Disclaimer: I do not own any characters, places, ideas, etc. that are contained within Harry Potter books. J.K. Rowling does. The only thing I can even remotely try to claim ownership of is my part of the plot. So please don't sue me, remember I am a lowly 17 year old girl, I have no money, so you wouldn't be gaining anything. Anything else you recognize from any other place, I don't own that either, sometimes these ideas fly into my head before I realize where it came from. Thank you. I think that covers everything, I hope.
:Chapter Eight: Owls With Attitude
I woke up on October 11th thinking it'd be like every other day, go to class, piss of Snape, hang out with Oliver and the team, maybe go to practice. Classes seemed to be going well, I excelled at everything, shooting to the top of my class in every subject including potions. I had the distinct ability to piss off Snape though I don't know why. I suppose he and Mr. Malfoy senior have had a discussion about me. Other than that everything was settling into a routine which about drove me nuts. I was bored out of my fricken mind. Then the letter came.
It was Saturday so I slept in, there being nothing else to do. When I finally woke up I saw a very familiar black and brown barn owl on top of my bureau.
"Ate! What are you doing here?" Ate was my one of my best friends', Rhea's, owl. Named after a goddess of mischief and for good reason. "Hey, Stop that!" I said trying to stop Ate from eating my notebook. I grabbed the letter from her leg and beckoned her over to my arm. Then I slipped on my shoes and was on my way to the Owlery so that Ate could visit my owl Selene.
But then in came three more owls. All of them I knew personally. They were Lora, Nykole, and Kourie's owls. All of them befit their owners' personalities. Lora's owl, Kiera, was white and tan and sat patiently and gracefully on my chair.
Nykole's, Sora, went immediately to the dish of cookies I had at my nightstand. And Kourie's, Morgana a.k.a. Mori, who was Ate's sister, went and sat on my head, thinking it was extremely funny.
I finally had Lora, Nykole, and Rhea's letters in hand when the door opened and I was trying to coax Mori off my head. Alicia stood there looking at me quizzically.
"Friends of mine." I said. "A little help?" Alicia came over and we tried to get Mori down. In turn Angelina, and Katie came up too help all without success. Finally Oliver stepped in the room.
"I send you up to check on her and you get lost?" he asked but then Mori flew at Oliver so he backed out and closed the door just in time. Mori just swerved in time, landing on my arm and nuzzling my cheek.
"She is a bit overprotective just like her owner." I said. The girls just nodded.
"Who are all the letters from?" asked Katie.
"My friends back home. I wonder why? Oh duck!" I yelled getting down. In came my owl carrying a howler. The girls all got down and I rushed over to see whom it was from, Mom and Dad. I turned around to a funny sight, Katie, Alicia, and Angelina were all hunched down behind my desk and all the owls were by them cowering. This sight distracted me too long because the next thing I knew…
'Kassandra Lillith Standfort! I can't believe you! Not only do you get expelled, but now your example has caused your friends to get expelled as well! Congratulations, you'll soon be seeing all of your friends again, they have to go abroad to school! I swear you put one toe out of line!'
The howler then exploded. "Wow." Said Katie.
"Such a loving family aren't we?" I said returning to the other letters. My family may be able to buy a lot of things but it sure couldn't buy love, and we were a little short on it.
At this point Oliver ventured back in but Mori started to fly towards him. "No Mori." I said and she flew back.
"What was that?" asked Oliver.
"I don't know but that's what I'm trying to find out." I said as I was ruffling through the letters. "I'll be down in a while okay guys."
"Right." Said Angelina as she herded everyone out. I went and grabbed my wand real quick and made some food and water appear for the owls, after all it was a long trip.
I went and I grabbed Rhea's first.
Hey Lilith,
I'm sorry this is the first letter you've received. Mother wouldn't let me send any to you. It's the same way for the whole gang. We really missed you back here. We found out why you were expelled and we organized a committee to oppose the decision. We even went about it real professionally and such, just like you would have. Personally, Kourie, Nykole, and I were gonna just go and bitch them out but Lora talked us into doing it the way you would have. Well they didn't like it. We ended up getting expelled but at least we'll all be together. Lora's 'rents almost sent her to Buexbatons, but she wouldn't hear it. She told them she's going where we all go. I can't believe people think she's shy. I hope they never make her mad. Well, I miss practicing for the band. But hey, we'll be there soon right so maybe we can get a gig! Sorry the letter is so short but expect us all on the 12th.
Peace,
Rhea
Rheana Elena Lanston
The 12th! That was tomorrow! Where would they stay? I went on and read the rest, they were basically the same, each told from a different standpoint but much alike. Even the way we sign our names is the same. Nickname, then full name. None of us like our full names. But we used them when we signed letters, kind of a safety service. To know it was us who sent it. Kassandra Lilith Standfort, Rheana Elena Lanston, Deliahla Nykole Davis, Loralei Sabrina Lewis, and Kathryn Kourtney Stewart, those were the names written but never spoken lest you want to get in a fight. Our band! I missed playing with them so much.
We became friends when we were very small. Rhea and I were inseparable, then Kourie and Lora when we were in kindergarten. Later that same year Nykole transferred to our private kindergarten from a public system. We haven't parted since. We all loved music so it was only natural we form a band. Avalon was what we named it. It of course had no relation to the muggle band Avalon. I was lead guitar, front woman, vocals, and lyricist. Rhea is also a guitarist and helps out with vocals. She is breaking into the acting business so she keeps us popular. Nykole is our jack of all trades, instrument wise. She also is our costume designer. Lora is in charge of coordinating events. Much the debonair of the group, meaning the one who angers her parents the least, she plays guitar and vocals. She is also the peacemaker or negotiator, either way she will make a damn fine lawyer. Kourie is our percussionist and designs our logos and everything else. She keeps up the image part of our band, making sure we are in good light. Our group fits together perfectly and I missed them so much.
They come tomorrow! I hurried and showered, put on jeans and a t-shirt, slipped on some cross trainers, and told the owls not to mess up anything. Then I dashed out the door, letters in hand, to Dumbledore's office. I ran up the stairs, I had been there so often the gargoyle knew me by sight and let me pass, and into his office.
"My friends. Are coming. To Hogwarts. Tomorrow!" I gasped out between breaths. A moment later Oliver, Katie, Alicia, and Angelina ran in the room.
"Yes, I know Kassandra." Said Dumbledore. I winced at the name.
"Lilith, professor if you would." I asked.
"Yes of course I apologize. Lilith, they arrive tomorrow I believe. Something to do with appealing your case to the school board and getting them expelled if I'm not mistaken."
I sat down in the seat. I felt as if a balloon inside of me popped. I was the reason they got expelled. I'm the reason that their parents are mad at them. I'm the reason, it's all my fault. I felt terrible. I looked up at Dumbledore.
"Not to worry Lilith. When I received Miss Lanston's letter it seemed as though she had been waiting a long time to be expelled so she could come see you. Her mother was angry of course, but Rheana was very excited." I winced again both because Rhea would be very mad if she knew he called her Rheana and because I remember what it is like to have Mrs. Lanston mad at you.
"Rhea."
"Excuse me?"
"She likes to be called Rhea," I said coming back to my old self. "My friends, we all, well, don't like our names nor anyone who happens to call us by them. So Rheana is Rhea. Deliahla is Nykole, middle name. Loralei is Lora. Oh and don't mess this on up, Kathryn is Kourie, middle name again. She can get touchy about it." I said
"Thank you for the warning. As I was saying, seeing as we have four more students and you don't get along well with your dorm mates it is only logical to give you your own room. They arrive at noon tomorrow, and your room is one flight up from your current one. They all were Gryffindors. Lora was almost a Ravenclaw but I think she scared the hat out of it. All set?"
"Yes." I said getting up and everyone else left. "And sir?"
"Yes?"
"Thank you, for everything." I said. He nodded his head. I left and headed straight for my room. I had a lot of decorating to do before noon tomorrow.