Happy Thoughts
Author: Hermione Granger
Date: 09-01-04 18:35
Not fighting to keep her eyes open for once, despite it being the middle of History of Magic class, Hermione listened as Professor Binns droned on about the formation of the Ministry of Magic and the early issues the newly-created wizarding government tackled in its first few years. She jotted down some notes, quite consciously aware of the encroaching N.E.W.T.s, and threw a quick look over her shoulder to take in a view of the rest of the classroom. Some students were dozing, but more than usual were alert. It seemed that they, too, knew the end was near.
Despite her apparent focus on the task at hand, Hermione's mind continually strayed to the letter she had received that morning at breakfast from Oxford University. Like the St. Emrys letter a week before, the Oxford letter was one of acceptance into the university. Overjoyed beyond belief, Hermione had gone straight to Harry and Ron and told them the good news, much to their great surprise.
Now a difficult decision lay before her, though deep in her heart she already knew what she wanted to do. Was it feasible, however? She remembered the rigor and near unbearable exhaustion that followed the undertaking of far too much at one single time. Would she be a fool to do it again, this time without the use of time turner?
Hermione pushed the thoughts to the back of her mind, knowing that she would have time to mull over everything. Right now nothing was more important than doing well on the N.E.W.T.s, and turning her attention back to Professor Binns, Hermione listened intently to his lecture.
Lines, Lines and More Lines
Author: Australia Kingston
Date: 09-01-04 19:31
Australia, both nervous and excited about her first day of term at St. Emrys University, arrives by Floo into the large, central hallway of the main building. Large signs instruct students to go to Yellow Cafeteria to pick up their packets. Australia already knew this since this information and other instructions, along with a general map of the school, were included in the owl carrying her confirmation of registration but it's still nice to have the signs there for all those, like Aussie, who have a little bit of a lost feeling.
Following the steadily moving stream - Aussie never imagined there would be this many people - who are in turn following the yellow stripe on the wall pointing the way to Yellow Cafeteria, Aussie soons arrives and quickly finds the K-L line. "Kingston, Australia," she tells the friendly woman at the table.
The woman thumbs through packets in front of her and pulls one out. "Kingston, Australia. Wright College." She hands the packet to Aussie while rapidly saying, "Go to one of the tables along the wall and make sure your list of classes seems correct. Also make sure the other information is correct - meal plan, living arrangements, payment of fees notated properly, that sort of thing. Then go to Orange Cafeteria to get your student ID card made and you'll see tables with representatives from the colleges. Find the person from Wright College and hand over the bright orange piece of parchment from your packet."
Aussie nods as she thanks the woman and moves to find a spot along the wall as instructed. After going through the packet, Aussie finds an orange strip to follow to Orange Cafeteria. She gets in one of the lines for getting student ID cards made. It's done quickly and she takes the receipt handed to her. "Your card should be done by this afternoon. You can check back then or some other time this week. There will be a table set up in the corner here in Orange through next week. After that, if you've still not picked it up, you'll have to get it from Admissions in Green."
Smiling, Aussie thanks the photo guy then goes to locate the Wright College rep. Wright College, named for Bowman Wright, the inventor of the Golden Snitch, is the St. Emrys college for sports and flying, so Aussie is not at all surprised when the Wright College representative turns out to be Josie Sullivan, a former beater for the Holyhead Harpies. Handing over the orange parchment to Ms. Sullivan, the other woman scans it, checks a list, then makes some notes on both the list and Aussie's parchment. Handing it back to Aussie, Ms. Sullivan grins, "Looks like I'm to be your advising don during your time here at St. Emrys, Miss Kingston. I've written my office number on your paper and my office hours. I expect you to come by sometime this week to sign up for an appointment. If I'm not in, the sign up sheet will be hanging by the door."
Finding herself nodding and thanking someone yet again, Aussie begins moving away so that the next person in line can be processed. She's not gone but a step or two when Ms. Sullivan calls out, "If I recall, you're signed up for my Quidditch Through The Ages class meeting this afternoon. See you then, Australia!"
Grinning, Aussie continues walking, finding a spot where she can look once more over her class schedule. With it in hand she locates on her map where the bookstore is. Brown. Finding a brown stripe Aussie heads to the bookstore to buy texts, including a copy of Kennilworthy Whisp's Quidditch Through The Ages.
Summer's Bride
Author: Drucilla Eternal
Date: 09-02-04 11:43
"Darling?"
Lowering his newspaper (The Daily Prophet of course), Sirius looked at me from across the table. He seemed reluctant to answer, but that was probably because laid out in front of me was a stack of invitations and blank parchments, all to be used in the process of figuring out our wedding plans.
"Sirius, what do you think?"
Finally placing the newspaper on the table, Sirius turned his full attention on me. "What do I think of what, Dru?"
Feeling slightly frustrated, I tried my best not to let it show on my face. "The wedding date, dear. What do you think of having a summer wedding?"
Scratching his face thoughtfully, Sirius nodded in agreement. "I think a Summer date would be perfect. Harry won't be in school yet, so we won't have to worry about planning things around his school schedule. And if we have it closer to the end of summer, it will give us enough time to plan everything out."
Starting to write the details on the parchment, I lifted my quill, poised to dip it in the ink again.
"And what about guests?"
"I was thinking of a nice, small wedding. Just you and me, and Harry of course. And a minister, I suppose we'll need one of those right?" Sirius smiled in amusement, but grabbed my hand when he saw my look of horror.
"Small? That's no good, Sirius! I work for a big organization. There will be a lot of annoyed people at work, if I don't invite them to our wedding. And what about all your friends? Won't they be mad if they're not invited? I'm not saying we need to have a huge wedding, but I do think we need to have a decent size wedding with at least our friends invited. Don't you think that would be better?"
I could see that Sirius wasn't very pleased with the idea. Normally I wouldn't push the issue, but a wedding seemed to be the perfect time to have all the members of the Order present. Not that I knew who the members were yet, but after the wedding I planned to start pushing Sirius for information. I figured the Order wouldn't be able to deny his wife from joining. Even if they did say no, my guess was that Sirius would be so annoyed with them that he would spill the information to me anyways. Or at least, that was what I was hoping.
As I continued to look at Sirius with a hopeful look, I heard him sigh in defeat and pick up the newspaper again. "Dru, however you want to do this wedding is fine by me. Just tell me the date and place, and I'll be there."
Smiling in victory, I began to write out the details on my parchment.
Reading
Author: Isolde
Date: 09-02-04 16:57
Not having had any classes today, Isolde lounged around the Slytherin common room with a book on--what else?--Quidditch. She thumbed from page to page about the various teams of Britain and Ireland, noting statistics and other information she had long since memorized but nevertheless enjoyed reading again and again.
Beside her on the empty sofa seat, was an application for a three-week summer training camp for aspiring professional Quidditch players. Between attending the camp and working part-time at Twice Told Tales, Isolde knew her summer would be productive. She knew she would spend plenty of quality time with Pyrrhus as well, and she also hoped that she'd get to see Alexis.
Looking up at the arrival of both Pyrrhus and Alexis, Isolde made room for her boyfriend on the couch and watched as Alexis stacked a series of textbooks on a nearby end table. In less than two months time, they'd all be seventh years. Scary thought, that!
Invitations
Author: Blossom
Date: 09-02-04 17:31
As George inventories the shelves nearest the cash register and as Fred does a second count of a deposit to go to Gringotts, Blossom sits on a stool at the counter, quill in hand, pages of parchment in front of her, and a stack of envelopes beside her. She looks up briefly when she asks, "You're sure this is a complete list, Fred?"
Fred pauses his counting. "Mum says it is and I looked over it to make sure a few names were on there. George even looked it over to make sure I hadn't missed anything."
George, his voice slightly muffled by the shelving between him and the other two, asks, "Are you inviting your grandfather, Blossom?"
"No!" The answer is short, emphatic, and almost terse though she doesn't mean to sound that way.
"Didn't think so," the twins say in unison.
George, his voice clearer as he moves around the shelfing unit, next asks, "Isn't it a little early to send out invitations?"
"Maybe a little but I wanted to be sure people had it marked on their calendars. You know, so they won't schedule a holiday somewhere and end up not coming. Also, with this an evening ceremony with a dinner buffet, the sooner we get back the RSVPs, the sooner we know how much food should be prepared. I'd rather have this done early rather than have it all sneak up on us. Friday, July 10th seems so far away but with work and wedding planning, the time will probably go by fairly quickly."
Fred, now putting the money in a bag marked with the Gringotts name and logo, remarks, "No matter what else, the most important job is done - the honeymoon's planned and payments made. Amsterdam, Prague, then Venice."
"George, speaking of trips," Blossom looks over at her soon to be brother-in-law, "Majandra has made Disney World sound like so much fun, Fred and I were thinking we'd go in the off season. Maj says the first two weeks in December are a great time to go. Would you two want to come with?"
"Heck yes! After I finish the inventory of this aisle I'll send her an owl just to double check. I know she'd love to play tour guide for us. It will also depend on whether our parents have murdered us when we break the news to them. If we're still breathing when you two get back from the honeymoon, then yes, the four of us will go on a holiday together."
Chuckling, Fred quips, "Well, if Maj's parents are okay with things but Mum and Dad aren't, we'll make sure you get a nice burial then take Maj with us on that trip to console her and cheer her up."
Fred gives Blossom a quick peck on the cheek then heads off to make the bank deposit. George puts his clipboard down and goes into the office to write the owl to Majandra, and Blossom checks off another name on the list, picks up another envelope with a wedding invitation tucked inside, then addresses it to the next name on the list.
Azkaban: James Yao & Kep-Tian Zhongxun
Author: Ethan Somerset
Date: 09-02-04 18:19
Ethan stepped into the visitation room for the fourth time since his arrival at Azkaban, and settled into the seat across from which his representation, James Yao, sat. The Asian man spread a series of parchments across the surface in front of him and stated, "How are you doing today, Ethan?"
"As well as can be expected," said the prisoner of Azkaban. "It's a little after office hours, isn't it?" Ethan looked at the clock on the wall across the room and noticed the time.
"The work day is never done when I have a client to please," James replied, revealing a set of pearly-white teeth.
"I thank you for it," Ethan responded. "What is it you wanted to talk to me about?"
"Your case, of course." James selected a particular parchment and scanned its text for a moment. His eyes lifted to meet Ethan's. "I am arranging for a tentative trial date of Monday, May 18. I think we have a solid case, but any additional information you may have about your time as an agent of You-Know-Who will be helpful. Is there something else you can tell me?"
"There is one thing," Ethan said. Memories of Viktor's last visit to Azkaban Fortress flooded his mind, when the former professional Quidditch player revealed his findings regarding Taz-Marah, the woman Ethan had killed. Most prominent in those findings was a second name, that of Kep-Tian Zhongxun. Ethan hadn't remembered knowing the name until then, when it first fell from Viktor's lips. It had become so familiar in the time that followed, yet Ethan still couldn't pin-point his own connection with Kep-Tian, one he knew ran so much deeper than simple treasure hunting.
Ethan cleared his throat and looked James in the eye. "I think I might have had an accomplice during my "off days". Does the name Kep-Tian Zhongxun mean anything to you?"
If James Yao was taken aback by Ethan's revelation, he didn't show it. Instead he shook his head and drew an ink-filled quill from his robe pocket. "Z-h-o-n-g-x-u-n?" James spelled out as he wrote it down onto a slip of parchment.
"Yes, that's right."
"I'm sorry Ethan, but I don't know the name. I'll do some research, however, and see what I can learn about the fellow. How do you know the name?"
Ethan wanted to reveal his source, but for some reason he didn't. Instead, he shrugged and said, "It just came to me one night. Sometimes I remember the oddest things about my past... things I know are deeply suppressed and which should never come to light, but things that nevertheless are creeping to the surface." Ethan managed a smile and said, "I know I've been enchanted to forget. I know I've been "cut loose" from the fold. I don't know why the bastard didn't kill me when he had the chance."
"Zhongxun?" James asked.
"Voldemort."
James blinked. "Perhaps he has another purpose for you."
"I'd rather die than carry out his will," Ethan responded flatly.
James, perhaps too stunned to answer, shuffled his papers together and stowed them into a briefcase. When at last he spoke he rose from his chair and said, "I may come calling for you again this week, or maybe next week. If you think of anything else, get in contact with me."
He moved a few paces towards the door, stopped, turned around and said, "We'll make things as they should be, Ethan. Don't you worry. I'll see to it all myself."
Dinner with the Boys
Author: Draco Malfoy
Date: 09-02-04 19:23
Sandwiched between Crabbe and Goyle at the Slytherin table, Draco helped himself to some chicken noodle soup. He felt the slight ache of an oncoming cold at the back of his throat, and absolutely did not want to get sick with the championship Quidditch game against Gryffindor less than a week away. Ladling themselves hefty portions of soup from the same cauldron, Crabbe and Goyle seemed absolutely oblivious to their friend's waning state.
"Is food all you two think about?" Draco asked scornfully, slopping some soup over the side of his bowl in a vigorous attempt to dip his spoon into the steaming liquid.
Crabbe answered, "Actually..."
"We've been thinking about the future," Goyle finished.
Draco quirked an eyebrow.
"Life after Hogwarts," Crabbe continued.
"Jobs, organizations," Goyle added, with the latter word spoken in a hushed voice.
"Your fathers would be proud," Draco stated, eyeing both boys with extreme disbelief. And mine? Draco frowned.
Entertainment
Author: Lucius Malfoy
Date: 09-02-04 20:19
Lucius ambles through various halls of the Ministry, stopping occassionally to listen to the latest rumors circulating about everything from Sirius Black only proposing to Drucilla Eternal because he's put a bun in her oven to theories on the identities of the mysterious Boris and Natasha.
After his surprise reappearance, Charlie Weasley has slowly remembered details of the weeks he was missing. According to a Rita Skeeter scoop in today's Daily Prophet, "Young Weasley clearly recalls overhearing Boris and Natasha discussing their location near Constanta, Romania, on the Black Sea. Weasley has described for both Romanian and British officials the cottage where he was held. Interestingly enough the title to the cottage has been traced back to our own Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge..."
Lucius decides to head to the Ministry cafeteria for tea. Plus, it's an excellent spot to sit in relative comfort while listening to certain rumors grow. Why pay for entertainment when one can get it for free?
Another Day at the Office
Author: Bill Weasley
Date: 09-03-04 18:05
No words could describe how relieved Bill felt to learn of Charlie's safe return to the Romanian Dragon Reserve, although the circumstances surrounding Charlie's lack of temporal understanding concerned Bill, as it had Charlie's friends and colleagues when he'd first arrived at camp after his long absence. What more, the startling revelations from Charlie's vague memories cast an uneasy shadow over the administration of the Ministry of Magic.
What sort of shady business involved the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge? Article after article speculated what his secretive dealings might be, from blackmail to affiliation with dark wizards. One source of news media went so far as to prognosticate Fudge's removal from office. Rumors ran rampant.
Bill tossed the Tuesday edition of The Daily Prophet down on the surface of his desk and leaned back in his chair. What was the wizarding world coming to? A light knock on the door interrupted his thoughts, followed by the entry of Fleur, looking stunning in a set of pale blue robes.
"Zese documents 'ave just arrived, Bill," she said, approaching the desk, "from Diagon Alley." She set them down on top of the discarded Daily Prophet and settled herself in a seat opposite Bill's.
Bill rolled his chair closer to his desk and sifted through the documents. "Looks great. Say..." He looked up and gazed into Fleur's eyes. "Would you like to attend the championship Quidditch match with me on Saturday? I'm going to see if Briar might want to come as well. Perhaps Fred and George will come too. We can cheer on Ron and Harry and the whole gang. It'll be great, a lot of fun... what do you say?"
Fleur shrugged her shoulders, the movement so graceful that Bill felt momentarily entranced. "I'd love to, Bill."
Smiling, Bill exclaimed, "Great!"
Reality's Slap in the Face
Author: Harry Potter
Date: 09-03-04 19:20
Care of Magical Creatures having wrapped a short time ago, Harry enters the Great Hall for lunch, his stomach rumbling loudly. That's what he gets for sleeping in so late he not only missed breakfast but he had to hustle to get to his only Tuesday class on time. He glances over at Ron, expecting his friend to make some joke about the noises Harry's stomach is making but Ron's not even there.
Harry spins around then backtracks, locating Ron in the courtyard area just beyond the doors into the castle. He's standing so still Harry expects a bird to land on his friend at any moment, mistaking Ron for a statue. Ron's face is so pale his freckles have an almost three dimensional appearance. Harry approaches, calling out softly to his friend.
"Ron. Ron. Ron?"
Harry waves a hand in front of Ron's face but the red headed boy doesn't so much as blink. Next Harry takes hold of Ron's shoulders and gives him slight shake. The only effect this has is that Ron does blink. Harry shakes the other boy a little harder. Ron's mouth twists in a grimace then he croaks out, "What if I don't make a team? Have to pass the N.E.W.T.s!"
Hermione, who'd stopped to talk to someone, comes into view just then. "I thought you'd both be on second helpings by now," she chuckles.
Harry shakes his head at her. Realizing something's wrong, she rushes over to join the boys. "I think Ron's finally grasped that he needs a backup plan, Hermione. I think he's in shock. Help me get him to the hospital wing."
Concern etched into her features, Hermione nods. They each take hold of one of Ron's arms. It takes a moment to get him going but once they have Ron propelled, it's simply a matter of guiding him. The entire way to see Madam Pomfrey, Ron looks straight head, eyes glazed over, barely blinking, and repeating over and over, "Have to pass the N.E.W.T.s! Have to pass the N.E.W.T.s!"
A Means to an End
Author: Cornelius Fudge
Date: 09-04-04 13:31
Cornelius Fudge stood arrogantly looking down on the Chief of Staff at St. Claire's. Hospital, rather disappointed that his grand entrance wasn't making the impact he'd hoped for.
Damn! Should have brought Lucius. He has SO a flair for the dramatic! He looked around the sleek sixth floor office trying not to appear as impressed as he really was. He slowly moved about the room, touching and examining.
"Get out of my office." Dr. Sparrow snarled, regretting instantly that he'd stupidly grabbed for his wand and slowly replaced it inside his jacket.
"Is that a wand I see Darius?" He challenged, in the most condescending manner possible. "Mmm, last I remember," he said pausing to inspect a valuable piece of muggle sculpture, then wrinkle his nose and wipe his hands on a handkerchief as if contamination was at hand.
"Yes, the last I remember said wand had been broken with promises of a magic-less existence." He turned, his eyes connecting with an obviously new Ziglot Fugly interpretation of The Wizard's Dream, another sculpture, yet this one by a celebrated Wizard sculptor.
"Am I wrong?" He caressed the cold stone image of the obviously Harry Potter inspired work of art.
Darius sat back in his chair. "Quite the norm, yes, you are wrong. What I agreed to was a binding spell and if I'm not mistaken Cornelius, one would naturally assume that the magic would restored when the spell ran its course, unless of course the wizard casting such a spell was an inept, talentless poor-excuse for a squib. He produced an blatant forced chuckle.
"What is it that you want from me? I haven't the time for this." He started to shuffle papers and phone messages into his planner.
Fudge's fingertips touched the gleaming surface of the highly polished mahogany desk.
"You've broken the terms of your release from Azkaban Darius… and unless you're prepared to right all you have wronged…" His hand flipped in the air. "All this muggle healing comes to an end and you are back to where you were twenty-some odd years ago..."
Pepped Up
Author: Kody
Date: 09-04-04 19:20
With several classes on Tuesdays, Kody and Drake generally get lunch around eleven. Today is no exception and also like most Tuesdays, they hang out in the Great Hall talking and killing time until Herbology at 12:30. That is until just before noon when Drake practically starts bouncing off the walls.
When Kody realizes what the cause must be, he steers Drake to the hospital wing. A noise behind them in the hallway has Kody looking over his shoulder. Coming up behind him, for Drake has now shot ahead and has turned to come rushing back, are Hermione Granger, Harry Potter, and Ron Weasley. It's obvious that Hermione and Harry are taking Ron the same place he's taking Drake.
By now he can hear Ron's mantra. In stark contrast to Weasley's wide, fixed stare and pale features, Drake is very flushed, blinking alot, and unlike Ron being stuck in verbal repitition, Drake is attempting to set a speed record for how many different words he can say per second.
Kody shoots a sad smile at Harry and Hermione. "Even if Ron weren't repeatedly saying 'Have to pass the N.E.W.T.s!' it would be my guess he's worried about the exams."
Harry nods toward Drake who is once again careening away from Kody. "What's happened to him?"
"During lunch Drake told me he was going to take a pepper up potion. We've got O.W.L.s coming up." Kody has no need to explain to Hermione and Harry how tired Drake and he are from the extra studying so he leaves it at that and continues with the explanation. "I was paying attention but from the way he's acting, I'm fairly sure Drake took an entire batch instead of just one dose."
Harry decides to help Kody corral Drake so the boy doesn't hurt himself running around like an insane fool and since Hermione can easily guide Ron by herself. She and Ron actually beat the other three to the hospital wing because Drake took off down a hall leading to a section with a number of Hogwarts moving staircases. By the time they caught Drake and got to the hospital wing, Kody had only enough time to thank Harry and dash off to class, leaving the two Gryffindors to explain Drake to Madam Pomfrey.
Stupid Students
Author: Severus Snape
Date: 09-05-04 10:06
At precisely nine o'clock, Professor Snape thundered into the darkened potions classroom and strode to the podium at the front of the room. He whirled around, black robes flowing wildly with the movement, and glared at each Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw first year in turn.
"Never in all my years at Hogwarts have I graded such abominable work," Snape snarled, throwing down a stack of parchment onto the edge of a nearby table. Each student visibly shrank from their teacher's gaze with face white and eyes wide.
"Mr. Day, return these quiz papers to your classmates."
The nervous Hufflepuff boy rose from his chair and walked the few paces to Snape's podium. With shaky hands, he took the stack of parchment into his arms and turned to his classmates, to whom he passed each red-inked sheet until only his, equally scribbled upon, remained.
"As punishment for these inexcusable marks, each of you will write a report on the many uses of dragon dung in healing ointments. I expect at least one scroll's worth of text with the proper citation of no less than five sources. This assignment is due one week from today. Late papers will not be accepted and will result in an automatic Dreadful."
The first years stifled groans and hastily tucked away their quiz papers, favoring chapter twelve of their textbooks instead.
Complicated
Author: Sirius Padfoot Black
Date: 09-05-04 10:29
Sirius, notepad in one hand, pencil in another, walks slowly through the backyard. Already this morning he's done a survey of both side yards and the front yard. Drucilla has in mind certain plants that should be fully green and blooming the day of the wedding. Sirius figures that since it was his suggestion to have the wedding here, the least he can do is ensure the yard is up to Dru's standards.
As he walks along the fence of natural, but weather protected, logs separating his property from Dierna's, Sirius makes a note to ask Dierna if it's okay with her if they take the fence down for the wedding and reception, giving the guests more room to mingle. Sirius is sure Dierna will agree. The problem is going to be finding the woman. She's been gone for months with no word to anyone. Sirius is worried about her but when he's made inquiries at the Ministry, that Umbridge woman always jumps in, condescendingly telling Sirius to mind his own business and let Dierna attend to her own without interference. To Sirius that means Dierna's on some sort of mission.
At least Lupin's been in touch and already said yes to being a groomsman. Harry is best man with Remus the only other member of Sirius's wedding party. Unless Drucilla decides differently that is. If she decides to have more than a maid of honor and one bridesmaid, Sirius will have to figure out one or more others to act as groomsmen. Arthur Weasley perhaps? Bill Weasley?
Sirius scratches his head. This wedding business is more involved and complex than he ever imagined it would be. Shrugging, Sirius finishes making notes, including one to ask Dru if she'd like the outside of the house painted and if so, what color. Sirius walks into the heart of town to begin placing orders for plants and to talk to Briar about making the wedding cakes. After that it's back home to clean up for a lunch date with a certain member of the Ministry's Misuse of Muggle Artifacts department.
Lunchtime
Author: Roane Eternal
Date: 09-05-04 20:09
I sat in the great hall with a full plate of lunch in front of me. The huge, clubhouse sandwich looked wonderful, and the side plate of fries were begging to be ate, but I just couldn't find the heart to eat anything. Pushing the plate aside, I sighed softly and opened my books. History of Magic was the next class of the day, and I still hadn't read the chapter yet. In fact, I was behind in all my homework this week. Not surprising though, considering the type of week it had been. Losing a handful of friends in a matter of days was hard to adjust to. Just thinking of all the goodbyes made me feel like crying again.
Sniffing quietly, I searched in my bag for a handkerchief.
"Is this what you're looking for, Roane?"
I looked up, and smiled at Tranquillina.
"Thanks." Feeling grateful that some of my friends were still around, I took the handkerchief from Tranquillina. As I blew my nose, I could hear snickering coming from the Slytherin table. I could feel my cheeks start to burn red.
"Just ignore them", whispered Tranquillina angrily. "They're just happy whenever someone else is feeling miserable. We'll deal with them later. But for now", Tranquillina pulled her own books onto the table, "we had better finish up this chapter before class starts."
