Lucy tried her best to stay up with her friends, but she ended up falling asleep in the common room. When she woke up in the morning, she was in her bed. She chalked it up to Anthony's doing and started getting ready for the day. Normally she got up early, but by the time she woke up, all her friends were at the Great Hall.
She wanted nothing more than to bury her face in her pillow and sleep for another week, but she knew that was impractical. First week of classes, and all that... plus, she now had the reputation of the 'good one', and she wanted to see how far that could get her. She heaved herself out of bed, showered, and dressed in her uniform for the first time in months.
She picked up her satchel, slinging it around her shoulder. She couldn't forget her pocket buddy. "Morning, Riddle," she said out of habit.
"Good morning," he replied. He appeared sitting on the foot of her bed, looking carefully around the room. Since he'd taken on this form, he was always interested in examining his surroundings and watching people pass by. It was kind of endearing. "Late riser?" He asked, smirking. He knew full well what the Hufflepuffs had gotten up to.
"Late night," she corrected. She vaguely remembered Anthony and Cedric dueling on the tabletops while Megan collected bets in the background. She pulled a face, "Scratch that— weird night. Hufflepuffs are wild. Did Slytherin have any parties back in the Dark Ages?"
His lips pursed at the mention of his age, and she snickered. He let it slide for now. It was too early to start arguing. "Usually, it was saved for Quidditch matches. I've heard rumors of Hufflepuff parties... I didn't think they were true."
"Ugh, if you only knew," she groaned. Last year had been hellish. She'd arrive late from detentions to see a full on rave going on, and she'd have to push through excited fifth years and older just to get to bed. Thank God for silencing charms.
She started on the confusing path toward the Great Hall. It took longer than last year. She was certain the castle had switched its corridors around over the summer; it sounded like the sort of thing Hogwarts would do. The castle never liked to stay the same shape for long, with its moving staircases and disappearing classrooms. Riddle stayed in the diary, and she was grateful for the silence. It was far too early to get into any proper trouble...
She opened the door to the Great Hall.
This was a mistake on her part.
"—LETTER FROM DUMBLEDORE LAST NIGHT, I THOUGHT YOUR FATHER WOULD DIE OF SHAME, WE DIDN'T BRING YOU UP TO BEHAVE LIKE THIS—"
"Oh, what the hell," She hissed as the loud, rattling shout rang through her ears.
"Great, a howler," Riddle's voice said sarcastically.
Her eyes tracked for the offending object and sure enough, in front of Ron dangled a scarlet envelope. The opening flapped like a mouth would, and she decided then and there that it was the most annoying thing she had ever heard, and it must die instantly.
"—ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTED- YOUR FATHER'S FACING AN INQUIRY—"
"Reducto!" She hissed. It was a good thing she had been practicing her aim at Mallory's, otherwise Ron would've had the equivalent of a large pack of firecrackers lighting in his face. The letter blew up into small, red shreds that fell into his porridge. At once, everyone looked to see who had done such a thing. She paid them no mind and continued to her table.
"That was an excellent use of the Reductor Curse," Daisy complimented her at once. "But as a prefect, I should impress upon you the dangers of performing a spell so close to other students."
Lucy nodded, grinning. That was a fair enough request. She was lucky she hadn't gotten a detention, but that may have been due to the fact that none of the Professors could eat their breakfast with all the rattling.
"You know what, Locke? As a prefect, I commend Lucy for taking action!"
Lucy froze. Then, ever so slowly, she met Anthony's eyes. Her gaze fell to the shiny golden badge glistening proudly on her robes. How did she not notice that last night? "No..." she said, horrified. "No... Anthony, they've gotten you, too... How could you stoop this low..? I trusted you..."
"That's what you're questioning?" Megan said incredulously. "Not the fact that that beast now has any sort of authoritative power?" She jerked a thumb in Anthony's general direction, ignoring the offended look he shot her way. "Not that God has abandoned us, and all that walks the Earth is the Devil?"
"You're getting into deep territory here, Megan, and I don't think I'm mentally ready for it right now," Lucy said. She was less horrified that Anthony had been chosen for prefect and more horrified that he accepted it. Where was his honor? Did all that time they spent together making fun of prefects mean nothing to him? "You're a sell-out, Rickett," she said coldly.
"I'm a sell-out?!" He demanded. He grabbed his book-bag off the floor and rifled through it, throwing out bits of crumpled paper along the way. Daisy shot him a disgusted look at his mess which he cheerfully ignored. Finally, he pulled out an old copy of The Daily Prophet and pointed at the headline.
HARRY POTTER AND GIRLFRIEND CONNECT WITH GILDEROY LOCKHART
On the front page, she had her arms around Harry, and he was blushing furiously at the camera. The twenty galleons in her satchel now felt extremely heavy. She held up a finger to defend herself. "Listen—" she began, then stopped. "Hm. Well, I'm an innocent little orphan, so I get a pass."
"Don't you pull the orphan card on me, Lucille Rochester, when I have been your mum since I met you!"
"He's got you there," Cedric pointed out.
"Shut up, Cedric. You have detention," Anthony said automatically.
"What the hell, Anthony?!"
"Double detention!"
"Revoked, and I'll talk to Sprout if you give out any more unfair detentions," Daisy warned.
Anthony stared at her for a good few seconds. His shoulders slumped, and he looked to the side. "Daisy, love, I didn't want to have to do this, but you leave me no choice." He then looked her straight in the eyes, abandoned all his morals, and said, "Detention."
Lucy laughed as Daisy started arguing furiously with the boy. He really should not have been allowed to be a prefect. He and Daisy would never change— although strangely, they were friends, even though they made each other raving mad all the time. Anthony had that effect on people. He was a kind, caring boy and she loved him dearly, but he also had the ability to be the biggest pest on the planet.
Maybe that's where she got it from.
She was disappointed when Professor Sprout handed them their schedules— she wanted breakfast to last forever, and Daisy and Cedric were dangerously close to hexing Anthony — but she soon brightened when she saw her first class of the day. Herbology with the Gryffindors.
"Dibs on Wayne, Susan, and Hannah," Megan said once she read her schedule. She gave Lucy an apologetic look. "Sorry, Lucy, you're just an absolute madwoman when it comes to herbology."
"Need I remind you that you lot got me detention in Herbology?" Lucy demanded. She could admit she was a menace in other classes like potions, but Herbology was the one class she didn't act like a git in. She found it so incredibly mind-numbing that it was impossible to be her worst self.
"Still, I'm not taking any chances," Megan shrugged.
"You know what? I think I'll be a Gryffindor for the day." Lucy sniffed. She made a show of flipping her long hair over her shoulder, and she flounced off to the Gryffindor table. "Hello, lovely friends," she greeted.
"Look, it's the goody-two-shoes," Ron said, only half-joking. He was still bitter she had gotten off scot free. Maybe even mad she hadn't tried to convince them. "How's it feel not being in trouble?"
"You're kidding, right?" she scoffed. "I'm jealous. You made the entrance of a lifetime! Flying a car across the country into— what was it, a Whomping Willow? All I did was floo to Snape's office."
"I hope Mr. Weasley won't be in trouble," Harry frowned.
Privately, Lucy thought that if Mr. Weasley didn't want to be in trouble, he shouldn't have enchanted a flying car in the first place. She didn't voice this aloud; something told her Ron wouldn't appreciate it. She settled for grabbing each of the sulking boys' sleeves and tugging them along to the greenhouses.
She waited outside with her friends, shooting yellow sparks into the air out of boredom. She liked to try and make them form shapes— as of most recently, she'd perfected the rabbit shape. Hermione watched approvingly, and she tried it out for herself. It was a huge change from last year where she was certain the Gryffindor would have scolded her. Now they stood outside the greenhouse, making their animal-shaped sparks dance around each other.
Her good mood plummeted when she saw Professor Sprout stride across the lawn with none other than Gilderoy Lockhart trailing behind her.
She wondered how the Reductor Curse would affect his blonde locks of hair.
"Oh, hello there!" Lockhart beamed at the students, as if they were here to see him instead of attending class. "Just showing Professor Sprout the right way to doctor a Whomping Willow! But I don't want you running away with the idea that I'm better off at Herbology than she is! I just happen to have met several of these exotic plants on my travels..."
"Hex him," Riddle said automatically. Though she was sorely tempted to, there were too many witnesses.
"Greenhouse three today, chaps!" Professor Sprout grunted. Lucy didn't know the woman had a setting other than cheerful.
Lucy, suspicious of Lockhart's presence, linked her arm through Harry's as they headed into the greenhouse. He gave her a surprised look but didn't argue. Her suspicions were founded when Lockhart's hand shot out to block Harry, and by default her, from entering.
"Harry! I've been wanting a word- you don't mind if he's a couple minutes late, do you, Professor Sprout?"
Sprout grit her teeth, and Lockhart looked to Lucy. "And you don't mind if I steal your boyfriend, do you?"
"As a matter of fact," Lucy said pleasantly, "I do."
With that, she pushed through Lockhart's arm and pulled Harry into the greenhouse with her. At best, Lockhart would think her dedication was admirable and a testament to Harry's fame. At worst, he'd think she was a controlling girlfriend and warn Harry to stay away from her. Either way, she didn't care.
Harry gave her a pleased look. "You're a genius, you know that, Luce?"
"I should have hexed him," she sighed. Later, she promised herself.
She joined Ron, Harry, and Hermione at a table. Sprout took her place behind a trestle bench and folded her hands in front of her. She looked more cheerful than before, in part due to Lucy's rough shove past Lockhart. "We'll be repotting Mandrakes today. Now, who can tell me the properties of the Mandrake?"
At once, Lucy raised her hand. Professor Sprout looked to her hopefully; she had never raised her hand in class before. Was the troublesome Lucille Rochester finally turning over a new leaf? Even Hermione marveled at her.
"Ms. Rochester?"
"A mandrake, Professor Sprout, is another word for a male dragon," Lucy said, with all the confidence of a woman who had long since graduated Wizarding College.
She heard Riddle heave a great sigh. She fought to keep a straight face; god, she loved disappointing him.
The entire class save for Hermione started snickering. Lucy looked around at them, mock confused. "What? Was it something I said?"
"Excellent effort, Rochester," Professor Sprout sighed, "I'd suggest you do a little more reading, but thank you for trying. Ms. Granger?"
"Mandrake, or Mandragora, is a powerful restorative. It is used to return people who have been transfigured or cursed to their original state," Hermione recited. Lucy had read the textbook already, and she was certain her friend had said the definition word for word from the book.
"And does that include male dragons?" Lucy added.
Another sigh. "No, Ms. Rochester. Dragons are too big for a single mandrake to take care of. Now, can anyone tell me why the Mandrake is so dangerous, despite its properties alleviating curses?"
Hermione raised her hand again. "The cry of the Mandrake is fatal to anyone who hears it."
"Ten points, Ms Granger. And no, Rochester, the cry is not strong enough to affect male dragons— they are giant."
Lucy slowly lowered her hand.
"Now, the Mandrakes we have here are still very young, so the cry of the Mandrake will not kill any of you— nevertheless, it is in your best interest to make sure your earmuffs are tightly fastened on, unless you'd like to spend your first day passed out."
"I wouldn't mind," Lucy said thoughtfully.
"I would," Riddle replied.
"You're no fun, Riddle," she huffed.
From beside her, Ron raised his eyebrows. "What was that?"
Oh, oops. She forgot no one else could hear Riddle. Still, she was nothing if not a good liar. "I said I wish I could play the fiddle," she said with all seriousness. "Can you imagine it? Snape starts in on one of his rampages, and I pull out a fiddle and bring him to tears with my symphonies. Wouldn't that be brilliant?"
Ron stared at her, and he slowly pat her on the hand. "Get some sleep tonight, Lucy," he said kindly. "I think it will help you."
"No, it won't," Hermione snorted. "She's mad—" catching her affronted look, she hastily added, "—and we love her very dearly for it."
"That's what I thought," Lucy sniffed. She hoped she wouldn't have to actually buy a fiddle now. She'd do an awful lot to keep people from finding Riddle, but she wasn't sure if playing a violin in Snape's face was one of those things.
They finally began working. There was a mad scramble at the beginning as everyone tried to grab a pair of earmuffs that wasn't fuzzy or pink. Lucy, however, went for the most obnoxious pair she could find— a dirty pair near the back of the bench. They were neon green and were twice as fuzzy as everyone else's.
Harry examined her pair with amusement. "Starting a new trend, Luce?" He joked, nudging her with his elbow.
"I'm going to usurp your celebrity status, Potter," she grinned. "You'd better watch out."
"Feel free," he snorted. "Maybe you'll be the next Lockhart."
"Oh, I can only dream!"
Lucy rather enjoyed handling the Mandrakes. They were ugly, ghastly little things. The earmuffs blocked out all sound, but she could see the baby Mandrake clearly screaming at the top of its lungs. It kicked at her and tried to hit her with its little fists, but she quickly remedied that with a sharp blow to its head. Good thing Sprout didn't see it— she didn't think they were supposed to hit the plants.
"Genius," Harry mouthed at her, and he did the same. Soon enough, the entire class was hitting the defenseless baby Mandrakes, all the while Sprout stared at them uneasily. They weren't actually babies and they couldn't even feel pain, but the visual of a class filled with children hitting wooden babies must have been awfully unnerving for the Professor.
They finished up, sweaty and coated from dirt from the task. Lucy kept the earmuffs. Sprout saw her take them, but they were so ugly that the Professor didn't argue.
"I'm a trend setter, all right," Lucy said cheerfully as they made their way back to the castle. She cast a scourgify on her friends as they walked. "Hitting baby mandrakes might be the next big thing. I ought to trademark it. You need to capitalize on your fame, Potter— then maybe you'll be as wonderful and handsome as me!"
"Oh, please tell me more, Mr. Lockhart," Harry said sarcastically.
She flipped her hair over her shoulder and smirked at him. "I can't give you all my secrets, Potter!" she scolded, waggling a finger at him. "If everyone was a celebrity, who would appreciate my smile? Have you seen my smile? It's gorgeous, isn't it? Tell me it's gorgeous."
Hermione sniffed and crossed her arms over her chest. "You shouldn't be impersonating a professor, Lucy," she scolded.
"I'd hardly call him a professor, seeing as it's his first year," Ron scoffed. "Did you see him lecturing Professor Sprout? I've never seen her look angry before."
"Well you lot are the poor bastards who have to see him today," Lucy said. "I don't have him 'til tomorrow. Good thing, that— now I have time to plot his downfall."
"Usually when you're planning someone's death, you don't want to announce it, Luce," Harry said humorously. She shrugged, grinning. She knew her friends wouldn't rat her out. Even Hermione wouldn't, although she'd certainly disapprove.
They reached the castle, and Harry pulled out his schedule to check it. "We've got transfiguration next. What about you?"
"History of Magic," she said, pulling a face. "See you then, yeah?"
It took ten minutes of Binns droning before Lucy decided it wasn't worth it. This 'good student' thing she had planned on? Nope, it was not going to happen this year. How could anyone do this?
Around her, her friends were passed out, snoring lightly into their arms. Even Susan was asleep and she was the most attentive of the bunch, normally taking notes for everyone. Suffice to say, nobody was having fun.
She flipped open the diary and wrote, I'm out of here.
What do you mean?
You'll see.
She stowed the book away and hesitantly stood from her seat. Professor Binns didn't so much as glance her way. Slowly, she took a step toward the door. Still nothing.
"Hey, Binns!" She tried.
The ghost glanced her way disinterestedly before turning back to his text book.
"Say nothing if I can leave." A long lapse of silence. Lucy grinned. "Great, thanks!"
Justin, the only awake student, sent her an envious look as she snuck out of the room. She knew he wouldn't snitch, but she still hurried through the hallway. It wouldn't do for a professor to catch her...
"What happened to turning a new leaf?" Riddle said, falling into step beside her. She wasn't sure if it was a trick of the light, but it was harder to see through him.
"I've decided it's lame and dumb, so I'm not going to do that," she said, rounding the corner. She dropped her backpack at a window. "How's a walk through the Forbidden Forest sound?"
"No one will look for you?" He smirked, following her as she headed outside. It was a clear, warm day, with hardly a cloud in the sky— too good of weather to stay in a class like History of Magic.
"Nope," Lucy shook her head. She doubted Binns even realized there were students in his classroom, and after History, she'd have lunch. Plenty of time to have a little adventure.
Riddle didn't argue with her about going into the forest. She was surprised, since he tried to keep her out of trouble all other times. "What? No complaints?" She said, raising her eyebrows at the boy. "I'm not allowed to fly cars, but I'm allowed to walk through a dangerous forest?"
"Please, the Forbidden Forest isn't dangerous," he scoffed. "Not when you're with me."
Lucy snorted. "Well, aren't you sure of yourself? Arrogance isn't very proper, Mr. Riddle."
They walked into the forest, Riddle following her closely behind. She didn't think she could ever get used to the cold feeling at her back— it was like he was there, but not really. Would it kill him to give a little personal space?
"Is it arrogance, if it's true?" He said rhetorically. He subtly guided her off the path, so they were walking through the thicket. She was thrown back to last year when she had done this exact same thing, only to see Voldemort slurping blood from a unicorn. Not radical of him at all— killing unicorns was gross.
She nudged him with her elbow, ignoring his offended look as it went through him. He hated reminders that he wasn't fully human. "It's still arrogance. I bet it took you years to build up your courage to come in here. Actually, I bet you didn't step foot into the Forbidden Forest!"
"I know every corner of these woods," Riddle said, growing more offended as the seconds passed. Hardly anyone talked back to him before Lucy came along. "And I was top of my class."
"Oh, yeah? Which of us has graduated?"
"Neither."
"Gotten a job? Had kids?"
"Neither, what are you—" He stopped himself, realizing she was egging him on. He glared at her. "You're a horrible girl."
They reached a clearing, bigger than the one she saw last year. It amazed her how beautiful the forest was, even in the daylight. The trees cast purple shadows, and she could swear a mist lingered in the air— it was coming from a nearby creek. Kicking off her shoes, she took off her socks and headed over to the water.
"What are you doing?" Riddle sighed, following her.
"I think you know what I'm doing, Riddle." She stepped into the creek, lifting her skirt above her knees so she could walk through. She started looking for fish to catch. "Honestly, did you ever live when you attended Hogwarts? Haven't you ever wanted to have fun?"
"I had fun," he muttered.
"Really?"
She examined the clear water, keeping an eye out for any fish. She saw a few tiny ones, but every so often a bigger, chrome fish would flit about. She wanted it.
"Yes, really," he rolled his eyes. " I would tell you, but I feel as if it's always been mesharing everything. Why don't you tell me something for once?"
Here he goes again, Lucy thought dryly. He always nagged her to open up to him— which, was gross! Why would she want to talk about feelings when she could ask him about neat spells?
Although, she did have to concede he did have a point. He told her plenty of things about his life, sometimes unprompted. He scared the other children at Wool's— she could respect that— and at Hogwarts, he visited the Restricted Section of the library to copy books on the Dark Arts. (She was going to try that.) He told her his favorite types of spells, favorite classes, all the students he disliked, sometimes he told her petty drama that had gone on during his school days...
"Alright," she huffed. She sat down on a purple rock sticking out of the water, her feet still in the cool water. "What do you want to know about me, O' Mighty Riddle?"
"That's actually got a ring to it," Riddle smirked. "How about My Lord? Or your highness while you're at it?"
She stared at him blankly. "You're horrible. Start talking."
"Why don't you tell me about your first year?" Riddle suggested. He sat on the ground near the creek, propping his chin on his hands.
"You mean the year I saw the life drain from my professor's eyes? Oh, it was a blast and a half." Lucy said this so casually that Riddle almost didn't process it.
"That must have been very traumatic," he said in a sympathetic voice.
"I mean, he did try and kill Harry, so I guess he kind of deserved it," Lucy shrugged.
Looking back on it, she couldn't completely blame Quirrell for his actions. He had Lord Voldemort watching his every move, sucking the life force from him over the course of the year. She didn't know what she'd do if something like that happened to her...
"You really care for Harry Potter, don't you?" Riddle tried and failed to hide his disdain for the boy.
She had an idea of why he didn't like him. Riddle spent his career at Hogwarts trying to build himself above his peers and gain the adoration of his teachers. He'd worked hard for it, and he succeeded. Now he caught wind of some boy who was famous for something that he didn't even try for. She understood why he wasn't happy, but if anyone said a word against Harry Potter, she may have to fight them.
"Of course. Have you met him?" Riddle opened his mouth to reply and she cut across him. "Okay, I know you haven't met him– Harry's the nicest person in the whole world! He always looks out for his friends, even if he thinks they're in the wrong. Hell, he thought Snape was brainwashing me for a full year but he still looked out for me! If you could have seen how he stood against Quirrell... he's brave, he's kind– he's a hero. Not just 'cause he roundhouse kicked Voldemort as a baby, he doesn't care about any of that, he's genuinely kind in his day to day life, standing up for people even if he's not friends with them– he's just so freaking great!"
Once Lucy's rant was over, she looked over at Riddle, somewhat sheepishly. Okay, she might have gotten a little carried away... but Harry Potter was her best friend in the whole world, and he deserved more, dammit!
"I guess I can understand why you like him," Riddle conceded unhappily. "But I just can't fathom how a baby– an infant defeated the greatest wizard of all time."
"Riddle, I hate to break it to you, but Voldemort's not that smart," she told him.
Riddle glared daggers at her.
"I'm just saying! I spent the first half of my year heckling him and accusing him of dark secrets, and the moment I told him 'hey, I'd like to join you after all', he didn't question it for a second! I mean I know I'm loveable, but blimey," she huffed. "I'm sure he was plenty smart in the first wizarding war— I've read the books, he almost won if it wasn't for Harry— but recently, he's just not living up to the legends. Never meet your heroes, Riddle."
"He almost won the first wizarding war," He repeated, and he didn't look as angry. More thoughtful. "What changed, I wonder?"
"Beats me," Lucy shrugged. "Maybe if he spent less time trying to kill my best friend, he might actually get something done."
Riddle didn't say anything, but he stared at the tree canopy above, thinking to himself. She could see the wheels turning in his head. Had she talked some sense into him? Ever since she told him about Lord Voldemort, he had looked up to the man. She could partly understand that. Maybe Voldemort was great, once. He was the most feared wizard of all time for a reason. But his vision had shifted over time, and he went from trying to rule the world from trying to kill a boy.
He wanted the world? She could forgive that. Didn't everyone, in one way or another? But if he so much as lay a finger on Harry... Well, she hoped Lord Voldemort was ready for a new enemy, because she would go to the ends of the earth to protect her friends.
Riddle's voice stirred her out of her thoughts. "I think you're on to something, Lucy," he mused. "Maybe Lord Voldemort shouldn't have lost sight of his vision."
Lucy nodded. The water was beginning to feel cold around her ankles. Stepping out of the water, she looked further into the forest.
"So, do you want to go and fight a magic bear?"
"Do I want to what?"
Lucy didn't reply. She grabbed her shoes and took off deeper into the woods.
"Lucy!" Riddle called after her. She disappeared into the tree line, and he sighed, feeling his senses tug in her direction. He started walking after her, intent on finishing the conversation.
"Ridiculous girl," he muttered to himself. But slowly, a sinister smile pulled at his lips. "But incredibly useful..."
Her wild laughter rang in the distance, and he could vaguely hear a horrible roar of a beast. His eyes widened, and he started running in her direction.
"And also incredibly stupid!"