The Other Side: A Harry Potter FanFiction

Chapter XXVIII

"Two weeks, and all I've perfected is the ability to swish things and flick things," Lana moaned. She had circles under her eyes from sleep deprivation. Her curly hair was put up in a ponytail and she was wearing a white camisole and green flannel button-up that Snape had at some point asked Resa to get for her. Her skinny jeans felt looser as if she'd been losing weight in the past weeks.

            The past weeks. In a word, they'd been dreadful. Horrible. Sirius ordered her around, constantly pointed out the tiniest of flaws, like how she'd been saying, "Leviosa," not "Leviosa." She'd had to practice nonstop with the red phoenix feather. Never once had she succeeded in making it float.

            Cedric sat across the kitchen table from her. "Don't worry. Your magic just hasn't shown up yet. Once it does, everything after Wingardium Leviosa will be much easier."

            "I hope so," Lana said, "If it ever shows up. Even I am beginning to think that I'm full of crap."

            "Don't," Andromeda scolded. She stood at the sink, washing dishes. "You need to hope. You got us all into this war, and you're going to help us win it."

            "Speaking of which, what time is everyone coming over?" Cedric asked.

            "They'll be coming in half hour intervals to make sure they don't arouse any suspicions," Andromeda said, "The Weasleys should be first... I think they'll be here around nine."

            Lana yawned and asked, "What time is it now?"

            "About 7:30."

            "Awesome," Lana groaned, "That means I have to go get yelled at some more by He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named."

            Cedric laughed, and Andromeda smiled slightly.

            Lana stood and said, "See you later."

            "Have fun," Cedric called as she stepped to the stairs.

            "Shut up," she said over her shoulder just before she disappeared up the staircase.

            The house was practically empty. Only ten refugees remained, the rest having been taken by Severus, two per night, to a different safe house. Callie and Brianna had gone the night before, leaving Kendra, Jesse, and Lexi, a group of three boys who practically always stuck together, and four other girls, all younger than Lana.

            Lana stepped through the hallway of portraits to the staircase across from the dining room. Kendra, Jesse, and one of the other girls, Leah, sat at the table, finishing off their pancakes, eggs and bacon.

            Kendra looked up at Lana. "You're going to your lesson, then?" Though, with her mouth full, it actually sounded like "You goin do yer lesson, den?"

            Lana nodded. "You might want to send me some positive energy... maybe then I'll actually get something done today."

            Leah started flicking at the air around her, saying, "Positive energy, positive energy..."

            Lana grinned and rolled her eyes before turning and starting up the stairs.

            Sirius was waiting at the doorway. "There you are."

            "Here I am," Lana said, "Any chance we'll be starting something new today?"

            "Have you made the feather float?"