"I'm here to do two things: drink some beer and kick some ass. Looks like we're almost out of beer." –Dazed and Confused
Chapter 13
I heard Prince growl and felt him bristle against my legs as I reclined on the couch, soaking up the warmth of the fire. Having decided to forgo dinner I'd staked out on one of the couches in the common room. My hair was still damp from the shower I'd taken earlier and my book bag had been tossed on the floor near my feet along with a couple spare quills.
I yawned, my eyes feeling as if they were made of sandpaper. The hot shower had helped relax my knotted muscles, all of which felt tight and sore. I was going to be a wreak in the morning.
"Getting a head start?"
I glanced up from the history book, my finger marking my place in the passage I'd been skimming through. It was a dull recap describing a feud between a group of goblins and a wizard whose name I'd already forgotten.
"Obviously." I said though my yawn, dipping my quill in the inkbottle floating near my elbow.
I scribbled another paragraph onto the parchment describing the circumstances under which the wizard—I skimmed the page—Roark had cast the Rabble Shield. In truth I wasn't doing this because Sarlow assigned it but for my own interest. I tried to think of the last time I'd actually turned in any homework.
Huh. I think the last assignment I did before O.W.L.'s for...well it certainly wasn't for Potions.
I had stopped doing homework for the Institute's Potion Mistress since she'd ordered me to a lifetime of shelving and scrubbing.
I suppose that's one benefit of having to come here. No more cauldron scrubbing or labeling ingredients.
Prince's growls increased in their intensity and I spared a tired glance at the hovering Allman who was glaring at him. When I didn't say anything he turned around in annoyance and sat on the couch across from me.
"What shield are you researching?" He asked, leaning back into the couch. He laid one hand on his chin, studying me as I balanced the history book on my lap to use as a hard backing to jot down notes.
"An easy one." I said without looking up. It was true. The Rabble Shield, according to the historians, was one of the most simplistic defensive spells used in the feud between Roark and the goblins. The only problem is that was all they said about it.
I was noting the circumstances in which the spell had been cast in hopes of researching it more extensively tomorrow. If I could narrow down what type of shield it was and what other spells could be compared to it locating it in the library would be simple enough.
"Malfoy wants us to meet him here at two."
"In the morning?" I asked incredulously, lifting my head up to look at Allman. He nodded, flicking his dark hair out of his even darker eyes.
"If he thinks I'm meeting him tonight after the day I've had…" Shaking my head I began stuffing my notes into an inner robe pocket. "I'm not meeting him here at two in the morning." I snapped my book shut and corked my inkbottle before banishing them into my book bag.
Prince glared at me as I got up off the couch, bumping my tingling feet against him. I rubbed them, trying to wake them up as I curled my shoulders inward in a silent stretch.
"I swear he's the kinda kid you could use as a blue print to build an idiot." Running a hand through my partially dry hair I stood up and slung my book bag over my shoulder
"I'm going to bed. Tell him he can shove his meeting up his skinny white ass."
Prince's ears perked up at "bed" and he eagerly rose to lead the way to our dormitory. I rolled my eyes and went to follow him at a more sedate pace as my muscles twinged.
Oh, I'm sore. I'll have to stretch before I turn in or else I wont be able to roll out of bed let alone sit up in the morning.
"Astrid." Allman had gotten up from his seat as soon as Prince had disappeared around the corner. I stopped, looking back at him as I waited.
"What?" I said, giving him an impatient look as he came to stand next to me.
Nice. Very nice. A smirking part of my brain commented as I watched him. I determinedly ignored that thought, or tried to.
Damn hormones.
"Just try to understand…" He sighed irritably, rubbing his hand through his hair.
"Look, I told you about our parents, right?"
"No, actually you didn't." I said, crossing my arms.
"Fine, then just listen to me: Malfoy might be an ugly git, but he's a dangerous one, you have to be cautious!"
"Dangerous, hell Allman, I'm dangerous. You know, at first I thought I'd slowly push Draco out of the picture, but there's just something about him that pisses me off. I don't give a rat's ass if his father's a Death Eater. So what?" I snapped, responding to his mounting frustration.
"Look, you can't just—you have to think this through! Malfoy has a lot of influence, and I'm not talking about just inside Hogwarts. You'll be hard pressed to find a pureblood wizard who doesn't owe a favor or more to his father."
"Yours for example." I summarized quickly. The little prick had something on Allman's dad and he'd better play nice or else something unpleasant might happen.
"Yes. Like my father." He admitted tightly. "But some of his father's acquaintances might have other reasons for hurting you and they'll do it in anyway they can."
"What? Is he going send Daddy's friends on me? I highly doubt his father would start calling in favors in order to silence a worthless halfblood American who's partial to muggle clothes." I mocked, scoffing at his seriousness.
"Agh! You just don't get it do you?" His eyes were heated as he went to grab my shoulders, but he snatched them back before actually touching me.
"Get what? I'm sure Draco's dad has better things to do than murder one of his son's playmates." I said forcefully, frustrated with his unreasonable fear.
I was oblivious to the stares we were drawing from people coming back from dinner. He made quieting gestures and tried to steer me away from the dormitory entrance. I only went a couple steps before brushing off his hands as he tried to placate me.
"Malfoy isn't my problem. Suck up to him if you have to, but it'll be a cold day in hell before I let that whey-faced runt dictate my life. I'm done walking on eggshells! I don't need his bullshit, and I certainly don't need yours. So back the hell off, I'm going to bed damn it."
"Reerrow!"
The fierce yowl jolted me awake. My eyes flew open and I sat up quickly, my heart nearly jumping out of my chest as I crouched defensively amidst a wad of tangled blankets. Something had ruthlessly flung aside my dark green bed hangings. I blinked and groaned in disgust, falling back against my pillows.
"What d'you want?" I growled, throwing my arm across my face. The rush of energy triggered by my flight-or-fight reaction was still surging through my system, leaving me a little breathless.
I hate waking up like this. Damn. I should've stretched. I'll have to do it in the shower because there's no way in hell I'll be able to make it through the day if I don't.
All those exercises had turned my body into a giant knot; even my arms and stomach had hurt when I'd jumped up along with my lower back muscles, my thighs, calves…
"Err, well, I uh…" The girl who'd woke me up stammered, obviously petrified by the ferocious looking cat spitting at her. I kicked Prince from beneath the wad of blankets.
"Well?" I snapped, glaring at the vaguely familiar girl. When she still didn't respond I sighed, flinging aside the rumpled blankets and resentfully scooting to the edge of the bed, biting back a groan.
"Move." I said, pushing past the girl as I climbed out of bed to fumble with my trunk before realizing I'd locked my keys inside the nightstand.
Grumbling, I limped back over to my bed and reached under my pillow to retrieve my wand. Maureen was already up and out.
She must be one of those early birds. Ugh. Disgusting. At least I won't see her in the morning though.
Catching sight of my alarm clock, I swore violently.
7:17 A.M.
"What could you possibly want from me at seven in the morning?" I asked while I unlocked my trunk. There wasn't any point in crawling back into bed, it was too late for that. I sorted through my collection of torn and equally battered jeans. The nervous, mousy haired kid cleared her throat, finally finding her voice.
"Um, Val asked me to wake you up to run, so I err, well he said you wouldn't mind." She said defensively. I eyed the girl, trying to place her.
"Oh, and I'm—"
"Renshaw. Heather Renshaw, third year Hogwarts student." I said turning back to my trunk.
Damn it! I forgot about running. Well it'll warm me up and help get rid of the kinks.
The girl had an odd look on her face as I pulled out a beat up windbreaker, a black sports-bra, and a pair of old jogging pants from one of my compartments.
"You sat next to me during lunch yesterday. You hate ham sandwiches and have a crush on the boy who sat farther down the table next to a girl with short hair." I said, recalling the envious looks she'd sent the feather brained chit.
Her eyes widened momentarily before she could hide it behind a mask of scorn.
"I do not like Malcom Baddock." I just stared at her. She glowered at me for a moment before dropping her eyes, grumbling something that sounded a lot like "well I don't".
"Frankly I could care less about whether you do or do not. What I do care about is never seeing you in here again. I don't care if he's dying. Allman can damn well shove his requests up that nice ass of his. Don't fall for pretty faces, kid. You'll only regret it."
"Do you?" She shot out belligerently. A sharp crack of laughter escaped me.
Oh yes, I'd almost forgotten. They think I'm slobbering over Allman. That bastard.
"Don't believe everything you hear, and only half of what you see. Now scat." I jerked my head towards the door. She left in a huff, the door shutting silently behind her.
"Kids. I'll have to ward the curtains." Sighing heavily I slowly pulled on my running clothes and inexpertly raked my hair steadily growing hair back into something vaguely similar to a ponytail. In another month or so I wouldn't surprise me if reached my elbows.
Maybe Dad was right. Maybe I should cut it.
Yeah, and maybe you should have let him smack you around, too. I growled into the long mirror hanging on the back wall, snatching up my wand.
"And perhaps he'd be alive if you hadn't pissed him off." I sneered at my reflection before storming out into the hall.
When I finally reached the great hall—having left Allman gasping for breath near the entrance along with a handful of other students who had decided to do the homework for Gooddell—my sides were heaving and my face was flushed. The castle felt reasonably warm compared to outside, making my skin feel hot and sticky.
I ignored the looks my outfit drew, and fell into an empty chair near a cluster of giggling girls. I recognized and ignored Pansy and Maureen, pouring myself a glace of water.
"Excuse me, what do you think you're doing?" One of the girls close to Pansy asked, sneering at my sweaty face and muggle clothes.
"What does it look like?" I asked, my stomach growling as I spotted a platter of ham and cheese croissant sandwiches. I felt loads better than I had this morning. I'd worked out the knots in my legs and arms after I'd down some practice sprints up and done the school steps, doing some serious stretching when I was done.
That potion Zabini gave me helped too. He was the only one who was smart enough to warm up first. Idiots. I hadn't realized boys were so stupid before coming here. That's what I get for attending a co-ed school. Speaking of idiots…
"Hey pass those over here." Allman said, taking a seat next to me. I took another one off the plate before passing it on to him and the other Slytherin boys wearing the wizard equivalent to muggle exercise clothes who had just drug themselves into the hall.
I grimaced as they invited themselves to the other empty seats around Allman.
"Morning Val." The same girl who'd been talking to me said, giggling.
Uck.
"Morning. How long have you been in here?" Allman said, directing the last question at me. I could feel the collective glare from the girls on me. I tried not to roll my eyes.
"Not long. I walked around outside for a while to catch my breath." I said, taking another bite of the sandwich.
"Knew you were fast, but bloody hell Astrid, I didn't know you could fly." A tall, brown haired boy across from me said, shaking his head as he helped himself to four of the croissants.
"What, you didn't see her bolt yesterday, Theo?" An older boy with a bold nose and hair ruffled like a haystack said as he leaned over Theo to stab at a plate of sausages.
"No, I was too busy dodging the bloody hippogriff. Heard about it though. Zabini told me."
"Yes I believe I did." Zabini said, pouring himself another goblet of water.
"Oi, Astrid! Did Emrys assign you a partner?" Lucas Varner, a short stocky teen asked from his place beside Allman at the end of the table.
"Not you." I said pointedly, finishing the croissant and pushing back my chair.
"What time is it?" I looked over at Allman's watch.
"Eight fifteen. Where're you going?" He asked, taking the offered plate of sausages from Zabini.
"Back to the common room. Not that it's any of your business." I said, grabbing up my other sandwich.
Arrogant prick.
"Not your witch any more, eh, Valentine?" Theodore Nott snickered as he snatched up a couple of napkins. Allman glared at him, his hard stare discouraging further comments.
They hadn't stopped heckling him since we'd left the common room. Once I'd entered the common room I had lifted my wand and sent him flying into the opposing wall. Once I had jerked him upright until our noses were only inches apart, I had then informed him that his ass would be grass if he did not stop bothering me.
"Got great taste though. I wouldn't mind shagging her myself." The guy sitting beside Nott remarked, making a show of running his eyes over me.
Not on your life.
"Say that again Throckmorten and I'll see to it that the size of your—wand, reflects the size of your brain. Petite." His friends howled, slapping him on the back.
Throckmorten's eyes glinted, an unpleasant grin forming on his dusky features.
"I think you'd find my wand more than satisfying, Sweetblood. Care to try it on—"
"No, I don't think she does, Joseph. So tell me Astrid, is your name actually Sweetblood now?" Zabini interrupted, giving his friend a pointed look before turning to me.
"Yes." I said tersely, not missing the smirk Throckmorten shared with a snickering Nott.
I didn't realize boys were so…stupid. I almost miss the Institute. No boys.
"Then you have inherited Sweetblood Hall, correct? Or am I mistaken in that the ring you are currently wearing on your thumb is not the signet ring of the late Mr. Evander Sweetblood?"
"No idea. What's your point, Zabini?" I snapped with no small amount of impatience.
I was very aware of the kind of attention I was receiving from my table partners and had no intention of hanging around any longer than was absolutely necessary.
"You mean he hasn't told you?" Exclaimed Zabini with a false air of surprise.
"Bugger off, Zabini." Allman said dangerously, his body tensing up.
"Told me what?"
"Sweetblood Hall is one of the largest estates in Europe. Needless to say, many would feel cheated if such a magnificent property were to be given to a…person such as yourself." He said lightly, leaning back in his chair.
I had the distinct impression of a marbled eyed snake recoiling after having successfully delivered a fatal strike.
"Cheated." I echoed, going over the implications in my mind.
"More or less. The house alone is worth millions of Galleons. My father once told me that the Sweetbloods had enough Galleons to fill Gringotts." Zabini said, watching me carefully.
I looked over at Allman.
…If none of my named children survive me or leaves a lineal descendant who survives me, then according to the order of succession, I name Marian Blodwen Allman and Bridget Anna Somerlad as my beneficiaries...
Marian Blodwen Allman. Oh. I mentally kicked myself.
If I had just stayed away or, even better yet, died, Allman's mother would have inherited Sweetblood Hall. And their darling prodigy was here to make sure that if they couldn't kill me for it, perhaps they could procure it through more lawful means.
Fat chance that'll happen. I don't intend to tie that particular knot until I'm damn well and ready to, thanks.
Of course his family wouldn't be the only ones trying to get their hands on my inheritance through marriage or murder.
Might have other reasons to hurt me…I chuckled suddenly, startling them.
My life was in danger because of a house, and chances are I'd loose it before I ever stepped foot inside of it. The Floo-Connection and water bills alone would suck my paycheck dry.
I mean come on! I was going to be killed for a house the bank would probably end up confiscating once they realized I wasn't paying taxes.
"Unbelievable. Look I've got to go take a shower. I swear…" I left the great hall shaking my head. I'd have to do interviews today if I wanted to have some money to buy food and clothes with.
Too bad. After all, it is my mother's house.
The thought made me sigh deeply and I ran a hand through my sweaty hair as I headed down the dungeon steps. Grimacing, I wiped my hand on my pants. Classes started at nine, I needed to hurry if I wanted to get to Charms on time.
"Damn it!" I spun away from where the Charms door had been, scanning the corridor in hopes that it might turn up. I'd nearly made it inside the classroom before Maureen had shoved me back out into the hallway and then slammed the door.
Bitch!
"Ahrg!" I strode angrily down the corridor, my robes billowing around my knees.
I'd already ran into doors that weren't really doors just parts of the castle pretending, and then there were the doors that had to be cajoled open or touched in a certain spot. Not to mention the stairs. They also moved, disappearing and reappearing at will, or simply shifting to another stairwell while you're on them.
"Damn!" Someone said.
I looked over my shoulder to see an angry Ravenclaw girl with a wide mouth and wavy white-blond hair standing in front of where the door had been.
"Who in the hell shut that damnable door before everyone was inside?" She growled, coming over to stand beside me.
"Maureen McVeigh." I said tersely, glaring with her at the wall.
"Bitch. C'mon then. We'll have to run up to the fourth floor before she thinks to shut it again." She started off down the corridor and I followed after a moment's hesitation.
We hurtled down the hallway and down the next flight of stairs to the end of the corridor.
"Oh no you don't!" The girl panted when we saw Maureen's looking at us from down the hall as she waved us goodbye, her hand closing around the knob.
"Petrificus totalus!" The girl's spell zinged down the corridor and just barely missed Maureen as she screamed, jumping back away from the door.
We made it to the door, our breathing only a little uneven. We didn't draw too much attention as the other students were still talking and sitting on desktops. The Charms teacher was nowhere in sight.
"Astird!" I looked up from where I'd tossed my bag on the floor next to the last available seat in front of the Ravenclaw girl who was still spiting nails as she wove her way over to Maureen to yell at her.
Allman had saved me a seat at the very back of the room along with the rest of the Slytherin guys. I spotted Malfoy lounging against the far wall, his chair tilted back as he held court in the far corner next to Zabini and the others.
When Galleons grow on trees.
I heard a few comments tossed my way and resisted the urge to hex Throckmorten's balls off as I took my seat.
"Settle down now, settle down."
I raised my chin as I attempted to find the source of the voice. A small man with white hair and a cheerful smile was standing at the front of the class atop a very large pile of books.
You've got to be joking.
"Welcome back students, and hello to our newcomers. I am Professor Flitwick your Charms instructor. If you are in this class that means that you have successfully completed your O.W.L's and wish to gain a N.E.W.T. in Charms…"
The squeaky little man went on for some time, outlining the course for the year and discussing the difficulty level of the homework and projects. For the majority of the first half of the period the class was moderately quiet, making a list of charms they remembered and copying down the week's homework assignment. He then handed us a perquisite quiz that covered everything we should already know or needed to brush up on by this same time next week before we began learning any new material.
This sucks ass. I thought as I reviewed my test answers for the third time. According to the clock fastened to the wall at the front of the class we had only had a minute left to finish our one hundred and nine question "quiz".
Satisfied with my work I flipped my test paper over and leaned back in my chair to listen to the groaning, swearing, muttering, restless shifting, nervous tapping, and sniffling coming from my classmates as they hurriedly scribbled in their answers.
"Quills down." Groans and curses filled the room as Professor Flitwick summoned the papers to his desk a few minutes later.
"Well done everyone! Homework will be due next Tuesday." He called after us as we filtered out the door.
I followed the crowd to lunch, walking in only to grab a sandwich before searching out the library. I had almost an hour before my last class of the day started, time enough to begin researching the Rabble Shield.
Hogwart's library was massive. Endless shelves flooded what seemed to be a room twice or even three times the size of a muggle football field. Tables and private study desks were scattered throughout the maze of towering bookcases filled with dusty tombs and tattered leather bindings. Even the library in Beauty and the Beast would be hard put to outmatch the collection of texts Hogwarts had accumulated over the years.
"Or centuries." I muttered, taking note of the crotchety old witch glaring at me from behind her desk with beady black eyes. She was almost vulture like with her thin flabby neck and her curved head carriage as she watched me through a tower of books stacked on either side of her.
I wandered through the shelves, thankful for the large brass plaques that were fastened to them.
History. How helpful. Now I only have to search this half of the library. Isn't there a card catalog or something that I can refer to?
Sighing I drew a location rune on the shelf before weaving my way towards the front desk where the librarian was lurking.
"Excuse me, where can I—"
"SHH!" She hissed, putting a finger to her thin frowning lips. She scowled angrily at me to make sure I got the message.
"Card catalog?" I asked unfazed by her reaction.
She curtly told me no, taking sadistic satisfaction in the fact that Hogwarts expected its students to find books on their own. It was their own fault if they couldn't find what they needed. Not her problem.
Hag.
Stalking away from her, I traced the second half of the location rune. A line of red light appeared, acting like string as it connected the two runes and allowed me to easily retrace my steps back to the beginning of the historic section.
I searched for titles that mentioned shields, war related shields, protective barriers used in war, and historic defense spells, charms, and/or curses.
Walking along the isles I began to pull out books, occasionally putting some back on the shelf when I saw that they wouldn't be of any use to me. I satisfied myself with four giant tombs and thunked them down on an empty table, raising a cloud of dust. Coughing, I waved my hand in front of my face to clear the air and glanced at the ancient grandfather clock that had been shoved in between two shelves.
Plenty of time. Oh, I need to copy that Healer book too...
I spent the rest of my lunch browsing the books I'd chosen, a frown forming on my face. By the time I'd slammed the last book on the table, having repeatedly gotten up to grab volume after volume within the last forty minutes, I knew I'd could be here for weeks before I found anything.
Questions and speculations sprouted up in my mind like weeds as I walked out of the library, ignoring the disapproving sniff from the vulture woman. Most of the tombs hadn't even mentioned the Rabble Shield and if they did it was only in passing. However, when it was mentioned it was associated with spells used to accommodate large groups of people.
It could just be that it was such a common, simple spell that the writers hadn't bothered themselves with an explanation. I'd just have to look for it harder when I got back from Hogsmeade.
My backpack one book heavier, I tried to remember the directions I'd gotten from another classmate to get from the library to the Healer's room.
Now what was it? The first left and tickle the doorknob on the first door. And something about a fish.
I turned the corner and lightly scratched the black doorknob belonging to the first door on the left. The entire frame squirmed before the door swung inward to reveal a flight of stairs that led up to another hallway perpendicular to the third floor corridor.
Torches had been fixed to the walls, reflecting eerily off them. I heard faint echoes of more voices and was reassured that I was headed in the right direction. I took off down the low stone corridor, ignoring the annoying younger students that passed me.
I reached the painting of a bad tempered goldfish the size of a quaffle and stopped.
"Is this the Healer's room?" I asked it, watching as it proceeded to blow a stream of angry bubbles at me.
"Even the dead animals hate me." I muttered as it deliberately swam away, turning its back on me.
"I will report you if you don't cooperate."
Annoyed, it did a loop-de-loop and the man-sized painting swung open to reveal an elevated doorframe. I grasped either side of the frame, pulling myself up and through.
"Stupid fish." I muttered, lurching forward as the portrait door slammed shut on me.
Oddly enough it wasn't a room I'd entered but a short curved hallway. There were three doors in the bend and a fourth at the end of the small corridor. There was a long mirror between each bewitched window that faced the Forbidden Forest. I saw several students, mostly girls, priming in the mirrors as they chatted with friends or flirted.
Odd how the Houses clump together, even when socializing. How many of them only speak to their Housemates?
A few people actually glared at me when they saw the telltale green embroidered house patch on my robe. One boy actually flipped me off and in a blink I had drawn my wand and fired off a jinx that stiffened skin. It was very useful if one wanted to preserve facial expressions or physical gestures.
My wand was back inside my robe before the boy realized what had happened. I'd heard a few shocked gasps when I'd drawn my wand but they soon gave way to chuckles as the boy cried out in surprise.
"My hand!" He yelled. His left hand was clutching his petrified right, which was stuck in an offensive position. I smirked.
"You should be more careful. It might stay that way."
"Astrid!" My eyes shifted to the girl standing next to the boy.
"Granger." I said, mocking her admonishing tone. She bristled, opening her mouth no doubt to threaten me with her shiny prefect badge. My eyes lighted on the red-haired lout next to her and I cut her off.
"Ronald Weasley. I believe you owe me an apology." People began to turn around as they felt the rising tension between Ron and myself.
"I don't owe you anything you traitorous hag!" He spat, ears turning red. Harry reached out to place a calming hand on him.
"Back off Potter!" I growled, shaking my head once. "This is between me and my cousin. As I recall you have one of those." I turned back to Ron. "Saturday after breakfast in Professor Emry's room. If you're not there Weasley, it's open game on your ass. Choose your second now." I demanded harshly. Startled, he paused for a moment as he looked between his two best friends.
"I'm his second." The petrified boy declared, his ruddy cheeks red with anger and embarrassment.
"Very well." I said before Ron could protest. My mind raced for a moment and I grinned inwardly, turning to stare at the girls that had gathered around the trio.
"Hannah Abbot." Loud protests from my housemates quickly filled the corridor along with looks of disbelief from the Gryffindors.
What was Sweetblood thinking? A goody-two-shoes Gryffindork act as second for a Slytherin?
I wanted to laugh. Everybody thought Slytherins were so great at duleing, but they aren't. They're just the outcasts, the mean kids with bad attitudes and ambitions. They're the ones who will do what must be done to reach their goal, underhanded or not. But they can't duel, I know, I'd watched some of them during and outside of class.
Hannah's isn't half-bad though. I thought, meeting the girl's bewildered stare coolly.
"Hannah, do you feel up to the challenge? If not…" Once the initial shock had worn off she nodded, ignoring the looks of betrayal Ron shot at her.
"Of course."
Just then the doors along the walls opened and the students began filtering into the classrooms. Hannah, head held high, followed the other disgruntled Gryffindors into the first room.
The rest of the Houses did the same, each wordlessly breaking off to enter a room. The Slytherins had the room at the end of the hall.
I endured the sneers and cold stares of the others who thought I was traitorous, knowing that from now on I'd have someone to vouch for me in Gryffindor. Zabini alone didn't question me, smiling knowingly.
Healing was tedious, the professor being a bent over, elderly man with watery blue eyes. He spoke in a monotone that could have made a Quidditch game dull. According to him, the class would consist mainly of lectures and note taking. We would be expected to read three chapters a week and take our own notes. There would be an exam every Tuesday to make sure we'd read the material and retained the information. Overall it was going to be a fast paced, boring and mainly theoretical class that required a good memory.
Our first exam would be next Tuesday. We had to memorize the location and names of all the bones in a human body along with the names of all the systems, tissues, and muscles.
I left regretting the fact I'd signed up for it.
"Excuse me, do you know where I can find a Mr. Filch?" I asked a shy looking Hufflepuff girl as I walked down the marble staircase towards the entrance hall. She slowed down and stopped a couple steps above me.
"Um," She thought for a moment, biting her lip, "I'm not sure. I've never been to his office. You usually don't have to look far. He normally pops up whenever people are making a mess, or breathing too hard." She said smiling slightly.
"Okay, well thanks." I said, sighing.
She nodded apologetically before continuing on ahead of me. I twirled my wand in my hand as I leaned against the railing.
"Hmm."
I could keep looking around but if there was some kind of bell I could summon him with…the corners of my mouth twitched. Laughing inwardly, I let my eyes wander slowly over my surrounding. I took in the portrait-covered walls, the two statues behind me, the great hall doors, the suits of armor…
Bingo.
Conscious of the other students, I carefully pointed my wand and flicked it in the general direction of the armor. "Promovi!"
A moment later a series of crashes filled the hall. Several passing students screamed, scattering before the toppling suits of armor.
"Huh. Someone should've spaced them further apart." I observed, wincing as the last suit fell to the floor. I counted six empty spaces lining the wall right of the great hall, the sixth having just barely missed its neighbor.
I went along with the other students, playing spectator as I leaned over the railing to see what was going on.
"Punctual as usual. He's such a git."
"Ooh, I hate him! And that bloody cat."
"C'mon lets go before he pins it on us." A group of students said, referring to an ugly, unhappy man with spit collecting at the corners of his mouth.
The man had appeared from somewhere beneath the stairs, shouting at the few remaining students who hadn't had sense to run when he'd arrived.
"Who did this? I said who did this? I'll have you scrubbing toilets for a week!" He spat, pointing a finger at a horrified boy who had been stupid enough to laugh at the caretaker.
Filch continued to throw a tantrum as a little man wearing strange clothes appeared out of nowhere to yank on the end of his pointed nose.
"GOT YOUR CONK!" He cackled before zooming away upside down, his bell-covered hat jingling.
I made a sound of frustration as Filch ran off hollering after the mad poltergeist.
Racing down the steps I took off after him, spelling a helmet to swivel in front of him. "Mr. Filch, I am to inform you that I will be leaving the castle—" I began.
He cursed fluently, picking himself off the floor. "Fine, just get out of my way!" He growled pushing me aside as he went after his prey.
Making a face at his back I straightened my robes and brushed the hair out of my face. "No need to get violent." I muttered, heading over to the front entrance doors.
Once I started down the stone steps I found myself hoping that Dumbledore hadn't been joking when he'd mentioned that Broomsticks place. Who knows how long it would take me to find a job? The fact that the Dark Lord's servants were running around wouldn't help matters. Employers would have to be even more careful about who they took on.
I'll probably end up working three part-time jobs and barely scrape buy on four, maybe five Galleons every other week, the rest of it going to the house.
Maybe I'll only have to pay property taxes. I can apparate now. Hmm, I'll have to look into that...
(A/N)
Okay, here is Chapter 13! I know it isn't as long as the others but at least it's something. Something is better than nothing. Or so I'm told.
All right, things are going to start picking up. In the next chapter there will be some major developments to help get this story rolling (finally). I have just finished tweaking my new outline and am MORE THAN READY to get crank this baby into gear.
I also want to thank those of you who have sent me "door knockers" to make sure I was still here. Those really encouraged me to keep writing.
So yes, I will keep working on my story but it's gonna take awhile. Reviews concerning my grammar and plot/character ideas would be great. I'm constantly looking over this thing and catching mistakes. It's damn annoying.
Actually ANY reviews would be great because I feel like I'm not getting any feedback and that's really unsettling. The lack of reviews insinuates that my story is horrible and isn't worth commenting on.
HOWEVER, if it is horrible I would like to know why and what would be better instead.
I mean, If you notice something is wrong tell me! Even if you don't know how to fix it. Just to bring the problem to my attention so I can fix it.
And tell me where the problem is so I don't have to dig through this thing.
Hope you don't find too many errors, the author.
PS: Hope you had a good Thanksgiving