33 Saturday

Saturday. Noelle stared out the window to the Slytherin common room wishing there were something more to do before she went to help Hagrid with his creatures. Once again the week had gone by in a blur and Noelle was sick to death of the same old boring subjects.

The students had been promised a few more exciting lessons to come, but several tests were fast approaching, and so many were more focused on studying than on exciting "new" material. Speaking of studying, Noelle looked down at her notebook, filled with practice questions for her upcoming history test. Really, she ought to go find Brooke or Paul, both of which retained the information from history class better than herself.

She sighed and set her quill to the side, pulling her cat into her lap. She watched the other students, some studying, others playing chess, and a few whispering amongst themselves.

Someone walked past the back of the couch, bumping the back of Noelle's head as he went. "Oh sorry!" The boy put his hands out in apology.

Noelle rubbed her head and smiled awkwardly. "That's alright."

He raised an eyebrow. "Noelle right? We're in herbology together."

"Annndddd we share our Hogwart's house and common room… What's your point?" She thought to herself. Aloud she said, "Yeah, that's me. Sean is it?"

He nodded, looking excited that she knew him. "You rocked it the last few weeks in class. Who knew you were on Sprout and Neville's level huh?"

Again, Noelle wished for a point to this conversation. She laughed awkwardly. "I suppose so?"

He leaned in, looking around conspiratorially. "A bunch of us are getting together later this afternoon on the castle grounds to try apparating… You interested?"

Noelle's eyes widened and she turned quickly in her seat to face him better. "We aren't supposed to practice that!"

He grinned. "Isn't that what makes it fun? Besides, we may need it someday. And someday soon at that. Or haven't you heard the rumors that the enemy is growing in number?"

So he was one who believed in Voldemort's return then. She thought for a moment, stroking Salem's fur for comfort before nodding to him. "Tell me when and where and I'll be there."

Noelle wrapped herself up in her coat and scarf before leaving the dorm. She tried to look casual, but may have been trying too hard, nodding and waving to people who likely didn't even know she existed. Taking a deep breath and stuffed her hands in her pockets. If she didn't make a big deal of things, no one would think twice about her walking the halls. It was a Saturday after all and students were mostly free to do as they pleased.

Reinvigorated by these encouraging thoughts, Noelle straightened up and walked at a brisk pace, headed for the designated meeting place her fellow Slytherin had directed her towards. She really hoped they would be as easy to find as he had indicated.

"Ms. Lestrange? Might I have a word?" She heard a voice behind her and froze.

Professor McGonagall stood behind her in the hall, hands clasped in front of her, and her hat as tall and intimidating as always. "O-Of course Professor." Just once, she glanced ahead again towards the direction of freedom, and then she turned and followed the teacher.

As she walked behind McGonagall, Noelle wondered if perhaps the woman had somehow found out about the students practicing apparition. Her heart skipped a beat.

The teacher stopped in her office and motioned for Noelle to take a seat, which she promptly did. Then, she sat at her desk and folded her hands, propping her elbows on the desk. "So, I assume you know why you're here?"

Noelle tried to keep her face neutral. "Sorry, I don't."

Her teacher frowned. "It's been a few weeks since you ended your lessons with Ms. Goldstein and I have yet to hear a report Ms. Lestrange. Please, in as much detail as you can, let's go over what you learned."

"Of all the times to choose to go over this…" Still, Noelle was relieved that this was all her teacher wanted to discuss, and just hoped she wouldn't miss getting to meet up with the others.

McGonagall didn't keep her long, and eventually sent Noelle on her way, saying she ought "enjoy her Saturday, or what was left of it." Noelle gladly took this answer and hurried to meet the others.

It wasn't hard to find them once she left the school. A bunch of students in their black robes and Slytherin getup, with Sean at their head. From the looks of it, Noelle had been invited by the leader of this gathering himself then. She also noted, quite happily, that Draco and his gang weren't there.

She was waved over once Sean noticed her and put in line, but several feet away from the next person over. She didn't know many of these students personally, but recognized Margaret from her dorm. She waved and received a smile in return.

Once she was settled in line, Sean began walking up and down it. "Remember what we learned in class. Also, don't stand too close to one another, as you have a greater potential to get hurt that way."

A small Slytherin girl stepped forwards timidly. "Don't we have a high chance of getting hurt either way?"

Sean shrugged like it didn't matter to him. "Not if you do it right. And don't forget, you can't apparate inside the school."

Noelle was beginning to feel more and more iffy about the whole idea, but then recalled her own experience with the portkey. If it was anything like that, she had a feeling she might get the hang of this pretty quickly.

Trying to recall the magics she had felt coursing through the portkey, she summoned the feeling to her mind and body, and began thinking of a place she'd like to go. The easiest and best would be somewhere normally deserted so she wouldn't be caught.

She thought of the far edge of the lake and did her best to picture it clearly in her mind's eye.

Finding it easiest to close her eyes, she kept her location clear and tried to combine the magic alongside it. She felt a few minutes slip by but knew that she could do this.

Then, she felt her body slip away in the horrible gut-wrenching feeling that was apparition. She opened her mouth to suck in breath and found none. She flung out her arms to catch herself and found nothing to hold onto. Then, she calmed. It wasn't the first time she'd done this, nor apparently would it be her last. She just had to trust her mind and her magic to take her there.