SPARKS FLY | fred weasley x oc | YEAR 3

chapter 3- the first day

I awoke the next morning to Poppy squawking and hitting her beak against the door to her cage. I rubbed my eyes as I sat up and took a drink of water from the glass on my nightstand. I let her out of the cage and opened the window, watching as she flew out the window. I drained the glass and looked at my watch.

"Crap!" I yelled. It was already 9:15, meaning I only had fifteen more minutes of breakfast before classes. I hurriedly put on my skirt and top, throwing my robe over top and wrestling with my bookbag as I ran through the common room. I climbed out of the barrel and raced past the kitchen, up the stairs, and into the Great Hall. I stopped to catch my breath and saw Harry waving at me. I joined them with a plop.

"Why are you out of breath?" Ron asked with a mouth full of sausage.

"I just woke up. I ran here to eat before class." I explained as I filled a cup with juice. There wasn't much left, mainly toast. I put a few pieces on my plate and spread jam on them before eating them quickly. As I finished my last piece Hannah walked up to us.

"Hey, you made it." She greeted me.

"Barely," I sighed. "It's a good thing Poppy wanted out or I probably would've slept through our first class."

"Who's Poppy?" Hermione asked, looking up from her book.

"My pygmy owl. She was one of the things my parents promised me for moving."

"Cool!" Harry said. "I've got an owl too, Hedwig."

"Well, we better get going." Hannah interjected. "We've got Potions in the dungeons with Snape, he hates it when people are late."

"Right." I finished my juice and twisted my hair up with my wand. "I'll just fix my tie as we walk." I stood and collected my things before waving to everyone. I followed Hannah down several stairs before we reached the dank, cool dungeons. She led us into a classroom with the walls lined with shelves full of potion bottles of every color I could imagine, some I couldn't. We sat at a table of other Hufflepuffs, most of whom I recognized from the feast last night.

"You're cutting it close," a boy across from me spoke to Hannah.

"Melanie overslept and almost missed breakfast, blame her."

"Sorry, sorry. I swear it won't happen again." That was a lie. I am always sleeping in and often through things. "Melanie Reynolds." I held my hand in front of me.

"I know, you're the American. Louis Randall." He shook my hand. I couldn't help but notice the tone he used on the word American. I brushed it off. Professor Snape soon entered the classroom and briskly walked to the front chalkboard, his long robes billowing behind him.

"Welcome to Potions, third years. A few things before we start; there will be absolutely no funny business whatsoever. Deadlines are final and I give no extensions, except in the case of medical reasons, which requires a note from the Hospital wing. I also expect that each of you do your homework, on time, and are respectful of me and my classroom. I won't hesitate when it comes to taking points off your house for any action I deem unfavorable." Great, I already know I don't like him. I expected him to ease us into the lesson, but we were abruptly thrown into our first chapter about mixing liquid and powder ingredients. The hour dragged on and I was grateful when he announced that we were finished. I followed Hannah and Louis up the stairs, but didn't fully pay attention as to where we were going until we were out in the courtyard.

"Wait, where are we going?" I asked as I jogged up to them.

"Herbology." Louis answered.

"Professor Sprout is amazing, she's actually in charge of our house." Hannah explained. We entered the greenhouse and were greeted by a short, gray-haired woman in a pointed brown hat.