Chapter 4: Of Prefects and Potter

August 1991

It was a particularly enjoyable, hot, first of August over little Suffolk. The rain clouds that threatened the sky just the night before was completely missing, only leaving the crisp air. The townspeople were all out, enjoying each other's company and making silly little chit-chats except for the two people that resided in 'the remote house over the hills'.

'The remote house over the hills' was a little name the people in town gave to the house that actually stood alone in the forested area about a kilometer away from the South border of the town. They knew that a very sickly man and his adopted daughter lived together in it, minding their own business, and associating little with others. It seemed, even on a lovely day such as today, they decided to not venture out of their little house.

Inside this said house, a teenage girl of fifteen lounged on the couch with a thick book. Novela Mary Black had grown up to be quite the lovely lady over the years. Her mousy brown hair, which was wet at the moment from the shower she had taken, had grown past her usual shoulder length, down to her lower midriff, in soft waves. Her face had lost its baby fat over the years and had become rather slender, accentuating her calculating, sharp, grey eyes.

At this precise moment, Novi was waiting. Waiting for the Hogwarts letter that just wouldn't come! By this time last year, Novi would have already had the book list for a few days, and would be out shopping this day. She had promised to meet Mona near Fortescue's as they always have since second year, but now, Novi was just paranoid.

Perhaps jinxing Snape's potions cabinet to scream colourful obscenities, so long as Snape's hair was greasy, was too much, maybe they've expelled me, Novi thought to herself. She let out a heavy sigh when a familiar screech she had listened to over the years sounded.

Novi turned her head towards the open kitchen window, just in time to witness a rather old owl smacking right onto the window. "Errol!" Novi exclaimed, watching as the poor owl weakly dragged itself inside the house. Novi crossed the room, dropping the advanced charms book she had stolen from Remus's room. She was not disappointed to see the familiar letter from Hogwarts.

"Here, you pathetic bird," Novi said, bringing a bowl full of water and laying it down onto the familiar small, rounded, wooden table before she carried the old bird to it. It gave a thanking hoot before it drank profusely, promptly before it passed out from exhaustion.

Novi shook her head at the familiar bird of one of her best friends. Percy's family has never been well off, but they really needed to get their bird replaced. If it hadn't been going bonkers for the past four years from old age, maybe her letter would have arrived sooner. However, not paying attention to the bird, she took the letter, opening it up, and scanning the letter. It took a second to realize that there were more than one page this year and she began reading the next page.

"Prefect?" Remus's voice said from behind Novi, making her jump in surprise. She looked over at her guardian who looked as confused as she was feeling. To make the matters worse, she watched as Remus's face contorted before he snorted and proceeded to let out a booming laugh. "Novela Mary Black! A Prefect! Sirius would have had a downright laugh if he knew about this," he managed to breathe out.

"Why would they ever choose me? I'm a nightmare!" Novi exclaimed.

"Well, seeing that you're not a very well-behaved student, they must have thought to put you as prefect, because of your academic abilities," he said as he sat across from her. He looked down at the bird that lounged on the table and cocked an eyebrow. "Killed a poor owl because of the news did you? Anyway, so I'm assuming you're off to Diagon Alley to meet Mona?"

Novi groaned at this, already dreading having to tell Mona about this. She would have a downright laugh in the middle of Diagon Alley. "I'm not so sure if I want to show my face to the world anymore," Novi sighed dramatically. "I had a reputation to keep up, you know. I'm the face of all pranks in school, or I was."

"Don't be so dramatic," Remus said. "You better be off, Mona will be waiting for you."

"Right," Novi replied, getting up and dusting off the imaginary dust on her gray shirt and putting on her blue traveling cloak. She made her way to the fireplace, giving Remus, who still had an amused smile on his face, a look she shouted her destination off to Diagon Alley.

It wasn't long before Novi spotted her three best friends. Mona's brilliant blonde hair could have been spotted from miles away, not to mention she was bloody tall for a girl, almost standing in equal height as Percy. Percy was easy to spot as well, his brilliant red hair that represented that of a bird's nest was quite a sight. It also helped that rest of Percy's family were standing around, talking to them, it was hard to miss a sea of red hair after all. Then, she saw Oliver.

Novi felt her face blush a little at the Scottish boy who stood next to Mona, smiling at something Mona had said whilst she swatted her hand at the Weasley twins. When Novi started to develop feelings for Oliver was a mystery even to her. One day, when Novi saw him riding his broom, she couldn't help but notice how much he had matured. He wasn't that timid lanky boy that suddenly appeared in her compartment anymore, but a confident, well-built stud who made all the girls swoon with just a glance.

Novi cleared her throat, clearing her head of the boy before she called out to her best friend, Mona.

"Novi!" Mona exclaimed as she ran towards the smaller girl, and put her in a choking embrace. "How have your summer been?"

"The same old," Novi said. "Percy's bloody bird must have lost its way before it came to my house though, I didn't get my letter until this morning! Hello Mister and Missus Weasley, have a good summer?"

"Fantastic, my dear. Sorry about old Errol, he's a bit nutters. Needs to take a lot of breathers between his travels," Mrs. Weasley said to Novi as she embraced her in a hug.

"Speaking of letters, however, you better behave yourself this year. Percy is on our arse, he's made prefect, you see," Oliver said as he put an arm around Novi. Novi blushed at this but didn't move away as Oliver kept his arm there.

"Oh, did somebody say that Percy was a prefect this year?" Fred said dramatically.

"Blimey, I would have never known if you didn't say so, Oliver. He definitely doesn't remind us every breathing moment that he's prefect or anything," George said as well.

"Please ignore my brothers, Novela," Percy said in an annoyed voice.

"Ignore us? Novi is the one that gives us pointers on our experiments. She's our mentor!" Fred said.

"Well if Percy is a downright prick this year, she won't be," Mona said. "I'm sorry Novi, but I ain't going to let you get points taken away from Percy."

"Uh… well you see, he won't be able to anyway," Novi said quietly. She looked at the confused faces, and licked her lips. "You see, believe it or not, I'm prefect, too."

"WHAT?" the twins exclaimed.

"Oh that's wonderful, Novi!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed as she clapped her hand excitedly.

"You? A prefect?" Mona asked, looking at her best friend dumbly. It didn't take a while before everyone started a booming laughter, making Novi blush a deep shade of scarlet.

"Well that's it then. Mona's the only that's officially cool now," George said as he linked arms with Mona.

"Why was Oliver dumped out of the category?" Novi asked, confused. She looked up at the boy whose arm was still draped around hers and he stared right back, his grin infectious.

"Well, my dearest. You're looking at the new Gryffindor Quidditch Captain," Oliver said excitedly. "Ever since I got the letter, I've been planning strategies-,"

"Spare us the details, Oliver. Come on, let's get our stuff."

September 1, 1991 Hogwarts Express

It felt like only a few blinks of the eyes had passed when the long awaited first of September rolled in. The familiar pattern of many parents saying goodbye to their children could be seen in the Platform Nine and Three Quarters, filling the place with bitter-happiness.

"Novela, are you ready to go?" Percy asked Novi as she hugged Remus goodbye.

Novi nodded, knowing that Percy probably didn't want to go on the train alone. Novi knew that Percy didn't want to look like a git by himself, coming into the Prefects compartment in front of Penelope Clearwater. "Goodbye Remus, I'll see you during the holidays."

And with a final whistle of the scarlet steam engine, the Hogwarts Express was off once again. "Shall we?" Percy asked as he offered Novi his arm. Novi giggled at this. Percy may have been the most uptight, law-abiding student of Hogwarts, but when you got to know him, he really wasn't a boring character. Novi knew that if she wasn't so infatuated with Oliver Wood, she may even develop feelings for Percy. She knew that Mrs. Weasley definitely hoped that would be a possibility.

Linking arms with her best friend, the two moved toward the front of the train. They had promised Oliver and Mona that they'd come find them after, but first they had to go to the Prefects meeting.

"Well, well. I should've known that you know-it-all blood traitor weasel would be selected Prefect," a snarky screech of a voice said as they walked into the fifth year's compartment.

"Yes, that was a given, if you had half a brain to think with, Helia. He is only the brightest wizard in our grade, but what about you? Slytherin must seriously be lacking decent students if a part Troll like you is selected prefect," Novi snipped, glaring at the girl. Helia Crabbe bounced out of her seat at this, pulling out her abnormally short wand and pointing at Novi.

"Ms. Crabbe, I would appreciate it if you would sit down," the Head Girl said as she walked into the Fifth year prefect compartment.

To say that she was glad that the meeting was over earlier than they'd thought was an understatement for someone like Novi, who liked to walk around and wreak havoc. When they were finally released from their Prefect compartment, the two new Gryffindor prefects made their way down the rather narrow corridor of Hogwarts Express, joining their other two best friends in the middle of the train.

The four talked of the school year to come, what with the OWLs this year. However, soon enough Percy was demanding that Novi immediately changed into her uniform and do their share of the patrol. Novi rolled her eyes at this but agreed as she changed into her uniform in the lavatory, her shining new Prefects badge adoring her robe.

Percy decided to take the front half of the train, leaving Novi to take the back half, which most usually always had more first years. Novi rolled her eyes at this but moved down the corridor, making little conversations with students who greeted her. It wasn't long before Novi was reaching the end of the train, but she sensed trouble when she approached the last compartment.

"I'd be careful if I were you, Potter," the boy who stood in front of the compartment said venomously. Novi froze instantly, Remus didn't mention that Harry Potter would be coming to Hogwarts this year. She didn't know him, but felt responsibility towards him because of her father's actions, so the next words that came out of the little blond faggot's mouth raged her. "Unless you're a bit politer you'll go the same way as your parents. They didn't know what was good for them, either. You hang around with riff-raff like the Weasleys and that Hagrid and it'll rub off on you."

"Is that so?" Novi's cold echoed from directly behind the rude boy. The boys turned around, and the two kids in the compartment's eyes shot up toward her, relief coming down their face. The boy with the blond hair looked terrified while Novi studied the big fat goons surrounding him. "I know a Troll face when I see one. Helia and Cygnus's little siblings, are you? And what's your name, blondie?"

"Draco Malfoy, what's it to you?" the boy barked almost defiantly.

"Well, well, Mister Malfoy. You don't want to talk to your older cousin like that, do you?" Novi stated venomously. "I suggest you remove yourself from this environment before I am forced to take measures and bring into a Professor's attention on what I've just heard. Oh, and take these lards with you, will you?"

Malfoy looked as if he wanted to say something to the older student at this but decided against this as he started to walk away, the two goons hot on his heels. Novi rolled her eyes at this and turned towards the two boys sat in the compartment.

"Honestly Ron, can't stay out of trouble already? Did I rub off on you so soon?" Novi laughed as she leaned against the door of the compartment. The black haired boy she recognized as Harry Potter looked surprised at this, looking between his new friend and Novi.

"Well, I guess I learned from the best," Ron smiled, making Novi smile more. "Oh, Harry, this is Novi."

"Hello Harry. Novela Black, but call me Novi," she said.

"Novi is Percy's best friend. She's also a fifth year Prefect this year for the Gryffindor house, wicked isn't it?" Ron said, making Novi blush.

"Look, avoid Malfoy if you can, his family is bad news. Anyway, I'm sure I'll see you both at the Gryffindor house tonight? Oh, and put on your robes, we're nearly there," Novi said. She gave one stern look towards Harry, holding the gaze for a little more than necessary before she pulled herself away.

(A/N) Hey everyone, I hope you're enjoying the story as much as I enjoy writing it.

I know I am skipping through time a lot, completely disregarding Novi's first four years of school before Harry came along, but I'll try and put flashbacks and whatnot. The way I'm thinking the story is going to be, Novi's life really didn't get very interesting until her fifth year anyway.

Make sure you let me know what you think by private messages or reviews. And don't forget to favorite or follow the story! And if you haven't already, I'm also writing another story called 'Through Ella's Eyes' which is a Draco/OC story, so check that out. Thank You!

xx Bingum