Author's Note: Finally, we get a chapter from Lauran's point of view...I wonder what her day will be like?
Chapter Three:
"Herbology"
The days passed by and before they knew it, it was the Equinox. The air began to become cold and crisp, the typical Hogwarts climate of autumn. On that lovely Saturday morning, Headmistress McGonagall stood at her podium in front of the students filling the Great Hall. She held a anxious smile on her face as she began to speak.
"Your attention, please. Your attention, please. Today, students, I have a great announcement. This year, the staff of Hogwarts and I have decided to begin a new annual event: the Samhain Ball. The Samhain Ball will be much like a dance. Take note, however, this is to be a formal event and dress robes will be expected. On Monday, when you all return to classes, your first class professor will pass out permission slips to be mailed home and signed, so that you may attend. Also, two weeks before the event in question, you all will be allowed to travel to Hogsmeade to purchase your dress robes. Your parents may attend on that weekend, if they wish."
The Samhain Ball was popular talk for the girls during the weekend, and even the talk of Monday morning as they headed to their first classes. On this particular day, Lauran's first class was Herbology. As she walked down the pathway leading to the Green House, she dreaded the upcoming ball. No one would ask her, especially not after what happened in Charms that day. Everyone hated her. She was the Slytherin outcast and because she was a Slytherin, none of the other houses wanted to befriend her. She was all alone.
She made it to the Green House to see Professor Longbottom already starting class. What else is new? I'm always late, she thought to herself. He was going on his usual rant about herbs he found amazing. The herb of today was Gillyweed. She sat down at her normal seat and waited for the ranting to be over. As he continued talking, Lauran's eyes roamed the Green House. In the distance she saw the mountains and desperately wanted to be on top of them. Maybe there she would have freedom to do as she pleased, be as she wanted to be and not have to worry about judgment from anyone or anything. Eyes still roaming, she looked at her immediate surroundings and saw a short blonde-haired boy soaking his brain with the knowledge Professor Longbottom gave them, despite that it had nothing whatsoever to do with their recent lessons. But something behind the boy caught her attention. Behind him, on a shelf lined with pots, was a small, green garden snake.
Ever since she was little, she'd loved snakes. At the park when she saw a snake, she would always try to go near it to pick it up, but her mother did not like that idea. Her mother was desperately terrified of snakes, as was her father. Her heart fell, she was even an outcast in her own family. Secretly wishing she could just get out of her seat and pick up the snake and keep it as a pet, she pondered what she would name it if she could do so. Maybe, after class if she talked to Professor Longbottom, he would allow her to take it with her. She laughed to herself at the thought of sneaking it into Matilda's bed while she was sleeping just to hear her scream in terror. Who's not the proper Slytherin now? she could almost hear herself saying in a sing-song voice. Oh, how she hated that chubby witch.
She'd been so caught up in her daydreams that she hadn't even noticed the entire class staring at her as if she was some sort of evil apparition. "What?" she asked the class. It was Professor Longbottom who, very sternly, answered.
"Lauran, were you telling that snake to attack Matilda?"
Lauran was confused. She hadn't been telling the snake to do anything, she hadn't even been talking to the snake. Wait! Did he just say the snake is attacking Matilda? she thought to herself. Victoriously, she allowed herself a peek. Sure enough, the snake in question was curled around Matilda's neck and snapping it's jaws at her in an almost taunting gesture. Lauran could not help but laugh.
"I didn't tell the snake to do anything. I don't talk to snakes. But so what if--" she cut herself off, "I mean: Oh, how horrible, Matilda. But I wouldn't worry about to much. The snake isn't poisonous."
Professor Longbottom almost snarled, a rare event indeed, "Lauran Courtinger! You tell that snake to stop terrorizing her right this minute!"
Lauran felt helpless. Has he gone mental?! What could she possibly do to make him realize she was not telling the snake to attack Matilda, as funny as it was. Then her mind sparked an idea.
Slowly, she walked up to Matilda and the snake and said, "Stop."
By some miracle, the snake actually stopped and slid off the girl's neck, back down to the floor and curled almost lovingly at Lauran's feet. The entire class gasped. Lauran turned around to face them, which only frightened them more. They stepped back from her. Surprise, surprise, she thought to herself. Professor Longbottom ran to the aid of Matilda and sent her and another student to the Hospital Wing so that Madam Pomfrey might check for injuries. Soon Professor Longbottom dismissed the rest of the class quite a bit early. Once the last student had left and was out of sight, he turned to Lauran.
"How long have you known you were a Parselmouth?"
Lauran was ever the more confused, "A Parsel-what?"
"A Parselmouth! You can talk to snakes, yes?"
She was starting to get angry, "I have never talked to snakes! Whatever happened was just a coincidence!"
"Come with me, young lady."
And without her say in the matter he was grabbing hold of her wrist and almost dragging her to the Headmistress' office, where he then whispered the password to the gargoyle and lead her up the stairs leading to the heavy door. Knocking urgently on the door, he waited to be allowed entrance. Within in the moment, Headmistress McGonagall's voice rang out from the other side of the door saying, "Come in."
Headmistress McGonagall appeared taken aback at the scene that unfolded in front of her, "Professor Longbottom. Miss Courtinger. What is so urgent that it could not wait until after class?"
Shutting the door behind them, Professor Longbottom answered, "Headmistress, this girl is a Parselmouth!"
"Merlin's Beard, Neville! Such a heavy accusation!"
Now Lauran was just getting plain-out annoyed, "Can someone please tell what a Parsel-whatever is?"
McGonagall was the one who spoke, "A Parselmouth is someone who can talk to snakes. Parseltongue is the language used for talking to snakes. It is usually used by dark wizards and witches."
Lauran passed her boiling point, "Oh great! First you tell me that I'm a witch! Then you come in and classify me as an evil witch, just because I can, according to you, talk to snakes! What kind of crack pot school is this anyway?"
Almost as if she had not been heard, Neville spoke out, "Do you think that we should search her for the Dark Mark?"
McGonagall was hesitant with her reply, obviously weighing the options, "Perhaps we should. Just to be sure. Lauran, could you please come here and let me look at your arm."
Lauran rolled her eyes, but instinctively handed Headmistress McGonagall her right arm, but was instantly told to reveal the left. The Headmistress took her arm in her hands and took a deep breath just before she moved Lauran's sleeve up enough to see…
OH! A CLIFF-HANGER ENDING!