Not Potter and the Stupid Stone

Chapter 6

Noel

I stormed into the entrance hall and paused; tears still fresh on my cheeks. The place was eerily silent with everyone being in class or otherwise studying. Merlin, I did not know Javier's schedule, how would I ever find him. I decided to start with the library first, figuring it would take forever to try and guess his class.

As I walked in, Madame Prince, the librarian, looked up at me suspiciously. I ignored her stares and began walking through the relatively empty library. As I scanned the isles of books, I could hear the sort thud of my heels on the carpet and could feel eyes glancing up from textbooks to regard me. It took me almost twenty minutes to scan the whole library. No luck. At this point there could only be about fifteen minutes left to the period, no point in trying to get into the Slytherin common room. It would take another fifteen minutes to get there, let alone guess the password.

I sighed and slumped down at the nearest table. There was so much going on in my head, so much I couldn't figure out. Why did my family hate muggles and what about blood purity could affect magic the way my brother had suggested when were younger?

I quickly got to my feet again. I was in the library, wasn't I? What could stop me from finding the answers here? I quickly made my way towards the Laws of Magical Nature section. I quickly maneuvered around the shelves, scanning each one carefully, before deciding on three that looked suitable, What Makes a Being Magic: A Look at Magical Peoples, Magic: A Journey into Our Cores, and Protégé or Peasant: Where Does Our Magical Strength Come From.

By this point, I figured it must be reaching the end of the period, so I grabbed the books and walked to check them out. Madame Prince eyed me curiously as she checked out the books but said nothing more than growling out a simple, "Don't forget the return date."

I slipped the books into my bag before exiting the library and heading towards my next class, Defense Against the Dark Arts. I scanned the hallways as I walked, hoping to catch a glimpse of my brothers flashing prefect badge. At one point I got excited, thinking I had spotted it, but it was only Percy Weasley and some Ravenclaw prefect.

When I arrived at the door to Defense, Ron was waiting there alone. He was bouncing a bit on the toes of his feet and his face positively lit up when he spotted me.

"Where's Harry?" I questioned.

"Well, do you remember that kid Neville? Yeah, well he flew up like way too high on his broom. I'm talking like as high as Gryffindor tower; think he almost vomited." He started, as I sensed a tangent coming on. "Then he fell, but before he hit the ground, he got caught on a flagpole and that slowed down his fall, so he did not die at least. However, he did break his arm, which was rough - screamed like a banshee that one. Of course, Madame Hooch had to bring him to Madame Pomphrey, so we all were left by ourselves. That's when it all went wrong. You see Draco, show off that he is, found Neville' s Remembrall, that thing he got at breakfast this morning, and decided to fly off to hide it in the top of a tree. Only Harry got in the way, flew right up there. It was amazing! His first time on a broom too. We all just went mad. So, anyway, Draco's like, "If you can catch it you can keep it Potter," and he does! Fifty-foot nosedive toward the ground and caught it just in time. I don't think even a professional could have done it. I was just about to go mad; you should have seen Malfoy's face! Was about to cry, he was. Only then McGonagall came out and took Harry inside, had seen the whole thing from her window. Didn't Malfoy look smug then."

I looked speechlessly at Ron as he struggled to regain his breath, as he had said the whole story as quickly as possible.

"And this whole thing happened in, like, what? Five minutes?" I asked.

"More like three." He beamed, "it was BLOODY BRILLIANT!"

"Do you not wonder if he'll be expelled?"

"Who?" Ron said, dubiously.

"HARRY!" I shouted. "Who else?"

His face turned red, as his concern grew. He mumbled under his breath, weakly, "oh."

Soon after we were ushered into class but could not pay attention. We were suddenly alert with the realization that Harry might be expelled. My veins were coursing with anxiety, and as a result you could hear my feet pitter-pattering on the floor through the hole class. Worst of all, Professor Quirrel seemingly extended the length of the class. Spending the whole time sputtering and stuttering through an explaination on how one might obtain a wolf bite, as if that wasn't obvious enough.

We sat through the next two classes distraught and stressed. Each class seemed as though it carried on for years, sucking us into its endless black hole of boredom. When the end finally came, we made swift eye contact before sprinting out of the class and towards the Great Hall. Inside, we quickly scanned the Gryffindor table, not a Harry in sight.

Laura

"If you're looking for Harry" I began. "He isn't here."

Regarding Noel and Ron who were anxiously scanning the table.

"I have eyes," she sneered. "Think I can sort that out for myself."

"Didn't mean to start trouble, honestly. Just trying to help." I sighed.

"I do not need your help."

"I'm sorry! Is that what you want to hear, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped at you during flying, and I get that you're trying to be a beter person, and I'm sorry for like embaressing you, or whatever, for falling asleep. It's just, you were really mean to me that first day and then you just showed up with Ron and Harry all friendly and..." I trailed off, lost for words to say

Noel stood there; shell shocked. Never have expecting me to say such a thing. To be honest, I was just so done with all of this and, maybe, a little part of me was starting to see her side of things. Scratch that, a big part of me was, if I had really fallen asleep in Transfiguration I would have denied it till the ends of my days. She still didn't appear to be ready to talk, so I continued.

"So, there." I said, "point made. Fight over. Okay?"

Surprisingly, Noel only answered with two words, "Thank you."

Are you kidding me?! I know I was apologising but, thank you?! Of all things– no– I'm gonna let things go, I like being her friend, no matter how socially clueless she might be. And, maybe, thank you is her way of being sincere. Or maybe I can shove some mannors down her throat inbetween explaining to her why she can't straight up call the muggle borns muggles.

"What'd I miss?" Harry said, appearing for seeming nowere, something that is very possible with magic, although I suspect her just walked over.

"Harry!" Noel, practically, shouted.

"What happened?!" Ron questioned.

"You're looking at the newest member of the Gryffindor Quidditch team!" He beamed, proudly.

"What?! Wow... that's great!" I said, confused yet excited. "But, how?"

"Turns out, Malfoy being a jerk wasn't such a bad thing." He continued, "anyway, McGonagall saw me outside her window, and she was shocked by how quickly I caught the Remebrial. When she came out, I actually thought I was going to get expelled, or such. Turns out, she'd been looking for a new member for a while and invited me to join."

"Congrats, Harry!" Noel said, before breaking the news, "but first years are not allowed their own broomstick. You are going to be working with those crummy Cleansweeps."

"That's not too bad. Got me pretty far in the first place, huh?" He joked.

"I guess," I laughed. "Just glad Draco being so obnoxious didn't get you expelled."

Sashaying up from behind, a blonde head appeared with two taller burnettes lurking over it.

"Talking 'bout me, Potter?" Draco, who happened to be just the person we were talking about, chimed in.

"Oh, nothing." Harry muttered, smirking.

"Doubt that." Draco scoffed, unconvinced. "What happened with McGonagall, by the way? Hope you're enjoying your last meal – wouldn't shock me if she sent you back on that train to those stupid muggles; the look on her face when she saw you!"

"Actually, Malfoy, I wasn't expelled." He said, his smile widening.

"Shame," Draco sneered, "now I've gotta deal with you all for the next several years, if you don't get expelled bythen."

"You're a lot braver now, huh?" Harry asked, rhetorically. "Now that you're on the ground, with your friends."

"I'd take you on anytime; doubt you'd be hard to beat." He said, before making his plan. "How about tonight, then? Wizard's duel. Wands only – no other contact."

At Harry's confusion, he jabbed another remark, "Never heard of a wizard's duel? Suppose that's how it would be when you're raised by muggles..."

"Of course, Harry has heard of a wizard's duel." Ron swooped in. "I'll be his second, who's yours?"

"Crabbe. Midnight, then? In the trophy room." As Ron nodded, Draco snickered, "meet you then."

As he gave the final details, he snarkily walked away, Crabbe and Goyle following briskly behind. They walked away, in a small posy, as I couldn't help myself from rolling my eyes.

"That git!" Noel snapped, turning to the group. "Harry, do not go, it's not worth it!"

"What even is a wizard's duel? And what's a, "second"?" He questioned, still confused on what they were talking about.

"A second, in proper duels, would take over if you die." Ron said, casually. "Don't think Malfoy could kill ya, though."

"If it's a duel, wouldn't we use magic? What if nothing happens when I wave my wand?" Harry panicked.

"Punch him in the nose?" I replied, serious toned. I genuinely meant it, too.

"Dang," Ron said, shock flooding his voice. "Didn't expect that response from you, of all people."

"I might be a goody-two-shoes, but I'm not studious all the time." I scolded, "besides, if you're gonna fight, you might as well have a backup plan, right?"

"Laura, do not encourage this!" Noel implored.

"Oh, I'm not." I said, sternly, turning to the boys. "You really shouldn't fight; Draco is just trying to egg you on, honestly. He might not even show."

"Harry," she continued, "do not go! It's idiotic, frankly. You could get hurt or get in trouble. It's just not worth it, in the end."

"Excuse me?"

Someone interrupted, coming from above us. When the four of us looked up, we saw Hermione hovering above us, like some sort of teacher. She began to even lecture Harry and Ron – like a teacher.

"When overhearing this conversation, I have to agree with Noel and Laura. None the less, you must not go wandering around at night. Half the corridors are likely to be blocked, and if you get caught, you'll lose Gryffindor dozens of points, which, honestly, would be quite selfish of you two."

"It's really no one else's' business." Harry insisted.

"Bye." Ron said, sarcastically.

Their comments were somewhat rude, but almost necessary. She walked away, attempting to lift her head up, and strolled through the crowd angerly.

"Just," I said, nonchalantly, "think about it?"

"Do not be idiots." Noel chimed.

"Same to you." Ron replied.

"Rude..." She muttered, glaring at him from across the table. I was shocked he continued talking, as her stare was deathly intense.

"Just throwing it back at you." he smirked. "But, pass up a duel against Malfoy? He's been bugging us for weeks!"

"Honestly, though. We couldn't really miss this!" Harry said, almost excitedly.

"Up to you two," I sighed, "but don't expect us to come running when you don't know simple dueling spells."

"Dueling spells?" He questioned.

"Expelliarmus?" Noel began listing, "stupefy?"

"Ever heard of those?" I asked.

"No..."

"Thought so." Noel said, sternly. "Well, you are screwed."

"You might wanna consider punching him." I said, sarcastically.

As dinner finished up, Noel and I listened silently, as Ron continued to explain what a wizard's duel was, to Harry. Soon after, we arose from our seats, leaving our dishes to be cleaned up with magic, and walked back to the Gryffindor common room.

The room, at this time in the evening, was bustling with kids walking in and out, chattering, and studying within its lounge-like setting. The group of us settled into some of those seats and they fell into conversation.

"You cannot go to this duel" Noel urged, barely able to sit still. "It's stupid and dangerous and we have much better things to focus on, like school, or have you forgotten about that?"

"Sheesh, it's just class." Ron groaned, "we don't have any exams yet, so just lay off for now."

"Ugh," Noel sighed, "Well then you can play chess or exploding snap or something!"

"If we back down now Malfoy will never leave us alone" he added. "Now can you please teach us that spell you used on Malfoy in the hall that one time. If we knew how to do that, you would have nothing to worry about because we'd win"

I chimed in, "Noel should have never used that spell and especially not on another student. Plus, she got in trouble for it. That should be a warning sign for you. Don't dule! If I had any say in what you do-"

"I'm not teaching it to you," Noel said, interrupting me, It would take too long, however if you took me with you..."

"Noel!" I exclaimed, "You have been saying that this is a bad idea since the beginning. Why on earth would you try to go with them now? Of all the stupid things!"

"I'm only saying, since they seem so set on it, minus well have an actual duelist with them," Noel supplied.

I stared at her, agape, before exclaiming, "No! This is ridiculous. No one is dueling. I cannot believe that you are all being so thick about this."

"No one's forcing you to come," Ron pointed out.

"Yeah," Harry said, piping up for the first time in the conversation, "Just go to bed Laura, if we get caught, no one will know you knew."

"Fine," I huffed, before heading up to my dorm.

Upon reaching my dorm, I collapsed onto my bed, not in the mood to do anything else for the rest of the night, even though I knew I still had homework to do. I forced myself to sit up in bed, and began staring at the starry night sky outside, through the window space next to my bedframe. I questioned my time thus far at Hogwarts and pondered what would come in the next several years. If they end up being anything like this year, who knows what'll happen. Interrupting my daze, I heard quick footsteps, that seemed to be approaching, before a voice called out my name.

"Laura!" Hermione shouted, quickly flying into the dorm. "Glad you're here. So, you agree with me that those two – Ron and Harry, that is - are being absolute idiots? If they get caught, they could lose Gryffindor tons of points and for what? To duel some Slytherin boy?"

"Ugh, I know, right?!" I agreed, standing up with agitation, "And now Noel's going to go with them too."

"I think we, as the only ones who really know, need to stop them." Hermione insisted.

I withdrew at this, "As much as I agree that they are quite idiotic," I began. "I don't care much to get involved. Couldn't we tell a prefect or something, one of them has to be willing to help without taking points."

"Have you met this year's prefects? Their perfect, amazing, unquestioning rule followers. They would definitely take away points. Do you want all Gryffindor to be seen as flaky rule breakers?" Hermione questioned me, trying to persuade me to join her.

"I don't," I paused for a moment, contemplating. I laid back down, still not wanting to do anything. Finally making up my mind, even though it wasn't a real decision, I responded, "but it's not our situation to deal with. If they know right from wrong, I'm sure they'll choose not to go, or they'll come back before anyone gets in trouble."

"I presume I'm counting you out, then?" Hermione said, her tone shifting.

"For this one, yes." I said, "sorry. I wish you luck, though."

"Thanks." She said, somewhat sternly. "Now, I'm going camp out in the common room, alone."

She continued explaining her plan to persisly no one, as she walked out of the dorm, leaving me behind. What is even happening, at this point? I questioned, as I grabbed a book off of my nightstand and stood up to read somewhere else. As I mentioned before, who knows what these seven years will be like. It's Hogwarts, for goodness sake.

Finding the best lighting, I sat within the window ledge, which was next to my bed, and had a doorlike spacing, and began to read. Knowing it might be a while, and I would've been awoken anyway, I made the decision to read until the group came back.