London High School was puny compared to Hogwarts. An overexcited young teacher led us through the grounds, pointing out fountains and other trivial things. Even their libraries failed to impress. Three sections of researchable topics, a shelf of encyclopedias, and fiction garbage made up the whole of their literature.
"Our rugby field was recently renovated and just in time too. Hopefully one of you decide to join our team. We're always looking for new recruits."
"What about quidditch?" Ron's gaze landed anywhere but near me. There was no way to inconspicuously silence him.
"Quidditch?" She turned to gaze at us, eyebrows quirked. Malfoy was no help. He nodded along.
"It's a game with a little ball, a couple bats and goals!" I watched her think, but also made sure no one else wanted to help blow our cover with a more in depth explanation.
"No, I don't think so." She shrugged and turned on her heels, "sorry. But, we do have futball." We moved through the school listening as she chattered on about the history of a 50 year old establishment. Malfoy walked backwards facing our group as he pretended to be the tour guide.
"We've got a very nice fountain," he whispered in a nasally mid American accent. His friends snorted -perfecting that innocent expression the moment she turned around- and even Harry, Ron, and I couldn't resist biting our lip in amusement.
We made our way into the Principals office to grab our schedules. At long last the tour had ended. The classes were based on our marks back at Hogwarts which left Harry and Ron in marginally different classes than Draco and I. Blaise grumbled as he joined my friends and his friend joined me.
I never paid much attention to Parkinson as my scholarly beef was with Malfoy, but it was definitely a surprise when she ambled over to Luna. Their classes were ranked from basic to honors to accelerated.
I wasn't entirely disappointed with my class list even if my schedule -down to the lunch hour- mirrored Malfoy's. I shared Lunch and English with Luna, but Harry and Ron may as well have gone to different schools for all the classes we shared. Even my electives had an A just before their course names.
Come to think of it the only class I didn't share with Malfoy was Film. For that slot he was in intermurals with my boys. Pansy and surprisingly Blaise joined me there while Luna took journalism. There was only one portrait with the brains to think this up; Dumbledore. Even in death he was pushing us in directions he saw fit.
My first day of accelerated learning was a world wind of equations and lingo I'd never heard of. The moment I got home I threw myself into my studies. There'd yet to be a subject that got the best of me and today was no different. I was waist deep in calculus when I noticed Pansy tapping her foot in agitation.
She'd have been ignored if not for the fact that her tapping was driving me up the wall.
"Forgetting something, Granger?" She dropped a packet atop my notes. Oh yeah, Starbucks. With a sigh I dragged myself from my textbook and toward the door. Never had I been so reluctant to leave anything, but eight hours slaving over lattes with Pansy was probably the last thing I wanted to do.