Ruby went through the common room - unnoticed by Franklin and Bebe who waited for her in a corner talking with Alice about the upcoming Quidditch season (Franklin was Chaser, Alice captain and Beater). Ruby sneaked out through the ivy hole and made her way to the first class of day - Study of Ancient Runes. Shortly after her Oliver entered the room now wearing his school robes, too. He spotted her immediately and after placing his bag at his usual seat he moved over to her. Ruby busied herself with her bag.
"You aren't wearing these just because of what I've said to you, d'you?" he asked but Ruby didn't look up. She didn't reply at all.
"Well, you look neat." shrugging he went to his seat leaving behind a blushed Ruby who pretended to see through her books and wasn't very pleased with herself.
Five minutes after the bell had rung Franklin and Bebe came running into the room panting heavily. Frowning they took their seats next to Ruby while Professor Babble took ten points from Hufflepuff for coming late of two students. They didn't pay attention to him - they were much too busy gawping at Ruby. Franklin was the first to find his voice again.
"No wonder we didn't see you leave the common room. You wore your robes and ... what have you done to your hair?" Ruby gave him a look and his face reddened "I...I mean...it looks splendid, really!" he stuttered. Ruby looked down at her paper flushing again and thinking about a possible answer as they suddenly got aware of a fuming Professor Babble who looked as if he was about to take twenty points from Huffelpuff - for each of them!
"If you have something to tell, after you have already come late, Mr Abbott, then please let the whole class share your thoughts. I expect a different behaviour from a Prefect." He added admonishingly.
Franklin looked embarrassed about his behavior, he normally never chatted in class. Usually Ruby would have enjoyed this moment but as she was still so full with excitement from the flying she now took out her Runes homework to distract the teacher. Franklin shot a thankful look at her and Ruby regretted what she'd done. It would encourage Franklin greatly. However Bebe whispered
"I don't know who you are and what you've done to Ruby Riders but I definitely like you!" Ruby frowned but her fellow Hufflepuff snickered. Ruby's frown turned into a smile which quickly faded as Professor Babble who had skimmed over her roll of parchment spoke again.
"I am sorry, Ms Riders, that is all wrong, did you not notice?" he shook his head in disappointment "I am afraid you will not pass the Runes christmas exam if you do not take the help of an extraordinarily excellent tutor ... yes, Mr Wood?" Oliver's hand had shot into the air the same moment Babble spoke out the word 'tutor'. The three Hufflepuffs looked at him. Ruby was half knowing half dreading what he'd say next. Her tutor at Salem Institution, Mark Morstein, had been a bossy know-it-all. Additionally his younger sister in Ruby's year had obviously cast an eye on Christopher Carlisle, too. And she was more extrovert than Ruby... Enough reasons to not like Mark Morstein and hate tutors! However Oliver was saying now what Ruby had feared.
"I could do that, Professor."
Babble was delighted!
"That is a very good idea, Mr Wood! You are excellent on Runes and will surely be able to help our new student. It is urgently. I give you my class room. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evening I say, all right? Goes that along with Quidditch practice Mr Wood?" Oliver nodded and with a last glance at Ruby Babble sat down behind his table again. Oliver grinned at Ruby who wasn't in her good mood anymore. But then she heard Franklin's voice indignantly whisper into her ear.
"I could have done that, too."
Ruby looked at Franklin then at Oliver who looked rather pleased with himself then back to Franklin. And suddenly the idea of Oliver as her tutor appeared much more attractive to her.
As she left the room after lesson she noticed a trembling third year making his way over to her.
"Erm...you are Ruby Riders, right? Almost didn't recognise you in the school robes now." she scowled at him and he quickly spoke on "M...my name is Noel Harrington and I'm in Ravenclaw. Um...is your mother..er..WAS she at this school, too? Er...was her name May Derking then?" Ruby now looked suspicious.
"Well, she was...why?" Franklin and Bebe stood next to her frowning but highly interested. The boy held out a letter now.
"Then I shall give you this...from my Mum." And with that he was away quicker than Ruby could ask him what this all was about. She had no time for opening the letter immediately for they still had the way to the Transfiguration classroom lay in front of them.
McGonagall gave her a short nod as sign of satisfaction then began her lesson. They turned bottles of butterbeer into bottles of vine and back again. A simple spell Ruby had learnt in third class. However she was nearly the only one in class who found it easy or even was bored off.
Ruby had seated herself in the back row this time and now opened the letter while Wendee and Delilah were trying to find out why their bottles suddenly shrieked whenever they raised their wands.
"Dear Ruby,
my son Noel told me there now was an American Hogwarts student called Ruby Riders. I was quite sure it could only be you. You don't know me but I used to know your mother. My name is Liz Harrington, maiden name Dean. I went to school with your mother and we have been best friends. It had been hard for me when she went to the USA. You surely don't remember me but I have visited your family once. You still had been a baby then. I don't know how much your mother has told you about me (or if she has done at all!). She hasn't been talking to me ever since I found out about your grandfather...
I would like to take this opportunity to renew the friendship bonds with your family. Your mother has never answered the owls I've sent. Perhaps you could convince her to at least give me a chance. Please?
Yours, Liz Harrington"
And there was an address. Ruby didn't know what this all was about. Her mother surely has told her about her old best friend Liz Dean. There were pictures of them both in the school album. But May Riders had always told her daughter that they had had a bad quarrel when she had been about to leave Great Britain. Said Liz hadn't grant her the fortune and that LIZ was the one who had broken the contact completely. Ruby had never quite understood that all and now this Liz gave her a bit of an even bigger riddle. What was this about her grandfather? That Liz woman must've been lying. Ruby decided to write her a letter where she stated her opinion clearly. Ruby was much too occupied with thinking about the letter than to notice the stern looks McGonagall was giving her through the whole lesson. Neither did Ruby go to lunch.
She sat on her bed in the dormitory and showed the letter to Witty who immediately forgot her nagging about the fact that Ruby hadn't brought her something for lunch. Witty might be tiny but could eat an amount of food which was amazing considering her stature. They began to write an answer which they had nearly finished as they heard a knocking sound. Ruby looked up and saw a huge eagle tapping his beak against the window. Witty shrieked and hid under the letter while Ruby nearly fell off the bed. Then she realised. That was Sadie Portland's King. She had a weakness for extravagant things and an owl seemed too usual for her. And sure enough the letter tied to King's leg was from Sadie.
"Hey Riding Ruby,"
it read. Ruby grinned at Sadie's usual name for her.
"got your letter today. Geez, Hogwarts! You really grab for the stars, don't you? Well, that ridiculous school owl you sent looked so exhausted but I wanted to answer asap so I took King and let the owl rest for some days."
Ruby looked at King who didn't look exhausted at all but eyed Witty with a hungry glance.
"NO King-food!" Ruby said sternly and tried to find something she could give him but all she could find were Bertie Bott's Every-Flavour Beans. Without any hope she offered them to him. King gave her a rather disapproving look then spread out his wings and flew out of the room. Ruby wasn't sure if he'd come back and turned back to the parchment in her hands while Witty pounced upon the beans soon choking at a grass flavored one.
"Dunno when he'll be there, I don't care too much for the time in Britain - but hopefully it'll be during night - would scare that over-civilized Brits out of their beds wouldn't it? Tell me about their reactions, ok? Just send King with your answer back - he won't fly back until you give him your answer."
Ruby peeped out of the window and saw King gliding over the Hogwarts grounds in the search for food.
"Congrats to your idea of torturing the school. You'll see, you're here the latest when the tournament starts. My sis Clara wants to play for the first-years. She's so excited about coming to Salem Institution!
As for the stature - that was hard work. You have to PURSUADE them. They are really stubborn but won't tell on you. Make sure you are seen by somebody who will surely tell it the teachers later."
'Slytherin!' Ruby thought immediately.
"I was given away from Kylie who had seen me talking to ol' friend Carl. Well...you have seen Kylie's hat then..."
Ruby snickered. Sadie was always worth sweet but not too hurtful revenge.
"Little presents can speed up the process. Armors are always fond of a can of polish. Statures prefer a good scrubbing. Once you have them on your side they can be really mischievous. Easy then. On a second page I have some more ideas for you for the case you'll need some.
Have fun with the Brits and tell me EVERYTHING, Sadie"
Ruby now was in an exceptionally good mood and even endured Snape rambling about the wrong color of her bat ear brew during double Potions in the afternoon.
~*~
Sorry it was rather short but I wanted to make a cut here.
"You aren't wearing these just because of what I've said to you, d'you?" he asked but Ruby didn't look up. She didn't reply at all.
"Well, you look neat." shrugging he went to his seat leaving behind a blushed Ruby who pretended to see through her books and wasn't very pleased with herself.
Five minutes after the bell had rung Franklin and Bebe came running into the room panting heavily. Frowning they took their seats next to Ruby while Professor Babble took ten points from Hufflepuff for coming late of two students. They didn't pay attention to him - they were much too busy gawping at Ruby. Franklin was the first to find his voice again.
"No wonder we didn't see you leave the common room. You wore your robes and ... what have you done to your hair?" Ruby gave him a look and his face reddened "I...I mean...it looks splendid, really!" he stuttered. Ruby looked down at her paper flushing again and thinking about a possible answer as they suddenly got aware of a fuming Professor Babble who looked as if he was about to take twenty points from Huffelpuff - for each of them!
"If you have something to tell, after you have already come late, Mr Abbott, then please let the whole class share your thoughts. I expect a different behaviour from a Prefect." He added admonishingly.
Franklin looked embarrassed about his behavior, he normally never chatted in class. Usually Ruby would have enjoyed this moment but as she was still so full with excitement from the flying she now took out her Runes homework to distract the teacher. Franklin shot a thankful look at her and Ruby regretted what she'd done. It would encourage Franklin greatly. However Bebe whispered
"I don't know who you are and what you've done to Ruby Riders but I definitely like you!" Ruby frowned but her fellow Hufflepuff snickered. Ruby's frown turned into a smile which quickly faded as Professor Babble who had skimmed over her roll of parchment spoke again.
"I am sorry, Ms Riders, that is all wrong, did you not notice?" he shook his head in disappointment "I am afraid you will not pass the Runes christmas exam if you do not take the help of an extraordinarily excellent tutor ... yes, Mr Wood?" Oliver's hand had shot into the air the same moment Babble spoke out the word 'tutor'. The three Hufflepuffs looked at him. Ruby was half knowing half dreading what he'd say next. Her tutor at Salem Institution, Mark Morstein, had been a bossy know-it-all. Additionally his younger sister in Ruby's year had obviously cast an eye on Christopher Carlisle, too. And she was more extrovert than Ruby... Enough reasons to not like Mark Morstein and hate tutors! However Oliver was saying now what Ruby had feared.
"I could do that, Professor."
Babble was delighted!
"That is a very good idea, Mr Wood! You are excellent on Runes and will surely be able to help our new student. It is urgently. I give you my class room. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evening I say, all right? Goes that along with Quidditch practice Mr Wood?" Oliver nodded and with a last glance at Ruby Babble sat down behind his table again. Oliver grinned at Ruby who wasn't in her good mood anymore. But then she heard Franklin's voice indignantly whisper into her ear.
"I could have done that, too."
Ruby looked at Franklin then at Oliver who looked rather pleased with himself then back to Franklin. And suddenly the idea of Oliver as her tutor appeared much more attractive to her.
As she left the room after lesson she noticed a trembling third year making his way over to her.
"Erm...you are Ruby Riders, right? Almost didn't recognise you in the school robes now." she scowled at him and he quickly spoke on "M...my name is Noel Harrington and I'm in Ravenclaw. Um...is your mother..er..WAS she at this school, too? Er...was her name May Derking then?" Ruby now looked suspicious.
"Well, she was...why?" Franklin and Bebe stood next to her frowning but highly interested. The boy held out a letter now.
"Then I shall give you this...from my Mum." And with that he was away quicker than Ruby could ask him what this all was about. She had no time for opening the letter immediately for they still had the way to the Transfiguration classroom lay in front of them.
McGonagall gave her a short nod as sign of satisfaction then began her lesson. They turned bottles of butterbeer into bottles of vine and back again. A simple spell Ruby had learnt in third class. However she was nearly the only one in class who found it easy or even was bored off.
Ruby had seated herself in the back row this time and now opened the letter while Wendee and Delilah were trying to find out why their bottles suddenly shrieked whenever they raised their wands.
"Dear Ruby,
my son Noel told me there now was an American Hogwarts student called Ruby Riders. I was quite sure it could only be you. You don't know me but I used to know your mother. My name is Liz Harrington, maiden name Dean. I went to school with your mother and we have been best friends. It had been hard for me when she went to the USA. You surely don't remember me but I have visited your family once. You still had been a baby then. I don't know how much your mother has told you about me (or if she has done at all!). She hasn't been talking to me ever since I found out about your grandfather...
I would like to take this opportunity to renew the friendship bonds with your family. Your mother has never answered the owls I've sent. Perhaps you could convince her to at least give me a chance. Please?
Yours, Liz Harrington"
And there was an address. Ruby didn't know what this all was about. Her mother surely has told her about her old best friend Liz Dean. There were pictures of them both in the school album. But May Riders had always told her daughter that they had had a bad quarrel when she had been about to leave Great Britain. Said Liz hadn't grant her the fortune and that LIZ was the one who had broken the contact completely. Ruby had never quite understood that all and now this Liz gave her a bit of an even bigger riddle. What was this about her grandfather? That Liz woman must've been lying. Ruby decided to write her a letter where she stated her opinion clearly. Ruby was much too occupied with thinking about the letter than to notice the stern looks McGonagall was giving her through the whole lesson. Neither did Ruby go to lunch.
She sat on her bed in the dormitory and showed the letter to Witty who immediately forgot her nagging about the fact that Ruby hadn't brought her something for lunch. Witty might be tiny but could eat an amount of food which was amazing considering her stature. They began to write an answer which they had nearly finished as they heard a knocking sound. Ruby looked up and saw a huge eagle tapping his beak against the window. Witty shrieked and hid under the letter while Ruby nearly fell off the bed. Then she realised. That was Sadie Portland's King. She had a weakness for extravagant things and an owl seemed too usual for her. And sure enough the letter tied to King's leg was from Sadie.
"Hey Riding Ruby,"
it read. Ruby grinned at Sadie's usual name for her.
"got your letter today. Geez, Hogwarts! You really grab for the stars, don't you? Well, that ridiculous school owl you sent looked so exhausted but I wanted to answer asap so I took King and let the owl rest for some days."
Ruby looked at King who didn't look exhausted at all but eyed Witty with a hungry glance.
"NO King-food!" Ruby said sternly and tried to find something she could give him but all she could find were Bertie Bott's Every-Flavour Beans. Without any hope she offered them to him. King gave her a rather disapproving look then spread out his wings and flew out of the room. Ruby wasn't sure if he'd come back and turned back to the parchment in her hands while Witty pounced upon the beans soon choking at a grass flavored one.
"Dunno when he'll be there, I don't care too much for the time in Britain - but hopefully it'll be during night - would scare that over-civilized Brits out of their beds wouldn't it? Tell me about their reactions, ok? Just send King with your answer back - he won't fly back until you give him your answer."
Ruby peeped out of the window and saw King gliding over the Hogwarts grounds in the search for food.
"Congrats to your idea of torturing the school. You'll see, you're here the latest when the tournament starts. My sis Clara wants to play for the first-years. She's so excited about coming to Salem Institution!
As for the stature - that was hard work. You have to PURSUADE them. They are really stubborn but won't tell on you. Make sure you are seen by somebody who will surely tell it the teachers later."
'Slytherin!' Ruby thought immediately.
"I was given away from Kylie who had seen me talking to ol' friend Carl. Well...you have seen Kylie's hat then..."
Ruby snickered. Sadie was always worth sweet but not too hurtful revenge.
"Little presents can speed up the process. Armors are always fond of a can of polish. Statures prefer a good scrubbing. Once you have them on your side they can be really mischievous. Easy then. On a second page I have some more ideas for you for the case you'll need some.
Have fun with the Brits and tell me EVERYTHING, Sadie"
Ruby now was in an exceptionally good mood and even endured Snape rambling about the wrong color of her bat ear brew during double Potions in the afternoon.
~*~
Sorry it was rather short but I wanted to make a cut here.