A/N: So I'm sure everyone is tired of my old 'flashdrive ran away' excuse, so I am now saving all my documents on the computer. Hopefully this chapter doesn't suck too badly and I can be forgiven for the obscenely long wait.

2015 update: I think I've officially abandoned this story, sorry! maybe one day I'll come back to it! :)

Chapter 5: Observations

"Memory, are you sure you wouldn't like to join the rest of the class up here?" Professor Kettleburn called from the edge of the Forbidden forest, where the rest of my class was standing.

I however, was not taking any chances with Horace and stood my ground as far away as I could possibly get without being out of hearing range.

"Yes! I'm quite comfortable up here, thank you!" I called back.

Today was part two of our unicorn lecture, and after last week's incident, I wasn't going to let myself get near that, that thing.

"Right then. Today we will be observing Horace with our partners, and at the end of class you will each turn in a joint observation sheet," Kettleburn said.

I made no move closer. I like, er, I mean as a friend, Cedric and all, but he is goin to have to do this on his own.

"Right! Get to work!"

"Memory, won't you come down, please," Cedric pleaded, jogging to the top of the hill where I was standing. "I'd really appreciate it."

I looked around nervously, then, sensing no immediate danger, moved closer. "Fine, but I'm not getting within five feet of Horace," I replied, following Cedric back down to the plot where Horace was happily sleeping.

"Listen, you aren't wearing any lavender perfume, are you?" Cedric asked as he produced a quill and notebook from his bag.

I shook my head quickly. The first thing I had done when I got back up to the dorms was dump all my perfume out the window.

I nearly hit a passerby 1st year, but hey, this is my castle to.

I am perfectly entitled to dump perfume wherever I want, whenever I want.

"Er, I'll write, you watch," I said, grabbing the quill from Cedric. "I don't want Horace to get any ideas."

Cedric smiled and moved to where the rest of the class was standing.

I sighed and sat down on the damp grass, tossing the quill and paper aside.

"What, no unicorn rides today?" George asked, joining me. "I thought you and Horace had a show going."

"Ha ha," I said. "I wouldn't be joking if I were you. That unicorn is an absolute bloody loon."

"Ah, see, you have something in common. You two should be friends!"

I hit George on the arm lightly. "Unlikely."

"Hullo George," said Cedric, coming back from his observation with the 'creature'. "Here, Memory, write this down. The unicorn is a gentle creature from what I can tell by it's peaceful-"

George had started laughing hysterically and excused himself.

"I'm not writing that down," I said to Cedric, who sighed and took the paper from me. "That is definitely not true."

Dinner was quiet. Too quiet. Only because Alicia and Fred had accidently sat next to each other, but they were both too stubborn to move.

"So, how are you, Fred? Haven't seen you around, really," I said awkwardly.

Fred shrugged. "I'm fine. How are you?"

"I'm fine," I answered pathetically. "Alicia?"

"Fine," she answered through barred teeth. "Just peachy."

"I see," I said, and returned to my peas. "George, what about you-?"

George was apparently deep in conversation with Lee, who had an odd mischievous expression on his face.

"Fine then, Angelina! How are you?" I said desperately.

Angelina smiled. "I'm well, thank you."

I smacked George on the shoulder. "George! You didn't answer my question. Just how are you?"

George rubbed he shoulder and glared at me. "A simple 'excuse me' is all it takes, y'know. I'm good."

I looked beyond George to Lee. "Lee, how are you?"

Lee didn't answer, so I did something rather uncalled for.

I flicked a large glob of mash at him, which landed in his lap.

Icebreaker accomplished. Our end of the table burst out into a fit of laughter, even Alicia, and the fight began.

George threw a handful of peas at me, and I chucked another handful of potato at Lee, who finally caught on and threw a piece of chicken at Angelina.

"Lee Jordan!"

Another spoonful of mash was in his hair before he could say 'food fight'.

Funny, the same thing happened when McGonagall came over to give all of us detention.

Oh Professor, what would we do without you?

"George, will you pass me that sponge," I called across the table. McGonagall had given us the lovely task of hand-cleaning the entire great hall. Normally, the house elves took care of, so you can imagine what a large undertaking this is.

"Here," he said, tossing it across the other end. "Fetch."

I rolled my eyes and went to retrieve the sponge, and on my way, ran into Fred.

"Having fun?" I asked.

Fred sighed. "Oh yes, Alicia has been particularly pleasant all evening. Girl doesn't know when to just shut up."

I smirked. "I think you two should make up so the rest of us don't have to listen to it. Just a suggestion."

Fred's ears turned red and he turned around and mumbled something I didn't quite catch.

"Pardon?"

"I said, I couldn't, because I like y-!"

"Memory! There are going to be potatoes in my hair for weeks!" Lee said loudly, interrupting whatever Fred had been trying to say.

"Hey, that was Angelina, not me," I defended, taking my sponge and retreating back to my side of the hall. "Take your childlike complaints out on her!"

Lee stuck his tongue out at me and did just that.

Not five minutes later, he was also soaked to the bone by said Angelina, who had deemed it appropriate to douse him with her bucket of soap water.

"Next time, maybe we should just play a friendly gave of exploding snap," George said, leaning against the table to observe the rather humorous scene in front of us.

"Friendly and 'explosives' don't mix well with you George Weasley and you know it," I said.

George shrugged. "The common room has only caught fire twice. That's practically nothing. We have three more days of this."

"And to think that I was under the impression this year would be boring," I added, as Angelina once again dumped her refilled bucket on Lee Jordan's head.

And an entertaining detention it was.

Thanks to everyone who reviewed last chapter! You rock!

Mellobird: Wow, that's some dedication! Here you go with a new chapter! :)

Thanks for reading!

-Valfish