Chapter 15 - Upside Down Day
Araya's dark mood continued. She spent more time away from the castle and consequently away from people.
"Professor Araya?" Harry asked while dropping Blue off Thursday morning, "Will you be celebrating your Holiday?"
"Professor Dumbledore told me I could. However, it's not the same alone." she replied. The cold wind blew her hair to cover her face. She shook it away and looked off in to the distance.
"Well, we'd be happy to join you." Ron offered. "If you could tell us about it."
Araya looked at the group. "You're really intent on find this out. That is what I heard about you." A smile played on her lips. "It's a festival called Upside Down Day. All things are flipped. Enemies become friends, or at least you try. Teachers are students. Get it? Its great fun." she said dreamily.
"So, like we wouldn't have class?" Ron smiled, "I'm in. Please say it's Monday."
"Actually, yes." Araya replied, "But Snape won't let you out of class unless the school blows up." she sighted, "Oh well."
"So, Snape's no fun, but he's not the only staff member. So why don't you try to convince them." Hermione questioned, "Announce it at dinner, or something."
"Nah." Araya sighed, "It's not my style."
"Then we'll do it." Ron offered.
"It's obvious you really want to do this. Besides, it sounds fun." Harry replied, "Tell us more about it."
"Only if you don't go announcing it at dinner." Araya returned, "I would rather not have to explain my father's customs. It - it'll just make me feel worse."
Upon returning to the Great Hall for lunch, they understood why Araya was so distressed at the prospect of missing Upside Down Day.
"We should tell the others. They'd love it." Ron argued with Hermione.
"We promised we wouldn't." she returned.
"No, we said we wouldn't at dinner." Ron said, "And that we wouldn't announce it. We can talk about it." Harry smiled, following Ron's train of thought. The students loved to gossip.
"Ron!" Hermione hissed, "Don't. It'll embarrass her." Harry realized that was one certain way to make sure other people were listening...by saying something was embarrassing.
"Come on Hermione." Harry said, keeping his voice low enough to intrigue others. "Who wouldn't want to take part in a festival where the teachers are students! No wonder Professor Luna's depressed. She's missing it."
"Harry!" Hermione hissed, "Stop!"
"If I got to teach a class, I'd take it outside to play Quidditch." Ron said, "It would be fun, do you think the rules would flip too?"
"I don't know. But I'd have a great day walking on the ceiling." Harry returned. Hermione looked around.
"You should both be ashamed of yourselves." she hissed, "Professor Araya told us that in confidence. She didn't want you to go around blabbing to everyone." Hermione got up and left. Harry looked at Ron and shrugged. They heard whispers start moving down the table and smiled at each other.
It didn't take long before the entire school was talking about this Upside Down Day. What they would do, or not do, on such a day.
It was causing so much disturbance that many of the teachers had to stop class. By the end of the day, most of them were furious with Araya, who had been blamed for causing the disruption. The staff confronted Dumbledore to do something about it. Araya walked into the staff room and was met with furious gazes.
"Okay, what am I being blamed for now?" Araya asked, closing the door.
"It seems that many of today's classes have been disrupted with talk about - what did you call it Minerva?" Dumbledore asked quietly.
"Upside Down Day, sir. That's what my students were saying." Professor McGonagall replied nicely, "Some of the students said that this day was why you have been so down lately."
"Thank you, yes." Dumbledore said, "Would you know anything about it?"
"Yeah, I do." Araya said cautiously, "That's the holiday. The one I mentioned to you the other day."
"Oh yes." Dumbledore replied, "I do recall it now. So do tell, it seems most interesting an idea. It certainly has the students all wound up."
After a very uncomfortable discussion by the staff, Dumbledore agreed in his whimsical nature that it would be delightful to try. The teachers however were allowed to conduct their classes as they saw fit.
Araya was highly embarrassed when at dinner Dumbledore announced the festival events for Monday. "Well, to help welcome our new Professor, I would like you all to celebrate an Upside Down Day on Monday." Excited whispers swept through the room. When most of the eyes returned to Dumbledore, he continued, "As this is new to us all, I'll as Professor Araya to give us the rundown. Although, I suspect that some of you know more than I do."
They eagerly looked at Araya. Dumbledore sat and motioned for her to rise. The hall was silent. She looked nervous as she looked out on the students.
"Why don't I seem to be able to get you to do this in class?" Araya asked nervously. A laugh went up around the hall. "Okay, as the name implies, things are reversed. So, um - if you want to, that can include; clothes, meals, roles like teacher-student or friend-foe. Get the idea? Okay." Araya went to sit down.
"Professor?" someone called, "Does that mean there are no classes?"
"Staff are choosing on an independent basis if they are going to participate. Some will be putting a student in charge, some may have conditions. It's up to the teacher." Dumbledore said. "It is completely voluntary, however, I will remind you that if I should hear that classes are being disrupted by talk of the event, I will cancel it."
By Monday, most of the students were wearing their clothes backwards. Some walked backwards, Fred and George walked on their hands everywhere (except the stairs). Some tried to walk on the ceiling until Professor McGonagall insisted they stop because of safety reasons.
Ron, Harry, and Hermione tried to make friends with those like Malfoy, but the effort was too much and they gave up. While it was obvious the Slytherins were not participating, the rest of the school seemed to fully embrace the idea.
Professor McGonagall, while not allowing the class to leave, let Hermione conduct the lesson (which was actually a short one). Professor McGonagall even took the role of student. Lupin allowed his class to run free.
Not all the teachers were so accommodating though. Snape, as if to make up for the frivolity was especially tough, strict, and picky. He would snap at how foolish the students looked, and commended his entire house for not being involved.
Araya heard Snape berating a group of first years. She moved in beside him, her smile helped the students calm down.
"Yad doog." Araya smiled at Snape's scowl. "Good day. Is there something troubling you?"
"No." Snape sneered.
"Girls, don't you have class?" Araya smiled.
"Yes Professor." one said quietly.
"Sorry sir, we'll be more careful." another said politely. Then they ran off to class.
Araya entwined her arm in Snape's, "Oh Severus. Today is a day for fun. To be contrary to normal. I apologize for any undo stress this is causing." she walked with Snape.
"You are insane." Snape replied, wrenching his arm free, "Dumbledore may find this cute, but I do not. I will not take part in the customs of-" Araya gave Snape a look that told him not to continue.
"Fine. Don't. But it's no reason to try to spoil it for everyone else just because you chose to be a grump." Araya said pleasantly. "I'm starting to believe that rumour that you had your sense of humour removed."
Snape sneered and a smile tugged at his lips.
"Com on, it's not a crime to smile." Araya teased.
Snape's scowl won out. "Perhaps. However, you are a silly child, and treat everything too lightly. You have never shown the proper severity that the situation deserves."
"I have news for you. Life is for living, not brooding about things that cannot be changed. When I become serious, that's when you know things are bad." Araya said in a confident voice. "If I try to be more serious, will you try to lighten up?"
Snape said nothing.
"Will you think on it?"
"Is this a part of your festival?" Snape sneered, "Trying to make me a friend?"
"In part. But I was actually thinking that since we work together, we could try to make a compromise." Araya explained. "The offer stands. I have to get to class now."
The dinner was a banquet. They ate on the ceiling and looked down at the floor. Araya had used the decorations to increase the effect where the pictures were different depending on the angel one looked at them. Some students got confused which way was up and which was down.