I went to the Defense corridor and found Umbridge's class.  I noticed her sitting toad-like at her desk as second years filed slowly in.  They were whispering sourly amongst themselves. 

"Dirty rotten-."

"Shush.  You don't want a detention from the old-."

I walked in with the rest of the class.  I was with Hufflepuffs, none of whom did I recognize.  I didn't really care what they thought of being with a fifth year Gryffindor; after all, I had a legitimate story.  Then I remembered what McGonagall had told me about not telling Umbridge that I was muggle-born.  American.  Red and White Petunias… rather Roses.  Ooh dear.  I hoped that she wouldn't question me too much.  I would surely slip.

"Ah, Ms. Fynn."  Professor Umbridge actually stood up and walked over to my desk.  "There are some notes on the board that I would like you to take, if you would be so kind."  Her voice made me stiffen.  What an awful voice from an awful person.  I wondered if she had a husband and shuddered at the visual of her frog-lips touching someone else.

Eek! 

I pulled out the piece of parchment that I had copied the notes onto from Hermione the night before.  They were exactly identical, but I pretended to be studying them anyway.  Blah, blah, blah.

"I'm done, Professor."  I said after a few moments. 

"Good, now you may join the class in reading a chapter from the book."

I blushed.  "Um… I've already read the entire book."

Professor Umbridge's smile faded slightly.  "Excuse me?"

The Hufflepuffs stopped reading and looked up fearfully.  

"I've already read the entire book."  I repeated.  "Is that against the rules, ma'am?"  I wasn't trying to be a bad kid or anything, I was just curious. 

"Are you intentionally being rude?"  Her voice became sugar-coated poison.

"No, not at all."  I was stunned.  Teachers usually loved me.  This is the new Anti-Favian Breed.  Bum.  BUM!

"Then you will read the first chapter."

"Again?"

"You still hold to having read the entire book?"

"I started reading it as soon as I got it.  I imagined that we would be referring to it for spells."

"There will not be a need for wand work in this classroom."

"Are you serious?"  I was aghast.  "But… how can you fully learn something without applying it first in the classroom?"

"She's in for it now."  A Hufflepuff whispered to his neighbor.

"If you've read the book, you shall have no trouble on the O.W.L.'s, Ms. Fynn."

"But…."

"No buts; just read and accept."

"Seriously?"  Then I saw that she was serious.  She didn't want her students to question.  "Okay then.  If you really, really mean it… but… okay.  But what should I do now?"

"Read."

"Again?"  I stuttered.  "Ugh!"  The book had been so boring, boring, BORING. 

"If you've truly read the entire book, then you should be able to tell me Slinkhard says about the ineffectiveness of newly invented spells in chapter nineteen."

I sighed.  I didn't like Slinkhard's explanation of how newly invented spells came to be and why he thought they sucked; I thought it was stupid.  "He said that newly invented spells have hardly been tested and are usually 'wand burps.'  Especially as of late.  Voldemort's spells were actually branched off of other spells."

Professor Umbridge blanched.

"What?"

"Do not speak his name!"

"Why not?"  Professor Umbridge looked ready to unleash Hell on me.  "Sorry, I forgot.  See, in America we don't really mind saying his name." 

"Oh, of course."  Umbridge cooled.

"Again, what should I do?  Can I go to Care of Magical Creatures now?  Since I'm pretty much caught up with my own class?"

"Of course not."  Umbridge said smoothly.  "And if you ask to leave again, I will take points from Gryffindor."

"Oh.  I'll just read then, shall I?"

Umbridge revealed her pointy teeth.  "That's better."

"Quidditch try-outs today, Favian."  Fred said, rubbing his hands together. 

"Coming to watch?"  George asked.

"Sure."  I nodded, adding a period to a sentence.

"You could try out for the team."  Fred said slyly.

"I'm not about to expose my butt on a broomstick for you to pretend to goggle at."  I said dully.  "Done."  I rolled up my parchment.

"Damn."  George snapped his fingers.  "I thought she was easy-eye-candy."

"Actually, I was considering something."  I said thoughtfully.

"What was that?"

"Being the team masseuse."  I winked.

"Are you any good?"  Fred inquired.

"You have no idea."  I stood and went to the girls' dorms.  I put my homework under my bed and stretched.  "Hey Eloise."

Eloise was drawn-out on her bed.  "Hi Favian."

"How goes it?"  I asked, sitting on my bed.

"The same as ever."  She looked at me curiously.  "Have you ever had a boyfriend?"

"No."  I smiled, remembering the thoughts that I believed would be my last.  Never had a boyfriend….  "Never."

"Me neither." 

"Oh."

"You know Neville?"

I grinned.  "Yeah, he's funny."

"I think I like him."

"Aw.  You should go out with him, though… I don't know where you'd go."

"Hogsmeade."  Eloise said automatically.

"Ooh, that's right, I've heard about that."  I imagined going with someone that was insanely attractive.  Yes, that would be nice.

"The upper-classmen are pretty good-looking."  Eloise said.

"I've noticed, but I also think that some of our year are pretty hot."

"Like who?"

I blushed.  "No one in particular."

"Oh come on, you can tell me."

"I just did."

"Favian, you're a silly goose if you think I can't tell that you're lying."

"Well, I'd best be off to the races."  I mocked her English accent.  "Quidditch try-outs.  Coming?"

Ron became team Keeper.  He was so excited that he hugged me and spun me around.  Hermione wasn't exactly thrilled but refused the same treatment.  I shook my head.  When Harry came back, Hermione had fallen asleep in an armchair. 

"What's this I hear about you being team-masseuse?"  Harry asked, grinning.

I stuck my tongue out.  "Yeah, well, only if someone better doesn't come along."

Harry snuck off to the corner with Hermione and whispered heatedly.  She looked worried and whispered back.  Hermione and Harry were sneaking off to bed.  Not together, mind you. 

"Hermione."  I said, rushing over to her.  "I thought you wanted to see my spell."

"Oh!  That's right!  Wake me up when everyone's in bed, okay?"

I nodded. 

"What about those massages then?" 

"Hermione."  I shook the bushy-haired girl into consciousness. 

"Right then."  She stepped groggily out of bed.  She followed me sleepily to the portrait.

"It's a bit of a squeeze."  I apologized.  We crawled through the space.  I had become so familiar with it that I had forgotten to warn Hermione about the drop. 

"This spell had better be good, Favian."  Hermione grunted, pulling herself onto the roof.

Jaeger waved to me.

"Jaeger, this is Hermione, Hermione this is Jaeger."  Jaeger nodded.

"You've…."  Hermione shook her head.  "Show me."

"You don't even pause to enjoy the view."

"It's cold."

"Right."  I took out my wand and pointed it at my chest.  "Aviatas."  I whispered.  The same deliciously cool feeling of flight washed over my limbs.  I floated over to her and pointed at her chest.  She floated with me.  No longer did she look even slightly tired but she was exhilarated.

"How did you discover this?"  She asked, as we floated over the Forbidden Forest.

I shrugged.  "My wand showed me the way."  I twirled through the air.  "It's a special wand, you know.  I wonder if that's why."

"What's the magical animal?"

"Animals."  I corrected.  "Re'em, Sphinx, and Centaur."

"Honestly?"

"Dead serious."

"How bizarre."  Hermione's eyes misted over.  "How honestly bizarre."

"Hello Favian."  A tall, dark-haired boy spoke calmly to me.

"Hi Tom."  I grinned.  Tom was one of my best friends.  From my dreams, that is.  It had been quite awhile since I had seen him.  "I'm in Scotland, can you believe it?"

"I'm from England, you know."

"Yeah, I did.  Crazy stuff's been happening, Tom.  I've missed you a lot."

"I've missed you too, Favian."

"Hogwarts is the name of my new school."

"I went there, you know."  Tom said, smiling.

"Really?"

"I preformed a special service to the school once.  What House are you in?"

"Gryffindor."  I told him. 

"Ah, I was in Slytherin."

"I hate some of the Slytherins more than anyone I've ever met.  But not you, Tom."

"I'm glad to hear it."

"I wish you actually existed."

"Favian, I do exist.  I am a wizard."

"Of course, Tom."  I wished that he were telling the truth.

"I can tell you things you didn't know, if you still don't believe me."

"Shoot."

He advanced slowly until his face was close up to mine.  "I can make you feel this."

He kissed me.  He'd never done that before.  He'd been sixteen forever in my dreams.  I could feel it too.  It was wonderful and horrible, except that I knew it was a dream, so how was I feeling it?

"Believe me now, Favian?"  He breathed softly.

"I-."

"Favian.  The one called Harry Potter… have you met him?"

"Yeah."  I was breathing quickly.  "He's nice.  Having trouble with this guy called Voldemort though."

Tom smiled wryly for a moment.  "Shall I kiss you again, so that you may awaken?"

"I don't want to wake up yet."  I admitted.  "I haven't seen you for so long."

He kissed me again then kissed my cheek and my ear and whispered: "I am your Death Flight and you are my Wings."

I frowned.

"Goodbye."

"Wait!"  I called out.  I sat up and looked around.  My ear still felt warm as though somebody had touched it.  I slumped back down.  It had felt so real.

"What's up, Favian?"  Hermione called from her own bed.

"Ah, nothing.  Just my dream friend."