Oh yeah...about the moon. it's supposed to be a crescent moon (I think I said so near the end of chapter two, if not, heh heh...sorry...)
This chapter serves no real purpose. It was just fun to write.
Oh, and I wrote this chapter before common sense let me know that Slughorn would be teaching potions...but the potions teacher has next to no part in the story, so hopefully it won't be too much of a bother...
I have never been a shy kind of person...ever. So I surprised myself a little when I hardly spoke a word all breakfast.
Remus Lupin was sitting across from me. He, James, and Sirius talked and laughed. (When he laughed, his entire face lit up, and I couldn't take my eyes from him.) I ate and ate, but I just couldn't satisfy my burning hunger.
Usually I did not look at boys. I had always told myself I'd never be someone like that (Andrea Finch was the perfect example), chasing guys, drawing little hearts around their pictures, shuffling through boyfriends like I shuffled through my looks---it seemed so...stereotypical...but these were new circumstances. I had never liked anyone back then...
Sirius gave an introduction, but of course it wasn't needed.
Remus smiled with recognition. "Last night---Peeves, right?"
I nodded vigorously.
"By the way, you may need this." He slipped my wand from the depth of his pocket. I took it with a meek "Thank you" and stored it in my own pocket, blushing. Luckily he didn't notice.
Madison ambled in late, rubbing her eyes. I only kept up conversation for a little while, but when I turned to get a glimpse of Remus he was gone. Up at the front of the table, I could se him passing out schedules.
Quite suddenly, a shower of owls hit the Hall. A letter was dropped into my lap, from none other than my mother.
My Dearest Nymphadora, I read silently. If my face was pulled I couldn't help it.
I really hope you are well. How do you like the castle? Have you made any friends? If you want to come back home I won't mind, because I can come straight up and get you, no trouble at all.
I miss you so much! Please tell Sirius I said hello
Love,
Your Mother.
Promise you'll write soon!
I heard laughter over my shoulder. Sirius was reading the letter from behind me. And---I tried to hide it, but I was too slow---Remus had seen it too!
I blushed an even deeper shade of red as he put my schedule in my hands, trying his very best to contain his laughter but failing miserably.
My very first class that day was potions, along with the first years from Ravenclaw. The class was taught by an old, withering witch called Professor Candie, who set us to work on a simple potion to ease cold symptoms, and hardly heard as loud conversations sprang throughout the room.
For me the work was not easy. Both Madison and I struggled to measure exactly the right amount of each ingredient, while many of the Ravenclaws breezed through.
"12 minutes until the end of class," Professor Candie announced, oblivious to the group of boys trying out random potions in the back of class. "Please start wrapping up."
There was a scramble as everyone rushed to finish. Madison and I shared a panicked look and sprang from our seats to get more ingredients.
Unfortunately I wasn't paying much attention to where I was going. My natural clumsiness burst forth as I tripped over a large cauldron that was simmering nearby.
Red waves worked their magic in a wild series of peaks and troughs. Table legs began to dissolve, ingredients from the tops mixing in with the mess, The unprecedented solution was son setting the room to ice-cold purple flames.
Every head turned to me as blushed harder than ever before. "Oops..."
Professor Candie sent us off so that she could restore order. I started running from the scene, Madison close by, when I heard a voice behind me.
"Hey! Wait up!"
A tall Ravenclaw boy was tearing down the corridor. He came to a halt next to us, panting, but still managing to laugh.
"That was great back there...and we got to leave ten minutes early!"
He seemed very much impressed. When I had a closer look I realized---and saw it etched over Madison's face---he was pretty good-looking...
"I'm Blake," he told us.
"Tonks."
"Madison."
The three of us started down the hall together as I found it easier to laugh at the potions incident, and marveled at what promised to be a sturdy friendship.
Again, this chapter was pointless...