Andi plummeted towards the ground. Her broom fell beside her and she grabbed at it. She was vaguely aware of Oliver racing towards her, but she had got her leg over the broom before he got to her.
"Are you alright?" he asked, putting a hand out to help Andi onto her broom properly. She took a long breath.
"Yeah. Yeah, I'm okay," she replied, pulling herself onto the broom. Andi's jumper had shifted so it was twisted around her. Her dark hair had been blown from its ponytail.
"S-so I'm thinking that was an adverse reaction," Oliver said quietly.
"No!" Andi said. "I just slipped. I didn't know there was a ball." Oliver nodded, guiding Andi down towards the pitch, carefully.
"Yeah. McGonagall came and put a notice in the common room when she was telling us about the Hallowe'en feast. You've only been here a little while, but after all the fun we've had out here practicing together, I feel like you're one of my best friends," he said. Andi smiled. She was ecstatic that he'd thought of her.
"I'm really flattered. If it means much, I think you're one of my best friends too," she said. Oliver laughed and suddenly darted his broom under hers.
"I'll race you back to the castle," he said.
"If Filch catches us–" Andi didn't finish her sentence. She was already racing towards Oliver.
"Can I copy your notes after class?" asked Oliver. Andi shushed him. She was listening intently to what Professor Snape was saying.
"Keeva–"
"Shut it, Wood, I'm trying to listen," she said. Oliver turned away from her. He'd become used to her calling him Oliver.
"Would you like to share something with the class, Ms. Haggerty?" asked Snape.
"No sir. I was just answering a question that Mr. Wood had about the potions notes you said were due tomorrow," said Andi. Snape pursed his lips and turned back to his whiteboard. As he moved his wand, words and pictures appeared in white chalk, scrawled across the vast green board on the dungeon wall.
"As I was saying, you will be paired with the student next to you. You have the rest of the class to brew a small pot of Amortentia. Any student caught taking any out of the cauldron will find themselves in detention during the next trip to Hogsmeade… Now, get the ingredients from the cupboard and turn to page 257," said the Professor. Immediately, Andi set about summoning the ingredients from the cupboard.
"Is that everything?" asked Oliver. Andi shook her head.
"Accio one sprig of asphodel," she said quietly. A small twig with dry leaves whisked its way past students that were actually walking to the potions cupboard, and into Andi's hand.
"What do you think you're doing?" asked Snape. Andi smiled respectfully.
"I'm fetching my ingredients, sir," Andi replied.
"I asked you to get the ingredients, Miss Haggerty, not to summon them. Five points from Gryffindor," he said. Andi went to say something, but Oliver clamped a hand over her mouth.
"There's no use arguing with him; he'll just take more points," said Oliver. Andi nodded, silently fuming.
It took the rest of the class, but finally Oliver and Andi had achieved the swirling steam and pearly sheen that the potions textbook called for. Andi bewitched the fire so that it came down to a simmer as they waited for the professor to evaluate their brew.
"It smells like broom polish and wind and freshly cut grass," said Andi. Oliver couldn't help but laugh.
"Of course it does. It's supposed to smell like whatever the person likes best," replied Oliver.
"What does it smell like to you?" asked Andi, pushing a black curl behind her ear. Oliver went to reply, but she cut him off. "Wait! You don't have to tell me. I don't want to force anything out of you with… with I don't know what." Oliver put a hand around her shoulders.
"Hey there, you're not forcing me to tell the truth. I smell what you smell: quidditch," he said. Andi stepped away from him as Professor Snape came up to inspect the potion.
"It is… satisfactory," he said. Andi had to bite her tongue to keep from spitting. The potion was perfect. She wondered if maybe she should throw it at Snape, but Oliver predicted her reaction and pulled her a step back from the cauldron.
Snape inspected several other potions. When he came to one brewed by two of the Slytherins in the class, John Travers and Malic Shafiq. He praised them and awarded them two points. Andi glanced at their potion. It was just as good as hers was. She seethed.
At the end of class, Andi stopped by Professor Snape's desk. It was littered with papers and vials. She could see a bat wing poking out from underneath an advanced potion manual. Oliver caught her by the arm, but Andi shook her head.
"Be careful," he warned her. Andi nodded, and stood up straighter as the last student left the room.
"What do you require, Miss Haggerty?" asked Snape. Andi clasped her hands behind her back.
"I'd like to know why you favour students from your house," she said. Snape narrowed his eyes at her.
"Miss Haggerty, I understand that you have just discovered your… abilities, but I will not stand to have them used on staff. Twenty points from Gryffindor. And I'll have you know that I am a skilled Occlumens and your abilities have little affect on me," Snape said, turning his nose up at the short girl before him. Andi straightened her burgundy and gold Gryffindor tie.
"Professor, I am not trying to use my powers. I simply asked you why–" Snape turned away from her. "Professor, look at me. I enjoy potions. I want to enjoy your class. But I find it very difficult when you only reward and praise students who are not in Gryffindor. I didn't choose my house. You didn't choose yours. Let me re-phrase my question. Why do you treat Gryffindors the way you do?" asked Andi. She was totally calm, and did not raise her voice. Snape turned back to look at her, his body stiff. She could feel him straining to avoid her ability, and he didn't give in. However, he chose to answer her question anyways.
"Gryffindors are pompous and arrogant, with no respect for anyone," he said evenly. Andi nodded.
"I can understand that," she said, walking so that the distance between them was closed. She felt something creeping up in her as she looked into his eyes. It was pain. A deep pain that shot through her chest. There was guilt also, and a profound regret. Pieces of a picture formed in her head. A young boy, suspended by his ankles…
"I know… I know that there have been Gryffindors who've treated you badly, Professor–"
"HOW DARE YOU–" Andi continued, unphased.
"I didn't mean to. It happens organically. I can't control it any more than you can control your pulse. I'm trying to say, sir, that what your doing to my classmates and myself is unfair. It's punitive. Have I ever spoken out of turn in class? Have I always given you my undivided attention? What about respect? You mentioned respect. Well I have always been respectful towards you, and in my classes, I expect the same from my professors."
"Yes, Gryffindors can be loud and boisterous, and even downright stupid sometimes, we value chivalry. And being respectful is part of being chivalrous. But you can't ask for our respect if you don't offer some in return. Do you see what I mean, sir?" said Andi. Snape's anger had faded. His breathing was slightly irregular. Andi thought she could hear muttering, someone speaking quickly in confused tones, but his lips didn't move.
"Out, Miss Haggerty. You'll be late to dinner," said the professor. There wasn't any emotion in his voice. Andi wasn't sure if she had won a victory, but it certainly hadn't been a loss.
"Clear the way!" yelled a Ravenclaw across the hall. Too late, Andi looked up to see Peeves dropping hunks of thestral dung. A large pat of it landed square on her left shoulder and knocked her potions books out of her hands. Her notes were scattered across the hall. Peeves laughed hysterically. Andi sighed and pulled out her wand. She wasn't quite sure what purpose the new white ring had, but it hadn't affected her spellcasting. She wasn't sure if she knew a spell to get rid of thestral dung.
"Vastum Rasce," said a voice behind her. The pat immediately vanished.
"What's your name?" asked the boy, already helping to collect her papers. Andi could tell from his robes that he was a Hufflepuff.
"Aenegael Haggerty. Thanks," she said, accepting her potions notes.
"I'm Cedric Diggory," said the boy. Andi noticed the shining Prefect's badge on his uniform.
"Well thanks again Cedric," she said. The boy smiled and they went their separate ways as they entered the Great Hall.
Andi suddenly realized how late she was, seeing the fairy cake and ice cream already laid out on silver platters on all of the house tables. She took a seat next to Angelina.
"Oliver said you went to talk some sense into old Snape, eh?" said George. Andi nodded.
"Well? When's your detention?" continued Fred, taking another scoop of ice cream. Andi felt a nagging urge to turn her head. She made eye contact with Snape from across the hall and he muttered something. She looked over to the house glasses and watched a number of rubies, suspiciously the same number she'd lost in class, drop into the Gryffindor pot. She nodded at the Professor, but he was already speaking quietly to Professor Sprout.
"I don't have detention," said Andi simply. She took a chocolate fairy cake from the platter in front of her. Angelina smiled, but Fred and George were incredulous. They launched into a heated conversation as to why Andi never got into trouble. She could only laugh and brush her black hair over her shoulder.
"I heard Oliver asked you to the Yule Ball," said Fred quietly, whispering into her ear, brushing a wisp of her dark hair against her neck.
"Yeah, we're going together," said Andi aloud. She didn't feel any need to whisper or be coy. She and Oliver were good friends. Almost best friends, she thought happily.
"I hope you save a dance for me," he said.
"Me too," said Lee from across the table. "No way you're escaping from my moves."
"No one wants to see any of your moves, Jordan, unless you're moving away!" said Angelina. Jordan smiled and went to say something inappropriate, but Andi spoke.
"No worries there. I'll be free to dance with both of you!" she said loudly enough to drown out Lee's comments. They were distracted by the magically amplified sound of a spoon tapping on glass.
"Students, I would like to have a few brief words about the Yule Ball. First, second, and third years do not have to stay for these announcements, but may if they wish," said Professor McGonagall. Andi was on the edge of her seat. She had hoped that Hogwarts would have dances just like her muggle school back in Cork.
"After having consulted with the Prefects, we have decided to have a theme at this year's Yule Ball. It will be a masquerade. All students are required to wear disguises, and must not come in pairs. This will facilitate new, inter-house friendships," said McGonagall. Andi looked at Oliver sadly.
"Well I guess there goes that plan," she said, taking another bite of cake.
There you go! Another chapter so soon? Well, well. I've gone back and re-written all of the chapters until now to comply with cannon for CoS, so I suggest going back and taking a peek at stuff. Added things are Andi witnessing the Howler, her making friends with Oliver, helping with Quidditch strategy, Herbology class mix ups, etc. I know there's no Yule ball in CoS, but you'll find out what happens with that in the next chapter or two. I've found through the stats that lots of people stop reading after chapter one, and I'd like you to tell me why! What you like, don't like, whatever, about the story so far.
Also, I've introduced Cedric. I quite liked him and I think I'll play around with the character. Enjoy this chapter! Reviews are always appreciated.
Yours in writing,
~Kit~