A/N: Hi der, peeps XD I SUPER HYPER! I EAT M&MS! Okay sorry XD SNAP OUT OF IT, BREEZE!
Now that I got THAT out of my system, I present to you chapter eight of Living in a Daydream. Enjoy!
Wednesday passed by rather uneventfully, with just a repeat of classes we had already. Thursday, however, was another story. Sneaky brought news at breakfast.
"The Weasley twins are hosting a start-of-term party on the Quidditch field this Saturday," she told us with excitement. "It starts at ten in the morning. We're allowed to bring friends, as long as they're not Slytherins. Want to go with me?"
"Should be fun," Talon said nonchalantly. Stop with the act, Talon. We all know that you're fighting to keep calm :) You didn't act 'nonchalant' when we were planning that post-party party, remember? *smirk* For Tawny and I, however, it was all we could do not to jump up and down in our seats.
"YAY!" Tawny squealed. "PARTY!"
"I'll take that as a 'yes', then," Sneaky said, grinning. "Cool! We can all meet up in the entrance hall about five minutes from ten, if you want, so we can all walk down together."
"Yeah, sounds good, if I can wake up Tawny," I added with a smirk.
"What?" Tawny asked, looking up innocently from her plate of eggs.
A party sounded like a great idea on the twins' parts, especially after a long first week. Yeah, this daydream can't get too boring, can it?
I had Charms with the Ravenclaws first, then lunch, and, finally, our first Defense Against the Dark Arts class, with the Gryffindors.
"Wonder what Lupin's like," Sneaky said on the way to class. We must have asked that question about every teacher this week.
"Well, he was nice enough on the train, but he was also saving us from Dementors at the time, so I don't know how he'll be in the classroom," I told her.
We walked into the classroom and sat at three desks across from each other. Sneaky was on my left, and Tawny was on her left. We pulled out our DADA course books, quills, ink, parchment, and wands, and sat silently, waiting for class to start. Suddenly, a piece of parchment folded up so that it was shaped like an airplane came floating towards me. I snatched it out of the air and opened it, reading what it said.
Hi there! XD
~Tawny
Grabbing a quill, I quickly scribbled a note below Tawny's and sent it flying through the air back to her.
Umm... hi der...? O_o
-Breeze
I watched Tawny read it and a grin spread across her face, but before she could write anything, Sneaky grabbed it off of the desk. She wrote fiercely for a moment, then sent it back to Tawny, who did the same, then it went back to Sneaky, and, finally, to me.
You really shouldn't be doing this. We'll get in trouble.
Sneaky
But class hasn't even started yet!
~Tawny
Yes, I know, but Lupin could be coming in at any second! Am I right, Breeze?
Sneaky
I wrote back, and sent it back in their direction.
Umm... I guess so...
-Breeze
Tawny grabbed it before Sneaky could, and she passed it to her, who passed it back to me.
Aww, how could you, Breeze? :'( I thought it was a good idea, and I even charmed it myself!
~Tawny
It is very good, Tawny, but let's just not do it in class. We could do it for when we're separated in the Great Hall or the library or something, though...
Sneaky
Yeah, we should! And I can't always side with you, Tawny. Sneaky's my friend, too, even though she doesn't share a dorm with us.
-Breeze
Yeah, I know... why are we even doing this, anyway? Why can't we just whisper like everyone else?
~Tawny
Well, we don't know how strict Lupin's gonna be, even though Talon and Breeze both said he was alright...
Sneaky
Oh, speaking of Lupin, class starts in a minute! I think he's coming!
-Breeze
Tawny slipped the parchment into her back just as Lupin walked through the door. He was just as I remembered him from the train- sort of old looking, even though he also seemed kind of young. He was wearing shabby robes and looked very tired. Poor Lupin :'(
"Good evening," he called out. "Now, if you will please sit quietly while I call roll. Raise your hand when I reach your name, so I can learn all of your faces. Alice Arnett?"
Alice, a kind girl with deep brown hair from Gryffindor, raised her hand high above her head. "Here, sir."
"Hello, Alice, nice to meet you... Your last name sounds familiar... Don't you have a sibling in another house?"
"Yes, sir," she told him. "My twin, Kara. She's in Slytherin."
This statement started some murmuring, and Lupin put up a hand to silence us, looking at Alice curiously. "Strange, twins in Slytherin and Gryffindor. You must be complete opposites..."
"Yes, we are," she said bitterly, her eyes suddenly fierce. Lupin nodded, and continued with roll. When he reached my name and I raised my hand, he glanced up at me, and I saw a look cross his face that told me he remembered me from the train. He simply nodded at me, and continued. He made occasional comments to students about knowing their parents or something, but nothing odd happened until he reached Crissy.
"Cressida Le-" he suddenly froze, staring down at the list with wide eyes, then up to Crissy, then back at the list. I looked curiously over at her, to see her glaring defiantly back at Lupin. None of the other teachers had that reaction, but, now that I thought about it, I had seen the occasional narrowing of eyes, but I had never payed much attention to it. What had made Lupin so shocked?
After a moment or two, Lupin recovered. He nodded in Crissy's direction, said a quick, "Nice to meet you, Cressida," and continued with roll. I caught Crissy's eye. I gave her a questioning look, but she shook her head, making her dark red curls bounce a little, and averted her gaze. This, however, only made me more curious. Was she hiding something from me? Obviously! I was determined to find out.
After the last name had been called, a boy called Tony Walters from Gryffindor, he rolled up the parchment and placed it on his desk. "Now, do all of you have your supplies out? You will need parchment, quills, ink, and your textbooks. No wands today, however, you will be using them next class." Those of us who had taken our wands out placed them carefully back into our bags. Those who hadn't taken anything out yet scrambled for their materials.
"Thank you," Lupin said, after the last person placed their quills on their desk. "Today, we will be learning and copying down our course goals for first years. Prepare your parchment and get your quill and ink ready while I copy them onto the board. We will talk about them as you write."
He flicked his wand, charming a piece of chalk, and directing it's movements as it wrote with cursive lettering onto the black board. I read them as he wrote.
FIRST YEAR DADA COURSE GOALS
First years will:
1. Go over the introduction to DADA
2. Minor jinxes and hexes, such as the Knockback Jinx and the Curse of Bogies
3. Different ways to treat bites from various creatures, such as werewolves
That was it? It seemed simple enough, but still lots of fun to learn, and fairly useful. I set to work copying it all down, along with some side notes along the bottom as I listened to Lupin talk. I liked his style of teaching more than any of the other teachers.
At the end of class, he announced, "Well, that's all for today. Stick this paper in your textbooks or in some other safe place. If you have a double period with me next time, we will read a chapter of our Introduction to DADA textbooks and also begin practicing the Knockback Jinx. If you have a single period next time, we will just be reading. For homework, I just ask that you put a little research into our course goals. For example, read about the Curse of Bogies. No essay or anything to be turned in, just remember that knowledge is power. I will see all of you tomorrow!"
After he said this, the bell rang, and everyone rushed to shove their belongings into their bags and rush out the door.
"Go on without me," I told Sneaky and Tawny as everyone filed out into the corridor. "I'd like a word with Professor Lupin." They nodded, and Lupin, who probably heard what I had said, beckoned me over.
"What do you need, Miss Summers?"
"Well, sir," I said, taking a deep breath. I wasn't very good at talking to adults that I had just met. Some things just follow you wherever you go, even daydreams... "I just wanted to thank you for saving us on the train."
"It was absolutely no problem at all," he said kindly.
"And... why did you react that way when you reached Crissy during roll call?" I asked, before I could stop myself.
His expression immediately hardened, and I felt myself blush. "I'm sorry, sir-"
"No, no, it's okay, Miss Summers," he said, standing up and reaching to touch my shoulders. "But I can't tell you that. It is your friend's choice whether or not she shares it with you."
I nodded, looking down at the floor. "Yes, sir."
"Good," a smile reappeared on his face, and he began to walk towards the door. I followed him, picking my rucksack and books off of the desk that I had put them on. "Have a nice day, Miss Summers."
"You too, Professor Lupin," I said, returning his smile. I walked out into the corridor and towards Herbology, which I had with the Slytherins. What a perfect way to end the day... Note the sarcasm... I could feel his eyes following me until I turned the corner and disappeared from his sight.
.
Dear Julia and Anne,
Hi guys, I can't believe it's almost been a week! It feels like it's been months since I last saw you two. Thanks again for the pictures you painted for me. They're so pretty that I hung them above my bed, where my friends could see them! I share a room with two nice girls, named Crissy and Tawny. They would love you two, and they would probably never stop telling me how adorable you are!
How is school going? I love it here- I'm learning so much magic! I wish I could show you, but I've heard that it's not allowed...
When the owl gives this to you, just take a piece of paper and it will wait while you write your letter. Then, ask Mum or Dad to help you tie the paper onto the owl's leg. Don't worry- it won't bite, I promise. I'll pick a nice one, and just don't be harsh. If you're going to pet it, be very gentle.
I will probably write a whole bunch of letters to you before then, but I will see you at Christmas!
Lots of love to both of you,
Breeze
I finished the letter and sat back in my armchair with a sigh.
"What are you doing?" Tawny asked, coming to sit by me. We were in a corner of the Hufflepuff common room.
"I just wrote a letter to my two younger sisters," I told her. "Julia and Anne."
She nodded. "I wish I had sisters, or even brothers, but I'm an only child..."
"Well, it's getting sort of late," I said. "Want to go with me to the Owlery to deliver this before curfew? Then we can come back and work on our homework."
"Sure," she replied. "But hold on, I have to go get a letter to deliver to my parents..."
She hurried into the dormitories, and I met her by the exit to the kitchen corridors. We made our way to the Owlery, Tawny telling me about yet ANOTHER bizzare dream she had, involving alpacas driving monster trucks and being attacked by flying monkeys throwing pineapples and plums. If she ever decides to take Divination, making dream journals should be easy for her!
When we arrived, we examined the school's owls perched around the walls of the Owlery. I picked a pretty Spotted Owl and tied the letter to her leg.
"Take this to my sisters, Julia and Anne Summers, at 9 Huckleberry Drive, Camden Town, London, please," I whispered to her, stroking her beautiful brown feathers. She gave a small hoot and took off. I watched her fly away until she disappeared from my view, towards the sunset.
Breeze,
Thank you for the letter. The owl was so pretty! She was nice.
We sent you more to hang up. I hope you like the one with all three of us playing together. We worked super duper hard on that one!
We all miss you, even our friends. Mum and Dad said hi. They are helping us write the letter.
School is lots of fun. We like recess the most. We can spell lots of words now!
See you at Christmas!
Love,
Anne and Julia
I smiled fondly at the messy handwriting and misspelled words that made up the letter. It made it a lot more adorable. I turned my attention to the painted pictures that were attached. They made three, and they were all beautiful in a way that only little girls can make a picture look. Man, I missed them. I hadn't been able to say good bye to them at the train station, because they had been at their friend's house for a birthday party.
"Breeze?" Tawny asked, snapping me out of my thoughts. "Are you going to finish those eggs?"
"Yes!" i exclaimed, laughing at Tawny's hurt expression. "Why don't you just get some from the bowl?"
"THAT would be a good idea," she said, blushing and grabbing at the bowls.
A few minutes later Crissy walked up to us. "Mind if I sit here?"
"Yeah, go ahead," I said, moving over to make more room.
She sat down and looked up at me. Her expression was unreadable. "Hey, Breeze," she murmured, just loudly enough that I could hear but no one else could. "I'm sorry I never explained to you the thing that happened in class yesterday..." I leaned forward slightly in anticipation. She must have noticed, because she scratched the back of her neck nervously. "It's just... I don't think I want anyone to know just yet..."
I tried not to look disappointed. "No, it's fine. I understand."
"Thanks," she sighed, obviously relieved. "Oh, did you hear about the party tomorrow?"
"Yeah, Sneaky invited me, Tawny, and Talon."
"Are you going to go?"
"Yeah, it sounds like a lot of fun!"
"Great! I'll see you there, then," she said, smiling. "Now come on, or we'll be late for class! Finish your eggs, Tawny!"
I grinned. It was going to be hard to get through my classes today, knowing that tomorrow, I'd be partying!
A/N: Lots of things to talk about!
First, sorry for the long wait. I did a long chapter to make up for it, though! I decided to shorten and combine Thursday and Friday and combine them into one chapter so I wouldn't bore your socks off.
Also, I wrote a song scene to be used on the way to the party, but I don't know if I should post it or not. It would be an optional read. Let me know in a review or PM if you think I should use it or not! The song will be a surprise though... WARNING: I'm not very good at song scenes, but it was fun to write, so... But I'll leave the choice up to you.
I hope you liked this chapter. It was hard to write, especially because I had to come up with a list of characters in my year for each house. Thanks a bunch to Tawny, Talon, and Sneaky for your help with that! You guys rock!
Thanks to all you reviewers! I'll have the next chapter up soon if I get lots of reviews, and depending on the votes, it will either be a song scene or a party scene!
Ok, so Talon is pestering me with her constant texts of "How's the chappie coming?" and "Did you update yet?" and "I CAN'T WAIT! :D", (LOL XD) so I will wrap this up and post it.
Please please please review!
~Breeze