A/N: Brilliant! I finally got the next chapter up! I have to say, it's been too long. I'm working on Chapter 7 at the moment. I must mention that the character of Jodie was done as a present for a friend's 18th. Happy Birthday Moz, for several weeks ago! It was two weeks late when she got it, and now it's finally being posted. Yay! So now, I present for your comedic pleasure, Romani Girls Chapter 6!
Disclaimer: We do not steal, we do not lie, and, although suspicious, we do not try. (I'd like to say that no poetic devices were harmed during the making of this rather pathetic rhyme, but we all know that's not true)
Chapter 6: Secrets and Mayhem
When Hermione had left, Milena checked that the door was locked. She hurried back to her luggage and began rummaging through her things, drawing out a small square mirror from a velvet pouch. She looked at it and said in a clear voice: 'Andréa Dragomir'. Andréa's face appeared in the mirror.
"It's about blooty time," she said. "Vhere de fark vere you?"
"I had to get Hermione out before I could talk, and Camilia vas hungry," she explained. "Vhat have I missed?"
"Vell," began Andréa. "I'm in de Slytherin common room; I've already made an enemy, and have succeeded in making Draco Malfoy my life-long slave."
Milena looked impressed.
"And how have you done dis? Any dark magic involved?"
"De only magic involved vould be my dazzling good looks."
Milena rolled her eyes.
"Should I pretend to be surprised?"
"No. You can't act for shit," said Andréa. "Save yourself de trouble."
"Ok den, should ve exchange passvords?" asked Milena.
"Ja, goot idea. Our passvord is 'dark arts'."
"De passvord here is 'Veasley's Vizard Vheezes'."
"Ok, cool." Said Andréa. "So how is Camilia?"
"She's a bit ruffled from de trip, and is currently out hunting. Vhat about Nelu?" asked Milena.
"He's – "
"AAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!"
A loud scream came from Pansy's room. Andréa glanced around.
"Should I ask?"
"Best not to for now," said Andréa. "I have to go. Talk to you later."
Andréa disappeared from the mirror. Milena placed her own back in its pouch and buried it amongst her things again.
Pansy had come flying out of her room and leapt into Draco's arms, who dropped her promptly. Andréa stepped out of her room.
"Vhat de fark is goink on out here?" she asked.
She saw a squirrel monkey scuttle out of Pansy's dorm and run towards her.
"Ah," she nodded.
"GET IT AWAY! GET IT AWAY!" yelled Pansy, backing away.
Andréa calmly descended to the common room and gave a short whistle. The monkey turned and ran to her, climbing up her arm and perching itself on her shoulder.
"Goot boy," she muttered to the monkey, giving it something from her hand. The monkey devoured it hastily.
"I'm terribly sorry," said Andréa dramatically. "I forgot to mention dat I brought my pet monkey vid me from Romania. His name is Nelu. He does not bite – much. He's really very friendly, I svear."
Andréa affectionately petted Nelu, who lifted his head as she scratched under his chin. A chorus of 'aww' could be heard from her audience.
"See vhat I mean," she went on, smiling pleasantly. "Harmless leettle ting, aren't you Nelu?"
Nelu stared at them wide eyed, looking adorable.
"I'll take him back to his room now," she said.
As she turned around, Nelu turned back to Pansy and hissed at her. She backed away further. Andréa smirked to herself.
Milena went back downstairs to where Harry, Ron and Hermione were sitting, and joined them as they sat by the fire. A girl with long, brown hair entered the common room, pinning a notice up on the board and then going upstairs to her room.
"Who vas dat?" she asked.
"Katie Bell," said Harry. "New Gryffindor Quidditch captain. Amazing chaser. But she's the only one now, since Angelina and Alicia left last year."
"Vell, I play chaser," said Milena.
"Really?" said Harry, sounding interested. "We could use a good chaser this year. Slytherin's got a nasty team lined up."
"It's gonna get vorse vunce Andréa gets on," muttered Milena.
"What."
"Noteenk."
"What classes are you taking?" asked Hermione, changing the subject.
"Vell, I'm doing Defence Against de Dark Arts, Transfiguration, Charms, Herbology, Potions, Arithmancy, Care of Magical Creatures and Heestory of Magic."
"Really?" exclaimed Hermione. "I wouldn't have – I mean – that's a surprise."
"What about Andréa?" asked Harry.
"She vill be doing de same, only replacing Arithmancy vid Divination."
Ron snorted.
"Andréa? Divination?"
"She's qvite goot actually," said Milena. "I still claim dat is not hard to predict vun of her screw-ups."
Harry, Ron and Hermione looked at each other.
"Does she know who's teaching it?" asked Harry.
"Ja, some voman named Trelawney," replied Milena.
"She's a loony," said Ron. "She predicted Harry was going to die. Twice."
Milena was silent and looked around awkwardly.
"Vell – you know dat you vill die eventually, so really, she is right in a sense," she said. "Perhaps not de timink, but who can know for certain. Personally, I teenk it all a load of crap. I like to know dat I have control over my life."
"Exactly," said Hermione, enthusiastically.
Ron and Harry stared at her.
"Oh, and Harry," said Milena. "Ve – dat is Andréa and I – ve know about your godfather."
"How?" asked Harry.
"Let's just say dat – ve – heard it somevhere," she said.
Harry looked positively confused. Milena frowned.
"Ve are in de Sixth Year, aren't ve?"
"Yes," said Harry.
"Oh goot," she sighed. "For a minute dere I thought Seerius vas still – I mean, not – dead," she corrected.
The trio looked at each other and shrugged.
"It's getting late," said Hermione. "We should go to bed."
They all agreed and proceeded to their respective dormitories. Hermione and Milena joined Lavender and Parvarti in the Sixth Year girls dorm, while Harry and Ron headed for the Sixth Year boys dorm they shared with Neville, Dean and Seamus. Milena lay awake for some time, thinking about what she had almost said. She had better watch what came out of her mouth or she would find herself in another predicament.
Meanwhile, in the Slytherin common room, Andréa was doing what she did best. Stirring up trouble. She was seated on the green, leather sofa beside Draco, with the entire male population of Slytherin congregated around her. Her legs were crossed, one arm resting on the arm of the sofa, the other beside her, a hand creeping on to Draco's knee. Nelu was perched on her shoulder, looking perfectly content. Pansy stood back from the group, glaring fiercely.
"Tank you all," said Andréa. "I feel so at home. Everyvun has been so nice to me, being new and everyteeng,"
A murmer of agreement, nods and grins spread across the group.
"Do you play Quidditch?" asked a tall, burly Seventh Year boy.
"Vell, I did in Romania," said Andréa. "A leettle anyvay. And I teenk dat ve play by different rules."
"What position?" asked the boy.
"Beater," said Andréa.
The boy raised his eyebrows and muttered something inaudible to the boy beside him. Andréa hid the satisfaction she felt and waited patiently.
"We want you on the team," he said. "Our other beaters are crap."
He glanced at Crabbe and Goyle.
"You vant me?" said Andréa meekly, batting her eyelashes. "I'm so flattered."
The rest of the common room made signs of agreement. The Seventh Year boy spoke again.
"Tryouts are on Thursday afternoon," he said. "Hope to see you there."
Andréa smiled and nodded.
"Vell," she said at last. "I am rather fatigued from my trip. I teenk I might go to bed now. Goot night everyvun."
She rose from the sofa and made for the girls dormitory, glancing back at Draco and Pansy. She smirked, and entered her room, closing the door behind her.
The following morning came sooner than expected. After such an eventful time the previous day, it was difficult for the school to settle back into regular routine and classes. Milena and Andréa however anticipated further mischief; after all, they were masters of that.
Milena was the first awake in her dorm the next morning. She stared around the room, observing her fellow roommates. She climbed out of bed quietly, so as not to disturb anyone, and took up the little two-way mirror.
"Andréa Dragomir," she muttered.
The mirror remained black and cloudy. Milena sighed. She was probably still asleep. Milena laid the mirror back on her bedside table and dressed in her new Hogwarts robes. The skirt was much shorter than the normal. Probably had Andréa to thank for that. Andréa always had a tendency to make the clothes more tight fitting or exposing, which Milena often didn't agree to. When she was dressed, she went down to the common room to sit for a little while. She hadn't expected to find Harry there, and definitely not at it with a girl, whose face was concealed behind her blonde hair.
"Vell, dis is a surprise," said Milena.
The two leapt apart. Harry brushed his robes in a nervous fashion, while the girl fixed her hair.
"I didn't expect to find you here vid a blonde girl attached to your face. I saw you as more of a redhead person, but hey, day's just my opinion. I just thought, since you're De-Boy-Who-Lived, you could get better catch."
"Hey," exclaimed the blonde. "Are you saying that I'm not good enough?"
"Of course not dear," said Milena in a patronising voice. "I'm sure dat you're very special."
The blonde folded her arms crossly and looked at Harry to defend her. Harry shuffled his feet nervously and looked at Milena.
"Uh, Milena," he said. "This is Jodie."
Milena eyed Jodie with a raised eyebrow and coughed. Jodie glared and tapped her foot.
"Jodie, this is Milena, the new girl from Romania," said Harry quickly, in an attempt to prevent an ensuing argument between the two girls.
"Nice to meet you," said Milena, holding out a hand.
Jodie took it reluctantly, and upon seeing that Milena was not going to refute the introduction, smiled.
"Pleasure," said Jodie.
The rest of the house was beginning to wake up. Hermione had joined them in the common room. She looked at Jodie and Milena.
"What's going on?" she asked.
"Nothing," said all three.
Hermione sighed and shook her head, leaving it at that.
A few minutes later, after Ron had finally dragged himself out of bed, the five headed down to the Great Hall for breakfast. Waiting for them at the entrance was Andréa.
"Goot morning peeple," she said cheerfully.
She stared at Jodie.
"Who's dis?" she asked.
"This is Jodie," said Harry. "She's our Gryffindor beater."
"Ah, so you're goink to be de vun who gets de crap kicked out of dem by me, are you?" said Andréa, grinning evilly and giggling.
Jodie's eyes opened wide in horror.
"She vas jokink," interjected Milena, puching her friend in the arm.
"No I vasn't," argued Andréa. "I'm de new Sleetherin beater."
"Oh shit," said Milena. "Please tell me you're kiddink."
Andréa shook her head and smirked.
"Farkink hell," groaned Milena. "Last time I play against you, I vake up after 3 day concussion."
"Den I guess you can blame me for the mental damage you suffered," said Andréa. "Is becomink more obvious every day."
She laughed.
"Oh shuddup," said Milena. "Is not funny anymore. It gettink lame."
"Not for me," grinned Andréa. "Is still funny."
They entered the Great Hall and sat at their tables. Both Milena and Andréa were grateful for a decent meal, having eaten little for the past few weeks. The two girls received their timetables, sent by Dumbledore. Ron's owl, Pigwidgeon had brought the Daily Prophet for him. Milena caught sight of Camilia holding a parcel in her talons.
"Clear de table," she called out. "She's comink in to land."
Camilia glided down gracefully, her wings sweeping several plates on to the floor.
"Vhoops."
Milena took the parcel from her and handed her a piece of toast to nibble at. Andréa came over to see what she had, standing behind Milena. She ripped the paper off to reveal a large, lidded box. She opened it and cried out, smiling.
"My darlink leettle baby," she said, drawing out a metre-long python.
Harry, Ron, Hermione and Jodie stared at the python.
"Darling?" asked Harry.
"Little?" exclaimed Ron.
"Baby?" queried Jodie.
"A python?" said Hermione.
Milena nodded proudly.
"Her name is Rhianna," she said. "She's my pet."
Andréa, who was standing behind Milena, was mouthing things like 'crazy' and 'metal case', twirling her finger in circles near one ear. Milena held up a fist at her without turning around.
"You vant me to knock your teeth in, Andréa?" she asked.
"No, I'm happy vid vhere dey are now, tank you," Andréa replied.
"Den enough vid de mime show," continued Milena.
Breakfast continued with little disruption or dispute after this, and soon it was time for their first class. Defence Against the Dark Arts with Slytherin, and the new professor. Harry, Ron and Hermione led the way to the third floor, Jodie, Andréa and Milena following close behind. There was already a small contingency of students there.
"Vhat's de professor like?" asked Andréa.
"He's terrible," groaned Ron. "He's like Umbridge and Snape in one. Why can't Dumbledore get a decent professor like Lupin again?"
"He isn't a very good teacher either," commented Hermione.
"Ve'll have to see about dat," said Milena, glancing at Andréa.
They took their sears, waiting for the professor. It wasn't long before he arrived, strutting inside, head held high, a grimace on his face.
"Good morning," he snapped. "Take out your books and open to page 47."
The class did so in silence, with the exception of Andréa. She rustled loudly through her bag, the papers on her desk, attracting as much attention as possible. The professor glared fiercely at her.
"Who are you?" he growled.
The class turned their eyes to Andréa, who sat perfectly calmly.
"My name Andréa," she said. "I am new student come from Romania, previous school Beauxbatons. Is friend Milena dere."
She pointed to Milena who was sitting in the seat in front of her and made her most innocent looking face.
"Yes. The new girls. Please take out your books in silence."
Andréa said nothing, but continued to rustle through her bag, speaking to Milena in Russian, somewhat noisily.
"I said SILENTLY!" roared the professor.
Andréa was mock startled, as was Milena, and they began to work. Time passed in the class. Andréa and Milena made no further trouble for the professor. No trouble, that is, until an opportune moment came along.
The class were in a state of deep concentration. The professor had turned his back on them, and was writing instructions on the board for how to capture an Ashwinder. It was then that Andréa caught sight of something on his desk. This something was a statuette paperweight. Andréa's eyes glittered with malice and she tapped Milena on the shoulder, whispering the plan in her ear. Milena grinned and nodded. Andréa reached into her bag, withdrawing a small plastic pouch, containing an odd looking green and blue substance. She passed it to Milena, who was close to the front of the room. Milena innocently stood up, pretending that she was retrieving another quill from the table near the desk. Slowly bending over, she tore open the top of the bag and poured the contents underneath the desk, then tucked the bag in her pocket.
The class was transfixed as they watched the grunge slowly spread, increasing in size. It had now formed a small puddle of murky water under the desk. The professor turned back to the class.
"The Ashwinder is a tricky creature," he said. "Though not dangerous, it can cause wildfires if left unattended."
The puddle was growing.
"Can anyone tell me what Ashwinders thrive on?" he asked.
Silence.
"Surely, Miss Granger," he drawled. "You have a response."
Hermione shook her head.
The puddle had become a pool, inching closer and closer to the professor's feet.
"You all seem far too quiet today," he said, eying the room suspiciously.
No one answered.
Then, the pool spread past his feet. With a cry of shock, he slid into the swamp that had now engulfed the space under his desk. The desk itself was beginning to sink, not withstanding the marsh-like surface underneath. The professor struggled to climb out of the swamp.
"What is this? I demand to know who has done this!" he roared.
Andréa and Milena looked at each other and laughed. The class soon joined in, enjoying this display of public humiliation. They all stood up and exited the classroom, leaving the professor floundering in a muddy pond.
Outside, the girls were joined by Harry, Ron, Hermione and Jodie.
"Hey, that was really cool," said Ron.
"Yeah," said Harry. "Where'd you get the portable swamp kit?"
"Fred and George heard dat ve vere coming to Hogvarts," said Milena. "So dey gave us de kit as a velcome present, insisting dat ve use it on an annoying professor."
"Vait until de Potions lesson," said Andréa, flashing her famous evil grin.
A/N: Watch out Prof. Snape, the girls are coming to Potions... oy, not good... trouble is bound to... well... be, with them around. I know, that wasn't my typical cliffhanger, but I thought it was a better ending, considering that I have no idea how long the next one will take. I hope you liked the swamp. I thought that Fred and George's famous memorial had to be repeated. And, yes, Gred and Forge will ake their appearance later on, and that'snot all we will see of Nelu and Pansy, or Jodie, for that matter. Evil grin And prepare yourselves for... dun dun dun... Draco the amazing bouncing ferret! (Note: This may not occur for several more chapters)
Lisa