Wolves • George Weasley

Chapter 4; Smoke, Pestering, and Prophecies

Marvella and Arnou had quickly adapted to the flow of the day at Hogwarts. Monday, they had gone to their classes and found that finding them was simpler than they'd anticipated. One just had to think like an ancient man with a confusing brain, and with wit like a wolf, the two Battle Spirits had managed well.

Of course, they each had their own favorites. Arnou had told Marvella that they enjoyed their Ravenclaw-Gryffindor Charms class most of all, finding the enchanting of little objects fascinating and rewarding. But Marvella much preferred Transfiguration, which she had with just her fellow Gryffindors. She discovered it came easy to her, making objects turn from one thing to another with her mind. Perhaps it was her own ability to do so coming out to play.

There were two others that Marvella noticed had a knack for Transfiguration. The girl had watched George and Fred Weasley amuse themselves turning a rat into a teacup. She wasn't sure why they seemed so natural at it, but she suspected they had some personal experience in experimenting with such things.

Now it was Thursday. Marvella was on her way to Potions with Professor Snape and the Slytherins, who the Gryffindors seemed to loathe for whatever reason. She didn't mind the Slytherins, though. She just thought they could be a little close-minded sometimes (and maybe with a superiority complex when under the gaze of their beloved Snape), but Marvella hardly thought their house was what made somebody an unbearable person.

The girl made her way to an empty seat and sat while simultaneously dropping her leather bag on the floor next to her. She leaned back in her chair and waited for the class to start. Marvella had been trying her sincere hardest to avoid interaction besides occasionally having to answer a question when called on. But it was rather difficult to remain out of mind of her classmates when she was constantly being tailed by the two most obnoxious boys in her year.

Well, one of them, at least.

Fred Weasley would not leave Marvella alone.

She had tried everything, including hiding in a group of first years while the ginger had dragged his twin brother behind him, but Fred always found her. Still, Marvella couldn't help but laugh unsympathetically when she pictured the annoyance and disgust on George's face every time he was pulled into chasing the girl with his brother. The latter, on the other hand, seemed very enthusiastic. It bothered Marvella. A lot.

Snape's voice now rang out over the dark classroom. Marvella was relieved to see she had dodged the twins again, and two random Gryffindor girls had sat down next to her. She turned her head to the stoic Professor Snape, who was droning on about an Anti-Paralysis Potion in his usual monotone voice. Marvella felt the corners of her lips turn up in excitement. She had never made a potion before.

When Snape finally allowed them to begin brewing their potion, Marvella was eager. She heated up her cauldron and started to add ingredients to the simmering water inside. Time flew by as she included the ingredients; bitterroot, Mandrake root, ginger, and lacewing flies.

When her potion was finished she raised her hand and waited for Snape to assess it. The professor approached her, hands clasped behind his back while his black robes hovered above the ground. "I presume you have completed the assignment, Ms. Elwood?" His words were drawn out and low.

"Yes, Professor." Marvella held his gaze. Snape raised an eyebrow and looked down first, into her potion. He scowled. "Very good. Put it in a jar and it will be tested at the end of the period." He strode away. Marvella looked after him for a second before turning and starting to scoop some of her concoction into a small jar. I suppose he likes to get right to the point, then.

The girl clasped her jar with the small cork top and took it to the front of the classroom. She returned to her seat and waited patiently for everyone to finish. While she sat quietly, Marvella's gaze was drawn to a particular pair of her classmates. Fred and George were suppressing devilish grins while they dropped some ingredients into their potions that were definitely not meant to be in there. Those are most certainly not lacewing flies. Marvella narrowed her eyes in suspicion, but forced herself to remain in her seat and do anything but intervene.