Disclaimer: Harry Potter is copyrighted to J.K. Rowling.

The Next Generation at Hogwarts

A/n: A long wait, I know. It just, kind of, slipped my mind how many days have gone by. I'm still adjusting to the new school year, is the best I can come up with. So, I'm sorry and I'll try not to let it happen again. This one's really short, too. Also, I'd like to point out that Calvin is in no relation to me. I'm not getting cocky and making a foolish statement, so please don't accuse me of such.

Chapter two: The Purchase of Another Soul

From Across the room, Rikki saw all the confused glances and angry glares from her family members. However, Jonquil, who Rikki had assumed would be the most alarmed, was carrying along as if she was right there at her side. It seemed so cold of her, all of a sudden, to act normal when something abnormal just occurred. Apparently, she hadn't thought twice about the whole ordeal and failed to see how big of a deal it was for a Weasley to be placed in the Slytherin house. Pretty soon everyone ignored her accept a few from her own house that found her behavior partially peculiar; there was delicious, mouthwatering food in front of her, but she wasn't eating. Instead, she was staring out into the space in front of her.

"Hey, aren't you going to eat?" Someone asked.

Rikki blinked and looked at the boy in front of her, who was looking back at her expectantly, waiting for her answer.

"What?" Rikki had to ask in reply.

The boy sighed and repeated, "Aren't you going to eat?"

Rikki gulped. "Oh," She replied and shook her head after a moments pause.

"That's a dreadful idea. You ought to eat properly. If you don't you gain weight. Don't ask me how it happens but I've seen it happen to my sister."

Rikki grunted and stared down at her plate. She didn't know what exactly it was that sat on it but she was certain it looked good. Still, she rejected the thought of taking a bite.

"What's your name?"

Rikki looked up from her food. The boy was giving her the same look as he was before.

"Mine?" Rikki questioned nervously. "Rikki Weasley," she finally answered almost gleefully. She'd always been proud of her family name.

"A Weasley in Slytherin? I thought my predicament was bad enough, but you've got practically hundreds of relatives in Gryffindor. But I know how you feel. My mum and pop were both Gryffindors, and I've turned out to be a Slytherin. I'm really ready for a holiday, already. Oh, sorry. I sort of forgot to introduce myself. I'm Calvin. Calvin Wood, to be more exact."

Rikki stared wide-eyed at the brown-haired, brown-eyed boy before her. She then inquired as if it was nothing awkward at all, "Wood, as in, Oliver Wood, the former quidditch captain from my father's day; you're his son?"

Calvin cocked an eyebrow. "What, do you take trivia about the people that used to go here?"

Rikki giggled and grabbed a muffin to take a bite before asking, "Are you obsessed with quidditch?"

Calvin cringed at her last word. "I stink at it. I hate it. I'd much rather study the manufacturing of my wand. Because of this, my pop was more than happy to see me off to Hogwarts. It's as if I've grown three heads. He just refuses to relate to me."

"My dad's like that, too. He's so clean, neat, and perfect while I simply don't care half the time. I don't think he minds that much now, though."

"I take it you won't be one of Slytherin's prefects."

Rikki shook her head. They talked about the stories they had heard from their parents when they were interrupted in a familiar form.

"Hey, Weasley, you're at the wrong table," Someone spirited from across the table.

Rikki smirked to herself.

"Oh, really, Mr. Malfoy? Funny, I seem to remember you applauding my nearing to this table. Now you say I'm at the wrong one. Either you have a horrific memory or you're the one at the wrong table. The Gryffindor table is over there. If you can't come up with a better way to make fun of me you might as well pack up and move over there. You can pamper Potter." Rikki turned to the blonde haired and black eyed boy down a few people. He looked a little uncomfortable and was trying to laugh at Rikki's coment about the opposite house and the legendary Harry Potter's heir, but she also, more directly, insulted him.

"Now, honestly! Is this immaturity necessary?" Some girl suddenly lashed out. Rikki turned to see who said it. The girl was sitting next to Calvin, coincidentally. Her messy brown hair was pulled back into a silky blue ribbon, which seemed of no use since much too many strands fell loose at her bare, paled and freckled, cheeks. Her dull gray-blue eyes stared blankly at the Weasley.

"Who asked for your opinion?"

"No one, of course. I just thought the Malfoy-Weasley rivalry was getting a little tattered. Two generations of it, going on it's third. Try arguing with someone else."

"I am!"

"I'm proud of you!"

"Okay! What rivalry shall we call this?!"

"The Weasley-Wyndham one!"

"All right then! It's the Rikki Weasley and whatever-your-name-is Wyndham, now!"

"I'm Skylar!"

"I'm Rikki!"

"Nice to meet you!"

"You, too!"

"LADIES!"

Both girls fell mute. Neither realized they'd been screaming. The entire Great Hall was silent but most of the children in it were snickering at the two trouble makers. Professor Shaw, the Gryffindor head teacher, was strutting over to the clumsy Rikki and Skylar.

"The second you get a chance to earn points you loose them. A disgrace! Forty-five points from Slytherin! Ms. Carlyle will decide what to do with you, and that includes you, Mr. Malfoy!"

All three of the students glared at the History of Magic teacher, Malfoy most of all because the professor should not have been able to tell he had anything to do with it. As Professor Shaw walked away, the Great Hall began to roar up in chatter. Just ten, Rikki caught Jonquil stealing glances at her, giggling with a friend.

Rikki glowered from a distance at her fraternal twin. On the same thought, she motioned for Malfoy --who she knew was staring at her intently-- to come closer. Like a puppy-dog on a leash, he followed his master's commands and crept to the empty seat beside her.

"Ares... A horrible name. But anyway, Ares, my dear, how much do you hate the Weasley family?"

Malfoy didn't respond.

"Enough to dislike a member who thinks just like you do?"

Ares continued not to make a sound.

"How would you like to make someone's life a brilliant mess?"