Breaking the shadows

Prefect meeting:

1996

Monday September 20th

I realise that I've been spaced out thinking back on my childhood while drawing, I started drawing the castle, but when I spaced out, I apparently started drawing the treehouse, and considering that I didn't look at the paper, I did a pretty good job, I hear someone clearing their throt and I turn to see its Hermione, sitting in her bed, reading, of course. I take my sketch of the treehouse and walk over to Hermione to show her, as I'm standing beside her bed she says: "One second, need to read the page down."

I just wait for her being done reading, as always, lucky for me she's a fast reader. She looks up from her book and asks: "What do you have there?" and point to my drawing.

"I was thinking back on our treehouse, and I sketched it."

Hermione looks surprised as she says: "This is an exact replica; how do you remember it this well?"

"I honestly don't know, I just started drawing while I was spaced out."

Hermione says even more surprised: "You did this while you were spaced?"

"Yes?" I'm a bit confused, I can't read if she thinks it's ugly or impressive that I drew it while spacing out.

Hermione: "This is so good."

I'm glad that she likes it.

Hermione: "Do you remember the time we slept in there?"

"Yes, mom wasn't too happy about it."

Hermione: "But we did it anyway"

"And that time where we stayed up all night?"

Hermione: "I stayed up all night, you fell asleep"

"I did not" I say defiantly, crossing my arms over my chest.

Hermione: "If you say so."

"Yeah, that was good times."

Hermione: "It really was, do you think the treehouse is still there?"

"Maybe, but its most likely rotten"

Hermione: "Why do you think that?"

"It's been five years since we've been there, together at least?"

Hermione: "What do you say, we go home for next break and see if it's still there"

"Sure, but I doubt that its stable."

Hermione: "Don't be so pessimistic"

"I'm not pessimistic, I'm realistic."

Hermione: "You always have been."

"Maybe."

Hermione: "All the vacations we've been on, you said that the plane would crash."

"Because it's a possibility."

Hermione: "Yes a small one, its like 1 in 11 million."

"But people have died during a plane crash."

Hermione: "Yes, but its still the safest way to travel."

"Maybe, I don't trust it."

Hermione: "You do you, but it's not a bad thing being realistic."

"You made it sound like it was."

Hermione: "Well it's not, it's good to be prepared for anything."

"Yes."

I look at the time and I ask: "Didn't you have a date here at three?"

Hermione: "No, Ron cancelled, because of a prefect meeting."

"Shit, did he say when?"

Hermione: "Two thirty I guess"

"Shit, shit, shit, its two thirty-five"

I totally spaced, I run down to Dumbledore's office where all the other prefects are waiting, but wait, with me we are only seven, I sit down beside Ron and I count the other prefects: "Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson from Slytherin, Anthony Goldstein and Padma Patil from Ravenclaw, no surprise that they are here, Hannah Abbott from Hufflepuff, where is Ernie Macmillan?"

Maybe he forgot it, or he just skipped, even though its not a good influence on the first years. Never mind him. Dumbledore clears his throt and then begins:

"Well, we can't keep waiting on Macmillan, let us start. I've noticed that a few first years from Slytherin and Hufflepuff have been skipping class. Miss Parkinson, Mr Malfoy, and Miss Abbott you will be assigned to keep an eye on the first years."

They all nod and then Dumbledore turns to me and says: "Miss Granger, I've seen how you've been taking good care of Miss Flower, good job, 20 points to Gryffindor."

"Thank you, Professor."

Just then Ernie Macmillan enters the office, first he's late and second, he enters not wearing his ropes, Dumbledore looks sceptical at him and says in a low tone: "Mr Macmillan, glad you could join us, but for your late arrival 10 points from Hufflepuff."

Dumbledore: "Next on the agenda we have the annual prefect dinner coming up, you can each bring a plus one, remember it's on October 20th at 7 pm, that's it for today, remember your duties and take care of the first years."

When all the other prefects get up to leave, I stay till after they all have left, Dumbledore turns to me and asks: "Can I help you, miss Granger."

"Yes, Professor, I have this first year in Gryffindor."

Dumbledore: "Oh yes, miss Flower, is it?"

"Yes Professor, she's been feeling lonely and out of contact with her brother, I've been trying to help her as much as I can but every time I see her, she is sitting alone."

Dumbledore: "Yes, she's lonely indeed, but if I remember correctly, you were too."

"I was professor, but I had my sister, she has her brother, but he ignores her."

Dumbledore: "Might be time to find her a friend, don't you think?"

"Yes Professor, do you have anyone in mind?"

Dumbledore: "Mhmm miss Juniper could need a friend too, why don't you set something up."

"Of course, Professor, I will see what I can do. "

I don't know the first name of Miss Juniper, but I remember seeing a young Ravenclaw sitting alone, so I might have to talk to Luna about it.
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Puplished: 20-05-23