Disclaimer: Tenth time and counting: Harry Potter and its characters belong to J.K.Rowling.
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'New at Hogwarts' Chapeter 10Detention, detention and more detention!
One week had already gone by and Alex was trying her best not to cross Snape, something that was proving to be a real challenge to her since everytime she stepped into the classroom her mind had to tolerate the harsh words thatcame out of that egocentric, selfish, rude, mean, greasy-haired man's mouth. Appart from that, her classes were allright. One of her favorites was Charms; she loved the way in which, with just a flick of her wand, she could make objects levitate, or make someone drowzy. Then there was Defence Against the Dark Arts; that guy, Lupin was as great as the twins had said he was. He really knew the subject.
She had also become great friends with Harry, Ron, Hermione and the twins and she'd met the Weasley's younger sister, Ginny, who seemed to be a very nice girl but was quite shy around Harry. Alex could only suppose that it was because she liked him. (duh)
'Oh, no! Not you again!' Alex thought desperately as the annoying little voice who seemed to have gone on vacation since she had got to Hogwarts spoke up from the back of her mind. (He,he! I'm back! Did you miss me?) 'Hardly' Alex replied coldly.
"Aaaalex?" Fred said, waving a hand in front of her face to get her attention.
Turning pink, Alex apologized. "I was just thinking, sorry."
"Nah, it's allright. What were you thinking 'bout?"
"Nothing really." She said, glancing at a certain potions teacher that just happened to pass by the group of Gryffindors enjoying a bit of fresh air outside the castle.
Noticing where her eyes were going, Fred exclaimed "Admiring the view, are we?" as she watched Snape's retreating form approach the castle. Alex whacked him hard on the head with the potions book she casually had with her.
"You know I hate him!" She let out and then added "Besides, he must be as old as my father!. . . Yuck!" Fred started laughing thinking how much he was going to enjoy teasing her about Snape.
"You're stupid!" Alex exclaimed, but joined him with her laugh anyways. Their fun was, however, shortly interrupted for Severus Snape had turned around and was glaring at Alexandra.
"KEVINGSTON!" He roared. 'Uh-oh . . .did he hear?' Scrambling to her feet, Alex walked to where he was.
She was about to say 'What do you want?', but held her tongue just in time. "Yes, sir?".
"Detention will be every Saturday, eight o'clock . . . and I don't want you to be late"
"Um, sir? How long will I have to stay?" She asked.
A nasty grin crept to his face "Well," he said slowly. "that depends on how long it takes you to complete the task"
'Great! I bet he'll make me stay until lunchtime . . .hell, he won't even let me go for lunchtime and I have extra classes in the aternoon 'til seven!' Alex though. 'That just leaves me two hours before I have to go to the common room. That SUCKS!'
Not answering, she turned around and went back with her friends.
"What did the old crow want?" George asked sitting up.
"Detention", she simply stated with a long face. "Every Saturday"
"But", Harry started "Doesn't that leave you only about two hours free?"
"Are you kidding, Harry? That's not the point!" Ron said. "She won't be able to go to Hogsmeade!"
Alex had completely forgotten about visits to Hogsmeade.
"Ugh! I hate Snape!" She shouted into the sky, stomping her foot.
"Well, you'll always be able to come once detention is over. For how long did he say you had detention?" Hermione asked trying to cheer her up.
"He didn't."
"I wish he would drink one of his poisons and die!" Ron said with hope in his eyes.
"Ron!" It was Hermione, of course.
"Well, maybe he could at least land himself in the hospital wing until the end of the school term", Harry wished. But Hermione was still wearing a stern look.
"He's a teacher!" She said.
"He's arrogant" Fred jumped.
"and annoying" George quipped.
"and he is a walking crime against hygiene and fashion! Have you stopped to look at his hair?" Alex finished, Fred and George erupting into laughter.
"Well," Hermione started. "Maybe he should accidentally drink one of his poisons . . ." She finally agreed.
Slowly getting to their feet, the group went back to the castle, Alex sulking more than anyone as she gazed up at the light-blue sky, storm clouds visible near the horizon.
Once inside, the group split up, each going to their respective classes.
From the windows in the tower where Harry, Ron , Hermione and Alex were to have Divination, Alexandra watched as the light warm breeze they had been enjoying just moments ago had turned into a strong wind, rocking back and forth the trees of the Forbidden Forest. It was on occasions like this that she felt as if the weather outside reacted to her feelings: one moment it was bright and sunny, a light breeze blowing gently. Then, before she knew it, grey, stormy clouds covered almost totally the heavens, a strong wind blowing threatening to uproot some trees.
Reaching the top of the staircase, the group entered the room. Despite the sudden change of weather-from pleasantly warm to chilling cold- the Divinations classroom was as hot as ever, its dense fumes covering every inch.
Although Alex had arrived a month after the sart of term, she was sure that it would have made little difference if she had got to Hogwarts September 1. As a matter of fact, her ability to read the tea leaves was as it had always been: awful.
"Hmm, this is interesting", she said.
"What? Don't tell me you've actually seen something there?" Ron asked surprised.
"Yes, yes, very interesting indeed!" Alex now exclaimed loudly, sounding more and more like professor Trelawney.
"What is it?" Harry asked.
Showing her cup to the three, she started laughing.
"It's empty", Hermione simply stated.
They sweatdropped. No matter how hard they tried, they failed to see the funny part.
"I think the fumes have finally affected her", Ron said, glancing at Alex who was now laughing hysterically.
"Hey, Harry!" She suddenly said. "Yours look like a dog, how cute!"
"Yeah, but keep your voice down or Trelawney will hear you!" He told her in a low voice.
"Yes, and she'll start with the grim story all over again. The first time was enough nonsense!" Hermione said scoffing.
" It's not nonsense, Hermione!" Ron said heatedly.
Alex glanced curiously between Ron and Hermione, who were now arguing.
"What's that about?" She asked looking at Harry.
"Long story", he didn't feel like discussing it right then, but seeing her long face he said "Fine. The first divination class Trelawney said there was a Grim in my cup" and added "a grim is supposed to be a death (?) "
"Oh" She clearly didn't know what else to say. "But you don't believe in it, do you?"
Harry didn't answer. No, he didn't believe in it . . .did he? The truth was that although he didn't want to believe it, all the facts pointed to the grim.
"Harry?" She asked worriedly. Ron and Hermione had stopped fighting and were now looking at Harry.
"Don't worry, I'm fine."
After Transfigurations, the four of them met Ginny and the Twins for lunch.
"I'm starving!" Alex exclaimed a little too loudly, making some sixth years to stare.
"You're always starving", Fred piped in, obviously trying to make her mad, but not suceeding in it.
"True, and you're always stupid. Now, if we're done stating the obvious, let's eat!"
"She got you" George observed.
His twin didn't answer.
"Oh, c'mon! She was only telling he truth!" Harry said.
"Very funny!" Fred answered.
Their next class was Care of Magical Creatures, so the group of third years hurried out of the castle. "You know, I really wish I had been here when Malfoy was attacked . . .at least I wouldn't have missed all the fun before taking care of this boring creatures", Alex said looking down at the worm-like animals.
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Saturday arrived too quckly, far too quickly for Alex's taste. She dreaded waking up knowing she'd have to spend the following hours doing God-knows-what until Snape decided it was enough. Harry had already told her some of the things he had had to do the times he had been in detention with Snape, none of them sounding pleasant in the least.
"He made me clean the toilettes, withouth magic" Ron had exclaimed the previous night.
"Well, I'd rather do that and not be used as Guinea-pig for some of his potions" Alex had then replied.
"Of course you would," Fred had said coming from behind her. "or he might use a love potion on you. You know, I think he has a thing for you-" But he hadn't been able to say more as he was had been chased around Gryffindor's common room by a very, very angry Alexandra.
"I don't really get why Fred says those things if he knows she'll be like a dragon afterwards." Harry had simply shaken his head at Ron's comment.
Just like Ron had said, Snape informed Alex that she would be cleaning the girls' toilettes withouth magic.
"You may leave when you finish and don't try to get away, I'll know if you're not doing your work." He warned her.
Standing in the middle of the girls' bathrooms Alex happily thought that Snape didn't know that back home, her parents made her clean her toilette herself, so she was quite used to doing it without magic . . .after all she didn't have magic back then. 'Well, better get started', she told herself.
Two hours later, the toilette was sparkling clean and professor Severus Snape stood at the entrance looking slightly surprised. He was expecting to find the toilette dirty, a humilliated Alex on the floor, or even better, he had expected her not to be there at all. But he recovered soon from his shock and before the girl could say anything he simply told her "I said no magic, Kevingston"
"But I-" She started, outraged
"Silence! You will be cleaning trophies next Saturday and if you dare use magic, you'll be stuck in detention during the whole week!" He menacingly told her. "Now leave!"
Alex did not need to hear that twice. She raced down the corridors hoping she'd meet Harry but had no luck. Every classroom, every hall was empty, unless you counted Peeves.
Taking out a quill and a piece of parchment from her pocket, Alex sat on the cold, hard floor outside an empty classroom. Since there was nothing else to do, she'd write to her friends.
Hi guys! How are you? I hope you are doing fine. School here's great, you wouldn't believe me if I told you how amazing the building is! I've already met a lot of people. There's the Weasleys – Fred and George, who are twins, Ron, who is my age and Ginny, the smallest of them all- there's also Hermione Granger, she's really smart and then, there's Harry. Now, passing on to the people I hate (yes, believe it or not I already hate some people here, number one: Severus Snape. I don't know what to say except I HATE HIM! He's annoying, arrogant and any other thing you might immagine. After him, there's also Draco Malfoy and well, all of the Slytherins as a matter of fact. . .and to think I actually considered going into Slytherin.
Oh, before I forget: Students in Hogwarts are sorted out into houses (just like we were divided into colours for sports, remember?). Slytherin is one of them. Then you have Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and of course, Gryffindor (where I belong).
Well, gotta go . . .not really but I kind of got bored of writing. I promise I'l write again soon.
Hugs,
Alex
Ps: Write you too! Oh, and give the letters to mom and dad, they'll know where to send them.
'There!' Alex though as she put the quill away and folded the letter. She got up and sterted walking towards the owlery, when she saw someone familiar at the end of the corridor.
"Harry!" She yelled, but he didn't hear. Running to catch up with him, she failed to notice that a person had come out of a classroom and happened to be in her way. Colliding into the stranger, Alex fell hard on the ground. 'Why do I have this sense of deja vu?' She asked herself.
"If I didn't know how clumsy you are, I would think that you are doing it on purpose"
Okay, whatever she had been expecting, it sure as hell wasn't her potion's teacher.
Standing up a little dizzy from the hit, Alex raised her chin and looked defiantly at the man. "Again, I would have apologized if you hadn't been so impolite!" She scoffed.
She moved to the side to continue her way but Snape caught her arm.
"If you ever dare say that again, I can guarantee you you'll be stuck in detention forever." He said, moving his face closer to hers, so close in fact, she could almost feel his breath on her skin.
Cheeks turning slightly pink, Alex cooly replied "You should really find a new threat, sir. That one is starting to sound quite lame."
Snape's muscles tensed, his face turning dead serious and very pale, rage visible in his eyes. He pursed his lips tightly, making them go white and his grip on Alex's arm became tighter.
"Let her go!" Harry shouted from where he had been watching. Turning to face him, a slight sneer appeared on Snape's face. "Of course, if it isn't Saviour Potter!" He exclaimed mockingly. "Well, let's see how you save yourself and your little friend from this one. Both of you will have detention every Monday and Tuesday." He finished, letting go of Alex's arm.
Waiting for Snape to be further away she hurried to where Harry was standing "Did you see how close his face was!" She asked him outraged, and once the hated potions teacher couldn't hear her, she muttered "and if I didn't know him better, I'd think he's just making up excuses to see us more often, pervert!"
"and Thursdays!" Snape added as he walked away. Obviously his hearing must have been pretty good, since he was probably thirty feet awayfrom them.
"How did he hear me?" Alex asked Harry bewilderedly as they strolled towards the gate of the castle later that afternoon.
"Maybe he casted a spell", Harry suggested.
"Yeah, with Snape you never know." George said catching up.
"I think it is simpler," Fred started
"Where did you two come out from?" Alex asked gaping at them.
"Ahaha, that's a secret! . . . but as I was saying" Fred continued, "the answer is quite simpler." Alex could sense another Snape-related comment and prepared for the chase. "like?", she asked.
"You know he can't resist listening to the sound of your voice!" But that was not all
" . . . I never thought he'd dare try to kiss you in front of Harry." That was it. Alex started chasing Fred for annoying her . . .and Harry, for telling of the embarrasing situation..