The future is purchased by the present. - Samuel Johnson
September 1, 2009
The ride was a bore.
It was a clear, sunny day when the scarlet, stem engine, Hogwarts Express roared through the countryside of northern England. Inside the train in Compartment B8 sat a 7TH year Gryffindor, Nora Kendrick.
Her strawberry blonde hair was straight and long. Her skin was of a peach complexion. She had a nice face; an interesting face with dark almond eyes and chapped lips. Her body type was average; Nora didn't think much of her looks. She wasn't beautiful, but then again, she wasn't butt-ugly.
Slowly, Nora removed her spectacles and reached up her arm. Her watch read fifteen till noon. She was supposed to report to the Head Compartment. For some screwed up reason, she had been chosen Head Girl. Why? Only Merlin knew.
She lazily detached herself from her comfortable position. Nora made the difficult trip to the Head Compartment. There she would meet up with the Head Boy where they would receive their duties for the following year, the last year.
When Nora walked inside, she was astonished. The interior of the Head Compartment was amazing, wonderful, almost…pure. It was decorated in a color of bright blue and shining sliver. A sectional couch took up most of the room, but off to the right was a small, mini bar.
Exactly two minutes later, a panting James Potter burst through the door. Nora's eyes widened at the sight of James.
What in the name of Merlin is he doing here? She thought bitterly.
He lifted his head to reveal bright green eyes. A grin played across his lips as he casually ran a hand through his all-ready, unruly hair. Nora stood there with her mouth agape.
"Well, well, well," James mumbled. At the comment, Nora quickly shut her mouth.
"Surely…I mean…McGonagall would never…" Nora's words faded as James's smile expanded. "Damn," was all Nora said.
"I'll say. Now isn't this an ironic situation, me and you making Heads." Nora knew she was never going to live this down.
"Shut up, Potter." Nora was getting annoyed. Of all the people in Hogwarts, Potter was chosen Head Boy. If there was one person Nora could say she truly disliked, it was Potter. He was arrogant in the most egotistical way. Nora could handle a little arrogance; she was prone to it herself, but Potter took it to the edge.
Many years ago, his father, the famous Harry Potter, the fall of Voldemort, learned he was the Heir of Gryffindor. So naturally since Potter was his father's only child that meant the family fortune would be given to him. That was the problem. Nora knew Potter had never had to work a day in his life. Anything he wanted, he'd always been given. Nora knew she had to make the best of a bad situation.
"All right, let's get this over with. Do you have the instructions?" Nora asked as she made her way over to where Potter stood, leaning against the side of a wall. He reached down into his back pocket and removed a folded piece of paper. He handed it over to Nora. She unfolded it and read:
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmistress: minerva McGonagall (Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. Of Witches)
Dear Miss Kendrick and Mr. Potter,
Congratulations on your becoming this year's Head Girl and Boy. Enclosed you will find information on the responsibilities you are to perform while holding this high and achieved honor.
Yours sincerely,
Severus Snape
Deputy Headmaster
Prefect Meetings – 1:15 PM in the Prefect Compartment. Planning Special Events Organizing Quidditch Tournaments Planning Hogsmead Weekends.
"What a pain." Nora jumped at the voice being spoken so close to her ear.
While she had been reading the letter from Professor Snape, James had gone to stand behind her. Apparently, he hadn't had the time yet to read the letter himself. James chuckled at her anxiousness.
"Little jumpy, aren't we?" James asked sarcastically.
"Oh, stuff it, Potter!" Nora replied, grabbing hold of James by the shirtsleeve and dragging him out the door.
"Where're we going?" James inquired with a hint of humor in his voice. "Finally decided you couldn't live another moment without snogging me, huh?" Nora rolled her eyes at his conceit.
"There is supposed to be a Prefect meeting in five minutes. Either we're there, or there's hell to pay. Which would you prefer?" James never had the chance to reply, for they had reached the Prefect Compartment.
All in all, the meeting had gone fairly well.
There was little doubt about what duties Prefects performed or whether they could do them well. They all seemed to be sensible-minded persons.
So why had McGonagall chosen Potter as Head Boy? Nora thought. At best he was impractical, rude, annoying, everything a jerk can be.
"Anything else?" Potter asked aloud, interrupting Nora from her thoughts.
"We need to patrol the corridors, make sure everything's going smoothly."
"Oh." James muttered under his breath, just loud enough for Nora to hear.
"What? Don't think you can handle such a simple order." She intrigued sarcastically.
"Well, actually, I promised the guys I'd see them right after this whole thing was over. We need to discuss some…things."
"You mean pranks," Nora said exasperated. James grinned at her words. "Go on." He stood there, ogling at her. "Potter, what's your problem? I can patrol by myself."
"You're sure?" James was hesitant on letting Nora do all the work.
"If the train is attached by human eating demons from hell, I'll call you. Otherwise, I think I can handle it." James went for the exit, but was stopped at the door by Nora. "Oh, and Potter, one more thing." James turned. "Make sure those things you discuss, don't involve me."
"But the green hair was a classic." James defended against the magickal act of turning Nora's hair after she'd gotten him dentition last year.
Nora smiled sweetly, "As were the snakes in your bed." James scowled at the memory of waking up with a cobra crawling up his leg. Surprise registered next.
"Wait," James wasn't fully sure he'd understood her. "That was you?" Nora felt belittled by his shock that she could be so devious.
"I'm not as innocent as people think." Nora thought James would get mad and yell, but instead he laughed.
"You know, Kendrick, you're not so bad." James said as he made to leave.
"I never was." James heard Nora say as he shut the door to the Prefect Compartment.
(So what do you think? Please review!)