Chapter 8 - Mexican jumping beans! Oh, and a Halloween ball too.
The rest of the day passed like a blur, Katie didn't bother concentrating on much, and ended up drifting from the common room to the library, around the castle and back again. Gradually students started coming back from Hogsmeade, pockets full of dungbombs, jokes from Zonkos, and enough sweets to last the rest of the year. Katie waited in the common room for James, Sirius, Remus and Peter to come back. Probably along with the entire stock of Zonkos, she thought. Filch had better watch his step.
Eventually they drifted in through the portrait, laughing and joking, carrying large bags with the word 'Zonkos' on them. Good luck Filch.
"Hey Katie, I didn't see you in Hogsmeade, where were you?" James came over and sat down.
"I was in Hogsmeade, but decided to come back. It was kind of boring." she lied.
"How's your hand?" asked Sirius, setting down the bag on the table. Katie eyed him suspiciously.
"How'd you know I hurt my hand?" Sirius suddenly went stiff, but recovered amazingly quickly.
"Well you keep rubbing it, that's all."
"Oh, okay." Katie didn't believe him, but right now, she didn't particularly care that much. "So what did you get?"
Katie suddenly had three more bags dumped on the table, with the boys eagerly explaining every aspect of what they bought. By the end of the evening Katie thought she could probably start her own joke shop.
Katie suddenly noticed that Remus was looking a bit ill. In fact, he'd been looking gradually worse all week. His skin was getting paler, and his eyes had huge bags under them. He obviously wasn't getting much sleep.
"Hey Rem, are you okay? You look kind of...dead...no offence." He smiled weakly.
"Don't worry about it, I just feel a little off, but I'll get better." Katie smiled at him. Again, she didn't believe a word of it.
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The next day Katie ran through her usual routine; wash, dress, quidditch, more quidditch, breakfast, and finally, off to lessons. Transfiguration went along well enough, if you're not counting the fact Katie nearly blew up the toad she was supposed to be turning into a bird. By the end of the lesson her toad now had a long, thin, green beak, and clawed webbed feet. Frankly, it was disturbing.
Finally (much to the toads relief), the lesson was over. Katie headed out the door but was stopped by Professor McGonagall.
"Miss Ashford, a word if you please." Katie turned back to the others who shrugged, and told her they'd wait for her outside.
McGonagall shut the door behind them and walked back over to her desk. Katie stood on the other side, waiting nervously. She had a vague suspicion what this might be about.
"I believe yesterday was your first visit to Hogsmeade, Miss Ashford." Katie nodded. Yep, she knew what this was about.
"I think it will also be your last. I will not tolerate you getting into fights and hitting other students-"
"She started it!" cried Katie.
"I don't care who started it! You will not be returning to Hogsmeade, and you will be given two weeks detention, staring tonight at 6:30."
"But-"
"But nothing! Frankly, I expected a higher standard of you Miss Ashford. Do not let it happen again." Before Katie could say another word, McGonagall walked over to the door and opened it, allowing four boys to fall in.
"And you four, get off to your next lesson!" Katie walked out with the others, McGonagall closing the door behind her.
"Hogsmeade was boring huh?" asked James. Katie grinned.
"Like I said, she started it." They were watching her eagerly.
"Fine." she sighed, and started explaining what had happened in Hogsmeade as they headed off to Charms.
"Go Katie!" said Sirius, slapping her on the back. "Didn't know you had it in you!"
"Yeah well now I'm stuck with two weeks detention."
"Don't worry about it, McGongall's fine, just nod and smile whenever she starts having a go, she'll shut up in no time." Katie didn't bother asking how he knew that, and instead occupied herself with finding a decent seat in charms.
"Alright class, settle down, settle down!" the newly appointed charms teacher, Professor Flitwick, squeaked from behind his desk.
Katie sat down between Sirius and Remus and took out her wand.
"Today class, we shall be revising cheering charms, please take out your wands. Now, you will be paired up with the person sitting next to you, so please no swapping!" Katie glanced over at Sirius, and pretended to look put out. He laughed.
"Thanks so much!" he whispered.
"Please pay attention!" squeaked Flitwick. "Now, please point your wands at your partner, and on the count of three, cast the cheering charm."
"1...2...3!" Immediately jets of light blue spurted out of their wands, hitting their partners. Katie immediately started laughing, Sirius soon followed suit.
"There now, I see we all remember!" squeaked Flitwick, jumping up on a pile of books to see the class.
"Hey, he's a midget!" gasped Sirius, trying to breathe through laughter.
"No he's not, he's just vertically challenged!" cried Katie, smacking Sirius around the head.
"Ow! What was that for?"
"I dunno, for being heightist!"
"Heightist?"
"Yeah" Katie pointed at him. "You are heightist, and a Mexican jumping bean." she said, laughing.
Sirius looked puzzled.
"You sound drunk!"
"So do you!" They both collapsed into laughter, gradually recovering as the spell wore off.
Katie breathed in deeply, trying to get her breath back.
"Well, that was fun."
"Yeah...Hey Katie?"
"Yeah?"
"What the heck is a Mexican jumping bean?"
"It is a variety of bean, probably from Mexico."
"You don't say."
"I do."
"Well you learn something new every day." said Sirius, grinning.
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By the end of the day Katie was exhausted, and ended up collapsed on her favorite chair by the fireplace. She had had a hell of a time in Herbology, which involved trying to escape from a vicious vine which had tried to strangle her. Potions was no piece of cake either, apparently it was a great idea of Sirius to put a firecracker in some Slytherins cauldron. Result? The entire class had ended up covered in a thick grey slime, which had taken at least two hours to get out of their hair and robes.
James, Sirius, Remus and Peter all sat with her, casually playing a game of wizarding chess, while Katie watched.
Suddenly another sixth year girl, who Katie recognized as Anna, shot through the portrait hall and started leaping around, a piece of parchment clutched in her hand. She was squealing loudly, and it was all Katie could do to stop herself 'accidentally' dropping a book on her head.
Anna's friends bounded over to her and eagerly examined the parchment, soon they were all squealing too. Katie put her hand to her ears as they leapt around the room, showing the parchment to everyone in the common room, resulting in more squealing from the girls. Eventually she came over to where the marauders sat, and showed them the parchment. They groaned.
"What?" Katie snatched the parchment up, read it, and groaned too.
There was a Halloween ball next week. That would mean having to wear those horrible dress robes, putting up with squealing girls all week, not to mention the actual night, and having to find a date.
Anna took the parchment from her and headed off to another group of girls chattering away in the corner.
"Great, another stupid dance." groaned James.
"Oh, please, I know you're dying to ask out Lily to that 'stupid dance'!" James sat up.
"Do you think she'd go with me?" he asked eagerly.
"Dunno, how did it go at Hogsmeade?"
"Great!" he then started smiling blissfully again as he explained how well it had gone.
"Well, ask her and find out." Katie pointed over to Lily in the corner. James looked over, and after strengthening his resolve, went over. Remus mumbled something about Joanne and went off too. Even Peter went up to find someone.
"Wow, they're really getting into it." said Sirius, leaning back.
"Yeah, morons. I don't see what's so fun about dressing up like an idiot, and prancing around all night. And you have to get a date as well."
"Who said you needed a date?"
"The laws of nature."
"Oh. You know what'd be easier?"
"What?"
"Well I don't know about you, but there's no way I'm putting up with a squealing girl all night, and you don't seem to have anyone in mind. So how about we just go together?" Katie thought about this. It would be better with Sirius than some other boy she didn't even know. Maybe they could spike the drinks or something. It could be fun.
"Sure, why not."
"Good, glad that's settled."
"Sirius?"
"Yeah?"
"Good luck." Sirius looked puzzled.
"With what?"
"Anna's coming over." Sirius sat up, wide eyed and looked behind him.
"Oh, great." he groaned.
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Yay, long chapter again! And...Review! I want to know what you think! Don't make me get the Mexican jumping bean on you...grr!!
The rest of the day passed like a blur, Katie didn't bother concentrating on much, and ended up drifting from the common room to the library, around the castle and back again. Gradually students started coming back from Hogsmeade, pockets full of dungbombs, jokes from Zonkos, and enough sweets to last the rest of the year. Katie waited in the common room for James, Sirius, Remus and Peter to come back. Probably along with the entire stock of Zonkos, she thought. Filch had better watch his step.
Eventually they drifted in through the portrait, laughing and joking, carrying large bags with the word 'Zonkos' on them. Good luck Filch.
"Hey Katie, I didn't see you in Hogsmeade, where were you?" James came over and sat down.
"I was in Hogsmeade, but decided to come back. It was kind of boring." she lied.
"How's your hand?" asked Sirius, setting down the bag on the table. Katie eyed him suspiciously.
"How'd you know I hurt my hand?" Sirius suddenly went stiff, but recovered amazingly quickly.
"Well you keep rubbing it, that's all."
"Oh, okay." Katie didn't believe him, but right now, she didn't particularly care that much. "So what did you get?"
Katie suddenly had three more bags dumped on the table, with the boys eagerly explaining every aspect of what they bought. By the end of the evening Katie thought she could probably start her own joke shop.
Katie suddenly noticed that Remus was looking a bit ill. In fact, he'd been looking gradually worse all week. His skin was getting paler, and his eyes had huge bags under them. He obviously wasn't getting much sleep.
"Hey Rem, are you okay? You look kind of...dead...no offence." He smiled weakly.
"Don't worry about it, I just feel a little off, but I'll get better." Katie smiled at him. Again, she didn't believe a word of it.
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The next day Katie ran through her usual routine; wash, dress, quidditch, more quidditch, breakfast, and finally, off to lessons. Transfiguration went along well enough, if you're not counting the fact Katie nearly blew up the toad she was supposed to be turning into a bird. By the end of the lesson her toad now had a long, thin, green beak, and clawed webbed feet. Frankly, it was disturbing.
Finally (much to the toads relief), the lesson was over. Katie headed out the door but was stopped by Professor McGonagall.
"Miss Ashford, a word if you please." Katie turned back to the others who shrugged, and told her they'd wait for her outside.
McGonagall shut the door behind them and walked back over to her desk. Katie stood on the other side, waiting nervously. She had a vague suspicion what this might be about.
"I believe yesterday was your first visit to Hogsmeade, Miss Ashford." Katie nodded. Yep, she knew what this was about.
"I think it will also be your last. I will not tolerate you getting into fights and hitting other students-"
"She started it!" cried Katie.
"I don't care who started it! You will not be returning to Hogsmeade, and you will be given two weeks detention, staring tonight at 6:30."
"But-"
"But nothing! Frankly, I expected a higher standard of you Miss Ashford. Do not let it happen again." Before Katie could say another word, McGonagall walked over to the door and opened it, allowing four boys to fall in.
"And you four, get off to your next lesson!" Katie walked out with the others, McGonagall closing the door behind her.
"Hogsmeade was boring huh?" asked James. Katie grinned.
"Like I said, she started it." They were watching her eagerly.
"Fine." she sighed, and started explaining what had happened in Hogsmeade as they headed off to Charms.
"Go Katie!" said Sirius, slapping her on the back. "Didn't know you had it in you!"
"Yeah well now I'm stuck with two weeks detention."
"Don't worry about it, McGongall's fine, just nod and smile whenever she starts having a go, she'll shut up in no time." Katie didn't bother asking how he knew that, and instead occupied herself with finding a decent seat in charms.
"Alright class, settle down, settle down!" the newly appointed charms teacher, Professor Flitwick, squeaked from behind his desk.
Katie sat down between Sirius and Remus and took out her wand.
"Today class, we shall be revising cheering charms, please take out your wands. Now, you will be paired up with the person sitting next to you, so please no swapping!" Katie glanced over at Sirius, and pretended to look put out. He laughed.
"Thanks so much!" he whispered.
"Please pay attention!" squeaked Flitwick. "Now, please point your wands at your partner, and on the count of three, cast the cheering charm."
"1...2...3!" Immediately jets of light blue spurted out of their wands, hitting their partners. Katie immediately started laughing, Sirius soon followed suit.
"There now, I see we all remember!" squeaked Flitwick, jumping up on a pile of books to see the class.
"Hey, he's a midget!" gasped Sirius, trying to breathe through laughter.
"No he's not, he's just vertically challenged!" cried Katie, smacking Sirius around the head.
"Ow! What was that for?"
"I dunno, for being heightist!"
"Heightist?"
"Yeah" Katie pointed at him. "You are heightist, and a Mexican jumping bean." she said, laughing.
Sirius looked puzzled.
"You sound drunk!"
"So do you!" They both collapsed into laughter, gradually recovering as the spell wore off.
Katie breathed in deeply, trying to get her breath back.
"Well, that was fun."
"Yeah...Hey Katie?"
"Yeah?"
"What the heck is a Mexican jumping bean?"
"It is a variety of bean, probably from Mexico."
"You don't say."
"I do."
"Well you learn something new every day." said Sirius, grinning.
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By the end of the day Katie was exhausted, and ended up collapsed on her favorite chair by the fireplace. She had had a hell of a time in Herbology, which involved trying to escape from a vicious vine which had tried to strangle her. Potions was no piece of cake either, apparently it was a great idea of Sirius to put a firecracker in some Slytherins cauldron. Result? The entire class had ended up covered in a thick grey slime, which had taken at least two hours to get out of their hair and robes.
James, Sirius, Remus and Peter all sat with her, casually playing a game of wizarding chess, while Katie watched.
Suddenly another sixth year girl, who Katie recognized as Anna, shot through the portrait hall and started leaping around, a piece of parchment clutched in her hand. She was squealing loudly, and it was all Katie could do to stop herself 'accidentally' dropping a book on her head.
Anna's friends bounded over to her and eagerly examined the parchment, soon they were all squealing too. Katie put her hand to her ears as they leapt around the room, showing the parchment to everyone in the common room, resulting in more squealing from the girls. Eventually she came over to where the marauders sat, and showed them the parchment. They groaned.
"What?" Katie snatched the parchment up, read it, and groaned too.
There was a Halloween ball next week. That would mean having to wear those horrible dress robes, putting up with squealing girls all week, not to mention the actual night, and having to find a date.
Anna took the parchment from her and headed off to another group of girls chattering away in the corner.
"Great, another stupid dance." groaned James.
"Oh, please, I know you're dying to ask out Lily to that 'stupid dance'!" James sat up.
"Do you think she'd go with me?" he asked eagerly.
"Dunno, how did it go at Hogsmeade?"
"Great!" he then started smiling blissfully again as he explained how well it had gone.
"Well, ask her and find out." Katie pointed over to Lily in the corner. James looked over, and after strengthening his resolve, went over. Remus mumbled something about Joanne and went off too. Even Peter went up to find someone.
"Wow, they're really getting into it." said Sirius, leaning back.
"Yeah, morons. I don't see what's so fun about dressing up like an idiot, and prancing around all night. And you have to get a date as well."
"Who said you needed a date?"
"The laws of nature."
"Oh. You know what'd be easier?"
"What?"
"Well I don't know about you, but there's no way I'm putting up with a squealing girl all night, and you don't seem to have anyone in mind. So how about we just go together?" Katie thought about this. It would be better with Sirius than some other boy she didn't even know. Maybe they could spike the drinks or something. It could be fun.
"Sure, why not."
"Good, glad that's settled."
"Sirius?"
"Yeah?"
"Good luck." Sirius looked puzzled.
"With what?"
"Anna's coming over." Sirius sat up, wide eyed and looked behind him.
"Oh, great." he groaned.
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Yay, long chapter again! And...Review! I want to know what you think! Don't make me get the Mexican jumping bean on you...grr!!