Harry, Ron, and I stayed in the Common Room and did our homework until it was dinner time. I honestly didn't want to go to dinner because of the Slytherins. Half of the House was in the Entrance Hall when the twins decided to throw the dungbomb at me.
"Oh, how much I loved those two."
"You two ready to leave?" Harry said as he placed his books on the table and stood up .
"Finally!" Ron said enthusiastically as he set his books on the couch and jumped up. I, on the other hand, stayed seated.
The two stared at me curiously.
"Are you not hungry?" Harry asked.
"Not really. Don't you guys want to stay a little longer and finish the Potions homework?" I suggested. Maybe the Slytherins will be gone by the time we finish.
Ron's mouth fell open.
"Are you serious? Do you not realize how much homework Snape assigned? By the time we finish, dinner will be over!"
"But if we start later, then we probably won't even finish until midnight!" I said, trying to win them over. My attempt failed. There was no way to win an argument against hungry growing boys.
"I have the solution; you can stay and we'll go." Ron said a little annoyed as he then headed for the portrait.
Harry didn't move though. He held out his hand.
"Come on. You'll be hungry if you don't eat. You'll regret it."
I sighed. If I didn't go eat now then I'd be hungry for the year. I had to face the Slytherins eventually and it'd be best to do it soon.
I took his hand as he pulled me up.
We then headed for the portrait to see a crowd blocking the way out.
"What's everyone excited about?" Harry asked Ron. Ron was on his tiptoes to see what was going on.
The people crowding around the exit were laughing and smiling. I joined Ron as I went on my tiptoes to see who or what was so entertaining.
It was the twins, unsurprisingly.
"It was even her idea!" I heard George say.
My eyes widened.
I immediately pushed myself through the crowd until I reached the twins.
"Ok! Funny story, isn't it?" I said as I interrupted the twins, "Now go. Bye."
I began to wave my arms to shoo the crowd away. They continued to laugh, but began to leave. Many patted my back as if to give me some sort of comfort.
It didn't work.
Once the crowd was gone, I glared at the twins and gave each a slap on the arm.
"You know, you don't have to tell everyone about it!" I yelled at them as they began to laugh hysterically. I didn't find it so funny.
"We don't, but they're going to hear about it sooner or later. Anyways, it's Gryffindor! Your own House! You can tell them anything." Fred said.
I gave him a glare.
"What did you two do this time?" Ron asked as he and Harry still had no idea what happened.
"Fred, April, and I made a certain bet. Fred and I won, of course. The funny part was that April got to choose the consequences for the loser, and it was just so good to see her own idea being played on her. The winner, by the way, got to throw the dungbomb at the loser. And to make things even better, a dungbomb exploded on April while she was in front of the Slytherins!" George laughed as he began to mess with my hair.
"You have no idea how embarrassed I am! It's my first day and everything!" I said as I pushed George away.
"Well, don't be. It's not like you were trying to impress them." Fred said.
"That's true, definitely since you have a crush on that pretty boy." George said as he gave me a wink.
"Oh, yes! Cedric Diggory of Hufflepuff!" Fred joined in as he and George laughed.
I gasped.
"I do not!" I yelled in embarrassment and anger. They were enjoying themselves.
"Really? What was that look you gave then when you watched him walk away yesterday?" Fred said as he mocked my awe-struck facial expression.
I tried to think of a comeback, but nothing came out.
I just glared at the two and kept my mouth tightly shut.
I hated them. Anyone in Great Britain could feel the animosity pouring out of me.
"Hey, hey," George began as he brought me into a hug. I stood stiff, not wrapping my arms around him in return.
"Don't feel bad, April. Every girl in Hogwarts likes him."
I stayed silent.
"Not even just the girls. Sometimes I catch myself staring at him." Fred said jokingly as he tried to make me feel better.
I tried, I really did, but I couldn't stop the smile coming on my face.
"That's my girl." Fred said as he gave me a pat on the back.
"Are you three done? I'm starving!" Ron said as he waited impatiently, and he also seemed to be quite disturbed with Fred's joke.
"I agree. Can we discuss this all at the table?" Harry said. Just then, his stomach growled.
Right when the five of us stepped into the Great Hall, all of the Slytherins began to point at me and laugh. I gave a glare at the twins as they held in their own laughter.
I walked to the Gryffindor table, turning my back to Slytherins as I tried to ignore them.
Easier said than done. It's hard to ignore hundreds of people laughing at you, especially if they are sitting at the table that is right beside yours.
"GRYFFINDOR CRAP HEAD!" I heard one yell.
"Well, it's not like they thought any better of you…" Harry said.
This was very true.
I continued to hear someone yelling out 'Gryffindor Crap Head.' I then realized that I recognized that voice…
I turned around to see Flint as he gave me a smirk.
I turned back and looked at the twins, who both sat across from me.
"Have I said out loud that I hated you two?"
"Yes, actually." Fred said with a smile.
"You don't even need to say it for us to know. We can feel it." George laughed.
They then stopped smiling and stared behind me. I felt someone put their hand on my shoulder.
I turned around and looked up to see Cedric. I felt my heart melt.
"Well, aren't you popular," Cedric joked. George and Fred were much better at it, but I could care less.
"I suppose. I'm guessing all of the Hufflepuffs know about the incident?"
"Well, maybe not all…"
"Who told you guys?"
Cedric rolled his eyes and laughed.
"Who do you think, April?" He said as he then stared at Flint who was now acting out the whole incident.
"Of course." I grumbled as I turned around again to face the twins. I gave them a death glare. They began to shove food down their throats.
"Don't worry about it, April. Causing hell is a normal hobby for the Slytherins. They don't have anything better to do. Don't take it too personally, alright?" Cedric said with a comforting smile.
"Oh, how I was beginning to like that boy and his flawless smile, glittering eyes, beautiful face..."
"I better go back to my friends. We should hang out during the weekend or something." He said. Before I could respond, he left and gave a wave.
I stared after him and waved back.
When I turned around again, I saw the twins mimicking me. I kicked them from under the table.
"He looks old." Ron stated as he filled his plate with food.
"He's only…what? Fourteen, maybe?" I said as I began to do the same.
Ron gave me a disturbing look.
"A fourteen year old with an eleven year old? Does he not have anything better to do?"
My mouth fell open. I couldn't believe him!
"Oh my – Ron! You're like a mini-Remus, I swear!"
I stopped myself from killing him. I tried to think of something to make me happy.
Unsurprisingly, a picture of Cedric came into my head.
I smiled and looked back at the Hufflepuff table.
I heard Harry give out a chuckle. I turned my head immediately to him.
"Something amusing?" I snapped.
"Just how you're acting, that's all." Harry said as he shoved his mouth with food so he couldn't say anything more.
"I seriously don't like him," I said as I turned around to look at the Hufflepuff table again. He seemed to be enjoying himself as he was talking and laughing with his friends.
"I mean, he's cute and all, but -"
"April, you're hilarious." George said.
I then turned back around and caught my reflection from a cup; my face was bright red.
It was finally the last day of the week; Friday.
The week was such a long and embarrassing one. With homework, stress, and random students yelling "Gryffindor Crap Head" at me, I didn't have the best time of my life.
But it was Friday! Not only was it the end of the week, but it was also the day that we had Flying Class! There's nothing better than flying on a broom and feeling the wind.
Once we reached the Quidditch field, we saw two rows of brooms. We were to immediately stand beside one and wait patiently for class to start.
Harry stood nervously. Unlike me, he didn't seem to be excited about this class.
"What's wrong with you?" I asked. I would laugh if the Boy Who Lived was afraid of heights.
"I've never ridden a broom before. I'll look life a fool in front of the Slytherins. And Malfoy…he won't stop bragging about what a good flyer he is. I doubt I'll do well." Harry said as he glared at the Slytherins who stood just across from us. He mainly glared at Malfoy though.
"You could be a natural flyer, Harry. And anyways, Draco is all talk. Don't worry about him." Ron said, trying to comfort him.
"I bet half of the students– no, half of the wizards have never been on a broom before. You're not alone, Harry." I said.
"Have you two been on a broom?"
"Oh yeah. Fred and George are Beaters on the Quidditch team here, so I always play against them at the Burrow. It's sort of like their practice." Ron said.
"Are you any good at it?" Harry asked.
"…Not really." Ron admitted. Harry then looked at me.
"What about you?"
"Yeah, I play Quidditch occasionally, especially if Remus and I run into any wizarding families. I actually plan on trying out for the Gryffindor Quidditch Team."
Harry seemed upset that he was the only one who has never been on a broom. I felt bad. Maybe I should have lied to him to make him feel better.
Before I could add something like 'I'm not amazing at it,' the professor came. Her name's Madame Hooch and she seemed very strict and in a hurry (as if she wanted this class to be over with), but nothing compared to McGonagall.
"Everyone has a broom? Yes. Let's do this quickly. We don't have much time," Madame Hooch started as she walked down between the two rows of brooms, "Now, put your hand over your broom and say 'Up.'"
Everyone began to yell 'up' and about 99% of the brooms weren't going up. Mine did immediately and, to mine and Harry's surprise, so did Harry's broom.
He stared at me with wide eyes as I gave him a pat on the back.
We then both stared at Draco. He got his up immediately as well.
"Maybe he isn't all talk…"
"Tell the broom, don't yell it!" Madame Hooch shouted.
I stared at the Gryffindors and saw that no one was as successful as Harry and I. Hermione's broom kept rolling over, Neville's didn't move whatsoever, and Ron's ended up smacking him in the face somehow. Others had a similar problem.
Next we were to learn how to hold onto a broom and sit on it. To mine, Harry's, and Ron's amusement, Madame Hooch was telling Draco how much she didn't care about how long he's been on a broom because he's been holding it wrong all this time.
While everyone was standing up with their brooms between their legs, I noticed something shiny beside Neville's feet.
"Neville, what's beside you?"
He looked down and groaned.
"It's my Remembrall. I should have known not to bring it to Flying Class." He said as he picked it up and placed it back in his robe pocket. I noticed that his hands were shaking from nerves.
"Ok, now that everyone has a good grip, I want everyone to kick off the ground when I count to three. One. Two-" Madame Hooch started, but she suddenly stopped when Neville began to rise.
"Longbottom, I didn't say three! Get down now!"
But he couldn't. His face was turning white as he kept getting higher and higher off the ground. Everyone took a couple of steps back to get out of his way if he fell.
And then he did fall.
Everyone crowded around him immediately. The Gryffindors were asking if he was ok while the the Slytherins were laughing their hearts out.
"Everyone, step away! Go back to your brooms! Go away!" Madame Hooch yelled as she broke through the crowd to get to Neville. She kneeled down and checked Neville's legs, back, arms-
"Broken wrist…" I heard her mumble.
"I'll take him to the Hospital Wing, if you'd like." I offered her.
"No, no. I should take him," She said as she picked Neville up off the ground, "No one move while I'm gone. If any of you ride your brooms, you'll be leaving Hogwarts. You lot think I'm joking, don't you? Take one short flight on your broom and you'll be leaving Hogwarts before you can even say 'Quidditch.'"
She gave us one long, strict glare and then left with Neville in her arms. It was easy to see that Neville was in extreme pain and embarrassment.
When Madame Hooch was out of site, Draco stepped out and began to laugh louder than the rest.
"Did you see his face? Hah! Pathetic!" Draco laughed as he began to toss something in the air with one of his hands. The Slytherins agreed as they laughed harder.
"Shut up, Malfoy!" Parvati Patil, a Gryffindor, snapped.
"Sticking up for Longbottom, eh? Never thought you'd like a fat little crybaby, Patil!" A Slytherin, Pansy Parksinson, yelled.
"Open your mouth one more time and I'll make sure you're in the bed next to him in the Hospital Wing!" Seamus joined in.
All of the sudden, everyone was yelling at each other.
I then noticed the thing Draco was tossing in the air.
"Hand it over, Draco." I yelled loud enough for him to hear me over all the yelling.
Everyone was suddenly quiet and they all began to watch. I held out my hand to Malfoy for him to hand me the Remembrall.
"Oh, this is yours?" Draco said with a smirk.
"You and I both know it belongs to Neville. Hand it over." I said more harshly as I took a step forward.
"If it's not your Remembrall then why should I give it to you?" Draco said as he also took a step forward.
"Because I'll actually give it back to Neville, unlike you."
"Malfoy, hand it over." Harry joined in.
Malfoy shrugged and walked around us and toward the brooms.
"What are you doing?" I asked as my eyes followed him.
He grabbed a broom and mounted on it. He then smirked and held out the Remembrall.
"Come and get it if you want it."
And then, with a blink of an eye, he was off.
Everyone was murmuring, talking about expulsion if Malfoy gets caught.
Before I could even think about what to do, Harry grabbed a broom.
"Harry, please! You don't know how to fly!" I begged him as I held his shirt to keep him on the ground.
"Harry, if you get caught, you'll be expelled!" Hermione yelled and she also grabbed his shirt.
Harry shook out of our grips and, without a word, was off after Malfoy.
"Oh my goodness, he's going to die. He's going to die. Ron, do something!" I yelled as I ran toward Ron.
He had a huge grin on his face as he watched Harry fly away.
"Ron!"
"What?! What do you expect me to do?!"
"He's going to get expelled. We're all going to get in trouble…" Hermione worried as she sat on the ground.
"We need to get someone. We need to get Hooch! Harry can't fly!" I worried as I began to walk in circles.
"Oh, shut up, will you?" Pansy Parkinson said as she rolled her eyes.
I gave her a glare.
"Try to tell me to shut up one more time." I snapped.
Her eyebrows rose. She looked amused.
"Am I angering you?" She sneered as she walked toward me. Once she stood a foot away from me, her eyes widened, "Wait a minute! You're the one everyone calls Gryffindor Crap Head, aren't you?"
I gave her a glare as a response. She gave me a smirk.
"Hey, now…" Dean Thomas said as he cautiously walked toward us.
"Back off if you know what's good for you!" She snapped at Dean.
"Was that a threat?" I said as I pushed her.
She looked shocked but pulled herself together the next second. She pushed me back.
I pushed back harder.
She pushed back harder.
The next thing I knew, I was on top of her.
"Get off her, April!"
"Stop it! Stop it!"
"Yeah! Fight! Fight!"
We were smacking, punching, rolling around, and pulling each other's hair.
Everyone circled us as they cheered, screamed, and yelled.
"Get off! April, stop it! Stop it!" I heard Hermione shriek as she was trying to pull me off of Pansy.
Pansy and I were both able to give a few more smacks and punches before I heard "McGonagall is coming!"
I was then pulled off with the help of a few Gryffindors, including Ron. He looked at me both in approval and in shock.
"Oh no… She saw the whole thing!" Parvati whispered loudly.
I looked and saw Professor McGonagall with Draco and Harry. She definitely did not look happy.
I tried to fix myself before she came, but I knew I was a mess with blood dripping down from my nose, grass stains on my clothing, and hair messed up.
Pansy didn't look great either as the Slytherins were checking if she was ok. I knew she was going to have a lovely shiner later on and I was quite happy with that.
"What is the meaning of this?" McGonagall shouted as she stood in the middle of the crowd, "Explain yourselves! Now!"
Everyone was silent. Everyone was also shaking slightly…
"She started it!" Pansy finally yelled. Then all of the Slytherins started pointing at me, shrieking and shouting that I did it.
"I did not! She made a threat!" I yelled. Then all the Gryffindors began backing me up. Suddenly, everyone was screaming on the top of their lungs.
"Stop it! Now!" McGonagall yelled. Everyone was silent once more.
"First week and I'm already considering suspension for students. Absolutely ridiculous. Black and Parkinson, you two come with me. Potter, you come with me as well." She said as she then gave everyone one last glare and began to walk off.
I took a deep breath and followed her as Pansy and Harry were beside me.
I then realized something;
"Why isn't Draco with us?" I whispered to Harry.
"She, technically, didn't see Draco on the broom." Harry said in an angry tone. But then he softened up as he took something out of his pocket.
"She did, however, see me fly as I caught the Remembrall." He said with a smile as he handed the Remembrall to me.
I stared in shock.
"I can't believe you did that, Harry. I really can't believe it…"
Professor McGonagall dropped Pansy and I off at Dumbledore's office before she took off with Harry. Apparently what Harry did wasn't expulsion worthy, as Hooch made it sound.
I was told to wait outside his office while Pansy was inside, telling him her side of the story. I knew she was going to be crying and lying through her teeth about the whole thing.
After what seemed like forever, Pansy stepped out with Dumbledore. As I had guessed, she was 'crying.'
"Thank you for sharing, Miss Parkinson. Now head off to the Hospital Wing to see if everything is alright." Dumbledore said sweetly has he rubbed her back. She nodded to him and left, but not before she gave me a smirk.
Now I definitely knew she lied and over exaggerated about everything.
Once Pansy turned the corner, Professor Dumbledore stared at me. He was tall, thin and his blue eyes had kindness in them. He gave me a smile as he motioned me to walk up the staircase and into his office.
The office was a large circular room, decorated with portraits all over. Bookshelves, some that were short and some that reached to the ceiling, were all over the room. In the center of the room was a desk and behind it was perch with the most stunning phoenix.
Although the office seemed lovely, it needed some tidying up.
Dumbledore walked ahead to his desk and took a seat. I followed him, but not without looking at the portraits. I saw that they all were labeled 'Headmaster [insert his name]' and 'Headmistress [insert her name].'
I then searched for one portrait in particular. I eventually found it. It was the portrait of my great-great grandfather Phineas Nigellus Black.
You see, I knew Dumbledore would have it since I have the same portrait at the Black Manor. He occasionally 'visits' us from time to time.
I gave a wave to him as he looked down at me. He shook his head in disapproval.
"What are you doing here? Are you already in trouble?"
"Ah, she should be fine, Phineas." Dumbledore chuckled. He then motioned me to come over and take a seat. I did as he wanted.
"How do you like Hogwarts, Miss Black?" Dumbledore asked as he smiled at me.
I stared at him oddly.
"Shouldn't he be angry right now?"
"It's…good. Well, it's ok. I have a new nickname that isn't so nice and I now have an odd feeling that I'll be in too much trouble to try out for Quidditch. Actually, I think I'll be in too much trouble to even stay here." I said with a frown.
"Oh! Do you play Quidditch? What position?" Dumbledore said as if he were truly interested.
"Oh, well, I never played on a team, but I do play for fun. I used to enjoy playing Beater, but, a while ago, I fell in love with the Chaser position." I said, almost forgetting that I was in here to be disciplined.
He didn't respond. He just stared and smiled at me.
After a few moments, he finally broke the silence;
"You remind me of Sirius already," He said with a laugh, "Starting trouble at such an early stage of the year. You even look like him. Everything about you is so similar. Well, except your eyes. If I recall correctly, Sirius has brown eyes, not green."
I was taken back by his comments. I didn't know how to respond.
He understood that I felt uncomfortable and changed the subject;
"But we are not here to discuss your brother! We're here to discuss you. Now, do share what happened."
"Oh, well, erm…she threatened my friend Dean Thomas. And so – I mean - of course I had to defend him! I then- and then- I, erm… I pushed her…"
I was guilty. I knew it. He knew it. We both knew it.
"And so the pushing led to the-"
"- Hair pulling, punching, tackling…yes." I admitted.
"I believe you know your fault and part of this, so I don't feel like I need to say it. I do thank you for your honesty." Dumbledore said. He still had that smile on his face.
I nodded but refused to look at him in the eye.
"Out of curiosity, what's your wand type?"
I stared at him oddly. He laughed at my facial expression.
"As Mr. Ollivander has probably told you, wands find their owner. A wand tells a lot about their owner." He said with a smile.
In a way, I was nervous to tell him. What if my wand said I was a cruel, heartless, violent girl?
"Oh. It's…erm…it is 12 ½ inches. The wood is tulip and the core is gryffon feather."
"Just from your wand I already know what type of person you are!" He said with a smile and a laugh. His eyes even looked like they were smiling.
I'm guessing my wand didn't tell him I was cruel and violent.
"What exactly do you know now?" I asked curiously.
"From knowing many witches and wizards, through superstitions, and, of course, speaking with Mr. Ollivander, every quality of a wand tells others how the owner is. Wands made of tulip wood, for example, usually choose witches as it is a 'feminine' wood. It signifies that the owner has a natural, caring, and even motherly personality," He then laughed, "You may not notice the 'motherly' characteristic now, but I'm sure you'll grow into it. Tulip wood usually specializes in shield and protection charms. As for the gryffon feather, it signifies that the owner has great strength; physically, magically, and or emotionally. Just from looking at your wand, I can assume that you'll be a very powerful, talented witch. We just need to control your anger, that's all." He said with a wink. I couldn't help but smile.
"Now, as for the main reason you're here," He started as he stared down at me with those twinkling, blue eyes, "I will give you a warning and I trust that you'll behave better next time. I will, however, give you detention for the next three weeks. I'd like you to come and help me around. I'm sure you have already noticed books out of place, papers all over-"
My smile turned to a grin. I couldn't believe he was letting me off the hook!
"Oh, and I will give you permission to try out for your Quidditch team." He added.
I stood up and shook his hand.
"Thank you, so much, sir! I'll watch myself next time, I promise!"
He laughed as he stood up as well.
"Now, unless you need anything else from me, you may leave. I'll tell Professor McGonagall that there is no punishment needed. And please head off to the Hospital Wing to check if everything is alright."
I thanked him again and headed for a door. As I ran to the door I got a glance at my great-great grandfather's portrait.
It then hit me.
I stopped abruptly. I was hesitant to ask.
"…Professor?"
"Yes, Miss Black?"
I turned around, but I didn't walk back to him.
"You said that everything about Sirius and I is similar. I'm guessing you didn't mean that…badly or offensively?"
He shook his head.
"No, not at all. I apologize if it came out that way."
"So…do you not think of him badly at all then?" I asked.
He kept a smile on his face and didn't answer for a short while.
"Miss Black, I do not know what happened that night. The only ones who truly do know what happened are Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew. We have been told that there is proof Sirius Black has killed Peter Pettigrew and that there is no other explanation," Dumbledore said. I sighed and looked down, but he continued;
"However, I do believe that there are many pieces missing and many things that have not been said or discovered."
I looked up at him. From his facial expression, I knew that his true answer was "No, I do not think badly of him at all."
Author's Note: As always, I would like to say that there may have been lines that were taken from the book. If you recognize some quotes, then they most likely aren't mine (simple as that). The story plot and the characters (except April) are all J.K. Rowling's, not mine. And I want to apologize if there are any grammar errors to my story as well. I do proof-read my work, but I always do miss some mistakes.
To my past/older readers:
I've added and changed some things in past chapters, and I also cut chapters in half so that future readers won't have to read as much. I suggest you re-read:
Chapter One – The part about how Remus became April's godfather.
Chapter Two – When April went on the boat with Hagrid.
Chapter Three – I don't think I changed anything, but, just in case, re-read when the hat is talking to April.
Chapter Four – I just added a line that showed that April is sort of falling for George. No need to get too excited though; it was just one line.