The Next Generation (Malfoy's Daughter) Book 1

Chapter 7

The avoidance and the odd looks from the slytherins lasted about a week, which proved to be a more difficult week than Lynx could have imagined. No one besides Sami would look at her, whispers following her everywhere they went. To escape these Lynx took refuge in the library, but even there the whispers seemed to stalk her. Still, with Sami by her side the two got through it. Finally after what seemed like forever they were approaching their last class of the week - herbology with the hufflepuffs. As the two arrived at the greenhouses they looked around. Each work station had a beautiful pink and purple plant on it along with what looked like a bowl of mist. Others were filing in, so the two took their spots at an empty table. As Ty TJ and Chris entered Sami automatically waved to them, but they headed in the opposite direction, avoiding their gaze. The blonde hufflepuff who'd caught Lynx before the start of term feast was walking past. They hadn't talked yet but they usually exchanged a wave while passing, but this time as Lynx waved he avoided his gaze and went to join a few of the other hufflepuffs. Lynx felt herself deflate, embarrassed and wishing that she could just disappear.

Fortunately, as Professor Longbottom began to explain the assignment it was clear that the two of them would be able to complete it without help from anyone else. The beautiful plants in front of them were called puffapods. As they worked, one of them had to lift the plant from the pod as the other used the spell wingardium leviosa to transfer the plant's beans into the misty container. Once placed there the beans hung suspended in the air. Both girls took turns at this and didn't make any mistakes, but others did. As random pods spilled or were dropped they burst into bloom immediately upon contact with a solid surface. By the end of the lesson everyone was sweaty and the floor had more flowers than previously, but most of the seeds had been transferred successfully. As was usual these days the two walked apart from the others to the great hall, ate, and then spent the rest of the night talking in their dormitory.

That weekend was quiet, with Sami and Lynx spending the majority of their time out on the grounds by the lake, studying under a large beech tree. On Monday during breakfast Lynx and Sami were eating pancakes when Ty TJ and Chris sat near them. Both girls paused, unsure of what was going on, but the guys just said good morning and helped themselves to pancakes bacon and sausage. Following this the rest of the house proceeded to act as if they'd never ostracized the girls, and neither cared about the reason as both were just happy to have moved past the incident. The rest of the school, unfortunately, did not follow suit right away but as time went on some of the other students seemed to tire of ignoring the girls, which Lynx was grateful for. The only good that came out of this was that Potter and Weasley were included in this group, no longer speaking to them.

Time seemed to pass abnormally fast, and before they knew it it was Halloween eve, which happened to be on a Saturday this year and everyone was in the spirit. Third years and above disappeared for the day, off to the Hogsmeade village which left the common room open to the younger students. That day Lynx Sami and the guys lazed in the squishy chairs in front of the fire, finishing homework assignments for the upcoming week. When they became tired of homework they took out exploding snap and chess, though Lynx wasn't very good at the latter. Still, by the time the evening rolled around they'd caught up on just about everything that would be due soon and managed to have fun.

The five made their way to the great hall together - when they entered Lynx couldn't help but stare. She heard gasps from her classmates as well. The hall was decorated with jack o lanterns set every few feet on the tables. Unlike normal ones these cackled and were able to make different faces at the people sitting near them. Live bats flew overhead, and a sort of fog filled the hall. It was thick between the tables, making it almost difficult to see the other houses and a spooky sort of music was playing, pierced occasionally by cackling and what sounded like werewolf howls. Add in the fact the ceiling was a dusky blood red fading swiftly to black and the whole place looked creepy.