𝕿𝖗𝖊𝖒𝖔𝖗 - ʳᵉᵍᵘˡᵘˢ ᵇˡᵃᶜᵏ

Chapter 2: Red, White, and Blue

[ September 2nd, 1977 ]

THEONA'S FIRST day of classes had been going well. She'd found that the Ilvermorny curriculum and the Hogwarts curriculum lined up almost perfectly, meaning she didn't feel ahead nor behind and was actually learning, which—as a Ravenclaw—she deeply appreciated.

     Her first class, Divination, took place at 9:30 am, in the North Tower. She actually didn't mind her professor, Jedidiah Monroe, however, her partner, Sybill Trelawny, on the other hand, was a bit of a nightmare. The girl was loopy, no doubt about it, but at least she was passionate; Theona could find that admirable.

    She herself wasn't amazing at Divination. Every once in a while she'd see the sun in her tea leaves or the planets would predict that she'd be late the next morning, but overall, she was mediocre enough to pass and that's it. Trelawny, on the other hand, seemed to be a star student; Professor Monroe surely thought so, as when he first saw Theona he'd asked Sybill to offer her a prediction.

     "We have a new student in our midst," he had ogled, moving forward in long strides that seemed to be more clunky than elegant like the professor clearly wanted. "Miss Bell, correct?"

     Theona looked around awkwardly, a splotchy flush heating her cheeks, "yeah, that's me."

     "Miss Trelawny, do you mind giving Miss Bell here a reading?" He asked the fluffy haired girl.

     "Of course, Professor. Theona, give me your hand," Trelawny requested, standing a little too close for comfort.

     Hesitantly, Theona placed her shaky hand in Trelawny's steady one. The girl quickly entrapped it between both her hands, her buggy eyes fluttering shut.

     A few snickers travelled through the class, mostly coming from the Gryffindors and Slytherins. Pandora—who had given Theona a run through of all the houses and their characteristics that morning—was right, the rival houses really were too similar for their own good.

    A loud gasp escaped from Trelawny's mouth, eyes dramatically shooting open and her whole body moving backwards.

     "Youuu~" she drawled, one hand on her temple, the other pointing accusingly at Theona, "have great power in the tipssss of your fingersss~"

Theona had stared in surprise for only a moment, before—against her control—giggles began tumbling from her lips, which escalated into full barks of laughter.

Trelawny hadn't liked her much after that.

     Next was Defense Against the Dark Arts, which she thoroughly enjoyed. Professor Roman was charming and helpful. Many of the girls—and some of the boys—were giggling over him, even if the boys tried their best to hide it (Theona was good at spotting those kinds of things). He explained that the first term would be spent practicing wordless magic—which Theona had always been proficient at—and, depending on the class's success, they'd move forward from there.

There was a clear tension in the air as he discussed defensive spells, and their textbook seemed to be mostly about wizard vs. wizard combat. Everyone knew why, of course, even if some were too afraid to admit it; school was no longer preparing them for the odd chance they'd run into a boggart, but instead preparing them for war.

    Professor Roman spent the class lecturing, which he profusely apologized for near the end and promised to get into practical work by next class.

    After, Theona had an open period and then lunch. The former she spent in the library, reading up on charms, and the latter she spent huddled at Ravenclaw table with Pandora, warily casting the Marauders looks over her shoulder.