No Warnings
Chapter 15: Interludes Part III
The twins punishments turned out to be detention for the rest of the month with Professor Snape. Sometimes they had to write lines during lunch with him, and others they had to clean the potions rooms. Although, detention three times a week didn't stop them from pulling pranks. Susan had stopped several already, and it was only the second week of school. One such prank she tried to stop ended up getting her banned from sitting at the Slytherin table. The redhead was still salty over that one.
Susan sat at Hufflepuff table talking to Zacharias Smith. Zacharias seemed okay, but Susan could definitely tell that the blonde Hufflepuff wasn't what she would call "friend material". Zacharias wasn't like Neville or Ron or Harry. Her three friends were brave and loyal, and most certainly not stuck up.
Zacharias had been going on about his heritage and how he is related to Helga Hufflepuff herself. No one saw Susan going on and on about her aunt being Amelia Bones, so what gave Zacharias the right to go on and on and on and on about his blood line. He was worse than Draco Malfoy. And that was saying a lot.
"You see, I am a direct descendant of Lady Hufflepuff herself. Although, it's obviously through her female descendants. As a matter of fact, I'm the first male descendant in three generations. I have thought on changing my last name to Hufflepuff. You see, I am well with in the right to do so-"
"I'm sorry to interrupt, but Susan and I need to work on our Transfiguration homework. You know how Professor McGonagall likes inter-house relations." said the friendly voice of Theodore Nott. Susan knew that Professor McGonagall dislike Slytherins, in a tactful way; not like Professor Snape who openly expressed his disliked all of the other houses.
"Sorry Zacharias, Theo is right. We have to go work on our homework. You should probably go find Millicent and find what type of Transfiguration you were assigned." Susan tried to sound friendly. It seemed to have worked, and Theo lead Susan out of the Great Hall and to the library.
"You seemed a little annoyed. Was Smith going on about his heritage?" Theo asked.
"You have no idea," Susan sighed.
"I'm sure that I do," Theo laughed. "Smith has been to a Malfoy ball or two. I can certainly tell you that he is nothing like his parents."
"That's right, you've known Draco since you were little right?"
"Yeah, you could say, that my father used to be Lucius's boss. As a result, the two of have had the pleasure of knowing each other since we were infants."
"You sound like it's been painful knowing him for that long." Susan laughed.
"Well, Draco is a handful, and his father is a bit uptight, but it hasn't been entirely horrible, but Draco and I see things differently." Theo shook his head. "That and the fact that Draco is one of the most spoilt children I have ever met. Seriously, he freaked out over not being able to have a broomstick this year. His father actually stormed into the board of trustees meeting and complained."
"I bet that didn't get very far,"
"No, but he just about has the board of trustees in his back pocket." Theo shook his head again. "Oh, look, Harry and…"
"Leanne."
"Leanne are already here working on their spell."
"Do you only remember the names of important people.
"Only the people that have been to a Malfoy ball when I was there." Theo and Susan laughed loudly and were shushed as they sat down next to Harry and Leanne. They were both skimming Transfiguration books.
"You guys got inanimate-to-organic transformations right?" Theo asked Harry.
"Yes, it's actually very complicated. It requires an intense amount of magical control. I can't really get my head around it," Leanne answered. Harry looked as though he was concentrating very hard. Suddenly he pushed the book he was reading away with a huff.
"I kinda understand. A lot of magic needs to be infused into the object for it to turn into something living, then more magic needs to be used to sustain the life within the newly formed creature. That means a substantial magical core is needed to perform a transfiguration like that. Not to mention an understanding of how a living body works. It doesn't have to be a complete understanding, but a basic one. You have to understand that all of the organs and cells work together in harmony to keep the body functioning.
"If you are capable of doing that, and are able to perform the transformation, then the new creature will just function as a creature in survival mode, it won't have a soul and doesn't feel anything except physical sensation." Harry explained.
"Seems like pretty complicated stuff." Susan said in awe. "Theo and I have the Animagi Transformation. It's supposed to be one of the most difficult transformations for wizards to do. It's also one of five transformations that witches and wizards have to be registered for after they achieve it."
"Isn't also the only safe way for a wizards to transform into animals?" Theo asked.
"Yup, any other way, whether it's by spell or potion, the Animagi Transformation is the only way for wizards to retain their minds when they transform." Susan elaborated.
"Wow, you and Harry are really smart. I can't keep up with either of you." Leanne chuckled in good spirit.
"I only know what my aunt tells me. Harry's been studying since he could read and write. He's like a machine." Susan poked fun at Harry, who raised a brow at her.
"Other than the legal precautions, what else do you know about the Animagus Transformation?" Harry asked.
"Nothing, that's why we are here in the first place: to do research." Susan said defensively. Harry smiled and shook his head. The four students spent the rest of the afternoon in the library. They certainly didn't mean to be in there for that long, but Harry had to prove a point about a charm.
Susan slumped into the Great Hall and sat down next to Hannah Abbot. Hannah was very sweet. The two girls talked for a while, when Hannah suddenly asked Susan a question:
"Susan, do you really enjoy hanging out with those Slytherins? It's a little weird."
"Well, Harry and the Weasley twins have been my friends since I was a child, I think I was four when I first met the Weasley family and I had already met Harry and Neville. You could just say that I'm invested in our friendship. True friendships aren't something to just throw away when something get's in the way. You have to work for them. That's what my parents say anyway." smiled Susan.
"Well, your friends are weird," Hannah said and then pointed to the Gryffindor table. Ron was being held back by Neville and two other Gryffindors. The twins were standing in front of him and were flaunting something in front of him. From where Susan was sitting, she couldn't tell what it was, and she had a strange feeling that she didn't want to know. The last time she got involved with the twins, she almost got detention.
"Give it back!" Ron was yelling. It echoed throughout the Great Hall. He was lucky that none of the teachers were there yet. It was only a moment until Susan decided to get a closer look.
"Susan! What are you doing!?" Hannah hissed. Susan ignored her blonde classmate to investigate what her favorite red headed family was up to.
"Give it back, Fred!" Ron yelled again. Ron suddenly bolted forward, trying to tackle Fred. The older twin easily dodged and George laughed as Ron face planted into the floor. A lot of the other Slytherins laughed too. Other first year Gryffindors went to Ron's defense.
Susan pulled on Neville's arm, "What did the twins do this time?"
"It's not what the twins did, it's what Malfoy did. Ron and Harry were talking, and Malfoy put his two sense in. One thing lead to another, and Ron swung at Malfoy and ended up hitting Harry."
"He hit Harry!" Susan panicked and searched for him. Harry was standing at the Great Hall doors scowling death at Draco. Harry's cheek had already started to swell and he didn't have his glasses. "Please don't tell me that they are fighting over who get's to give Harry back his glasses…"
"The twins were on Ron faster than Mrs. Weasley can write a Howler. It was horrible…" Neville shuddered. "They walked in to see Ron punching Harry."
"How did Harry get in front of Ron's fist?" Susan asked stunned.
"I'm pretty sure he was going to get into Malfoy's face, but things didn't go his way…"
"Lily is going to be furious," Susan whimpered. Fred passed Harry's glasses to George. George got up from where he was casually sitting and moved toward Harry. Harry was still death glaring Draco. Harry and George spoke for a moment and Draco suddenly got very pale.
Fred was still picking on Ron, and actually had him floating in the air now. Ron was cursing at his brother. George was suddenly next to Fred and said something that almost sounded like, "Mum will be angry if you just drop him". Ron then floated gently down to the ground and both of the twins patted him on the back and apologized. They then both turned their attentions to Draco who was looking terrified. Susan didn't blame him. The twins could be horridly mean when they wanted. Ron collapsed onto the Ravenclaw table's bench looking both relieved and terrified.
Suddenly, Draco was yelling out profanities as he floated to the very top of the Great Hall. Then, all sound coming from Draco stopped, but he was still trying to yell at the twins and anyone who was within yelling distance.
"Sorry Draco, but you should cool yourself down up there," the twins laughed together. They dragged Harry over to Slytherin table and completely ignored everyone around them. Susan decided that it would be best if she didn't try to talk to them. Especially when they were talking to each other in whispers. It wasn't worth getting hexed.
"Do you think the professors will notice Draco up there?" Neville finally asked after a bit.
"If they do the twins will be in even more trouble. Jeez, they are hopeless." Susan sighed. "You have your first flying lesson with Slytherin tomorrow right?"
"Yeah, why?" Neville asked.
"Just keep an eye on Harry and Ron. Draco will definitely try and do something during your class. Good luck with that." Susan patted Neville on the shoulder, and sat back down next to Hannah. "My friends are more trouble than a teething baby dragon…"
"All of you guys are really weird," Hannah laughed at Susan. Susan nodded and giggled back.