I do not own Harry Potter or Sailor Moon. This is a request for Jay Ficlover.
Hogwarts Secret Scandal 5
Bad First Day
When Serena entered the Defense Against Dark Arts classroom for the second time that morning she wondered how she was going to be able to stand taking detention for Professor Shields that night. Serena looked up at the front and center desk and was relieved to see that it was already filled by Parvarti Patil. Professor Shields didn't say anything about Serena switching there so Serena sat in the back with Harry and the others. Serena could only hope that class with Professor Shields would be better than detention.
The bell rang by the time everyone entered and the class looked up at their new and last Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Was he going to last nearly as long as the previous ones?
Professor Shields cleared his throat and began filing through the papers for his desk. It was his first class and he felt nervous. He was teaching seventh year Gryffindors and had no idea how he was going to do this lesson. He felt like he was going to be sick.
'Come on, Shields,' Darien thought to himself, 'You can do this…'
Darien picked up the role of his class and took a quill. Yes, reading the role would be simple. He'd have to know who everyone was.
"Brown, Lavender."
Lavender smiled wide and waved her arm. "Here, I am, Professor Shields."
Darien glanced at her and marked her present, numbering the desk she sat. He continued on. "Fin…"
"Here," said Seamus, holding a finger up.
"Finnigan, Seamus," Darien finished as he checked him. Darien continued down. The students gave their own unique way of making their presence known. Parvarti was equally as flirtatious as Lavender when her name was called. Hermione acted like the perfect student, raised her hand and said "present" in a clear tone. Harry was pleased that Darien didn't rest his eyes on Harry's scar like everyone else did.
"Weasley—oh, yes," Darien said quickly, "hard to notice you come in."
"Is that…bad?" Ron asked.
"So you're Head Boy, eh?" Darien questioned Ron as he walked by his desk. "How many minutes a day do you spend polishing your badge?"
"Uh, er, well," Ron glanced at his badge and then at the teacher, "I don't know. Five minutes maybe? I don't rreally clean it everyday…just got it you see."
"You don't?" Darien laughed. "Mr. Weasley, I would've thought you'd keep that badge in good condition."
"Should I clean it fifteen minutes?"
"That's too long."
"Is…is this a quick question?" Ron inquired. Was Professor Shields going to treat Ron like Percy all the time?
Darien smirked. "Don't let that get too dull, Mr. Weasley. Your brother would go crazy if he found a spot on it."
As Darien passed Ron's desk, Ron took a look at his Head Boy badge. It looked all right to him.
"Yes, Miss White," Darien said, "I see you're here. I trust that you had enough for breakfast?"
"Er, yes sir," said Serena, "thank you."
After finishing the role, Darien looked at his notes. What was he going to have them do again? He really should've gone over his lessons more. He couldn't believe he was teaching right now. If he hadn't gotten that letter from Dumbledore Darien could be off doing more exciting thing. Oh why did he say yes?
Darien looked at his notes, checking things off as he went. He welcomed them, he took the role and now it was time to move on to the lesson. The lesson…Darien hoped his students were more ready because he wasn't. Darien cleared his throat and picked up the box holding the copies of Walking in the Dark. He started passing them out and Neville gasped as he thumbed through the pictures. "There are people being tortured in here!" he hissed to Parvarti.
"We will be studying Darcille Nox's book this term," Darien informed, trying desperately to sound like a teacher, "to learn how the minds of dark wizards and witches work. Please turn to the first page. We will read together."
"That's it?" Harry questioned.
"Harry…" Hermione began.
"Something the matter, Potter?" Darien asked as he gave his last copy to Serena White in the back row. She paused before opening it and watched Harry argue with the teacher.
"Are we just going to read this book all year?" Harry demanded. He wasn't going to read another 'theory' book for a whole school year and hear his teacher clear his throat throughout class. Voldemort was still at large. How was this book supposed to help him become an Auror? How was this supposed to help anyone?
"I just told you, Potter," said Darien, "this is what we will be studying for the first term. However, if I feel we need to continue with this book we will."
"Professor," Dean Thomas raised his hand, "we have NEWT'S coming up and everything and I'm sure you know about out other teachers?"
"Yes, Mr. Thomas, I am aware of that," Darien said coolly. Before your NEWT's, we will review all you have learned."
"Why are we reading from a book like this?" Neville Longbottom asked nervously. "It's rather…depressing."
"You looked at the pictures, didn't you, Mr. Longbottom?" Darien questioned.
Neville nodded.
"Let me ask you a few questions. Do any of you know what a boggart is?"
Some raised their hands and Hermione Granger started to give a description of the creature. "No one knows what…"
"Thank you, Miss Granger," Darien cut her off and she looked surprised, expecting some house points. "So you know what a boggart is. I'm sure you know how to stop one then?"
Hermione raised her hand but Darien called on Serena instead, who wasn't even paying attention. She was looking out the window, wishing she was at Salem Witches.
"Miss White!" Darien shouted.
"Yes?" Serena groaned, rolling her eyes over to him.
"Do you know how to stop a boggart if you came across one?"
"Sure I do," Serena muttered, turning her eyes back to the window. "The RiddikulusCharm. Makes the boggart change into something else."
"Good," Darien said, "now, do any of you know how to ward off vampires?"
A few more hands raised and Hermione tried to explain again. Darien stopped her before she began giving an essay.
"Do any of you know what a Kelpie is?"
"A water demon that--," Hermione said imploringly.
"Thank you, Miss Granger," Darien said and cleared his throat. "Surely you know what dementors are?"
The students nodded.
"Do you know how to stop them?"
"The Patronus Charm," Harry replied lazily.
"That's correct, Potter," said Darien. "Can you produce one? A corporeal Patronus?"
"Of course I can," Harry muttered, "Mine's a stag."
"Interesting. Anyone else able to conjure a corporeal Patronus?"
Hermione was the only one that raised her hand.
"Ah, I see," said Darien, "you know about dark creatures and curses and counter curses. Though only two of you can conjure corporeal Patronuses, you know what they are. Now can any of you tell me what makes a witch or wizard turn to the dark side?"
This stumped the students. There was no real answer. Darien smiled.
"That is what we are going to study here," Darien explained, "the mind of a dark witch. You see, the more you know about your enemy the more you will be able to stop it. Counter curses and trivial knowledge can only do so much. Any more objections?" Darien looked over the room with narrowed eyes. No one tried to argue though some wished they weren't going to read all the time. Parvarti and Lavender didn't really care because Professor Shields was rather good looking—and he didn't even have to curl his hair like Lockhart. The students shook their heads and opened their books.
"Very well," said Darien, "let's get started."
Darien went to his desk, opened his copy to the introduction. He looked at the class for someone to start reading. He didn't know whether to ask someone or to just go down the rows. He could be tracking dark wizards right now instead of standing in a room of seventh year Gryffindors.
"Right—who will like to begin?"
Parvarti, who was sitting right in front of him, grinned and raised her hand. "I will, Professor!" she didn't have to shout. He was standing just a foot away from her desk.
"Ah, thank you, Miss Patil," Darien said softly.
Still grinning, Parvarti got to her feet and cleared her throat. She tried to sound as dramatic as she could, not just to gain points, but to possibly gain the new teachers heart.
"Introduction—This book is for anyone that wondered about the mysteries of the dark. I have always been captivated by it and it turned into an obsession. There was nothing or no one that could keep me away…"
Serena held her book to her mouth so no one could see her laughing. Parvarti was really putting on the charm. She could just keep going because Serena didn't want to read at all. She might crack up laughing—even if the book she was reading was really dark and depressing. This woman was really twisted.
After each student read a paragraph of the introduction, Darien used the remainder of the period to discuss what they just read. Not many students had comments so it was rather quiet. Gryffindors didn't usually study books like Walking in the Dark. The bell rang and they were pleased that Darien didn't give them any homework—partly because he couldn't think of any.
"You can keep your copies," Darien said when Parvarti asked if they were to return their copies of Walking in the Dark. "Read ahead if you wish."
"Very interesting lesson, Professor," Parvarti said.
"Yes," Lavender agreed, "I look forward to the next one!"
"Thank you," said Darien and he looked over at Serena who was almost out of the door. "Miss White?"
"Yes, Professor?" Serena questioned wearily.
"See you in detention tonight," he said.
"I won't forget," Serena muttered and followed the trio down to the dungeons for Potions. Parvarti and Lavender talked about their new teacher the whole way down.
"He's so gorgeous!" Parvarti whispered. "Even more than Lockhart!"
"I just hope we learn more from Professor Shields," Harry grunted, "that is all I've got to say."
"I don't polish my badge too often, do I?" Ron wondered, studying his badge.
Hermione sighed and shook her head. She started to talk to Serena. "What was your Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher like?"
"Yeah," Harry wondered, "is the job just as jinxed there as it is here?"
"No," Serena replied. She was proud to say she had the same Defense Against Dark Arts teacher for all her years in Salem Witches. Next to Transfiguration, it was her favorite subject.
"Professor Wheeler was old but he knew a lot about the Dark Arts," Serena explained, "he used to be a vampire catcher and all that stuff. Took us out on trips and things sometimes."
"Cool!" said Dean Thomas. "I'd love to go on a trip!"
"To where?" Parvarti asked.
He shrugged. "Anywhere. Maybe an old graveyard or something."
"Ew!"
"And Potions?" Harry asked as they came down to the dungeons. He saw the Slytherins standing outside the classroom door, sniggering at them. Mina waved at Serena and Draco grinned as he watched Serena come closer. Potions was going to be quite interesting with Serena. He wondered if he could talk to Professor Snape into having her study with him. He was after all the best in the class.
"Hate it!" Serena groaned. "Nothing worse than picking up dead, slimy, icky things and then having to drink it!" Serena cringed.
"Actually, there is," Ron corrected, "doing all that in the dungeons with Snape and the Slytherins."
And at that, Snape opened the door and beckoned his class in. Seeing the hollow black eyes of her new Potions teacher, Serena sighed. It was going to be a long class. She looked over at Mina. At least she felt like she could trust one of the Slytherins.
"I'm surprised to see that some of you have made it this far," Snape whispered, looking over the class. "Now, let us see how well you will do on your NEWT's. The potion we will making today is the Polyjuice Potion. It is one of the most complicated potions ever brewed and I will be quite surprised if half of you get it right."
Having tasted a Polyjuice potion before, Harry, Ron and Hermione cringed. When Serena read what the ingredients were, she nearly threw up but instead raised her hand.
"Er, Professor?" she said meekly.
"Yes?" Snape muttered.
"Are we going to have to sample this potion ourselves?" she asked.
Snape walked toward her cauldron. "I see you are new here."
"Yes," Serena answered, "I transferred here from Salem Witches. I'm Serena White."
"I see," said Snape, "well, Miss White, we usually don't sample our potions in class. After you brew it you cork it and bring it to my desk."
Serena breathed a sigh of relief—but it was too soon.
"However, to really tell if you have brewed a potion like the Polyjuice Potion," Snape added, "you have to drink it."
Serena bit her lip.
"Which after a month when the potions are ready," Snape said, "we shall do. Now begin."
Serena swallowed and began working on the potion. She made a mistake and put in to much fluxweed and when Snape told her what happened she shrieked and knocked the other ingredients to the ground. The glass containers shattered and there were lacewing flies and leeches and all the expensive potion ingredients over the floor. The Slytherins paused to watch and laugh. Mina shook her head at her cousin.
"She is dead clumsy, you know," Mina told Draco.
"Poor thing," said Draco, "perhaps we should've asked Professor Snape if we could help her."
"Of course," Mina said flirtatiously, poking him in the chest. "You're always good at stirring things up, aren't you, Draco?"
"Oh, Professor Snape, I'm sorry!" Serena shouted as she got down to clean up the mess. "I didn't mean to!"
"Foolish girl!" Snape exclaimed. "Look what you did! Fifty Points from Gryffindor and detention!"
"Detention?" Serena looked up. "But Professor, I already have detention tonight with Professor Shields!"
"Already?" Snape narrowed his dark eyes. "Can't go through your first day without getting detention, Miss White?"
"I said I didn't mean to!" Serena shouted as she threw the glass of powdered bicorn horn at him. She gasped when she realized what she had done. "I'm—I'm sorry, Professor Snape—I--!"
"I know that couldn't have been an accident," Snape hissed. "I will talk to Professor Shields and arrange your detentions. You will need to spend time getting replacements for the mess you made here."
"Fine," Serena frowned.
"In the meantime, watch how the others do it—correctly." He went back to his desk and Serena wanted to throw her cauldron at his head. Knowing exactly how she felt, Harry bent down to help her clean up the mess.
"I've made the Polyjuice potion in my second year," he said softly. "You can work with me."
"Thanks, Harry," Serena sniffed.
Lunch was all right though Serena still smelt like an Apothecary. Her first day was going worst than she expected. She started out with detention and watching her teacher eat in front of her. Only when she started crying he let hre go to eat breakfast and following right after her first lesson was with him. She lost fifty house points and would have to serve another detention only she knew it would be more serious than having to write lines. Though Transfiguration was her favortite subject, the Grfyffindors had told her what Professor McGonnagal was like and Serena was scared that she would cost her house more points or get another detention.
"Miss White!" Professor McGonnagal called.
"Y-yes, Professor McGonnagal?" Serena asked timedily. 'Please don't give me detention—please don't take points away—I didn't do anything!' Serena thought desperately.
"I hear from Professor Meyers Trasnfiguration is your best subject," McGonagal said.
"It is," Serena nodded.
"Then you would perhaps enjoy this year," McGonagall stated, "We will be studying animagi. Those of you who wish to become animagi will practice in class for your NEWT's."
"Oh, good," Serena breathed, "I'd like to be a rabbit animagus!"
"As you all should already know," McGonagall stated, "it is easier to transfigure yourself into a smaller animal than a larger one. We will study them first and those of you wishing to become animagi I want an essay on the animal with all of its traits, five rolls…."
Serena groaned and dropped her head into her hand. On top of her detention she gained an extra load of homework and from her favorite class! Why did she have to waste five rolls of parchment to explain why she wanted to transform into a rabbit? She can explain that in three words: "They are cute!"
It bothered the heck out of Serena to have to endure a second class with the Slytherins.
"AT least the weather is agreeable," Serena groaned as she looked up at the clear blue sky.
"Yeah," Ron agreed, "hey, don't worry, Serena. Hagrid is cool. HE doesn't give us homework or detention."
"We just have to be really careful with our assignments or we could loose a body part," Hermione added.
"Great," Serena groaned.
"What do you think Hagrid will have today?" Harry questioned. "Maybe it's Aragog."
"Speak for yourself, Harry!" Ron exclaimed, looking appalled. "Do you know how close we came to being giant spider food?"
"Giant spiders?" Serena asked nervously. "Hagrid rally doesn't have giant pet spiders, does he?"
"Well, he had one," Harry explained, "Aragog. Then he bred it. There's an Acromantula colony in the forest"
"I've read about those!" Serena shivered. "They're the big huge hairy ones that can talk, aren't they?"
"Yeah," Ron said, "I'm scared to death of spiders."
"Yeah, me too," Serena said, "so I hope we're not studying Acromantulas."
They approached Hagrid's hut with the Slytherins. Mina smiled.
"How's your day so far, Serena?" Mina asked brightly.
"Terrible," Serena muttered, "what do you expect? I've got detention---again. How can you stand your head of house?"
Mina shrugged. She wasn't quite sure how to answer it. "Well…he knows a lot about…potions."
"You know I hate potion making," Serena rolled her eyes.
Hagrid waited for the rest of the group to come along and he led them within the forest. Draco began muttering.
"He shouldn't be leading us in here," he said. "What do you think is hiding in here this time?"
"Please don't let it be Acromantulas," Serena whispered, "unicorns…unicorns…"
Hearing her cousin repeat her words, Mina stated, "we already studied unicorns, Serena."
"Dang," Serena groaned and dropped her hands.
"Yer gonna enjoy this," said Hagrid enthusiastically. "Hard to catch, they are."
Serena bit her lip. They approached a cage and whatever was in it was growling and jumping around. The students gasped and jumped back. Mina put her arms around Draco for comfort. Draco glanced at Serena and she turned her face to the sky.
"Hagrid—what exactly is in there?" Harry questioned.
"Something very, very rare," Hagrid answered, "it's just a baby and it has a hurt leg. Saved it. Come on closer. It's a'right."
"Yeah, right," Serena grumbled as the group stayed right where they were. Even the trio, used to Hagrid's classes didn't move. Hagrid egged the class to come closer a couple more times until they saw the face of the thing inside of the cage. It looked like a lion—among other things. Serena peered through the bars and made out the goat's body and dragon's tail. She screamed and jumped nearly five feet in the air.
"No way!" she cried, pointing at the creature in the cage. "That's a chimera! Why in the world are we studying this thing?"
'Don' worry," Hagrid stated, "it's only a baby. It's injured, see?"
He motioned at the Chimera's bandaged leg. It didn't matter if it was an injured baby. It will heal and grow up and devour the school if Hagrid kept it. He was even breaking the law by using it to teach the class! Hagrid moved to open the cage door. Serena screamed once again, threw a rock at the cage and ran high speed toward the school. No one could blame her. They felt like running for it too.
"Who wants to take a closer look?" Hagrid questioned and the class stepped back. No one was crazy enough to get anywhere near it.
"Hagrid," Harry said, "how long are we going to be studying this?"
"Probably until the holidays," Hagrid answered.
Darien was having an equally difficult first day at Hogwarts. He had always loved learning about magic but teaching it was a different matter. He was too nervous to eat lunch because he was certain he'd throw up if he had. His class with the third year Slytherins was a nightmare. No one could get an answer right. Was his old house really this thick? The girls were looking at him as if he were a dark-haired Lockhart. The boys were hardly paying any attention to him. To make matters worse, Snape decided to have a chat with him to see how his first day was.
Darien groaned when Snape came in the room. "Not now, Professor Snape—I know you're here to tell me I'm a failure so just save your breath."
"I take it that your had some trouble?" Snape asked with a slight smirk.
"Some trouble?" Darien echoed as he continued clearing the room of some dark items he was showing to his third year class. "It was a nightmare! My first class was with the seventh year Gryffindors and Harry Potter and he didn't want to read a book all term…"
"Ah yes, Potter prefers 'hands on' learning," Snape said, "he still suffers in my class, however."
"Then it was the Ravenclaws—oh—I've always hated them, you know!" Darien grunted. "They think they're so smart! I couldn't even teach because they kept correcting me—but I didn't even mess up—at least—I don't think I did!"
"That's true," Snape commented.
"I had a class with the seventh year Hufflepuffs, that went all right but I don't think they wanted to read all period either. You know, the classes I had with Slytherins were pretty bad. How come they don't know anything? I wasn't that stupid, was i?"
"No, Mr. Shields," Snape said coolly, "you're one of the few smart students of Slytherin house."
"None of them really like this subject," Darien stated, "wouldn't participate at all."
"Well, of course they wouldn't," Snape said with a smirk. "Have you seen how previous Slytherins turned out? They prefer to indulge themselves in the dark arts than defend themselves from them."
"Then how come you're not a Death Eater anymore?" Darien demanded. "What happened?"
"I'd rather not discuss it with you," Snape said coolly.
"I don't think all Slytherins are like Darcille Nox," Darien said as he picked up her book. "No one is really born evil, are they?"
"Perhaps not," Snape replied, "but they are born with their own traits and personalities. It may be in their blood. Nox's family was already obsessed with the dark arts to begin with. I even believe her great grandparents were half-demons or something."
"Half demons? That's—that's disgusting!"
Snape shrugged. "They were that obsessed with the dark arts that they even bred with demons."
"Is that in here?" Darien asked as he thumbed through it. "I might have to skip it when I teach the Hufflepuffs—it already frightened some of them."
"Yes, it is somewhere in the middle," Snape said and Darien put it down.
"Professor Snape, how can you stand it?" Darien asked. "Teaching I mean?"
"I don't know," Snape replied, "I just do."
"Well, how am I supposed to do better tomorrow?" Darien demanded. "And the day after that? I've got half a mind to resign right now!"
"Yes, you could leave and return to being an Auror," Snape said as he glanced at Darien's certificate. "I am sure you are anxious to do that."
Darien nodded. "Yeah."
"Perhaps Dumbledore would understand," Snape said, "however, it has only been your first day and it is always the hardest."
"Really?"
"Until final exams," Snape answered.
Darien groaned and shook his head. "Finals? Professor, that's at the end of the year! I don't even know how to get through this week!"
"It would be easy to quit," said Snape, "but I wouldn't recommend it. As much as I am frustrated with one of my old students with the job I've tried to get for over twenty years, I'd be more angered if you quite before you even get started."
"I have started," Darien said with a laugh, throwing his arm around the room. "Today was my first day—and it was horrible! I hate to think what the rest of my days teaching here would be like."
"I don't think you're trying hard enough, Shields," Snape muttered, "I've seen you put more effort when you were studying at Hogwarts."
"What makes you think I'm not trying?" Darien demanded. "You haven't been in my classes so you haven't got a clue! I did try hard."
"Must I explain Legilmency to you again, Darien?" Snape asked. "I can tell if you're lying."
"But I'm not lying!" Darien shouted. "You can ask the students if you want. It was really bad. The Ravenclaws got smart with me, the Gryffindors wanted more 'hands on' stuff and the Slytherins didn't want to participate at all!"
"Yes, I know you weren't lying about that," Snape said coolly. "I know how students act in class. But I know you're not giving it all you've got and I am ashamed of you, Mr. Shields."
"What?" Darien gasped.
"Teaching is really serious," Snape said knowledgably. "You have to take all you have ever learned and give it to many children. They all have their way of learning and you have to adapt to it so they get coming out of the class. Learning this information when you were Hogwarts was just for you. It is different this time. You are the teacher and it is for the students."
"I know," Darien said tiredly. "But I don't know how."
"I know you can do better," said Snape. "I've never known you to quit."
"Isn't that what Slytherins are famous for?" Darien asked. "Ambition? Cunning?"
"Yes, but you were different," Snape insisted.
"I was?" Darien glanced up. "Really?"
"Yes," Snape answered, "you didn't show off like the others. You were more obedient and even bolder. Sometimes I wondered if you make a better Gryffindor than a Slytherin."
"Yeah," Darien recalled, "the hat was having trouble deciding between the two."
"Make tomorrow better than today, Mr. Shields," Snape advised.
"I'll try."
"No—you do it," Snape said firmly.
Darien paused. "Yes sir, I'll do it. Tomorrow will be better."
"That's better," Snape lookd at the clock and then at Darien. "I understand the new student is serving detention with you tonight?"
"Miss White?" Darien asked. "Yes, that's right."
"What did she do in class to deserve detention?" Snape inquired, folding his arms.
"It wasn't what she did in class," Darien replied, "it was what she did in Diagon Alley."
"Diagon Alley?" Snape questioned in surprise.
"I was getting things for the classroom," Darien explained, "and students were buying their school supplies. Miss White threw her Hogwarts letter at me."
Snape laughed. Darien raised an eyebrow. He'd never seen Snape laugh before.
"You gave her detention for that?" Snape questioned.
"You gave detention to people for smaller things, Professor," Darien reminded him, shaking his finger.
"Did she mean to hit you?" Snape asked.
"No," Darien answered, "she didn't even know I was there. It hit me in the back of the head. She had a bad attitude too. I figured she deserved some discipline. She served part of it this morning, writing lines."
"Not to throw anything?" Snape guessed.
"Not at people in authority," Darien nodded.
"Well, I suppose it is good you have her do those lines," Snape said.
"Why?"
"She threw powdered bicorn horn at me in class," Snape replied and it was Darien's turn to laugh. Snape scowled.
"Sorry, Professor," Darien said, "I suppose she will have to work on not throwing things."
"Indeed," Snape stated, "she wasted many important potion ingredients and she will have to serve detention in making up for them."
"You gave her detention too?" Darien asked, looking quite concerned. He knew Snape's detentions were absolutely horrid. "What are you going to have her do?"
"Picking fluxweed at the next full moon," Snape replied, "catching lacewing flies...maybe cleaning the classroom floor."
"Without magic?" Darien guessed.
"Of course without magic!" Snape retorted. "Now when she comes back, you may have to give her a couple week's worth of detention writing those lines. I sense that Miss White has a problem with throwing things."
At that, Serena stepped into the room and her blood began to boil at the sight of Snape. She narrowed her eyes and walked closer to the two Professors.
"I'm here, Professor Shields," Serena said, "shall I write the lines at the same desk I used this morning?"
"Yes," Darien answered.
"Miss White," said Snape, "I do hope you abide to the lines you're writing tonight unless you want more detention."
"Yes, Professor Snape," Serena grumbled.
"I'll give you the details of your in next week's class."
"Can't wait," Serena groaned.
Snape looked at Darien. "Feel free to ask for a Draught of Peace—or anything else, Shields. You may need it."
"Yes, thanks, Professor," Darien said and Snape left the room. Darien looked at Serena.
"You threw powdered bicorn horn at Professor Snape?" he questioned.
"Yes, but he was asking for it," Serena grumbled. "I tried telling him I didn't mean to knock all those things over!"
Darien took a few steps closer to her. "If you think detention with me is bad, Miss White, just wait until you serve detention with Snape! I've known people who had to pickle toads for Snape and take the eyes out of snakes! Unless you want to do that, Miss White, you watch your tongue in his lessons!"
"Fine."
"Now start on those lines," Darien muttered, "and I expect you to be here every night this week."
"What?"
"Yes, Miss White," Darien grinned, "you obviously have an issue of throwing things at people so I am going to make sure you drop that habit."
"But—I was going to try out for Quidditch Chaser this Friday!" Serena exclaimed.
"So you can throw more things around?" Darien demanded. "No, Miss White. It may be better that you don't."
"That's not fair!" Serena tossed her bag into her chair. "How am I supposed to vent out my frustration if I don't try out? I might not make the team anyway. I've never played Quidditch. It's not the same as Quodpot. Harry Potter asked me to tryout so I promised him I would. I won't let you break my promise! It's wrong to break promises to people!"
"It is also wrong to to throw things at others, Miss White," Darien said softly.
Serena clenched her hands into fists. She was growing angrier by the second."Let us see how you well you do until Friday," Darien stated, "then perhaps I'll let you tryout for Quidditch. I just hope if you do make the team your little issue with throwing things at people will increase."
"Just as long as people don't get on my nerves," Serena said and she sat down to write her lines.
Serena's hand was aching once she got back to Gryffindor tower. She ignored the hellos people gave her as she passed through the common room. She went straight to her bed and began looking at her pictures of her friends and old school. It would be so different if she had stayed home. She certainly wouldn't be facing detention or having to do so much homework. She wouldn't have to see a Chimera up close.
Serena smiled slightly as she came across a photo of her and her friends on a school trip. She was so happy in Salem. Why did she have to leave?
"Hey, Serena," Parvarti stated as she came into the room. "What did you think of your first day at Hogwarts?"
"It's horrible!" Serena cried, burying her face into her pillow to cry. "I hate it here!"
"Oh, I'm—sorry I asked," Parvarti whispered. She looked at Lavender for help.
"Yes, well, you really could've done without what happened in Potions," Lavender said gently. "Snape is unfair to all of the Gryffindors. He gave me a zero one time just because I forgot to put in just one ingredient."
"At least our new Defense Against Dark Arts teacher is decent," Parvarti said with a smile.
"You've got to be kidding me!" Serena yelled, sitting straight up. "Professor Shields is…is.."
"Really handsome?" Lavender asked. "Lockhart has nothing on him!"
"Yeah, Lockhart only took credit other wizards and witches did," Parvarti said, "I can't believe we ever liked him. But Professor Shields is certainly something else!"
"Try having detention with him!" Serena muttered. "You'll think differently then."
"That doesn't sound like a bad idea," Lavender smirked.
"Oh please," Serena moaned as she lay back down, holding her pillow. "I can't believe I transferred here for my last year. It's so unfair! I was doing just fine in Salem, just fine! I won't be able to handle it here. There's more subjects and the teachers are absolutely crazy! Care of Creatures is more like…like…Beware of magical Creatures! Who wants to take care of a chimera?"
"I agree with you on that one," Parvarti stated quickly. "I wonder if Professor Grubbly-Plank will ever come back. We studied unicorns with her the first time she came."
"And all that homework for Transfiguration? I thought Professor McGonagall was head of this house!"
"She doesn't really favor us as much as we'd like her too," Lavender sighed, "but you said you like Transfiguration, right?"
"Only when Miss Meyers was my teacher!" Serena sobbed. "She wouldn't give us so much homework. Miss Meyers was fun but Professor McGonagall is—is—well she's old!. Why would I have to write an essay to explain why I want to be a bunny?"
"I love bunnies!" Lavender exclaimed. "I used to own one…but…he was killed by a fox. Oh, poor Binky…"
"Don't cry, Serena," Parvarti sympathized, "it was only your first day. Tomorrow will be better."
"OH, will it?" Serena demanded.
"Yeah, we have Divination. You'll really like that. We'll be with Firenze! He's a centaur, you know and he's really handsome."
"So?" Serena groaned. "He's got the body of a horse. It's not like you can dance with him or anything."
"When we're not with Firenze on the first floor we'll be with Professor Trelawney in the North tower," Lavender explained. "Ohh, I wonder what we'll be studying this year!"
"You all really believe that stuff?" Serena questioned.
"Trelawney made predictions and they came true!" Lavender exclaimed.
"Whatever," Serena sighed, "but it's going to take more than a centaur teacher to make me like this place."
"Oh, don't worry, Serena," Parvarti said, "Hogwarts isn't so bad. It's just your first day. You lived through Snape's class and if you can do that, you can live through anything else."
"Yeah, unless that chimera eats me in Care of Magical Creatures," Serena said bitterly.
"Oh, cheer up!" Parvarti said desperately. "You'll learn to like Hogwarts. Wait until Hogsmead Weekend—and that ball! Oh what am I going to wear?"
"That doesn't intrigue me at all," Serena moaned. "This day was absolutely horrible! I get detention for school starts and I may have to write lines for Professor Shields for a week. Then I'll have to do detention with Snape! In Salem Witches, I was able to last longer than that! We don't have dungeons at our school—it was just an old manor that looks like a haunted house. WE didn't have poltergeists and—and—I want to go home!"
"Serena, stop crying please!" Lavender begged. "Don't be such a baby!"
"I'm not a baby!" Serena snapped. "I'm just a girl in a school I can't stand!"
Parvarti and Lavender looked flustered. They tried calming her down but Serena wouldn't stop crying and badmouthing Hogwarts.
"I know," said Parvarti suddenly, "let's try a Cheering Charm!"
"Good idea," Lavender said, bringing out her wand. They circled their wrists quickly, as if they were tickling Serena with their want tips.
"Avoco Flos!"
Serena stopped crying and started laughing. Lavender and Parvarti sighed.
"Wow, Hogwarts is great!" Serena grinned. "I can't wait for tomorrow!"
When the Cheering Charm effect wore off, Serena would be depressed again. Parvarti and Lavender wondered if they had to continue using Cheering Charms for the whole year.
To Be Continued.