What If? Year 1

Chapter 12

I only got one question wrong, which was number three, 'In your opinion, what is Gilderoy Lockhart's hardest accomplishment? I wrote 'getting this job.'  He was not very happy. Afterward we go back to the Great Hall for dinner.  Neville and the twins were waiting for us. 
"Hey, Ara," Fred says, "I heard about what happened.. if you ever need someone to beat up your brother.. George and I are open." George nods. 
"Thanks," Ara replies, "but I think It will be alright.. I gave him a bloody nose before Charms."
"I think you broke it, Ara," I tell her, laughing.  Ara and I lead the group to the table, where Harry, Ron, and Hermione were already starting to eat. 
"Hey, sis," Harry says, "how was your first day?" He pats the seat next to him for me to sit there. 
"It was alright," I tell him, "Potions was stupid.. I was really looking forward to it too." 
"Snape's a real prick, if you ask me," Ron says, making Hermione smack him. 
"He's a teacher, Ronald!" she scolds, "you shouldn't talk about a teacher that way." Ron shrugs, and turns to Ara. 
"Draco's being a douche," he says, "All say he was talking about how he had beat the pulp out of you for being a blood traitor.. But you look just fine." 
"It was actually him who got beat," Heather exclaims, "Ara broke his nose." Ron nods, clearly impressed. 
"I don't know about broke it, Heather," Ara says, "it did make a cracking noise." Ginny and I nod. 
"He deserved it," Neville speaks out, "from what I heard he didn't say very nice things to you." 
"It's fine," Ara says, "but it felt really good to let off some steam." I nod, and start to put some food on my plate. 
"Transfiguration was the best by far," Heather tells George, "McGonagall turned into a cat!" 
"Still doing that old trick?" Fred laughs, "she did that when our brother Bill was a first year." 
"That wasn't that long ago, Fred," Ginny says, "Bill isn't that much older than you."
"I guess not," George says.  We eat our dinner and head back to the Gryffindor common room. 
"McGonagall gave us a parchment long essay already!" Ron complains, "I wish she was like Snape, sometimes and gave her house some favoritism." 
"Oh stop complaining, Ron," Hermione says, "Muggles would love to only have to do a parchment length essay." Harry was sitting in front of the fireplace, reading his quidditch book for the millionth time. 
"Shouldn't you be doing your homework, Harry?" I ask him, seating down next to him with my Charms book.  
"Why would I do that?" he asks, "I've got Hermione for that." Hermione scoffs behind me.  
"I've already finished my History of Magic homework," I tell him, "I was reading a head. He was taking to long.  So I think I might have to notes for the next two lessons."
"Why can't you be more like her, Harry?" Hermione asks, laughing. 
"She's like our mom," Harry mumbles, "Evie and I are like dad." I nod, laughing. Heather and Ginny sit on the other side of the room, and start to do their Potions essay. 
"So what do you have?" Hermione asks. 
"I've got a potions essay," I list, "a reading assignment for Transfiguration, reading for Charms, nothing for Astrology and Flying, essay for Herbology, and to fix my attitude for Defense." 
"Fix your attitude?" Ron asks, "What did you do? Set his wig on fire?" Harry laughs, and Hermine frowns.
"I had a sarcastic answers for one of his questions," I tell them, as Ara sits down next to me. 
"Yeah," she giggles, "it was funny." 
"What did you say?" Harry asks.
"She said that his greatest achievement was getting this job," Ara says, "he was ticked." Ron and Harry both snicker, and Hermione gawks at them. 
"Professor Lockhart is one of the bravest men I've ever met," she says. 
"His writing is a load of horse crap, Hermione," I tell her, "he couldn't have done all the stuff he's written about and still been able to polish his teeth." This makes Harry fall over. 
"I guess," Hermione mumbles. I go start to read my book, and ignore everything that was happening around me. 

After a while, Harry was tapping my shoulder. 
"Hey, Goldie," he says, "I thought you might switch books so you would finish your homework." I laugh at him and nod. I start up the stair, when my head start to hurt. I put my hand to forehead and shut my eyes. I get to my dorm and sit down on my bed. 
'It has been open. My master has returned!'  A voice shouts, making me cover my ears and scream. 
"MARIGOLD!" I hear Harry shout. 
'Watch out, Mudbloods and Blood-traitors.' My head is still pounding as the voice rings through my thoughts. 
"Stop!" I shout, "Please, make it stop!" I could feel my heart racing.  
'We must be careful when attacking.' A new voice says.
Attacking?  My brain screams. I fall to the floor, breathing heavily. 
'Someone is listening. Silent them.' I open my mouth to shout, but nothing happens. Everything goes silent around me, and I sit up against my bed. My hands were still covering my ears. 
Don't come back. The door burst open, and Hermione and Ara are there staring at me. 
"Are you okay?" Ara asks me, running over and kneeling beside me. I shake my head. 
"What happened?" Hermione asks, sitting down next to me. I open my mouth to talk, and nothing comes out. 
What in the bloody world?  I try again, and no noise comes out. 
"We have to get you to a Professor," Hermione says, popping up from the floor and yanking me with her, "you've been silenced by someone, and I don't feel comfortable doing the counter-curse." She half leads me, half drags me down the stairs. 
"Is she alright?" Harry asks, as soon as we get to the common room. 
"I'm taking her to Professor Lockhart," Hermione says, and I start to shake my head. 
No, Mione! Take me to McGonagall! Please, not the idiot! 
"I don't think Goldie likes that idea, Mione," Ron laughs. 
"His office is the closest, Goldie," Hermione says, "I bet he's done this loads of times." I continue to shake my head while Hermione takes me to Lockhart's office. 
"Hello, Miss Granger," Lockhart exclaims as we get into his office, "Miss Potter, what can I do for you?" 
"Goldie has been silenced," Hermione says, "can you fix it?" Lockhart nods and comes over to me. 
"Stand still, Marigold," he says, "Finite." It starts to feel like I'm being strangled. I grab onto Hermione and put on of my hands up to my throat. 
"What's happening?" Hermione asks, as black dots start to swim around in my vision.  Tears fall from my eyes and onto Hermione's shoes. 
"That's just what happens, Miss Granger," Lockhart says, as I fall to the floor.