Chapter Six: The Timetable.

Dumbledore had set out hundreds of beds in the Great Hall. There was not enough room for all students, so he furthered the bedding into the Entrance Hall, where most of the Slytherins decided to sleep.

'The Gryffindor tower was struck!' Cherier whispered to Markus and Denver once everyone was settled into their beds. She was placed beside the two, 'I heard McGonagall talking about it.'

'That's terrible.' Markus murmured.

'I will ask all of you to remain silent and allow us all to have a peaceful night's sleep.' Dumbledore said clearly, who was standing at the front of the hall keeping watch on everyone.

Cherier waved at Markus as a sign of saying 'Goodnight' and closed her eyes. It was now midnight, and everyone was feeling tired.

'Good morning Hogwarts.' Dumbledore announced at breakfast time, the hall had returned to its original state, the house tables spread evenly with the students seated at them, 'As we all know, the school has been attacked. Lightning hit our dear Gryffindor's tower, tearing open their common room and dormitories last night. This was a horrifying shock to all students in the tower at the time. A majority of them were injured and have been safely transported to St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries for professional healing, and some are staying in the Hospital wing here safe in Madam Pomfrey's hands. As for the others, who evaded injury, I'd like to say a gracious well done.'

The few people who were seated at the Gryffindor table began to cheer quietly, most of them looking rather morose.

'I have sent out some of the Ministry's best Scarges immediately to repair the damage, so do not fret if you come in contact with one, they do not mean any harm.'

'Scarges? What are Scarges?' Cherier whispered to Markus.

'Construction workers for the Ministry, ghastly looking things they are.'

Dumbledore continued to speak, 'Madam Pince has courteously designated a section of the library for the Gryffindors to use as a replacement common room until the Scarges complete their work, which should hopefully be by tomorrow evening.' He paused for a moment, 'Hogwarts is under strict protection for the time-being, do not fear another attack.'

Professor McGonagall leaned over to Dumbledore and whispered something to him, and Dumbledore spoke again, 'I don't mean to alarm you, but as I said last night, I believe the attack to be work of an evil force. If any more dangerous occurrences take place here, I'm afraid the school may no longer be safe. That is all, please enjoy your breakfast.'

'This year at school so far has been terrible!' Markus began, as the rest of the students engaged in chatter about the attack, 'What does it all mean?'

'I think Dumbledore knows what's happening. He's got to. Why else would he think that "evil forces" are attacking the school?' Denver said.

The three paused in thought, and Markus broke the silence, 'Imbercelum.'

'What?'

'Imbercelum, that's it! Look!' He pointed out one of the high windows of the Great Hall, rain was hitting it vigorously, 'I remember when Binns was telling me about… about Teahorn and Bloodgood, and he said something about Imbercelum magic. Magic that is used for controlling weather.'

Cherier gasped, 'Do you think somebody is doing that? Doing Immerselsum?'

'Imbercelum', he corrected her, 'It's a possibility, isn't it?'

Denver patted Markus on the back quite roughly and said, 'I agree. Makes perfect sense –' he stopped for a second and nudged Markus with his elbow. Valen Glass was walking towards them and had caught his eye. Denver gestured his hand towards her, trying not to point.

Markus's heart leapt a mile, he had forgotten about his new girlfriend, who had now reached them.

She wore a sassy look on her face, 'Can I speak to you Markus?'

'Sure' he said, blushing.

All three of them sat there staring at her.

'In private' she directed a sinister look towards Cherier and Denver, which Cherier returned to her. She disliked Valen Glass a lot.

'Sure' he said again, and left his seat.

Valen took his hand and dragged him over to the entrance of the Great Hall, and stood face-to-face with him, although she was looking slightly down at him as she was taller. 'Hello' she smiled and kissed him on the cheek.

'Hi.' Markus's face was burning with timidity, he was surprised her lips didn't curl up and singe on contact.

'I was wondering if you wanted to meet up later on. Spend some time together, you know?'

'Oh, err… How much later? I have detention at nine o'clock.' Markus said diffidently, adding to the awkwardness. He shot a look at Cherier, but to his relief, she wasn't looking. She, of course, had no idea about his relationship with Valen, and Markus was hoping to god that Denver wouldn't mention it to her.

Valen grimaced slightly when he spoke, 'Come and see me as soon as you're finished then, yeah?'

Her abruptness was confusing Markus. He didn't know what to expect from her, as he had never been in a relationship with a girl before.

'Err, yeah. Sure thing!' he quickly peered over at Cherier again, who, luckily, was still not looking. She was, instead, talking to her brother.

'I'll be in the common room all day, so come and meet me there. See you.' She kissed him again, this time on the lips, and walked off towards her friends, who were clearly watching her and Markus for the whole time.

He stood motionless, goggling at Valen as she strode off. I was just kissed he thought. Although it was only a peck on the lips, he was completely astonished.

'Excuse me' said a small, first-year girl who approached him.

'Oh, sorry' Markus moved aside for her. He hadn't realised that he was standing directly in front of the entrance door, so he walked back to the Ravenclaw table where his two friends awaited his return.

'What was all that about?' questioned Cherier, with one eyebrow raised.

'Nothing'

Denver was chortling under his breath, and quickly transformed it into a cough as Markus darted a discontent look towards him.

'Just Prefect stuff' Markus said as he took a seat next to Cherier.

'Oh come on. Just tell her, Mark!' Denver was rolling his eyes behind her.

'Tell me what?' she nudged Markus in the ribs.

'Never mind…' Markus was turning a violent crimson once again, 'Anyway, I think I should talk to Roderick Seed. He told me when I sat with him that day that the bad weather was going to continue for days.'

'Really? Maybe he knows something about Imbercelum.' Cherier suggested.

'He's just over there' Denver pointed towards him. He was sitting with his only friend, Beo Sherhansen, near the front of the Ravenclaw table.

'Great. I'll see you two later. Have fun with Trelawney, Denver.'

'Always do' he replied, with great sarcasm in his voice.

Markus strolled down the table towards Roderick Seed, and tapped him on the shoulder, 'Hi Roderick, do you mind if we go for a walk? I want to talk to you about something. Beo can come too.'

He looked at Beo, who was facing downwards at his fidgeting hands as if Markus wasn't there.

'Bit of a fright last night, ey?' Markus said as Roderick and Beo trailed him by his side, 'Lucky it wasn't our tower.'

The two fourth-years remained silent, with vacant expressions on their faces.

'Is that what you wanted to talk to me about?' Roderick snapped.

'No, no. Not at all.'

'Well get to the point, we don't have all day here. Beo and I were planning to study in the library today.'

'Right. Well erm…' he was silently hurt by Roderick's rudeness, although he wasn't surprised by it with the amount of sleep all the students had last night, 'Roderick, do you remember telling me how the rain was going to continue for months?

Roderick lazily nodded his head, 'I do recall it, yes.'

Beo was somewhat hiding behind a small stack of books he was carrying, Markus had completely forgotten about his presence.

'Well, what exactly did you mean by that?'

'It was… it was nothing. It meant nothing' he sped up his walking pace and pulled on Beo's robe sleeve, 'Come on, Beo.'

'Roderick, are you hiding something?' Markus raised his voice, the two now a couple of metres ahead of him.

'It was just something Professor Trelawney mentioned.' He disappeared into the distance and Markus sighed heavily.

'I think it'd be wise to take a quick bath, Markus.' Professor Rooset suggested.

'Thank you Professor' he kindly replied, his robes covered in a thick, smelly fluid. He had to collect jars of Bubotuber pus from Professor Sprout's greenhouses for her seventh-year's healing class for detention.

She stared at him slightly cross-eyed. The pus was dripping from his robes onto her office floor, 'Next detention is going to be an enjoyable one. Make sure you bring a broomstick' she grinned graciously, 'Have a nice day Mr. Starr. Oh – and don't tell anyone you're enjoying detention with me.' Her eyes twinkled as she smirked at him.

Markus was so happy to hear this. He had not ridden a broom stick since the beginning of summer. He and Cherier would often chase each other and make up their own rules of backyard Quidditch during school holidays. Markus would always win, of course.

He was excited, thinking of what Professor Rooset will put him up to next time they meet for detention.

He wanted to take a nice hot bath, but had remembered about Valen wanting to meet him. So he cleaned himself up with magic and cast a fragrance charm upon himself to rid the odor of the pus. The common room was his new destination, where Valen, his girlfriend, was awaiting his arrival.

He felt nervous, but excited at the same time. Valen was always seen with other boys, kissing and hugging them. Markus felt as though he would not be able to equal those other boys, especially when her last boyfriend was Charlie Knight. A tall, built, brick-of-a-Slytherin boy who was in his seventh year at Hogwarts.

He spotted her by the fire, seemingly gossiping with her friends, as he walked through the portrait hole. He had no intentions of interrupting their chitchat; he was too embarrassed to butt in.

Luckily, he had caught Valen's eye and quickly waved at her, which looked more like he was shaking his hand in mid air. He was making sure Cherier was nowhere in sight.

They made their way to a small hill by the Herbology greenhouses after chatting for a moment in the common room, but decided the rain was too heavy to sit in the school grounds.

'Perhaps we could… go to the charms corridor.' Markus suggested

'Great idea!' Valen said quite loudly, which made Markus jump, 'we can sit by the Troll statue.'

Markus was feeling as timid as ever. They walked silently together until they reached the corridor.

'I made you something.' Valen said as they seated themselves quite snugly behind a large unpleasant statue of a Troll. She pulled out a small carton from inside her robe pocket and handed it to Markus. It was in the shape of a star.

'Thank you' he blushed and opened the glimmering golden container.

Inside were several small chocolates, also star-shaped, with the words 'Markus is my Starr' engraved on each piece.

He gawked at her. We've only been together for less than a day! He thought. But thanked her once again, 'They're… nice'.

'Made them myself' she beamed at him, beginning to wrap her arm around his neck. 'You know, I've always thought you were a real charmer, Markus. You just need to lighten up a bit. You know, be a bit bolder. Although, the trouble you got in the other day was admirable.'

He felt extremely uncomfortable, completely speechless. 'I-I've always had a keen eye for you too.' He forced these words out of his mouth. Who knows how Valen would react to this? He thought his life as a normal teenage boy was going to end within the next ten seconds.

'That's so sweet!' she squeaked, and pulled Markus's head towards hers. A warm sensation spread from his lips to throughout his body.

This can't be real. This must be a dream. He'd always imagined himself snogging Valen Glass, the beautiful and striking Ravenclaw girl, but he never thought it would really happen. He surprised himself and reacted, groping and caressing Valen's shoulders.

She suddenly broke away from Markus's mouth and looked at her watch. 'Oh dear! I'm meant to attend a prefect meeting in ten minutes!'

'Sorry – m-my – I'm' Markus was awestruck; patting his lips gently with his fingertips and subconsciously blurting meaningless words, 'What?'

Valen took her bag and strode off behind the Troll, yelling out 'Meet me here tomorrow – same time!'

'What's the matter, Markus? You look a little pale' said Denver, as Markus walked to the common room with him later that afternoon, 'Rooset giving you a hard time? Trelawney had me cleaning tea cups today… without magic. Right old mental case, she is.'

'I'm fine' Markus lied. He was still amazed at what had happened earlier today. He pinched his hand every so often to check if he wasn't dreaming the day.

The rest of the day managed to flow seamlessly, and it was seven o'clock before Markus knew it. Cherier hadn't questioned him about his whereabouts when he was with Valen, she didn't even seem to realise his absence as she was studying in the library after her detention.

'I'm not telling her!' Markus whispered across the boy's dormitory that night, hidden behind his four-poster curtains, 'She despises Valen!'

'She's going to find out eventually, and she'll be even angrier knowing that you kept it from her' Denver said matter-of-factly.

'She'll murder me… Anyway, I'm going to sleep now. Goodni –'

'– oh no you're not! Tell me what happened today with Valen!'

Markus opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted by Midnight pecking at the window by his bed. She had a letter for him.

'What? Who'd be writing to me at this time of night?' he groaned as he took the parchment from Midnight's beak.

The letter was only small, and simply read

Monday: 9:00am break time

Tuesday: After lunch

Wednesday I study in the library after class.

Thursday: 8:00pm in the common room.

Friday I study.

Saturday: 10:00pm (in the Charms corridor) and 3:00pm at the hill by greenhouse three.

Sunday I'll be with my friends.

I can't wait to see you tomorrow, don't forget.

Love,

Valen.

Markus gawked at the letter with his eyes bulging for a moment.

'Who's it from, Mark?' Denver said.

'It-it's from Valen… She's planned a timetable for us to spend time together!'

Denver roared with laughter and one of the boys across the other side of the room told him to shut up, 'You're not serious, are you?'

'I'm serious!' Markus whispered lower, trying not to wake anyone sleeping, 'Do they all do this? Set times for each other? I didn't think that's how relationships work…'

'It's not, Markus. She's a lunatic!'

Markus lay away thinking about Valen Glass. He had completely forgotten about the previous day's events – the reason why he had detention, but he didn't care. He could still feel Valen's lips on his, and that's all that mattered right now.

He let the thoughts of her drift him off to slumbers, also confused about the letter she'd just sent him.

'Goodnight, Valen.' He said in his mind, unaware of whether he said it aloud or not.