CHAPTER EIGHT First Days Back
Ophelia awoke the next morning from a dream about an alleyway in Ireland. She put it in the Mellezerant, adding it to over eight years of saved dreams. She quickly dressed in her robes and joined the others in the Great Hall for breakfast.
Ophelia squeezed in next to James and dug into a large stack of pancakes.
"Did someone sleep in?" Sirius smirked, handing Ophelia her timetable, "McGonagall's already been by."
They had a double Charms, followed by Muggle Studies and Potions.
"My afternoon looks pretty pathetic." she sighed. Sirius pushed his across the table. Ophelia glanced at the identical timetable. "Every year, Padfoot. Nothing changes."
James elbowed Remus and whispered something to him, which mush have really pleased him as he immediately slapped him a high-five.
Ophelia frowned but shook it off, she would ask one of them about it later. "What's your schedule like, Lil?"
She shrugged. "I have Arithmancy today. I think we have a new Professor, but anyone's better than Harris."
"Professor Harris seemed nice enough." she answered, as Talia silently joined the table.
"Oh he was. But I don't think he really knew what he was talking about."
"Does anyone really know what Arithmancy is about?" asked Sirius, taking a large drink of pumpkin juice.
"Between worshiping the Dark Arts and killing servants, didn't your mother ever teach you table manners?"
He shoved a piece of toast into his mouth. "I guess not."
On the way to Charms, Ophelia cornered her brother. "What were you and James so excited about?"
"Try-outs for the new Keeper are tonight."
"Congratulations, Rem."
"Well I haven't made the team yet--"
"No, but you will. You're an excellent Keeper."
He squeezed her shoulder. "Thanks Phe."
Ophelia entered the classroom and took a seat between Lily and Talia.
Professor Flitwick hopped onto his desk, at eye level with his students. "Welcome back, everyone." he trilled. "I hope you've all enjoyed your summer holiday. I myself went to Spain to see the Quidditch Cup. But anyways, this year we will be starting with Emotional spells- Charms meant to induce a particular emotion. Although it may seem easy enough to inflict feelings on yourself or another, it can be quite difficult."
"Great, just my luck." muttered Talia under her breath.
"We will be covering the basics," he continued. "Happiness, sadness and anger, and then we will move onto the more complicated emotions of jealousy, fear, hate, and love."
At the end of class he assigned a foot of parchment on the emotion the students felt they exemplified most.
Adding to their growing list of homework, in Muggle Studies they were given an essay on modes of Muggle transportation, followed by research on spells used to create lightening in Potions.
After supper, Ophelia collapsed into the couch in front of the fireplace next to Sirius.
He sighed dramatically. "Fifth year is going to be the death of me."
"Oh you'll be fine. Professor Flitwick told me after class today that it's standard in the first couple of months to pile the work on, but around November it should lessen." Ophelia admitted.
"That's two months from now!" he cried.
"That's better than seven months from now."
Sirius shrugged. "Do you think Moony will make it onto the team?"
"I'm sure of it."
"James is pushing for a minimum of three practices a week."
Ophelia realized where he was going. "And Remus and Lily are both Prefects.."
"It looks like it'll be just you and me."
"Don't forget Wormy." she smirked.
"Right. This year is going to be great." he said sarcastically.
"Not with that attitude it won't. Come on, I'm sure you and I can cause all sorts of trouble without them. "
He became interested. "Like what?"
"Slytherins are getting pretty cocky again. We could put them back in their place.."
Sirius scowled. "Yeah, especially Snivelly. He's skulking around the castle like he owns the place."
"No, that would be you." she giggled. "But yes, he's been looking more gloomy and doomy since we got back."
"What? More than usual?"
"Didn't you notice him in the back of Potions staring at us? Well, mainly James, but his eyes shifted to the rest of us every few minutes." She thought for a moment. "Do you ever feel bad for him? I mean.. something must have happened to make him so... pathetic."
"No. No, I can quite honestly say that I've never felt sorry for him. He is who he is. Look at me, I come from a family of grey wizards, and I can't be any less like them." Sirius rambled angrily. "Snivellus is the way he is because he chose it."
Ophelia sank into the cushions, defeated. "I wasn't saying that I wanted to invite him to join the Marauders or anything. I like him about as much as you do."
He punched her arm. "Thatta girl, Phe."
She rubbed her arm. "Ouch.."
"So until our attack on the Slytherins, do you want to help me with my Muggle homework?"
Ophelia rolled her eyes. "Sirius, how could you possibly have fallen behind after only one class?"
"I guess I just don't have any space left in my head right now."
She patted his head. "Aw, poor you. You're so hard put against."
He ducked away as Remus and James rushed into the Common Room, singing at the top of their lungs.
Remus lifted Ophelia to her feet and danced her about in front of the crackling fire.
"What's going on?" she laughed.
"I made the Quidditch team! I'm the new Keeper!"
"Was there ever any doubt?"
Sirius slapped him on the back. "Congratulations, mate."
Ophelia put her hands on her knees, steadying herself. "I have a flask of Butterbeer in my trunk if you wanted to celebrate."
"No need. We already sent for some snacks and sweets from the kitchen." said James.
As if on cue, trays of treacle tart, cauldron cakes and pumpkin pasties appeared on the table next on pitchers of banana juice and Butterbeer.
"You have to admit," said Remus in between mouthfuls of sweet cake. "They're good at what they do."
