The Canis Major

C h a p t e r 2 8

A week later, a perfectly good Saturday morning was ruined by a girl in my dorm screaming.

A normal person would've shot up, thinking there was an attacker of some sort. Maybe even grabbed their wand to defend themselves. But what did I do? I grabbed my pillow and quilt and left the dorm without even opening my eyes.

My hair was sticking up in random places and sticking to my face. I brushed it away before I collapsed on one of the couches in the common room. I curled up, brought the pillow underneath my head, and snuggled into the quilt.

It was chaotic in all the dormitories. Nobody was in the common room, but I could hear frantic yelling behind all of the doors. It's only 8 AM.

I eventually managed to fall back asleep on the couch. It was easy considering it was still pretty dark outside and the fireplace was going. The warmth of the fire wanted my face and made it impossible to open my eyes. I had drifted off.

I only woke up again when I was pushed off the couch. I groaned as I landed on the floor, but I didn't open my eyes. I had dragged down the pillow and blanket with me, so I just repositioned myself on the floor. I silently cursed at whoever pushed me off.

"There's no way she's still asleep," I heard someone comment. I felt the urge to flip them off, but it wasn't worth moving.

"She's not. She's just ignoring you." I slowly recognized that voice at Melanie's. I then realized that the other voice had been James. I still didn't open my eyes. I felt someone nudge my ribs. It tickled, but I tried not to move.

"Del, wake up," James whined. I muttered something in French at him. "What?"

"Don't ask," Melanie warned him. I heard footsteps before the quilt was yanked off of me. I yelped and curled up. "It's not even in here cold, Del. You have the fire blazing in here!" I ignored her.

"Aren't you supposed to be getting ready for the dance?" I heard Sirius ask.

"The dance isn't till 8, you assholes! Why are you waking me up so early?" I yelled out, still staying curled up with my eyes shut.

"We should do something," Peter said.

"Then go do something. You don't need me for all your schemes!" I complained. "Honestly! Sod off!" I cuddled into my pillow, thinking I had won. Suddenly, the pillow and blanket was ripped from my body, and I screamed dramatically in response.

"If you're so cold, why are you wearing shorts and a tee shirt?" Peter asked. I curled up into a fetal position and shivered. "Get up!"

"Maybe I will once you tell me what exactly we're doing." It was silent for a moment.

"Let's go to Hogsmeade." My eyes shot open and I finally learned up.

"You're not being serious?" I asked to James who suggested the idea. He shrugged with a silly smile. "How the hell are we going to--oh..." He smiled when he realized I understood.

"The map." I gave him a deadpan look.

"First you wanted me to spend the entire day getting ready, and now you want me to forget about it and sneak out of bloody Hogwarts to get to Hogsmeade?" James nodded. I quirked an eyebrow before sighing and standing up. "Give me five minutes."

I ended up pulling on the pants James had gotten for me a while back, the sneakers, and my coat. I pulled on Remus' knitted hat and my Hufflepuff scarf. When I walked out, Sirius snorted at my appearance.

"What?"

"You look made of hand-me-downs," he replied. I narrowed my eyes at him. "Sorry, it's just a weird combination." I rolled my eyes.