Hastings sat in the corner of the Teachers' Lounge reading "Magical Me" by Gilderoy Lockhart. She'd always found this an amusing book, remembering what she was told as a student about his fraudulent credentials. And for an old guy, he was certainly easy on the eyes. But today, her mind wasn't on the five-time winner of the Witch Weekly Smile of the Year Award. It was on Falcon Puddinghaste, and how embarrassed she felt about their "date" last night.
"Maybe I'm just not meant to be with him," she said softly into her book. "I can't seem to do anything right."
"What's the matter?" asked Falcon, walking up and sitting across from her on an arm chair.
Hastings gasped, wondering what he'd heard. Defensively, she said, "What do you mean what's the matter? Who says anything's the matter? I didn't say anything."
Falcon cocked his eyebrows and said, "I didn't hear you say anything, should I have? You just looked glum. Anything I can do to help?"
Hastings felt even dumber than she had before—if it was possible, and her cheeks turned a brilliant shade of red. "I'm fine," she said, closing her book and laying it on top of a stack of others in front of her. She stood up, and gathered them to her chest, ready to spend the rest of the day in her room.
"What's going on here?" asked Falcon, refusing to be put off. He stood up and followed Hastings as she began to walk away. "I thought we… had a good time last night."
"Sure we did," said Hastings. "It was fun. I'm glad we went. You're a good friend."
"A friend?" Falcon stopped in his tracks with wide open mouth and eyes. Hastings turned around and looked at him.
"Well, sure," said Hastings. "I mean… we get along pretty well…" Hastings didn't say anything more for fear that she would start blubbering like a school girl. She stared resolutely at the floor, suddenly fascinated with a stain on the carpet.
Falcon sighed dejectedly, "Yeah, we do get along rather well." He retraced his steps and plopped down on the sofa, staring into the empty grate.
Odessa's mouth went dry, followed by the rush of saliva one gets at the oncoming of sickness. Apparently he'd been standing in the grove of trees she'd just passed—a place where she and Sirius used to sneak away to their seventh year to have privacy. To see Professor O'Reilly coming from there made her stomach hurt. "Uh, hello," she said.
"Not followed by your entourage today?" asked O'Reilly, his lip curling into a sneer.
"I can't say I know what you mean," said Odessa.
"Especially someone as… lovely as you… to be walking alone." O'Reilly took a step toward her, and she took a step back.
Searching for something to say, something that would defuse the horrible awkwardness of speaking to him alone here, she said, "I see your ankle is better." As she said it, she regretted not keeping her mouth shut.
"I see you and your little friends are still fond of telling you everything about everybody. Gossip gets people into trouble, you know." He almost sneered as he said it, and Odessa couldn't decide whether she'd rather hit him or throw up on him.
Instead, she decided to say, "Word travels fast. I trust you're feeling better?"
"Yes," said O'Reilly. "As hopeless as that boy was in Potions as a student, he seems to have shaped into a rather competent Medi-Wizard."
"Then I trust you'll be on your way soon," said Odessa, sounding as pleasant as she could, but with underlying menace in her voice.
"As it happens," said O'Reilly, equally menacing, "I am even now on my way to Hogsmeade Station to take the 1 o'clock. I simply wished to restate what I hinted at last evening."
"You hinted that I cheated on my NEWTs," said Odessa. "And not very subtly, either."
"Oh, I think you're far to intelligent to cheat outright," said O'Reilly. "But I did sense something clandestine between you and Horrace—"
"Slughorn?" asked Odessa. "He was ancient then! I would never… besides, it's he who used to choose favorites. I would never—"
"The point is," said O'Reilly with a long sigh, placing his hands on his hips, "I don't care why Professor McGonagall hired you. I do not believe you are qualified to teach Potions at this school. You were a trouble-maker as a student, and I don't believe you have the capacity to discipline the students as they need to be."
Odessa folder her arms and stood as tall as she could. "Do I sense resentment, sir?" she asked.
"Not from me," said O'Reilly. "I was happy to retire when I did. I only wish someone with equal competence was taking my place."
"You don't have to worry about that anymore," said Odessa, forcing herself to smile broadly. "Because someone is here who surpasses you in competence. I suggest you go to your train, Professor. No one would be sadder than I if you missed it." She pushed past him, refusing to feel bullied.
He called up after her, "I will be watching you, Grace. I will know if you're not up to par."
Fuming, Odessa slammed open the doors to the teacher's lounge, only to find Hastings and Falcon sitting there, apparently ignoring each other. "Did I interrupt something?"
"Um, no. We were just, um, sitting here." Hastings said, turning red. "What's upset you?"
"O'Reilly! I think he's stalking me. He keeps saying he's going to keep his eye on me because he doesn't trust me with the students, but I think it's something more sinister."
"Like what?" Falcon asked, joining the conversation.
"I'm not sure. Perhaps he's trying to take over the school."
"Through you?" Hastings asked.
"Good point. I forget that I'm only important in my own mind." Odessa smiled wryly. "Anyway, we should find out what it is."
"It'll probably turn out to be nothing," Falcon said. "Just like the time you thought the house elves were planning a revolt."
"It wasn't an unreasonable theory," Odessa protested. "The kippers were off, and they're never off."
"Uh huh," Falcon said, rolling his eyes. "So, what are you ladies up to today?"
"Minerva has asked us to tend to the garden." Hastings replied.
"What about Hagrid Junior?"
"He's taken Minerva up on her offer of a vacation. He's visiting his parents in France." Hastings said. "What are you up to?"
"Sirius and I get to clean the boy's dormitories. I think Professor McGonagall is punishing us for some past wrong, but I can't figure out what that is."
"I can name a few," Odessa said, smirking.
"You were always in more trouble than us." Falcon retorted.
"Not true," Odessa said. "I definitely got away with more than you."
"Prove it," a voice said from behind. Odessa turned to see Sirius standing there, his arms crossed and he mouth turned into a slight smile.
"I will. I bet that Hastings and I can cause more mayhem this week without being caught than you boys."
"Define mayhem." Sirius said.
"Um, guys…" Falcon started, but Odessa interrupted him.
"Who can break the most rules and cause the most things to go wrong without harming anything or anyone. And without getting caught."
"Odessa…" Hastings said.
"Fine, it's a deal," Sirius spoke over Hastings.
"You're going to regret this Sirius."
"I can assure you Odessa, that you will be the only one with regrets." Sirius grabbed Falcon's arm and pulled him out of the room.
"What were thinking?" Hastings asked, standing up.
"That it's time to put Sirius Potter in his place. Come on Hastings, we have work to do." Odessa marched out of the room.
"I thought we were adults now!" Hastings called after her.
"We are, which makes it even better. Don't back down on me now Hastings. You were the mastermind behind at least half of our pranks in school. Now, come on!"
Hastings reluctantly left the teacher's lounge and followed Odessa down the hall.