Disclaimer: You're ridiculous – and awesome – if you think I'm good enough to be J. K. Rowling. (:
Chapter Two:
I was so distracted by having James next to me, I completely forgot about taking nots. That is, until he pushed his toward me. I looked up to see a small, hesitant smile gracing his lips.
"Thanks," I whispered to him, and started to copy the notes down.
Herbology was next.
You see, poisonous trees aren't really my thing. I mean, I've read everything I can about them, of course, but when it comes to actually dealing with them… Well…
"We'll be working with these, today." The professor told us. "Can anyone tell me what are?" I raised my hand, hoping to Godric I would be wrong. "Miss Evans?"
"Is it… Are they Feisty Firs?" (I know. I couldn't think of anything better) I asked timidly.
"They are, indeed, Miss Evans. Five points to Griffindore." I swore under my breath. James gave me a funny look, which I ignored, thinking of how to get myself out of this one. "What we'll be doing, today is de-thorning these Firs. So, if you'll all put on your protective gloves, we can begin." I was the only one that didn't. "Now, what you'll need to do is grasp the Fir by the top, uproot it from the soil, take your knife – like so – and carefully scrape off any thorns you might see – like so." Of course I know how to do it. I'd read through instructions several times. I knew. Whether I wanted to do it or not was a different situation. No matter how many times I read that they were not poisonous if you had your protective gear on – which I did – they still frightened me.
I slid the gloves on my hands, grasped the top of the small tree, and uprooted it. What the professor failed to mention – and in my haste to get it over with, I failed to remember – is that, if you uproot in at the wrong angle, it begins to fight you. Well, needless to say, I uprooted it at the wrong angle. It squirmed and I lost it. I flung the tree as far as I could away from myself and lunged behind a startled James – hiding myself – screaming, all the while. People dodged the flying tree, others stared. James turned to face me – to see what had happened, I guess. That would have been fine, and all, but, apparently, he had uprooted it the wrong way, as well. So, he was holding this nasty-looking…squirming…writhing…thing…
And that's when I blacked out.
I woke up on the ground, with James' face blocking the view of the sky. Seeing that I was awake, he stood up and held out a hand to help me up. I took it gratefully, my head still spinning.
"Ah, there she is. Gave us a scare for a moment, there!" The professor told me.
"Sorry." I said. "Do you think I could skip the rest of the lesson? I've read about them, already."
"You know… Why don't you all enjoy your lunch, and we'll work on this tomorrow." Oh, yeah, that's so much better.
I hate tomorrow.
"Thanks." I muttered, and turned to leave – noticing how James' hand lingered on mine, as I tried to let go of his.
"So…" He said awkwardly. I didn't respond. "Er… What's your problem with the Firs?" He asked.
I blanched. "Um. I don't like…things that…move…without eyes…or legs…just wriggle around…and…" I started getting woozy, again. "Yeah." I finished lamely.
He laughed. "Well, it wouldn't 'wriggle' if you pull it out at the right angle." He explained.
"Yeah, I realize. Thanks, chief." He frowned at me, then got cheerful.
"I can teach you, if you want." He offered.
I looked at him questioningly. "For what?" I asked him accusatorially.
"What do you mean?" He asked, confused.
"What do you want? You teach me how to uproot Firs – in return for what?" I rephrased, sitting down on one of the benches at the Griffindore table in the Great Hall.
"Well, I wouldn't mind a date," Understatement of the year. He grinned at me. "but, you don't need to do anything, really." He said. I stared.
"You would do that? You would teach me without so much a peck on the cheek?" I asked, obviously quite befuddled. He looked devastated.
"You would have kissed me?" He exclaimed.
"I would've gone out with you, too, if you had demanded it. But, since you didn't…" I trailed off, seeing his friends come in. I stood up and grabbed my things to go to Binn's class. "See you in class, James. I said, walking away.