The Prewett Girl

Vices

Trying to get our school supplies was nothing short of a troublesome and trying event: Harry gets lost and we find out we're stuck with Lockhart-of all people-as a DADA professor.

"He's just brilliant isn't he?" Molly sighs from next to me. I look at her like she's crazy; on the other side of Molly, Hermione and Ginny are nodding in agreement.

"I'm getting the books." I say, stepping away.

"Can you believe we're stuck with him for the year?" Anna Jackson asks as I check out.

"We will be learning nothing this coming term."

"At least it isn't our OWL year."

"Very true. I think I'd be more upset if it were." I say, handing the needed galleons to Mr. Burke.

"And the poor fifth years that have to deal with him?"

"There's a library. Use it." I say, rolling my eyes.

"How are you not a Slytherin?" She asks, laughing a bit.

"I nearly was. I begged the hat to not put me there. I'm a Prewett raised by the Weasleys. Imagine what would have happened if I had been put into Slytherin." I say and she flinches.

"Good point."

"Well, Jackson. I'll see you at school."

"See you." She says, taking her turn at the till. I had just reached the boys' side as Harry gives Ginny his books.

"Here. I bought Ginny's." I say, handing them over. Harry looks at me in shock. I raise an eyebrow at him, hoping he'd catch on. It takes a minute but eventually he does and accepts the books. Before I can say another thing I'm knocked to the side as Arthur charges after Malfoy. Regaining my balance, I pull Ginny back to keep her from the line of fire. Molly was not the happiest about the fight, to say the least.

Two days later I was given permission to go to a friend's house for the day given there was supervise. I Floo to Talia's and laugh out loud at her definition of supervision: her house elf.

"You're horrible." I say as I lead her to the back yard I had visited once or twice.

"Thank you. I take that as major praise."

"Look who decided to grace us with her presence." Jacob teases.

"You're smoking now?" I ask, taking the Fire Whiskey from Brooks and taking a drink before sitting next to him.

"It helps with the stress."

"Pass me one." I say immediately.

"Muggle of magical?"

"There's a difference?" I ask with a laugh, amused that Jacob's taken the time to try both.

"Muggle first." Brooks says, trading the alcohol for the smoke. I take it and adjust to it quickly after coughing after the first drag.

"Why does this help with stress?" I ask as I relax on the porch.

"Because it helps. You should try magical once you finish that one." Nikki says, sitting on my other side.

"What were you results?" I ask my friends.

"Nine OWLs." They say in near unison.

"Everyone got an A in History of Magic right?" Talia asks as she sits next to Jacob.

"That one was a given toss up of pass or fail." Brooks says lazily. I hum my agreement and close my eyes as I relax.

Once I finish the muggle cigarette I'm given a magical one. I blow out the smoke and it comes out blue, changing to purple to green to yellow, and back again.