An Unnoticed One [A Seamus Finnigan Fanfiction] [CURRENTLY BEING EDITED]

Chapter 2: A Bully and a Babbling Beverage

Hey guys! Just thought I'd post the new chapter today since its J.K. Rowling's birthday. Anyway thank you for the eleven reads in my first chapter. Okay you may continue. I hope you enjoy.

***

Iris's Second Year:

Returning to Hogwarts was the equivalent to being welcomed home. I found comfort in the Gryffindor common room and enjoyed the festive feasts in the Great Hall. I even got to see Fred and George again and be a victim to their pranks. They were really my only friends I made last year. I talked to others but it was nothing like being with the twins.

I went to read in the courtyard the weekend we came back to school. The breezy September morning would bring me no trouble, at least, that's what I thought. That peaceful moment only lasted for a few minutes when I heard the sounds of voices coming from a few boys in my classes. I looked up from Quidditch Through the Ages to see Draco Malfoy, Vincent Crabbe, and Greggory Goyle harassing Neville Longbottom. This wasn't a rare sight; they did this to him all the time.

Neville didn't bother telling them to stop. Standing up to others was a difficulty for him. Draco pushed Neville over onto the grass of the courtyard, letting out a groan of agony. Watching was as just as painful as Neville experiencing it. I put my book down and headed over towards Neville to help him up.

"What exactly do you think you're doing?" I asked Draco as I helped Neville up.

The Slytherin grinned at me. "It's none of your business, Howard."

There was a sudden urge to pull out my wand. I pointed the fir wand in his direction, yet he didn't even flinch.

"I can hex you right here," I threatened. "Don't mess with him again, you hear me?"

Draco simply smiled and laughed. "Why would I be afraid of a fat, worthless Gryffindor and a stupid half-blood girl?"

"Don't call me that," I spat. This remark provoked the laughter of Crabbe and Goyle.

"What are you going to do? Are you going to tell your little Muggle mummy all about how I hurt your feelings? Oh wait-"

"Petrificus Totalus! " 

Draco launched back, a look of terror slapped across his face. He fell on his back completely frozen stiff. Neville stared with his jaw dropped while Vincent and Greggory stopped dead in their tracks. I walked over to Draco's body, feeling a sense of pride with my performance.

I knelt down next to him. Draco was unable to move, but his eyes shifted frantically, immediately locking on me.

"He's not worthlesss and I'm not stupid," I hissed. "And don't you dare mention her either or I swear on her grave you'll never leave the hospital wing."

I stood up, dusting the grass off my knees. When I raised my head, I saw the Potion's master Professor Snape walking over, his black cloak following behind him. And just like Draco, I was stone-still.

He looked more displeased than usual, seeing that I just hexed one of his house students and he was there to witness it. The adrenaline from hexing Draco and the fear of seeing Snape had blended into one, and I couldn't seem to calm my racing heart.

"Ms. Howard," he said in his deep, intimidating voice. "I believe you know why I'm here."

I stared at him and stood tall. "Are you here to congratulate me for an excellent display of the full body-bind curse?" I suggested with a hopeful smile. This would get me in loads of trouble, but it was worth it for Neville.

"Three weeks detention," Snape said, not amused at all.

"Oh come on, Professor, my performance wasn't that bad," I joked. Again, he wasn't amused.

"Four weeks detention, starting tonight at five thirty on the dot." Snape turned to Vincent and Greggory. "If you two would please take Mr. Malfoy to the hospital wing."

Crabbe and Goyle tried to drag Malfoy's stone-still body out of the courtyard. I turned around to see Neville who was shocked at what I did and said.

"T-Thank you," he muttered quietly.

I didn't respond. I just went to Gryffindor tower to get ready for my detention.

***

All I did was write "I will not use the Body-Bind Curse on my classmates" a few dozen times and cleaned out Snape's ingredient cabinet. When he was busy grading essays for one of his classes, I took the opportunity to sneak a few ingredients into my cloak. Hexing a classmate and stealing from one of my professors? What an eventful day.

After my detention, I was starving. Snape decided to punish me further my making sure I missed dinner for detention. As I left Snape's classroom, I saw Neville waiting outside waiting for me. In his hands he held a small silver plate with a slice of steak and kidney pie, something you'd usually find me eating in the Great Hall.

"Hey, Neville," I greeted him, surprised by his presence.

His eyes widened and he remained quiet even after I spoke. It wasn't until five seconds had passed that he finally muttered something.

"I thought you'd be hungry. And it felt like the thing to do since you're in detention because of me."

Neville held out the pie and fork to me. I took the plate and ate a small piece of it. It was still warm and helped ease my hunger.

"Thanks, and it's all right." I continued to eat. "Besides it was worth cursing Draco," I giggled.

"You're not upset with me?" he asked, surprised.

"Why would I be?"

He shrugged innocently. Neville just stood there, looking down at his feet in silence.

"You don't talk much, do you?" He looked up just to shake his head. "C'mon, lets go to the common room."

He walked alongside each other as we went to the Gryffindor Tower. We were both silent on our walk up the staircases. I didn't talk only because I was eating the steak and kidney pie. When we reached the common room I brought out my cauldron, a potions book, and the ingredients I took from Snape's cabinet. Neville watched me prepare to brew the potion with my cauldron in confusion.

Neville looked at the book I had open and gave it an odd look. "This isn't our second year potions book."

"I know, this is my Aunt's. She let me borrow it," I answered while brewing.

"What exactly are you making?" Neville asked.

"Babbling Beverage," I murmured while adding alihotsy leaves to the brew.

"Why?"

"We're going to get revenge on Draco."

And with that, the twins showed up, joining Neville and I near the far corner of the common room.

"We heard the word revenge," said George as he strutted over. "What are you up to, Iris?"

"I'm going to slip a Babbling Beverage potion into Draco Malfoy's pumpkin juice tomorrow after making fun of Neville and I," I informed Fred and George.

"We taught you well munchkin." Fred patted me on the back and I smiled in return.

The potion was soon complete but Fred and George left to experiment with their pranks along with Lee Jordan. When I finished, I bottled it up and sealed it with a small cork. I held up the phial of my potion for Neville to see.

"Done," I declared with a sense of pride.

"Brilliant," he smiled softly. He cleared his throat. "Iris, are we friends?"

I looked at him with a serious look in my eyes. "There's no reason not to be," I smiled. He smiled back, his ears turning red.

Out of all the things in the world that could make us friends, it was a bully and a Babbling Beverage that did it.