Autumn could hardly pay attention to anything that was coming out of Professor Raventon's mouth. The Ravenclaw boy she was forced to sit with physically took the knife out of her hand as she was chopping up the potions all wrong.
"You are doing it all wrong," he said, anxiously going back over his Potions book. "Do you want us to fail? I know this potion like the back of my hand."
"Oy!" Autumn heard June's voice from behind her. Autumn turned and gave her a quizzing expression. "Do you want to come down with us to watch the Quidditch game? There's no Quidditch this year so the boys are playing a game themselves. Daniel said to bring you along,"—she held up a note in her hand—"He said you are looking really miserable."
Autumn glanced over to Daniel who was sitting on the other side of the room with one of his friends. He smiled apprehensively at Autumn.
Autumn sighed. "At what time?"
"Six," June answered with a huge smile. She flipped one side of her blonde hair over her shoulder.
"Miss McDonnell!" Professor Raventon came trudging over. "If you disrupt my class again, I will give you two weeks of detention. This potion might be on your exams!"
"Sorry," June mumbled, looking generally afraid. She sunk lower in her chair before turning to her friend sitting next to her. "I'll just get to chopping up that dragon liver."
Professor Raventon continued to go around the room, checking everyone's potions. One girl boiled her beaker and burst out into tears.
"This is the seventh one mum has sent me this year!" Autumn hears her wail miserably.
The Ravenclaw boy next to her was now giving her the cold shoulder. Autumn couldn't wait for Potions to be over.
When Professor Raventon dismissed the class, Autumn reached into the front of her robes and pulled out the small piece of parchment with her name on it. "See you at six!" she said to June then hurriedly rushed off.
She nearly knocked over some first years but she made it to the Great Hall in record time and saw that there was only a short line of students that had just gotten out of their classes. It was her free period so she didn't really have to worry about time.
One student looked at his watch, tapping his foot, waiting to put his name in the Goblet. Autumn had never realized that there were so many students her age, but she supposed that the students from the other schools had to be accounted. It seemed like everyone had been hogging the Goblet until now.
The boy finally lost his patience and left the line, probably having to get to class. She heard him cussing under his breath as he passed her.
Autumn waited impatiently but soon everyone was scurrying off to get to class. There was only one girl in front of her now. She threw her name into the Goblet and seemed to say a prayer under her breath then stepped away.
Autumn looked up at the shining Goblet and felt suddenly nervous. Was she really ready to do this? Yes, she decided quickly. She threw the parchment in and didn't even give the Goblet a second look. She wouldn't fret over this.
She quickly decided that she would go hang about the grounds while the weather was still only chilly. She booked it from the Great Hall, visions of the lake in her mind.
Autumn had only been sitting alone for five minutes when she heard someone approaching. She looked over her shoulder and saw Sander making his way down the slopped lawn of the school to her.
"Oh no," she muttered to herself, closing her eyes.
"Hey Autumn!" he called as he approached. He threw his school bag down on the grass and took a seat next to her. "Daniel told me that you are coming to the Quidditch game later. Madam Univaste is letting us play. She's as brought down about no Quidditch this year as we are."
Autumn smiled, trying to seem interested in what Sander was saying. All she could think was, why is he following me around still? "Well you are well informed," she replied.
A sudden bang from the other side of the grounds made them both jump to their feet.
"What the-" Sander already had his wand in his hand.
Autumn could see a dark haired boy across the lawn, looking very pleased with himself.
"Professor! Professor! He tried to murder me, he did! Professor!" a boy was yelling, pointing at the boy who was coming closer and closer.
Autumn recognized now how he was: James Potter. He quickly put his wand back in his robes pocket and strolled along like he had rather enjoyed whatever he just did to the other student.
"Potter," Sander growled, also putting his wand away. "Nothing but trouble, that kid."
Autumn just stared at James as he walked by. He glanced at Autumn and his expression turned foul. He just stared back darkly until Autumn was out of his sights.
Fast footsteps approached; someone was running in their direction. "James!" she heard Professor Potter yell. "Detention! Detention! Do you hear me?"
James rounded on his father, getting close to mutter something that Autumn couldn't hear. He smirked then turned away, looking at Autumn—who wished she had stop staring because the look he gave her made her shiver. Her breath caught in her throat. James then started off to the castle.
"Your mother will hear about this!" Professor Potter yelled at James' retreating figure. Professor Potter turned his sights onto Sander and Autumn. "Miss Hunter! Follow me please!"
Autumn didn't understand why Professor Potter's fury was now on her but she didn't object. She just picked up her book bag, slinging it onto her shoulder. "I'll see you later," she managed to say to Sander.
"Is there a problem, sir?" she asked, her eyes wide with concern as she reached her Dark Arts teacher.
"We shall discuss your detention now, I think," Professor Potter replied. "You should get back to class, Mr. Adamson," he called to Sander.
Sander looked rather confused as it was his free period, but he didn't dare question Professor Potter. He just nodded.
Autumn looked at Sander, exasperated, until she had to turn and follow Professor Potter back into the castle.