since we had no solid proof, besides our intuition, they had done anything we went back to comfort Mandy. She was squirming through the rest of the day.
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Charms is my favorite class. The professor was indeed very short and odd, but he was a jolly sort of a person. I had earned ten points for our house when I easily performed the levitation charm. I could feel James glaring at me for earning more points than he did. He got five points in Transfiguration for being the first to transfigure his button, but in Charms, he had no such luck. He struggled though this class as I had done in McGonagall's class. Our rivalry had begun. The urge to do better was also fueled by making him feel miserable after what he did to Mandy. Peter was having problems and since the professor had a hard time getting on and off his chair, I was deemed to help the other students.
"No Peter, it is Wingardium Leviosa, and see how the wrist movement is?" The pitiful boy just could not seem to do both actions correctly at the same time. Bella and Mandy came to help me as well. I held Peter's wrist to do the action while he said the incantation.
"Gack! No, just relax your hand and I will guide it." That turned out to be a challenge since I wasn't strong enough so Bella got the task. Mandy kept on bringing him extra feathers since whatever he did, they always were destroyed (either scorched or plainly disappeared).
"Lily, let me help him," announced James after every single attempted we made to help did not do anything. He whispered something to Peter and when the chubby boy tried again, he got the charm. With the most annoying smirk, he left to join Sirius and Remus with Peter stumbling behind him. I turned to Bella with an exasperated sigh.
"Why do I get the feeling he's completely against me? It almost seems like they planned the whole 'Peter can't get the spell' incident," I complained tugging at my braid.
"Good job Lily, I think you've found yourself a rival!" exclaimed Mandy cheerfully.
"And it's James Potter, the child prodigy!" Bella said with a mischievous grin.
"Oh hurray!" I said with false cheerfulness pumping my hand into the air. "Wait, you don't mean he truly is a child prodigy, do you Bella?"
"Yes Lily, he has an IQ of 250." My mind went blank. Lovely, I'm competing with a genius. Since we still had twenty minutes left from the end of the class, I began perfecting my charms skills and earned another ten points in the process.
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Defense against Dark Arts is a very interesting class. We never heard any warnings about the professor so all three of us were anxious about this class. I knew the course would either be interesting with many hand-on activities or boring since we would only be reading about them from our books. The Slytherins students had this class with us and it got off a bad start. A verbal sparring between the Marauders and a group of Slytherins including Severus began right outside the door. No one could get in or out.
"Five points from both houses!" shouted Professor Everett. James glared and the Slytherins were shocked. "Well? Move out of the way! Don't you see this big box my assistant is carrying?" All of the students obediently moved back to make an aisle. The man had a tall stature with broad shoulders. It seemed he should be the one carrying the large cardboard box. The professor is probably the youngest member of faculty and he must be very good at Defense against Dark Arts if he could be a head of house.
The students followed the professor and his assistant in closing the walkway. Everyone went to a desk without any argument of who wanted which seat. Something about him demands respect and people listened to that hint. During his lecture, no one did anything out of line, scratching of the quills was the only thing to hear besides the professor's voice. He didn't favor his Slytherins or cause the Gryffindors be at a disadvantage like many Slytherins hoped he would. James seemed to know a lot more about this class than me and I was content with listening and taking notes. For a Muggle-born like myself, having someone telling you vampires and pixies exist was enough to stop the mind from working.
"Everyone write down what you would like to learn from this class throughout your seven years. I will keep them in a file and it will aid me in making this course interesting. After you have done that, take out your book and read the first chapter. If you have any questions, write them down on a sheet of paper and ask them later," ordered Professor Everett. All the Muggle-born students including me widened our eyes. We didn't know which animal would be real even in the wizarding world and the ways the magical people live are still a mystery to us. Mandy looked at me helplessly. Bella was already writing excitedly about what she was to learn. Suddenly Mandy's expression turned into either shock or fear.
"Miss Evans, have you finished?" inquired Professor Everett. I shook my head and felt my expression turn to that of Mandy's. "Well, go on." The simple instruction took me by surprise. I was almost afraid I would get punished. A happy face soon replaced the stern one of Professor Everett.
"Hello. I am Aleida Simpleri. You don't have to call me "professor" like Professor Everett said. Just Aleida is fine," the teacher's assistant said. Then I noticed I had been staring into the same direction for a while. "You seem to be stuck. Don't worry. Read the first chapter and you might find something interesting." She winked and went to help another student.
According to the text, the course will be quite interesting. Defense is a very generic term. There are many ways of defending one self and I thought learning counter-spells would be good, since that would be important in dueling, which I put down as well. There are many creatures that are considered dark and I thought learning about them would be similar to zoology. At least I am learning something about science in this school. I wasn't finished with the list when Professor Everett started talking again.
"I know some of you have not finished but you may add on later." That signaled for the official learning process to begin. The questions we had on chapter one was answered and that took most of the time. We were given the rest of class to start on our homework.
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Potions is an odd class. One can't say it is similar to chemistry, but the basic concept is the same. Be precise. We had to brew an easy potion on the first day. Professor Mekaleri was interesting, like the older students had said. Her choice of words is indeed odd. She would interrupt herself in the middle of a sentence because something she said earlier was a little off. James and I didn't have much to compete for since Potions obviously wouldn't be our forte. A certain sleazy (I know I shouldn't use that word but my first impression of him wasn't so great) Slytherin boy was by far the best student in that class. Severus was amazing; there were so many things he knew about. The ingredients and what they could be used for.
"What is the term for the stone in a goat's stomach?" An annoying mumble came from the middle of the class. Professor Mekaleri looked at her name sheet.
"Mr. Snape?" Severus looked up with his usual sneer and answered. "Will you speak louder? I believe that's the best wording I have ever heard from a student. Five points to Slytherin." The sneer grew more condescending. For some odd reason, he looked at James and the sneer became a humored smirk. I looked across and indeed, James was indignant.
During the brewing process, I was partner with Remus. Being his partner meant being closer to James and Sirius. It could be a good thing, since I am more informed of their conversation topic; it could also be a bad thing. That meant being near Peter. His potion was disastrous. I think he made an acid even stronger than the nitric acid. I am positive if Mr. Charles, my science tutor heard about this, he would want to analyze the content. Mandy received all of my pity for the day. She was Peter's potions partner and got burned by the acid. She had to be sent to the infirmary and because of her absence, I paid more attention to the conversation between the boys.
"Geeze Peter, how can you make a light sleeping draught into a burning potion?" asked Remus somehow showing his concern for Mandy through this interrogation. "You probably scarred her from Potions experience for life." That part was a joking statement. But Peter looked miserable.
"It is okay Peter," I comforted while stirring my. or rather Remus' and my potion. "Mandy actually loves these type of thing too much to be scarred for life. She actually had been gushing about it since the first day." The professor just awarded another ten points to Slytherin.
"I hate that kid!" exclaimed Sirius making a face. Peter nodded and Remus only looked pensive. James stared at Severus' direction. "Hello? James, buddy, are you there?" James snapped out of his daze, and mumbled something incoherent, at least to Remus, Sirius, and Peter. But I heard, and it was statement of a challenge. Seems like James is determined to be the best of everything.
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History is just horrible. No matter how interesting the subject was, hearing Professor Binns voice would put everyone to sleep. I am happy since he actually knows who I am. well, not exactly. He thinks I am my great- grandmother. That is strange since they went to school together. I can't say much about what I learned, since I fell asleep as well. All know is that we are going to be learning about the history of our school. There might have been more, but he was talking about Hogwarts, A History for half of class.
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Herbology is one of my favorite classes. (I like all of them, but it has a nice combination of good teacher and curriculum.) Professor Greenwood gave us Latin roots to study since the roots help us understand the more about a plant by its name. Sirius managed to be punny since we were in Herbology and talking about Latin root. And when the professor got mad, things became out of hand.
"Mr. Black, this is a serious class. We do not tolerate non-seriousness." I suppose the professor didn't remember Sirius' name sharing a sound with the adjective so hell broke loose.
"I am Sirius!"
"Of course you are Mr. Black."
"No, I am Sirius Orion Black."
"Yes, that initial fits you quite nicely." The Professor was visibly peeved. He pushed his glasses back on the bridge of his nose, once again. The class Oooh-ed I guess teachers weren't supposes to be. I don't know what was so condemning. It was after class when Mandy told me Sirius' initials were acronyms for son of a witch only with a "b."
Well, back on the Latin roots: Everyone in the class was not quite knowledgeable in Latin, and to my utmost dislike, James Potter and I are the best. So much for trying to dodge competition.
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There is going to be two parts of this. If I was to keep them together, I am going to get a sixteen-page long chapter.
I actually hoped for it to be somewhat hilarious but I think the story will have a more serious turn later on. After all, life of nobility can't always be funny, or at least easy going. Trust me, if you like conflicts well read on. I already have a few in mind.
The very tiny appreciation section. (Only two. sniff, sniff. And also HINT, HINT! Feedback is good. I love feedback!)
Thanks for tigerlily for reviewing. I do believe she is my biggest fan. And a little note to everyone: bother her about her ficcies. she needs to continue them. But please bother her nicely. ^_^
Another BIG thanks to GyradosND for the touching (not really but it was heart felt. I hope) e-mail concerning this ficcy. I just have been buried in schoolwork and struggling with my English class, so I haven't been able to write and upload.
Can you believe I am not actually struggling with Chemistry anymore? I have so happy, well not really since I still don't do well enough on test but hey, I understand the concept and that is the key right? Sorry about that. I just felt like sharing my joy since report cards are coming and I am hiding under a rock.
Important Author's notes: (or you could just read the bold fonts)
Sorry about the tardiness of this chapter. The only life I have is school and so far, it has done a good job of using all my time. And I am currently stopping for a while since I have a research paper I am working on and PSATs was only a week ago. Not to mention disastrous English classes that well, to say the least, has put my self-confidence in writing at an all- time low. So, please do not expect the next chapter to be up within the next two and half weeks. All I have of that right now is one page of flying lessons.
ALSO! I have added some additional information about Lily's family in the second chapter (Just a little more: Mrs. Potter's grandma was friends with Lily's great-grandma). Also there is more about Petunia.
These would be scene from Lily's first few years at Hogwarts. I am writing them separately since I have a mental block as to how to combine them. I think after the next chapter, I will fast forward (ooh! That was a funny book) to the later years. Perhaps fifth year or maybe sixth. I'll take a vote on that later.
Well, here is the chappie!
Classes
Our very first class was Transfiguration with Professor McGonagall. During breakfast some of the older students gave us helpful tips on each of the teachers.
"McGonagall is tough, but if you pay attention and are not too difficult, you should be on her good side." Mandy, Bella, and I all listened intently since our very first impression of the professor was quite intimidating. A giant man even gave the witch a lot of respect.
"Binns is very boring. He died about two years ago and he's still teaching," said a student who looked like a fifth year. Mandy's and mine eyes widened to the size of saucers.
"What do you mean? You can't teach when you are dead," Mandy began disbelievingly. "How does he? Unless he's a ghost, of course." The look on the senior student's face convinced us.
"He's a ghost?" I asked for some sort of reassuring feeling. "Other than that the class is normal, right?" my eyebrows rose in expectation. The older student laughed slightly.
"I wouldn't call it normal, but I suppose." Bella, being the more suspecting out of all the three of us, pressured for the student to continue.
"Why would it be not normal?"
"His class is as boring as a goldfish," said another student spreading butter on her muffin. ("Hey!" shouted Mandy indignantly. "Don't make fun of goldfish!") "All we do in his class is listen to his lecture. He is so engrossed in his own lecture that he doesn't even notice his pupils falling asleep. I have had him for five years and he still doesn't know my name. Honestly. How can he get Cherry from Hannah? Or Cecil or Doreen?" We left the fifth year student to complain alone.
"Greenwood is the Herbology teacher, which is rather obvious from his name. It's a bit of a joke around here. He's the Ravenclaw head and his classes are entertaining. Most of them are hands on. The only setback is that many magical plants are not friendly on the skin. unless, of course, they can be used to make lotions," continued the first boy.
"Mekaleri is the potions mistress. She is quite a unique person. You would never think a Hufflepuff would be so interesting."
"There is absolutely nothing wrong with Hufflepuff," Bella pointed out indignantly. We turned to look at her with confused expressions. "What? My grandmother is a Hufflepuff." The older student nodded while chewing on his muffin.
"I hold nothing against Hufflepuffs. My girlfriend's a Hufflepuff," the boy paused thoughtfully. "Potions is usually a boring class. We spend the entire class listening to lecture on different types of potions and there are only a few interesting ones we are actually allowed to brew." Mandy nodded in comprehension and our Hogwarts guide continued.
"Flitwick is an intriguing little man."
"How could you call your professor an intriguing little man?" I asked, shocked at the lack of respect. The older Gryffindor shrugged.
"It's the truth. He's tiny! Don't be shocked if you see a stack of books near his desk. Those would be for raising his seat. You'd think he would charm the chairs to be taller since he's the charms teacher, but whatever makes him happy."
"Goodness Jeffery!" exclaimed the girl by the name of Hannah (she was complaining earlier about Binns). "You know as well as I do that if Flitwick's chair got too high, he couldn't get off!" The two students began arguing over whether or not the Charms professor would be able to get off.
"If he could easily charm it taller, he should be able to shrink it!"
"You think so? What if he drops his wand?"
Bella looked at Mandy and I with an expression that said, "Let us get out of here before we get caught in the middle of it." We seemed to have reached a silent agreement to flee just as Hannah decided to ask us for our opinion.
"It's his choice!" called Mandy before we decided to seek refuge from the Transfigurations classroom. We never quite found out about the Defense Against Dark Arts professor and we were going to be in for a surprise.
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"Transfiguration is one of the most difficult parts of magic to master. One, it contains many elements, which can be separated into transfiguring something to another and transfiguring yourself to something else, most likely an animal." The class was jotting down everything the strict professor was saying. "Today, we will be changing buttons into beetles." Some students groaned (James and Sirius) since they were expecting to do something bigger like changing a desk into pig. I felt my heart beating louder and my stomach growing unstable. Whatever I had eaten at breakfast didn't seem to want to stay in. This is my first class with wizardry and the professor is saying it is very difficult. Not to mention this is a class I was worried about since I couldn't practice over the summer unlike Charms. For some odd reason, I just can't grasp the concept of changing one thing into another.
"Imagine the button is a beetle. See how both are round an shiny?" Professor McGonagall's voice was giving helpful tips to a struggling boy. I took a deep breath and gave it a try. The wand waved and incantations muttered, my button jiggled and stopped and jiggled and stopped, and it started to roll away. Bella's eyes widened when she saw what was suppose to be an inanimate object rolled onto her desk area interrupting her work. She smacked the poor button a few times but that didn't stop the plastic thing from not rolling. The ruckus Bella caused brought the professor's attention to our side of the room.
"Miss Figg!" Mandy, Bella, and I all jumped and straighten our backs; the button stopped moving as well (it seems to be also afraid of the professor). "If you managed to transfigure it, do not kill the beetle. The next part of the lesson is to change it back." Bella nodded with a blush creeping on her face as the professor left for helping another student. The button decided to roll again.
"Professor McGonagall?" I called the witch timidly. She turned around with an expressing expecting me to continue. "Can you help me fix my alive button?" as if on cue, my button rolled of the desk and bounced. If I had thought it was to prove my point, I was wrong. The button bounced all over the room trying to get away from anyone trying to catch it, which was half of the class. No one was able to catch it; however, either my bouncing button or a confused hand had squashed many beetles. I suppose most of the class won't be able to do the next part of the lesson.
"It seems you have accidentally placed a mobility charm on the button." The class turned their attention to me.
"I am sorry, Professor. I thought I had followed all the directions."
"No need to apologize. Finite incantatem." The button stopped jumping. I felt a sense of dread growing when the professor approached me. However, discomfort was unnecessary. She explained everything to me again and I quickly grasped the concept. This helped Bella and Mandy also since they were just as confused as I. We spent the rest of class transfiguring buttons and switching them back since during McGonagall's explanation, she told us how to change it back. It was only a prefix to the original spell.
"This is easier than I thought!" exclaimed Mandy on her fifth reversal. "Eeek! Something is in my shirt!" I was surprised at the comment.
"Well, that was random. " Asked Bella looking at Mandy carefully. The poor girl took off her Hogwarts working robes and untucked her shirt from her skirt. She kept on tugging on the back and eventually, a black beetle came out. Mandy shrieked and that had caught the attention of everyone in the room including the professor.
"There is nothing wrong. Go back to work," said Bella shooing the stares elsewhere. "A beetle was down her shirt." Nods of acknowledgment spread across the room passing from one friend to another once the story was being repeat. Right behind us, four boys were snickering. I turned around to look at them and all four acted innocent right away. Just like when they decided to change my hair.
"That was very immature of you!" Bella whispered fiercely from behind me. James shrugged, Sirius smiled, Peter shrank back, and Remus just stood his ground. Since we had no solid proof, besides our intuition, they had done anything we went back to comfort Mandy. She was squirming through the rest of the day.
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Charms is my favorite class. The professor was indeed very short and odd, but he was a jolly sort of a person. I had earned ten points for our house when I easily performed the levitation charm. I could feel James glaring at me for earning more points than he did. He got five points in Transfiguration for being the first to transfigure his button, but in Charms, he had no such luck. He struggled though this class as I had done in McGonagall's class. Our rivalry had begun. The urge to do better was also fueled by making him feel miserable after what he did to Mandy. Peter was having problems and since the professor had a hard time getting on and off his chair, I was deemed to help the other students.
"No Peter, it is Wingardium Leviosa, and see how the wrist movement is?" The pitiful boy just could not seem to do both actions correctly at the same time. Bella and Mandy came to help me as well. I held Peter's wrist to do the action while he said the incantation.
"Gack! No, just relax your hand and I will guide it." That turned out to be a challenge since I wasn't strong enough so Bella got the task. Mandy kept on bringing him extra feathers since whatever he did, they always were destroyed (either scorched or plainly disappeared).
"Lily, let me help him," announced James after every single attempted we made to help did not do anything. He whispered something to Peter and when the chubby boy tried again, he got the charm. With the most annoying smirk, he left to join Sirius and Remus with Peter stumbling behind him. I turned to Bella with an exasperated sigh.
"Why do I get the feeling he's completely against me? It almost seems like they planned the whole 'Peter can't get the spell' incident," I complained tugging at my braid.
"Good job Lily, I think you've found yourself a rival!" exclaimed Mandy cheerfully.
"And it's James Potter, the child prodigy!" Bella said with a mischievous grin.
"Oh hurray!" I said with false cheerfulness pumping my hand into the air. "Wait, you don't mean he truly is a child prodigy, do you Bella?"
"Yes Lily, he has an IQ of 250." My mind went blank. Lovely, I'm competing with a genius. Since we still had twenty minutes left from the end of the class, I began perfecting my charms skills and earned another ten points in the process.
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Defense against Dark Arts is a very interesting class. We never heard any warnings about the professor so all three of us were anxious about this class. I knew the course would either be interesting with many hand-on activities or boring since we would only be reading about them from our books. The Slytherins students had this class with us and it got off a bad start. A verbal sparring between the Marauders and a group of Slytherins including Severus began right outside the door. No one could get in or out.
"Five points from both houses!" shouted Professor Everett. James glared and the Slytherins were shocked. "Well? Move out of the way! Don't you see this big box my assistant is carrying?" All of the students obediently moved back to make an aisle. The man had a tall stature with broad shoulders. It seemed he should be the one carrying the large cardboard box. The professor is probably the youngest member of faculty and he must be very good at Defense against Dark Arts if he could be a head of house.
The students followed the professor and his assistant in closing the walkway. Everyone went to a desk without any argument of who wanted which seat. Something about him demands respect and people listened to that hint. During his lecture, no one did anything out of line, scratching of the quills was the only thing to hear besides the professor's voice. He didn't favor his Slytherins or cause the Gryffindors be at a disadvantage like many Slytherins hoped he would. James seemed to know a lot more about this class than me and I was content with listening and taking notes. For a Muggle-born like myself, having someone telling you vampires and pixies exist was enough to stop the mind from working.
"Everyone write down what you would like to learn from this class throughout your seven years. I will keep them in a file and it will aid me in making this course interesting. After you have done that, take out your book and read the first chapter. If you have any questions, write them down on a sheet of paper and ask them later," ordered Professor Everett. All the Muggle-born students including me widened our eyes. We didn't know which animal would be real even in the wizarding world and the ways the magical people live are still a mystery to us. Mandy looked at me helplessly. Bella was already writing excitedly about what she was to learn. Suddenly Mandy's expression turned into either shock or fear.
"Miss Evans, have you finished?" inquired Professor Everett. I shook my head and felt my expression turn to that of Mandy's. "Well, go on." The simple instruction took me by surprise. I was almost afraid I would get punished. A happy face soon replaced the stern one of Professor Everett.
"Hello. I am Aleida Simpleri. You don't have to call me "professor" like Professor Everett said. Just Aleida is fine," the teacher's assistant said. Then I noticed I had been staring into the same direction for a while. "You seem to be stuck. Don't worry. Read the first chapter and you might find something interesting." She winked and went to help another student.
According to the text, the course will be quite interesting. Defense is a very generic term. There are many ways of defending one self and I thought learning counter-spells would be good, since that would be important in dueling, which I put down as well. There are many creatures that are considered dark and I thought learning about them would be similar to zoology. At least I am learning something about science in this school. I wasn't finished with the list when Professor Everett started talking again.
"I know some of you have not finished but you may add on later." That signaled for the official learning process to begin. The questions we had on chapter one was answered and that took most of the time. We were given the rest of class to start on our homework.
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Potions is an odd class. One can't say it is similar to chemistry, but the basic concept is the same. Be precise. We had to brew an easy potion on the first day. Professor Mekaleri was interesting, like the older students had said. Her choice of words is indeed odd. She would interrupt herself in the middle of a sentence because something she said earlier was a little off. James and I didn't have much to compete for since Potions obviously wouldn't be our forte. A certain sleazy (I know I shouldn't use that word but my first impression of him wasn't so great) Slytherin boy was by far the best student in that class. Severus was amazing; there were so many things he knew about. The ingredients and what they could be used for.
"What is the term for the stone in a goat's stomach?" An annoying mumble came from the middle of the class. Professor Mekaleri looked at her name sheet.
"Mr. Snape?" Severus looked up with his usual sneer and answered. "Will you speak louder? I believe that's the best wording I have ever heard from a student. Five points to Slytherin." The sneer grew more condescending. For some odd reason, he looked at James and the sneer became a humored smirk. I looked across and indeed, James was indignant.
During the brewing process, I was partner with Remus. Being his partner meant being closer to James and Sirius. It could be a good thing, since I am more informed of their conversation topic; it could also be a bad thing. That meant being near Peter. His potion was disastrous. I think he made an acid even stronger than the nitric acid. I am positive if Mr. Charles, my science tutor heard about this, he would want to analyze the content. Mandy received all of my pity for the day. She was Peter's potions partner and got burned by the acid. She had to be sent to the infirmary and because of her absence, I paid more attention to the conversation between the boys.
"Geeze Peter, how can you make a light sleeping draught into a burning potion?" asked Remus somehow showing his concern for Mandy through this interrogation. "You probably scarred her from Potions experience for life." That part was a joking statement. But Peter looked miserable.
"It is okay Peter," I comforted while stirring my. or rather Remus' and my potion. "Mandy actually loves these type of thing too much to be scarred for life. She actually had been gushing about it since the first day." The professor just awarded another ten points to Slytherin.
"I hate that kid!" exclaimed Sirius making a face. Peter nodded and Remus only looked pensive. James stared at Severus' direction. "Hello? James, buddy, are you there?" James snapped out of his daze, and mumbled something incoherent, at least to Remus, Sirius, and Peter. But I heard, and it was statement of a challenge. Seems like James is determined to be the best of everything.
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History is just horrible. No matter how interesting the subject was, hearing Professor Binns voice would put everyone to sleep. I am happy since he actually knows who I am. well, not exactly. He thinks I am my great- grandmother. That is strange since they went to school together. I can't say much about what I learned, since I fell asleep as well. All know is that we are going to be learning about the history of our school. There might have been more, but he was talking about Hogwarts, A History for half of class.
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Herbology is one of my favorite classes. (I like all of them, but it has a nice combination of good teacher and curriculum.) Professor Greenwood gave us Latin roots to study since the roots help us understand the more about a plant by its name. Sirius managed to be punny since we were in Herbology and talking about Latin root. And when the professor got mad, things became out of hand.
"Mr. Black, this is a serious class. We do not tolerate non-seriousness." I suppose the professor didn't remember Sirius' name sharing a sound with the adjective so hell broke loose.
"I am Sirius!"
"Of course you are Mr. Black."
"No, I am Sirius Orion Black."
"Yes, that initial fits you quite nicely." The Professor was visibly peeved. He pushed his glasses back on the bridge of his nose, once again. The class Oooh-ed I guess teachers weren't supposes to be. I don't know what was so condemning. It was after class when Mandy told me Sirius' initials were acronyms for son of a witch only with a "b."
Well, back on the Latin roots: Everyone in the class was not quite knowledgeable in Latin, and to my utmost dislike, James Potter and I are the best. So much for trying to dodge competition.
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There is going to be two parts of this. If I was to keep them together, I am going to get a sixteen-page long chapter.
I actually hoped for it to be somewhat hilarious but I think the story will have a more serious turn later on. After all, life of nobility can't always be funny, or at least easy going. Trust me, if you like conflicts well read on. I already have a few in mind.
The very tiny appreciation section. (Only two. sniff, sniff. And also HINT, HINT! Feedback is good. I love feedback!)
Thanks for tigerlily for reviewing. I do believe she is my biggest fan. And a little note to everyone: bother her about her ficcies. she needs to continue them. But please bother her nicely. ^_^
Another BIG thanks to GyradosND for the touching (not really but it was heart felt. I hope) e-mail concerning this ficcy. I just have been buried in schoolwork and struggling with my English class, so I haven't been able to write and upload.
Can you believe I am not actually struggling with Chemistry anymore? I have so happy, well not really since I still don't do well enough on test but hey, I understand the concept and that is the key right? Sorry about that. I just felt like sharing my joy since report cards are coming and I am hiding under a rock.