1Chapter 9: Lunchroom Confessions
As Squall and Irvine were leaving the Transfiguration classroom, Professor McGonagall called after them, "Mr. Kinneas and Mr. Leonhart, if you could come here please."
Squall wondered what this had to be about. Surely she hadn't expected them to use their own magic for the transfiguration. They approached McGonagall's desk, Irvine looking somewhat apprehensive. Selphie, Quistis, and Rinoa were already standing there, along with all the dummies. It was quite strange, actually.
"How's everything been so far?" were the first words out of her mouth. Squall was taken back slightly. This was really the first time anybody had asked them this.
"It's been wonderful, Professor," Selphie answered. "Everyone's really nice."
The rest of them nodded in agreement.
"Very good. I know what I'm about to say is a little late in coming, but it's been decided that we should try giving you wands. The rest of the staff wanted me to observe today and see if any of you would try using your own magic to perform the transfiguration. Obviously, that didn't happen, and I'm sure it's because you don't do magic like this where you come from, correct?"
"Yeah," said Irvine. "Nothing like this."
"Yes. Since you do posses magical powers, however, you will be taken to buy wands. Because you have no money, or at least money that can be spent here, the school will pay for your wands. And on the same length, you also don't need to worry about buying books or robes or any other same things the students need to buy because we won't ask you to wear robes and I'm sure your classmates will gladly share books with you. Tomorrow, you are excused from classes and I will have an escort ready to take you to Diagon Alley, where you will purchase your wands. Questions?"
"What's Diagon Alley?" Selphie asked quickly. "Is it near the school?"
McGonagall looked as though she were trying to hide a smile. "No, it's far from here. It's a street full of wizarding shops in London. Do you know what London is?"
They shook their heads. McGonagall sighed and explained as much as she could about Diagon Alley, London, and the country they were in before students began pouring into her classroom for their next class. "Don't forget, meet your escort tomorrow morning after breakfast at the Front Gates," she said as a parting word before they left for the dungeons, all except Quistis, who groaned as she now had to find her way to Muggle Studies.
8? 687868/6?86
Potions was decently interesting. Because they didn't really need their wands so much, the four from Balamb were able to participate much more. Not that they totally enjoyed it, though. Rinoa was grossed out by the various ingredients she had to pour in her cauldron (they used school cauldrons instead of their own, which they obviously didn't have), so when it began to sputter and spit because she'd failed to put the right amounts in, she pretty much gave up and just watched everyone else. Snape gave her a pathetic look, the same one he usually gave Harry and Ron, but said nothing. He was less then pleased that McGonagall had placed them in classes. However, Selphie, Irvine, and Squall produced perfect looking light purple draughts (they were used as a cure for hiccups), but this failed to soften Snape's demeanor even an ounce.
"Finally, lunch!" Irvine said as the bell rang and they began their way out of the dungeons.
"You're starting to sound like Zell," Rinoa joked.
"No, no, not because of the food," he replied, grinning. "I met this girl this morning at breakfast. She said she wanted to meet me back in the Common Room during lunch hour."
Squall glanced at Selphie. She looked as though she weren't paying attention, or at least pretending not to. "Oh," was all Rinoa said. After a moment of them walking in silence, she continued, "We need to tell Zell and Seifer about going to buy wands tomorrow."
"Yeah," replied Selphie, staring ahead. "Unless they were told by s-someone else."
Squall wondered if he was the only one who heard that stutter. He caught Rinoa giving Selphie a cautious glance. They parted ways as they entered the Entrance Hall, Irvine heading up the Grand Staircase and the rest of them into the Great Hall. They found their typical spots at the Gryffindor table and settled down, Squall looking over to the Hufflepuff table for Zell. He really didn't care about telling Seifer anything, though. He was sure Rinoa would do that. Suddenly he spotted Zell, already elbow-deep in hotdogs, managing to chat it up with some of his new found Hufflepuff buddies. "I'm going to tell Zell about the wands," he told Rinoa and Selphie before leaving them at the table, but not before noticing how glassy Selphie's eyes were looking.
"Zell?" Squall asked as he stood behind Mr. Dincht, who turned around at the sound of his name.
"Squall!" he exclaimed with his mouth full of dog. He took one giant gulp before continuing. "Did you hear about going to get wands tomorrow?"
Squall nodded. "That's what I was coming to tell you."
"Isn't that awesome?"
"I guess."
"Leave it up to you to rain on everybody's parade," Zell said, but not sounding upset. "You have Herbology next period, right?"
Squall nodded again.
"Yeah, Ernie told me Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors have Herbology together," Zell said, motioning to some kid next to him.
"Hullo," Ernie said to Squall, giving him a quick nod.
"Hey," replied Squall before turning back to Zell. "You know if Seifer knows yet or not?"
Zell's face turned sour. "Yeah. We had our first class, Potions, together. Hyne, he's so stupid..."
"So Professor Snape told you?"
"Yeah. Meet tomorrow at the Front Gates after breakfast, right?"
"Yes. Okay then. See you, Zell."
"Alright. Next period!"
Squall headed back to the Gryffindor table, but slowed as he saw tears running down Selphie's cheeks and she talked quickly about something to Rinoa, who sat across from her. She buried her face in her hands and cried, Rinoa reaching one blue-warmer clad arm across the table and placing her hand on Selphie's shoulder. Squall wasn't sure what to do. He knew Selphie had probably been waiting for him to leave so she could pour her heart out to Rinoa, but then again he had no where else to go. Even his sanctuary of a four-poster was out of the question, thanks to Irvine.
He had heard of some of the kids talking about a library. Despite that he really didn't like to read, Squall was interested in this new world they were in. Books were always easier to learn from then people. So that was that. He was going to the library. But where the hell was the library?
"I'm off to do that report on curing draughts for Snape," he suddenly heard Hermione say to Ron and Harry. "I'll be in the-"
"Yeah, we know, the library," Ron rolled his eyes. "See you next period."
And with that, Hermione stood up and right next to Squall. "Oh, hello," she said, giving him a friendly smile. She gathered her things. "Excuse me, I'm just going to the library."
"Yeah, umm...," Squall was at a loss for words. "I... was about to go there too..."
Stop being such a doofus, Squall thought.
"Oh, then... would you like me to show you where it is?" Hermione asked, sounding just a bit uncomfortable but still with a smile.
"Sure," replied Squall.
So they walked together out of the Great Hall, both unaware of the stares they were getting from people, and of the ridiculous giggling coming from a group of Slytherin girls.
