Post by caladwen on Dec 20, 2007 3:13:40 GMT -5
Holy Hogwarts, that was a long chapter. And long time coming, too. Muse dead. I is sorry.
/me pokes dead readers/reviewers.
5k words... dang.
Anyway, hope you like. I personally don't think this chapter is one of my favorites, because of the crappy quality of my writing. MINE. NOT RISA'S.
Risa: -pokes Azure- If anyone wrote a crappy part, it's me.
Anyway, enjoy. Sorry for the wait.
Risa and Azure
Azure: Okay, people. This is going to be a universal disclaimer, for I don't like adding them and neither does Risa. We don't own Harry Potter or any of the themes therein. We make no profit from the writing of this story. Enjoy!
Tabitha glared down at the slimy bulb in the bowl before her, hoping that she could puncture it without having to touch it. To tell the truth, she hadn't really been listening while Professor Sprout gave the instructions on how to crack open the bulb and get to the pus inside. To tell the truth, she really hated Herbology and didn't care much.
Sighing, she rested her chin in her hand and let her eyes wander around the Greenhouse to the other students trying to break the bulbs open. It seemed that she, Maggie, Diana, and another boy in their year were the only Ravenclaws in Herbology this year. Tabitha, however, was the only one out of those four that didn't want to be there.
They were working in groups of two today. Like always, they were paired by the teacher, and she had the incredible luck (har) of working with a Gryffindor. Said Gryffindor knew nothing of the subject. Rolling her eyes, she picked up a nearby sharp tool and poked the bulb. When the tool failed to penetrate the bulb's hard exterior, Tabitha attacked it more furiously.
The result of this was a stream of the pus shooting out in a great stream and soaking the Gryffindor boy across the table.
Tabitha stared at him for a moment with wide eyes, before rushing to the workstation and grabbing a towel. "I am soooo sorry!"
The boy spit some of the yellow pus out of his mouth, taking the towel and wiping his face on it.
"Er... Professor?" Tabitha called hesitantly, "What are these things called again?"
"Bubotubers," the professor was making her rounds, "and remember everyone! Take care not to get the pus on your skin! It causes particularly nasty and painful boils to appear where ever it makes contact."
Tabitha's eyes widened further as she looked back at the boy, whose face had been covered in the pus moments earlier. Large postule boils were starting to form all over his face, making him look like a beet for a few moments before his face was completely engulfed in pus-filled bumps.
Halfway between being disgusted and feeling extremely guilty, she watched at the professor came ever-closed, weaving among the tables of students and checking their progress with the pods. When she approached their table, the professor stopped and sighed.
"I don't want to know. Just... Please, Miss Hurley. Will you take Mr. Pettigrew to the Hospital Wing?"
"Sure..." Tabitha helped the boy out of the chair as they left the Greenhouse, wondering how on earth she was going to find the Hospital Wing. Thankfully, she found the front doors all right. Even the outside of the castle was a maze of passageways and courtyards.
Standing in front of the marble staircase, she turned to Pettigrew. "Sorry to ask, but... do you know where the Hospital Wing is?"
He looked annoyed, and stuck up three fingers.
"Right, third floor..." they continued up the staircase, Tabitha helping Pettigrew along. The boils had gotten to the point where his eyes were swollen shut, and he stumbled along blindly. It was her obligation to help him. After all, it was her fault.
Progress was antagonizingly slow, what with the blind leading the blind. She could only hope she was going in the right direction.
Finally when they reached the third floor, there was a ghost floating near a set of double doors.
"Excuse me? Could you please point me in the direction of the Hospital Wing?" The ghost grunted, rolled his eyes, and pointed at a larger set of double doors a little down the hallway. "Thank you," she added, before leading them off in that direction.
A few moments later, she was sitting in one of the hard waiting room chairs, fiddling with her fingers nervously. She was going to get detention, she just knew it. Even if it was just an accident, she hadn't used the proper procedures for bursting a Bubotuber pod. Not that she knew what the proper procedures were. All the worse for her.
She jumped as the door opened. The school matron hurried out, looking flustered. "It's not that dealing with bubotubers isn't easy, I just hate doing the charm."
"What a coincidence," Tabitha said under her breath, "I hate bubotubers in general."
"What did you say?"
"Oh, nothing," she said, following the matron back into the ward. "Is he okay?"
"Yes, he'll be fine, nothing that a few good nights rest and some salve wont fix," she smiled.
"It really was a mistake. I didn't mean for it to just... burst like that."
"Well, I'll be sure to ask Professor Sprout to keep you away from bubotuber pods from now on."
Tabitha hung her head, taking a seat beside the now glaring Gryffindor's bed.
"I'm really sorry. I didn't mean for that to happen."
"You didn't listen to the instructions. You didn't know how to do it right."
"Yes, well. You didn't know how to do it right either, or I'm sure you would have told me!"
"That... that's not the point!" He crossed his arms childishly. Tabitha raised an eyebrow at him.
Someone behind her spoke. "You did that to him?"
She turned. Three beds down the ward was a boy with shoulder-length greasy hair and a nose that reminded Tabitha of a beak.
"It was an accident," she said, shrugging.
The boy's lip curled. "Either way, you're going to have the rest of the Marauders after you."
"Marauders?" Tabitha was not liking the sound of this.
"His 'friends'."
She groaned. Enemies. Just what she needed on her first day. Shaking her head, she stood up. "Well, thanks for the advice. I'd better get back to class." Neither boy said anything.
Herbology was over by the time she got back to the Greenhouses. Tabitha fell in beside Maggie and Diana in the crowd leaving the class. Maggie seemed to be laughing.
Diana grinned at her. "Way to go with the pod, by the way."
"Oh, shut up."
Mercy was waiting for them in the Entrance Hall.
"So... how was Herbology?"
"Where would you like me to begin? The part where I didn't pay attention, the part where I got bubotuber pus over some Gryffindor, or the part where I was warned that I would have his 'friends' after my hide?"
"Ouch, you've got enemies now too?" Mercy asked sympathetically. "I didn't exactly make a good impression on some of the Gryffindors this morning in Potions."
"Who?"
"Some kid called James Potter," she shrugged, taking a seat with Tabitha at the Ravenclaw table for lunch. "And probably his friends."
"Ah, don't take that one personally," Diana muttered, not friendly, but not unfriendly in her tone. "The Marauders hate anything dressed in green and snake-related."
"The Marauders?" Tabitha asked, she'd been warned by the Slytherin boy in the Hospital wing that these people, whoever they were, wouldn't like her for the accident with the bubotubas.
"Yeah, they're this group of four Gryffindor boys," Diana held up a hand, four fingers extended, serving herself some food. "James Potter; he's the Gryffindor Quidditch captain, and he's had his eye on Lily Evans for years. He's something of a leader within the group. He dates a lot, but not as much as Sirius Black." She dropped a finger. "He's dated most of our year, and some of the older and younger years. He and Potter and inseparable most of the time, and they're always pulling some prank or another." Another finger down. "Then we have Remus Lupin... Lupin's the more responsible one, if a Marauder can be responsible; he's a very private and secretive, and hasn't really dated much, some girl in fourth year through to about when the OWLs started, I think. He's smart, should've been a Ravenclaw, that one." A third finger, and she took a bite before continuing. "Last, and least, we have Peter Petigrew, no one really knows why he's their friend, he doesn't really fit the mold. He's not very talented, he's not good looking, he's not smart, and he's not really the Marauder type in general. He's more like a groupie, only I doubt he's slept with anyone, let alone any of the 'band members'." Diana dropped her hand.
Maggie nodded, taking a mouthful of what looked like egg-salad with mayonnaise. Mercy looked at her curiously, and Maggie shrugged, looking away. Mercy noticed at that point that a few of the blue-students, and the few other colours were shooting her strange looks, she tried to ignore the prickling on the back of her neck, and continued to serve herself from the various dishes available.
Hogwarts food was different, where she had recently moved from, there was salads, hot chips, sandwiches, and the like for lunch, nothing quite as elaborate as this. Breakfast had been toast with jam, vegamite, or some such, with juice to drink, and occasionally something along the lines of instant noodles. Here there were kippers and so many things that seemed exotic to her. Dinner she had yet to experience, but she doubted it would be less extravagant than lunch and breakfast had been. Scotland and the UK in general was so different from home. It was colder, for one thing, she'd been shivering all through potions, and huddled to the heat of the simmering cauldron.
She shook her head, yet again bringing herself from her thoughts. She knew that she wasn't really welcome at the Ravenclaw table, but she had a... well, an ally here, and she needed allies with all the enemies she was getting herself already. She had two people on neutral terms as well, which was good, and she had Lily Evans at the red-table, who was friendly and willing to offer assistance. She was gaining more enemies than allies, but at least she had some of the latter.
"What's an owl doing here do late?" Diana's voice asked as a tawny owl swooped down to land on the table. "Usually they deliver in the mornings..."
"It's addressed to you," Tabitha noted, pushing the letter across the table with a clean fork.
"Thanks," Mercy murmured, glancing at the writing and tucking it into her cloak.
"Welcome," the American girl grinned, returning to her food. "I'm starving..."
It was at this point that Mercy's body seemed to remember she hadn't eaten breakfast, and, ravenous, she dug in.
A short time later, they were chatting and trading stories of their experiences as they digested their food. Mercy avoided the conversation as much as possible, but found that the others always seemed to have a question for her to answer; for some of these, she managed to avoid it with a simple shrug of her shoulders, or a quick answer, but some of them required more skillful evading. Mercy, simply put, didn't like to give potential enemies weapons, she'd learned the painful way not to do that.
"Hey... what do we have now?" Diana asked suddenly, breaking out of a round of embarrassing stories surrounding friends and family. "The bell will be going soon."
"Uh," Tabitha pulled out a timetable, but was beaten to the punch by Maggie, who held her timetable up to Diana's eyes.
"Oh, I have Defence Against the Dark Arts," Diana said, sounded a little excited. "What about you lot?"
A quick comparison of timetables proved that they were sharing the subject for this period.
"I wonder who we have this year," Diana translated for Maggie, who was signing quickly in her direction. Then elaborated at confused looks from the transfer students; "It changes every year, some people think the job's hexed."
"Well, let's find out," Tabitha suggested, standing as the bell rang and the remnants of food vanished form the table. "Where does that go?"
"To the kitchens, for the house elves to look after," Diana replied.
Mercy noted, somewhat bitterly, that Diana's tone was far more warm and open for the fellow Ravenclaw than for her, but knew that it was only natural, and tried to ignore it.
"House elves?" she asked curiously. "You have house elves?"
"Sure, there's hundreds of them here, apparently it's the biggest community in magical Brittan," Diana shrugged. "No one, except the Marauders, and a few of their ex-girlfriends, knows where the kitchens are, other than the teachers of course."
The quartet, thrown together more out of convenience than by choice, walked through the doors to join the throng of multicoloured students in the Entrance Hall, the Ravenclaws chattering, or signing, amongst themselves, while the Slytherin followed close behind.
Maggie and Diana led the way to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom on the first floor. Tabitha was thankful that there weren't many stairs to climb to get to this one. Tabitha picked a seat in the middle of the room, threw her bag onto the desk and started to dig through it.
"Damn," she said after a moment, "I've left my book somewhere. I'll bet it was in the Entrance Hall, with all the crowd..." Upon closer inspection of her bag, she found that there was a large gash in the canvas on the bottom.
Sighing, she stood up. "I'll fix it when I get back. I'm going to have to go back and look for it." Maggie stood up, signing furiously.
"You'll be late," Diana translated, taking her own seat, "And she wants to go with you."
"No, Maggie. I'll be fine. I'm just going to the next floor down to get a lost book. What could possibly happen?"
She started to move her hands furiously again. Diana raised an eyebrow. "I'm not even going to bother translating the list of things she thinks could happen."
"I'll be fine," Tabitha said again as she ducked out of the room.
When she got to the Entrance Hall a short time later, she quickly scanned the floor for any dropped texts. Sure enough, laying dejectedly in the corner was her book, some of the pages torn out.
Picking it up, she turned to make her way back up the staircase and to class before the bell could ring. Surprisingly enough, she found herself at the end of two wands.
"Can I help you?" she asked, looking down at the tips of the wands pointed at her with an eyebrow raised.
"I believe you may be of some assistance," the slightly taller boy noted, sharp grey eyes glaring down at her.
"Yes, certainly," the other boy continued. "You see, you hurt our friend quite a bit, and we don't tolerate that."
"And you know what they say," the first boy said, smiling almost maliciously. "An eye for an eye. Oh, and we'll be splitting the payment between you and your little Slytherin friend, so don't worry, you'll live."
"My... Slytherin friend?" Tabitha asked delicately, pressing a finger to the tip of one of the wands as it came just a little too close for comfort.
"Yes, the Dwyer girl," the shorter boy hissed. "The one who threatened my Lily."
'She threatened Lily? Who is Lily?' Tabitha wondered. "I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh sure, you say that here and now, but really, you're plotting with your evil little snake-buddies," the boy (the shorter one again) sneered. "I'll bet you've already got the Dark Mark." His wand pointed downwards at her left forearm, then up to her neck again.
"I just got to this country a few days ago," Tabitha countered calmly. "And I only met Mercy this morning, why, pray tell, would I have a reason to plot against you? I think you may be a little paranoid."
"Heh, just like a Ravenclaw, trying to logic your way out of it," the taller one took over. "Look, Hurley, just watch your back. If we catch you anywhere near our friends, you'll be very sorry."
The wands lowered, and the boys glared at her, before turning to go on their way, presumably to their next lesson. She was about to follow when the shorter one turned back, obscenely messy hair and hazel eyes burning into her memory.
"Oh, here's a little something to make the message sink in."
Red light hit her full in the face, and she stumbled back, a hand flying up to her nose. She could feel blood trickling down her lips now, and she glared at the boys, wincing as she gingerly brushed her shattered nose with a finger.
'I'll get you back for that,' she thought angrily. 'I will get you back, I swear.'
Tabitha wondered if she could fix it herself. Probably could, but it wouldn't be the same as going to the infirmary. She didn't want to miss anymore classes today, especially because of stupid Gryffindors.
Sighing, she raised her wand, whispering the incantation to a somewhat powerful healing spell. After class, she'd go get it fixed. Right now, her pride was more important than her nose.
Glaring down at the book in her hand, Tabitha set off up the staircase yet again. The bell sounded suddenly, very loud and painful in her ears. Wonderful, she thought, I'm going to be late.
A few moments later, she pushed open the door to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom quietly.
"Using non-verbal spells can be particularly helpful when - Well, hello. Glad you could join us."
Tabitha flinched, looking up at the front of the room.
"Where is she?" Diana hissed, looking at the door as the bell rang. "She should have been back before now, it's only the first floor."
"Maybe she ran into trouble?" Mercy suggested lightly, only to be met with carefully indifferent stares.
"It's possible," Diana admitted grudgingly. "But what kind of trouble? Everyone should be in class by now; even the Marauders got here before the bell."
Before the conversation could progress, the door swung open, and two sets of hopeful eyes, and one set of mildly concerned ones locked on the newcomer. Diana's shoulders sank slightly at the sight of a short woman, who stood with one arm full of books, and the other holding the door handle. Clever blue eyes swept over the class, and a slight smile crossed her pretty features.
"Good afternoon, class," she said in a carrying, but quiet voice. "I am Professor Howard, and I would like to welcome you to sixth year Defence Against the Dark Arts. I'm not too good with names, so excuse me if I have to ask you your name a few times before I remember."
During this time, she'd walked to her desk and set her things up with a swish of a long, pale wand. She then turned back to the still silent, and somewhat awed class. She had a powerful aura, one that almost commanded respect, despite her lack of words thus far.
"Now, this term we will be studying combat, and spells used for combat," she said, pointing her wand to the board, causing words to write themselves across its surface. "We will briefly review Dark creatures, but we will focus on Dark spells, and how to combat them. In a duel, the element of surprise, and split second reactions determine whether you live or die, so it is important, especially in these dangerous times, that we concentrate on duelling, which means lots of practical lessons."
There was a general cheer from the class, and Professor Howard smiled a little more.
"Yes, we will be holding competitions in which students will face off, and the victors will progress to the next round, while those who lost will duel each other and practice," she continued. "The overall winner will face me, and if you win that match, you will receive fifty points for your house. Now, if you will give me your attention for a moment, for a reason other than the prospect of a duel, I will call the roll."
And that she did, because about five minutes later, Professor Howard set the roll down, and sat nonchalantly on the edge of her desk, ready to speak once again.
"Now, in a duel, as I said earlier, your advantages lie in your reaction time, your skill, and your ability to take advantage of the element of surprise. One of the easiest ways to do this, is to use a quick, but creative spell, one that will surprise and confuse your enemy hopefully long enough for you to strike him down. Using non-verbal spells can be particularly useful when-."
The door burst open as quietly as was possible for a rusty door, and a tired, panting girl to do so. Tabitha stood there, looking as though she'd rather not be drawing the attention she was receiving from her new classmates.
"Well, hello. Glad you could join us."
The brunette flinched, and looked at the professor almost guiltily.
"Sorry, professor... Getting my book took a little longer than expected," Tabitha said sheepishly, walking past Diana and Maggie's desk to take her seat next to Mercy.
"You would be?"
"Hurley, Tabitha," she said softly, busying herself with repairing her split bag and getting out parchment and a quill.
The professor ticked something off on the roll of parchment Tabitha was sure was the roll list, before beginning again, "As I was saying, non-verbal spells are useful in duels. Using a spell verbally gives your opponent time to react and stop whatever you're throwing at them. If you can do it non-verbally, you hold the element of --"
"What took so long?" Tabitha heard Diana hiss behind her.
Leaning back slightly, she whispered, "Tell you later. Long story."
Diana nodded, and Tabitha returned her attention to the front of the room.
About an hour later, Tabitha swung her bag over her shoulder and waited for the others. She checked her timetable and saw that she had Transfiguration next, which was also on the first floor.
She had been hopeless at Transfiguration at Salem's, and doubted that she would be any better here. Hoping that it was just going to be some simple review for today, Tabitha headed out the door, the others in tow.
Once they were out of earshot of the classroom, Diana rounded on her. "All right, what happened? What kept you?"
"I was held up. Two stupid Gryffindor boys seem to think that you and I-" she turned to Mercy, "- are plotting. I have no idea why, but I think they were the friends of the boy I got Bubotuber Pus all over this morning.
"Oh," She added, after a moment of silence, "Who is Lily? Apparently you threatened her and now you're on the Hitlist."
Tabitha laughed inwardly. It was like they were against some sort of Mafia, with hitlists and secret attacks before class... Hogwarts was indeed a strange school.
"Eh," Mercy shrugged. "This red-headed girl, apparently she's a mudblood."
Diana and Maggie froze, frosty eyes and sharp glares biting into Mercy's back.
Tabitha eyed her fellow Ravenclaws oddly. Had Mercy said something wrong...? She was definitely going to ask later.
Still mulling all of this over, she followed them into the Transfiguration classroom.
Tabitha, Diana, and Maggie headed for the Ravenclaw common room after dinner, saying goodbye to Mercy at the foot of the marble staircase. Apparently, her common room was in the dungeons.
Once Diana had answered the riddle presented by the guardian of the common room, Tabitha collapsed into a poofy blue chair. "What a day," she said, leaning back against the armrest happily.
"The first week back is always crazy," Diana said, "Don't worry, you'll get used to it."
"And the stairs, hopefully..."
Maggie nodded, still wearing her grin.
There was silence for a moment, before Tabitha said, "Er... guys? Can I speak to you up in the Dorm?"
Diana nodded, looking worried, and Maggie started up the stairs. Once they were seated, Tabitha on her bed and Diana and Maggie on the one next to hers (Tabitha assumed it was Diana's), Tabitha said sheepishly, "Remember earlier, after Defense Against the Dark Arts...? When Mercy called the Lily girl a mudblood... why were you so offended?"
The other two exchanged looks.
"I don't know what it's like in America," Diana started, "But here, it's a really bad insult for someone who's muggle-born. It's not taken to kindly... blood status is really important to some here. That's what all the conflict is about, really..."
"What conflict?"
"Er... I'm not sure how to explain it..."
"Please try. I want to know if I'm going to live and go to school here."
"Well... some of the oldest wizarding families think that the only good wizards are purebloods. They don't think that muggleborns should be educated in magic, or even have a place in our society. The idea was originally set by Salazar Slytherin, the founder of Mercy's house. It's said that he only wanted those of purest blood and select qualities in his house... but we'll never know, will we?"
Tabitha dropped her eyes, and shook her head. "So, that's the reason everyone hates Slytherin..."
Maggie nodded, no longer grinning.
"There's a rumor going around... I don't know if it's true, so don't quote me on it... but people say that the wizards with those ideas are going to have a leader soon... a powerful dark wizard. Point is, though, that soon this little 'conflict' is going to turn it into a full-out war."
/me pokes dead readers/reviewers.
5k words... dang.
Anyway, hope you like. I personally don't think this chapter is one of my favorites, because of the crappy quality of my writing. MINE. NOT RISA'S.
Risa: -pokes Azure- If anyone wrote a crappy part, it's me.
Anyway, enjoy. Sorry for the wait.
Risa and Azure
Azure: Okay, people. This is going to be a universal disclaimer, for I don't like adding them and neither does Risa. We don't own Harry Potter or any of the themes therein. We make no profit from the writing of this story. Enjoy!
Tabitha glared down at the slimy bulb in the bowl before her, hoping that she could puncture it without having to touch it. To tell the truth, she hadn't really been listening while Professor Sprout gave the instructions on how to crack open the bulb and get to the pus inside. To tell the truth, she really hated Herbology and didn't care much.
Sighing, she rested her chin in her hand and let her eyes wander around the Greenhouse to the other students trying to break the bulbs open. It seemed that she, Maggie, Diana, and another boy in their year were the only Ravenclaws in Herbology this year. Tabitha, however, was the only one out of those four that didn't want to be there.
They were working in groups of two today. Like always, they were paired by the teacher, and she had the incredible luck (har) of working with a Gryffindor. Said Gryffindor knew nothing of the subject. Rolling her eyes, she picked up a nearby sharp tool and poked the bulb. When the tool failed to penetrate the bulb's hard exterior, Tabitha attacked it more furiously.
The result of this was a stream of the pus shooting out in a great stream and soaking the Gryffindor boy across the table.
Tabitha stared at him for a moment with wide eyes, before rushing to the workstation and grabbing a towel. "I am soooo sorry!"
The boy spit some of the yellow pus out of his mouth, taking the towel and wiping his face on it.
"Er... Professor?" Tabitha called hesitantly, "What are these things called again?"
"Bubotubers," the professor was making her rounds, "and remember everyone! Take care not to get the pus on your skin! It causes particularly nasty and painful boils to appear where ever it makes contact."
Tabitha's eyes widened further as she looked back at the boy, whose face had been covered in the pus moments earlier. Large postule boils were starting to form all over his face, making him look like a beet for a few moments before his face was completely engulfed in pus-filled bumps.
Halfway between being disgusted and feeling extremely guilty, she watched at the professor came ever-closed, weaving among the tables of students and checking their progress with the pods. When she approached their table, the professor stopped and sighed.
"I don't want to know. Just... Please, Miss Hurley. Will you take Mr. Pettigrew to the Hospital Wing?"
"Sure..." Tabitha helped the boy out of the chair as they left the Greenhouse, wondering how on earth she was going to find the Hospital Wing. Thankfully, she found the front doors all right. Even the outside of the castle was a maze of passageways and courtyards.
Standing in front of the marble staircase, she turned to Pettigrew. "Sorry to ask, but... do you know where the Hospital Wing is?"
He looked annoyed, and stuck up three fingers.
"Right, third floor..." they continued up the staircase, Tabitha helping Pettigrew along. The boils had gotten to the point where his eyes were swollen shut, and he stumbled along blindly. It was her obligation to help him. After all, it was her fault.
Progress was antagonizingly slow, what with the blind leading the blind. She could only hope she was going in the right direction.
Finally when they reached the third floor, there was a ghost floating near a set of double doors.
"Excuse me? Could you please point me in the direction of the Hospital Wing?" The ghost grunted, rolled his eyes, and pointed at a larger set of double doors a little down the hallway. "Thank you," she added, before leading them off in that direction.
A few moments later, she was sitting in one of the hard waiting room chairs, fiddling with her fingers nervously. She was going to get detention, she just knew it. Even if it was just an accident, she hadn't used the proper procedures for bursting a Bubotuber pod. Not that she knew what the proper procedures were. All the worse for her.
She jumped as the door opened. The school matron hurried out, looking flustered. "It's not that dealing with bubotubers isn't easy, I just hate doing the charm."
"What a coincidence," Tabitha said under her breath, "I hate bubotubers in general."
"What did you say?"
"Oh, nothing," she said, following the matron back into the ward. "Is he okay?"
"Yes, he'll be fine, nothing that a few good nights rest and some salve wont fix," she smiled.
"It really was a mistake. I didn't mean for it to just... burst like that."
"Well, I'll be sure to ask Professor Sprout to keep you away from bubotuber pods from now on."
Tabitha hung her head, taking a seat beside the now glaring Gryffindor's bed.
"I'm really sorry. I didn't mean for that to happen."
"You didn't listen to the instructions. You didn't know how to do it right."
"Yes, well. You didn't know how to do it right either, or I'm sure you would have told me!"
"That... that's not the point!" He crossed his arms childishly. Tabitha raised an eyebrow at him.
Someone behind her spoke. "You did that to him?"
She turned. Three beds down the ward was a boy with shoulder-length greasy hair and a nose that reminded Tabitha of a beak.
"It was an accident," she said, shrugging.
The boy's lip curled. "Either way, you're going to have the rest of the Marauders after you."
"Marauders?" Tabitha was not liking the sound of this.
"His 'friends'."
She groaned. Enemies. Just what she needed on her first day. Shaking her head, she stood up. "Well, thanks for the advice. I'd better get back to class." Neither boy said anything.
Herbology was over by the time she got back to the Greenhouses. Tabitha fell in beside Maggie and Diana in the crowd leaving the class. Maggie seemed to be laughing.
Diana grinned at her. "Way to go with the pod, by the way."
"Oh, shut up."
Mercy was waiting for them in the Entrance Hall.
"So... how was Herbology?"
"Where would you like me to begin? The part where I didn't pay attention, the part where I got bubotuber pus over some Gryffindor, or the part where I was warned that I would have his 'friends' after my hide?"
"Ouch, you've got enemies now too?" Mercy asked sympathetically. "I didn't exactly make a good impression on some of the Gryffindors this morning in Potions."
"Who?"
"Some kid called James Potter," she shrugged, taking a seat with Tabitha at the Ravenclaw table for lunch. "And probably his friends."
"Ah, don't take that one personally," Diana muttered, not friendly, but not unfriendly in her tone. "The Marauders hate anything dressed in green and snake-related."
"The Marauders?" Tabitha asked, she'd been warned by the Slytherin boy in the Hospital wing that these people, whoever they were, wouldn't like her for the accident with the bubotubas.
"Yeah, they're this group of four Gryffindor boys," Diana held up a hand, four fingers extended, serving herself some food. "James Potter; he's the Gryffindor Quidditch captain, and he's had his eye on Lily Evans for years. He's something of a leader within the group. He dates a lot, but not as much as Sirius Black." She dropped a finger. "He's dated most of our year, and some of the older and younger years. He and Potter and inseparable most of the time, and they're always pulling some prank or another." Another finger down. "Then we have Remus Lupin... Lupin's the more responsible one, if a Marauder can be responsible; he's a very private and secretive, and hasn't really dated much, some girl in fourth year through to about when the OWLs started, I think. He's smart, should've been a Ravenclaw, that one." A third finger, and she took a bite before continuing. "Last, and least, we have Peter Petigrew, no one really knows why he's their friend, he doesn't really fit the mold. He's not very talented, he's not good looking, he's not smart, and he's not really the Marauder type in general. He's more like a groupie, only I doubt he's slept with anyone, let alone any of the 'band members'." Diana dropped her hand.
Maggie nodded, taking a mouthful of what looked like egg-salad with mayonnaise. Mercy looked at her curiously, and Maggie shrugged, looking away. Mercy noticed at that point that a few of the blue-students, and the few other colours were shooting her strange looks, she tried to ignore the prickling on the back of her neck, and continued to serve herself from the various dishes available.
Hogwarts food was different, where she had recently moved from, there was salads, hot chips, sandwiches, and the like for lunch, nothing quite as elaborate as this. Breakfast had been toast with jam, vegamite, or some such, with juice to drink, and occasionally something along the lines of instant noodles. Here there were kippers and so many things that seemed exotic to her. Dinner she had yet to experience, but she doubted it would be less extravagant than lunch and breakfast had been. Scotland and the UK in general was so different from home. It was colder, for one thing, she'd been shivering all through potions, and huddled to the heat of the simmering cauldron.
She shook her head, yet again bringing herself from her thoughts. She knew that she wasn't really welcome at the Ravenclaw table, but she had a... well, an ally here, and she needed allies with all the enemies she was getting herself already. She had two people on neutral terms as well, which was good, and she had Lily Evans at the red-table, who was friendly and willing to offer assistance. She was gaining more enemies than allies, but at least she had some of the latter.
"What's an owl doing here do late?" Diana's voice asked as a tawny owl swooped down to land on the table. "Usually they deliver in the mornings..."
"It's addressed to you," Tabitha noted, pushing the letter across the table with a clean fork.
"Thanks," Mercy murmured, glancing at the writing and tucking it into her cloak.
"Welcome," the American girl grinned, returning to her food. "I'm starving..."
It was at this point that Mercy's body seemed to remember she hadn't eaten breakfast, and, ravenous, she dug in.
A short time later, they were chatting and trading stories of their experiences as they digested their food. Mercy avoided the conversation as much as possible, but found that the others always seemed to have a question for her to answer; for some of these, she managed to avoid it with a simple shrug of her shoulders, or a quick answer, but some of them required more skillful evading. Mercy, simply put, didn't like to give potential enemies weapons, she'd learned the painful way not to do that.
"Hey... what do we have now?" Diana asked suddenly, breaking out of a round of embarrassing stories surrounding friends and family. "The bell will be going soon."
"Uh," Tabitha pulled out a timetable, but was beaten to the punch by Maggie, who held her timetable up to Diana's eyes.
"Oh, I have Defence Against the Dark Arts," Diana said, sounded a little excited. "What about you lot?"
A quick comparison of timetables proved that they were sharing the subject for this period.
"I wonder who we have this year," Diana translated for Maggie, who was signing quickly in her direction. Then elaborated at confused looks from the transfer students; "It changes every year, some people think the job's hexed."
"Well, let's find out," Tabitha suggested, standing as the bell rang and the remnants of food vanished form the table. "Where does that go?"
"To the kitchens, for the house elves to look after," Diana replied.
Mercy noted, somewhat bitterly, that Diana's tone was far more warm and open for the fellow Ravenclaw than for her, but knew that it was only natural, and tried to ignore it.
"House elves?" she asked curiously. "You have house elves?"
"Sure, there's hundreds of them here, apparently it's the biggest community in magical Brittan," Diana shrugged. "No one, except the Marauders, and a few of their ex-girlfriends, knows where the kitchens are, other than the teachers of course."
The quartet, thrown together more out of convenience than by choice, walked through the doors to join the throng of multicoloured students in the Entrance Hall, the Ravenclaws chattering, or signing, amongst themselves, while the Slytherin followed close behind.
Maggie and Diana led the way to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom on the first floor. Tabitha was thankful that there weren't many stairs to climb to get to this one. Tabitha picked a seat in the middle of the room, threw her bag onto the desk and started to dig through it.
"Damn," she said after a moment, "I've left my book somewhere. I'll bet it was in the Entrance Hall, with all the crowd..." Upon closer inspection of her bag, she found that there was a large gash in the canvas on the bottom.
Sighing, she stood up. "I'll fix it when I get back. I'm going to have to go back and look for it." Maggie stood up, signing furiously.
"You'll be late," Diana translated, taking her own seat, "And she wants to go with you."
"No, Maggie. I'll be fine. I'm just going to the next floor down to get a lost book. What could possibly happen?"
She started to move her hands furiously again. Diana raised an eyebrow. "I'm not even going to bother translating the list of things she thinks could happen."
"I'll be fine," Tabitha said again as she ducked out of the room.
When she got to the Entrance Hall a short time later, she quickly scanned the floor for any dropped texts. Sure enough, laying dejectedly in the corner was her book, some of the pages torn out.
Picking it up, she turned to make her way back up the staircase and to class before the bell could ring. Surprisingly enough, she found herself at the end of two wands.
"Can I help you?" she asked, looking down at the tips of the wands pointed at her with an eyebrow raised.
"I believe you may be of some assistance," the slightly taller boy noted, sharp grey eyes glaring down at her.
"Yes, certainly," the other boy continued. "You see, you hurt our friend quite a bit, and we don't tolerate that."
"And you know what they say," the first boy said, smiling almost maliciously. "An eye for an eye. Oh, and we'll be splitting the payment between you and your little Slytherin friend, so don't worry, you'll live."
"My... Slytherin friend?" Tabitha asked delicately, pressing a finger to the tip of one of the wands as it came just a little too close for comfort.
"Yes, the Dwyer girl," the shorter boy hissed. "The one who threatened my Lily."
'She threatened Lily? Who is Lily?' Tabitha wondered. "I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh sure, you say that here and now, but really, you're plotting with your evil little snake-buddies," the boy (the shorter one again) sneered. "I'll bet you've already got the Dark Mark." His wand pointed downwards at her left forearm, then up to her neck again.
"I just got to this country a few days ago," Tabitha countered calmly. "And I only met Mercy this morning, why, pray tell, would I have a reason to plot against you? I think you may be a little paranoid."
"Heh, just like a Ravenclaw, trying to logic your way out of it," the taller one took over. "Look, Hurley, just watch your back. If we catch you anywhere near our friends, you'll be very sorry."
The wands lowered, and the boys glared at her, before turning to go on their way, presumably to their next lesson. She was about to follow when the shorter one turned back, obscenely messy hair and hazel eyes burning into her memory.
"Oh, here's a little something to make the message sink in."
Red light hit her full in the face, and she stumbled back, a hand flying up to her nose. She could feel blood trickling down her lips now, and she glared at the boys, wincing as she gingerly brushed her shattered nose with a finger.
'I'll get you back for that,' she thought angrily. 'I will get you back, I swear.'
Tabitha wondered if she could fix it herself. Probably could, but it wouldn't be the same as going to the infirmary. She didn't want to miss anymore classes today, especially because of stupid Gryffindors.
Sighing, she raised her wand, whispering the incantation to a somewhat powerful healing spell. After class, she'd go get it fixed. Right now, her pride was more important than her nose.
Glaring down at the book in her hand, Tabitha set off up the staircase yet again. The bell sounded suddenly, very loud and painful in her ears. Wonderful, she thought, I'm going to be late.
A few moments later, she pushed open the door to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom quietly.
"Using non-verbal spells can be particularly helpful when - Well, hello. Glad you could join us."
Tabitha flinched, looking up at the front of the room.
"Where is she?" Diana hissed, looking at the door as the bell rang. "She should have been back before now, it's only the first floor."
"Maybe she ran into trouble?" Mercy suggested lightly, only to be met with carefully indifferent stares.
"It's possible," Diana admitted grudgingly. "But what kind of trouble? Everyone should be in class by now; even the Marauders got here before the bell."
Before the conversation could progress, the door swung open, and two sets of hopeful eyes, and one set of mildly concerned ones locked on the newcomer. Diana's shoulders sank slightly at the sight of a short woman, who stood with one arm full of books, and the other holding the door handle. Clever blue eyes swept over the class, and a slight smile crossed her pretty features.
"Good afternoon, class," she said in a carrying, but quiet voice. "I am Professor Howard, and I would like to welcome you to sixth year Defence Against the Dark Arts. I'm not too good with names, so excuse me if I have to ask you your name a few times before I remember."
During this time, she'd walked to her desk and set her things up with a swish of a long, pale wand. She then turned back to the still silent, and somewhat awed class. She had a powerful aura, one that almost commanded respect, despite her lack of words thus far.
"Now, this term we will be studying combat, and spells used for combat," she said, pointing her wand to the board, causing words to write themselves across its surface. "We will briefly review Dark creatures, but we will focus on Dark spells, and how to combat them. In a duel, the element of surprise, and split second reactions determine whether you live or die, so it is important, especially in these dangerous times, that we concentrate on duelling, which means lots of practical lessons."
There was a general cheer from the class, and Professor Howard smiled a little more.
"Yes, we will be holding competitions in which students will face off, and the victors will progress to the next round, while those who lost will duel each other and practice," she continued. "The overall winner will face me, and if you win that match, you will receive fifty points for your house. Now, if you will give me your attention for a moment, for a reason other than the prospect of a duel, I will call the roll."
And that she did, because about five minutes later, Professor Howard set the roll down, and sat nonchalantly on the edge of her desk, ready to speak once again.
"Now, in a duel, as I said earlier, your advantages lie in your reaction time, your skill, and your ability to take advantage of the element of surprise. One of the easiest ways to do this, is to use a quick, but creative spell, one that will surprise and confuse your enemy hopefully long enough for you to strike him down. Using non-verbal spells can be particularly useful when-."
The door burst open as quietly as was possible for a rusty door, and a tired, panting girl to do so. Tabitha stood there, looking as though she'd rather not be drawing the attention she was receiving from her new classmates.
"Well, hello. Glad you could join us."
The brunette flinched, and looked at the professor almost guiltily.
"Sorry, professor... Getting my book took a little longer than expected," Tabitha said sheepishly, walking past Diana and Maggie's desk to take her seat next to Mercy.
"You would be?"
"Hurley, Tabitha," she said softly, busying herself with repairing her split bag and getting out parchment and a quill.
The professor ticked something off on the roll of parchment Tabitha was sure was the roll list, before beginning again, "As I was saying, non-verbal spells are useful in duels. Using a spell verbally gives your opponent time to react and stop whatever you're throwing at them. If you can do it non-verbally, you hold the element of --"
"What took so long?" Tabitha heard Diana hiss behind her.
Leaning back slightly, she whispered, "Tell you later. Long story."
Diana nodded, and Tabitha returned her attention to the front of the room.
About an hour later, Tabitha swung her bag over her shoulder and waited for the others. She checked her timetable and saw that she had Transfiguration next, which was also on the first floor.
She had been hopeless at Transfiguration at Salem's, and doubted that she would be any better here. Hoping that it was just going to be some simple review for today, Tabitha headed out the door, the others in tow.
Once they were out of earshot of the classroom, Diana rounded on her. "All right, what happened? What kept you?"
"I was held up. Two stupid Gryffindor boys seem to think that you and I-" she turned to Mercy, "- are plotting. I have no idea why, but I think they were the friends of the boy I got Bubotuber Pus all over this morning.
"Oh," She added, after a moment of silence, "Who is Lily? Apparently you threatened her and now you're on the Hitlist."
Tabitha laughed inwardly. It was like they were against some sort of Mafia, with hitlists and secret attacks before class... Hogwarts was indeed a strange school.
"Eh," Mercy shrugged. "This red-headed girl, apparently she's a mudblood."
Diana and Maggie froze, frosty eyes and sharp glares biting into Mercy's back.
Tabitha eyed her fellow Ravenclaws oddly. Had Mercy said something wrong...? She was definitely going to ask later.
Still mulling all of this over, she followed them into the Transfiguration classroom.
Tabitha, Diana, and Maggie headed for the Ravenclaw common room after dinner, saying goodbye to Mercy at the foot of the marble staircase. Apparently, her common room was in the dungeons.
Once Diana had answered the riddle presented by the guardian of the common room, Tabitha collapsed into a poofy blue chair. "What a day," she said, leaning back against the armrest happily.
"The first week back is always crazy," Diana said, "Don't worry, you'll get used to it."
"And the stairs, hopefully..."
Maggie nodded, still wearing her grin.
There was silence for a moment, before Tabitha said, "Er... guys? Can I speak to you up in the Dorm?"
Diana nodded, looking worried, and Maggie started up the stairs. Once they were seated, Tabitha on her bed and Diana and Maggie on the one next to hers (Tabitha assumed it was Diana's), Tabitha said sheepishly, "Remember earlier, after Defense Against the Dark Arts...? When Mercy called the Lily girl a mudblood... why were you so offended?"
The other two exchanged looks.
"I don't know what it's like in America," Diana started, "But here, it's a really bad insult for someone who's muggle-born. It's not taken to kindly... blood status is really important to some here. That's what all the conflict is about, really..."
"What conflict?"
"Er... I'm not sure how to explain it..."
"Please try. I want to know if I'm going to live and go to school here."
"Well... some of the oldest wizarding families think that the only good wizards are purebloods. They don't think that muggleborns should be educated in magic, or even have a place in our society. The idea was originally set by Salazar Slytherin, the founder of Mercy's house. It's said that he only wanted those of purest blood and select qualities in his house... but we'll never know, will we?"
Tabitha dropped her eyes, and shook her head. "So, that's the reason everyone hates Slytherin..."
Maggie nodded, no longer grinning.
"There's a rumor going around... I don't know if it's true, so don't quote me on it... but people say that the wizards with those ideas are going to have a leader soon... a powerful dark wizard. Point is, though, that soon this little 'conflict' is going to turn it into a full-out war."