Disclaimer: Not mine. Still JKRowling's. Thanks sooo much for all of you who have been reviewing, it what keeps me going through the writer's block!
Alanna had rushed through the halls the moment class would have started, careful to remain in the shadows as she went. When she finally reached the Gryffindor common room (with some aid from a helpful portrait) there were two people, who could have been sixth or seventh years, sitting in the common room. They appeared to be rather engrossed in their textbooks. Careful not to alert them of her presence, she flicked her hair in front of her face once again and tiptoed across the floor before dashing up the stairs to the fifth year girls' dormitories. Hastily, she jumped in the shower, hoping that the spell would somehow wash off. But five minutes and several magical soaps later, she shone as orange as ever, perhaps even brighter than before. She glared at the magically fog-free mirror, which gave her a sympathetic look in return.
She rummaged through the various cabinets until she found a bottle that looked promising. It read "Skin clear: guaranteed to cover blemishes of all sorts for up to twelve hours." It had a teenage witch on the front who went from a frowning pimply girl to a smiling clear faced one, before going back again.Only wondering for a moment to whom this belonged, and justifying herself by vowing to replace it later (though she knew she likely wouldn't), she opened the top and rubbed the cream over her face hopefully. She grinned as relief flooded through her; though her skin still held a slightly orange tint, she was almost entirely back to her usual colour. Quickly, she rubbed it into the rest of her face, neck and hands, before throwing on some fresh school robes and whisking back down the corridors (with specific directions from the Fat Lady) to the DADA class she was supposed to be in. By the time she reached the classroom, she was significantly late and had to stop and catch her breath a moment before entering. The professor, a stern looking older woman with short gray hair and smart blue robes seemed to be staring her down for a moment and an awkward silence persisted until Alanna built up the nerve to speak (not before throwing an icy glare at James and Sirius, who were silently sniggering at their handiwork.)
"Er, I'm sorry, professor, I -- er, got lost. It won't happen again."
The professor looked at her sternly, seeming to search her face for deceit, before finally settling with, "Well I should hope not. I am well aware that you have missed my first class, but tardiness will not be acceptable and shall have dire consequences in the future. Let this be your warning."
Alanna nodded awkwardly, feeling rather than seeing the other students staring at her. Unsure of what to do next, she stood there waiting for an invitation to sit.
"I am Professor Tatnall, by the way. And please do take a seat before wasting any more of our time." Alanna glanced around and was relieved and somewhat uplifted to see that Lily had saved the seat next to her for her, Alanna.
Professor Tatnall went on the describe various dueling spells and protective counter-jinxes as Alanna struggled to keep up. Finally, the professor told them to practice the counter jinxes they had just learned. Lily turned to face Alanna as conversations around the room broke out abruptly.
"You weren't actually lost, were you?" Lily said, taking note of Alanna's still slightly orange complexion. "What happened? Sarah, Em and I were looking for you."
Alanna sighed and explained what had happened, and Lily looked about ready to erupt by the time she was through talking. When Lily pulled out her wand, Alanna was sure that it was to lay siege upon Potter. But instead she thought a moment before muttering a counter-spell to Alanna's unfortunate skin colour.
Lily sighed and pocked her wand again. "A simple charm, really. Only two dolts who would cast it on you."
Alanna nodded knowingly, adding darkly, "Yeah, no prize for guessing who," not without a certain amount of hostility.
The remainder of the class went by rather smoothly, with Lily carefully explaining and teaching Alanna each counter-jinx with more patience than Alanna could possibly have hoped for. That is, until near the end of class, when Professor Tatnall called none other than Sirius Black up to her desk. Had Alanna been watching, instead of deflecting the tickling jinx that Lily had sent flying at her (and only being very minimally successful in this attempt), she would have noticed how his face went from a look of mild interest, to incredulity, to a brief flicker of loathing. But this all happened in less than a moment as it were, and by the time Professor Tatnall had called Alanna herself up to the desk, his face was as expressionless as a stone mask.
Professor Tatnall smiled slightly-- a smile that looked strangely drawn and out of place on such a stern face, as Alanna approached her desk. Alanna herself was walking very slowly, hoping that Black had nothing to do with her and would leave before she reached the desk. But when she got there, he hadn't budged an inch and seemed to have no intention of leaving (though surely he wanted nothing more than to leave.)
"Miss Reese, I'm sure you have met Mister Black, have you not?" Alanna had to struggle not to look contemptuous as she nodded, avoiding eye contact with him whatsoever. She certainly knew him, all right. As unfortunate as that was. Professor Tatnall continued, undaunted. "He is the top of this class, and is to be your peer tutor for Defense Against the Dark Arts this year."
Alanna looked up in shock, just in time to see a variety of feelings flash through Sirius' stormy eyes-- none of which were pleasant.
Fantastic, she thought, just fantastic.
I know, I know; It's pathetic and short. Pathetically short. But school has been crazy and I knew if I didn't at least get this bit to you, it might take even LONGER. Thank you so much to those of you who have been reviewing and reading. I really really appreciate it very much.