Whew...the first chapter is over! I'm so glad! I'm not exactly sure how to post this story onto the first chapter...so if this comes out messed up, I'm so sorry. Thanks to who reviewed. I'm very grateful. I might need help for future chapters...I have lots of ideas, and I want to use them all. I plan on this being a long fic, and if I run out of ideas, I hope you all can help
House A: Gryffindor
House B: Slytherin
House C: Hufflepuff
House D: Ravenclaw
Anyway, on with the story!
Chatper Two
"Gawd, I hate mornings." Tabby groaned as we walked towards the Great Hall for breakfast. I rolled my eyes and smiled at a group of 1st year House C that were gathered around a 3rd year House B student who was holding a suspicious looking box. Even though I was a 7th year prefect, I was (surprisingly) in a good mood, so I decided to ignore it for once. I turned back to Tabby and my smile grew as I watched her glare at the portraits on the walls as we passed.
"What are you looking at, asswipe?" She snarled at a protrait of a young man in clothes that came from the 1800's. The man looked shocked at her use of language and tone. He tssked at her before turning away and starting a conversation with the woman in the portrait next to her. I couldn't help but laugh.
"Such language. What ever shall we do with you? You sound like you're having a bad morning." I commented, hiding my smile behind a fake look of concern. She turned her glare towards me and looked livid.
"Why are you so happy? You're not a morning person. Goddammit, you're supposed to be grumpy as well."
"I usually am. Even though I was up half the night planning for Hogwarts arrival, I got a good nights sleep. So what made your morning so horrible?" I asked. She was normally a morning person (one of the few things I detested about her), so it was unusual for her to be grumpy. Something must have really gone wrong.
"First, I hardly slept at all last night. Then when I got up, I stubbed my damn toe, had to wait for Sallie to finish using the bathroom (which took forever for her to finish), and I couldn't find my favorite shirt." She looked so upset that I couldn't help but laugh, and she turned her murderous glare on me.
"It could have been worse. You could've gotten no sleep last night, had no time for a shower this morning, broken your toe, and you could've gotten attacked by rampaging hippergriffs." She looked thoughtful for a second, and then grinned and nodded.
"Your right. And I could've seen your ugly face first thing this morning."
We had reached the hall by now, and took our seats still insulting each other. Jon and Zac were already there, stuffing their faces like they hadn't eaten in a long, long time. It was simply amazing how much boys could eat in one sitting. What was even more amazing was that they managed to stuff their faces, and not make a mess at the same time. They were truly talented. Sighing, I glanced up at the ceiling to check the weather. There was a blue sky with thick, fluffy clouds. A perfect day for Quidditch Practice.
The Great Hall was similar to Hogwarts in a few ways. The ceiling was enchanted to look like the sky outside as well, and at the far end of the hall was the teachers table. The teachers could sit where ever they chose, as could the students. There were assigned tables for each house of course, but nobody followed that rule unless it was a special occasion. Another difference was that it was loud at Hogwarts with everyone talking, but here it was a mad house. People screaming, eating, talking, throwing food, doing homework, owls delivering mail, people fighting. It was true chaos.
I turned my gaze back to the table and filled my plate with food. Soon Mike, Tim, Shannon and Julie joined us, grumbling about our first class of the day.
"Did you guys finish your transfiguration homework?" Jon asked.
All mumbled that they hadn't before dragging their transfiguration book out of their bags.
"Transfiguration in the morning! How could they be so cruel? Don't they know it's impossible to think first thing in the morning? Why couldn't they have given us something like...like...free period..." Tim grumbled.
I handed Shannon a muffin and grinned at Tim. "Because that would've been to easy. They like watching us suffer. Eat your breakfast, today's going to be extremely busy." I glanced towards the Teachers Table and noticed Septimus sneaking glances at Professor Field, our DADA teacher. I nudged Tabby and she glanced at my face, saw where I was looking, and grinned. Poor Septimus. He must truly be blind if he didn't notice Professor Field eyeing him up. I giggled as he turned his gaze towards us and scowled heavily. Jon and Zac, who had caught on, grinned and waved at their favorite professor. He scowled in return, and turned his attention back to his breakfast, still sneaking glances at Field.
"He's got it bad. We should do something about it...like lock them in a room together or...or...something." Mike commented.
"That's a great idea!" I exclaimed. It was a good idea. If we lock them in a room together, they'd be forced to spend time together. And maybe, just maybe, something could happen. They've only been beating around the bush since I first came here, after all. My pals were all watching me, food forgotten, thinking about what I'd just said.
"Think about it. They have to spend time together. Field is known for being particularly straightforward. She'd prolly tell him right out how she feels and then maybe he'll finally do something about it. He wont be able to mistake her meaning."
"It's not so bad an idea. But how, when, where?" Zac questioned. This wasn't the first time we'd done something to a teacher. One time, we'd spray-painted Peabody's owl House B colors. She hadn't been amused, but everyone else was. The teachers all suspected us, they couldn't prove anything. We were quite well-known for our trouble-making schemes. Everyone knew that we'd done most of the jokes that've plagued Aries, but there was never any proof.
"We'll figure that out this weekend. I've got too much to do and worry about today." I said dismissively.
They all nodded sympathetically and went back to their breakfasts. A half hour later the bell rang and we gathered up our stuff and headed off to our first class, stomachs full and homework done. Entering the Transfiguration room, we took our seats and got out our homework. Another day in the tedious existance we called life.
"Today we are continuing our lesson on transfiguring one thing, say a rat into a chair and vice versa. This is important for times when you..." I tuned her out and took out a plain sheet of parchment. The only difference between this parchment and my other blank ones was the little black outline. The parchment was charmed to communicate with my friend's pieces of parchment. It worked rather like instant messaging. I'd write the name of who I'd want to send the message to, I'd write the message, and then whisper "send". The message would be sent to the recipiants. This is how we talked during class. It was charmed to look like notes if a teacher were to walk by.
To: Zac, Jon, Tabby, Mike, Shannon, Tim, Julie.
Mione I can't wait for today to end.
Zac I know. Just think of what's ahead. We have Quidditch practice tomorrow. It's too bad we can't have it today-it's a perfect day.
Mike Woo-hoo. I love watching you guys play.
Shannon That's probably because you can't play yourself.
Jon Neither can you!
Tabby What time is practice?
Julie It's at 2 o'clock in the afternoon. We've had the field secured since last weekend.
Tim Are the intruders going to be using the Quidditch pitch?
Tabby I hope not! We'd never get to use it then!
Mione What if they put us together? You know, House B with the Slytherins, House C with the Hufflepuffs...
Zac There's an idea. They better not tho. I'd be pissed if they did. I'm not playing with no Hogwarts student!
Mione Hey, this saturday are we going to Club Zone?
Julie I don't see why not. I mean, it's not like we have to stay at the castle with Hogwarts there.
Tim What time do we leave for the club?
Zac We shoul leave around 8. That way we have plenty of time to eat dinner, get ready, and tell Septimus where we'll be.
Tabby It's settled then. We leave at 8 for Club Zone for some partying!
Every weekend, we had a village visitation rights. As long as we stayed in Longbourne Village, we could go and do what we wanted. Because we were in 7th year, we needed no supervision and could do what we wanted. Some students went to the local bar, Liam's Pub, and got drunk. You had to be over 5th year to get served, but other than that it didn't matter to Liam. If you had money, he'd give you alcohol. We went to Club Zone, an awesome Club that plays muggle music. They play all kinds of rock, pop, and a little bit of country. There were other clubs that played only country, or jazz, and other music. We usually avoided those.
"Now, clear off your desks and practice. There should be no talking except for saying incantations. Begin." Peabody's voice floated across the classroom. Turning the parchment "off", we began our lessonSwishing my wand through the air and saying the incantation, I had the satisfaction of watching my seed turn into a duck. Glancing at my watch, I noticed that I had a little over 9 hours before Potter, Weasley, Dumbldore, and the rest showed up. I hoped today goes by fast. I can't wait to get the "reunion" done and over with. I just wanted to curl up in my warm, soft bed and sleep forever.
"It is not."
"It is too."
Zac and Tabby were arguing by the fire, while I sat next to Septimus on his couch. He was reading a potions text, Mugwort, Chimara Blood, Other Rare Ingredients and Their Uses, and I was pursuing Ars Alchemia. Jon, Mike, Julie, and Shannon were watching Zac and Tabby argue over a potions ingredient. They were lounging on the loveseat and on the floor of Septimus' room. The fire was cackling merrily, warming the room. The atmosphere was relaxed despite the argument.
"It is not! It says so right there in the text!" Zac pointed to the words in the book, mouth in a frown. Tabby slapped his hand away, and pulled the book towards her.
"It does not say that the ingredient is found in Africa and is used in Translation potions. It says that it's found in warm climates, and is used in transportation potions." She looked up and met Zac's eyes. "Learn to read."
Zac grabbed the book and yanked it towards him, and Tabby held on long enough for him to yank harder, before releasing it and causing Zac to almost fall out of his chair. He scowled at Tabby and said, "I know how to read! You're reading it wrong!"
"Your both wrong. It's found it moderate climate, and it's used in transmogeration potions." Septimus spoke up. He glanced up from his book and smirked at the looks on their faces. "That book has misprints all over in it. I kept it because it's rare and rather amusing to see what was printed." He started to read his book again, still smirking. The grandfather clock chimed 5 o'clock. The headmaster ordered us to the Great Hall to go over his plans for the evening once more. It was time to go.
I felt my heart leap into my throat and the blood leave my face. Once I entered the Great Hall, I wasn't going to leave until I'd seen the Hogwarts students in. Attendance was mandatory. Once I left the Great Hall, I'd seen them, and they had seen me.
"Time to go." Septimus closed his book, and stood up. He stretched, and then offered his hand to help me up. He looked at my eyes and said softly, "Are you going to be okay? I can tell the Headmaster you had fallen ill in your rooms, if you don't want to go." I smiled at his concern and shook my head softly. It was better to face the beast head on.
My friends gathered around me and gave me reassuring hugs and pats on the back. Gods, I'm so lucky. I have great friends. What would I do without them? I stepped out of Septimus' embrace and smiled bravely.
"Let's go and get this over with." I turned and walked towards the door, heart pounding in my throat, stomach in knots. If I could survive this night, I could survive my final year at Aries.
Stepping outside the door, I suddenly knew what it meant to break out in a cold sweat. It's was when your hands or your whole body started sweating, even though the skin felt cold as ice. I swallowed heavily, and walked towards the Great Hall, brave front presented. My friends fanned out around me. I felt protected and safe. They won't abandon me. They'll stick by me no matter what. They know I'm not a Voldemort supporter. Feeling suddenly confident, I straightened up and managed to look less pale and sick.
I could do this.
Wow, my second chapter. I'm nervous about this one. What if nobody likes it as much as they did the first? Hope it lived up to your expectations. I decided to end the chapter here instead of going into the first meeting like I originally planned. I wanted to create suspense, so I guess you could call this filler. In the next chapter, I'll be sure to describe Hermione in more detail than I did before. I don't have this chapter Beta'd either, but i'm working on getting a Beta, so please be patient! Comments are welcome, but please don't be too harsh! I'm still new at this.