Chapter Two

I awoke early the next day, earlier than I'd wake at home at least. The sun was just lifting its head over the lake's surface. I stretched for a moment before reluctantly slipping out of my bed. I knew today was going to be difficult. After all, I was going to get my first lesson at Hogwarts with Filch, of all people. This is definitely not what I imagined when Mum had told me stories of this place. I was far from the eager eleven year old she had been and even farther from the Charms classroom where she'd first discovered the joys of Hogwarts' schooling…

Breakfast was an informal affair, only a few people where in the Great Hall when I arrived and most of them were just grabbing a muffin and leaving again. I sleepily slipped onto a stool near the end of the head table and settled in with a scone and some orange juice. I don't know how long it took me to realize the towering figure beside me, but when I did I jerked back, nearly falling from my seat. It was Filch.

"And wheeerre have you been this mooorning, may I ask?" he drew out in an ominously calm voice.

"Um, I was in my rooms, I just woke up," I answered nervously.

He just stood there, eerily silent for a moment, watching me with those mean beady eyes of his. I gulped a bit and shifted in my seat. The man was freaking creepy and giving me the bloody chills. I tried to concentrate on my food, if only to have somewhere else to look, too bad the scone was just about as tempting as concrete now. Eventually I gave up and pushed my plate away and grudgingly looked up at him.

"You will meet me in the front foyer exactly at five in the morning on the dotfrom now on. Don't be late or we'll see what," he paused and grinned viciously, "fun tasksI can dig up for you."

I stared at him in horror. He cackled softly to himself. I will never be able to repay Professor McGonagall for walking up when she did.

"Good morning, Ms. Bricks," she said warmly (well as close as 'warm' as the woman ever gets), "I trust you slept well?"

"Ye-yes, ma'am," I stuttered still recovering from my encounter with Filch. I know you think I'm overreacting, but if you only knew the man…

"We were just about to start going over her expected duties Minerva," Filch purred. It sounded like he had rocks in his throat. I stood up from my seat and took a step towards Professor McGonagall.

"Argus, I'm afraid that will have to wait until later, Ms. Bricks and I are scheduled for tour of the grounds this morning." I could have kissed the woman!

"You see here Minerva she's supposed to be my assistant and I already gave her a bloodytour yesterday!The girlneeds to get to wo---."

McGonagall cut him off, "Be that as it may Argus, this is what I have been instructed to do by the headmaster, if you'd like to take it up with him you are more than welcome to. I believe he is in his office, but at the moment Ms. Bricks and I are currently engaged in other matters. Good day Argus." And with that she swept us away, out of the Great Hall and onto our tour.

I winced as I rubbed my aching arms, Filch had had me scrubbing floors all day and it was only at the behest of Professor McGonagall that I wasn't still out there slaving away. Filch of course had gotten all hissy about it and after several minutes spent arguing with the transfiguration professor, stalked off to go whine to Dumbledore about "utter disrespect" and "lazy ungratefulchildren". I merely rolled my eyes and stood hoping to thank the professor, but she had already gone.

And so now I here I was, massaging my splitting knee caps and overworked muscles, smelling strongly of soap lye and numerous un-nameable cleaning supplies. I don't know where Filch purchased some of that stuff but it absolutely reeked and left a weirdly numb tingling sort of sensation on my skin.

It was only my third day at Hogwarts and I was already dreading the rest of the school year. My expected "duties" were so numerous and so complicated I barely knew what I was supposed to do let alone actually get it done. Add to the fact that Filch was a complete nutcase and vindictive as hell and you've got one pretty picture painted.

The only thing I had left to look forward to was the arrival of the students, because then I might actually be able to make some friends. That would be other than the nice little potted plant by my window that pulsed ominously. (Dumbledore had given it to me at our last meeting.) I don't know what the heck the thing is but he did mention the words "home-warming gift" and "bright little bugger once you get to know him", so I don't expect it can be too dangerous…right?

I leaned back in the chair envisioning my future school days. I'd make tons of friends and we'd go on lots of adventures! Maybe we'd even sneak around some and search for secret passages (I'd heard rumors from my mom that there had once been hidden entrances into the castle!) and we'd play exploding snap and trade chocolate frog cards (I've got nearly 700 you know) and all sorts of other nifty things. Heck, maybe I'd even get to try my hand at a wizarding chess tournament or two. They had been occasionally held between houses in the past…but maybe I wouldn't be able to since I didn't exactly belong to a house. Oh well, I was never big on wizard's chess anyways.

I did have a question gnawing at the back of my mind though. Would I be able to take flying lessons? I know that broomsticks are magical items and all, but did that mean that I too had to possess magic to make them work? I'd always dreamed of flying. My parents had never been too big on the sport of Quidditch and as such we did not keep any brooms at home. There was never really a need for them. My dad said flying made him queasy, and mom never really had much of an interest to pursue flying after her school days were over. As for my sister, she'd cared more for her academics than leisurely sports anyways, and would just as soon eat raw chicken as fly on a broomstick. So from my lack of exposure and general ignorance of the activity, I was pretty anxious to see whether I would be able to do it or not.

I curled my toes under my lap and grabbed one of my textbooks with a sigh. I might as well get some reading in while I had the chance. No sense in fretting over things now. "Four days. Only four more days," I chanted to myself as I dove headlong into complex texts of potions and spell making…

Little did I know that my expectations of Hogwarts, would fall sorely far from the reality of it all.

Author's Note: I know this chapter is shorter than the last, but only by about 600 words…o.o Yeah. Any who this update has been somewhat long in coming: for one, I've had a rather nasty case of writer's block in the form of getting from point A to point B in the plot. Unfortunately this hasn't been completely solved, but I've managed to trudge through it somewhat. And thankfully next chapter will bring the arrival of the rest of the Hogwarts kiddies.

Number two reason for taking so long is sheer lack of time during the day. I love my summer job, but frankly, it's sucking the life out of me at the moment: that being social and otherwise. As for my ever so lovely reviews, I bow to you. I was honestly surprised to have such a good response to the first chapter, but nevertheless EXTREMELY pleased. Reviews give me a confidence booster, even if they're pointing out a glitch in my writing or whatever, it helps me improve and makes me want to write more! Yay for writing! Okay, this is getting ridiculously long, so I'm going to cut myself off now----

Kukabury: Thankeroos darling. I'm so happy that you like it:beams: Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. ;)

Sir Francis Drake's Heir: Ha ha ha! Lol Thanks.

TropicalTreat101: Thanks for giving my work a try. And as for grammatical errors. Argh…My BIGGEST pet peeve. XD Please, if you ever see any point them out to me. I'm always so embarrassed when I make mistakes like that. :)

Amadea: Yeah, a couple other people said that too. Lol It does sound like a guy's name but I've always wanted to use it in a story as a girl's name so…;) Using a male character would put an interesting twist on things though, but sorry to say not this time around. XD Yeah, the beginning is one of my favorite parts in Ch. 1. And as far as your theory goes, there's always a possibility for anything, I'll leave it at that.

Sirius Black the Marauder: All I can say is: I'm flattered! ;) Thanks!

Kage: Oh dearest shadow of my soul, your magnificence humbles me so…lol Thanks! Your review made me the happiest! Yay! Love ya darling and next time I call BE AWAKE would ya?

Camille the Crooked Eye and That Girl: Thanks you guys. :)