Forbidden Request

Chapter Nine: Echos Of The Past

The conversation shifted from lighthearted talk of Herbology assignments to more personal topics, and Eleanor casually mentioned our families.

"So, Jude, what about your family?" Eleanor asked, her tone gentle. "Do they ever visit? I imagine it must be different for you, being Muggle-born."

I hesitated, feeling a lump form in my throat. "My mum's not around," I said quietly, thinking of how to describe it without being questioned further. "She passed away a few years ago when i was younger."

The courtyard seemed to quiet around us, and I could feel both Poppy and Eleanor's concerned gazes. I appreciated their sympathy but didn't want to delve too deeply. "It was a shock," I continued, trying to keep my voice steady. "My dad and I are still adjusting. It's been tough, but I'm managing."

Poppy reached out and squeezed my hand gently. "If you ever need to talk, we're here for you," she said softly.

Eleanor nodded, her expression sincere. "Absolutely. Even if your family isn't around, you've got friends here who care about you."

Their kindness was a small but comforting balm. As we finished our conversation, Professor Weasley's voice drifted through the open windows of the castle, signaling that it was time for class.

We made our way to the Transfiguration classroom, where Professor Weasley greeted us with her usual blend of warmth and professionalism. As we settled into our seats for the lesson, the room buzzed with a low hum of chatter. The sunlight streamed through the tall windows, casting a warm glow over the classroom. The faint smell of parchment and ink filled the room, adding to the atmosphere of focused anticipation.

Poppy and Eleanor quickly fell into discussion about the intricacies of our upcoming lesson, while I joined in, trying to keep pace with their insights.

Today's topic was the transfiguration of objects into animals, a challenging and fascinating subject. Professor Weasley began the lesson by demonstrating the spell required to transform a small stone into a small animal. Her movements were fluid, and the stone on her desk soon transformed into a tiny, delicate rabbit, hopping in place with a soft thud.

The excitement in the room was palpable. Poppy, sitting next to me, looked at me with wide eyes. "I've heard this can be quite tricky," she said, her voice a mix of nerves and enthusiasm. "Especially with how precise we need to be."

Eleanor, her blonde hair catching the light, nodded in agreement. "Yes, but it's also supposed to be really impressive. I heard from Aiden that he turned a stone into a frog that didn't exactly cooperate. He had to chase it around the room."

I laughed, trying to shake off the remnants of our earlier conversation. "Sounds like quite the scene. I'm hoping mine doesn't hop away or, worse, turn into something that might scuttle off."

As Professor Weasley began to circulate among the desks, Eleanor leaned in and whispered to us both excitedly, "Did you hear about the latest with the Quidditch teams? I hear there's some tension between the Hufflepuff and Slytherin teams. Apparently, Sebastian Sallow has been a bit of a show-off during practice."

Poppy's eyes widened. "Sebastian Sallow? I've seen him around. He's always so confident. I guess I can see why there'd be tension."

As the practical portion of the class began, Poppy and Eleanor's gossip turned to more personal matters. Eleanor leaned closer, her tone conspiratorial. "So, I heard from a certain source that Imelda Reyes has been caught sneaking out of the castle on more than one occasion. Apparently, she's been meeting someone from outside Hogwarts."

Poppy looked intrigued but also concerned. "Sneaking out? That sounds risky. Do you think it's true?"

Eleanor shrugged, a playful glint in her eye. "Who knows? But the rumors are always fun to follow. And speaking of risky, did you see how Sebastian was looking at you earlier? I think he might have a bit of a crush."