Classes and Quidditch
Siri was on time for transfiguration. She took the seat next to Petra with Kate on her other side. Petra looked like she wanted to ask questions, but Professor McGonagall was already starting class. By the end of class and five ignored notes, Petra had decided to let the subject be.
Transfiguration set a pattern for seating arrangements. Petra and Siri always sat next to each other with Kate on one side of them or another. Except when it came time for potions. Remus was quite startled to find Siri sitting next to him. She simply grinned.
"It's not that I don't trust Petra, and she can cook, but in the process she can make the most spectacular messes. It seemed safer to sit next to you."
The week passed quietly enough until their first flying lesson. There was the usual sniping between Gryffindors and Slytherins, but it never went father than that. At least until Kate's glass snowflake pendant, worn on a silver ribbon, came untied, and Simon Thomas grabbed it before she did. Madam Bell was taking Susan Lewis to the hospital wing, and he used the opportunity to take off with the necklace. And Petra went after him.
Petra was faster and caught up with him in mere minutes. So Simon did the only thing he could think of: he dropped the necklace. Petra dove after it regardless of the fact she was in front of the Gryffindor tower. She returned to the rest of the students on the ground and was handing Kate the necklace when Professor Longbottom, Herbology and the head of Gryffindor house, came storming out. He looked at Petra then smiled. "Come with me."
Petra shrugged at her friends and followed him. Both Kate and Siri waited anxiously for Petra to return to class. Unfortunately even we she did, the three girls did not have the chance to talk until just before dinner.
"I'm the new seeker!" Petra blurted. "They've been looking for a replacement for the current one for two years, and I'm the first likely candidate to come along."
"That makes you the youngest seeker since Harry Potter." Siri was smiling.
"I know. Merlin, I'm going to need so much practice. Maybe I can convince Professor Longbottom to let you to help me. Sure I can catch the snitch, but I have to be able to dodge bludgers, dodge other players—"
Kate laughed. "Breathe, Petra. I'll be glad to help if I can. I was planning to try out for the team in year or two anyway, so practice would be good for me too."
"It'll be fun," Siri chimed in. "But we're going to be late for dinner unless we run."
The three girls quickly fell into a pattern with their studies, and who to ask for help with them. Siri had a knack for Transfiguration and Potions as well as a black thumb in Herbology. Kate, on the other hand, could grow things beautifully but was a walking disaster in Potions. Petra was excellent at Charms if a bit smug about it. They had to go to Remus for help with History of Magic. He seemed to be immune to the pull of sleep in that class. It was a toss up for who was the best at Defense. It was either Remus, Siri, or Petra, though which one it actually was seemed to vary by the day.
Petra had quidditch practice on Thursdays, and while she had yet to convince Professor Longbottom to let Siri and Kate help her practice, it was obvious that he was beginning to relent. Petra's parents had sent her a broom when they heard the news. It wasn't the newest model on the market, but it was a Firebolt, and they weren't considered the best brand out there for nothing.
The year was off to a good start, so far.