June 9th, 1994. Thursday.
The next months at Hogwarts seemed to fly by in a flurry of Quidditch matches (Gryffindor won the Quidditch Cup), school exams, Easter Holidays, and plenty of homework. The Scottish Highlands transformed from a frosty winter wonderland to its emerald fields and blossoming flowers. The Black Lake was once again occupied by students lazing around its pebbled bank (and the Giant Squid that resided in the water was once again happy.)
The students at Hogwarts, however, had been trying to hold on for dear life during their last term.
Selena could barely think past all the classes stuffed into her brain. For Astronomy, she had the names of several moons and stars vying for attention. At least nights at the top of the Astronomy Tower peering through telescopes were no longer as cold. Then there was trying to keep Emeric the Evil and Elfric the Eager sorted out for History Magic, and trying to remember everything possible about Devil's Snare. Flying was fine for the most part; nearly all the students were adept at flying (though Renee had managed to fall off her broom twice.) Where Defense Against the Dark Arts was concerned, she couldn't quite recall what Gytrashes were - but she had been quite successful with the Kickback Jinx. She was also pleased to have been the first student in her Transfiguration class to learn the Avifors Spell, earning her an approving nod from Professor McGonagall.
Potions was a different story.
The class drawled on and Selena doodled pictures in her notebook, her quill constantly running out of ink, until Professor Snape confiscated it. He did the same thing with Renee, snatching her book up from the desk, and flicked through its pages. He sneered and looked at the class. Renee hid her face when the greasy-haired teacher flipped the notebook around for everyone to see. Drawn on the page were hearts that said 'R + S' and sparkled as more little hearts danced around it.
Hazel glanced over at Renee along with the rest of the class - though they were sort of difficult to see in the dim dungeon. A few people giggled (Maryana included,) but most tried to look away as Renee slumped lower in her chair, face still hidden from view.
Five minutes later, everyone was dismissed and Selena was happy to have the rest of the day off. The older students would be taking more exams. After putting her books up and pulling on a hat, she, Rolf, and Hazel walked out of the castle and onto the grassy slopes, glancing down at the Black Lake where the Giant Squid was playing in the chilly water.
The spring air - still rather cold - nipped at Selena's skin. Hazel pointed down to where smoke rose out of the top of Professor Hagrid's little house. A tap on Selena's shoulder made her turn around. It was Damon. Selena sighed, thankful that it wasn't Tess, Alisson or Wendy. She might forgive them in time, but not now.
"Hey Selena," he said quietly. He looked as if he had been outside for a while. His cloak billowed in the wind, cheeks red from the chill, blond hair ruffled.
Hazel smiled and waved to Selena, golden eyes bright. "C'mon, Rolf. Let's go over here," she said, her voice trailing off with the breeze. Selena watched as her two Hufflepuff friends disappeared further down the hill, making their way towards the Owlery.
"Hey, Damon," Selena replied happily once she turned back. Then shivered as an icy blast of wind swept past them.
Damon smiled. "Let's go inside. It's probably warmer."
"Good idea," Selena agreed. They walked slowly to the front doors again and slipped inside. The halls were full of happy, cheerful, loud students. Most of them seemed to be discussing the upcoming end of the year, and what they were doing over the summer.
Selena swallowed as she thought about the note that Wendy and them had given her. Hazel's words wouldn't leave her mind. "I see... that Wendy, Tess and Alisson think that Damon follows He-Who-Should-Not-Be-Named..."
"So," Damon began as they walked slowly around the corridor, "were you worried for the exams?"
Selena shook her head. "I had Bronwen and Hazel." They tutored her non-stop the week leading up to the exams, revising tons of notes and spells from class.
Damon nodded. "Right... So... Have you made up with your friends yet?"
"No... I'm not sure if I can yet." Selena swallowed hard and began to talk in a small, nervous voice. "Actually they have this stupid idea... They seem to be convinced that... that, uh... Well there's no easy way to put this but um..." She took in a sharp breath. "They-gave-me-this-note-on-the-train-and-it-had-lots-of-odd-underlined-words-and-I-had-Hazel-look-at-it-and-in-the-note-Wendy-Alisson-and-Tess-say-that-you're-evil-and-that-you-follow-He-Who-Should-Not-Be-Named..."
Damon looked at her, puzzled. "Could you repeat that?"
"Uh..." Selena lifted her eyes, looking up at Damon. "Wendy, Alisson and Tess gave me a note. Apparently, it says that they think you follow He-Who-Should-Not-Be-Named."
Damon stopped walking and paled as he looked down at Selena, a startled expression on his face. "How did they... How do you... Look- I don't- I mean I want- They know that I... I'm just... Um... Follow me." He began to walk at a brisk pace, leading Selena to the Library. A few students were there, cramming last minute for their exams as Madam Pince prowled the stacks of books. Damon finally stopped near the gates of the Restricted Section.
Selena felt a bit anxious and was wringing her hands. Madam Pince moved further down the Library in a billow of cloaks. "Damon why did you-"
She was interrupted by Damon turning around. He breathed in, looking at the floor. "Look, Selena, I think you're my friend. I don't know how your friends know about that but-"
Selena gasped. "So it's true?" She was bewildered. Blue eyes wide, a shot of fear rushed up her spine. "I trusted you..."
"No! No... It's not like that, " Damon said hastily, putting his hands up in a placating gesture. "They only thought that... it's not really true."
Selena looked up at him. "I-It's not? It's just it confused me so much and I wasn't sure..." She frowned. Not since she'd met Damon at the beginning of the year had he ever seemed like the type who would support a dark sorcerer. But then again, why did her friends think so?
Damon shook his head, making his flaxen hair rearrange itself. "Don't worry." He flashed a smile, seeming to read her thoughts, and Selena smiled. "They probably heard me talking to - well, alright, arguing with - Draco Malfoy... Well, they just heard me say something."
Selena's heart was beating quickly as she waited for Damon to continue.
"Anyway. What they heard was... heh. Now, don't judge me by this, but... they heard me say that I'm a descendant of Salazar Slytherin." He put his hands up defensively again. "But! I don't believe in that Pureblood and Mudblood stuff. Besides that, a lot of other students heard that I'm related to Slytherin last year, people like Rossotto, and spread it. Lots of people judged me by it. What with all that Harry Potter and killing the basilisk going on and petrified students... Never mind, I just wanted to explain. I'm your friend. I wouldn't hurt you."
Selena nodded, taking in his words. Damon is a descendant of Salazar Slytherin. He's not evil. He doesn't follow Voldemort. He's a good person.
"So were still friends... right?" He asked smiling tentatively at her.
Selena nodded. "Right... but..."
Damon's smiled faltered a bit. She swallowed, diving into the second half of the letter problem.
"Wendy said that I shouldn't be friends with you and that's why I'm upset with her. Since you're my friend and it sounds like she's trying to control who I pick out as friends," Selena spoke in a rush.
Damon breathed out, his smile slipping a tad again. "Oh..." He sounded disappointed and a bit hurt. "So... does that mean we can't talk anymore or something?"
"No!" Selena began quickly. "No! I want to be your friend, and I think it's wrong of her to say we can't be friends without a good reason. So, that's what I meant. Maybe... well, maybe we shouldn't show them we're friends. Just until everything gets patched up."
Damon smiled. The Fourth Year nodded and put his hands into his cloak pockets. "Well. I'd better get going. Neil, Jojo, and I are all meeting up in the Common Room. I'll have to catch you later." He waved and walked out of the aisle.
Selena took a deep breath, pleased to have more information now. So Damon is related to Salazar Slytherin, she mused. Heading out of the Library, she switched courses to going to the Gryffindor Common Room.
She was about to reach the portrait - which, since the sixth February was back to the repaired Fat Lady, security trolls keeping watch - before a voice echoed.
"Selena!"
It was Ray. Not looking back, Selena began to run towards the painting, dark hair getting in her face. She could hear Ray's footsteps getting closer.
"Selena, don't! Wait!"
"Scurvy Cur, Scurvy Cur!" She whispered furiously to the portrait. The Fat Lady began shushing her, trying to sing. Again.
Before Selena could blurt the password a third time, Ray had already reached her. "Selena! I need to talk to you!"
Selena whipped around and forced a smile which just resulted in gritting her teeth. "Hi, Ray."
"Hey... I've been trying to talk to you for months. You and your friends are very difficult to track down. Why'd you run from me in the Great Hall when I last saw you?" he asked, grey eyes shining.
"I saw a bee..." Selena lied, without thinking.
Ray frowned a little, clearly not believing her. "Well, I've been needing to talk to you. Like I was saying."
Selena fought off the urge to roll her eyes. She was absolutely not looking forward to talking to Ray. He wasn't a bad guy, but she just had too much on her plate at the moment. "Why talk?"
"Because," Ray said softly, seeming a touch guilty. His own black hair hung down in curls. "I really wanted to tell you and your friends something... I tried when you were in the Hospital Wing. I just wanted to say... I'm sorry. I realize that I was being a complete ogre-brain, and I was wrong."
Selena looked away for a moment then back, but not looking Ray in the eye. "Thanks. Sorry I've been avoi- er, unable to talk for so long. I just have a lot going on and... well, thank you. That means a lot. So, I guess I'll see you around. Right?"
Ray nodded and smiled, seeming relieved. "Alright. Well, goodbye." Then, he made his way back down to the changing stairs and Selena suddenly felt the strangest sense of déjà vu.
Turning back to the portrait she whispered the password once more, and went inside. Through the windows, it was already getting dark outside, a full moon promised behind wispy clouds. No one was in the Common Room... almost. A girl was curled up in an armchair with her face buried in her arms. Selena could hear small sobs coming from the girl.
Immediately she noticed the Gryffindor's curly, fire-like hair. It was Annabeth.
"Annabeth are you..." Selena whispered until Annabeth jerked her head up and Selena could see her tear-striped face.
"Selena," Annabeth said in a choked voice. She almost jumped out of the chair trying to get out and rushed over to the First Year.
"Selena... It was Harry! He and Hermione and Ron went to go see Hagrid and... then they went to the Whomping Willow... Professor Lupin, he couldn't help it with the moon... and now..." She was whispering and crying.
"What? What?" Selena asked urgently, terrified. What was going on?
Annabeth looked at Selena with a grim expression, tears pooling in her eyes. "The teachers have locked my father up here at school somewhere... they're going to kill him..."
Oooh! Yay! And Aw! Did everyone like it?
Well, I hope so. I would have updated Tuesday, but my dad and brother had taken over the computer, the ITouch doesn't write stories, and then the laptop's broken... Yeah...
But! Did everyone have a good Halloween? I personally think seeing our little 3 year old neighbor's (we have lots of toddlers on our street! They're so adorable! =D) costumes. One was Hermione Granger! It was ADORABLE! Now I have Christmas and Thanksgiving to look forward to!
Well, I can't believe there is only 1 more chapter after this until their first year is over. Then it's my personal favorite year: Goblet Of Fire! Yay! And, tell me if you want you're character to enter the Triwizard Tournament, or at least try to. Remember, they HAVE to be a 6th year THIS year to be able to enter.
Well, I can't wait to hear what you guys think, and I will try to update soon. It won't be as long as the update took this time. Well, review, and thanks for reading! Bye!