The next morning, I guided the First Years to the Great Hall again and then clacked angrily toward Ron and Harry who had just sat down. "What were you two thinking!" I almost wailed, plopping myself across from them. "Stealing the car! Crashing it into the Whomping Willow that was planted before we were born?"
"we've heard this all before, Kenzie." Ron muttered. "You don't have to repeat it."
"Well, considering I was worried sick about you, you're going to hear it all again!"
"Hey, Kenzie, isn't that your eagle?" Lee Jordan asked. I looked up as, yes indeed, Aquila was flying down to the table alongside all the other owls. I saw the red envelope in her beak and I paled, my hair turning white.
"She knows, doesn't she?" I asked when Aquila landed in front of Ron.
"Oh, she knows." Aqilla replied, offering Ron the letter. "And she's mad." Ron was paler than I was as he took the letter from Aquila.
"What's the matter?" Harry asked.
"She's…she's sent me a Howler." Ron lamented.
"You better open it, Ron." Nevile said in a small voice. "It'll be worse if you don't, my Gran sent me one once and I ignored it and…it was horrible."
"What's a howler?" Harry asked.
"You have to open it, Ron." I said. "You know it'll be better to get it over with. Ron flipped the letter over and slit it open. Neville shoved his fingers in his ears and Aquila shrank back towards me.
"-STEALING THE CAR!" Mum's voice echoed through the Great Hall, dust shaking from the ceiling. "WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN SURPRISED IF THEY'D EXPELLED YOU! YOU WAIT 'TILL I GET HOLD OF YOU! I DON'T SUPPOSE YOU STOPPED TO THINK WHAT YOUR FATHER AND I WENT THROUGH WHEN WE SAW IT HAD GONE-" Cutlery clattered off the table, reverberating off the stone walls and everyone turned to see who had the unfortunate luck to receive a Howler. Ron sank deeper into his chair so his hair could be seen, and my own hair turned bubblegum pink, and I pulled it over my eyes. "-LETTER FROM DUMBLEDORE LAST NIGHT! I THOUGHT YOUR FATHER WOULD DIE OF SHAME! WE DIDN'T BRING YOU UP TO BEHAVE LIKE THIS! YOU AND HARRY COULD HAVE BOTH DIED-" Oh, I had heard Mum mad before but this was the worst I had ever heard her. "ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTED! YOUR FATHER'S FACING AN INQUIRY AT WORK AND IT'S ENTIRELY YOUR FAULT AND IF YOU PUT ANOTHER TOE OUT OF LINE WE'LL BRING YOU STRAIGHT BACK HOME!" At the last word, the letter that had fallen from Ron's hand promptly burst into flames. A few people burst into laughter, and slowly the talk came back to the regular volume. Hermione closed her book.
"Well, I don't know what you expected, Ron, but you-" She started.
"Don't tell me I deserved it." Ron snapped. Harry pushed his food away. I looked up when Professor McGonagall passed us, handing out our timetables.
"Thank you, Professor." I said, taking it from her. By Merlin, my workload practically doubled over the holidays. I was saddled with three times the homework and my actual schoolwork was even tougher. But…oh my god…I had Lockhart during my second lesson, and he was the most dull, ignorant, thick-headed man I had ever met. His first lesson was a quiz on himself. I wanted to strangle myself. When the bell for lunch rang, I was grateful to be able to pile my plate with food and eat.
"What've we got this afternoon?" Harry asked as he and Ron showed up.
"Defence against the Dark Arts." Hermione replied almost instantly.
"Please don't mention that class." I moaned, resting my face on the table.
"Why have you outlined all Lockhart's lessons in little hearts?" Ron asked. I heard Hermione snatch a paper back. When we were done eating, we headed out into the courtyard. Hermione sat on a step and pulled out one of Lockhart's books while I pulled out my own book for Care for Magical Creatures. Professor Kettleburn had lost another limb over the holidays, and so unbeknownst to me, he had made me his assistant during lessons. I could faintly hear Harry and Ron's conversation on Quidditch, and a new Gryffindor Colin Creevey who wanted a photo of Harry…but then I heard the voice that I honestly wished I never had to hear all year.
"Signed photos?" Malfoy spat as he approached. "You're giving out signed photos, Potter?" I looked up, Malfoy had stopped behind Colin, flanked by his Hogwarts Henchman, Crabbe nd Goyle. "Everyone que up! Harry Potter's giving out signed photos!"
"No I'm not." Harry almost growled. "Shut up Malfoy."
"You're just jealous." Colin spoke up.
"Jealous?" Malfoy repeated. "Of what? I don't want a foul scar across my head, thanks. I don't think getting your head cut open makes you that special myself."
"Eat slugs, Malfoy." Ron said.
"Be careful, Weasley." Malfoy sneered. "You don't want to start any trouble or your Mummy'll have to come and take you away from school." Malfoy then put on a shrill voice. "If you put another toe out of line-"
"If you put another toe out of line I'll dock House Points." I spoke up, not lifting my head.
"You can't do that-" I lifted my head. Malfoy looked at me, and his eyes fell to the prefect bade pinned to my collar and he scowled.
"Look out!" Hermione whispered.
"What's all this about?" A voice echoed through the courtyard. I stifled a groan as Professor Lockhart striding forward, his turquoise robes swirling around him. "Who's giving out signed photos?" His eyes landed on Harry, and flung his arm around him. "Shouldn't have asked! We meet again, Harry!" He turned to Colin. "Come on then, Mr Creevey." Lockhart beamed at the boy. "A double portrait, can't say fairer than that and we'll both sign it for you." Colin took the photo just as the bell rang. "Off you go, move along then." And with that, Lockhart swept away back into the castle with Harry under his arm.
"Alright, everyone to class." I said, standing. "Unless you want House Points taken away." And with that, everyone scampered away. I knew that this was going to be a long long year.