Defying Gravity

I: Circe

If you liked the prologue, then you'll love what we have in store for you. Keep an open mind and your undergarments set straight because frustration is sure to ensue. Worry not! For all things work out for the better, even if they seem impossible at first. We look forward to sharing with you, so in turn share your thoughts with us!

Disclaimer: We do not, and never will own the rights to any familiar characters or original Harry Potter world ideas. They belong respectively to the original author, J.K. Rowling.

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2 September 2011
Highlands of Scotland
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

"Rosier!"

The unpleasant screeching of my surname sent waves of apprehension through me. Eris flicked her tail in irritation as my dark haired acquaintance sauntered to the table. My relationship with Liera Goyle was one of convenience. I wouldn't have dared ventured near the scrawny, blue eyed Niffler had it not been at the insistence of my grandmother. As intolerable as the girl is, her surname held power to which we must remain on fair terms with.

"You left me! I had to walk to breakfast completely alone. Do you know how anti-social that makes me look? Reputation on the line here!" She continued to squeal, hands flapping in exasperation.

The force it took to not roll my eyes at her was draining, and if my day was starting off this way, I dreaded what was in store for me later. "I apologize Goyle, next time I'll just hunt down our class schedule," I defended, handing over her timetable.

She had the decency to look ashamed, "Oh."

It was as close to admitting she was wrong as she would get, so I hummed my acknowledgement. The Goyle family was our stepping stone to the Malfoy Christmas ball, and we had gone the last three years thanks to my brownnosing. Lowering myself down like a dog was not something that came easily, but I'd do it if it meant making grandmother proud of me.

"We have Herbology with Hufflepuff this year! Maybe I can finally get close to Teddy Lupin. I've had my eye on him for quite some time now."

Hiding my snort was easier said than done.

Liera eyed me skeptically, "What? Do you think this is funny."

"Immensely," I drawled. "Considering Lupin's been chasing the tail of some first year Gryffindor."

A pale fist came crashing down on the table, "Weasley! That Veela? She has nothing on me. By Merlin, I swear to you that by Christmas break that blue haired god will be mine!"

"Whatever," I shrugged before getting up and making my way towards double Arithmancy with Ravenclaw, thankful that my first class wasn't tainted with her.

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Herbology was after lunch, and regardless of it being the first day back, the workload was heavy. I could only hope Professor Longbottom's big heart was feeling more than averagely large. With three lengthy essays and a few charms to memorize, it didn't look as if I was getting much sleep tonight.

The sea of black robes and green and yellow ties all blurred together as Liera tugged me along through the greenhouse. The smell of soil and various plants was comforting, but her nonstop talking was ruining it for me. "We have to find a seat near Teddy. I heard he hadn't asked anyone to Hogsmeade. I can't believe we get to go this year. Two years of waiting to travel outside the school, and it's finally here. We'll start getting invited to parties this year too. Think about it. Third year is our year! Oh, look! there is a seat open on one side of Teddy."

With that she took off, leaving me to follow after her at a much more controlled pace. The only other seat open was between a Slytherin girl named Keris, and a nameless Hufflepuff boy with hair the exact color of fire. Teddy sat on the other side of him, looking thoroughly annoyed with Liera's attention. I felt something akin to sympathy for the blue haired boy, but my relief at being rid of her quickly overshadowed it.

I tucked my bag neatly beneath my seat before sitting down, careful to avoid bumping any part of me into any part of either person. With back straight, I silently observed the class as we waited for our Professor to arrive. Eris, who followed me just about everywhere, took up residence just behind my feet, her tail curling comfortingly around my ankles.

"I give it another minute and a half before Teddy loses his Hufflepuff kindness and tells your friend to take a hike." A lilting, brogue voice gambled lowly.

I turned ever so slightly to the red head, "Good, maybe it will teach her some self restraint."

A flash of straight white teeth appeared from behind his defined cupid's bow, "I thought that was a common problem among third year girls."

"I can hardly vouch for the girls you've been hanging around with, but that is certainly not a common problem." I muttered darkly.

Surprise flashed across his eyes, and his smile twisted into an awkward grimace, "Well, I uh-"

I turned from him, finished with the conversation, but he wasn't. "My name is Wynn Sudrach."

I searched my head endlessly for something familiar in that name. Could I use his friendship to my advantage? No, the name was foreign to me, and foreign coincided with irrelevant. I answered him the only way I knew how, "Sudrach isn't familiar to me. I assume one of your parents is a muggle? Figures, only filthy half-bloods end up in Hufflepuff."

I knew it was harsh. I was completely aware of the hurt I was causing, and it was the reason I couldn't look him in the eyes when I said it. The coward in me couldn't watch his blue eyes shatter, but the dark side of me, the one that was slowly gaining control, couldn't help but hurt the people around me. I was destined to be my parents. There was no point in trying to fight it now.

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