Usual disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, ect. The story is OC centric, and I own my OC's. Please don't use them without my permission.
Fortunately the rest of the week was less eventful for Logan and his friends, which is not to say it was a dull one. Their week was packed full of new classes, each of which was more gripping than the last, and the boys found themselves lacking sleep from all the new excitement and homework.
There was Transfiguration which was taught by Professor McGonagall, the head of Gryffindor house. Logan would have surely failed the class in the very first month if it weren't for his new friend Bertram, who Logan greeted every afternoon with extreme gratefulness, as Logan had absolutely no talent in turning cat whiskers into toothpicks. In fact Bertram was talented in every class, or so it seemed to Logan, who also saw his friend in Potions class (Logan's favorite class) where Bertram needed no reciprocated help in producing a potion for the removal of yellow toenail fungus.
"Yours does look better than mine, I think. It has a distinctly greener sheen," Bertram did said of Logan's potion. The Slytherin boy agreed, although Bertram's potion worked perfectly well on Colonel Whizbanger's toes.
"Very good, lad," the coach bustled through his mustache, "ten points to Ravenclaw, one for each toe!"
There was even a class taught in the middle of the night. The boys would put their robes on over their pajamas and haul heavy brass telescopes up to the astronomy towers where an owl-eyed Professor Noxus waited in the dark. During one lesson she'd set the students up with their star charts before going inside the castle to use "the little witches room" and in her absence Troy pulled several bottle rockets from his robes. Regulus aimed them at the Gryffindors' tower but not a single firework made it through the windows.
The most boring class by far was History of Magic. It was a class was taught by the most uninteresting ghost to roam the planet, Professor Binns, whom Logan thought was doing a very good job at haunting the students.
"There can be no way that he hasn't killed someone yet. His classes must have bored someone to death by now. It isn't physically possible to listen to him for a whole seven years," said Logan with a yawn. He'd awoken at his desk under the assumption that Regulus had put a sticking charm on him, but Logan's face was plastered to the desk solely by his own sweat and drool. He peeled his skin off the sticky surface with a loud slurp, leaving a pink mark across his cheek.
"I don't think he has yet, no one in their right mind would take him for seven whole years. That's suicidal," said Regulus, who had indeed put a sticking charm on Raneg's desk and was anxiously waiting for the boy to wake up.
"You mean we can drop History of Magic?" asked Logan, a touch excited. He liked the naps but they would be much more comfortable in the Slytherin common room.
"After you get your OWLS you only take whatever classes you want to, but that isn't until sixth year. Trust me, I don't think anyone has taken an advanced history course in centuries," said Regulus. He then poked Raneg in the side who woke with a jump and a cry as his face remained firmly attached to the table top.
"You tosser," said Raneg to a smirking Regulus. Raneg had added many new profanities to his repertoire since meeting his English buddies.
It would turn out that Ebony Troy was the only person who actually enjoyed History of Magic class. Instead of writing the assigned homework Troy would write long parchments full of stories he'd made up over the goblin wars or mermish treaties or the like.
Oddly these were so well received that it was not uncommon to hear Troy leave the class saying something like, "Professor Binns must really like my work-look he gave me top marks! Don't think Gerfwiff the Wicked ever invaded Poland over a misplaced burrito, but what have you." Logan became rather jealous as none of his made-up stories sounded correct enough to Professor Binns.
However for Logan Piers the worse class in the world was not History of Magic. It was Defense Against the Dark Arts. A class that was among the most popular subjects discussed in the Slytherin common room.
"This is the class for the black magic?" Raneg had asked the night before their very first class.
"You bet frog-boy," said Regulus. "We get to learn about all the 'bad magic' that we aren't allowed to use. Why even have the class if they don't want us using what they're teaching us?"
"The class is about protecting yourself, but if you're intelligent enough you could pick up a spell or two," said one of the other Slytherin students, a boy by the name of Oren Selwyn. He was only a year older than them but he held his back in a stiff royal manner when talking to the first years, as if he was much better than they were. His long gold-blonde hair was pulled back so tightly that it lifted his lips into a constant sneer.
"Well this year we have Professor Avariche and he let us practice the Bat-Bogey hex on our first day," said Dolohov, a large fifth year with arms the size of tree trunks.
"Bat-Bogey hex, big deal. Avariche will never let us get to the good stuff, he just wants us to practice," said Selwyn working to keep his voice calm. He knew better than to antagonize a fifth year, especially one as big as Antonin Dolohov.
"In my country we are taught all magics regardless of restrictions. My people believe it is important to know all knowledge, and that magic is only dangerous in dangerous hands," said Raneg.
Dolohov laughed. "Yeah, Avada Kedavra is only dangerous in the wrong hands," he said.
"Well bully all for you, Ranney boy, why don't you just go back to frog-land?" taunted Troy.
"I am not from frog-land," said Raneg with scorn in his voice.
"We have our own ways of learning what we need to know, right Dolohov," said Selwyn mysteriously.
"Watch your mouth, Oren," said Dolohov who then left with an angry look in Selwyn's direction.
None of the other Slytherins in the common room seemed remotely interested in the exchange, but perhaps none had been listening to their conversation. Logan shared quizzical looks with his three friends, but none of them dared to bring the topic up again. The boys retired to their four-poster beds with questions stirring about their skulls.
Friday morning Logan awoke bright and early thanks to Troy's alarm clock, though he would have slept in given a choice. During the night a low croaking sound from Raneg's corner had kept him awake for far too late in the evening. Regulus Black looked up from his pillow with a pair of black shadows under his eyes that matched Logan's.
"I wonder what Selwyn was talking about," Logan muttered as he readied himself for the morning. Regulus was soon up and the boys went to breakfast together, trudging listlessly to the Great Hall.
"Double Dark Arts today," said Regulus raising his eyebrows.
"With the Gryffindors," replied Logan who suddenly didn't feel like eating.
"Can I have your sausages? Thanks," said Regulus once it was obvious that Logan was not going to eat them.
"I'm not feeling well. Maybe I should go see Madam Pomfrey," said Logan looking apathetically into his bowl of porridge.
"You're just nervous about that Stevens girl. It isn't like we didn't notice you watching her at every meal," said Regulus. He licked the grease from his fingers before starting on his eggs.
"I don't watch her, she just gives me these looks now and again. I don't think she's forgotten about what happened on Monday."
"Pass the pepper would you? No, I don't suppose she has. Every so often she gives you these death glares. I mean, if looks could kill…"
"She's going to murder me," whined Logan, slumping further into his bowl.
"Well she is only a girl. You needn't be worried about a girl beating you up, should you?"
"Great, the final insult. Death by girl." Any further down and Logan's face would be covered in porridge.
"Well look on the bright side mate, you can learn how to hex her today in Dark Arts," said Regulus, putting his fork and knife in the center of his empty plate.
"We're in the same class so she's going to learn the same hexes." Both boys stared at their plates, one full and one clean. Regulus rubbed the remaining sleepers from his eyes.
"I have to go get Troy up, he's got my box of sugar quills," he said taking leave. Logan too, pushed his plate away and stood. He wanted to talk to Bertram before class.
The Ravenclaw table was free of Bertram's presence but Logan was not deterred. He found his friend where he thought he'd be, in a corner of the library surrounded by a mess of old tomes each of which would open with a cloud of dust.
"Bertram, I need your help," said Logan before he could be roped into a lengthy discussion on algae textures.
"Of course, what do you require?" asked Bertram with his head still stuck in one of the tomes. They smelled awful and their parchment was so old that it had turned grey.
"I need you to teach me how to hex somebody," said Logan, and with that Bertram did look up from his readings with a peculiar look on his face.
"Why?" he asked simply.
"Well, there's this girl…" Logan began.
"Are you certain you don't need a potion of sorts, or perhaps an enchantment?" said Bertram. "Girls don't respond well to hexes, it's like pulling pigtails."
"No! She's going to kill me, Bertram! I need to hex her before she can do something awful to me. Like break my nose," said Logan.
"If she breaks your nose come to me straight away. There's a growth charm I've been meaning to try…"
"Do you know how to hex her or not? I mean, I thought you were the most intelligent student in our year, but if you don't know any hexes…you know I've seen Chip Peddy use some hexes even though he's thicker than a baboon's-"
"Alright, just hang on. I have to check these out," said Bertram, motioning to his dusty old books. There were seven total that he refused to leave in the library, declaring that "anybody could come and check them out, and I need them!"
By the time they exited the library that had a sparing fifteen minutes before class began. Enough time to teach Logan the incantation but not enough for any practice.
"It's simple, just wave your wand as so," said Bertram and waved his wand, which Logan imitated with a resounding swish. "Good, good, and then say Engorgio, but don't forget to point at your target. I'd avoid the face, unless you want her eyes blowing up."
"Could that really happen?" asked Logan, suddenly concerned.
"I don't know, I've never tried. What are your plans for tomorrow?"
"I'll either be six-feet under in a cold, damp box or hanging out in the common room with Reg."
"Well if you survive I need someone to help me take specimens from the lake. Did you know that there are eleven different types of algae growing on the surface of it's water that will be gone in a few months! If only we had the opportunity to get samples during the summer…"
"Sure thing, Bertram. Now I hope she kills me," said Logan, whispering his last remark. He then hurried off to class and arrived in time to find his friends. Regulus, Troy, and Raneg occupied a table in the back of the room where they'd saved a seat for him.
"Logan, where have you been? We looked all over for you," said Regulus.
"I was in the library, sorry," said Logan. He looked about the room at the Gryffindors and was rewarded with a devil-eyed glare from Acacia Stevens, her beautiful brown eyes so angry that they appeared red. Logan gulped.
"Good morning class, beautiful morning. Let's see here, I have a list. I know I have a list," said Professor Avariche strolling to the front of the class. He did not look like an impressive sort of man, dressed solely in colorless robes of grey and black, but he had a strong chin and youthful looks and his pleasant demeanor put the class at an instant ease.
"You there with the ribbon, would you mind opening the curtains, it's too dark in here. Look how wonderful, we can see the lake. I'll get started on role call and then we can begin the fun stuff! Ahem, Bing, Xui-Li," he called in a joyful baritone.
The list went on until Professor Avariche called out, "Piers, Logan? You wouldn't happen to be related to Hyperion Piers, of Mandrake's Choice fertilizer company would you?"
Logan could hear snickers go up around the room, especially from Acacia Steven's table.
"Yes, he is my uncle," said Logan reluctantly.
"We'll call it fate! Your uncle dated my sister when they were students here at Hogwarts. Do tell him Francis says hello next time you see him," said Professor Avariche with a laugh.
"Yes, Professor," said Logan. He could hear a new nickname in the making from Acacia as she mouthed the words "dung-boy" to her friends.
As the Professor finished the list he patiently asked the class to be silent. "I would like to welcome you first years to the most important class you'll be taking in school, Defense Against the Dark Arts! This class could save your lives one day, not that I wish for any of you to be in such circumstances, but it is my goal for each of you to know the most common and useful hexes, jinxes, and yes, curses and their counters so that you may protect yourself against evil-doers. I myself am a doer not a talker, so we will be starting on simple jinxes today! We'll need some volunteers, how about my near-family member, Mr. Piers, and, yes, you Miss, the exuberant girl in the front," said Professor Avariche, making Logan's heart sink. The Professor had unwittingly chosen Acacia Stevens to perform a jinx on him.
The two rose and met at the front of the class. Acacia grinned at him in a way that Logan was certain in no way resembled happiness. She was eager to get revenge.
"We'll be starting with an easy Knockdown Jinx if you two would watch the motion of my arm, Mr. Piers, Miss? Miss Stevens. And intone, flipendo!" said the professor. He watched Logan and Acacia mimic his movements. "Raise your wrist higher Miss Stevens," he added helpfully.
"Like this, professor?" she asked.
"Yes, perfect. Alright than, let's begin kids. If you will go to the right Miss Stevens, and wands ready. On the count of three I want you to each have a go at it.
"One," said Professor Avariche. Acacia's eyes crinkled at him.
"Two," and Logan felt his palms grow sweatier by the second.
"Three," said the Professor with a shout of finality. Acacia's wand arm came down faster than Logan's.
"Flipedo!" she cried as a gust of energy came straight for Logan's chest.
"En-bahr-gio," Logan fumbled as he was hit in the ribs. The spell spewed from his mouth rather than the newly introduced Knockback Jinx.
His spell hit Acacia in her face and upon impact she began honking through her nose. Logan could hear her as he picked himself up from the floor.
"HOOO-what di-Oonk you do to m-ooonk?" she forced from her mouth.
"We all get a little excitable in these situations, perhaps I shouldn't have had first years dueling," flailed Professor Avariche as he helped Acacia up. "Stupid idea really, can one of you take Miss Stevens to the hospital wing?"
"He di-Oonk this on-Nk purpose," she said pointing a finger at Logan, who was trying his best to stay away from the thrashing girl.
"Oh I'm sure he didn't mean to do this, Miss Stevens, accidents happen. Why just yesterday I had a sixth year blow up my potted rhododendrons. At least I hope that was an accident. Goodness, I don't think Mister Piers even knew what he was saying; I've never seen a spell like this before," said Professor Avariche clamping down on Acacia's nostrils.
Logan's three friends were giving him the thumbs up, Professor Avariche was beckoning to one of the Gryffindor girls to come help him, and the rest of the class had erupted into chaotic laughter. Acacia let out her loudest honk yet.
"Thank you, Meredith, tell Poppy we were practicing Knockback jinxes, it might help," said the Professor. He handed Acacia over to a girl with a red blazer before turning back to the class. "Perhaps I was a tad too eager to have first years practicing dark magic, heh heh. Mr. Piers please take your seat, and everybody let's begin anew with our textbooks shall we? Open to page four of Hexes and their Counterparts class."
The class grumbled while Logan walked back to his seat, getting several jeers from his fellow students. But it was Acacia Stevens, now exiting through the door, that caught his eye. She made a cutting motion across her neck.
"HOoonk," she said before the door closed. Logan could only guess as to what she really said to him, but none of his theories put his mind at ease.
"You just sealed your fate Log, now she's sure to kill you," said Regulus as Logan slouched next to him.
"You don't have to remind me, I know," said Logan. He opened up his book to page four and worked on drowning out Professor Avariche's voice.
Later that night, in the Slytherin common room, Logan flopped comfortably onto an empty couch looking out at the glowing green waters of the loch.
"Now that is more than six feet deep," he said to himself. For a moment he wished Bertram were with him so he could tell Logan about all the critters scuttling across the sand.
"We're going out for a minute, want to come?" said Regulus, bringing Logan out of his head.
"It's almost curfew, where are you guys going?" asked Logan.
"We're going out to find Mrs. Norris; McGonagall told me I needed to do a little extra work this weekend on my Transfiguration homework," grinned Troy, pulling a black mask over his face.
"I forgot the pliers!" cried Regulus. He ran back to their dormitory.
Even Raneg was covering his face in black paint, not that such a thing was unusual for Raneg.
Seeing his three friends run around like lunatics and working so hard at their authentic cat-burglar outfits made Logan realize that he had no need to pout over Acacia Stevens. She might not ever be his friend, and certainly never his girlfriend, but he had three willing accomplices to spend time six-feet under with, and that was more important than a girl who wanted him to have double detention.
"You know, I never thought I'd meet a cat I didn't like, but I'm going to make an exception for Mrs. Norris," said Logan. After all his friends would need him to get out of this mess alive.
I think that engorgio was a charm, and not the engorgio skullus hex but I only meant to use the engorgment charm even though Logan asked Bertram for a hex. Whatevs. Review Please!