A/N: I want to thank Laura, my first and only reviewer so far. You really made my day!
Please please review, people!
I know the fairies in Flitwick's classroom weren't mentioned in the first book but in the third one. But I thought it made a good fit here, doesn't it?
Enjoy.
~*~
The next morning Ruby woke up by the scent of cinnamon. Slowly she opened her eyes and found herself sprawled over the entire bed, Oliver's scarf over her nose. She rolled over on her stomach and tried to get the memory of yesterday's evening out of her head. At the pure thought of the kiss she felt her face burning and a thick chuckle crawling up her throat. She concentrated fervently on the right sleeve of her favorite pajamas: the big white silky one with the fluttering blue butterflies. She followed one of these butterflies with her eyes thinking about what she could say to Oliver the next time they would meet.
But Oliver didn't speak to her at all. Ruby had asked Wendee to give him his scarf back on breakfast that Saturday morning (she didn't dare doing it herself). Whenever Ruby met Oliver's gaze his face bore such an expression of hurt feelings that it made Ruby forcing her mind hard on Christopher. His broad smile ... his deep brown eyes ... no, No, NO! Blue eyes ... BLUE! The day he had given her a ride on his new broomstick, her arm around his waist then ... the sensational feeling at the touch of his tongue in her mouth - ARGH!
Franklin spent the weekend assuring Ruby he wasn't angry and thinking about staying during holidays, too, as the Prefects were asked to have a sharp look on Ruby. Though he actually just intended to keep her company. But Hannah didn't want to hear about that.
"No! It's my first christmas since I'm off to school, I want to spend it with the whole family. And don't you dare faking Hazy Fever again as you did when Auntie Hazardia came for Christmas!"
"I'm too old for that, nitwit!"
Hazy Fever was highly infectious and only witches and wizards younger than twelve weren't immune. Ruby was impressed:
"How did you do that? You must have been under twelve and it's so hard to fake. My friend Sadie tried it in our first year because she was afraid of the exams."
Franklin looked rather smug now. "Our cousin Ryan had been a seventh-year then. He helped me as he didn't like Aunt Hazardia, too, and understood my dilemma."
"Auntie Hazardia is always nice to me!" his sister huffed.
"Who isn't?" Franklin snapped back then leaned over to Ruby and whispered "Aunt Hazardia doesn't like boys too much..."
Hannah scowled, Ruby grinned. Sometimes she was a bit sad to be an only child. But then Witty was quite a substitute for a little sister.
The weekend was rather a torture for Ruby. She left the library and Hufflepuff Gardens only for meals. She still got support from her fellow Hufflepuffs though all in all they were a bit reserved. Of course the news about her slip with the stature had spread like a wild fire through the whole school. The Hufflepuff fifth-years still stuck to her but she earnt some glares from the rest of the school while the first-years tended to avoid her when they met on the corridors.
Ruby endured the school's main attitude by sticking her nose up into the air and ignoring it. But in fact she was hurt. She wished to crawl down into a hole deep in the earth. There, near the earth core she'd like to curl up in the warmth and be left alone forever. She knew it hadn't been a noble deed but was it a reason to hate her like that?
Well, probably. But Witty was a real comfort. And as the little fairy was quickly everybody's darling at school Patrick, another Hufflepuff fifth-year, predicted that they soon would forgive her. The Weasley twins even seemed rather impressed by the whole thing. They greeted her with respect whenever they met. That was a point in her favor as the twins were generally popular.
The library was her refugee. It was a Hogsmeade weekend and as christmas holidays were so near it was quite empty in the library. Ruby hid behind a large stack of books. It was easier not to think of Oliver when she had to concentrate on star charts and texts about Shrinking Potions or Muggle Holidays.
Witty soon was bored and left the library in the search for more entertainment. Ruby hardly noticed. She knew her fairy was greatly enjoying the attention she got from every side. On Saturday morning Professor Kettleburn, the teacher for Care of Magical Creatures, had studied Witty for about half an hour steadily mumbling "Fascinating!". It was true, Witty WAS more intelligent and more human-like than normal fairies but it was disturbing to have a teacher sitting at your house table during whole breakfast.
Shortly before dinner Witty joined her again and told about Professor Flitwick's classroom: there were fairies for christmas illumination. Ruby was reading about Truthful Potions and listened only with a half ear as Witty rambled about how boring her fellow fairies in that classroom were.
"All they can do is shining, shining, shining. These showing-offs!" One of the disadvantages of being a more human-like fairy was the fact that Witty's fairy light wasn't all too impressive "But can they say a single word? NO! But I can!"
Witty now seemed satisfied with her conclusion of being a more impressive fairy. Absent-mindedly Ruby nodded in agreement then sunk into another book this time on "Biting yet undangerous Plants" and completed her notes on these.
Ruby hardly ate anything on Sunday. She spent the whole day behind books and left it to Witty's own responsibility to get her food which was not too difficult as everybody (except most of the Slytherins) in the Great Hall was pleased to share their food with Witty. The tiny fairy had the reputation to be good company.
Sunday night was almost sleepless and full with headache and nightmares. Ruby always was over-reacting before exams and hardly ever slept during exam weeks. She was almost happy as at last Monday morning came which meant the History of Magic exam. She was to sit her exams alone in the Great Hall. So while her fellow students left the Hall heading for their classes Ruby stayed in her seat looking around her and wishing this would be all over soon. The school was on better terms with her by now and she received some luck wishes. Franklin who was to take care of Witty (as the fairy wasn't allowed in the exams of course) even gave her a luck peck on the cheek. Unfortunately Oliver saw this and his face showed an expression of hurt dawning. Ruby knew what he thought he understood know. If she wanted or not she would have to talk to him sooner or later explaining some important things.
She finished History of Magic after about 10 minutes of quick scribbling down what she knew and handed it in under the surprised stare of Professor Binns. She was instructed to stay silently in the Hall for the rest of time. She used it for some last-time revision on Potions which she had to take in the Dungeons that afternoon. It was very cold and she had to brew a difficult Condonation Potion which needed a freezing fire. By the end of the practical part her hands were so icy and numb she could hardly hold the quill for the answering the questions in the second part of the exam.
Ruby spent the entire dinner clutching her hands around the steaming hot soup bowl nodding at Witty's nagging about Snape who was "so mean and stupid even Trolls look nice and shy next to him" as the fairy had put it.
Tuesday morning Ruby sat unhungry over a bowl of porridge when the morning post arrived. Out of a habit Ruby looked up and quickly regretted it. For she spotted Romulus, her father's owl, tied to his leg what looked suspiciously like a steaming red envelope. And sure enough when Romulus elegantly landed infront of her giving Witty an affectionate nudge with his wing Ruby recognized the letter at his outsticked leg - a Howler, the worst thing a student could get. She had the attention of everybody around her by now. Tracey looked terrified.
"Why is it smoking?"
"It takes some time to fly from our house to Hogwarts. I guess Romulus needed about two days." Ruby mumbled quietly and with shaking hands she took the letter.
At the mention of "two days" Hannah who had been sitting next to Franklin had squeaked and quickly backd away which wasn't an over-reaction at all. It was terrible. As soon as Ruby had opened the letter her father's voice louder than anything could be heard in the whole Hall which fell very silent at once.
"YOUNG LADY! WHAT MUST I HEAR FROM YOUR TEACHERS?" He didn't sound angry but rather calm but Ruby and her fairy knew that was the worst of his voices. There was a trace of his hardly suppresed anger in it and it was really threatening. "HOW COULD YOU BEHAVE LIKE THAT? AND OF COURSE YOUR FAIRY HAD TO JOIN IN, HADN'T YOU, WITTY? I HOPE YOU TWO ENJOY BEING A DISGRACE FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY! SERVES YOU RIGHT TO STAY AT SCHOOL DURING HOLIDAYS. AND DON'T EXPECT A SINGLE PRESENT FOR CHRISTMAS MY DEAR DAUGHTER! YOU ARE LUCKY ENOUGH THAT I LET WITTY STAY WITH YOU INSTEAD OF SUMMONING HER HOME!"
It was over as suddenly as it had begun. Panting Ruby sat in her seat feeling her face reddening with steaming hot blood. She could hear snickers from Slytherin Table and had to force herself not to turn around and search for Oliver at Gryffindor Table in her back. Inspite she scowled at Ernie (the stout boy from the first evening), Justin (another first-year) and Pat(rick) who made fun of her getting a Howler.
Soon the rest of the school began to set out and so did the fifth-years around Ruby. Pat clapped her on the shoulder still widely grinning, Franklin gave her a reassuring squeeze and the luck peck, then both left the Hall. It was Hannah's turn to accompany Witty that day so she placed the shaking fairy on her shoulder gave Ruby a special-Hannah-Abbot-luck-hug and joined the crowd heading for classes.
The rest of the week went surprisingly quick. Her Muggle Studies and Defence Against the Dark Arts exams on Thursday were easy and soon enough Ruby found herself up and awake on Friday morning afraid of her Runes exam in the morning but also happy that it would soon be over which meant hunger and sleep would be coming back at last.
However her Runes exam began rather well. First she had to do some translations all of which were fourth-year standard Ruby was able to master. The practical part was a bit more tricky. She had received a jinxed goblet with engraved Runes and it was her task to find out which spell was cast over it and how to break it. First Ruby didn't know what to do but busied herself with the golden cup trying to look as if she was doing something to it. Then she remembered Oliver once mentioning something like that. Think hard Ruby! Yes...he recommended a part in that book "The Modern Usage of Old Runes" she had got for birthday. Wait...it was that page with the big reddish picture of the old knive...and underneath it read...um...ah yes! Now she remembered! The Runes on it were the source of the jinx. She had to write down every second Rune from right to left, beginning with the biggest one. It was a mere translation then. The translation spoken out aloud would give away the curse which was laid on the goblet. Babble had used the Daring-system. One of the easier systems but the language was rather dark - perfect for jinxes! After finding out the curse Ruby had to develop the couner curse ... she was thinking about how to do that as,
"Time is over, Ms Riders!" Babble looked concerned.
"What? No! I haven't finished, yet!" Ruby was shocked it was already that late.
"I see that myself, Ms Riders and I'm sorry indeed but I can't give you more time. The exam is over."
"I'll fail." Ruby whined gloomily.
"Just hand in the results you have so far and we'll see." But he didn't sound too convinced.
Ruby didn't touch her lunch. She felt so miserable she didn't notice anything around her: the Hufflepuffs around her trying to comfort her, Witty caressing gently her cheek - Oliver staring concerned at her.
She refused to go to Charms ("No point in that.") but Franklin talked her into it.
"You don't KNOW yet if you've failed. And I'm sure you'll pass Professor Flitwick's exam easily!"
So Ruby stayed and it was indeed an encouraging time. She was to help him with christmas decorations. So all she had to do was wandering with him through the castle flicking her curvy wand (whose form Flitwick still found rather interesting).
Professor Flitwick was satisfied ("Father Christmas Hats for all the statues and armours - what a nice idea!") but thought her huge portrait of a blinking and twinkling Santa Clause on the long wall of the Entrance Hall to be somewhat too much. She had to reduce its special effects to a simple "Ho, ho, ho!" and a sweet bell-ringing.
Dinner meant hunger. It was the last day before christmas holidays and the Great Hall was filled with the excited chatter of the many happy students in it. Ruby was relieved her exams were over but anxious about their results. And now that Wendee and Delilah next to her were chatting gladly about their christmas holidays at home she remembered that she would be staying in the castle, scrubbing Snape's icy dungeons instead of having a good time with her friends. She hadn't seen them for three months, now - longer than ever!
Suddenly her kidney pudding didn't taste anymore. Gloomily she stared at it and wished again she could be in her nice warm cave near the earth core.
Please please review, people!
I know the fairies in Flitwick's classroom weren't mentioned in the first book but in the third one. But I thought it made a good fit here, doesn't it?
Enjoy.
~*~
The next morning Ruby woke up by the scent of cinnamon. Slowly she opened her eyes and found herself sprawled over the entire bed, Oliver's scarf over her nose. She rolled over on her stomach and tried to get the memory of yesterday's evening out of her head. At the pure thought of the kiss she felt her face burning and a thick chuckle crawling up her throat. She concentrated fervently on the right sleeve of her favorite pajamas: the big white silky one with the fluttering blue butterflies. She followed one of these butterflies with her eyes thinking about what she could say to Oliver the next time they would meet.
But Oliver didn't speak to her at all. Ruby had asked Wendee to give him his scarf back on breakfast that Saturday morning (she didn't dare doing it herself). Whenever Ruby met Oliver's gaze his face bore such an expression of hurt feelings that it made Ruby forcing her mind hard on Christopher. His broad smile ... his deep brown eyes ... no, No, NO! Blue eyes ... BLUE! The day he had given her a ride on his new broomstick, her arm around his waist then ... the sensational feeling at the touch of his tongue in her mouth - ARGH!
Franklin spent the weekend assuring Ruby he wasn't angry and thinking about staying during holidays, too, as the Prefects were asked to have a sharp look on Ruby. Though he actually just intended to keep her company. But Hannah didn't want to hear about that.
"No! It's my first christmas since I'm off to school, I want to spend it with the whole family. And don't you dare faking Hazy Fever again as you did when Auntie Hazardia came for Christmas!"
"I'm too old for that, nitwit!"
Hazy Fever was highly infectious and only witches and wizards younger than twelve weren't immune. Ruby was impressed:
"How did you do that? You must have been under twelve and it's so hard to fake. My friend Sadie tried it in our first year because she was afraid of the exams."
Franklin looked rather smug now. "Our cousin Ryan had been a seventh-year then. He helped me as he didn't like Aunt Hazardia, too, and understood my dilemma."
"Auntie Hazardia is always nice to me!" his sister huffed.
"Who isn't?" Franklin snapped back then leaned over to Ruby and whispered "Aunt Hazardia doesn't like boys too much..."
Hannah scowled, Ruby grinned. Sometimes she was a bit sad to be an only child. But then Witty was quite a substitute for a little sister.
The weekend was rather a torture for Ruby. She left the library and Hufflepuff Gardens only for meals. She still got support from her fellow Hufflepuffs though all in all they were a bit reserved. Of course the news about her slip with the stature had spread like a wild fire through the whole school. The Hufflepuff fifth-years still stuck to her but she earnt some glares from the rest of the school while the first-years tended to avoid her when they met on the corridors.
Ruby endured the school's main attitude by sticking her nose up into the air and ignoring it. But in fact she was hurt. She wished to crawl down into a hole deep in the earth. There, near the earth core she'd like to curl up in the warmth and be left alone forever. She knew it hadn't been a noble deed but was it a reason to hate her like that?
Well, probably. But Witty was a real comfort. And as the little fairy was quickly everybody's darling at school Patrick, another Hufflepuff fifth-year, predicted that they soon would forgive her. The Weasley twins even seemed rather impressed by the whole thing. They greeted her with respect whenever they met. That was a point in her favor as the twins were generally popular.
The library was her refugee. It was a Hogsmeade weekend and as christmas holidays were so near it was quite empty in the library. Ruby hid behind a large stack of books. It was easier not to think of Oliver when she had to concentrate on star charts and texts about Shrinking Potions or Muggle Holidays.
Witty soon was bored and left the library in the search for more entertainment. Ruby hardly noticed. She knew her fairy was greatly enjoying the attention she got from every side. On Saturday morning Professor Kettleburn, the teacher for Care of Magical Creatures, had studied Witty for about half an hour steadily mumbling "Fascinating!". It was true, Witty WAS more intelligent and more human-like than normal fairies but it was disturbing to have a teacher sitting at your house table during whole breakfast.
Shortly before dinner Witty joined her again and told about Professor Flitwick's classroom: there were fairies for christmas illumination. Ruby was reading about Truthful Potions and listened only with a half ear as Witty rambled about how boring her fellow fairies in that classroom were.
"All they can do is shining, shining, shining. These showing-offs!" One of the disadvantages of being a more human-like fairy was the fact that Witty's fairy light wasn't all too impressive "But can they say a single word? NO! But I can!"
Witty now seemed satisfied with her conclusion of being a more impressive fairy. Absent-mindedly Ruby nodded in agreement then sunk into another book this time on "Biting yet undangerous Plants" and completed her notes on these.
Ruby hardly ate anything on Sunday. She spent the whole day behind books and left it to Witty's own responsibility to get her food which was not too difficult as everybody (except most of the Slytherins) in the Great Hall was pleased to share their food with Witty. The tiny fairy had the reputation to be good company.
Sunday night was almost sleepless and full with headache and nightmares. Ruby always was over-reacting before exams and hardly ever slept during exam weeks. She was almost happy as at last Monday morning came which meant the History of Magic exam. She was to sit her exams alone in the Great Hall. So while her fellow students left the Hall heading for their classes Ruby stayed in her seat looking around her and wishing this would be all over soon. The school was on better terms with her by now and she received some luck wishes. Franklin who was to take care of Witty (as the fairy wasn't allowed in the exams of course) even gave her a luck peck on the cheek. Unfortunately Oliver saw this and his face showed an expression of hurt dawning. Ruby knew what he thought he understood know. If she wanted or not she would have to talk to him sooner or later explaining some important things.
She finished History of Magic after about 10 minutes of quick scribbling down what she knew and handed it in under the surprised stare of Professor Binns. She was instructed to stay silently in the Hall for the rest of time. She used it for some last-time revision on Potions which she had to take in the Dungeons that afternoon. It was very cold and she had to brew a difficult Condonation Potion which needed a freezing fire. By the end of the practical part her hands were so icy and numb she could hardly hold the quill for the answering the questions in the second part of the exam.
Ruby spent the entire dinner clutching her hands around the steaming hot soup bowl nodding at Witty's nagging about Snape who was "so mean and stupid even Trolls look nice and shy next to him" as the fairy had put it.
Tuesday morning Ruby sat unhungry over a bowl of porridge when the morning post arrived. Out of a habit Ruby looked up and quickly regretted it. For she spotted Romulus, her father's owl, tied to his leg what looked suspiciously like a steaming red envelope. And sure enough when Romulus elegantly landed infront of her giving Witty an affectionate nudge with his wing Ruby recognized the letter at his outsticked leg - a Howler, the worst thing a student could get. She had the attention of everybody around her by now. Tracey looked terrified.
"Why is it smoking?"
"It takes some time to fly from our house to Hogwarts. I guess Romulus needed about two days." Ruby mumbled quietly and with shaking hands she took the letter.
At the mention of "two days" Hannah who had been sitting next to Franklin had squeaked and quickly backd away which wasn't an over-reaction at all. It was terrible. As soon as Ruby had opened the letter her father's voice louder than anything could be heard in the whole Hall which fell very silent at once.
"YOUNG LADY! WHAT MUST I HEAR FROM YOUR TEACHERS?" He didn't sound angry but rather calm but Ruby and her fairy knew that was the worst of his voices. There was a trace of his hardly suppresed anger in it and it was really threatening. "HOW COULD YOU BEHAVE LIKE THAT? AND OF COURSE YOUR FAIRY HAD TO JOIN IN, HADN'T YOU, WITTY? I HOPE YOU TWO ENJOY BEING A DISGRACE FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY! SERVES YOU RIGHT TO STAY AT SCHOOL DURING HOLIDAYS. AND DON'T EXPECT A SINGLE PRESENT FOR CHRISTMAS MY DEAR DAUGHTER! YOU ARE LUCKY ENOUGH THAT I LET WITTY STAY WITH YOU INSTEAD OF SUMMONING HER HOME!"
It was over as suddenly as it had begun. Panting Ruby sat in her seat feeling her face reddening with steaming hot blood. She could hear snickers from Slytherin Table and had to force herself not to turn around and search for Oliver at Gryffindor Table in her back. Inspite she scowled at Ernie (the stout boy from the first evening), Justin (another first-year) and Pat(rick) who made fun of her getting a Howler.
Soon the rest of the school began to set out and so did the fifth-years around Ruby. Pat clapped her on the shoulder still widely grinning, Franklin gave her a reassuring squeeze and the luck peck, then both left the Hall. It was Hannah's turn to accompany Witty that day so she placed the shaking fairy on her shoulder gave Ruby a special-Hannah-Abbot-luck-hug and joined the crowd heading for classes.
The rest of the week went surprisingly quick. Her Muggle Studies and Defence Against the Dark Arts exams on Thursday were easy and soon enough Ruby found herself up and awake on Friday morning afraid of her Runes exam in the morning but also happy that it would soon be over which meant hunger and sleep would be coming back at last.
However her Runes exam began rather well. First she had to do some translations all of which were fourth-year standard Ruby was able to master. The practical part was a bit more tricky. She had received a jinxed goblet with engraved Runes and it was her task to find out which spell was cast over it and how to break it. First Ruby didn't know what to do but busied herself with the golden cup trying to look as if she was doing something to it. Then she remembered Oliver once mentioning something like that. Think hard Ruby! Yes...he recommended a part in that book "The Modern Usage of Old Runes" she had got for birthday. Wait...it was that page with the big reddish picture of the old knive...and underneath it read...um...ah yes! Now she remembered! The Runes on it were the source of the jinx. She had to write down every second Rune from right to left, beginning with the biggest one. It was a mere translation then. The translation spoken out aloud would give away the curse which was laid on the goblet. Babble had used the Daring-system. One of the easier systems but the language was rather dark - perfect for jinxes! After finding out the curse Ruby had to develop the couner curse ... she was thinking about how to do that as,
"Time is over, Ms Riders!" Babble looked concerned.
"What? No! I haven't finished, yet!" Ruby was shocked it was already that late.
"I see that myself, Ms Riders and I'm sorry indeed but I can't give you more time. The exam is over."
"I'll fail." Ruby whined gloomily.
"Just hand in the results you have so far and we'll see." But he didn't sound too convinced.
Ruby didn't touch her lunch. She felt so miserable she didn't notice anything around her: the Hufflepuffs around her trying to comfort her, Witty caressing gently her cheek - Oliver staring concerned at her.
She refused to go to Charms ("No point in that.") but Franklin talked her into it.
"You don't KNOW yet if you've failed. And I'm sure you'll pass Professor Flitwick's exam easily!"
So Ruby stayed and it was indeed an encouraging time. She was to help him with christmas decorations. So all she had to do was wandering with him through the castle flicking her curvy wand (whose form Flitwick still found rather interesting).
Professor Flitwick was satisfied ("Father Christmas Hats for all the statues and armours - what a nice idea!") but thought her huge portrait of a blinking and twinkling Santa Clause on the long wall of the Entrance Hall to be somewhat too much. She had to reduce its special effects to a simple "Ho, ho, ho!" and a sweet bell-ringing.
Dinner meant hunger. It was the last day before christmas holidays and the Great Hall was filled with the excited chatter of the many happy students in it. Ruby was relieved her exams were over but anxious about their results. And now that Wendee and Delilah next to her were chatting gladly about their christmas holidays at home she remembered that she would be staying in the castle, scrubbing Snape's icy dungeons instead of having a good time with her friends. She hadn't seen them for three months, now - longer than ever!
Suddenly her kidney pudding didn't taste anymore. Gloomily she stared at it and wished again she could be in her nice warm cave near the earth core.