Sorry for the long delays in writing. I'm currently drowning in coursework, but I fancied writing this chapter, so enjoy!
Rose - 6th Year Gryffindor
The girl's dorm was completely empty for once. It was a Saturday, so most of them were in the library trying to catch up on homework. However, that's what everyone did, so I decided to stay in my room and finish up my essay (it was quieter than the library) before going down to the Great Hall and getting lunch.
I was just starting my conclusion to my essay, entitled 'Repelling and Deterring Dementors'. I flipped through my copy of Confronting the Faceless, making sure I had the conduct of the Patronus charm correct, when the door burst open, and in stormed an angry Jackie, pulling off her red sweater and throwing on the floor and then dropping face-first onto her bed in a furious silence.
"Something wrong?" I asked, still copying down the importance of the emotional state during the conjuration of the Patronus charm.
"They chose him," A muffled Jackie said into her pillows.
"Him?" I asked, curious as to who Jackie hated now.
"Bloody… new one." I looked over at her, raising an eyebrow inquisitively.
"New one?"
"Yeah, the ring freak one."
"Oh, new student." I nodded. "Aiden right?"
"Who cares?" Jackie sat up. "Adam chose him to be the new seeker."
"But you're the seeker?" I asked, utterly confused by this. Jackie had only ever lost two games, and one of them was because she wasn't even conscious to play. That was the match with Juliet…
"Stupid Adam James…" Jackie waited a beat between each word. "Insisting he'll help us win the cup this year. He's just scared he'll leave Hogwarts without winning the cup as Captain."
I shook the thoughts of Juliet out of my head. Jackie needed me now.
"Can you blame him?" I asked, leaning against my bedpost. Jackie rose slowly from her pillow, staring at me as if the answer was obvious. And it really was.
"Of course I can. What do you think I'm doing?"
"Dumb question…" I muttered to myself before moving onto her bed. "Look, Seekers get all the glory-"
"Is this meant to be helping me feel better?"
"But the Seeker is really just the flashiest player, not the most talented-"
"You're bad at this." Jackie tried to stand up, but I grabbed her shoulder and brought her back down.
"The fact is, that being a chaser, you're going to be able to show off how good you are. And who knows, a Quidditch coach may come by and take notice."
Jackie froze in thought for a moment. In the four years I had known her, the best way to stop her feeling usurped was to show her that she has opportunities to show how good she was. I wouldn't say she was insecure, or needed approval - not in the slightest, but everyone likes being admired, and Jackie was no different.
"I'm just sick of that family…" Jackie groaned.
I couldn't stop myself from casting my mind back to that day - unlike Jackie, I didn't have any anger brimming under the surface. Don't get me wrong, Charlotte James was a terrible human being, and it may have taken me and Jackie a while to realise it, but I wasn't very angry about it. If anything, I was just let down by her. She was supposed to have been our friend - my friend. We had been friends for seven years, and best friends for six of them. I guess some people change for the worst when growing up.
"Adam's fine," I thought aloud, pushing my ponytail behind my shoulder, "and Pete's fine. It's just her."
Jackie grunted something about Slytherins in response.
"Come on. I'm tutoring in half an hour, but we can have some lunch now. I think you need it." Jackie shrugged in response, a lot like a toddler would when they want to sulk. "Come on Jacks - we can plot and scheme on how to get revenge on your usurper."
Jackie grinned and leapt up from her bed, picking up her sweater, as we made our way down to the Great Hall.
The Gryffindor table was relatively empty. It made sense, as the Common Room was jam-packed with all the new students trying to cram in revision, and the other N.E.W.T students taking advantage of their free periods.
As I scanned the room to see if my student was there yet, I noticed Jackie was gone from my side. She was stood in front of the new Gryffindor Seeker, who had a leg resting on the bench, reading a small leather-bound book.
"You stole my spot!"
I approached to see her leaning forwards, scarlet like her polka-dot sweater, and growling like the Gryffindor's lion. The boy simply looked over to me with a blank expression.
"Does this belong to you?"
"This? This?" Jackie repeated, her voice steadly increasing in rage.
"Jacks, cool it - he's just being a dick."
His eyes lingered on me for a moment before he put his book down and leant forwards.
"Yeah 'Jacks', don't lose your temper. I might end up taking that too."
I had to pull on Jackie's sweater to keep her from lunging over the table to slap the boy's face - and by God, she would have.
"You should stop insulting everyone you meet. Maybe then someone could bear sitting next to you." I said, soaking the words in malice and spitting them at him. I expected to see some reaction from him - anger, hurt - anything. I wanted him to get angry like Jackie was angry.
"Maybe I don't sit next to anyone because this table's full of whiny little children who whinge and pout when they don't get their own way."
I immediately felt as if he had poked me in the chest - a vicious, malicious jab. I opened my mouth to retort with scathing insults about his messy hair, Professor Longbottom strode over, hands behind his waist.
"Miss Fenwick, Miss Friday," Longbottom raised an eyebrow, "I trust you're showing Mr. Lorkin Gryffindor's hospitality."
"I'm about to…" Jackie growled.
"Sir, he just said that-"
"Mr. Lorkin," Longbottom cut me off, turning around to the slight boy, "Would you mind following me to my office?"
"What've I done?"
"Absolutely nothing I hope Mr. Lorkin. I just wanted to congratulate you on being the newest part of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team."
I grabbed onto Jackie's sleeve, in case this would trigger her rage. She didn't move, though I could feel the anger seething off of her. Lorkin looked at Longbottom for a moment before turning back to his book.
"I actually had something of interest for you Mr. Lorkin. If you wouldn't mind."
"Do I have a choice?"
"Of course." Longbottom smiled.
Lorkin rolled up the book (badly stretching the leather), picked up his bag and, stuffing the book in his back pocket, followed Longbottom. Longbottom gave me a smile as he walked out. I couldn't help but smile - at first, I thought he had just ignored me, but he hadn't. He had resolved conflict without aggression - something he'd been preaching to Jackie for years.
I sat down with Jackie, toasting to our victory in Lorkin's spot of the bench with a goblet of pumpkin juice.
Ardan - 6th Year Gryffindor
Longbottom's office was a large chamber, about a ten minute walk from the Gryffindor common room in the tower. Longbottom stood by the window, taking a spoonful of what looked like dirt and putting it in a teacup.
I examined the office – Longbottom was definitely a herbology teacher. What with all the plants that crowded the room – it was like being in a very small, unimposing jungle. Though it was small and modest, it still set me somewhat on edge, as I could have sworn I heard some of the plants growl at me.
"Your office is very… green," I said, watching a vine slither towards me, as if it was a snake, examining my face.
"Well, I do- get away," he snapped at the vine, waving a hand towards it, "I do teach Herbology."
"So, why isn't your office isn't in the Greenhouse?"
Longbottom handed me a cup of dirt-tea and moved around to sit down in his armchair behind his desk. He examined me for a second, then took a breath.
"Because, Mr. Lorkin, I'm not talking to you as the Herbology professor, I'm talking to you as your Head of House."
"Talking to me about what?"
Longbottom raised an eyebrow.
"I get the impression that you don't want to be here, Mr. Lorkin."
"That's because I don't want to be."
"Well, I don't think that's entirely true," Longbottom stroked the stubble on his chin, "I see you're the new seeker of Gryffindor's Quidditch team, well done."
"It passes the time," I narrowed my eyes, slapping away the encroaching vine.
"No doubt that can cause some animosity between Miss Friday and yourself?"
"Friday?"
"Jaclyn Friday."
"Her last name is Friday?" I scoffed, "as in, T.G.I?"
"I wouldn't advise picking a fight with fellow Gryffindors," Longbottom took a sip of his own dirt-tea, "the incident with Miss Greene affected her very deeply…"
"Who's that?" I took a sip of the dirt tea – I wasn't used to having to pick my teeth after drinking…
"Miss Juliet Greene? She was on the Quidditch team last year."
"Who cares?" I groaned, setting the teacup down.
"Who cares?" Longbottom repeated incredulously. It was a strange sight – his constant smile and knowing eyes had faded away. He looked angered, offended, confused. To say the least, it unsettled me. "Mr. Lorkin, I would ask you to leave my office now, and to not bring up Miss Greene around Miss Friday – especially with the attitude you have just displayed."
"Alright, Jesus, calm down-"
"Leave my office now or I'll give you a month's detention." Longbottom glowered at me. I held up my hands in silent protest and grabbed my bag, leaving the chamber and letting the door slam behind me.
"What a prick…" I muttered, making my way down the stairs.
Well, this just came to a natural end. I've nearly plotted out the entire storyline. To make up for the long absence, I'll be starting a new chapter after uploading this one. I'll have to spend a while planning it, as I don't want the story to just revolve solely around Ardan, Rose, Jackie and Charlie. There are still numerous other characters in this story, and I'm still working on filling out their storylines as much as I have done with the ones we've focused on mostly.
See you guys next chapter!