I DO NOT own any characters from the actual Harry Potter series or Orlando Baragon. Just Liz and Gabby.
It wasn't until they were leaving, rosie-cheeked and giggling, that Orlando took notice of the picture.
The one of Veda and Liz during first year.
He knew her face anywhere, even if she did appear very young. Her smile was still her smile. He was so distracted that he didn't notice the professor come up behind him, until finally she murmured.
"Most exciting day of our lives, that was." Orlando must have jumped several feet in the air before whirling around to face Liz's gentle smile.
"I'm sorry professor?" Liz nodded towards the photograph.
"My brother took that, our very first day at Hogwarts. We were so proud. To be here, to be in our houses even if they were rivals. She was my best friend, you see. We were going back and forth between our houses so much" here, Liz caught herself laughing, "that Veda was threatened to be made an honorary Gryffindor while I was threatened with being made an honorary Slytherin. Imagine our chagrin when we got the patches."
"Why haven't I ever heard of you?" Liz swallowed as she picked up the photograph.
"Because… for personal reasons I felt it was best to disappear from England, and the Magical World, as much as possible. That included dropping out of Veda's life as well. It was hard, but we knew it was for the best." Liz gently handed the photograph to him. He took it and stared at his sister's eleven-year-old self. Liz watched him for a moment. She knew Orlando and Veda had a rather large falling out and never really had a chance to patch things up…
"She was never worried about your future you know." Orlando looked up at her.
"She wrote to me, a lot. Especially after… she was married. Always said, 'He's like a cat. ALWAYS lands on his feet.' She was confident that once you settled down, you'd be fine. I'm pleased to say, she was quite right." Orlando swallowed and looked down.
"Why weren't you at her funeral?" Liz sighed, and it was then Orlando noticed the ring on the chain around her neck.
"There were… other things going on at the time. Private things." Liz replied softly. She trusted that to be enough, and it was. Orlando returned the picture to its proper place. Liz returned to her desk and her lesson plan
"We made a scrapbook, if you want to see it sometime." She called as he head for the door. Orlando stopped for a moment.
"I'll think about it." He said firmly, "Thank you professor." He had his back to her, so he didn't catch Liz's smile as he hurried away to his next class.
Later that day, it was the sixth year Slytherins and Gryffindors turn for Defense against the Dark Arts.
So far, Gabby's day hadn't been too horrible. In potions, Professor Snape had tried taunting her… or something like that. Gabby had actually completely tuned him out once he had given them the procedure for the potion. Poor Harry was her unwitting partner, and she kept hitting him or slapping his hand away whenever he tried to do something wrong.
This was quite frequent, sadly enough. But Harry did get his first E in Potions!
Music had gone much better then Gabby had expected. She wouldn't have to perform for a large audience. She'd hated performing in front of large crowds ever since… well, it came as a relief to know she would only be presenting to the teacher. One person audience she could handle.
So now, it was last class of the day. Defense against the Dark Arts.
"Sorry about the slapping in Potions Harry. I just get so involved… everything else just disappears." Gabby stated, realizing she hadn't apologized yet.
"Like Harry and Quidditch." Hermione teased.
"Or you and 'Hogwarts a History'?" Harry shot back, a smile flitting across his face as the foursome entered the Defense against the Dark Arts classroom.
"Oh look. It's Potty and Posse-"
"Get stuffed Malfoy." Ron snapped. The girls rolled their eyes and they kept walking to the front of the class, awaiting there professor's arrival. Draco continued to hurl insults at them, until finally he brought up the 'Mudblood.'
Then, the golden trio got to see Gabby's scary side.
It was lucky for her that neither Crabbe or Goyle's OWL marks had been high enough to allow them into this class, or lord knows what would have happened as Gabby marched over to him and after a brief scuffle, had Draco's face slammed against the desk
"Take. That. Back." She hissed angrily, as everyone craned their necks to see what was going on.
"Get off me you barbarian!" He shot back coldly.
"TAKE IT BACK!" She yelled again. She bent his arm out and back, making him yelp. The crowd became involved, most cheering Gabby on while a few select Slytherins yelled for Draco. Suddenly over to din…
"MR. MALFOY, MISS STANFIELD. WHAT IS GOING ON?"
Everyone whirled around to see the professor framed in the doorway to her office.
And she looked none too happy.
Silence reigned as she took a step into her classroom, voice cool and even as her eyes fixed on her child.
"Miss Stanfield. Release Mr. Malfoy at once."
"But-"
"NOW Miss. Stanfield."
"Yes Ma'am." Gabby mumbled releasing Draco's arm and then returned to her spot between Harry and Hermione. Draco meanwhile winced as he tested out his arm. It hurt from his elbow to his wrist. But he as not going to let people know that.
"What. Happened?" Liz asked practically glaring at both Gabby and Draco. Eventually, the whole story got out. Liz just sighed and shook her head, looking thoroughly annoyed.
"Miss. Stanfield that'll be two weeks of detention You Mr. Malfoy will firstly go to Madame Pomfrey, yes I saw you wince, and then a serve a detention for abusive language. And ten points across the house board, don't you lot give me those dirty looks, I know you were egging them on. Just be glad I haven't gotten to the rules of the classroom yet, otherwise more points would have been lost." Liz sent a deliberate look at Gabby, one that Ron and Hermione quickly recognized as a "we will be discussing this later child of mine" look. Gabby slumped down next to Harry.
So much for her good day.
A Note From The Chica: I am sooooo sorry this was ages in coming! I'll try and do better for the next one, I promise!
