The woman in the mirror (Harry Potter fanfic)

Chapter 2.5 (The price of fame)

Stay true in the dark
&

Humble in the spotlight
~Harold B. Lee

Greenhouse three
Hogwarts grounds, Scotland
September 2 1992

Hermione and Ron worked together with Neville and Giselle while Artemis, Harry and Elizabeth turned towards a Hufflepuff. It was a boy with curly hair. "Justin Finch-Fletchley." He said brightly, shaking Harry by the hand. "Know who you are, of course, famous Harry Potter. And you two are Artemis Lupin and Elizabeth Bouchard. Two of the best students Hogwarts has ever seen and quite pretty too..." Artemis's face remained blank while Elizabeth rolled her eyes at his flattery. "That Lockhart's something, isn't he?" Said Justin happily as they began filling their plant pots with dragon dung compost. "Awfully brave chap. Have you read his books? I'd have died of fear if I'd been cornered in a telephone booth by a werewolf, but he stayed cool and...zap...just fantastic."

Artemis and Elizabeth shared a look and rolled their eyes. "My name was down for Eton, you know. I can't tell you how glad I am I came here instead. Of course, mother was slightly disappointed, but since I made her read Lockhart's books I think she begun to see how useful it'll be to have a fully trained wizard in the family."

After that they couldn't really talk anymore. They all had to put their earmuffs back on. Professor Sprout had made it look extremely easy, but it wasn't. The Mandrakes didn't like coming out of the earth, but didn't seem to want to go back into it either. They squirmed, kicked, flailed their sharp little fists and gnashed their teeth.

By the end of class, Artemis, like everyone else, was sweaty, aching and covered in earth. Everyone quickly freshened up in the bathrooms. Giselle went as far as desinfecting her hands. She hated dirt and Herbology defintely was not her strong suit. Neville, however, was surprisingly talented with plants.

The Hogwarts castle
Scotland, Great Britain
September 2 1992

Next was Transfiguration. Professor McGonagall's classes were always hard work, but today was especially difficult. They were supposed to turn a beetle into a button but no practice over the summer had made them a little rusty. Most of the students only managed to give their beetle a lot of exercise as it scuttled over the desktop avoiding their wands.

Artemis eventually figured out that she had to paralyse the beetle before transfiguring it and after that she had no trouble, transfiguring the beetles in brightly coloured buttons.

Ron was having far worse problems.
His wand had broken in half during their infamous landing into the Whomping Willow. He had patched it up with some borrowed Spellotape, but it seemed to be damaged beyond repair. It kept crackling and sparkling at odd moments, and everytime Ron tried to transfigure his beetle it engulfed him in thick grey smoke that smelled of rotten eggs. Unable to see what he was doing, Ron accidently squashed his beetle with his elbow and had to ask for a new one.

Professor McGonagall was not pleased.

"Stupid...useless...thing..."

"Write home for another one." Harry suggested as the wand let off a volley of bangs like a firecracker.

"Oh, yeah and get another Howler back." Said Ron, stuffing the now hissing wand into his bag... "It's your own fault your wand got snapped..."

"What've we got this afternoon?" Asked Harry.

"Defence Against the Dark Arts," Hermione sat at once.

"Why," demanded Elizabeth, seizing her timetable. "have you outlined all Lockhart's lessons in little hearts?" Hermione snatched the schedule back, blushing furiously. "Hermione, not you too! Artemis, we need to do something!"