Chapter 2

Lesson One in Herbology: Never Sit By a Longbottom

"Yeah so then-" I started but then was cut off by Jenna's giggling.

"Cedric's coming over! Check for loose hairs, I want my ponytail to look nice." she said frantically.

"Bloody hell if you saw him in the morning you would think twice about liking him." I said rolling my eyes.

"I would love to wake up to that in the morning." she mumbled as Cedric came by my side.

"Hello Jenna, do you mind if I borrow my sister for a while?" he asked and Jenna nodded her head while she turned red walking away.

"What do you want?" I asked annoyed.

"I was just asking your opinion. Do you think I should put my name in the Goblet of Fire?" he asked.

"I don't know, don't really care." I said looking over to where my friends were harassing some first year.

"Come on your opinion matters!" he said his frustration showing.

"Why are you getting mad?"

"Because you need to take this serious!" he said forcefully.

"Fine, whatever. Put your name, it can't be that bad." I said walking away. The exact reason I tried to avoid talking to Cedric was that every conversation left me annoyed and frustrated at him.

I groaned sitting up shaking my short bob furiously, as if shaking my head could shake away memories. Not a day goes by when I wish I was nicer, or in this case I wish I told Cedric no to enter the deadly contest.

I grabbed my head, since shaking it gave me a mini headache. I got up and walked into the shower. It was about 6:30 and breakfast started at 8:00, meaning I was up early. I shed my clothes and started the hot water. One of the many advantages of getting up early was that I got all the hot water. It hit my skin, soothing me but after a while I got out. The impact on the cold tile floor made me curl my toes. I walked up to the mirror and wiped the fog away with me hand. After putting on some lotion and shaking my hair out I threw on my uniform.

Stepping out it was 7:15, I had about 45 minutes to spare. The three other girls were just starting to get up do I headed toward the library. Over the summer the library had been my sanctuary. At first I had been there to drop off and old book, but then the librarian suggested titles for teens. After about five minutes I had ten books in front of me. Each page seemed to get more and more interesting and three hours flew by.

I breathed in the fresh crisp smell of books and grazed my hands along the shelves as I walked down the aisles. I stopped at the V section and scanned for any interesting vampire romances. I picked one up and curled into a little ball on the edge of a couch.

"Mrs. Diggory! May I advise you to hurry to classes, you've already missed breakfast." the librarian Mrs. Pince snapped at me.

Coming back to reality I closed my book on page 100 now, and looked down at my watch. I wasn't just late. I was extremely late.

I picked up my bag that I thankfully brought and rushed towards Herbology as fast as I could. Since Herbology was in a separate building it took me ten minutes to get there.

"Take your seat by Mr. Longbottom Miss Diggory." she said as I entered.

I shuffled over there and kept my gaze averted toward the ground trying not to make eye contact. I felt many stares boring into my back. Sitting down I looked up at my Head of House.

"Now as you all know the O.W.L. is coming up and you all need to be prepared…" she started but I quickly zoned out. I'd probably hear this speech in every lesson today. Looking around I saw Jenna had snagged a seat by Harry, she turned around and gave me a wink.

"Miss Marcus turn around!" she snapped at Jenna and she swiveled in her seat.

"As I was saying…" she started but I got distracted looking over at Neville.

I had never particularly gone out of my way to talk to him, he was honestly really weird and clumsy. But as I stared at him wide eyed he had somehow managed to get his sleeve caught on fire. He was frantically muttering spells under his breath, none that were helping at the moment.

In his panic his sleeve touched my parchment, causing that to come on fire. Along with my sleeve. I jumped out of my chair and yelped. Professor hosed me and Neville down until the two of us were completely soaked so the fire was gone.

"Thank you Mr. Longbottom and Miss Diggory for the exciting display. Now Neville and Dylan come up here and let me dry you down." Professor Sprout sighed.

A few kids were laughing, while this little incident gave people more of a reason to stare at me. As he made a motion to go toward the front of the room he tripped. In attempt to help him keep balance I grabbed his wrist before he fell. But unfortunately the bloody idiot pulled me down with him.

"Ow!" I yelled as I fell face forward on the green house floor.

"Ow,ow,ow,ow." I kept saying as I sat up grabbing my head. In my mouth was the metallic taste of blood and I lightly touched my lip and saw I had busted it open. Well aren't I having a bloody good day.

"I'm sorry Dylan, I didn-" Neville started.

I put my hand up motioning for him to stop and got on my feet.

"Mr. Potter take these two to the nurse." Professor sighed.

Great, my first visit to the Hospital Wing, and it's only 8:30. I grabbed my tote and walked out the door not waiting for Harry and Neville. Frankly Neville had done enough.

So far this was not how I hoped my morning would end up. I was supposed to quietly sit in class and actually try to participate and take notes. I wasn't supposed to be making my way toward the Hospital Wing with a bloodly lip and drenched in water.

I guess Neville and Harry had caught up to me and were now walking by my side.

"I'm really sorry I didn't-"

"Save it Neville." I said harshly.

"That was a very comical show the two of you put on." Harry laughed while I sighed in annoyance.

"I'm sure it was hilarious seeing my arm get caught on fire, me getting covered in water. But I bet me falling face first and getting a bloody lip must have topped it all off." I said coldly.

" I didn't mean it like that." he mumbled and I walked ahead of the two. I had never liked "The Boy Who Lived" so I had no shame in what I just did.

Walking into the wing I sat on one of the beds while Madame Pomfrey looked at Neville.

"Oh dear, why are you all wet!" she cried rushing toward me. I had honestly forgotten I hadn't dried off. She casted a quick spell, took care of my lip, and sent me off toward me next class.

I'm the type who believes the start of the morning will determine the rest of the day.

And frankly, I'm going to have on bloody hell of a day.