March 24th, 1996. Wednesday.
Teachers were packing in plenty of tests to occupy the students during the end of March as no one went outside. The weather - which had been warmer but with plenty of rain in February - had gotten into a cold spell as of late. The plants in Herbology got snippier in the cold, especially the Venomous Tentacular plant which had all the Sixth Years annoyed and visiting the Infirmary Wing with little red bites.
Selena mostly enjoyed standing with the rest of the Third Years, warming their hands over the Fire Seed Bush. However, some classes were much chillier, namely Astronomy.
Selena (and most of the Hogwarts student body) hated just how cold it got up there on nights where frost would freeze itself over the telescope lens. Although, the nights were incredibly clear and starry when it wasn't raining.
"Alright, what did you get for number four?" Selena asked Tess.
Tess scowled at her parchment, taking her quill and slashing out a line before looking up at her friend. "What was that?"
"Number four? On Transfiguration?" Selena asked, letting the feather of her quill tickle her bottom lip.
"Uh..." Tess set down her Potions notes before rifling through some papers in her bag, pulling out a piece of parchment with lines of ink scribbled on it. "I got... Animagi."
"Great, same, thank you," Selena said as she tucked a piece of dark hair behind her ear, moving on to read the next question.
Selena, Alisson, Tess, Elizabeth, and Renee were sitting in the very crowded Gryffindor Common Room doing homework (well, Renee had fallen asleep after two lines of her Charms essay) for just about every class. The sun had just crested below the ground which cast an amber light inside of the already gold-and-red room. Plus, the firelight shone a warm golden glow over everything which made it seem... relaxing, warm, and peaceful.
A group of loud Seventh Year girls laughed behind them at something that must have been incredibly funny which made Tess narrow her eyes at her paper, writing down something as her quill moved quickly. "It is so noisy in here, I can't focus and I have a project due in Divination and Ancient Runes!"
"We have a project in Divination?" Selena asked, horrified as her mouth popped open in an 'o'.
Tess waved her hand dismissively. "Extra credit stuff."
Selena bit her lip, watching Tess scribble. Ever since she had taken on Arithmancy as a third elective to skip lunch and audit the class (Professor McGonagall had given her special permission considering Tess' good grades and begging) she seemed more stressed. Selena had often seen her friend studying, lugging around more books and doing more homework.
Selena knew that Tess was incredibly studious and hardworking - she had a lot of Hufflepuff traits. Tess, Elizabeth, Bronwen and Hazel all had this passion for learning that couldn't be quenched.
Part of it came from Tess being Muggle-born, Selena figured, which made her have a fascination with all things magic.
Selena smiled to herself. If Tess was this dedicated to her coursework, she would be too. The young witch sighed, turning back to her parchment.
March 25th, 1996. Thursday.
"It was hilarious because Avery just stared at Snape while his hair singed at the bottom from the potion's smoke!" Wendy covered her mouth, giggling. "Aves was so embarrassed, but it was great. She came 'round and eventually laughed about it later. Speaking of later, she and I are going for a walk around the Black Lake after lessons if you all would like to join. I'm sure Snape won't give her a detention during then."
Selena laughed, shaking her head as she ate some porridge. Part of her smile was simply from hearing Wendy talk so happily about Avery. The girls were friends now, whatever rivalry Wendy had with her being forgotten.
Sasha gave Selena a quick look out of the side of her emerald eyes as she drank a goblet of orange juice. Selena shrugged back, sure they were thinking the same thing. Aves. Wendy had even called Avery a nickname.
Selena grinned as Wendy tugged on her short, blonde ponytail, talking animatedly. Breakfast was in full swing for Thursday, the Great Hall full of toast with jam, porridge, and eggs, orange juice and creamy, frothy drinks that were warm and steaming for the snowy day. Frost covered the windows of every Hogwarts room, snowflakes dancing from the Enchanted Ceiling.
The students were geared up for lessons getting more difficult in preparation for exams - of course, no one was exactly happy about that except for the Ravenclaws and Hermione Granger.
Selena glanced beside her at Tess who was eating a roll and sipping orange juice as she read a thick Arithmancy textbook that was propped up against the glass pitcher of juice.
Renee was practically eating all the bacon at the Gryffindor table, laughing with Alisson over some prank that they were planning. Elizabeth was speaking with Parvati Patil about Divination class with Firenze, who Tess absolutely adored.
"Hey, I'll be right back," Selena said very quickly to Wendy and Sasha, both of whom nodded before moving on to discussing Quidditch. She got up and walked out of the Great Hall, muttering to herself about her Transfiguration notes. She'd forgotten them back in the dorm.
As she walked around the corridor's corner, she smacked into someone, both of them falling backwards onto the stone hallway's floor.
"Ouch," Selena murmured, rubbing her elbow where she'd hit it on the ground. She looked over at the girl whom she had knocked down before gasping and jumping up to help the other student. "I'm so sorry!"
The other girl stood, picking up her books before laughing a little. "That's fine."
Selena sighed, relieved, as she looked at the girl. She was a little younger, probably a Second Year, with dark blonde hair pulled up in a high-ponytail, chopsticks stuck through it. "I'm Selena, by the way."
"Lillian Genier," the girl said happily, pushing the sleeves of her Ravenclaw robe (which was falling off her shoulders) up to her elbows. She tapped her chin for a moment before her electric blue eyes lit up in a very happy manner than made Selena smile. "Are you in the..." she leaned in, grinning. "Are in you in the D.A.?"
Selena nodded. "Yes!"
Lillain took a step back, smiling pleasantly in a manner that showed she was proud of herself for remembering a face. "I thought I'd seen you there."
"Selena," a voice called that the Gryffindor knew very well.
She turned around to find Damon descending a short flight of steps with a slight smile on his face.
Selena looked back at Lillian who glanced over at Damon. "Is he your friend?"
"Yeah, he is" Selena said to her.
Lillian smirked, her eyes flicking over Selena's shoulder at the Slytherin who was drawing closer. "He's handsome."
Selena was startled for a moment by Lillian's observation before she nodded slowly. "I suppose so..."
Lillian laughed quietly, adjusting her books. "I'll let you two catch up. Bye. It was nice to meet you, Selena. I'll see you later." She gave little wave before walking around the corner and into the Great Hall.
Selena watched her leave towards Breakfast before turning to Damon.
He stopped in front of her, running a hand through his blond hair. "I haven't seen you in a while."
Selena cracked a smile, nodding. "Sorry, I've been busy with studying and homework."
Damon waved his hand dismissively. "I get it. Better get used to it now, you don't know stress until the teachers have you in N.E.W.T classes."
Nodding, Selena recalled hearing all about N.E.W.T level classes from her brother. They were intended for Sixth and Seventh Years, when students began harder classes to try and prepare for N.E.W.T tests in their last year for their career.
"Not only that, but now Umbridge is having us do those 'Ministry Regulated' assignments in class," Damon said. He adjusted his green-and-silver Slytherin tie, sighing, clearly irritated just like all the other students.
Selena cocked her head. "I thought Defense Against the Dark Arts was your best class?" Not only that, but Umbridge seemed to be giving Slytherins preferential treatment. It was a surprise that Damon still resented her. Well, sort of a surprise. He was still Damon.
"It is," Damon said with a firm nod. "But Umbridge is making that class difficult and not at all like the D.A.D.A class used to be."
The young Gryffindor girl couldn't agree more where Professor Umbridge was concerned. She was making them read and copy form the textbook rather than having them do any spells or magical defense of any kind. If it weren't for the D.A. she probably wouldn't learn any defensive material at all. "Well, at least with Defense Against the Dark Arts you have some free time and-"
The bell suddenly tolled, making the Great Hall increase with the sound of wooden benches scraping the stone ground and forks clinking on golden plates as feet suddenly headed for the doors.
Damon waved, walking over to the Grand Staircase. "I'll see you later!"
Selena felt an odd drop in her stomach as she watched Damon walk up the steps and the strange urge to call him back over. She didn't want their conversation to end no matter how boring or normal it could be.
"Sel, c'mon, we're going to be late!" Hazel burst as she appeared beside Selena amidst the crowd of Hogwarts students.
"Hm?" Selena asked, looking over at her friend. "Oh! Potions today, right, sorry, let's get going."
March 26th, 1996. Friday.
"Now, turn to page seventy-six of your books and copy down paragraphs three and four."
The class let out a collective sigh as Professor Umbridge flicked her wand at the chalkboard, the piece of chalk floating up into the air before writing the assignment down on the board in loopy white letters. The class begrudgingly opened their textbooks.
"Why can't we ever learn anything useful in this class?" Selena hear Renee mutter from behind her and Alisson's table.
Umbridge looked up from her desk of papers. "Who said that?"
While she couldn't see her face, Selena was sure that Renee was frozen, staring at their teacher who was narrowing her usually-bulging eyes at the class.
Finally, her eyes settled over Selena's shoulder, at Renee. "Miss Pierce," she said venomously in her high voice, walking around her desk as the class watched her. "If you care to make any statements about my lessons you can simply say them out loud - to us all."
"I-I-I um..." Renee stuttered.
Selena bit her lip, closing her eyes as she tried to make Umbridge disappear from the classroom and stop interrogating her friend.
"If you can't then I suppose you can simply come this afternoon for deten-"
"I said it!" Selena suddenly blurted, her eyes flying open as Alisson and Umbridge both looked at her incredulously. "I said that we never learn anything useful at all in this class."
Umbridge pursed her lips, folding her arms. "Very well. Detention tonight, Miss Malast. Be here at six o'clock sharp."
"Yes, ma'am," Selena whispered as she looked down at her desk.
WELL THIS CHAPTER TOOK A LONG TIME TO WRITE!
I kept having to write it over and over and it shut down on me once and my brother had to use the computer for homework so I never really got around to finishing this chapter until today!
Next chapter will be more of the plot and I think after that it will be the D.A. meeting with patronesses. YAY!
So Anne will be in the next chapter, Damon was in this one. I need to keep bringing characters in like Lillian because I have another waiting too!
How did you like this chapter? Was it good?
Well, please review and thanks for reading!
Thanks to my reviews:
CharmedMillie
I Am Gwen Daughter Of Arcus
THANK YOU BOTH SOOO MUCH! And thanks for reading guys, please review!
Tell me who and what you want to see!
Thanks! Bye!
~Meghan