Forgotten

Book 2 ch 4

I watched the gray clouds curtaining the ceiling, paying little attention to the conversations behind me. Oliver had filled the seat to my left and was discussing his plans for Quidditch practice with Angelina. His arm was wrapped firmly around me as if I were ready to dive away at any moment without any warning. What sounded like thunder echoed through the Great Hall followed by owls swooping down to deliver letters.

"STEALING THE CAR, I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN SURPRISED IF THEY'D EXPELLED YOU, YOU WAIT TILL I GET HOLD OF YOU, I DON'T SUPPOSE YOU STOPPED TO THINK WHAT YOUR FATHERAND I WENT THROUGH WHEN WE SAW IT WAS GONE -"

I nearly fell out of my seat at the sound of Mrs. Weasley's screams echoing through the Great Hall. Fred and George caught my eye from a little further down the table and immediately begin to laugh. We had expected a Howler to show up sooner or later. People begin to turn in their chairs in search for who had received the Howler.

"- LETTER FROM DUMBLEDORE LAST NIGHT, I THOUGHT YOUR FATHER WOULD DIE OF SHAME, WE DIDN'T BRING YOU UP TO BEHAVE LIKE THIS, YOU AND HARRY COULD BOTH HAVE DIED! ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTED - YOUR FATHER'S FACING AN INQUIRY AT WORK, IT'S ENTIRELY YOUR FAULT AND IF YOU PUT ANOTHER TOE OUT OF LINE WE'LL BRING YOU STRAIGHT BACK HOME."

Silence fell like a rippling wave throughout the Great Hall. I could barely see anymore then the top of Ron's head due to how far he had sunken in his chair. The letter in his hands rose up to curl in flames.

"That bad?" Oliver looked to me.

"Trust me," I nod. "It wasn't pretty last night."

I took my course schedule from McGonagall and immediately turned to compare my list with Alison's. With a groan, we both found that our first class of the year would be History of Magic. Oliver plants a kiss to my temple before standing up.

"I should get to Transfiguration." he said.

Alison and I wait for the twins and Lee before heading for History of Magic. There was nothing particularly interesting to History of Magic. We were fourth years, so there was no introduction as to what we would be doing. Starting class left enough room to daydream about flying cars and facing against the Whomping Willow myself. I knew how to fight dragons and the darkest magic, but a moving tree? I almost felt tempted to go find the tree myself.

It was Defense Against the Dark Arts that everyone looked the most excited for. Most of the girls whispered to each other as they observed Professor Lockhart when they came into the room. I rolled my eyes to Lee as I slid into the chair beside him.

"You're not impressed with the great Gilderoy Lockhart?" Lee asked.

I clapped my hands together and batted my eyelashes dreamily. "He is rather amazing, isn't he? I mean just look at him. It's like living inside of a dream." I dropped my hands and laughed. "Come on, it's like you don't know me at all."

When I did turn back to the front of the classroom, however, I did sweep my eyes over Lockhart. I was supposed to be brief on each new teacher that walked in through the doors of Hogwarts. I couldn't run to every professor about who I was just because of their position. Dumbledore would warn me whether I could or could not work on my magic with each professor before each term started but, after Harry and Ron's incident, Dumbledore hadn't had the chance to speak with me.

"Seems like you are interested, if you ask me." Lee teased.

"Seems like you are as much of a git as our new professor is, if you ask me."

"Haven't missed that sarcasm over the summer."

"Oh, come on Lee," I smiled and poked at his side. "You had to have missed me just a little bit."