"Really, Ella? You've already forgotten how to get around the school?"James deadpanned.
"It was a long break! It was already confusing before we left for over a week!" I retorted, defending my honor.
"Second staircase to the right of the common room, moved to the second platform, down three corridors, then right, left, left, and then fifth room on the left," These words were lost on me practically the moment after they had been spoken.
All I asked was a simple question, how do we get to the transfiguration room? I wasn't asking anything crazy! It was going to be the first lesson of the new term and right before we left for break Professor Keighley pulled Adley, Isobel, and I to the side and said that if we show up late one more time he will have to give us a detention. Isobel didn't seem to take the threat seriously but Adley and I were desperate to get back on his good side. Yet rather than a simple answer, I got that long thing from James instead. Honestly!
"And I'm supposed to remember that how exactly? Isn't there a shortcut? Or maybe a song to remember it? A map or special compass, I mean honestly, Potter, give me something!" James smirked at my tirade.
"No Ella, you're just going to learn to get used to it like everyone else does," he lectured as I groaned in response.
"Oi Potter, let's go mate! I need some food," Called a voice from near the portrait hole, interrupting my next round of complaints. Both of our heads turned sharply to see that his friends had just come down from their dormitory and now were standing in the doorway, waiting for him to go down to breakfast.
Turning back to look at James, I saw him nod in their direction before standing up from the couch we had been sitting on together and grabbing his books. "Hang in there, Alesi," he said surprising me with the use of my surname, "You'll get it soon, alright?" I nodded reluctantly and waved as he trotted off to join his friends.
What to do now? I wondered, leaning back into the fluffy maroon cushion. I fiddled with my thumbs for a minute before realizing. I sat up abruptly and grabbed my bag from its position of the ground next to my feet, delving into it to pull out my Defense Against the Dark Arts textbook along with some parchment. Professor Finnicum had announced an opportunity for extra credit earlier today in our first lesson back from break, and it was just the six problems on page 143 of the textbook. Nobody exactly needed extra credit, given it was the first week of term and we've barely even done the first lesson, however she said that it was worth 20 points, given that they were complicated problems, and could be handed in any time between now and the last day of term. I figure I might as well start them early and be prepared for any mishaps. She said they would be some of the harder things we would learn this term and to not worry if we were confused, especially when looking now, so I didn't expect to really understand any.
Okay here we go. I quickly read the section before it, hoping it would help with any confusion but found I already knew most of the information.
1. What tests must one pass before successfully becoming an Auror?
Mom and Grandpa had told me this ages ago while dad was off on a mission and I had carefully written the steps down in my diary later that night, as I aspired to become an auror as well.
First, one must excel in academics. A minimum of 5 N.E.W.T.S are expected as well as various other achievements of academic excellence. After accomplishing this, they may be accepted into the auror training program, in which they must pass a series of other tests to actually become an auror.
I was about to describe those tests when a familiar giggle made me look up abruptly.
"Brekkie time, Elladora!" Isobel giggled, while holding out a hand to heave me up from my seat. Throwing my textbook back into my rucksack, I linked arms with her and Adley and together we strolled off to breakfast.
Once reaching the table, the discussion immediately turned to how best to seek our revenge on the annoying boys that forced me to take an unplanned swim. We talked about putting a dung bomb in their dormitory but quickly decided that was too gross and predictable. Adley for some reason kept suggesting stealing all of their left socks and was continuously shot down by both Is and I. Eventually we had it narrowed down to either using a bunch of products from Weasleys Wizard Wheezes, or sending them multiple howlers throughout the week. We quickly chose the former seeing as none of us had a howler, nor did we know any spells to recreate one, and considering it might be a little suspicious if we were to ask some Professor to do it, the first was clearly the best option. We chose to reconvene and finish off plans for it during lunch.
Classes were interesting for the most part. We had charms first after breakfast and todays lesson was fascinating. We were still doing basics but it was lovely. Not many of the others felt the same though and as we walked out of charms I turned to Isobel and just as I was about to say how much I loved the lesson and how cool the temporary sticking charm we just learned was, she huffed, "I thought that class would literally never end. Gosh that was so pointless! When will I ever have be to use a sticking charm that only lasts for two hours?"
"Well, we learned it so that in a few weeks we can learn permanent sticking charms which can be used for a bunch of stuff! Like hanging something up or..." I trailed off quietly at their empty wide eyed gaze.
"Don't tell me you actually liked that?" Adley dead panned.
"It wasn't the worst thing I've ever done..." I said.
"Okay, whatever Elladora," Isabelle rolled her eyes and started walking ahead of us. Adley hurried to catch up to her but I didn't.
"Are you coming or what?" Adley hissed over her shoulder. I caught up to them and kept my head down cast for the rest of the walk to lunch.
I perked up a little when we walked into the Great Hall and Adley grabbed my hand and skipped with me to the Gryffindor table. Discussion immediately turned to how we would execute our plan. We had been watching our targets for a few days before break to figure out when the best time would be and via owl during break, we decided exactly what Weasley product to use.
It would happen that night at dinner and I was nervous, but also a littleexcited. My hand was shaking and my stomach was fluttering like little butterflies were playing tag in there, but I knew I had a while before dinner. To distract myself, I turned the conversation to what the girls did over break. Adley had been forced to attend several fancy dinners with her dad's work friends, in which apparently her mom hadn't let her talk during after she asked if she could have wine like the adults were during dinner. Majority of the rest of lunch was spent discussing how rude that was of her mother and doesn't she know how grown up Adley is?
Then the afternoon flew by, and before I knew it, it was dinner time.
"Alright Ella, you're the one who fell so I think you should have the honor," Isobel said, slipping a few of the candies into my hand, I quickly concealed them behind my books, and took a deep breath. We stood to the side of the entrance hall preparing ourselves to go inside the a great hall.
"Let's do it." I said, knowing that if I didn't do it now I may lose my nerve.
With an easy nod and sly smile, Isobel and Adley walked into the Great Hall and walked over to the far side of the Gryffindor. Luckily the Ravenclaw table was adjacent to ours and our victims always sat on the bench closest to the Gryffindor. I calmly entered the Great Hall and began shuffling down the aisle between the Ravenclaw and Gryffindor tables. Right when I got near our victims, I felt like I couldn't breathe. I closed my eyes and lurched forward, practically falling facedown right by their feet, my books spread all over the ground, but the candies still clutched tightly in my right hand.
A few Gryffindors asked if I was okay while I started picking up my belongings but the Ravenclaws paid me no notice, which made it much easier to reach into the blonde boy's bag, which he always put right at his feet during dinner, pull out his bag of normal peppermint sand quickly replace the normal ones with the Puking Peppermints Adley had stolen from her brother. Every night after dinner we watched the blonde boy who had thrown the frisbee pass peppermints from his bag to each of his friends. Tonight's peppermints would be a little different though.
I threw the normal peppermints in the pocket of my robe, collected my books, stood and walked to Adley and Isobel, sitting down right across from them and giving a discreet wink and shared smirk before loading up my plate.
All that was left to do now was wait for dinner to end. We chatted in quiet whispers about what would happen and would they know it was us? Adley began to be worried we would get caught, but Isobel quickly shut that down by telling her to grow up and that if "anybody accuses us, we accuse somebody else! As far as they all know, we are innocent little first years with untouchable families and absolutely no motive. So shut it and eat." This seemed to satisfy Adley enough to quiet her and allow us to finish our dinner on the topic of quidditch instead. The first match since coming back was on for next week. Gryffindor was playing Hufflepuff and it was going to be so fun. We had missed the first match because of studying for a Charms quiz and I had been sick for the one after that so this would be my first school match!
"Its really fun! My older cousins and I used to play in their yard! I mean I'm not the best but it's definitely fun and really cool to watch. I am so excited to watch the match!" I had quickly insisted when the topic came up.
"Are you serious? I mean, yeah I guess the matches are fun to watch but that's only for the players and the last match that got boring within the first ten minutes. I planned on just walking around and then going to the party after. Have you seen quidditch players hands? They get all calloused and gross. You honestly think that's fun? I mean, mine were already getting a little calloused from that stupid flying class they make us take," Isobel lamented, inspecting her own small, smooth hands.
"They aren't that boring, Isobel! We should try to watch more of it this time! Besides, it's not like they let us stay for the parties. We sat there for ten minutes before that stupid fifth year sent everyone fourth and down to bed so they could have a real party. But I do agree that their hands get so gross. Gosh, I would never want that!" Adley laughed off.
Isobel and I chimed in her laughter, but I wasn't ready to let it go, "Alright, alright, nevermind the callouses, you have to admit that flying class was fun! I know we didn't go that high but it was so cool to even be those few inches off the ground, completely weightless." I trailed off, staring off into space and remembering the amazing feeling of flying. We didn't go that high in class but I flew with my cousins over the holiday a little bit, not that I was going to mention that, or show them my very rough hands. I went up so high and it felt extraordinary. Having the wind rushing past me and being in complete control yet at the same time allowing the broom to take over and carry you. It was wonderful.
"Are you kidding?" Adley interrupted my thoughts, "I'm terrified of heights! Three feet up I was ready to cry. I mean, I get how it could be fun, you know if you aren't terrified of plummeting to your death, but gosh really not my cup of tea. You seemed pretty comfortable on the broom though, Ella." Adley said lightly.
I was about to respond when I felt a swift kick to my leg.
"OW?! Isobel? What was that for!?" This comment came from Adley who Isobel had hit in the arm right after kicking me.
"Shut up! They just finished eating! Blondie is pulling out the peppermints!"
We all subtly turned and found that she was right. The blonde boy was passing them to his friends, who in turn were all popping them into their mouths, completely unsuspecting, as they do every other day. We watched anxiously as they began to pack up their belongings and walk down the aisle when suddenly blondie stopped. He threw his arm out behind him, stopping his friend behind him before promptly kneeling and puking uncontrollably on the ground. Like a chain reaction, his friends quickly followed suit, throwing up everywhere. It was absolutely disgusting and yet somehow funny.
"Well, as lovely as this is, it reeks, let's go ladies," Adley giggled, holding her nose as she picked up her belongings. Isobel and I followed, I walking to their side of the table first, so as to avoid the result of our prank. As we exited the Great Hall I fished around in my bag for a second, before holding up the normal bag of peppermints and tossing one in my mouth.
"Would either of you care for a mint?"