A/N: Sorry for the wait. I had a bad case of writer's block, and I was having a bit of trouble with the format on this site. Thanks very, very much to all of those who reviewed, I need more! Thanks especially to my recently acquired beta reader, Xenith!!! Everyone should go read her story 'The Scars of Our Youth'! It takes place in Harry's fifth year and is very much centred round Fred and his new love interest and Harry becoming a Mage! R&R!!!!!!
"There are three rules to writing a novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are."
-Somerset Maughlin
Chapter three - Men in tights?
The hall drowned the newly sorted first years in cheers and clapping. Several minuets passed and the Headmaster stood. The hall fell under silence as he raised his hand.
"Welcome back to another school year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. There are a few start of the term notices I would like you to keep in mind. We have a couple of new staff members this year," he paused. "I would like to introduce to you Professor Noble who will be teaching you your History of Magic classes." A tall, well-built, middle-aged man gave a nod, but did not smile. "And this is Professor Reed, he will be teaching our first years their flying lessons." Unlike the first man, he stood and gave an airy wave, chuckled to himself and sat down again."
"Wow, do you know who that is!?" Quinn, a seventh year nearby said, loud enough for everyone around him to hear. "Milton Reed! He's the beater that retired just last year from the Dublin Spiders!" He grinned wickedly, "sweet."
"Also, as many of you will notice, there is a new tree that has been planted on our grounds. It is strictly for security purposes, and I advise you to stay away from it for your own safety. And now, let the feast begin!"
From the tables, sprouted gold platters mounded high with every-mouth watering food imaginable. Hands snatched at the center of the table as the plates refilled themselves. Quinn turned to James and spat between bites. "So James, isn't this awesome. Milton Reed, teaching here!"
"Can't wait to meet 'em at Quidditch"
"Yeah!"
James, after finishing his meal, sat back and stretched his legs out, pillowing his head with his arms. He scanned the hall and stopped at the near end of the Ravenclaw table. Before him was a girl, or rather a young woman, with reddish brown, mid-back length hair. She looked up and their eyes met. She smiled. He smiled.
"James...James! You there?" Sirius was bellowing into his ear, "c'mon lets go up to the dorms."
"Hey, dung brains! What's wrong with you?"
"Yeah, sorry."
The four got up from the emptying hall and headed up the stairs.
"Do you know if Lily is still dating Magellan?"
"Yeah, why?" One of the four answered.
"Just wondering."
They reached the portrait hole. "Hippopotamus!" The portrait swung open to reveal a pleasantly familiar room.
***
Lead by Sirius, the four filed into the Transfiguration classroom and to the last row of seats.
A woman with dark hair wrapped tightly at the back of her head, cleared her throat.
"Good morning class. I am professor McGonagall. Welcome to the first transfiguration class of the term. Now that everyone is here," she eyed the boys. "We can begin. Today we will be working on transforming these marbles," she gestured to the jar on her desk. "Into spiders," she rolled her sleeves to her elbows. "Like so," Her wand was directed at the marbles, "Spherespitris!"
Without a noise the marble disappeared and in its place sat a small black spider. It scuttled off of her desk and onto the ground. All eyes followed as it made its way across the floor and up the leg of a girl in the front row. She let out a shriek and tried to shake it off. "Get it off! Get it off!" With a flick of the professor's wand the spider vanished.
"Would anyone like to go first...Severus?"
"Yes?"
"Go ahead."
"Spherespit-"
"Excuse me Professor," the Prefect hurried into the room and handed her the slip of paper. "Dumbledore has asked to see Remus."
Remus lifted his face from the desk and searched her face for approval.
"Go." Remus pushed out of the row excited for an excuse to get out of class.
"Now, please continue Severus"
"Spherespitris!" The marble instantly sprouted eight legs and scuttled onto the floor, just as the professor's had.
"Good. Now who's next?"
Row by row, marbles fell to the floor and scurried away.
"Mr. Pettigrew, your turn then."
He stood. "Spherespitris!" His marble shook and the sprouted 3 legs then flopped over.
"Try again then."
"Spherespitris!" He watched proudly as it transformed into a small black spider... then burst into flames.
"Ooh!" the Professor began stomping at the fire until it was a mere could of smoke. "Peter you really must be more careful."
"Sorry," he said looking to his feet.
"Can anyone else do as I have asked without burning the school to its foundations?" The class was silent. "Sirius, you next then."
Leaning back on two legs of his chair, he lazily rattled off "Spherespitris," and watched his spider appear.
"Good."
Sirius gave a wicked grin as Severus glared at him from across the room. James imitated his act exactly.
"Thank you, that will be all for today." The class got up to leave.
"Oh, wait just a minute please. As I am announcing to my other classes, this year, like the previous, there is going to be a beginning of the term ball, and as always there is gong to be a theme. This year is 'Medieval Times'. It is going to be next Friday evening at 7:00, and open to all fourth years and up."
"Does this mean that we have to wear tights?" Peter piped up. The class sniggered
"In most cases yes, unless you wish to go as a knight. Class dismissed."
***TBC***
"There are three rules to writing a novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are."
-Somerset Maughlin
Chapter three - Men in tights?
The hall drowned the newly sorted first years in cheers and clapping. Several minuets passed and the Headmaster stood. The hall fell under silence as he raised his hand.
"Welcome back to another school year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. There are a few start of the term notices I would like you to keep in mind. We have a couple of new staff members this year," he paused. "I would like to introduce to you Professor Noble who will be teaching you your History of Magic classes." A tall, well-built, middle-aged man gave a nod, but did not smile. "And this is Professor Reed, he will be teaching our first years their flying lessons." Unlike the first man, he stood and gave an airy wave, chuckled to himself and sat down again."
"Wow, do you know who that is!?" Quinn, a seventh year nearby said, loud enough for everyone around him to hear. "Milton Reed! He's the beater that retired just last year from the Dublin Spiders!" He grinned wickedly, "sweet."
"Also, as many of you will notice, there is a new tree that has been planted on our grounds. It is strictly for security purposes, and I advise you to stay away from it for your own safety. And now, let the feast begin!"
From the tables, sprouted gold platters mounded high with every-mouth watering food imaginable. Hands snatched at the center of the table as the plates refilled themselves. Quinn turned to James and spat between bites. "So James, isn't this awesome. Milton Reed, teaching here!"
"Can't wait to meet 'em at Quidditch"
"Yeah!"
James, after finishing his meal, sat back and stretched his legs out, pillowing his head with his arms. He scanned the hall and stopped at the near end of the Ravenclaw table. Before him was a girl, or rather a young woman, with reddish brown, mid-back length hair. She looked up and their eyes met. She smiled. He smiled.
"James...James! You there?" Sirius was bellowing into his ear, "c'mon lets go up to the dorms."
"Hey, dung brains! What's wrong with you?"
"Yeah, sorry."
The four got up from the emptying hall and headed up the stairs.
"Do you know if Lily is still dating Magellan?"
"Yeah, why?" One of the four answered.
"Just wondering."
They reached the portrait hole. "Hippopotamus!" The portrait swung open to reveal a pleasantly familiar room.
***
Lead by Sirius, the four filed into the Transfiguration classroom and to the last row of seats.
A woman with dark hair wrapped tightly at the back of her head, cleared her throat.
"Good morning class. I am professor McGonagall. Welcome to the first transfiguration class of the term. Now that everyone is here," she eyed the boys. "We can begin. Today we will be working on transforming these marbles," she gestured to the jar on her desk. "Into spiders," she rolled her sleeves to her elbows. "Like so," Her wand was directed at the marbles, "Spherespitris!"
Without a noise the marble disappeared and in its place sat a small black spider. It scuttled off of her desk and onto the ground. All eyes followed as it made its way across the floor and up the leg of a girl in the front row. She let out a shriek and tried to shake it off. "Get it off! Get it off!" With a flick of the professor's wand the spider vanished.
"Would anyone like to go first...Severus?"
"Yes?"
"Go ahead."
"Spherespit-"
"Excuse me Professor," the Prefect hurried into the room and handed her the slip of paper. "Dumbledore has asked to see Remus."
Remus lifted his face from the desk and searched her face for approval.
"Go." Remus pushed out of the row excited for an excuse to get out of class.
"Now, please continue Severus"
"Spherespitris!" The marble instantly sprouted eight legs and scuttled onto the floor, just as the professor's had.
"Good. Now who's next?"
Row by row, marbles fell to the floor and scurried away.
"Mr. Pettigrew, your turn then."
He stood. "Spherespitris!" His marble shook and the sprouted 3 legs then flopped over.
"Try again then."
"Spherespitris!" He watched proudly as it transformed into a small black spider... then burst into flames.
"Ooh!" the Professor began stomping at the fire until it was a mere could of smoke. "Peter you really must be more careful."
"Sorry," he said looking to his feet.
"Can anyone else do as I have asked without burning the school to its foundations?" The class was silent. "Sirius, you next then."
Leaning back on two legs of his chair, he lazily rattled off "Spherespitris," and watched his spider appear.
"Good."
Sirius gave a wicked grin as Severus glared at him from across the room. James imitated his act exactly.
"Thank you, that will be all for today." The class got up to leave.
"Oh, wait just a minute please. As I am announcing to my other classes, this year, like the previous, there is going to be a beginning of the term ball, and as always there is gong to be a theme. This year is 'Medieval Times'. It is going to be next Friday evening at 7:00, and open to all fourth years and up."
"Does this mean that we have to wear tights?" Peter piped up. The class sniggered
"In most cases yes, unless you wish to go as a knight. Class dismissed."
***TBC***