Chapter two
September 2nd, 1981
Andie was up and dressed in her uniform, at the wake-up call from the head girl. She pulled a necklace out from a hidden compartment of her trunk. A few golden bands, circling an hourglass. All of it held by a long, gold chain. Andie placed it over her head, tucking it under her shirt. She left the dorm, through the corridor and down the staircase. Andie managed to navigate her way towards the changing staircase. Getting on, the stairs began to move. She clutched the banister, not wanting to fall. The second they stopped; Andie went to the next landing. She did her best to descend the stairs, until finally, she had made it to the ground floor. Getting there, she let out a sigh of relief. It was hard to navigate.
"Aww," whined a voice nearby.
Andie looked. Renee was heading towards her.
"I was hoping to help you. Be your knight in shining armor," she said.
"Well, you're a little too late. I managed."
"You got stuck didn't you?"
"Only a little."
Renee gave a small laugh.
"I'll tell you a trick I've learnt. See the second set of stairs?" Renee asked, pointing.
"Yeah?"
"Whichever way it's facing allows a non-stop run to your destination. To get back to Ravenclaw tower, it needs to be facing us."
"What?! How do you know where the tower is? I thought it was supposed to be a secret."
"Oh, please. I spent my first weekend hunting down the locations of each of the common rooms."
"Why?"
"I have my reasons. Good reasons. Just need to get inside each one for…something."
Andie gave a small glare.
"I'm not going to help you," she said, walking away.
"Oh, come on," Renee called after her. She then ran to catch up. "Just picture the-"
"Mischief? Chaos? Whatever your reason, you're on your own."
Renee huffed in annoyance.
"Fine," she pouted. She went quiet for all of five seconds, before continuing. "Why are we going this way?"
"I'm heading to the Great Hall. I'm hungry and-" Andie stopped, cutting herself off. "I'm going the wrong way, aren't I?"
"That's okay." Renee put an arm around Andie's neck. "That's why I'm here. You've got me to help you out."
Renee turned Andie around and walked her back the way they had just come from. Within moments, the two were at their desired destination.
"So, what are you feeling today?" Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff table?"
"You sure I'll be welcome there?"
"Oh, for sure. Unlike the Slytherin table, the Hufflepuffs are the nicest of houses." Andie didn't look too convinced. "Fine, have it your way. Ravenclaw table it is again."
The two made their way towards to Andie's table and sat down; making sure they were sitting side by side. The table was already laden with breakfast foods and drinks. Which included bacon, butter, cereals, coffee, eggs (both scrambled, and fried), fried sausages, fried tomatoes, kippers, marmalades and jams, milk, orange juice, porridge, pumpkin juice, rolls, salt, tea, and toast. With Andie's mouth watering just looking at the mountains of food, she got to work grabbing some of everything. As the two ate, more and more students filled the halls; until eventually, everyone was seated. Breakfast went by quick. Once all the tables were cleared of dishes and leftovers, Dumbledore stood. The hall's buzz eased to silence.
"Before I let you go on your way, I've got your schedules to hand out."
Dumbledore pulled out his wand and, with a swift flick, rolls of parchment flew to each of the students. Andie pulled the ribbon off hers and unrolled the paper. She read her class schedule.
Monday
1st period
-Potions
2nd period
-Herbology
-History of magic
3rd period
-Charms
4th period
-Defense against the dark arts
Tuesday
1st period
-Transfiguration
-Potions
2nd period
-Double charms
3rd period
-Herbology
4th period
-History of magic
Wednesday
1st period
-Double herbology
2nd period
-Transfiguration
3rd period
-Double potions
4th period
-Defense against the dark arts
-Charms
Thursday
1st period
-Defense against the dark arts
2nd period
-Charms
3rd period
-Herbology
-Potions
4th period
Transfiguration
Friday
1st period
-Charms
-Herbology
2nd period
-History of magic
3rd period
-Potions
4th period
-Transfiguration
Renee peered over to look.
"What the?" she questioned, snatching the parchment Andie held. "Is something wrong with yours? Why do you have conflicting classes?"
"I asked," Andie replied, snatching back the paper.
Renee frowned, then her eyes widened in realization.
"Oh, my god! You have a-"
Andie gave a loud, shushing noise, covering Renee's mouth with her hands.
"Not so loud," she hissed out.
Renee dropped her voice.
"A time turner. How did you even get one? I thought they were banned."
"Not banned. Just…uncommon. It's also kinda frowned upon. I mean, messing with time as well as the catastrophic events of seeing your past self. You have to be very careful."
"Can I…Can I see it?"
"No. I know you. If I let you see it, you'll want to use it. If you use it, bad things are gonna follow. So, no, I don't think I will."
"You're no fun."
Andie shrugged.
"Better to be no fun, than to potentially erase myself from existence," she said.
Renee rolled her eyes; which in turn, made Andie roll hers.
"Okay, fine. Keep it to yourself. Don't come crying when you completely screw up your own timeline."
"Pfft, like that would ever happen. If anything, it's safer with me if I keep it away from you."
Renee's eyes furrowed into a glare. Andie smirked. Renee shook her head, her facing going back to its neutral look. With a final bite, and the last of the orange juice drunk, the two rose from the table. Andie stuffed her schedule into her robe's pocket; tucked neatly beside her wand. Renee linked arms with her, and the two left the hall. Their destination, the dungeons. Entering the potions classroom, they sat at the desk to the far left of the room. Soon, more students joined. Barely enough to fill three of the five tables. Four other students joined Andie and Renee's table. The students chatted among themselves for a few moments, before the door opened again. It slammed shut behind the person that just entered. Professor Snape strode across the room. His capes flaring out as he did so. He reached the teachers desk, stopped, then spun. He eyed the students, before speaking.
"There will be no foolish wand waving, or silly incantations in this class. As such, I don't expect many of you to appreciate the subtle science and exact art that is potion making. However, for those select few-" his eyes trailed along the students again. "Who possess the predisposition, I can teach you how to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses. I can tell you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even put a stopper in death. I hope that all of you have left your holidays behind you and will put your minds to learning even the most basic fundamentals of potion making. I trust you have your books with you. For those that have neglected this, there are spares in the cupboard."
No one left the table, so Snape continued.
"Open your textbooks and turn to page eighty- two."
A chorus of turning pages sounded throughout the room.
"Today," Snape spoke. "you'll be learning how to make the fire protection potion. Now listen up, because I will not be repeating myself." Snape picked up his own book. Despite talking, his eyes never followed the words on the page. "Slice bursting mushrooms with your knife. Add them to the cauldron and stir clockwise, until the potion turns blue. Add salamander blood, stirring anti-clockwise. Once the potion turns green, crush wartcap powder in a pestle. Add it and stir clockwise." Snape shut the book with a loud snap. He set it back down. "Should you have brewed the potion correctly, it should be red in colour."
A brief pause, then-
"You may begin."
At once, Andie and Renee began to gather and prepare their ingredients. No one spoke, as everyone was concentrating. The room filled with the sounds of chopping knives, cauldrons bubbling, and pages turning; in an attempt to make sure the potions were prepared properly. Every so often, Andie would peer up to exam Renee's cauldron. Renee was off in her own world, and yet, she was already two steps ahead of Andie. Andie had no idea how Renee was that good. Still, Andie added the bursting mushrooms and stirred without a word. It took a few minutes for the liquid to even subtly change to blue. Another glance at Renee's showed that hers was going from green to red.
"How-" Andie began to ask.
"My family on my dad's side are all gifted in potions," Renee explained. "Since I was old enough to hold, well, anything, I was taught how to brew potions. Much to mum's disappointment. She preferred me to join in pageants in the muggle world to rake in as much cash as I could, before I got too old or them."
Andie frowned.
"Pageants? What's that?"
Andie added the salamander blood.
"It's a muggle thing. Parents, mostly mothers, put their child into a competition. They dress them up in overly large costumes and too much makeup. The child then has to parade around a stage, like some show pony just to impress some judges. All in an attempt to win somewhere in the top three."
"Sounds horrible."
"Oh, it is. I had to compete a few times, until Granny said no more and threatened to hex mum and dad if I was made to compete again."
"Your granny on your…"
"Dad's side."
"Is this the same granny who challenged a troll o a game of exploding snap…and lost?"
"That's the one." Renee looked off into the distance with a sot smile on her face. "God, she's my hero."
"Yeah…I can see that."
"Miss Moore," a voice spoke behind them. "If you have enough time to talk, then I assume you must be finished."
The two spun to look. Snape stood behind them.
"Well, I am," Renee countered.
Snape looked to her cauldron. The liquid inside was bright red. He then looked over the rest of the table's cauldrons. Each one at a different stage, but not quite finished yet.
"Maybe you should learn to sit quietly instead of disturbing your classmates with tales that don't pertain to this class."
Renee opened her mouth to speak, when Snape cut her off.
"Another word out of you and it's detention."
Renee snapped her mouth shut. Snape shot a final look at her, before moving on.
"Professor Snap strikes again," Renee mumbled.
"And that's detention," Snape growled, as he spun on his heel. "Tonight. Five o'clock sharp. I'm sure you remember where to go."
"Yeah, yeah."
Andie nudged Renee and gave a small headshake.
"Miss Price, do you wish to join her?"
"No, Sir," Andie responded, almost too quickly.
"Then I suggest you get back to your potion. It's starting to burn."
Andie quickly began to stir her cauldron, while she crushed wartcap powder with the other hand. The rest of the class passed by without another word from anyone. Before anyone was allowed to pack up and leave, Snape went around the room, criticizing each student's progress. Reaching Andie and Renee's table, he was less than pleased. Andie's potion was a sickly green colour, while the others had varying shades of blue. Renee was the only one with a successful red. His face didn't change at all, as he spoke.
"How disappointing."
With that he moved away and addressed the class.
"Dismissed."
The room erupted with books, quills, and ink pots being gathered up. Within moments, everyone left the room. Andy pulled out her schedule to see what she had next. Herbology and History of Magic. The first of her overlapping classes.
"I'm going to need your help," she said to Renee as they left the classroom. "Just for the first few weeks."
Renee hmmed, as she raised a questioning eyebrow.
"I need you to take me to the earliest class, then the later one. I need to attend my double classes."
"Alright, but you're gonna have to owe me when I decide to call in a favor."
"Fine, fine. Deal."
Renee grinned.
"Good."
She grabbed the call schedule and began to lead her towards Herbology.