Author's note: Phew...I warned you before, it really takes me FOREVER to upload now that my training to be a wholesaler has started and I only have time on the week-end. I hope you'll forgive me...
Anyway, here's the second chapter for you. Not much to say about this I think. Enjoy ^^
Chapter 2
-The new Project-
I was lucky as Albus was still there and seemed almost longing to be screamed at. Or maybe this was just my own impression…probably it was. So I just screamed and walked up and down our compartment. Dominique was glad that her MP3 player was still working and that she didn't have to listen to me.
At some time, Albus suddenly stood up and said that he would go back to his compartment now. This was short time before we arrived at the station in Hogsmeade, so I hardly cared.
The 'short' way up to the castle in the carriages was peaceful as always…even though Hugo, Lily and Louis were with Dominique and me. They kept quiet, didn't say one single word. And I was really glad they did because after what they had done in the train, I was sure that I'd explode whatever they would do or say.
However, as soon as we entered the Great Hall, my mood was perfectly fine again. Seeing the hundreds of candles which lit the hall, the four long tables and all our teachers at their table…it was great. I always feel like back in my first year, impressed and fascinated.
The sorting went by faster than usual…or at least it seemed like. We had seven new Gryffindors among us now, four girls and three boys. Of course they were welcomed with a long, loud and warm applause as always.
Afterwards, Professor McGonagall – Headmistress and still Transfiguration teacher – only told us about a 'great surprise' for the years 3 and higher which would be explained in detail tomorrow morning in a meeting of all students of each grade with her. Before lessons, so we would have to get up quite early. Then the feast could start and within seconds, cheerful mumbling broke out, paired with the sounds of spoons, forks and knives.
"I wonder what this surprise is…" said Daniel on my right-hand side.
"Nothing good I think. It's suspicious that not even we as Prefects know what it is and that it doesn't count for first and second graders." I answered, lost in thoughts about this topic. No, I was sure that this 'surprise' was nothing we should be looking forward to.
But I was the only one who thought like that. At least on our table. I don't know how the other Houses thought about it. I only heard Lorcan and Lysander Scamander philosophizing about whether it could be one of their 'strange creatures' or not. I really, really doubted that McGonagall would show us Nargles or whatever they were talking about.
~(°|°)~
Later on, I fulfilled my Prefect duties by showing our first years the way to the Gryffindor Tower and telling them our current password. Nothing special as you can see. Quite early that day, I then went to bed where I was chatting with Dom and my other roommates for a few moments before falling asleep.
At six o'clock am, the night was over. I woke the others and prepared for our first school day. I was really excited…how would our teachers' lessons look like this year? We started our NEWT courses…they must be different to normal lessons, or not?
Before this could start, however, we had to wait for our grade to be called to Professor McGonagall…which was at 7:50. Slowly but surely all students from 6th year came walked into her classroom and took a seat.
"Good morning." she said as soon as everyone was sitting somewhere. The room immediately was as quiet as a graveyard was. "As I've told you yesterday evening, this year will contain a surprise. To everyone who hopes that Mr Filch left us, no, he's still there but had to clean the dungeons yesterday. And no, our rules are also still the same and they also still have to be strictly respected."
She shot some students a meaningful look before she cleared her throat and continued.
"This year, the Ministry of Magic wants us to execute a new invented project. This one is, as I've also already told you, for 3rd grades and higher because the Ministry believes that from 3rd year on, you're mostly affected by what they want to prevent through the project. I want to let you know that I'm not satisfied with it myself but that we have to try it for this year."
I knew it was nothing good. Even though the Ministry was still led by an old friend of my parents, things from this institution were never good news. Frowning slightly, I took out my quill and a piece of parchment to note down important details.
"During this year – and I want everyone's entire attention now – one student from one House will be put together with a student from another House. This will happen only within your own year so you won't be put with a 5th year or another grade. In detail this means that you will work together in classes and also afterwards. You are expected to spend as much time together as possible and to get to know the other one better. So you will learn together and probably do other activities together as well."
Quiet murmuring started and even Dominique tried to discuss this piece of information with me. But I just narrowed my eyes a bit and stayed silent.
"SILENCE!" McGonagall bellowed. "I don't see any reason why you should discuss this right now as I'm still not finished!"
From one second to the next, everyone got quiet again and some people also blushed slightly.
"This project is used to try and reduce rivalry between the four Houses. A bit of rivalry is okay, that's out of question but in the last few years, we've witnessed how Hogwarts once again returned to conditions near to HATRED between members of two different Houses and this is inacceptable. I approve that the Ministry wants to change the situation but I'm not satisfied about their means to do it. Now we'll come to the decision on how you're put together."
Dom gave me a scared look on which I could just roll my eyes again. I mean…yeah, sure, I also feared to be put together with someone I really didn't want to be together at all but…freaking out wouldn't help at all so I just stayed as calm as possible.
"You see this bag in my hand. In there are small pieces of parchment, on each one is one name of yours written down. I will now draw out one piece of parchment after another and read them out loud. The first one will be together with the second one and so on. Professor Flitwick behind me will write them down on the board as well. If two names which would be together are from the same house, they'll be put back into the bag. Everyone whose name has been called may leave. Is everything clear?"
Everyone around me was nodding, I just blinked twice. My stomach made a strange flip. This wasn't good, not at all. There were many gits in Hufflepuff, strange guys in Ravenclaw and of course the plague of Slytherins. The probability that my name came together with Albus', Locan's or Lysander's was almost not existent.
McGonagall started a minute later. A girl from Hufflepuff was put together with another girl from Ravenclaw. Then she already drew Dominique…together with Nathan Zabini. My best friend broke out into tears and I patted her shoulder, giving her a sympathetic look. From across the room you could hear Nathan cursing under his breath.
"Good luck, Rose." Dom sniffed before she stood up and left for the Great Hall.
Few turns later, Albus' name was called out and I unconsciously crossed my fingers.
"Albus Severus Potter and…Ro-" Yes, Ro…go on, McGonagall, "Roma Sharma." I felt my heart plummet. Roma Patil was a quite nice Ravenclaw, her Mom was Padma Patil, a friend of my parents.
The two of them left the room, shaking hands together. I sighed.
"Daniel Thomas and…Lysander Scamander. Oh, you're also together on patrol, aren't you? What a coincident…" A small smile appeared on her lips and in the background, Professor Flitwick let out an amazed squeak.
My name wasn't called out until only four of us were left. One from Hufflepuff, one from Ravenclaw, and one from Slytherin.
"Rose Weasley and…oh dear Merlin, same case as with Mr Thomas and Mr Scamander, Scorpius Malfoy!"
"NOOO" I screamed and immediately went red. I hadn't intended to let out my reaction but I just couldn't do anything against it. "Please, Professor this is…I mean…"
"Miss Weasley, the two of you are the most perfect example for why this project was created. And I don't think that Mr Malfoy will curse you while you're sitting in the library or something like that so you don't have any reason for complaint."
"I'm not so sure about this…" I hissed quietly and shot a glance over to Scorpius who was once again smirking.
"I won't discuss this topic, Miss Weasley. You're dismissed for now. Go and get some breakfast before classes. I'm sure everything will look differently when you had a bit of toast or cereals."
Her tone didn't allow any retorts and so I stood up, involuntarily stamping my left foot on the ground and stormed out of her classroom. My face showed perfectly well how I felt…prepared to hex everyone into oblivion if they say one wrong word about anything. I was angry, very angry and felt fooled by life. Why for HEAVENS SAKE do I have to be put together with the little Ferret for Prefect patrols AND the rest of the day as well?! Tell me God, Merlin, Godric and who else what I've done to deserve this punishment?!
~(°|°)~
"Who are you together with?" asked Dominique when I let myself fall onto the empty seat next to her. I glared at her even though I knew it was not her fault and that she also had a bad partner.
"You may guess…" I hissed.
She frowned and then suddenly her eyes widened and her mouth dropped open. "Don't tell me that…?!"
"Oh yes."
"You're kidding me!"
"Oh no."
"For real? HIM?"
"What else? Bad people always get what they deserve…and this time I'm not talking about him…because he doesn't deserve me…"
"And you don't deserve him either! Did McGonagall say something about punishment if we don't work together with those prats?"
"Nope…but I'm sure they'll be much worse than detention or losing House points."
She gulped and didn't continue on this topic again.
~(°|°)~
I was disappointed to see on my timetable that today we didn't have any lesson of DADA together…otherwise my mood might've got better as I could've jinxed and cursed him. Anyway…I wondered…McGonagall must've had a hard time working out our timetables…as we all should be together with our partners in classes at the same time…
Today I had two hours of Charms, two hours of Arithmancy and in the afternoon three hours of Potions. Through Albus I knew that Scorpius had chosen almost the same subjects this year so at least today we really wouldn't have a problem…but I didn't know if I should enjoy this or cry because of this fact.
In Charms then, I was close to another freak out when tiny Professor Flitwick told us that we even had to sit next to our partner during theory. I really thought about going home and never come back when I took a seat next to Scorpius who was sitting way to comfortable. Leaned back, arms crossed behind his head he gave me a dirty look from the corner of his eyes.
6th year was the time of learning how to cast spells without actually saying them. In theory it somehow sounded a lot easier than we all knew it was. The introduction into this topic took the whole first lesson. Quite a long time.
Then Professor Flitwick said that we should now try for the first time by using an old spell which we should perform perfectly by now. Wingardium Leviosa. I rolled my eyes again and next to me, Scorpius let out an irritated groan.
"How are we supposed to do this in groups of two, Professor?" asked Roma with a puzzled expression on her face.
"In turns, my dear. Today, at least in my class, you won't be able to really work together I have to admit."
In turns. Scorpius and I looked at each other, sighed and obviously decided not to work together. He turned away from me, taking out his wand and I did the same into the other direction.
A few minutes into the lesson, I stopped trying for a few seconds, watching my – I'd like to vomit! – partner. My mouth dropped open.
No, he hadn't already succeeded in letting the feather fly without saying the incantation, don't worry!
Nope, he actually tried to cheat. He muttered the spell in near silence under his breath but obviously couldn't concentrate long enough to actually make the feather fly.
"Damn cheater!" I whispered angrily and poked my wand into his arm. He then turned around. I was glad that he wasn't a Basilisk…
"What do you want from me, Weasley? Mind your own business!"
"Oh I would love to, Ferret, but unfortunately we are supposed to work together and therefore your business is my business…at least in classes. And YOU ARE CHEATING just to try and earn points."
"Should you listen properly you'll hear that almost everyone's doing it. So come on, act as a Prefect and tell them off and not me."
"Excuse me?" I shook my head in disbelief, "Since when does Scorpius Malfoy do what everyone else's doing?"
"This was not about me, okay?" he growled.
"Well but you COULD change this shameful moment if you used your brain to concentrate and not your mouth to cheat!"
He opened his mouth to insult me, I could tell from the devilish glance in his cold, grey eyes but was eventually interrupted by Professor Flitwick, "Mr Malfoy, Miss Weasley! Could you please be so kind and stop talking? This is a very important step to take for every young wizard!"
I could feel how I blushed a deep shade of red and chose to ignore Ferret from now on until the end of the lesson.
~(°|°)~
Our situation didn't really improve during Arithmancy as this really was a subject I preferred to do on my own. However, Professor Vector told us that we should try and do the task together. Bad about this: On today's exercise you had two ways which would lead to the correct answer and, how destiny plays, Scorpius and I ended up arguing because he wanted to do it the one and I the other way.
In the end the two of us were the only ones to get extra work because we were the only group who did not finish our work. My mood sunk beneath zero and I was prepared to kill him as soon as we were alone somehow.
~(°|°)~
During lunchtime, I told Dominique about it who felt sympathetic towards me but also had her own problems with Zabini as he had insulted her nonstop, whatever she had done. They had, by the way, also been in Charms but at the other side of the classroom as Professor Flitwick hadn't allowed Zabini and Malfoy sitting together since third year. Afterwards the two of them had Divination instead of Arithmancy.
"Rose…I don't like to say it but…if you want to keep your good grades you probably should talk to him…" she piped few minutes before lunch was over.
I looked at her as if she had lost it.
"Don't get me wrong but…your performance won't be high if the two of you don't get along somehow. At least during classes you'll need to find a solution."
"Pfft…and why don't you do the same with Zabini?" I growled…and felt sorry the next moment. It wasn't her fault so I should be nicer…
"Performance isn't that important for me but if it helps you to do it, I'll also talk to him. We could go together."
Go together? As in…now?
"Yes, Rose, now. We shouldn't wait until Christmas." She answered the question even though I hadn't asked…but it had probably been written on my face.
"…Do you need me? If not I'd prefer to talk to Ferret on my own. Now in Potions should be a good opportunity."
"I'm the daughter of an 'almost-werewolf', I don't need your help." she laughed, winking at me.
~(°|°)~
A few minutes later I went down to the dungeons and into our Potions classroom. Professor Slughorn was already waiting for us.
"Welcome to another year of potion making! This year we'll turn to advanced potion making which is, of course, a lot more difficult than the normal one…"
He went on babbling about what we would do this year but I didn't listen. No, I wanted to…well…not really, I rather NEEDED to talk to Scorpius.
"Psst, Ferret." I whispered and it was clear that I had to force myself to do it.
"Weasley?" he sighed, irritated again.
"You're also interested in good grades, aren't you?"
He didn't answer but only gave me a bored look.
"Then you'll see that I'm right when I say that we have to…brr…I think I'll be sick…that we'll have to work together properly during classes."
Again no answer.
"So I'd say that we discuss how we want to solve a task if there are two or more possibilities to find out which one we choose. If not, we'll just work together as if…we…well…"
"As if we like each other?" he laughed.
"No! Just as if we were partners. Believe it or not with your arrogant brain but I'm quite happy with our hating-terms, Malfoy."
"Whatever."
"Are you in on it?" I looked at him more directly than before.
He turned towards me, lifted one of his blonde eyebrows and then shrugged. "Okay. If we really need to. But don't think that I'll accompany you to your second home."
"Be sure that I won't, I would never want you to sit next to me in the library."
~(°|°)~
You will possibly not believe it, but we really worked together quite well during Potions. We prepared our ingredients together – even helped each other holding those snails in place – and took care of the potion in turns so that the other one could write down the notes Professor Slughorn had written on the board. And in the end, both of us earned 10 points for Gryffindor and Slytherin.
But of course, as soon as Potions was over, we were back on glaring and insulting each other. This would be a looooong year I'd say…