By Emo Tuesday
Chapter Two - The
Questionable Candy
The
students entered the Great Hall and sat down at their houses tables.
Fairchild
casually walked over to the Ravenclaw table while Cedric, Branaugh, Matt and
Linus all headed somberly to the Hufflepuff table. Fred, George, Seamus, James
and Oliver on the other hand, walked to the Gryffindor table quite loudly as if
to say “We’re here!”
Every
table’s volume grew as students greeted friends and got reacquainted with each
other.
The
Entrance Hall doors opened again and Professor Mc Gonagall entered with the
first years. She stood an old three-legged stool in front of the tables and the
Sorting of the new students began.
Once
finished, Dumbledore rose from the Head Table and the students became quiet.
Professor Dumbledore was a very wise old man and extremely powerful wizard.
Students awaited his speech with their heads turned, and finally, he began.
“Welcome!
Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few things to say to you all, and
as one of them is very serious, I think it best to get it out of the way before
you become befuddled by our excellent feast…”
Dumbledore
cleared his throat and students watched him anxiously. He continued, “As you
will all be aware after their search of the Hogwarts Express, our school is
presently playing host some of the dementors of Azkaban, who are here on
Ministry of Magic business.” He paused for a moment. “They are stationed at every
entrance to the grounds and while they are with us, I must make it plain that
nobody is to leave school without permission. Dementors are not to be fooled by
tricks or disguises-” he paused and added to his list, “or even Invisibility
Cloaks. It is not in the nature of a dementor to understand pleading or
excuses. I therefore warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to
harm you. I look to the prefects, and our new Head Boy and Girl, to make sure
that no student runs afoul of the dementors.”
Percy
could be seen around all four tables puffing out his chest quite proudly, to
show off his Head Boy badge.
“On
a happier note,” Dumbledore continued, “I am pleased to welcome two new
teachers to our ranks this year.”
At
this point Seamus had stopped paying attention and had drifted off. He didn’t
wake up until he heard the screaming of the Whizzing Wizard Wailer that James
had thrown into the air. Snape shot James a look that would scare any other
student stiff. Instead, James gave Snape a wide grin that showed his slightly
crooked teeth. Fred, George and their friend Lee Jordan were laughing
uncontrollably. Oliver gave James a nudge. “You’ll be scrubbing cauldrons until
you graduate if Snape catches you.” He gave a bright smile and added a bit more,
“Let’s hope he doesn’t make you use your toothbrush.”
James
pulled another Wailer from his robes and tossed it casually towards the
Hufflepuff table. “That one was just for Branaugh. She looks a bit sallow,
could use a smile.” Oliver looked over at the Hufflepuff table, James was
right, she did look like she could use a smile. She had her head resting on
Linus’ shoulder and she looked a tad tired. Oliver pulled out a spare piece of
parchment and began writing.
Cheer
up, Branaugh, you’ve got Arithmancy tomorrow morning, haven’t you?
-Oliver
PS:
I have it tomorrow morning. Partners maybe?
Oliver
folded the parchment and pulled out his wand and pointed it at the note.
“Iacio,
Note! To Branaugh!” The note flew in the direction of Branaugh, landing right
in front of her. “Do any of you have Arithmancy?”
Hermione
turned towards Oliver. “I have!” she said gleefully. “First class!” she added.
“Great,
at least I’ll know two other people in the class,” Oliver said to no one in
particular.
“Well,
if Hermione is one, who’s the other?” Fred asked him.
“Branaugh.”
Fred gave Oliver a quizzical look. “It’s an ‘All Houses’ class since few people
take it.”
“Branaugh’s
taking Arithmancy? I know she’s smart and all but I didn’t think she was that
smart. Brave girl she is,” Fred shook his head. “No way I’d ever take that
class.”
Oliver
nodded, “I’m still not sure why I’m taking the class. I’ve heard it’s
really
hard.” The boys agreed and continued eating until they couldn’t eat any more.
Slowly
students from every house could be seen leaving their tables for their common
rooms. Finally, James, Fred, Oliver and many other Gryffindors began their
climb up to the common room.
When
they did reach the opening of the common room, a painting of a rather large
woman in a pink dress, they realized that none of them knew the password to
enter.
After
five minutes of Fred, George, Lee and James attempting to guess what the
password might be; Percy, Fred’s and George’s older, Head Boy, brother came
striding up the stairwell and cut through the crowd of students waiting to
enter. “New password’s Fortuna Major.”
While
Fred, George, Lee and James made their way up to the Fifth years’ dorm, Oliver
proceeded to go to the Seventh years’ dormitory. As he entered the room, he
spotted his chest in front of his large four poster bed, which had a small
package laying on his blankets.
“Who’s
that from?” Henry Anderson asked looking over at Oliver.
“I’m
not sure,” he answered, sitting down and taking the parcel in his hands. He
removed the letter attached and read it silently.
Yes,
I have Arithmancy tomorrow. Nine o’clock. If we need partners sure, I’ll be
yours. I don’t know anyone else in the class.
-Branaugh
PS:
Mum gave me far too many sweets. If I eat any more I’ll be sick. Enjoy them!
Oliver
opened the package, as did Henry. “Chocolate Frogs? Fizzing Whizbees? Drooble’s
Best Blowing Gum? Pepper Imps? Look!” Henry noted, “Even Sugar Quills! Oliver?
Do you have a thing with this Branaugh? ?Err… They are female I hope.”
“With
Branaugh? No, of course not. We’re friends. I bet Fred, George and James all
got sweets as well. She knows quite a lot of Gryffindors.”
Henry
paused for a moment, chewing on what Oliver had just said. “You mean, she’s not
a Gryffindor?”
“No,
she’s a Hufflepuff. Branaugh, Branaugh Diggory.” Oliver noted.
“Diggory?
As in Cedric Diggory?” Oliver nodded at Henry’s question. “As in Captain of the
Hufflepuff Quidditch Team? The Hufflepuff Prefect? That Cedric Diggory?” Oliver
nodded, yet again. “You better be joking with me. What if she’s just getting on
your good side to steal Quidditch plays? I mean, her brother is their Quidditch
Captain!”
“Cousin.”
“What?”
“Branaugh
and Cedric are cousins. Anyway, we were friends before Cedric became the
Captain. Plus, think about it. Hufflepuff, loyal and true ring a bell?”
“Does
what ring a bell?” Andrew Ford walked in and flopped down on his bed.”
“Oliver
fancies Cedric Diggory’s sister,” Henry answered with a sneer.
“What
did I tell you? She’s his cousin,” Oliver stated loudly. “And I do not
fancy
her! She’s a friend of mine! That’s it!” Oliver placed the candy on his
nightstand and changed into his pajamas silently.
“Oliver,”
Andrew said, breaking the silence. “Don’t take it so seriously.”
“Don’t
take it so seriously? Henry says I’m betraying my own house just because I’m
friends with a bloody Hufflepuff!” Oliver yelled.
“Look,
Oliver, I’m sorry, alright?” Henry looked at the boy who was staring at him
angrily. “I didn’t think it would get this out of hand. I didn’t mean it.
Really.”
“Fine,”
Oliver responded coldly. “And I don’t like her.”
“Alright,”
Henry said with a smile.
“And
be more respectful to the other houses. Percy’s girlfriend is a Ravenclaw for
Wizard’s sake!”
At
that very moment, Percy strided into the room. “Hello boys!” He grinned widely
puffing out his chest to, yet again, display his Head Boy badge. “Don’t you all
think it’s time to sleep?”
“We
thought we’d wait for Shay to get in. We think he’s off flirting again.”
Andrew
answered with a laugh.
“If
Shay’s ego gets any larger he won’t be able to fit through the door,” Henry
added.
“Oh
yes it will!” Shay O’Laughlin was standing in the doorway. “I’ll just have
to
turn sideways from now on.” He walked in and sat down on his bed which was on
the other side of Oliver’s. “Who sent the sweets?”
“Branaugh.”
Oliver answered.
“Hufflepuff?
Cedric’s cousin?” Shay asked. “She’s cute. Nice kid. Pretty smart too. I hear
she’s taking Arithmancy.”
“Yeah,
she is.” Oliver added.
Shay
raised an eyebrow. “Does she fancy you?”
“Nah,
just getting rid of some extra candy, you know. Probably gave some to the fifth
year boys downstairs. She’s got Herbology with them.” At that point, Oliver had
began to wonder. Did Branaugh fancy him? There was that trouble earlier with
the dementor. Could she have taken it wrong? “Err, guys, I’ll be right back.”
He stood up and walked down the stairs to the fifth year dorm room.
He
stuck his head in.
“’Lo,
Oliver! What brings you here so late?” James asked popping a Chocolate Frog in
his mouth.
“Err,
did Branaugh send the lot of you candy?” All four boys nodded and Oliver let
out a sigh of relief.
Fred
looked at him. “She didn’t send you some? Here,” he offered his bag to Oliver.
“Have some of mine.”
“Oh
no. She sent me candy. I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t the only one getting
some from Branaugh, err, getting candy from Branaugh. Wanted to make sure you
boys weren’t being left out.” Oliver hoped that they couldn’t tell how odd he
felt.
“Oliver,
you’re looking a bit pale. Maybe you should get some sleep.” Lee noted sucking
on a sugar quill.
“Sleep?
Oh yes! Sleep! Okay. Night boys,” Oliver said quickly as he turned on his heels
and walked out. He headed back to the seventh year dorm. “Lee, James, Fred and
George all got candy too. Nothing to wonder about and that’s that.”
Percy
looked up from his book, Hogwarts Head Boys Who’ve Made History, “Can we
go to bed now?” Percy paused. “I need a decent night’s sleep if I plan to get
anywhere in life!”
Shay
and Andrew sniggered loudly as they turned out the lights. The room fell silent
as Oliver crawled into bed. He pulled his blankets around himself and closed
his eyes. He thought of what classes he might have the next day. Charms? Latin?
Maybe even History of Magic. He would have to get his bag ready in the morning.
~ * ~
Chapter One :: Contents :: Chapter Three ::