Chapter Thirty-Six

A couple hours passed since the students returned. Lessons were going to start again tomorrow. At the moment, students were just getting settled down again. Lucy was sat with her three friends in their dormitory. Ruth was holding up one of the presents she got during the Christmas break. It was a new product called 'Hair Colouring for Witches' by Fleamont Potter. Where a witch could change her hair colour within minutes. Ruth passed it over to a surprised Lucy, she already got her a Hufflepuff scarf so this seemed very generous.

"It turns your hair blonde" Ruth told her with a small smile.

"I'm grateful but I don't know if I want to change my hair colour" Lucy admitted with a shrug.

"Well I think you should consider it. Blonde is a nicer colour. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying your black hair is bad...It's just that it could be improved" Ruth nervously replied.

The truth was that black hair was becoming associated with the unpopular witches a bit too much at the moment. Lucy looked in the mirror and tried to picture herself as blonde but she couldn't. Ruth has been talking about it with Poppy and Victoria over the break. All the girls agreed to try and get Lucy to change her hair colour. It was silly really but they thought it might make things easier for her. Teenage logic.

"My mother wouldn't be too happy if I changed it. I don't think" Lucy spoke up.

"You can at least try it and if you don't like it, I'll get the black hair colour one and she won't even know you did it" Ruth insisted.

"I'll think about it" Lucy said.

Putting the hair colouring potion down on her nightstand. Her friends giving nervous smiles to one another. Victoria sat back down besides Cinders and her basket of kittens. The students had to wait a few weeks until they got one, Professor Kettleburn made sure Lucy and Victoria were aware of this. As they were still learning from the mother cat, Cinders.

"Oh yes, I almost forgot to tell you. Argus' parents have agreed to let me visit their home during Easter. I'm so excited" Lucy expressed with a smile.

The small dig at her hair quickly forgotten. Her friends felt guilty for bringing it up now, they knew they only did it because Lucy rarely stuck up for herself. She would stick up for her friends but hardly ever herself. Ruth discreetly taking it back as she put it back on her own bedstand.

"Oh right. Well that should be interesting. Do you know anything about the Filch family, Lucy?" Ruth asked her.

"Not really. I only know what Argus and Archibald tell me. I know their father has some sort of job in the ministry of magic" Lucy replied.

"Some sort of job they say. He's just a mere scribe for the court cases involving the department of magical games and sports. He just sits there and writes down boring court cases involving rogue bludgers" Ruth confessed.

"So?"

"Oh there's nothing wrong with that" Ruth quickly insisted before adding..."I just didn't want you to think he was anything else"

Lucy just giving a small shake of her head in response. She was slightly offended on Archibald and Argus' behalf that her friends thought they would lie. They never hid the job their father did, they weren't ashamed he was just a scribe for court causes involving nasty bludgers or illicit games of quidditch on muggle land. The Filch boys liked that he had that job as they got to hear some fun stories throughout the years, things like gobstones being played on some muggle's roof was one of the best ones.

"So...what does your father do?" Lucy asked Ruth; making the girl surprised.

"Oh. My father works in the ministry as well. He works in the 'Goblin Liaison Office' as the assistant to the head of office. It's a good job" Ruth replied proudly.

The girls went on to talk about their parents jobs from then on. The mood being nice and light again. Lucy had to admit though that her father's job as a butcher sounded even more dull compared to her friends fathers' jobs. Victoria's father worked as an alchemist while Poppy's father worked in the ministry on the 'Wizengamot' court. A much more serious court of law as he dealt with more serious matters. Though Lucy was reminded that her father had been called up in the muggle war and was serving his national service.

"I don't know how he's doing. Though no news is good news, that's what mother says. He has written to her and he's doing alright" Lucy spoke gently.

He was alive and well enough to write. That was the best the Norris family could hope for at the moment.

"It's dreadful sounding, Lucy. Really is" Ruth said as she now sat down besides her friend with one arm around her.

"I'll be alright. I just worry. That's all"

...

"Double potions on my first morning back. I'm so happy" Ruth spoke with strong sarcasm.

As the students sat in the great hall for breakfast as lessons began again that morning. Her friends weren't the biggest fans of potions, not to say they were bad at it, they just didn't enjoy it. Ruth wasn't a favourite of Slughorn's but he did pay close attention to her work as he was an old schoolfellow of her parents. Lucy noticed she had 'Defence Against the Dark Arts' first. A subject she always dreaded as she felt most unwelcome in there. She still thought Professor Merrythought was harsh on only giving her a mere 'acceptable' mark.

"You love potions really" Victoria told Ruth with a smile.

"No I don't. Professor Slughorn is only nice to me because of my parents. Otherwise he would ignore me like he does you two. You know he didn't even invite me to 'Slug Club', that's how much he thinks of me" Ruth told her friends firmly.

"What third-years does he like?" Lucy asked them out of curiosity.

"Druella, Lucretia and Euphemia. He's very bias towards those three. I don't know what he sees but he thinks they will do well" Ruth explained.

Lucy pulling a slight face. She's not even surprised really but at least Olive Hornby wasn't included (which must really annoy her). Argus was soon seen walking over which made the three girls suddenly look down as they tucked into their breakfast (which consisted of bacon and toast). Argus stood firmly behind Lucy as he grabbed onto her seat.

"When am I getting my cat?" Argus asked.

"In a few weeks, she still needs to learn from her mother according to Professor Kettleburn. I promise you will get first choice" Lucy answered, turning around.

"Right. Because I really need another set of eyes on my night shifts on account of your lot skulking around, thinking it's funny to mock and tease me. When I get my cat, I will be alerted to your lot and I'll be there like a seeker going to get his snitch" Argus insisted.

This made Victoria, Ruth and Poppy smirk as they quickly tried to avoid laughing out loud. Lucy giving them all slight nudges before looking right back up at Argus (who wasa deadly serious). The squib picked up Lucy's timetable soon after despite not asking.

"Argus. I need that" Lucy told him however she just got hushed like she was another naughty pupil he had to deal with.

"Potions this afternoon...Do you have anything in potions to banish or at least silence Peeves?" Argus suddenly asked.

"No" Lucy answered.

Making him just scoff as he chucked her timetable at her. As if it was her and timetable's fault.

"Well what good is it then?" Argus asked in a fed up tone of voice.

He had a bad night and he was taking it out on Lucy. Her friends were getting fed up with how he treated her actually. Lucy could sense this coming as she put her hand out as if to tell everyone to calm down. Argus just giving a small scowl at the three girls before making his exit with his mop and bucket. The boy didn't like himself for it but he couldn't help it, he was taking her for granted like his brother said.

"He treats you like you're nothing. I don't know why you put up with him" Ruth said when he was gone.

"He's different behind closed doors and in letters" Lucy assured her.

Though this was very much in doubt. The girls did talk about Lucy's friendship with Argus when she wasn't around. They wondered why she liked him at all, they understood why he was hanging out with her but couldn't understand why she was hanging out with him (besides her just being nice to everyone). Ruth however just let it go for now as she backed down.

"Just don't make yourself easy game" Ruth advised her.

...

Lucy briefly passed Argus again on her way to defence against the dark arts. He was half-asleep as he sat on the sides in the hallway with the mop in his hand. Though she didn't have time to comfort him as she was on her way to class. She just made a mental note to do it later. She entered the classroom, sitting herself at the front next to Myrtle Warren as per usual. Profesor Merrythought was sat at her desk as she waited for all the students to enter and settle down. The sounds of the Riddle gang was soon heard as Nott and Lestrange loudly talked about good of a beater he was now going to be on his new broomstick. Though one stern look from Merrythought made the boys be quiet as they sat in the middle. Tom giving Nott a seemingly innocent thump on his back with one of his books. He took his place at the front with Avery. Eileen being last in as always, she looked rather sullen today as she sat on her own at the back. She was missing home already despite the fact that school had barely began.

"Welcome children, I expect you all to buckle down. Now you have a mere four months until your second-year exam. A very important exam. I would also like to remind you all to think about your elective subjects for year three. I expect no more slacking" Merrythought began.

The class suddenly looking more serious. It didn't seem very long away when she put it like that. That reminded Lucy about the elective subjects, she would have to choose wisely. Merrythought began writing down today's lesson on the blackboard, the class taking notes. She wrote down...

Learning the disarming spell, 'Expelliarmus'

Nott giving a small smile as he said something quietly to Lestrange. The boys were very happy that they were about to get a lesson about this spell. This would prove to be most useful. Eileen began jotting down notes from the back, another defensive spell she gathers she needs. She did pay attention for defensive reasons as she knew she would need to protect herself in the future. She can't rely on her father forever after all.

"Right. This spell is quite harmless however I still ask for you to use it wisely. This spell has saved many lives throughout the decades, use it quick enough and you can stop a jinx, hex or even a curse. For students of your age, this is a spell which should help you until you learn how to cast the much more difficult blocking spell" Merrythought paused, briefly looking at Tom's invested face before adding..."Prince, may you sit besides somebody please"

Eileen giving a small sigh as she looked at her classmates. The girl made her way over to Rosier and Mulciber with her chair as she put it on the other end of the desk. The girl barely changing her facial expression as she did so. The boys giving her a polite nod.

"I do wish for you to practice on the person or people next to you. I will give a short demonstration. Norris, may you get up here please" Merrythought further instructed.

Looking towards a nervous looking Lucy. The girl reluctantly made her way to the front as she stood across from Merrythought. The professor told her to get out of her wand. Lucy knew exactly what was coming as she pulled it out, Merrythought doing the stance before saying...

"Expelliarmus"

Lucy's wand slipped out of her hand and up in the air. Landing meters away from her. Merrythought placing her own wand back down. Telling her to sit back down and so she did. She told the class to begin and soon a chorus of students saying "Expelliarmus" could be heard. Wands were flying everywhere, Merrythought writing down small notes throughout this. They stood across from one another as they did this. Though a loud voice shouted...

"Expelliarmus!"

This voice belonged to Tom Riddle. The class paused as they heard Peter Avery fall backwards against the front desk, hitting his head in the progress as he laid with his back against said desk with one hand against his head. Tom lowering his wand before saying...

"Sorry"

Merrythought was utterly stunned. She didn't bother telling the students that could happen as she simply didn't think a second-year had the power to do it in such a strong way. She walked over towards Avery as she bent down, showing she did have a heart after all as she asked him...

"Are you alright, Avery?"

"Yes Professor Merrythought, I'm fine" Avery insisted; still feeling his head.

She looked towards Tom before looking back down towards Avery. This was the first time a professor saw this side of him. It was however bound to happen sooner or later. The students were all told to sit back down. Lucy giving Tom a brief glance as she sat back down. Avery himself forced himself up as he sat back down besides Tom, still holding onto his head.

"Thanks for that, Tom" Avery spoke with a hint of sarcasm in his voice.

The boy just breathing in and out in response. Merrythought began writing something down on a parchment on her desk which wasn't for the students' eyes. Tom spotted this and felt uneasy. The professor breathed in before writing on the blackboard again, students copying down more notes. She went on to explain about how that can happen but children their age usually couldn't master it.

..

TBC