Chapter 17
"Thank Merlin," Oliver said as they entered the Gryffindor common room. "I thought the weekend would never come."
"Tell me about it," Meredith said throwing her bag on a couch. For once the common room was empty so they could sit where they pleased.
"I can't believe how much homework we have," Patricia said. "It's gonna take all weekend to get it done."
"That potions essay Snape assigned us is gonna be a killer," Oliver moaned.
"What about McGonagall's homework. I worked on that match for an hour. I couldn't even turn it silver."
"That's gonna be nothing compared to the levitation charm we have to practice for Flitwick," Meredith moaned.
"It's not going to be that bad," Percy said and was promptly hit by three cushions.
"This from the kid who knew what asphodel and wormwood can do?"
"The only kid in class who managed to turn his match into a needle."
"The only kid who made his feather float."
"Don't yell at me just because you poked professor Flitwick with your wand and now he has a tail." " Meredith smiled. Despite a few mishaps her first week at Hogwarts had been great. She was loving her classes, with the exception of potions. Snape was a real git and for some reason she could not fathom he seemed to despise her. Just the way he said her name "Miss Lupin," made her skin crawl.
"We should get started on our homework now if we're going to get it all done," Percy said.
"I suppose," Patricia said.
"Let's go to the library. Once the rest of the house gets back we won't have any quiet."
"Hey Perc," Oliver said. "You should bring Scabbers along. We need something to practice levitating on." Percy glared and patted the pocket where Scabbers was hidden.
"I'll be along in a bit," Meredith said grabbing her bag and heading up to her dormitory. There was something she needed to do that couldn't wait any longer. She reached into her bag and pulled out a piece of parchment and a fresh quill.
"Dear Dad,
I'm sorry it's taken so long to write but I've been so busy with classes. The teachers are giving a lot of homework. I miss you, but it is not so terribly lonely here as I thought it would be.
The Sorting hat put me in Gryffindor. Percy Weasley is here too, you remember him from the platform. He was the boy with the rat. My new friends Patricia Patterson and Oliver Wood are in Gryffindor too. I don't see Dora too much except for at mealtime.
I like most of my classes, especially charms and herbology. I came very close to making my feather float in class today. Professor Flitwick said I've got the wand movements down I just need to put more feeling into it. History of Magic is boring. Percy's the only one who manages to stay awake during Professor Binns's lessons. Potions is awful. Professor Snape is really mean. He took a bunch of points from Gryffindor today just cause Oliver put in too much wormwood and I didn't stir hard enough. I hate him.
Last night was the full moon; I hope you were all right. I found the Wolfsbane potion in a book in the library. It's really complex. Whoever makes it for you must be really good at potions. I'll learn how to make it, eventually. No matter what it takes.
I have to go now, my friends are waiting for me in the library. Oliver's probably stolen Percy's rat by now to try spells on.
I'll write again soon
Love Meredith
After sealing the letter she left the dormitory for the owlery. She was making her way down the stairs when suddenly she stepped down and felt her foot catch in the loose stair.
"Oh bugger it all," she cursed trying to pull her foot free.
"Oh looky here boys," an unpleasant snarl was heard behind her.
"Oh great," Meredith thought. She knew that voice. It was Marcus Flint, the Slytherin with whom she and her friends had become fast enemies.
"It's loopy Lupin," Flint said as they passed her on the stairs. "What happened Loopy, get your foot caught?"
"Shove off, Flint," she said through gritted teeth.
"Not so tough without Woody and the Weasel are ya Loopy?" Flint said, running his fingers over his wand.
"What's going on here?" A deep male voice said. Meredith felt her face turn red. It was Bill Weasley.
"Nothing," Flint said. "We was just leaving." Meredith sighed as Flint and his cronies ran away down the hall.
"Thanks," Meredith said.
"Need a hand there?" Bill said with a small smile. Meredith looked at him sheepishly. She felt like her face was on fire as Bill wrapped his arms around her and lifted her effortlessly out of the gap and set her on the safe step.
"Thanks," Meredith said again brushing off her robes.
"No problem. My first year I got stuck in that step once a week."
"What's goin on 'ere!" Meredith cringed as Filch, the caretaker came scuttling down the hall.
"Nothing's wrong Mister Filch," Bill said pleasantly. "Meredith here just got a little stuck in that loose step that I believe Dumbledore asked you to fix." Meredith stifled a giggle as Filch's eyes bugged out.
"I'll have no student telling me my duties," Filch croaked. "Now get along both of you before I string you both up by your toes." Bill and Meredith quickly hurried down the hall.
"I don't like him," Meredith said. "He's creepy." Bill chuckled.
"Ah don't mind him. He's a foul ugly git. He's a squib you know. That's why he hates all the students. Cause they can do magic and he can't. He's all talk." Meredith smiled. Bill was really handsome.
"There you are, Bill." A pretty seventh year with long black curls came up to them and took Bill's arm.
"Hi Polly," Bill said smiling at the girl.
"I thought we were going to work on the homework for Professor Sears's exam together. You know how much help I need on my Patronus Charm. I was awful in class this week."
"Sure Polly," Bill said. "I was on my way, just had to help Meredith here out of a jam." Meredith smiled shyly at the older girl who sniffed and tipped up her nose.
"These first years, they just keep getting smaller," Polly said. "Well shall we Bill?"
"Sure," Bill said taking Polly's hand. "See ya later Meredith."
"Bye," Meredith said quietly looking at her shoes. There were a lot of girls like Polly at the orphanage. Stuck up, thought they were better than everyone else. Meredith pushed all thoughts of Polly, and Filch and Bill out of her head and hurried to the owlery. There were hundreds of owls but she managed to spot Bianca perched way up high and whistled to her. The tawny owl swooped down to land in front of her.
"Hey girl," Meredith said patting her head. "Will you take this to Dad for me?" Bianca gave Meredith's finger a gentle nip and promptly stuck out her foot. After tying the letter to the owls leg Meredith took her over to the window and set her off. She stood by the window and watched until she could no longer see Bianca. Then she left to join her friends.
She found them seated at a table books and parchment strewn all about. Patricia was trying, with little success, to make a piece of parchment float.
"No no," Percy said. "Swish and flick. You're flicking when you should be swishing. And it's wingardium levi-O-sa. Make the O nice and long."
"Wingardium leVI-o-sa."
"No," Percy said. "You put the accent on the o not the vi. Try again."
"Oh this is hopeless," Patricia cried throwing her wand down in disgust. "I can't even make a stupid feather float. I'm horrible. I shouldn't be in Gryffindor. I should be in Hufflepuff!" Patricia pushed her chair back and ran from the table.
"What's her problem?" Oliver asked casually floating the parchment around in a circle.
"She's frustrated," Meredith said grabbing Patricia's wand. "And you two showing off isn't helping." With a huff Meredith turned and left the library. She found Patricia in a dark corner on the third floor corridor. There were tears in her eyes and her chin rested on her knees. Meredith sat down beside Patricia and wrapped her arm around her shoulder.
"Don't worry bout them," she said. "We're all beginners here. We're all learning."
"It's just…" Patricia paused to wipe her eyes with the sleeve of her robe. "My parents are counting on me."
"What do you mean?" Meredith asked pulling a lock of Patricia'a hair away from her tear soaked cheek. Patricia sighed.
"My parents were the best in their year. Both of them. Prefects, Head Boy and Girl. They're both so powerful. My mom could turn a clock into a tea kettle by her second year. My dad could do a patronus charm when he was fifteen. That's really, really advanced magic. NEWT level. When I was little I didn't show any signs of being magical. My parents tried to test me so many times to see if I could do things. Then on my birthday when I lit the candles. You would think I had just brought someone back from the dead, they were so happy. They told everyone. They took me to the ministry so all their friends could meet me. Then when I got my Hogwarts letter….it was the first time my dad ever told me he was proud of me. I just don't want to let them down."
"You won't," Meredith said. "I'll help you. We'll learn together." Patricia looked at her and smiled just a little.
"Meredith," Patricia said quietly. "I'm really lucky you're my friend."
"Not as lucky as I am," Meredith said. Patricia laughed a little.
"I always wanted a sister," Patricia said. Meredith hugged her tighter. A thought came to her all of a sudden.
"I have an idea," she said digging through her bag. She pulled out the small knife she used to cut up potion ingredients. Patricia'a eyes widened and Meredith took the knife and sliced her palm with it. She took Patricia's hand and sliced it as well. Then she clasped her own bleeding hand to Patricia's.
"Now we're sisters. Blood sisters. Forever and always." Patricia grinned at her.
"Forever and always."