Chapter Two: And Thus the Year Begins

"Above all things, never be afraid. The enemy who forces you to retreat is himself afraid of you at that very moment."

- Andre Maurois

French Author (1885 - 1967)

September 4

You know, I'm really starting to gain some respect for the teachers at Hogwarts. Especially Professor McGonagall. She has to deal with so much. I wonder how Professor Dumbledore can stay the same cheerful person he is with the Marauders running around.

Just so you know, the Marauders are a group of pranksters that consists of James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew. They have these weird nicknames for themselves: Prongs, Padfoot, Moony, and Wormtail. I have my suspicions as to how they got their names, but they have yet to be confirmed. They've kept their secret well kept, though. I don't doubt that half of the house of Ravenclaws have their suspicions as well, but I am quite sure none of us have ours confirmed with proof.

The reason my respect for the staff of Hogwarts is the prank they pulled this morning. As usual, it was aimed towards the Slytherin tables. What is their problem with Slytherin anyways? I can find a few good ones in the few lower years. The higher years are completely hopeless, but hey, I don't really care what they do. All they do is strut around the school trying to dominate every other house. That's not exactly what I consider fun for a typical day.

They can prance around all they want, but they'll never have full control of Hogwarts while the Gryffindors are around. You have to give them some credit. Even though they are quite reckless and most of the time, their intelligence is lacking, they have the bravery to stand up for what they believe in. Warbecks… they're a neutral family. Do you think they'd stand up for what they believe in for being gray for so long? Nuh uh.

Anyways, I sat at the Gryffindor table today after I saw Lily marching out, fuming about 'Potter and his arrogant self'. James followed her soon after. The boy's quite smart if you think about it, but I don't think he uses it much in daily life. I sat down next to Black, as I always have for the past seven years after Lily and James get into a fight during a meal. It's really quite annoying to watch all that drama.

Black seemed to very pissed about the thing that's happening. He and Potter seem to be growing farther apart as Potter and Lily grow closer. I feel sorry for the guy, to lose his best friend over a girl. Potter's daft, I tell you. Anyways, Lupin and me kept him company and we were planning to lock the two in a closet together if it gets any worse and see if they work it out then. Maybe they could get a good snog session. Alternatively, we could have Black pretend to mope around and have Lupin talk to Potter about the "temporary depression" Black is acting out. Seems like a good idea to me. Although there will be a few flaws…

Okay, there'll be many flaws, particularly the part about Black acting. He's not all that good when it comes to making other people believe that he's perfectly fine or innocent. The Professors can see through his innocent act, but they're rather lenient. You can see it in his eyes what he's trying to do. At least, I can. Potter might be dense enough to actually believe it. Overall, it might work in the long run.

I still think locking them in the closet is a good idea…

So anyways, since I was sitting with the Lions today, I was excluded from the prank. Insert cheering person here. That's really a first. I guess Black and Lupin are really on the edge over Potter and Lily because those two just won't knock their heads into the wall and snog each other already.

Ai, dammit. I have to leave. That was the class bell, and I'll probably get another detention from Crawford. I seem to be the only one he really despises among his own house. Maybe it's because my family's neutral while his are screw-ish in the brain. Don't ask. I got that phrase from Sandy last night.

Agh… Time to leave.

- Delayna Warbeck

I snapped my diary shut and stuffed it in the leather exterior trunk and grabbed the books at the foot of my bed. I was going to be late. It wouldn't really be any different from any other days. I'm late for the first class of the day every other Monday, and always get detention for the day after. So every other Tuesday, I have detention. It'll be a real shocker if I'm actually early.

As usual, my face goes into what I like to call the I-Don't-Care-What-You-Have-To-Say-So-Go-Screw-Yourself Look. No, I don't curse often. Unless it's 'damn', or 'ass', I don't curse. Those are the minor ones, anyways, so others won't care unless they're a bloody goodie-two-shoe… like Lily. But she doesn't count 'cause she's used to my odd language.

As usual, I'm glared at as I enter the room. I brush it off. I'm always given the Go-Away-You're-Not-Wanted-Here glare wherever I go. Hey, I'm a Ravenclaw in the Slytherin house. Call me crazy, but Slytherins don't accept anybody but Slytherins, and everybody else just thinks I'm a bitch. Gasp, choke, splutter. "You said bitch, you said bitch!" Ehehehe… no. 'Bitch' happens to mean 'malicious woman', 'female dog', or to 'complain' in the dictionary. I just happen to be a 'malicious woman'. Eye roll. That's what you get. The Layna Eye Roll is what I call it.

I exited the Slytherin Common Room through the portrait hole and slam it shut, knowing everyone in the Common Room would be downright pissed that I "disturbed his or her silence". Uh huh. Right. There's enough racket in there to shatter someone's ears if they weren't already used to it like every Slytherin is, or will soon be. I give everyone that I'm a fair acquaintance with The Nod as I pass. The Nod is just a small nod that you do once and only once, making a sharp nod with your head upwards. It's a sign of greeting, you could say.

Briiiiing. Oh, there's the bell. What'd I say, eh? What'd I say? I'm late already. As always. I don't quicken my pace any, and I stayed at the same speed, walking leisurely towards the dungeons.

I entered the Potions dungeon and give The Nod to Sandy and Damien as I take a deep breath for the usual lecture. As usual, it goes like this:

"Warbeck! Get in this room right now! (I'm already in the room…) If you be late one more time, (you'll do what exactly?), I'll be sending you to the Headmaster's Office! (Been there… done that…) Potions are an important part of your studies (And how is knowing my Potions part of being a journalist/opinion writer?) and I will not have you slack off! (Like I even do that… And you know it!) You will have a detention with me tomorrow! (And that's different exactly how?) Go to your seat!" Moreover, by the time she says that last part, I'll already be in my seat, more than ready to begin the lesson. Jeez, will she ever get the hint that I already know I'm late and that I already have her speech memorized by heart?

So thus begins the seventh year of my education at Hogwarts. Oh. Joy.

Author's Note: I wasn't really planning to work on this so much, but I'm still lacking very much inspiration on the other story and I had finished this yesterday while I was still banned from the computer for gasp, splutter TWO WHOLE HOURS! Wow.

Anyways, I'll be continuing on to whatever I was doing previous, which is beta-reading, and I'll let you review this is you wish to. Yes, Layna's a real 'malicious woman', and this story will go up to PG! D

- Cerulean Asphodel