Wow! 8 reviews. Come back from holiday to find that and well, I'll confess
I did a little jig around the room. Shameless really, I'm in no physical
state to be doing unprecedented jigs. So the much awaited 3rd chapter, but
before we begin responses to our much acclaimed reviewers, whose blood is
worth bottling.
Voldie on Varsity Track- Both my writing partner and I agree with you, the story doesn't reach into new plains of originality, but we do hope to develop it into something that can pass away the long hours. Thanks for reviewing.
Cornelious- Thanks for the encouragement. The typos are my fault, I have little paitience for proof reading and instead leave it all to spell check. If it starts to get really atrocious (and knowing me there is a fair chance it will) I will repost.
Whirr- By far out most faithful reviewer. Hogwarts students receive flying lessons in their first year. While this wouldn't be enough to cure the really bad ones of their ineptitude, they have pretty much had their chance. Rikki' s flying lessons are integral to the development of her character, even if it's probably a bit unrealistic.
Betty of Gryffindor- Yours was my favourite review and most responsible for my unsightly jig. As an author, I'm most partial to Imogen' s character but Nameless, the other writer prefers Rikki. I think this is because she'd like to bring out her ditsy side a bit more, but that's enough pop phycology. However Imogen can't be herself without Rikki and vice versa, like in real life it is astonishing how such dissimilar people can come to rely on each other.
Cardiff Bluebird- Don't fear! I am very aware of the influx of many Mary Sues in writing and detest the vacuous shallowness of beautiful stories filled with beautiful people facing beautiful trials. However there is more to the girls that could be considered Mary-Sueish. To combat that there's a conversation later on with two characters, which hints at their feelings towards the misrepresented reality of stories and power. But don't think that Rikki and Imogen are perfect. Rikki can be ditsy, shallow and slutty; later on she says stupid things that endanger her happiness in the heat of the moment. Imogen can be taciturn, unnecessarily cynical and doesn't trust people. She blames herself for things beyond her control and refuses to seek help. Both girls are not gorgeous but neither are they gorgons. I'm not trying to romanticise their faults, these are realistic characters, as no one in life has everything easy.
Rebecca Anderson- Thanks for your enthusiasm. We are of course continuing the story even after my recent hiatus from fanfiction ( I didn't ask to go on holidays in the middle of my midterms...)
Midnight Rouge- After much anticipation here is your third chapter.
But another of this self-justification that story must proceed.
Chapter 3- Their First Day
Rikki awoke on the morning of her first day to the inane chattering only female girls can master. Sure that if she had only just awoken then Imogen would still be fast asleep, she went to rouse her friend.
"Piss off, I'm sleeping," was the grumbled reply from beneath numerous layers of bedcovers.
After much swearing (Imogen) and cajoling (Rikki), Imogen was up and the two girls were showered and ready.
"So where to now?" Rikki asked, once she had finished surveying herself in the full length mirror and rolling her waistband.
"Back to bed?" Imogen replied grumpily, eyelids still thick with sleep.
Rikki rolled her eyes exasperatedly. "Well to breakfast obviously. But how to get there?"
"Don't look at me," Imogen said wagging her finger in Rikki's direction. "I have a semi-decent sense of direction at best and it only functions after midday."
Rikki sighed. "Well, I wouldn't have a clue. I was too busy thinking about that hot guy."
"That teacher," Imogen reminded her.
"He was still hot," Rikki replied flippantly.
Shaking her head at the futility of trying to reason with Rikki, Imogen followed the blonde down the staircase in search of the Great Hall.
20 minutes and a Peeves encounter later Rikki and Imogen arrived at the Great Hall.
"What kept you?" Ron asked, mouth full of half-macerated toast. Only, because of the presence of the toast it sounded more like 'whaft mept muu?'
"Lost," Imogen replied simply, ignoring the empty plate in front of her and filling her goblet with pumpkin juice. "We couldn't find our way here, could we Rikki?"
"Huh? Oh no, got lost," Rikki answered choppily, tearing her eyes away from Oliver who was eating breakfast, the source of many of the female students avid stares.
"Seventh year timetables," Harry called all of a sudden. "Heres your Ron, Hermione, Rikki, Imogen."
"Charms first, History of Magic, then Transfiguration and Double Potions in the afternoon! What did we do to deserve such a cruel and unusual punishment?" Ron was quite obviously (and loudly) lamenting the day's lessons.
"Certainly not unusual," Harry countered dryly. "We've had double Potions with the Slytherins since first year. Don't expect Snape to stop his reign of terror now."
"Sounds like fun," Imogen said sarcastically, taking a sip of her pumpkin juice. "Is this teacher strict or something?"
"Strict? Try sadistic. He's hated me since before I was born. My father used to give him a hard time at school and now he has made it a personal mission to make Potions a living hell for me."
Imogen winced. The grudge was older then Harry and for that reason would not end with him. Ron too seemed to dislike him. And she was fairly certain she saw Neville flinch when Snape was mentioned.
"He didn't look very friendly when we met him last night." Rikki said, aware of the conversation now that Oliver had left, presumably to prepare for classes.
"Sallow, evil, greasy-haired git," Ron muttered darkly stabbing a sausage violently.
"What do you have when I have flying lessons?" Rikki asked Imogen all of a sudden. "On Tuesday afternoon?"
"Divinitation," Imogen said "Hopefully it will be a more productive class then the one at Beauxbatons."
Harry and Ron exchanged dubious looks.
"Divinitation is a waste of time. Professor's a fraud." Ron said bitterly.
"She's been predicting my death since 3rd year. Needless to say that I am feeling very much alive at the moment."
"Don't bet on it much longer, Scarhead,' came the scathing reply from somewhere in the vicinity of Rikki's shoulder. Almost as one Harry and Ron turned to face their adversary, faces darkened with identical expressions of great dislike.
"Don't gawk at me like that, Weasel." Malfoy sneered. "I'm not here to degrade myself with your company. I'm here to introduce myself to our Beauxbaton friends. Draco Malfoy."
Harry noticed he didn't bother to extend his hand. He'd made that mistake before.
Imogen raised an eyebrow. "Imogen Usher." She said guardedly. The tension between Malfoy and the others was thick enough to severe with a knife.
"Usher? That's not a pureblood name."
"That may be because I'm not a pureblood." Imogen replied evenly.
Draco sneered arrogantly at her. "More Mudblood trash."
He turned to Rikki, a figure he couldn't have helped but to admire in the distance and was now irate to find that she would be of poor blood. "And you are?"
"Rikki Carmichael. I trust you family are continuing its antique, evil, pureblood ways?
Imogen kept from snorting. Rikki wasn't particularly good in confrontational situations but occasionally she came up well. This was one of those rare occasions.
Startled more by her sudden and unplanned hostility then her words, Malfoy took a moment before replying.
"Carmichael, slumming it a bit then?"
"Only in your company," Harry spat, unable to keep his tongue. He was annoyed that Draco would have the audacity to make Imogen and Rikki feel unwelcome on their first day. And he was showing off a bit. But that was subconscious and neither girl made note of it.
Bored with the prospect of having to endure further conversation with Potter, Weasel and Potter's new mudblood harem, Malfoy went through the motions of sneering and giving them the benefit of his middle finger before stalking off, his Neanderthal-like cronies trailing behind him.
"I'm sorry you had to meet him, he's a right-"Rikki cut him off.
"Don't be it's not your fault."
Imogen agreed. "What's another dickhead in a vast world full of them," she said with an exaggerated sweep of her arm, as if it indicate the magnitude of the earth and the company they were forced to share it with.
"Met Malfoy then I see." Hermione said from behind them, no doubt returning from the library after a morning read. "What have we got?"
Ron studied his timetable, holding it at arms length as if he refused to let parchment containing such vile summons come into contact with his skin.
"Charms."
With that came the collective sound of people rising from their seats, scrambling for bags and quills, and grumbling as they made their way to the first class of the day. Harry, Hermione and Ron began to do the same, Rikki and Imogen following suit.
I swear if you get me through this, Imogen thought to herself looking skywards, talking to an unknown deity, I will bleed a sacrificial goat with your name on it.
And she hurried after Rikki.
Voldie on Varsity Track- Both my writing partner and I agree with you, the story doesn't reach into new plains of originality, but we do hope to develop it into something that can pass away the long hours. Thanks for reviewing.
Cornelious- Thanks for the encouragement. The typos are my fault, I have little paitience for proof reading and instead leave it all to spell check. If it starts to get really atrocious (and knowing me there is a fair chance it will) I will repost.
Whirr- By far out most faithful reviewer. Hogwarts students receive flying lessons in their first year. While this wouldn't be enough to cure the really bad ones of their ineptitude, they have pretty much had their chance. Rikki' s flying lessons are integral to the development of her character, even if it's probably a bit unrealistic.
Betty of Gryffindor- Yours was my favourite review and most responsible for my unsightly jig. As an author, I'm most partial to Imogen' s character but Nameless, the other writer prefers Rikki. I think this is because she'd like to bring out her ditsy side a bit more, but that's enough pop phycology. However Imogen can't be herself without Rikki and vice versa, like in real life it is astonishing how such dissimilar people can come to rely on each other.
Cardiff Bluebird- Don't fear! I am very aware of the influx of many Mary Sues in writing and detest the vacuous shallowness of beautiful stories filled with beautiful people facing beautiful trials. However there is more to the girls that could be considered Mary-Sueish. To combat that there's a conversation later on with two characters, which hints at their feelings towards the misrepresented reality of stories and power. But don't think that Rikki and Imogen are perfect. Rikki can be ditsy, shallow and slutty; later on she says stupid things that endanger her happiness in the heat of the moment. Imogen can be taciturn, unnecessarily cynical and doesn't trust people. She blames herself for things beyond her control and refuses to seek help. Both girls are not gorgeous but neither are they gorgons. I'm not trying to romanticise their faults, these are realistic characters, as no one in life has everything easy.
Rebecca Anderson- Thanks for your enthusiasm. We are of course continuing the story even after my recent hiatus from fanfiction ( I didn't ask to go on holidays in the middle of my midterms...)
Midnight Rouge- After much anticipation here is your third chapter.
But another of this self-justification that story must proceed.
Chapter 3- Their First Day
Rikki awoke on the morning of her first day to the inane chattering only female girls can master. Sure that if she had only just awoken then Imogen would still be fast asleep, she went to rouse her friend.
"Piss off, I'm sleeping," was the grumbled reply from beneath numerous layers of bedcovers.
After much swearing (Imogen) and cajoling (Rikki), Imogen was up and the two girls were showered and ready.
"So where to now?" Rikki asked, once she had finished surveying herself in the full length mirror and rolling her waistband.
"Back to bed?" Imogen replied grumpily, eyelids still thick with sleep.
Rikki rolled her eyes exasperatedly. "Well to breakfast obviously. But how to get there?"
"Don't look at me," Imogen said wagging her finger in Rikki's direction. "I have a semi-decent sense of direction at best and it only functions after midday."
Rikki sighed. "Well, I wouldn't have a clue. I was too busy thinking about that hot guy."
"That teacher," Imogen reminded her.
"He was still hot," Rikki replied flippantly.
Shaking her head at the futility of trying to reason with Rikki, Imogen followed the blonde down the staircase in search of the Great Hall.
20 minutes and a Peeves encounter later Rikki and Imogen arrived at the Great Hall.
"What kept you?" Ron asked, mouth full of half-macerated toast. Only, because of the presence of the toast it sounded more like 'whaft mept muu?'
"Lost," Imogen replied simply, ignoring the empty plate in front of her and filling her goblet with pumpkin juice. "We couldn't find our way here, could we Rikki?"
"Huh? Oh no, got lost," Rikki answered choppily, tearing her eyes away from Oliver who was eating breakfast, the source of many of the female students avid stares.
"Seventh year timetables," Harry called all of a sudden. "Heres your Ron, Hermione, Rikki, Imogen."
"Charms first, History of Magic, then Transfiguration and Double Potions in the afternoon! What did we do to deserve such a cruel and unusual punishment?" Ron was quite obviously (and loudly) lamenting the day's lessons.
"Certainly not unusual," Harry countered dryly. "We've had double Potions with the Slytherins since first year. Don't expect Snape to stop his reign of terror now."
"Sounds like fun," Imogen said sarcastically, taking a sip of her pumpkin juice. "Is this teacher strict or something?"
"Strict? Try sadistic. He's hated me since before I was born. My father used to give him a hard time at school and now he has made it a personal mission to make Potions a living hell for me."
Imogen winced. The grudge was older then Harry and for that reason would not end with him. Ron too seemed to dislike him. And she was fairly certain she saw Neville flinch when Snape was mentioned.
"He didn't look very friendly when we met him last night." Rikki said, aware of the conversation now that Oliver had left, presumably to prepare for classes.
"Sallow, evil, greasy-haired git," Ron muttered darkly stabbing a sausage violently.
"What do you have when I have flying lessons?" Rikki asked Imogen all of a sudden. "On Tuesday afternoon?"
"Divinitation," Imogen said "Hopefully it will be a more productive class then the one at Beauxbatons."
Harry and Ron exchanged dubious looks.
"Divinitation is a waste of time. Professor's a fraud." Ron said bitterly.
"She's been predicting my death since 3rd year. Needless to say that I am feeling very much alive at the moment."
"Don't bet on it much longer, Scarhead,' came the scathing reply from somewhere in the vicinity of Rikki's shoulder. Almost as one Harry and Ron turned to face their adversary, faces darkened with identical expressions of great dislike.
"Don't gawk at me like that, Weasel." Malfoy sneered. "I'm not here to degrade myself with your company. I'm here to introduce myself to our Beauxbaton friends. Draco Malfoy."
Harry noticed he didn't bother to extend his hand. He'd made that mistake before.
Imogen raised an eyebrow. "Imogen Usher." She said guardedly. The tension between Malfoy and the others was thick enough to severe with a knife.
"Usher? That's not a pureblood name."
"That may be because I'm not a pureblood." Imogen replied evenly.
Draco sneered arrogantly at her. "More Mudblood trash."
He turned to Rikki, a figure he couldn't have helped but to admire in the distance and was now irate to find that she would be of poor blood. "And you are?"
"Rikki Carmichael. I trust you family are continuing its antique, evil, pureblood ways?
Imogen kept from snorting. Rikki wasn't particularly good in confrontational situations but occasionally she came up well. This was one of those rare occasions.
Startled more by her sudden and unplanned hostility then her words, Malfoy took a moment before replying.
"Carmichael, slumming it a bit then?"
"Only in your company," Harry spat, unable to keep his tongue. He was annoyed that Draco would have the audacity to make Imogen and Rikki feel unwelcome on their first day. And he was showing off a bit. But that was subconscious and neither girl made note of it.
Bored with the prospect of having to endure further conversation with Potter, Weasel and Potter's new mudblood harem, Malfoy went through the motions of sneering and giving them the benefit of his middle finger before stalking off, his Neanderthal-like cronies trailing behind him.
"I'm sorry you had to meet him, he's a right-"Rikki cut him off.
"Don't be it's not your fault."
Imogen agreed. "What's another dickhead in a vast world full of them," she said with an exaggerated sweep of her arm, as if it indicate the magnitude of the earth and the company they were forced to share it with.
"Met Malfoy then I see." Hermione said from behind them, no doubt returning from the library after a morning read. "What have we got?"
Ron studied his timetable, holding it at arms length as if he refused to let parchment containing such vile summons come into contact with his skin.
"Charms."
With that came the collective sound of people rising from their seats, scrambling for bags and quills, and grumbling as they made their way to the first class of the day. Harry, Hermione and Ron began to do the same, Rikki and Imogen following suit.
I swear if you get me through this, Imogen thought to herself looking skywards, talking to an unknown deity, I will bleed a sacrificial goat with your name on it.
And she hurried after Rikki.