Veronica woke up the next morning to a bunch of voices talking loudly. She groaned and sat up feeling slightly irritated. She hadn't gotten enough sleep that night. She looked over to see Daniella, completely dressed and ready, looking through her trunk. Kylie entered the room with a towel around her head indicating she had been showering. Levinia and Annabel were the ones talking loudly.
"Can you believe we start classes today?" Levinia asked.
"I know," Annabel practically shouted while grinning broadly, "And think of all the cute boys we get to meet!"
"Do you ever shut up!" Parker shouted pulling the curtains around her bed open. She looked furious. Looks like I'm not the only one who isn't a morning person, Veronica thought.
"Sorry," Annabel sneered, getting up, "Come on, Lia. Lets go."
Veronica watched as Levinia and Annabel left the room. Looks like the fighting has already begun, she thought sighing.
"That was dreadfully rude, Parker," Daniella said quietly, looking pale and worried.
"They'll shouldn't be talking so loud. That was rude," Parker grumbled, getting up. Veronica did the same. She grabbed her robes and headed off with Parker to go shower.
Forty-five minutes later, Veronica, Kylie, Parker and Daniella made their way down to the common room. There were already a lot of other people down there, including James, Orion, Shane, Jeff, and Rob.
Parker scowled when she saw them. "Why did we have to be in the same house as them?"
"Bad luck," Kylie said sighing, "Let's just try and avoid them."
"Good idea," Veronica began. Unfortunately, it didn't work as well as planned.
Just before they reached the portrait hole, the boys blocked its way, all except Rob, who remained seated and pretended to read a book on Quidditch. Veronica noticed his eyes weren't moving.
"Move," Parker commanded, looking annoyed.
"Good morning to you too, Sunshine," Orion said grinning.
"Go away," Kylie said looking irritated as well. Parker was glaring angrily at Orion. "Why won't you just leave us alone, James?"
"Because I'm your brother," James said with a grin.
Veronica could feel herself getting angry as well. She barely got five hours of sleep last night and she wasn't in the mood. First, they set off fireworks in their compartment, then they tip Parker out of the boat, and now they constantly come over and annoy them. "Will you just move," she said.
The boys looked at each other. "No," Shane said smiling.
"We like it here," Jeff said.
"Yeah, its very peaceful," James said grinning.
"It's not going to be for long," Parker threatened stepping closer.
"Please be nice, Parker," Daniella said softly before turning to the boys, "Please move before she gets any angrier. We haven't done anything to you. Please leave us alone."
"Wow, she talks," James said smiling and looking somewhat surprised, "Not as feisty as your friends though are you?"
Orion smiled at James and turned to Daniella. "Yes, but unfortunately, your friend has done something to us. She's gotten us into detention for tipping her into the water..."
"That was your own fault," Veronica interrupted.
Orion ignored her. "So therefore, we must retaliate," he finished.
"Is that supposed to scare me, Black?"
The boys simply smiled as they moved out of the way. "Just something to think about," Shane said grinning.
"Yeah, yeah," Kylie said looking annoyed, "We'll think about it."
Veronica shot one last glare at the boys as they left. They are so annoying, she thought angrily.
Veronica let out a sigh of relief when the girls finally sat down in the Great Hall. They had gotten lost at least five times before an older Gryffindor named Megan had showed them the way.
"So," Parker said looking at Veronica, "What was with your mum last night? She sounded really angry."
Veronica turned and looked up at her mom. She was eating and chatting away with an older witch in dark blue robes. She turned back and looked at Parker. "I don't know. She never mentioned anything about her childhood except that she grew up in England. There was never any talk about her friends."
"From the way she sounded, it didn't seem like they were very good friends," Kylie said.
"Yes, I wonder what they did to her. It had to be bad if she never mentioned it to me. She said something about a traitor, but I didn't really catch it."
"Well that settles it then," Parker said smiling.
"Settles what?" Veronica asked.
"We will just have to find out what happened."
"We shouldn't butt into other people's business..." Daniella began softly.
"Nonsense," Parker said waving her hand, "If people didn't butt into other people's business, they would never know anything, at least not anything useful that could be used for blackmail."
Kylie stared at her and grinned. "What do you think?" she asked Veronica.
Veronica nodded. "Yeah, I would like to know why she lied about having friends. She has never lied to me before."
Veronica was so caught up in her thoughts, she didn't notice the schedules arrive. "Look," Kylie had said excitedly as she grabbed hers off the table.
Parker stared at her. "All it is are our class schedules. What's so great about work?"
Kylie ignored her and Veronica grabbed her schedule as well. Kylie groaned. "Oh no," she whined, "Potions with the Slytherins first today."
"I told you it was nothing to be excited over."
"Let's get going then," Daniella said, "We don't want to be late."
"Speak for yourself," Parker grumbled, but she got up with everyone else.
"Do you think Potions will be that bad?" Veronica asked as they walked down the halls.
Kylie sighed. "I know it will be for me. The teacher hates my dad. They've been enemies ever since their Hogwarts days. Malfoy's a real unpleasant fellow." She glanced at Parker and Daniella. "And he really isn't fond of Muggleborns, just to warn you."
Veronica sighed as well. Lovely, she thought. Just what we need, a bitter teacher. Like school wasn't going to be hard enough.
"I hope it isn't as bad as you say," Daniella said quietly, sounding quite worried.
"Who cares if it is?" Parker said shrugging, "It's not like we can't be rude back."
"You can't be rude to a teacher, Parker," Veronica said looking shocked, "You'll get detention."
"Or points taken away," Daniella added.
"Relax," Parker said, "It's not like detention is that bad."
"You'd know," Kylie said grinning. "But then again, so do I. My dad made me and James go to Muggle school one year, until we got kicked out that is."
Parker smiled but it soon faded when a swarm of flying balloons began hitting her. She tried to dodge them, but despite her quickness they seemed to follow her. Veronica and Daniella gasped. Parker was looking thoroughly shocked and furious by the end. She was drenched from head to toe in pink paint.
"James!" Kylie shouted.
Veronica looked around. She didn't see James or the other boys anywhere, but it took her only moments to hear their laughter. She watched as they came around the corner laughing hysterically, all except Rob who wasn't there.
"Pink is your color, Sunshine," Orion said grinning.
Parker looked furious. "Why you bloody little..."
"Now, now, Keowen. Watch your language," Jeff said grinning.
"I am going to..." Parker started and then stopped. She smiled brightly. "Go change," she finished. She turned and winked at the girls. "See you three later," she said as she rounded the corner.
"Uh, oh," Shane said watching her go, "That doesn't look very good."
James shrugged at him. "Oh well."
"Yeah," Jeff said grinning, "What is she gonna do?"
More than you think, Veronica thought to herself.
Daniella looked at them disapprovingly. "That wasn't very nice."
"Being nice is overrated," Orion said shrugging.
Veronica and Kylie burst out laughing. He sounded just like Parker, Veronica thought. Wait until I tell her that she thinks exactly like Orion Black.
"What's so funny?" James asked sounding confused.
"He..." Kylie began through her laughs, "Parker..." She burst out laughing again.
The boys never found out what was so funny, because at that moment the Potions Master arrived. He was tall and thin, with slivery blonde hair and light blue eyes. His thin lips were curled into a sneer and his pale skin gave him a ghostly appearance. Veronica shivered. He was creepy.
"Everyone inside," he said coldly, "Now!"
Veronica and the girls quickly made their way inside. Veronica took a table with Daniella. Kylie got the one next to it and saved a seat for Parker. Shane, James, and Orion were at the table behind Kylie. Jeff and Rob were at the table behind Veronica and Daniella. Kylie groaned when she saw the boys sit down. Veronica felt the same way. Other than Rob, she wasn't too fond of the boys.
Veronica glanced around the rest of the classroom. The Gryffindors were on one side and the Slytherins were on the other. She noticed Snape, Malfoy and Crabbe immediately and frowned. This wasn't going to be a pleasant class.
"Is that everyone?" the teacher asked looking around. Veronica turned her attention back to him. He was eying the Gryffindor side of the room with great distaste. "My name is Professor Malfoy," he said. Veronica looked at him and then over at Tristian Malfoy. They were definitely father and son, though the expressions they wore were quite different.
"When I call your name, say present," Professor Malfoy continued looking down at the paper in his hand.
"Black, Orion," Professor Malfoy sneered. He looked up and glared coldly at Orion.
"Here," Orion said loudly. He was smiling broadly. I wouldn't be smiling if someone was giving my that death glare, Veronica thought to herself.
Professor Malfoy continued down the list, glaring at most of the Gryffindors, especially Kylie, James, and Jeff. "Winters, Veronica," he said looking up.
"Here," Veronica said quietly.
"What was that?" Professor Malfoy sneered, "Are you too good to talk to me?" Veronica stared at him wide eyed. "Maybe you get treated like a princess at home, Miss Winters," he continued, "But here you will address me as sir or Professor. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Professor," Veronica said quietly.
"Good," Professor Malfoy said turning to the board, "Today we will be making a very simple sleeping potion." He waved his wand and a set of directions appeared on the board. "Follow these directions exactly. I will walk around to make sure..." He stopped when Parker suddenly walked in the room.
She was wearing clean robes and looking thoroughly pleased with herself. She winked at the boys as she took her seat next to Kylie. They stared at her curiously.
"Miss Keowen, I presume," Professor Malfoy said coldly, "You're late."
Parker turned her attention to him. "Yes, I am. I had other things to do."
Veronica groaned inwardly. Couldn't she tell this was not a professor to be messed with? "Other things more important than your education," Professor Malfoy said glaring.
"Just things that needed more immediate action," Parker said shrugging.
"Ten points from Gryffindor," Professor Malfoy said angrily, "And detention Miss Keowen."
Parker was about to object, but Kylie kicked her. "Now get to work," Professor Malfoy practically shouted.
Veronica quickly started chopping. Professor Malfoy walked around and criticized everyone's potions, except for the Slytherins, who all seemed to be doing "outstanding work." He stood over Parker for a while, clearly waiting for her to do something wrong. It didn't seem to bother her and he seemed even more infuriated when she did everything perfectly.
Veronica couldn't say her luck was as good, but she was doing better than Daniella, whose nerves were causing her to do everything wrong.
"Honestly, Miss Carter," Professor Malfoy sneered, "Can you do anything right? This is terrible. The directions clearly say to add ten frogs eyes, not twenty. Can you not read?" Veronica looked over at Daniella who was on the verge of tears.
"Leave her alone! Maybe if you weren't breathing down everyone's necks, she wouldn't be so nervous."
"Excuse me, Miss Keowen," Professor Malfoy said turning on her, "You obviously still have not learned your place. I am the teacher and you are the student. You will not tell me how to teach my class!" He was fuming and his normally pale face was not bright red.
"You have no right to treat people like that," Parker said, equally angry.
"Get OUT of my class, NOW!" Professor Malfoy shouted.
"No problem," Parker said grabbing her stuff.
"You'll have a months detention for this!" Malfoy shouted as Parker stormed out of the classroom.
Veronica watched her leave. This was going to be a bad day. Professor Malfoy looked as though he was going to explode. His day didn't get any easier. James, Shane, and Orion had thrown a firework into Snape's cauldron causing his potion to explode all over the class. Needless to say, they were sent out as well even though he no proof they did it.
Veronica sighed as she exited the class with Kylie and Daniella. Parker was waiting down the hall. Shane, James and Orion were a few feet farther down.
"Parker," Kylie said smiling, "Glad to see you're looking so happy."
"Yes, I am," she said grinning, "and you'll find out why later tonight."
"But what about your little "incident" in Potions?" Daniella asked quietly.
Parker smiled. "It was just a little detention. Why should I let it bring me down? It won't be that bad."
"Of course it won't be," Orion said wrapping an arm around her shoulders, "James, Shane and I will be there with you."
"I take it back," Parker said removing his arm.
The three boys laughed and went to catch up with Jeff and Rob. "I'm so sorry," Veronica said shaking her head, "Come on. We have Charms next. It will be a nice break."
Veronica smiled at her mom when she walked into Charms. The girls took a seat at the front. Slowly, the rest of the class trickled in.
Ginny smiled at the students after she finished taking roll. "Today we will be doing a simple levitating charm. You will try and levitate the feather on your table. The spell is Wingardium Leviosa. Does everyone have it?"
The class nodded. "You may begin and I'll walk around to see those of you who need help. Remember swish and flick," Ginny continued waving her wand. Veronica looked down at her feather and raised her wand.
"Very nice work, Miss Keowen," Veronica heard her mother say, "Oh and Mr. Potter and Mr. Black, good job."
Veronica turned to see Parker, James, and Orion's feather floating in the air above their heads. The other students looked shocked. Veronica felt the same way. She turned back and tried to concentrate on her own work. After three or four tries, she began to feel discouraged. "Wingardium Leviosa," she said loudly. She smiled as the feather floated up a few inches. It dropped seconds later, but it didn't matter to her. My first spell, she thought grinning.
The rest of the day was a blur. Veronica smiled as she walked toward the common room with Kylie, Parker and Daniella. They had just finished dinner and Veronica was ready for bed.
"Dragon's claw," Kylie said. The portrait door swung open and the girls walked in. They didn't meet a pleasant sight.
James, Shane, Orion, and Jeff were blocking the entrance to the girls' dormitories looking very angry. Rob was not there and Veronica had a feeling she knew why. The boys were going to do something rude that he didn't approve of. Lovely, she thought.
"Keowen!" James said furiously.
Parker smiled. "Yes," she said pleasantly.
"You totally destroyed our room!" Shane shouted.
"You prat," Jeff added.
The whole common room had turned to look. The older students were watching with interest. "I thought it was an improvement," Parker said smiling.
"It's PINK!" Orion said angrily.
"What can I say? Oh, yes. But, pink's your color, Sunshine." She laughed at the look on the boy's faces.
"Now if you'll excuse us," Kylie said, grabbing Daniella's arm and brushing past them.
"We've got better things to do," Parker said grinning as she grabbed Veronica's arm and did the same.
Veronica couldn't help but smile when she got to their dormitory. Once she got over her shock, she had to admit it was very funny. "So that is what you were so pleased about," Veronica said smiling as she grabbed her pajamas.
"Yes. It was a rather enjoyable thought."
Kylie laughed. "It was brilliant, my friend and the pink comment was hilarious."
"They do call me the Comeback Queen," Parker said grinning.
"I think it was very mean Parker," Daniella said softly.
Parker sighed. "We are going to have to work on your opinion of fun."
"They are going to just play another joke on you," Daniella began.
"Let them," Parker said smiling.
"Yeah," Veronica heard herself say. It surprised her. Normally, she would never do anything that she knew might blow up in her face. However, she was a witch now. Nothing is normal anymore, she thought grinning.
"That's the spirit, Nicci," Parker said grinning, "I know Kylie's up for it and Nicci's in now. All we need is to get you to lighten up." She looked at Daniella who was looking very worried.
"Well, let's go to bed," Kylie said closing her curtains.
"Good idea," Veronica said trying to distract Parker. She said some things that tended to hurt Daniella's feelings. Veronica planned to talk to her about it later.
"We're just going to get woken up when Annabel and Levinia come in," Parker said.
"Wow," Kylie said, "You are actually thinking logically for once."
"Shut up," Parker said chucking a pillow at her. Kylie laughed.
Veronica suddenly felt very sleepy as she crawled into bed. Tomorrow was going to be a lot of work too. Double Herbology, History of Magic, Defense against the Dark Arts, and Transfiguration. She smiled. It was going to be a fun day too. Hopefully it will be a James, Shane, Orion, and Jeff free day as well, she thought. It wasn't likely, but she could dream. She laid her head on the pillow and instantly fell asleep.
